RTHK: Israeli strikes on Gaza trigger retaliation Israel pounded Gaza with air strikes on Friday, killing more than 15 people, including a top militant, and triggering a barrage of retaliatory rocket fire from the territory. Israel said it had launched a pre-emptive strike against Islamic Jihad, killing a top commander of the Palestinian militant group it blames for a series of recent attacks inside Israel. Islamic Jihad said the Israeli bombardment amounted to a "declaration of war", hours before it unleashed what it said was an "initial response" of 100 rockets towards Israel. There were no immediate reports of casualties inside Israel, but in Gaza a child was among those killed, according to the territory's health ministry, which is run by the Islamist movement Hamas. Hamas has fought four wars with Israel since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, most recently in May of last year. Islamic Jihad is a separate group, but aligned with Hamas. The Israeli strikes were ongoing late on Friday, targeting what the army described as militant targets across the territory it has blockaded since the Hamas takeover. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the strikes were a "precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat". Flames poured out of a building in Gaza City following the first round of strikes, while wounded Palestinians were evacuated by medics. Gaza's health ministry reported "a five-year-old girl, targeted by the Israeli occupation" was among nine people killed. A further 55 Palestinians were wounded, the ministry said. Five-year-old Alaa Kaddum had a pink bow in her hair and a wound on her forehead, as her body was carried by her father at her funeral. Islamic Jihad said several members of its military wing were among those killed, including "the great fighter Taysir al-Jabari 'Abu Mahmoud', the commander of the Al-Quds Brigade in the northern region of the Gaza Strip." Hundreds of mourners gathered in Gaza City for the funerals of Jabari and others killed in the air strikes. Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht said "we are assuming about 15 killed in action" in Gaza, referring to Palestinian combatants. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-08-05. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Six reasons why Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is a mistake Xinhua) 08:44, August 06, 2022 BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi recently made a provocative visit to China's Taiwan region in disregard of China's strong opposition and serious representations. The visit is a serious violation of the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques. It has a severe impact on the political foundation of China-US relations, seriously infringes on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and gravely undermines peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. By visiting Taiwan, Pelosi has made six mistakes: reneging on past commitments, trampling the rule of law, undermining peace, meddling in China's internal affairs, political manipulation and abusing power for selfish purposes. The visit is bound to face the judgement and punishment of history. Reneging on Past Commitments The visit is a gross violation of the US commitments in the three China-US joint communiques. In 1972, the US made a clear commitment in the Shanghai Communique that "the United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position". In 1979, the US clearly pledged in the Sino-US Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations that "the United States of America recognizes the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China. Within this context, the people of the United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan". In 1982, the US clearly promised in the Joint Communique of the People's Republic of China and the United States of America that "the United States of America recognized the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legal Government of China, and it acknowledged the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China", and that "the United States Government ... reiterates that it has no intention of infringing on Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, or interfering in China's internal affairs, or pursuing a policy of 'two Chinas' or 'one China, one Taiwan'". The three joint communiques constitute the political foundation of China-US relations. In recent years, the US, with its double-dealing, has kept fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle and challenging China's red line with salami tactics. The US Congress keeps making toxic rhetoric on Taiwan and proposed and adopted many negative bills regarding Taiwan. These have seriously undermined the political foundation of China-US relations. Since the Biden administration took office, rather than undo the serious mistakes of the previous administration, it has gone further in ganging up with US allies to play the "Taiwan card", spreading the idea that "the status of Taiwan is undetermined", and attempting to make the Taiwan question an international issue, thus sending a very wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. There can be only one foreign policy of the US as a country. The House of Representatives of the US Congress, as part of the US Government, is obliged to strictly follow the one-China policy of the US Government and not engage in any official interactions with China's Taiwan region. Pelosi is the third-highest ranking political figure in the US and second in line following the Vice President to succeed the President. Her visit to Taiwan, in whatever form and under whatever pretext, carries high political sensitivity, and marks a major political provocation upgrading the official interactions between the US and Taiwan, and a breach of the political commitment of the US. Trampling the Rule of Law Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is a serious violation of the one-China principle. This principle is the prevailing consensus of the international community and a widely-accepted basic norm in international relations. In October 1971, the 26th session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, which decided to "restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it." This resolution has not only solved once and for all in political, legal and procedural terms the issue of representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the United Nations, but also made it clear that there is but one seat of China in the United Nations, not two, and that there has never been an issue of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan". The one-China principle has been an integral part of the post-WWII international order. To date, 181 countries around the world have established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China on the basis of the one-China principle. Pelosi argues that the visit does not contradict the long-standing US policy guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the China-US Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances, citing that as the excuse for the visit to Taiwan. As a matter of fact, both the so-called Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances to Taiwan are unilaterally concocted by some forces in the US. This is, in nature, putting US domestic laws above international law and international obligations, and ignoring and infringing on international law and norms of international relations. Undermining Peace The root cause to the current tensions across the Taiwan Strait is that the Taiwan authorities have kept seeking US support for their independence agenda, while some in the US intend to use Taiwan to contain China. Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is the latest example of the US conniving at and supporting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. It gravely undermines peace across the Taiwan Strait and regional stability. The US should and must bear all responsibilities for that. Over the past few days, many countries have issued official statements condemning Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which leads to escalation of situation in the Taiwan Strait, and constitutes a deliberate political and military provocation as well as a malicious act that undermines peace and security in the region. They have expressed firm support for China to take all necessary measures in defence of its sovereignty, security and development interests. Pelosi's provocative visit to Taiwan is also opposed and criticized by many sensible people in the US. Many publicly stated that Pelosi's grandstanding visit was extremely dangerous and irresponsible. A poll conducted inside the Taiwan island shows that nearly two thirds of the respondents believe this visit has undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The one-China principle is the anchor for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. History and practice have proven time and again that when the one-China principle is fully endorsed and earnestly observed, the Taiwan Strait would remain calm and tranquil, and the two sides across the Taiwan Strait would enjoy peace and development; but when the one-China principle is willfully challenged or even sabotaged, there would be dark clouds or even fierce storms in the Taiwan Strait. The position of the Chinese Government and people on the Taiwan question has been consistent. It is the firm commitment of the more than 1.4 billion Chinese people to resolutely safeguard state sovereignty and territorial integrity. Whoever acts against the overwhelming historical trend of peace and development will become a huge disgrace in history. Meddling in China's Internal Affairs While visiting Taiwan, Pelosi exploited various occasions to make outrageous slanders against China on issues including democracy, human rights, Hong Kong, Tibet, Xinjiang and religion, which reflected her long-standing, anti-China position. Over the years, Pelosi has been using the anti-China card and China hate for political gains, and grossly interfered in China's internal affairs. In 1991, Pelosi disturbed public order by grandstanding in the name of supporting so-called "democracy" during her visit to China. In 2008, she went out of her way to stir up trouble on Tibet, and urged President George W. Bush to boycott the Beijing Summer Olympics. In 2019, she met in D.C. with anti-China, destabilizing forces from Hong Kong, and described the violent demonstrations in Hong Kong as "a beautiful sight to behold". In 2019, she met with Rebiya Kadeer, a principal figure of "Xinjiang independence" separatists. In 2021, she played the same old trick by advocating a US "diplomatic boycott" of the Beijing Winter Olympics. On the Taiwan question, Pelosi's influence is surely behind all the so-called "Taiwan-friendly" bills passed by the US Congress in recent years. Pelosi has turned a blind eye to the myriad domestic challenges in the United States and shown little interest in the welfare of the American people. Instead, she is obsessed with repeating what have been repeatedly proven to be lies of the century. This fully reveals how far she is prepared to go only to pursue her anti-China agenda. She may well choose to make a show in whatever form, but what she does will end up in vain. If anything, it will only go down in history as additional evidence of the US's gross interference in other countries' internal affairs. Political Manipulation Pelosi claimed that "today the world faces a choice between democracy and autocracy" and that "Our congressional delegation's visit to Taiwan honors America's unwavering commitment to supporting Taiwan's vibrant Democracy." Yet in reality, what Pelosi has done is by no means for the sake of defending democracy, but to infringe on China's sovereignty, undermine China's stability and hold back China's development in the name of democracy. It is political manipulation out and out. Democracy is a common value of humanity. It is an entitlement of people in all countries, not a prerogative of only a handful of countries. Whether a country is democratic or not can only be left to its own people to decide. It should not be subjected to the finger-pointing of some people from outside. Pelosi and some other American politicians, styling themselves as champions of "freedom, democracy and human rights", have defined other countries as a democracy or otherwise simply based on their own liking, and spun the "democracy versus autocracy" narrative in the international community. Their behavior is, in essence, an anachronism of the Cold War mentality and zero-sum mindset. It features the use of ideology and values as a tool to create confrontational blocs and advance a geopolitical agenda, for the purpose of protecting the vested institutional power of the US and other Western countries and defending Western-centrism and White Supremacy centering on Anglo-Saxon culture. Over the years, the US has used democracy as a label, a political tool and a weapon to advance "democratic transformation" and orchestrate "color revolution", causing disastrous consequences. Since 2001, the wars and military operations that the US waged under the pretext of democracy, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria, have claimed tens of thousands of lives and left millions injured and tens of millions displaced. What Pelosi is doing now is no different. It is just another example of the US's despicable pursuit of hegemony under the guise of democracy, which will be strongly condemned and opposed by the international community. Abusing Power for Selfish Purposes As pointed out by American media, with the upcoming US midterm elections and a declining Democratic Party, Pelosi seeks to win political points by playing the "Taiwan card" and leave behind so-called political legacy. But "Pelosi's achievements in Taiwan are largely personal, symbolic and short-term." The regional security tensions thus caused, as well as other serious consequences, are to bring long-term impacts and inflict profound damage on China-US relations. US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene censured Pelosi on Twitter, pointing out that Pelosi's going to Taiwan, putting so much under risk, is only for her husband Paul Pelosi to profit from his recent investment in the chip industry. "Americans have had enough with a woman obsessed with her own power she's held for decades while our ENTIRE COUNTRY CRUMBLES." Greene's words do not come from nowhere. Recently, Pelosi and her husband have had repeated scandals and come under severe skepticism. Multiple pieces of media coverage in the US have revealed that Paul Pelosi, having become a prominent figure in the US stock market in recent years, is always able to make the right investment decision just ahead of the government's policy roll-out. In 2020, the couple's investment return was as high as 56 percent, compared to the legendary Warren Buffett's 26 percent during the same period. As a result, the Pelosi family's net worth is now over US$100 million. Before she went to Taiwan, when asked at a press conference "has your husband ever made a stock purchase or sale based on information he received from you", Pelosi was quick to deny and rushed to leave. Pelosi's reckless Taiwan drama is another debacle of US politics, diplomacy and credibility. It is doomed to be despised by the world and swept into the dustbin of history. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Croatia: new 500 million euro corvette on the way Medium, will enter service between 2025 and 2030 (ANSA) - ZAGABRIA, 06 AGO - Croatia plans to buy a new corvette, which will also have the status of a flagship, with an investment of about 500 million euros. The ship is expected to enter service between 2025 and 2030. The Zagreb daily Jutarnji list writes this. Yesterday Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic confirmed that the government he leads has initiated procedures to "have a modern and powerful multipurpose ship." The ship is expected to be about one hundred meters long, twice as long as the Petar Kresimir missile gunship, currently the largest in the Croatian Navy, which has been in service since 1992. The corvette is expected to be equipped with anti-submarine weapons, an anti-aircraft defense system, small-caliber guns, surface-to-surface missiles, and surface-to-air missiles. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved Batgirl director Adil El Arbi has revealed that Marvel boss Kevin Feige reached out to him to offer support after his DC superhero flick was axed by Warner Bros. El Arbi shared several messages of support on social media including from Edgar Wright and Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunn. It comes following the shock announcement that Warner Bros was shelving the multi-million dollar movie, which was filmed entirely in Glasgow, five months before its scheduled release. El Arbi and his co-director Bilall Fallah said they were shocked and saddened at the news, having found it out while at a wedding together. Batgirl director Adil El Arbi revealed that Marvel boss Kevin Feige (pictured) reached out to him after his film was axed (Richard Shotwell/AP) Thanks for all the messages of support all over the world, El Arbi wrote on his Instagram story. Shoutout to directors @edgarwright & @jamesgunn your kind words and experience mean a lot and help us through this difficult period. In another post he shared a screenshot of an email from Feige, which read: My friends I had to reach out and let you know we are all thinking about you both. Because of the wonderful news about the wedding (congrats!) and the disappointing news about Batgirl. Very proud of you guys for all the amazing work you do and particularly Ms. Marvel of course! Cant wait to see what is next for you. Hope to see you soon. Batgirl was due to feature Hollywood stars Michael Keaton, Brendan Fraser, JK Simmons and Leslie Grace, and reportedly cost an estimated 70 million dollars (57.6 million) The film was scheduled for release in late 2022 but was reportedly dropped after poor test screenings. It comes as Warner Bros bosses said they are considering a restructure of the DC superhero franchise and the implementation of a 10-year plan, to emulate the success of their Marvel competitors. Chief executive David Zaslav said the company would focus on the quality of upcoming blockbusters in order to protect the DC brand. Concerns have grown over NHS staffing in England after an analysis of workforce figures found the health service may be becoming over-reliant on recruits from abroad. Figures from NHS Digital show the share of healthcare staff recruited from overseas almost doubled between 2014 and 2021, according to an analysis by the BBC. Several organisations responded on Friday with fresh calls for the Government to tackle the NHS staffing crisis. According to the BBCs analysis, 34% of doctors joining the health service in 2021 came from overseas a rise from 18% in 2014. The broadcaster also found the share of UK doctors joining the health service had fallen from 69% in 2015 to 58% last year while the share of new UK nurses fell from 74% to 61% in the same period. Meanwhile, the share of doctors recruited from outside the UK and the EU rose from 18% to 34% and the share of nurses rose from 7% to 34%. Dr Kitty Mohan, chair of the international committee at the British Medical Society, said the analysis showed that the NHS has grown heavily reliant on doctors from overseas. She said: This was evidenced during the pandemic as international doctors were front and centre of the battle on the NHS frontline with a disproportionate number sadly losing their lives to the virus. The simple fact is that we do not have enough doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff to meet the growing and increasingly complex healthcare needs of our population. Dr Mohan also cited a range of reasons why doctors are cutting their hours or planning to leave the NHS, including years of pay erosion, punishing workloads, restrictive immigration rules, and verbal and physical abuse. We are calling for the Government and NHS England to publish a long-term workforce strategy as soon as possible, she said. It must be transparent, made publicly available and include details of current workforce numbers and future workforce requirements based on patient need. Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, also called for urgent action from the Government to tackle chronic staff shortages in the longer term. He said: International recruits have always been an important component of the NHS workforce. We recognise and highly value the contribution our overseas staff make to our teams and the care we provide to our patients. International recruitment should be seen as one part of a multistrand approach to workforce planning and the Governments Code of Practice for international recruitment helps employers ensure they are adhering to ethical recruitment practices. While there is also a focus on growing and retaining the domestic workforce, we cant escape the fact that there are 105,000 vacancies in the NHS and 165,000 vacancies in social care. We are in need of urgent action and the new prime minister must commit to publishing a fully costed and funded workforce plan to tackle chronic staff shortages in the longer term. Mr Mortimer added that the Government needs to deliver a realism reset on the NHS as a dose of political honesty and levelling with the public about what the NHS is facing and what it needs from the future prime minister to address it. Patricia Marquis, Royal College of Nursing director for England, said the number of unfilled nursing positions in the NHS is unsustainable. Every vacant role makes safe patient care harder to maintain, she said. We are seeing a sharp increase in people leaving nursing, with 25,000 leaving the UK register in the last year. After a decade of real terms pay cuts, a growing over-reliance on international recruitment and limits on education funding, our members are saying enough is enough. She added that while internationally recruited nurses are invaluable to the NHS ministers must do more to boost the domestic recruitment of nursing staff. One of the simplest ways to retain staff is to pay them fairly, she said. A Department of Health spokesperson said: We continue to grow the NHS workforce who deliver the quantity and quality of health care the government has promised. There are over 4,300 more doctors and 10,200 more nurses working in the NHS compared to last year, and we are on track to deliver 50,000 more nurses by 2024 Were boosting our homegrown recruitment including by opening five new medical schools and providing a 25% increase in funding for medical school places over three years to 2020, with the first graduates from this cohort entering foundation training this year. Internationally trained staff have been part of the NHS ever since its inception and they continue to play a vital role in helping us tackle the Covid backlogs. We have recently signed bilateral agreements with countries like India, Philippines, Kenya, Malaysia and Sri Lanka to support the recruitment and training of nurses. Flash A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday that the context and the events that led to the tensions in the Taiwan Strait are crystal-clear. The U.S. is the unprovoked provocateur and creator of the crisis. Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing. "The current situation is entirely caused by Speaker Pelosi and other U.S. politicians," Hua said. Hua said the Taiwan question is not about democracy, but a major issue of principle about China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. "If an American state seeks to split itself from the U.S. and claims to be an independent country and a foreign country provides weapons and political support to this state, will the government and people of the U.S. allow this to happen?" Hua asked, urging the U.S. side to put itself in others' shoes. The visit of Pelosi to Taiwan is a serious violation of the one-China principle. It seriously tramples on basic norms in international relations. It also seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China has done everything diplomatically possible, said Hua. The spokesperson pointed out that China has acted in legitimate self-defense only after the U.S. made this egregious provocation. China's countermeasures are necessary as a warning to the provocateurs and as a step to uphold the country's sovereignty and security. "Now the U.S. and its sidekicks have spoken up accusing China of 'overreacting'. But if they truly care about regional peace and stability, why hadn't they stood up and tried to dissuade Pelosi early on?" the spokesperson said. She emphasized that China's countermeasures are justified, necessary and proportionate, and there is nothing excessive about them. The U.S., as the provocateur and the one that caused the crisis, should and must assume the entire responsibility for it. The end of an era. Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson have called it quits after less than one year of dating, multiple sources confirm to Us Weekly. Read article They amicably split this week, an insider told Us of the Kardashians star, 41, and the Saturday Night Live alum, 28. The Hulu personality and the comedian were first linked in October 2021 after Kardashian made her hosting debut on SNL. During one sketch, the California native and the Guy Code alum shared a kiss in character as Jasmine and Aladdin, respectively. Shutterstock Though the Skims founder and the New York native initially kept their romance under wraps, the pair became more generous with glimpses into their relationship as time went on. The King of Staten Island actor and the reality star went Instagram official in March. The long-awaited confirmation came on the heels of countless comments from the former E! stars ex-husband Kanye West, who made his hatred toward Davidson and his desire to get back with Kardashian well-known. Read article Two months later, the entrepreneur and the Suicide Squad actor made their red carpet debut at the 2022 Met Gala and the cute, loved-up Instagram posts kept on coming. In July, Kardashians viewers got their first peek of Davidson on the show when the trailer for season 2 premiered. Babe? Do you want to jump in the shower with me real quick? Kardashian asked her then-boyfriend in the clip, which saw him immediately drop everything he was holding and rush after her. More recently, however, the duos romance became long-distance as Davidson has been in Australia filming the upcoming movie Wizards! The Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum recently paid her beau a visit, but for the most part, theyd been communicating via video chats and emails. They send each other love notes while the other is sleeping and FaceTime whenever their schedules link up, an insider told Us earlier this month. The distance has been hard, but even communicating long-distance is exciting for them. Read article Last month, the Dirt actor told Kevin Hart that he was fine with the massive amount of attention their romance has attracted over the last several months. I dont mind. I know what it comes with, Davidson explained during the July premiere episode of Hart to Heart. I totally get it because whatever I get to do is sick. If thats all you have to deal with then whatever. The Meet Cute star went on to say that he hopes marriage and fatherhood are in his future. [Im] definitely a family guy, he explained. My favorite thing ever, which I have yet to achieve, I wanna have a kid. Thats like my dream. Kardashian, for her part, shares North, 9, Saint, 6, Chicago, 4, and Psalm, 3, with West, 45. The Selfish author was declared legally single in March after filing for divorce from the rapper in February 2021. A New Zealand-based platform where fans track, review and share lists of movies old and new is an increasingly influential marketing tool for specialty film with budgets tight and audiences harder to reach. Letterboxd, founded as a passion project by Auckland tech entrepreneurs Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow just over a decade ago, recently passed 6.5 million members, with 40-50% in North America followed by the U.K., Europe and breakout markets including Brazil, India, Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines. It has 4.4 million monthly visitors and 800 million monthly page views. More from Deadline Letterboxd founders Matthew Buchanan and Karl von Randow - Credit: Letterboxd Letterboxd Since launch, users have logged a whopping 1 billion films theyve seen, put 300 million films on watchlists and posted 76.8 million reviews. Average time spent per visitor per month across web and app is about 40 minutes. Letterboxd has been profitable since 2019, which is source of immense pride, Buchanan tells Deadline. The founders early on declined venture capital backing, he said, to be able grow the service at a pace they were comfortable with. It has nine full-time employees. Users literally list all the movies theyve seen and all the movies theyd like to see. Theyve created 8.6 million targeted lists from broad to micro: Time travel films where the protagonist ends up either having to kill themselves or go right back to the start again, stopping the movie from ever actually happening. Or, All the times Hollywood made film adaptations of the first installment of a beloved young adult book series, except the film was so poorly received that they gave up on adapting the rest of the books despite foreshadowing and cliffhangers in the first film. David Larkin, the companys New York-based head of business and strategy, says that all make the platform an effective place for targeted advertising. If you want to find people to watch Drive My Car, you dont really care if they are 20 or 60, although Letterboxd happens to skew young. The common thread is that they want to see the film, or happen to like similar films. We start with some people in the bank. With specialty, we know people have small budgets and there are not a lot of places they can productively place a small budget. The platforms first partnership was with Neon for a campaign around the black-and-white theatrical release of Parasite in 2020. Larkin said its since worked on about 100 campaigns with indie distributors from IFC Films (The Watcher, Official Competition, Hatching), Kino Lorber (Neptune Frost, Wife Of A Spy), Janus Films/Sideshow (Drive My Car), Music Box Films (Medusa, Strawberry Mansion), Utopia (Were all Going To The Worlds Fair, Shiva Baby, a Rad restoration and most recently, Sharp Stick). We are huge fans. I first found them as a film fan myself, as a platform to log films, said Kyle Greenburg, head of marketing and distribution for Utopia. Its an exciting and often still overlooked, but less so these days, social platform. The engagement can be really strong. Letterboxd can focus campaigns around users in NY and LA, help open a film in 25 markets, or nationwide, Larkin said. It invites partners to generate a list of movies with a similar vibe or energy to the one being released and targets those pages. It sends targeted, direct marketing emails, and it amplifies campaigns on its social media. A service it offers premium subscribers it alerting when films on their watchlists become available to stream and where. And it is working on providing theatrical showtimes as well. Now that more films are back in cinemas, said Buchanan, We are certainly starting to see the fruits of those relationships we built over the past two and a half years. Specialty openings this weekend: A24 presents Halina Reijns horror comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies on six screens (before its heads to over 1,000 next weekend). Starring Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myhala Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, with Lee Pace and Pete Davidson. When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a game goes badly awry amid backstabbing, fake friends. Premiered at SXSW, Deadline review here. Magnolia Films presents I Love My Dad, winner of the 2022 SXSW Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature, on 115 screens. Written and directed by James Morosini. Starring Morosini, Patton Oswalt, Claudia Sulewski, Lil Rel Howery, Rachel Dratch, Amy Landecker and Ricky Velez. On demand August 12. The film follows Chuck (Oswalt), a hopelessly estranged father who desperately wants to reconnect with his troubled son, Franklin (Morosini). Blocked on social media and concerned for his sons life, Chuck impersonates a waitress online and starts checking in. But things begin to spiral when Franklin wants to meet her in person. Deadline review. Vertical Entertainment presents Collide in 102 theaters. Directed by Mukunda Michael Dewil. Over the course of one fateful night in an LA restaurant. Hunter (Ryan Phillippe) finds himself on an awkward blind date with the captivating Tamira (Kat Graham), while a busboy (Dylan Flashner) and his girlfriend (Aisha Dee) are hiding mounds of cocaine to score a big payday, and outside, Peter (Jim Gaffigan) sits in his car observing his wifes (Drea de Matteo) infidelity with the restaurants manager (David Cade). Though all strangers, their stories are weaved together as they hurl towards an explosive end. Streaming August 12. Disney Original Documentary presents Mija in theaters in NY/LA/SF through August 11. All screening are free and first-come first-served. It will have an official Oscar qualifying run before it premieres on Disney+ on September 16. The Sundance selection and debut feature by director Isabel Castro follows Doris Munoz and Jacks Haupt, two daughters of undocumented immigrants from Mexico, navigating careers in the music industry. Doris and Jacks bond over the ever-present guilt of being the first U.S.-born members of their undocumented families, the financial risks of pursuing their dreams and the pressure of success which could mean the difference in their familys hope for green cards reunification. Janus Films presents a new 4K restoration of Krzysztof Kieslowskis Three Colors: White at Film at Lincoln Center, followed by restorations of Three Colors: Red August 26 and Three Colors: Blue in Sept. Also playing at arthouses in a dozen cities nationally. In the iconic 1990s Three Colors trilogy, Karol Karol (Zbigniew Zamachowski) is a Polish immigrant living in France. The hapless hairdresser opts to leave Paris for his native Warsaw when his wife (Julie Delpy) sues him for divorce (her reason: their marriage was never consummated) and then frames him for arson after setting her own salon ablaze. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Warren Buffett knows philanthropy. Hes pledged to give away more than 99% of his wealth (during his lifetime or after his death) through the Giving Pledge, a program he created with his buddy Bill Gates to encourage the worlds billionaires to donate at least 50% of their wealth to charity. Buffett also supports a couple of charities with which he has deeply personal connections, and often does so by unconventional means. In particular: auctions. (For Buffett, seeing how these pan out must be half the fun.) Buffett's latest charitable endeavor is the sale of a cutting-edge piece of digital art, featuring his likeness and wisdom, to benefit the Omaha chapter of Girls Inc., a non-profit which supports girls. Much more on that, but first lets look at these two charitable efforts writ large. Youve likely heard about the "lunch with Buffett" auctions for a meal with the Oracle at New York steakhouse Smith & Wollensky. The proceeds from this go to GLIDE, a San Francisco church that is a center for fighting poverty. Buffetts late wife Susan connected him to GLIDE in 2000, Susan passed away in 2004, and Buffett did these "Power Lunch" auctions for 21 years. Hedge fund manager Zhao Danyang (L) and his son Zhao Ziyang (age 5 1/2) stand with billionaire investor Warren Buffett after placing the winning bid in a charity auction for lunch with Buffett in New York, June 24, 2009. REUTERS/Chip East The last of these was held two months ago, with the winning bid fetching a cool $19 million. In total, Buffett raised more than $53 million from these auctions, a remarkable haul for GLIDE and, more importantly, for its constituents. Then theres Girls Inc., the other beneficiary of Buffetts auctioneering largess, including that digital art piece. Girls Inc. is also connected to Susan Buffett, as well as his daughter Susie. We used to gang up on him, Susie told me. "I've been a supporter of Girls Inc. of Omaha for many years, Buffett wrote in an email. This wonderful organization is creating a brighter future for women and girls. Buffetts late wife founded the Girls Inc. predecessor organization in Omaha in the 1970s, and Susie Buffett had been on the national board for many years; Susie's good friend Roberta Wilhelm is the president of the Omaha chapter. My dads always been super impressed with Roberta and thinks highly of the organization, says Susie Buffett. There's all kinds of fun connections with Girls Inc. and my dad. Starting with the upcoming auction. Later this month, Girls Inc. of Omaha will be selling a Buffett-signed piece of digital artwork created by Motiva, an Israeli company headed Ronen Shiloh. The work is a little difficult to describe see video here but basically its a digital portrait of Buffett with lettering behind him which lights up, spelling out some of his famous quotes. The digital art of Warren Buffett being auctioned off for charity. (Source: Motiva) Susie Buffett tells me a businessman named Danny Moskovitz showed her the piece at Allen & Co.s Sun Valley conference last year and asked about auctioning it off. My dad was fine with it, Susie said. He just said he would like it to go to Girls Inc. We'll check back on August 31st, one day after Buffett's 92nd birthday, to see how much it fetches. Though of course, this is just one entry in Buffett's long-time auction history. You may recall that in 2008, Buffett made a million dollar bet with a hedge fund, wagering that an index fund would outperform the hedgie's picks over ten years. Buffett won in the end, and in 2018, $2.2 million in proceeds went to Girls Inc. But wait theres more! In 2015, Buffett auctioned off his 2006 Cadillac DTS and raised $122,500 for Girls Inc. of Omaha, or roughly $111,300 more than the car's estimated value and $49,300 more than he raised when he auctioned off his Lincoln Town Car back in 2006. (Buffett once drove me around Omaha in that Caddy. Lets just say Im glad he parted with it.) Then there was the time back in 2009 that Buffett bought 17 Hilo ukuleles for Girls Inc. Buffett threw in $344.23 and a lesson. Reuters did a great write up, but heres my favorite part: "Buffett spent about an hour with 13 girls at the groups building, trying to teach them the songs 'Red River Valley' and 'Happy Birthday.' It had to be pointed out to some of the girls who Buffett was. "After the fact, one girl came to the office and asked, 'Our ukulele teacher is the second-richest man in the world?' [Roberta] Wilhelm recalled. 'And I said thats true. And she said, 'The first-richest doesnt play?'' "In fact, the first richest, Bill Gates, does play. Buffett taught him. In 1999, Buffett auctioned off his wallet, replete with a stock tip tucked inside to John Morgan, who was on the board of Girls Inc., for $210,000 which went to Girls Inc. Morgan had the idea to raise even more money by selling the name of the stock for $1,000, which he did to some 30 people. Morgan, whos gone on to be a poker player of some renown, also bought a portrait of Buffett for $100,000, with the proceeds again going to Girls Inc. Morgan later donated the portrait to the University of Nebraska, Omaha. In 2011, Morgan, bought a childhood home of Buffetts, and surprise! donated it to Girls Inc. It was a house Warren lived in when he was pretty young, says Wilhelm. There's a mark on one of the doors where he attempted to hit a sister with a hammer and it left a dent that's still there today. Buffett has also supported Girls Inc. by appearing at its annual charity luncheon, along with the likes of Barack Obama, Desmond Tutu, and Billie Jean King. Then, there was the time Buffett himself spoke. My Dad doesnt do speeches, but this time he did, says Susie Buffett. Maya Angelou was supposed to come and she ended up canceling at the very last minute. The girls were devastated. Susie marched over to her Dads office and "asked" him in no uncertain terms to come over right away and speak. "And he did. He spoke all about girls and their potential and how the sky's the limit. The message for the girls was amazing." Speaking of messages, theres a Buffett quote on the Motiva piece that caught Roberta Wilhelms eye. "'Women make me optimistic about America,' that's our favorite," Wilhelm says. "But it also speaks about who [Buffett] is and how he feels about women and the potential of young girls. It's magic." Magic and a little bit of money have been just the ticket for GLIDE and Girls Inc. This article was featured in a Saturday edition of the Morning Brief on Saturday, August 6. Get the Morning Brief sent directly to your inbox every Monday to Friday by 6:30 a.m. ET. Subscribe Follow Andy Serwer, editor-in-chief of Yahoo Finance, on Twitter: @serwer Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube For female students in Afghanistan, education is separate and unequal. Classes are segregated by gender, and in some parts of the country, girls are prohibited from continuing school past sixth grade. Even in cosmopolitan cities like Kabul, where girls might have access to a high school education, they suffer from subpar teachers and have fewer resources. Under the Taliban, the few rights women have are increasingly at risk. Laila, 26, and Ghazal Noorani, 24, spent most of their education in a female-only classroom before they moved from Kabul to Modesto last year as refugees. We didnt have a co-education system, says Laila Noorani. She is wearing a blouse and pants and speaks confidently, even when she occasionally asks her brother Basir to translate on her behalf. Laila explains that many Afghan women at Modesto Junior College feel uncomfortable or unprepared at first because teachers have the same standards for both the male and female students. This spring, the two sisters enrolled at MJC to learn English, but the cultural barriers to education were as daunting as the classes themselves. Now, they want to help students like them. When the fall semester starts Aug. 29, Laila and Ghazal Noorani will be part of an inaugural cohort for a new program aimed to support Afghan women at MJC. The potential reach of the program is impressive. According to the Research Office at MJC, roughly 30% of the English-language learning students, about 350 people, are Afghan, and the majority are women. The program is called Hambastagizanan, the same word used for similar female support networks in Afghanistan. Longtime MJC English professor Ruth Luman came up with the idea for Hambastagizanan after noticing some of the special needs of Afghan women in her classroom. Program modeled after other supports at MJC Luman used feedback from students and modeled the program on other support networks at MJC, like the association for formerly incarcerated students, or La Comunidad, which provides resources for Latino students. Im teaching English, but Im teaching people, says Luman. Its not just about teaching your stuff and closing the door and leaving. Hambastagizanan will offer Afghan women a space to support one another inside and outside the classroom. That could include helping a student access child care or transportation. In other cases, Hambastagizanan might offer a space where Afghan women can receive mentorship in their native language or ask questions they may not feel comfortable asking in English. The program officially begins at the start of the school year, and interested women can contact Luman. The program already has recruited a small number of leaders, including the Noorani sisters, to serve as ambassadors and mentors. While the two women are new to Modesto, they arent shy about speaking up and stepping out in their community. Laila was a radio journalist in Kabul, while Ghazal worked on an education broadcasting channel that focused on womens issues. When the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took over, their work put them at risk of persecution. The Committee for the Protection of Journalists helped the sisters and their mother travel to the U.S., where Basir already was living. The women are now applying for asylum. For six months, they lived in the Comfort Suites hotel in Turlock as the local refugee resettlement agency struggled to manage the flow of new arrivals from Afghanistan. Basir traveled from Turlock to Modesto first and tested out the MJC classes before encouraging his sisters to join. Like the Noorani sisters, Shabnam Mujaddidi, 22, will be another leader in the Hambastagizanan program this fall. Shes sporting an MJC T-shirt and keeps her phone on hand, blending her in with the other students. Though she speaks in near-fluent English and has lived in the U.S. for two and half years, her mother and older siblings are still in Kabul. Afghan refugee and MJC student Shabnam Mujaddidi at Modesto Junior College in Modesto, Calif., on Wednesday, August 3, 2022. Without Mujaddidi, Luman thinks the Hambastagizanan program wouldnt be happening. Shes the leader of the leaders, the professor says. Mujaddidi wont be around for long, though. She graduates this spring and hopes to transfer to UC Davis to pursue a bachelors degree in business administration. Its a fine balance between Mujaddidis own aspirations and those of her community. But in the short term, she is still dreaming big. We want to work beyond the college as well, in society, and help Afghan women out, overcoming any kind of challenges or barriers theyre facing. Chinas massing of ships, aircraft and missiles near Taiwan is giving the U.S. a never-before-seen glimpse of how Beijing might launch a military campaign against the island. But China is also learning plenty of lessons that could eventually prove more important in how it plans for any future strike against the island of 23 million people. For all of Chinas military might, the Peoples Liberation Army has limited real-world experience outside of highly-choreographed domestic military exercises and hasnt fired a shot in anger since border scraps with Vietnam that ended in the 1980s. That makes these quickly assembled exercises around Taiwan a critical test for Beijing. China has brought dozens of aircraft, 13 ships, missile batteries and their crews to bear in the last days, signaling an ability to deploy quickly, even if it's close to home. Its ability to sustain those operations over time, if thats what Beijing decides, will be a critical test for the military, and closely watched. The dozens of warplanes flying daily over the median line in the Taiwan Strait and warships prowling the waters off the coast represent a significant and ominous change to the status quo, and one that could have enormous consequences for the defense of Taiwan in the future, experts and officials said. Pushing those warplanes over the line not only erases the previous boundary, but doing so in coordination with warships and staying clear of the missiles flying in close proximity is exactly the kind of real-time interaction that modern militaries spend so much time and effort to perfect, and has famously confounded the Russians in Ukraine. Getting those systems aligned, while watching Taiwans reaction, would yield critical knowledge about both capacity and readiness for Beijing if it launches military strikes against Taiwan or American interests in the Pacific. Chinese military planners are no doubt soaking up the reaction to their efforts, as Taiwan activates missile defense radars and moves troops and equipment around the island, giving Beijing key insights into how Taipei might react in time of war. Previous Chinese drills have been like driving a new car around a lot, as opposed to taking it out on the highway, said Randy Schriver, who served as the Pentagons top Asia policy official in the Trump administration. The coordinated bracketing of the island is the kind of exercise that will be more applicable to an actual strike. To this point, the United States has publicly held back, saying very little about the exercises while keeping its Japan-based USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group in the region, but not close to Taiwan. The amphibious ship USS Tripoli is near Okinawa and the amphibious USS America is in the East China Sea. Both carry F-35 fighters. More significant will be the glimpses into how China deploys and uses its forces. It will likely be a bonanza of intelligence, that could yield insights into the strengths and weaknesses of PLA mobilization, said Collin Koh, a research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies in Singapore. Those peeks would present a better picture of how the PLA may in future prosecute an invasion of Taiwan, or more generally how it would conduct a major military campaign, than any long-planned exercise on the Chinese mainland ever could, Koh added. Defense officials said the military is watching the exercises closely, but generally, they have remained quiet about the Chinese actions. White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby has said repeatedly this week that the U.S. isnt looking for a conflict with China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while traveling in Cambodia Friday, said there is no justification for this extreme, disproportionate, and escalatory military response, adding the Chinese moves are a significant escalation in the region. While the Chinese military has tested its missiles for years, their launch crews have never worked in an operational scenario where they have to wrestle with the complexities of military and commercial air and sea traffic, and ensure their missiles can make it over populated civilian areas and land safely in designated waters. Ahead of the live-fire exercises this week, Beijing unveiled a map of six zones where it planned to conduct the drills, forming a virtual ring around Taiwan. After the drills began on Thursday, the military launched at least 11 ballistic missiles, which splashed into the waters northeast, east and southeast of the island. Some landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, and one flew directly over Taiwan, an unprecedented action. On Friday, China sent 30 fighter planes across the median line that cuts the Taiwan Strait in half, according to Taiwans defense ministry. The move jeopardized the status quo of the strait, the agency tweeted, noting that Taipei responded by scrambling aircraft and ships, as well as activating surveillance and anti-aircraft missile systems. We condemn such action that disturbed our surrounding airspace and waters and continue to ensure our democracy and freedom free from threats, the ministry tweeted. The drills may be designed as intimidation, but the highly choreographed and coordinated movements are much more complex than previous shows of force, Schriver said. This is several shots targeted at different closure areas timed in a particular way, so that more closely resembles if they were actually going to use missiles to strike Taiwan, he said. For the Chinese, the exercise is also a chance to find out whether Taiwans air defenses were able to pick up their missile launches, and how Taiwans civil defenses would respond to an attack, Schriver said. They would likely know, did Taiwans air defenses pick us up? Did they light us up with a fire control radar? he said. The drills have provided an opportunity to not just test whether their missiles can hit their targets in an operational scenario, but also whether Chinas ships and planes can effectively blockade the island through their military movements. The last time China made moves around Taiwan to this extent was in 1996, when Beijing fired missiles into the Taiwan Strait after being angered by Taiwanese President Lee Teng-huis visit to the United States to give a speech about the islands democratization. But the modernized Chinese military of today barely resembles the force of 1996, boasting of new missiles, the largest navy in the world, two aircraft carriers, and fighter planes that rival Taiwans F-16s and U.S. carrier-based jets. The PLA then couldn't do any of this, said Lonnie Henley, a lecturer at George Washington University and former defense intelligence officer for East Asia. The things that the PLA is doing are perfectly routine things for the PLA to do these days, Henley added. They're just doing them all at once surrounding Taiwan, instead of doing them spread out over a period of a couple of months at a number of training zones throughout the East China Sea and South China Sea. But Taiwan hasnt been sitting on its hands either over the past decades. For years it has purchased U.S. F-16 fighters and other equipment, and in late 2020 reached a flurry of arms deals with Washington for highly sophisticated systems meant to make the island a porcupine to better deter or withstand a Chinese invasion. The deals included four armed MQ-9B drones, eleven High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems the same weapon that Ukraine has made a household name and Harpoon ship-killing missiles. But Taiwan and the U.S. military are now seeing, for the first time, an indication of what they might soon have to fight. Decades of carefully planned training exercises are vastly different from quick-moving military operations in unpredictable environments, and this latest crisis gives China its closest brush with the real world and its complications. The quick-reaction exercises allows the PLA to put to test and validate the outcomes of its modernization efforts and reforms carried out over recent decades, Koh said. This latest Taiwan Strait crisis presents the opportunity to evaluate their capabilities and identify weaknesses to work on, he added. The PLA is likely to glean a lot about itself in the process. A blazing fire in a crude oil tank in the port of Matanzas in Cuba caused several explosions Saturday morning that have left at least 121 people injured, local authorities said. Seventeen firefighters who were trying to prevent the flames from spreading were missing, the official Twitter account of Cubas presidential office said. Cubas Communist Party newspaper Granma said there was a high probability that some of the missing people were dead. In an afternoon press conference, Cubas prime minister, Manuel Marrero, said rescue teams recovered the body of an unidentified person. Local state media reported it was of one of the missing firefighters. Several firefighters are among those injured in a fire that started in an oil tank in the port of Matanzas. Another 17 firefighters are missing, authorities said. The fire started around 7 p.m. Friday, when lightning struck a crude oil storage tank in the unloading area in the port of Matanzas, Cuban authorities said. The tank was at half capacity, with about 25,000 cubic liters of Cuban crude. Local authorities said the lightning rod system failed to prevent the fire. Images shared on social media show a massive column of black smoke crossing the city of Matanzas and extending 63 miles west to Havana. Despite the efforts of the firefighters to control it, there were at least four explosions in the early hours of Saturday, the provincial government of Matanzas said on its official Twitter account. Image taken by a drone at 1:43 am Saturday. According to the latest count reported by Granma, the fire left at least 121 people injured. Three reportedly had severe injuries and another five were in critical condition. Prime Minister Marrero said 36 people remained hospitalized in several hospitals in Matanzas and Havana. The Minister of Energy, Livan Arronte Cruz, was also hurt. He said on Twitter he was feeling better and was hoping to recover soon. Among those injured with minor burns were three journalists who arrived at the fire scene around 4 a.m. when an explosion occurred in a second oil tank containing 52,000 cubic meters of fuel oil. The oil storage facility is located in an area of Matanzas Bay opposite the city center. According to state media, 800 residents of nearby areas have been evacuated so far. The Ministry of Transportation suspended all activities at the port of Matanzas, including fuel unloading, and ships were diverted to the ports of Havana or Cienfuegos. Efforts to control the fire continued on Saturday evening, as the flames were increasing, Marrero said. READ MORE: Cuba was already facing an electricity crisis. These explosions could make that much worse Cuban authorities said they had requested aid from friendly countries with experience in the oil industry to put out the fire. According to the Cuban state news outlet Cubadebate, the friendly countries could be Venezuela and Mexico. On social media, Cuban and Cuban-American users called on the island government to ask for help from Florida. In the afternoon, the Cuban government said it accepted technical assistance offered by the United States to help put out the fire, in what could be one of the few examples of cooperation between the two countries in recent years. We deeply appreciate the condolences and expressions of help from people and organizations in the U.S. regarding the #Matanzas incident, including from the U.S. government, which offered technical advice, a proposal already in the hands of specialists for proper coordination, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Cubas vice minister of foreign affairs, said on Twitter. Previously, the U.S. Embassy in Havana had sent condolences to the victims of the incident in a message posted on Twitter and clarified that U.S. law authorizes American entities and organizations to provide disaster relief and response in Cuba. Reached by the Herald, the State Department did not provide details of what was offered to Cuba. . Sheriff's deputies walk away from the rubble of a home where the body of a victim of the McKinney fire was found on Monday in Klamath National Forest. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) Strong winds expected to sweep through the Shasta Valley could hinder the progress made in recent days by thousands of firefighters in containing the massive and deadly McKinney wildfire burning at the California-Oregon border. Since it began in the Klamath National Forest late last month, the blaze has killed four people, destroyed 87 homes and consumed 60,044 acres, but its spread has slowed over the past few days, with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reporting 30% containment. It is the largest wildfire in the state so far this year. Forecasts of wind gusts of up to 30 mph pose significant new risks and prompted the National Weather Service in Medford, Ore., to prepare to issue a red flag warning for Yreka, Calif., and other parts of the valley along Interstate 5 starting Sunday afternoon. When you put a lot of wind on a fire, a lot of bad things can happen, said Ryan Sandler, one of the meteorologists monitoring the situation. Dangerous wind conditions are expected through at least Monday. Map shows the area where the McKinney fire is burning near the California-Oregon border. CalFire public information officer Aaron Johnson said some 2,700 crew members will continue digging and maintaining control lines around and through the fire, but are preparing for the possibility of more intense flames and new fires. With the high winds, it could potentially throw off spot fires, said Johnson. Siskiyou County has seen days of 90- and 100-degree heat and very low humidity, and the addition of the strong winds brings the risk of the fire to become plume dominated with enormous clouds and erratic behavior, Sandler said. The winds could reach up to 30 mph in the valley and up to 20 mph in the more mountainous area where the fire is burning. Because the atmosphere is so hot, dry and unstable, the fire can in effect create its own weather, he said. Some areas of the blaze saw up to 3 inches of rain last week, but the intense heat quickly dried the ground and vegetation, and no thunderstorms are expected in the next week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. West Kentucky was abuzz with barbecue, bingo and a bevy of candidates from both sides of the aisle vying for political office this year and next. The 142nd annual Fancy Farm Picnic at the Historic St. Jerome Catholic Church is one of the countrys largest such events and arguably the states most consequential political event of the year. Often seen as a rite of passage for aspirational politicians in the state, the event featured Saturday afternoon zinger-filled speeches from statewide officeholders and hopefuls alike. This years speakers didnt disappoint. The U.S. Senate race featured Democratic candidate Charles Bookers supporters hectoring both his opponent Sen. Rand Pauls wife who was speaking in his place as well as Attorney General Daniel Cameron, and Kelley Paul speaking in Rands stead attacking Booker himself and the Democrats stance on hot-button social issues. The crowds cheer, boo and jeer as candidates deliver their speeches during the 142nd annual St. Jeromes Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, August 6, 2022. Aside from some 2022 talk, everyone elses eyes were on the looming GOP gubernatorial primary, as a growing list of candidates have stepped up to face Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear in a bid to cement Republican control over the state. Speakers this year included all statewide officeholders except Beshear and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, candidates for statewide and regional office and Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge. House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, emceed the event. U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker speaks the crowd gathered for the 142nd annual St. Jeromes Fancy Farm Picnic before politicians deliver speeches in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, August 6, 2022. U.S. Senate Race: Charles Booker, Kelley Paul trade barbs Due to the Senate session, both of Kentuckys GOP Senators, Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell, could not give their scheduled remarks. Pauls wife, Kelley, spoke in his stead. She focused on gender politics, public safety, and digs at Booker. Other GOP candidates speaking often diminished Bookers odds of beating Paul. Booker, fresh off a trip to Eastern Kentucky to help with relief efforts after historic flooding in the region, tried to put a positive and unifying spin on his campaign. He also framed Rand Paul as a clown who doesnt take his job seriously. Kentuckians show up, so thats why it should be no surprise to anybody that Rand Paul is nowhere to be found. Hes in Washington right now trying to screw you as we speak, Booker said. Today was his monthly hair appointment. That perm aint gonna fix itself. Kelley Paul went on the offensive by bringing up the fact that Booker paid himself $150,000 from his own nonprofit named after his campaign slogan hood to the holler. Maybe he should rename it from the hood to the dollar, Kelley Paul joked. She also fought to associate Booker closely with the defund the police movement. Kelley Paul also drew criticisms for controversial anti-transgender remarks, including railing against transgender women in sports and the ability of transgender people to define their own identities. It triggered a response from 1st Congressional District candidate Jimmy Ausbrooks, who incorrectly said that he was the first openly gay person to run for federal office in Kentucky. Former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray took that distinction in his run against Rand Paul in 2016. Im glad that miss Paul left. That was an insult to me and many of my friends. Some speakers referenced rumors that Booker had at one point considered leaving the Democratic party, which he has denied. At a Democratic event on Friday night, Booker urged fellow party members to hold strong in their support of a progressive candidate like him. You may look at the political climate right now and question whether someone quite like me could win a statewide race for United States Senate. You may question what the future holds. I dont blame you, Booker said. I know how hard its been, and a lot of folks dont vote. A lot of people have thrown their hands up. If you feel cynical, I understand. Please, hear me: I need you to push through that cynicism. McConnells significance loomed large at the event, even in his absence. Osborne credited the minority leader and longtime Kentucky politician with flipping the state Republican. McConnell also gave a short video speech in absentia to Republicans at the Graves County GOP breakfast. The crowds cheer, boo and jeer as candidates deliver their speeches during the 142nd annual St. Jeromes Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, August 6, 2022. Looking ahead to 2023 governors race For many GOP candidates who have announced for governor in 2023, Fancy Farm served as the biggest stage to debut their respective stump speeches. Attorney General Daniel Camerons speech caught the particular ire of Democrats, largely for their opposition to his handling of the Breonna Taylor case. Cameron, 36, has frequently touted his strong name ID and his experience as attorney general as proof of his bonafides for governor. I am the best candidate, and the only candidate that can beat Andy Beshear next Fall They see the polls and they know the truth: when Im the nominee, we will finally retire the Beshears from office in 2023. Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron talks with reporters before politicians give speeches during the 142nd annual St. Jeromes Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, August 6, 2022. In reference to his legal battle in support of Kentuckys trigger law, which bans essentially all abortion in the state, he said theres only one candidarte that can say he has ended abortions in the state of Kentucky. The ban is currently in effect after Camerons team scored a win in the Court of Appeals. Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles opened with a dig on Beshear and a minor one for Cameron, noting that people flocked to Fancy Farm like a moth to a flame, like Andy Beshear to giant checks, like an attorney general to the governors race. Quarles, who posted the highest amount of funds raised in his first quarter, said that hes focused on running a robust, grassroots, old-school campaign. My campaign is going to be spent behind a steering wheel and not behind a desk, Quarles said. Quarles stated that 2023 would be the first year the GOP has a deep bench on the statewide ticket. But beating Beshear may not be guaranteed, he said, calling the current governor a formidable opponent. The crowds cheer, boo and jeer as candidates deliver their speeches during the 142nd annual St. Jeromes Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, August 6, 2022. Rep. Savannah Maddox, R-Dry Ridge, focused her remarks on separating herself from the pack, calling out Cameron and Quarles by name for allegedly not being tough enough on Beshear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Look at these guys. Theyre like the opposite of the Dos Equis beer guy. Theyre the least interesting men in Kentucky politics, Maddox said. She closed by announcing a recent endorsement she scored: that of Northern Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie, a conservative maverick known for his contrarian stances in Washington. Candidate for Governor Savannah Maddox speaks the crowd gathered for the 142nd annual St. Jeromes Fancy Farm Picnic before politicians deliver speeches in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, August 6, 2022. GOP Auditor Mike Harmon was the first to announce a run for governor, but his campaign has yet to pick up steam monetarily. Harmon centered his remarks on Beshear, pairing him with Biden by doing a Jeff Foxworthy-inspired you might be a Beshear-Biden Democrat if routine. There arent many people in Kentucky who want to defend the woke and broke agenda of the current Democratic Party, Harmon said. State Auditor and candidate for Governor Mike Harmon speaks during the 142nd annual St. Jeromes Fancy Farm Picnic in Fancy Farm, Ky., Saturday, August 6, 2022. Granted a speaking slot due to relatively few Democrats electing to or being in a position to speak at the event, Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge spared no punches in his characterizations of the field. He said Beshear would beat whatever Republican gets off the Gilligans Island of the Republican primary unless Kelly Craft gets off her yacht to buy the island, in reference to the wealth of Craft, who is married to billionaire coal magnate Joe Craft. Osborne quipped that Elridges job must be tough not having a single elected official West of (Interstate)-65. Talk of the day The political buzz started early, as both parties hosted events prior to the picnic. Jerry Sells, a retired dentist from Benton, said that he was particularly interested in figuring out more about who could face Gov. Andy Beshear in the governors race. Sells said he was open to voting for any of the gubernatorial candidates who were aggressively making the rounds at the Marshall County Republican dinner on Friday night. Top of mind for Sells was figuring out how genuine the candidates were in their anti-abortion and pro-gun stances. Some will say one thing and do another, Sells said. Trey Grayson, a former Republican secretary of state, noted when he first attended the Graves County Republican Breakfast in 2002, it was a small gathering. Now, its the complete opposite, he said, noting the energy of the large crowd. I think we need to take advantage of it as a party, he said. Weve got an incumbent governor. The voters hired him once, and they have to decide to fire him. Its a different kind of dynamic. Grayson noted that recent crises like the December tornadoes in Western Kentucky and the July flooding in the east have given the governor a chance to position himself as a leader instead of a politician. Thats helpful for him, because if hes Democrat Andy Beshear, you lose, he said. But if hes statesman Andy Beshear or Governor Andy Beshear, he can win. One Western Kentucky GOP voter, who is running a write-in campaign against Rep. Richard Heath, R-Mayfield, after being disqualified from the primary because of a signature issue, said shes supporting Maddox for governor. Kim Holloway likes Maddox, she said, because she is not establishment and not a RINO (Republican in name only). Heath, who is running for re-election to his current post and for commissioner of agriculture against a former young star within the GOP in Jonathan Shell, was emceeing the Graves County GOP breakfast. Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft is considering a run for governor but was not present at Fancy Farm. Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, who is strongly considering a run was present with a team of people wearing his shirts. Eric Deters, a retired Northern Kentucky attorney, was also present for a pre-Fancy Farm GOP event. Secretary of State Michael Adams and Treasurer Alison Ball both recently declined to pursue the governorship. Adams is running for reelection while Ball is looking to make the jump to state auditor to replace a term-limited Harmon. Both made speeches on Saturday. Former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky and 2023 GOP candidate for attorney general Russell Coleman spoke at the GOP pre-Fancy Farm breakfast touting his ties to Trump and willingness to tackle the opioid crisis. No Democrats with significant name ID aside from Beshear have announced for statewide office in 2023 as of yet. Comer joked at the Republican breakfast on Saturday that his Democratic opponent Jimmy Ausbrooks and candidate for U.S. Senate Charles Booker were dead on arrival. Im afraid that well get arrested for abuse of two corpses, Comer said of potentially talking trash to those two. Comer beat his last Democratic opponent by 50 percentage points and GOP U.S. Senator Rand Paul beat former Lexington mayor Jim Gray in a 2016 general election contest by nearly 15 percentage points. But not all recent electoral news has been good for Republicans. Kansas, a conservative state, roundly rejected a recent proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot there, potentially dampening the odds of a similar amendment on the 2022 ballot passing in Kentucky. Conservatives at Fancy Farm were emphatic that Kentucky is not the same as Kansas. Kentucky Right to Life Executive Director Addia Wuchner spoke at the Republican breakfast, encouraging attendees to voter in favor of the amendment. You are not voting any particular abortion program, she said. What youre doing is youre protecting the Kentucky Constitution. It says theres no right for abortion enshrined in our constitution. Kentucky Attorney General and gubernatorial hopeful Daniel Cameron spoke at the Graves County Republican Breakfast, where GOP hopefuls gathered ahead of the Fancy Farm political picnic. U.S. Senate candidate Charles Booker and others spoke at the Marshall County Democrats 25th annual Bean Dinner Friday night before Facy Farm. One official, and one TBD. Two congressmen line up behind KY governor candidates. Human remains found six months ago on the outskirts of Lawrence, Kansas were positively identified as those of Guy Wayne Collins, a 47-year-old Jackson County man who was reported missing last year. In a statement Friday, the Douglas County Sheriffs Office announced that the remains had been positively identified by a lab report issued through the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The sheriffs office added that law enforcement suspected no foul play in Collins death. Collins, of Buckner, was reported missing by family on July 8, 2021, two days after he was released from the custody of the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. He was booked in the jail on a bench warrant out of Cass County Circuit Court and posted a $700 bond, records show. On Jan. 31, two people called 911 after discovering what appeared to be human remains near a creek in the area of a wetlands nature preserve in Douglas County. Other bones were located nearby at the water. The discovery set off a death investigation by area law enforcement that began with an attempt to identify the body. Authorities on Friday did not disclose the suspected cause of death. In the statement, the sheriffs office offered condolences to Collins family. People grieve at the funeral for Tamim Hijazi, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday. (Yousef Masoud / Associated Press) Israeli airstrikes flattened homes in the Gaza Strip on Saturday and Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel persisted for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict. Gazas Health Ministry said 24 people had been killed so far in the coastal strip, including six children. The fighting began with Israels killing of a senior commander of the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad in a wave of strikes Friday that Israel said were meant to prevent an imminent attack. So far, Hamas, the larger militant group that rules Gaza, appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained. Israel and Hamas fought a war 15 months ago, one of four major conflicts and several smaller battles over the last 15 years. Whether Hamas continues to stay out of the fight probably depends in part on how much punishment Israel inflicts in Gaza as rocket fire steadily continues. The Israeli military said an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants killed civilians late Saturday, including children, in the town of Jabaliya, in northern Gaza. The military said it investigated the incident and concluded without a doubt that it was caused by a misfire on the part of Islamic Jihad. There was no official Palestinian comment on the incident. A Palestinian medical worker, who was not authorized to brief media and spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the blast killed at least six people, including three children. Earlier on Saturday, Israeli warplanes stepped up strikes with hits on four residential buildings in Gaza City, all locations said to be linked to Islamic Jihad militants. There were no reports of casualties. In each case, the Israeli military said it warned residents ahead of the strikes. An airstrike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah destroyed a home and heavily damaged surrounding buildings. The Health Ministry said at least two people were killed and 32 wounded, including children. The body of a teenage boy was recovered from the rubble, and the other person killed was identified by his family as Ziad al Mudalal, the son of an Islamic Jihad official. The military said it targeted Khaled Mansour, Islamic Jihad's commander for southern Gaza. Neither Israel nor the militant group said whether he was hit. The Palestinian Civil Defense said that emergency workers were still sifting through the rubble and that a digger was being sent from Gaza City. Another strike Saturday hit a car, killing a 75-year-old woman and wounding six other people. In one of the strikes, after the warnings, fighter jets dropped two bombs on the house of an Islamic Jihad member. The blast flattened the two-story structure, leaving a large rubble-filled crater and badly damaged surrounding homes. Women and children rushed out of the area. Warned us? They warned us with rockets and we fled without taking anything, said Huda Shamalakh, who lived next door. She said 15 people lived in the targeted home. The lone power plant in Gaza ground to a halt at noon Saturday for lack of fuel as Israel has kept its crossing points into Gaza closed since Tuesday. With the new disruption, Gazans can get only four hours of electricity a day, increasing their reliance on private generators and deepening the territorys chronic power crisis amid peak summer heat. Throughout the day, Gaza militants regularly launched rounds of rockets into southern Israel, but there were no reports of casualties. Most barrages were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome missile-defense system, hit in empty areas or fell short into Gaza. Rocket shrapnel damaged the roof of a home in the city of Sderot, but the family was in a shelter. On Friday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a televised speech that Israel isnt interested in a broader conflict in Gaza but will not shy away from one, either. This government has a zero-tolerance policy for any attempted attacks of any kind from Gaza towards Israeli territory, he said. Israel will not sit idly by when there are those who are trying to harm its civilians. The violence poses an early test for Lapid, who assumed the role of caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in November, when he hopes to keep the position. Lapid, a centrist former TV host and author, has experience in diplomacy having served as foreign minister in the outgoing government, but has thin security credentials. A conflict with Gaza could burnish his standing and give him a boost as he faces off against former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a security hawk who led the country during three of its four wars with Hamas. Hamas also faces a dilemma in deciding whether to join a new battle after the last war, in May 2021, caused widespread devastation. There has been almost no reconstruction since then, and the isolated coastal territory of 2 million residents is mired in poverty, with unemployment hovering around 50%. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory since the Hamas takeover in 2007. Egypt on Saturday intensified efforts to prevent escalation, communicating with Israel, the Palestinians and the United States to keep Hamas from joining the fighting, an Egyptian intelligence official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The latest round of Israel-Gaza violence was rooted in the arrest earlier this week of a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank, part of a monthlong Israeli military operation in the territory. A teen Islamic Jihad member was also killed in a gun battle. Israel then closed roads around Gaza and sent reinforcements to the border, warning of retaliation. On Friday, it killed Islamic Jihads commander for northern Gaza, Taiseer Jabari, in a strike on a Gaza City apartment building. An Israeli military spokesman said the strikes were in response to an imminent threat from two militant squads armed with anti-tank missiles. Other Israeli strikes overnight largely hit on the outskirts of Gaza City or in rural areas, targeting what Israel said were rocket launchers, rocket building sites and Islamic Jihad camps. Overnight, Israeli media showed the skies above southern and central Israel lighting up with rockets and interceptors from the Iron Dome defense system. The United Nations special envoy to the region, Tor Wennesland, said: The launching of rockets must cease immediately, and I call on all sides to avoid further escalation. Defense Minister Benny Gantz approved an order to call up 25,000 reserve soldiers if needed while the military announced a special situation on the home front, with schools closed and limits placed on activities in communities within 50 miles of the border. Hamas seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew from the coastal strip. Iran-backed Islamic Jihad is smaller than Hamas but largely shares its ideology. Both groups oppose Israels existence and have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years, including periodic rocket fire into Israel. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The editor of one of Russias most respected independent economic journals grudgingly concedes team Putin is riding the sanction storm well. "Weve had some figures for the first half of 2022 released, and the overall feeling is much more optimistic than it was in March or April," Peter Mironenko of "The Bell" tells Fox News. "We see the figures. They are not manipulated. On the one hand we see economic downturn in the second quarter. GDP fell around 4% and in the third quarter we will have about 7%. This is recession. But the scale is much more modest than it was said to be three or four months ago." And less dramatic than it was in 2009 when war wasn't waging; its also less than Russias Central Banks initial prediction of an 8-10% GDP decline this year. And there is more. Household income is down just 0.8%, according to Mironenko. Right now, there is even deflation. Some people have simply been spooked by the political situation into spending less, saving for an even rainier day. PUTIN'S FASCINATION WITH FAKE HISTORY AND SYMBOLISM MAY GO DEEPER THAN WE KNOW There is less foreign stuff to buy, so some Russians are writing that off, but in fact, imported items can still be boughtbetween brokers and the surprisingly strong ruble, Mironenko says an iphone will cost you pretty much the same as it did a year ago. He himself was shocked to discover the fact when he recently bought one for his father. The government has, he says, sagely avoided price controls even if everything else they do feels like going back to the USSR. Unemployment is at a historic low. Some of this is artificial. The government has increased pensions and salaries since the war began, because it can. "The sanctions didnt decrease the income of the Russian budget from oil exports, so the government has money," Mironenko, who recently went into exile due to the immense pressures on the press, said. Oil storage tanks stand at the RN-Tuapsinsky refinery, operated by Rosneft Oil Co., as tankers sail beyond in Tuapse, Russia, on Monday, March 23, 2020. Major oil currencies have fallen much more this month following the plunge in Brent crude prices to less than $30 a barrel, with Russias ruble down by 15%. Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images "It will (have money) in 2022 and in 2023, and as we know, historically Vladimir Putins government was also very good, very cautious about peoples personal income. His whole prosperity legend is based on the constant increase of peoples personal income. Since 2000, it was very linked with the growing oil prices." But anyway, Mironenko adds, Putin has to keep that prosperity project up, and as long as Moscow has the funds, it will spend them on keeping Russians in the black. WHAT ARE THE SANCTIONS DOING TO RUSSIA? How long will that be, I ask Mironenko? He does admit sanctions are working, in theory, but he says, "Its a long process. Historically there are not a lot of examples when even the heaviest sanctions do their job in a year. I dont think well see any effectspolicy changes before three to five years." The energy dance is a tricky one, according to Mironenko who explains that oil is more important than gas for Russias coffers, so in some ways a commodity to be played with. The Kremlin's Spasskaya Tower and St. Basil's Cathedral are seen through the art object in Zaryadye park in Moscow, Russia March 15, 2022. (REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File Photo) (REUTERS/Evgenia Novozhenina/File Photo) Vladimir Putin started a game of decreasing gas flow to Europe supposedly to see if that will make Brussels nervous enough to loosen sanctions. Pain, apparently worth enduring for now. But when the European ban on Russian oil kicks in at the end of the year, there could be a real flare-up of distress in Russia and Mironenko will be watching that moment closely. Meanwhile, when it comes to public opinion, its not just the propaganda- imbibing crowd in Russia that blame the West for any woes they are experiencing even if the economy is for the moment apparently - if perhaps artificially strong. It is harder to have a life connected to the outside world and for many educated and democratically-minded Russians, that is vital. Mironenko says theres a lot of anger building among those who feel shut out from the West and also much debate about how and where one should from a moral perspective, live ones life. So while the economy may be quite solvent for the moment, soul-searching and angst are dragging many Russians down. During the 1990s through the early 2000s, Exchange City was once considered a popular field trip destination among fifth-graders in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Exchange City was a model of a real city where kids were assigned jobs like mayor, judge or police officer and would work for fake currency to spend at shops in the city. Just unlocked a deep cut memory of Exchange City in elementary school real cms heads know Thomas. (@9x19millimeter) November 3, 2021 Anyone who was in CMS remember exchange city? My favorite field trip Hot Like Cole (@NicoNostalgia_) November 4, 2015 Much like in the real world, workers had to pay taxes on the money they earned. Tickets were also issued by police officers for crimes like walking on the grass. Writing bad checks could land them in jail, too. The program was meant to teach 9- and 10-year-olds about finance, budgeting, and the value of hard work. On a recent Reddit thread, those who once participated in the program as kids detailed their Exchange City experience I was the owner of a sign shop, one user wrote. Man, that was a fun day. I did walk on the grass. I was the postmaster, another said. It was fun. While most described an enjoyable experience, others revealed some of the devious things they did while they were on the job. I was the cop, another commented. I only gave out one ticket, to the radio DJ for noise pollution because he played Wild Wild West by Kool Moe Dee 10 times in a row. What happened to Charlottes Exchange City Exchange City was developed in the mid-90s by an organization called The Learning Exchange, a now-defunct Kansas City, Missouri-based nonprofit that provided resources to educators. In 1996, Junior Achievement USA, an organization dedicated to giving young people the skills they need to own their economic success, took over the program, Ed Grocholski, the chief marketing officer at Junior Achievement, told The Charlotte Observer. Although Exchange City was discontinued, it was replaced with a similar program to teach young children about the basics of finance that is still active today. JA is all about being on the cusp of change, said Kimberly Baker, the senior vice president of education at Junior Achievement of the Carolinas. Exchange City was dealing with things in a different time frame. If you think about writing checks, not many people write checks nowadays. JA as a national organization is very strategic in ensuring our curriculum doesnt stay stagnant and that we stay on the cusp of whats happening in the classroom because that is where we get that real-life relevance. According to Grocholski, Exchange City evolved into JA BizTown, which launched during the 2006-07 school year. At JA Biztown, fourth, fifth and sixth-grade students spend a few hours at a simulated town similar to Exchange City. There they learn the importance of citizen rights, and build an understanding of money management skills and basic business practices, according to the Junior Achievement website. Students are given an assignment as CEO, CFO, account manager, or marketing manager of a company that is represented in JA BizTown, said Baker. And they are operating to pay their startup loan as an entrepreneur or business would do throughout the day. JA BizTown is a relatively new program, but it still leaves the same lasting impression that Exchange City did for thousands of young students in Charlotte, Baker said. Our students are still talking about it, Baker said. We hear from teachers, parents and administrators that say their children are still talking about being a CEO of a bank or being the mayor for a day. Kylie Jenner, pictured at the Met Gala in May, got flack for not wearing proper gear in her cosmetics lab. (Evan Agostini / Invision/Associated Press) Kylie Jenner, the face of makeup brand Kylie Cosmetics, should know a thing or two about full coverage. But after catching heat on social media this week, the reality star and beauty mogul has explained why she left her hands, hair and face exposed when recently visiting a makeup lab. The "Kardashians" star came under fire on Wednesday after she posted pictures and videos of her visit to a makeup lab in Milan, Italy. In her TikTok and Instagram posts, Jenner handled beauty products without wearing sanitary gear. The photos also saw the star donning a white lab coat but neither gloves nor a hair net. Instead, she leaned over products with her long hair draping over her shoulders and held beakers with her bare, manicured hands. Critics were quick to call out Jenner for possibly contaminating the lab materials, some joking in the comments about finding "hair in the makeup." Among Jenner's detractors was Emmy-winning makeup artist and cosmetic developer Kevin James Bennett, who wrote a scathing Instagram post about Jenner's lab visit. "I have very short hair, and I've NEVER been allowed into the lab or onto the manufacturing floor without a hair net, shoe covers, mask ... and disposable GLOVES," Bennett captioned his Wednesday post. "Kylie is gaslighting her followers into thinking she is creating cosmetics. "Folks, this is not the way we create cosmetics and misrepresents how our industry works," he continued. "Credible manufacturers follow STRICT sanitation protocols to protect you." On Thursday, Jenner responded to the backlash, hopping into the comments section of Bennett's post to defend herself. "This picture is not taken in a manufacturing facility. i would never bypass sanitary protocols and neither would any other celeb or beauty brand owner," Jenner wrote. "This is a small personal space creating my own fun samples and taking pictures for content nowhere near the mass manufacturing. "No one is putting customers at risk," she added. "Shame on you kevin for spreading false information !!!!" Sources told Page Six that the cosmetics entrepreneur was "not on the production floor when the pictures and videos were taken" but rather was "simply reviewing colors and ideating on new concepts." Jenner's lab criticism comes just weeks after she was dubbed a "climate criminal" for her private-jet use. In July celebrity jet tracker Twitter account @CelebJets shared that the reality star took a private jet on a 17-minute flight from Camarillo to Van Nuys, Calif., a commute that could have taken about 45 minutes by car. Social media users were quick to call out Jenner for her traveling habits, particularly amid the climate crisis. And she wasn't alone. Musician Taylor Swift received similar blowback earlier this week. "People are tired of celebs telling us how we are destroying the environment when it's them," a Twitter user replied to the @CelebJets post. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. One person was killed and another was seriously injured in a crash with a semitrailer Thursday afternoon on Interstate 57 in Jefferson County. Irving Wright, 61, died in the crash, and Sherice D. Wright, 53, was airlifted to a hospital with serious injuries, according to an Illinois State Police District 13 news release from Friday. Both are from South Holland, a suburb of Chicago. Illinois State Police released its preliminary investigative findings about the fatal wreck on Friday afternoon. State police said the Wrights were traveling northbound on Interstate 57 when their car left the road, drove into a median, struck an embankment and then hit the trailer of a truck tractor semitrailer, which was also traveling northbound. Irving Wright was driving, and Sherice Wright was a passenger in the car, according to state police. Authorities did not know why their car left the road as of Friday. The accident happened at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. The truck tractor semitrailer driver refused medical attention, Illinois State Police said. For the first time in 45 years, Pennsylvania workers woke up to updated Minimum Wage Act regulations Friday morning. The new state regulations revise how employers pay tipped employees and process noncash tips, among other changes. They also align Pennsylvania regulations with federal ones. These regulations were proposed by Gov. Tom Wolf, who has been a staunch supporter of raising the states $7.25 minimum wage and securing more benefits for workers throughout his term. The updated regulations, now in effect, include: Employers cannot deduct credit card and noncash payment processing fees from their employees tips. For example, if someone leaves a $10 tip with their credit card and it costs $0.20 to process the tip, the employer must give the tipped employee $10 rather than $9.80. A tipped employee must make at least $135 in monthly tips before an employer can reduce his or her salary to $2.83 an hour. Previously, employers could reduce the salaries of tipped employees who made $30 in tips monthly. Employers must clarify to patrons that service charges are not gratuities for tipped employees. They also must leave a line on the billing statement for patrons to leave a tip if they wish to do so. For salaried employees who work under the fluctuating workweek method, employers must calculate their overtime pay based on a 40-hour workweek. Tipped employees must spend at least 80% of their time on duties that generate tips, in accordance with federal regulations. This is known as the 80/20 rule. Tip pooling is allowed but, in most cases, excludes managers, supervisors and business owners, in accordance with federal regulations. Bobbi Linskens, spokeswoman for the Restaurant Opportunities Center of Pittsburgh, expressed she didnt know why it took so long for some of these changes to be enacted. She envisions the credit card fee regulation will have the most direct impact on Pennsylvania workers. Lots of the general public didnt realize it was legal for restaurants to charge employees credit card processing fees, Linskens said. State Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Brookline, believes the updated regulations will certainly help working families. This change could make a difference, but those folks need a bump up, too, in other ways, he said. Hospitality employers The only real differences hospitality industry employers can expect stem from the credit card fee and service charge regulations, said Robert Pritchard, a Pittsburgh-based shareholder at the Littler Mendelson law firm and co-chair of the firms wage and hour practice group. Pritchard said both of these changes will be reasonably manageable for employers. He believes the credit card fee regulation will usher in the biggest impact of the two. That is a big change for employers who used to require employees to absorb the cost, he said. The other regulations either wont heavily impact the hospitality industry or are already common practice for employers, Pritchard said. For example, while the $135 regulation could impact employers with tipped workers who work only a few times a month, most tipped employees meet the $135 monthly threshold. Additionally, while it might seem like the 80/20 and tip pooling regulations would cause waves in Pennsylvania, these wont have a significant impact on employers because they already were federal regulations, Pritchard explained. Pritchard advised Pennsylvania employers to regularly check the U.S. Department of Labor and Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry websites to stay in the loop of updated regulations. It is important to remain up to date, he said. Minimum wage push Linskens called the updated regulations a small step for Pennsylvania workers. Like many, she has the states minimum wage on her mind. Pennsylvania is one of 13 states with the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Two states have minimum wages below that number, and five dont have a minimum wage. Wolf continuously has pushed to raise the Keystone States minimum wage to $12 an hour and eliminate the $2.83-an-hour minimum wage for tipped workers. Fontana voiced support for the minimum wage increase. Well keep pushing it and trying to refine it to make it work, he said. Its so obvious to me that these are poverty wages. The co-owner and financial manager of a steel fabrication company in Puyallup, Wash., pleaded guilty to tax fraud Friday for using more than $1 million in payroll taxes on personal expenses including vacations, gambling and a pool, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Western Washington announced. Donna Powell, 56, was indicted in February in U.S. District Court on nine counts of failing to pay $1,167,891 in federal payroll taxes over the course of eight years. She withheld the funds from employee paychecks, the indictment said, but she did not file any Forms 941, an employers quarterly tax return filing, from 2010 through the first quarter of 2018. This kind of willful failure to pay employment taxes carries up to a five-year prison sentence. Pinnacle Steel Fabricators, located at 14021 Pioneer Way in Puyallup, manufactures steel parts, employing 15 to 20 people. In addition to co-owning the business with her husband Dain Powell, according to state Department of Revenue filings, Donna Powell acted as secretary/treasurer and accounting manager for the company. Employers are required by law to file Forms 941 with the IRS detailing the amount of payroll taxes withheld from employee paychecks. Rather than properly paying these taxes to the IRS, the indictment said, she and her husband spent the money on themselves. They spent at least $32,000 on travel to international destinations including trips to Europe, Mexico City and Jamaica, according to the February indictment. They went to casinos in Washington state and in Reno, Nevada, dropping some $41,000. In online gaming, they shelled out another $33,000. Spa and pool-related purchases to the tune of at least $7,400 were also part of their scheme, per the U.S. Attorneys Office. Like in the movies, illegal pool parties are all fun and games until they are not, said Bret Kressin, the Seattle Field Office agent in charge of the IRS criminal investigation of this case. Ms. Powell had ill-intentions for her employees payroll withholdings and stole these amounts to pay for her own globe-trotting vacations, to fund her gambling, and to help pay for a pool, he said in a press release. While paying federal income taxes along with paying into Medicare and Social Security is not as fun as going on vacation or putting in a pool, honest people understand the need for these payroll withholdings and pay their fair share. Todays guilty plea marks Ms. Powells recognition of this critical life lesson. The release added that when a business fails to send the tax funds to their lawful place, it ultimately hurts the employees whose earning records are incomplete for Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment benefits. These errors can be corrected if employees contact the IRS with concerns over federal withholding. Powell is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 7. DNA, dental and other analyses confirmed the identity of remains buried in Belgium as a 27-year-old World War II soldier from North Carolina who died during battle in a German forest, officials with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said Friday. This newspaper clipping from 1944 reports that Army Pfc. David Owens of Green Hill in Watauga County was missing. Army Pfc. David Owens, of Green Hill in Watauga County, was among the first soldiers to land on the French coast on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when Allied troops invaded Nazi-occupied France, according to newspaper clippings when Owens was reported missing in action on Nov. 22, 1944. Owens died while his unit battled German forces in the Hurtgen Forest, which is near Hurtgen, Germany, according to a DPAA news release. The release included newspaper photos and clippings of Owens from when we was reported missing. Declared killed in action In the title of his 2013 book about the battle, author Rick Atkinson describes Hurtgen Forest as the worst place of any due to the fierce fighting and casualties. Owens was assigned to Company E, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, DPAA officials said. His body was unable to be recovered, and the Germans never reported him as a prisoner of war, according to the news release. He was declared killed in action Nov. 23, 1945. After the war, the American Graves Registration Command searched the Hurtgen area several times between 1946 and 1950 but never recovered or identified Owens remains. The command led the investigations and recovery of missing American soldiers in Europe. Owens was declared non-recoverable in December 1950, according to the DPAA release. This newspaper clipping from Dec. 28, 1944, reports that World War II Army Pfc. David Owens, of Green Hill in Watauga County, was listed as dead. Thanks to a DPAA historian, remains believed to be Owens were disinterred in August 2018 from Ardennes American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium, officials said. DPAA historian had a hunch While studying unresolved American cases in the Hurtgen area, the historian determined that a set of unidentified remains possibly belonged to Owens, according to the agency. The remains, X-2707 Neuville, were recovered near Hurtgen in 1946 and buried in Ardennes American Cemetery in 1950, the historian found. After the remains were disinterred, agency investigators sent them to a DPAA lab at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. DPAA scientists at the military base identified Owens through dental and anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial evidence, according to the DPAA news release. Scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System also confirmed his identity, through mitochondrial DNA and Y chromosome DNA analysis, officials said. Owens was accounted for on June 15, said DPAA officials. It took until Friday for the agency to announce the findings because his family only recently received a full briefing on his identification, officials said. Owens family couldnt immediately be reached by The Charlotte Observer on Saturday. The 1944 newspaper clippings released by the DPAA on Friday said Owens wife, Gladys Owens, and his mother, Mary Owens, lived in Belmont at the time. He was Mary Owens only son, according to the clippings. Burial planned in Arlington National Cemetery David Owens name appears on the Walls of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery, an American Battle Monuments Commission site in Margarten, Netherlands, along with other soldiers reported missing from the war. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for, according to the DPAA. Owens will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, at a date to be determined, DPAA officials said. Cellist Pablo Ferrandez is soloist in Saint-Saens' First Cello Concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Paolo Bortolameolli, at the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 4, 2022. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times) For hours after Jean-Philippe Collard had left Camille Saint-Saens Fifth Piano Concerto a pile of shards on the Hollywood Bowl stage, Alan Rich wrote in L.A. Weekly in the summer of 1999, "I racked my brain trying without success, as it happened to think of a worse piece of music by a composer of renown. In my case, I dismissed Saint-Saens concerto, known as LEgyptien, as ridiculous in The Times. What were we thinking? Not differently from each other or from received wisdom about one of Frances once most celebrated and popular composers. After he died at age 86 in December 1921, Saint-Saens reputation went into steady decline. Debussy, Ravel and Satie led the early 20th century French musical revolution, while The Splendor of Saint-Saens, the title of Los Angeles Philharmonics Bowl program Thursday night, represented perceived glib, outdated Romanticism. Yes, Saint-Saens wrote The Carnival of the Animals, properly irresistible to children, great pianists (Martha Argerich, for one) and swanning ballerinas. But of Saint-Saens otherwise vast output, only one of his 13 operas (Samson and Delilah), two of his 10 concertos (the first for cello and the second for piano) and his Symphony No. 3 (the last of his five symphonies, two of which are so little esteemed that they remain unnumbered) also have remained relatively well known. You might have surmised Thursday night, when the Los Angeles Philharmonic performed the Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah, the First Cello Concerto and the Third Symphony (Organ), that even those hits are no longer a great draw. Attendance was noticeably smaller than at other L.A. Phil programs this summer. Yet Saint-Sa e ns' reputation has, indeed, greatly changed over the past quarter-century. He may have loathed French Impressionism and considered Stravinskys The Rite of Spring the work of a modernist madman, but Saint-Saens is increasingly seen as a kind of radical proto-Postmodernist. For all of his reactionary animosity toward modern music, he was a remarkable eclectic, who traveled widely, particularly to the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, absorbing musical traditions before they became Westernized. He spent time in Russia with Tchaikovsky. For all his lavish Romanticism, he was also a refined classicist, studied in classical literature and archeology. He had a scientific mind and was an accomplished mathematician and amateur astronomer. As a child-prodigy pianist, organist and composer, Saint-Saens was sometimes called a French Mozart. He caught the attention of Berlioz and Liszt, both of whom were considerable influences. He was a wondrous and unapologetic melodist. He was open to a wide range of influence, particularly falling under the spell of what he heard (and studied!) on his travels. He was a glamorous and original orchestrator who sprinkled glitter freely, although that came to sound like kitsch to Alan and me in his piano writing for "LEgyptien." A combination of scholarship, newly illuminating performances, the rediscovery of neglected works and an unstuffy rage for eclecticism in our current musical culture has now made Saint-Saens not just palatable but prescient. A brilliant new recording of the piano concertos by the young pianist Alexandre Kantorow, with the Tapiola Sinfonietta, conducted by his father, Jean-Jacques Kantorow, makes even LEgyptien sound like a remarkable panache from a more innocent time. Recent recordings of Ascanio and Le Timbre dArgent reveal a French opera composer of far greater scope than previously imagined. Two new sets of the five symphonies provide further revelations. Kantorow and the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege offer depth and flair. The other, with Cristian Macelaru leading Orchestre National de France, is plainer. But the Romanian conductor happens to be music director of the Cabrillo Festival, which was founded by Lou Harrison, California's great melodist and eclectic. Like Saint-Saens, Harrison, as he put it, spread his toys over a large acreage. Saint-Saens, moreover, did come to the Bay Area in 1915 for the San Francisco Symphonys performance of his Third Symphony. While there, he conducted the premiere of his Hail California, written for grand organ and John Philip Sousa's band, as part of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, which commemorated the opening of the Panama Canal. The long-forgotten Hail California, which includes references to the "Marseillaise" and the Star Spangled Banner (there are no recordings but it can found on YouTube) would have made a lively addition to Thursdays otherwise conventional Saint-Saens evening. But the program was, nonetheless, well designed to bring pleasure. This was Paolo Bortolameollis last concert as the L.A. Phils associate conductor. The Chilean conductor, who is the music director of the Mexican youth orchestra Sinfonica Azteca, is himself an imaginative eclectic who last month led a varied L.A. Phil Green Umbrella program at the Ford Theater, as well as a concert with Devonte Hynes. Still, Bortolameolli, more suave than showy, brought a welcome sophistication to Saint-Saens. The cello concerto begins with a dramatic A-minor chord in the orchestra, which seemingly startled an alarmed soloist. A second theme is a lovely melody, typically heard as a sigh of relief. Out of nowhere the concerto roams into a world of fancifully skipping minuets before returning more forcefully to the beginning drama. Cellists tend to seek, with powerful expressivity, a theatrical narrative. There was, though, nothing startling about Bortolameolli and the young Spanish cellist Pablo Ferrandez. This was Saint-Saens the careful classicist, Saint-Saens the stargazer; Saint-Saens the traveler listening to others music, not expressing his own ego. Ferrandez's tone grew gracefully stronger throughout the performance, treating the concerto as a work in which he could follow his own path of discovery. His tone is exquisite but he never exploits it for its own sake. He produces excitement through rhythm but keeps that understated as well, so that the impression is that all the magic is in the music. These were also strengths in Bortolameollis performance of the Organ Symphony. Saint-Saens' use of the organ is an oddity, but so is the piano, with two pianists who sit next to the organ. The piano serves here as an instrument of glitter, and Saint-Saens needs 20 fingers for it to supply the proper amount. It is a wonderful symphony somber at first, skittish much of the time, dazzling most of the time. The organ is used in the incense-laden slow movement for its otherworldly low drones and its sensual dialogue with the strings. The last movement is a spectacle. When you are trying out new loudspeakers for a home stereo, this is the movement to play to test bass and treble and make sure your amplifier has enough power. It probably doesnt. The symphony is all but unrecordable, and it challenged even the Bowls monstrous sound system. Bortolameolli had no tricks up his sleeve. He let the symphony unfold, delightedly when that was the mood, sumptuously when that was called for and, at the end, magisterially rather than brashly. The L.A. Phil takes to this kind of thing with ease. The Bowl less so, Saint-Saens ethereally poignant transitions seeming to be catnip to overhead aircraft. But no helicopter is a match for the Finale. While Bortolameolli now moves on a major music director post somewhere seems all but certain he will return to Walt Disney Concert Hall next season for a Green Umbrella concert. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A funny thing happened on the way to Bodega Kitchen & Cocktails opening. The restaurant and bar was slated to be Sacramentos first Puerto Rican-focused restaurant when it opened at 6401 Riverside Blvd. in Greenhaven. But people with roots in Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados kept showing up to Bodegas pop-ups, craving a rare taste of the Caribbean in Sacramento. So co-owners Rafael Jimenez Rivera, Chris Sinclair and Emily Neuhauser broadened their focus. When Bodega Kitchen & Cocktails opens Saturday, itll be a Californian-pan-Caribbean concept with dishes from across the map. Were bringing Port-au-Prince to the Pocket, Jimenez Rivera said. Were trying to capture the flavors. Were not trying to be this authentic place. Were very familiar with the flavors and spices of the Caribbean, and were trying to capture that more than anything. Chef/co-owner Matt Brown, formerly of The Golden Bear, will still make Puerto Rican dishes such as tripletas (a sandwich with grilled chicken, bacon and a slow-roasted pork called pernil) and occasional specials like arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas). But Brown and sous chef Sarah Saldana, one of last years Tower Bridge Dinner chefs, will take inspiration from across the Caribbean. A tipleta a sandwich with grilled chicken, bacon and a slow-roasted pork called pernil is served at Bodega Kitchen & Cocktails. Theyll serve doubles, a Trinidadian turmeric-infused flatbread filled with curried chickpeas and pickled mangoes. Cuban sandwiches will feature pork mojo, a tangy slow-roasted pork native to the island, but will come on Jamaican coco bread. Lighter bites include a quinoa/tropical fruit salad, fried plantains and fish tacos with green papaya salsa. We want to have, like, the vibe of the Caribbean, the Pura Vida lifestyle of the Caribbean where its about loving life and enjoying every moment, Jimenez Rivera said. Its going to bring back memories with these spices and flavors, with the cocktails and music were playing, the whole scene. We want people to be transported. Friends and family of owners and staff at Bodega Kitchen & Cocktails enjoy a pre-opening night Thursday. Rafael Jimenez Rivera, center, manages the restaurant and is an owner along with chef Matt Brown, Chris Sinclair and Emily Neuhauser. Jimenez Riveras grandfather ran a restaurant in Puerto Rico, while his father owned one in New York. Sinclair and Neuhauser own Good Bottle Shop in downtown Sacramento, which has earned a reputation for its strong beverage selection. Bodega Kitchen & Cocktails drink menu will include riffs on mojitos, Cuba Libres, daquiris and other classics when the restaurant receives its liquor license. Sinclair also brought over an appropriate cocktail from his time at The Red Rabbit Kitchen & Bar: the West Indies Sour, made with Cognac, red wine, allspice liqueur and lime. Bodega Kitchen & Cocktails bartender Kerri Sneve pours out two mojitos for a night of hosting friends and family Thursday before a grand opening Aug. 6. Bodegas wine will come from across the globe Portugal, South Africa, Clarksburg and beer is a mix of domestics and south-of-the-border specialties. The restaurant will use Camellia Coffee Roasters beans for cafe con leche, espressos and dulce de leche lattes, eventually incorporating coffee into the cocktail program as well. Jimenez Rivera recommended pairing one of those coffee drinks with Bodegas ham-and-cheese-filled pan de mallorcas, Puerto Rican breakfast pastries that are sort of like sugar-dusted brioche/croissant hybrids. Its sweet and savory. Its such a great breakfast sandwich, he said. That with a little cafe con leche, and your day is set. Chef-owner Matt Brown works to finish a tripleta a sandwich with grilled chicken, bacon and a slow-roasted pork called pernil at Bodega Kitchen & Cocktails on Thursday. Bodega will function as a cafe to start, open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. When the liquor license comes in, serve customers from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. Following some public criticism and a recent threat by a city official to stop issuing work permits, Kansas City utility provider Spire Energy announced Friday that part of Linwood Avenue affected by one of its projects had fully reopened to traffic. In a tweet, the gas company said all four lanes had been replaced and striped, sharing a photograph of the work at Linwood and Forest. Spire also noted that leg of the project, which began in April, was completed ahead of the October deadline scheduled under its city permit. Update: As scheduled, all four lanes of Linwood are replaced in both directions with fresh lanes striped and open to traffic. https://t.co/wfDa1ZFP7k pic.twitter.com/ZFwR8d1zw7 Spire (@spire_energy) August 5, 2022 The update from Spire came after a social media spat spurred by Kansas City Manager Brian Platt, who took to Twitter on Monday afternoon to publicly bash the company for blatant disregard of the citys new rules concerning street excavation. The city manager took issue with the digging of a utility trench on Linwood shortly after the city had repaved the street. In a follow-up tweet Friday, Platt recognized the companys work for that stretch of Linwood. Thank you @spire_energy for restoring all four lanes of this section of Linwood and for working to resolve other street closure safety issues as well- these certainly meet our new #spirestandards, the city manager wrote. Thank you @spire_energy for restoring all four lanes of this section of Linwood and for working to resolve other street closure safety issues as well- these certainly meet our new #spirestandards https://t.co/y5X8a03iCg Brian David Platt (@BrianDavidPlatt) August 5, 2022 Kansas City put in place a set of updated road maintenance regulations last year aimed toward preventing potholes and other street damage. A provision of the rule set was meant to improve coordination between the city and utility crews with regard to road work. Earlier this week, Spire executive Stephen Mills told The Star that the company was working to coordinate as best as possible with the city. He added that Spire was awaiting word of what specific steps should be taken to put the issue to rest. Weve been adhering to the new street cut ordinance, Mills said at the time, adding: As far as were concerned, weve been doing what we should do. The Stars Natalie Wallington contributed to this report. Wake County Public Health staff vaccinated about 550 people against monkeypox at a walk-in clinic Saturday. We saw that we had a backlog of people calling on our line, said Stacey Beard, who is Wake Countys external communications director. And we needed to do something and try to like in COVID do a vaccine clinic. Staff cut off the line outside the Wake County Public Health Center around 1:30, when all of the doses were spoken for, Beard said. By that point, about 300 vaccines had been given, with about 250 people still in line. About 30 residents were turned away, said Dara Demi, the communications director for Wake County. Before the clinic, vaccines were available by appointment only, The N&O previously reported. The clinic opened at 10 a.m., but Beard said residents started lining up at 5:45 a.m. We anticipate getting even more [vaccines] from the state, Beard said. So dosage is not the problem. Its just getting the number of people that want them processed and with appointments. The county has increased the number of nurses who can give monkeypox vaccines, Beard told The N&O. Another clinic may take place in the coming weeks. As of Friday, there were 95 confirmed monkeypox cases in North Carolina, per the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services website. Planning to get vaccinated Monkeypox is a virus that manifests somewhat like a flu. Its main symptoms include swollen lymph nodes as well as a rash with bumps that fill with fluid and scab over. President Joseph R. Biden declared monkeypox a public health emergency Thursday. Men who have sex with other men are disproportionately affected by the viral outbreak, according to public health organizations including the NCDHHS, the N&O previously reported. Grant Chambers, 31, learned about the clinic on social media after trying in vain to get a vaccine appointment. I called and called here for weeks, said Chambers, who lives in Raleigh. With the influx of calls, I couldnt get anybody. I saw this, and it sounded like a sure thing. Vaccine infrastructure By 2:30, most of those getting vaccines had been waiting for at least three hours. Vanessa Freeman, 25, waited in line for four hours, but said it felt more like two. There were a lot of really cool people in line, said Freeman, who traveled from Willow Spring for her shot. It was a good time, now that its over. Freeman said the vaccine felt like the lightest shot shed ever had. I want to go out and live my life, she said, and I dont want to necessarily be scared that somethings going to happen by having a good time. The clinic drew on vaccination infrastructure created during the COVID-19 pandemic, Beard said. We had the Chick-Fil-A operational mode down, Beard said. The cones, the security guards. For Jordan Lawrence, 27, the clinic rang true to his experience getting COVID booster shots. Both stood out to Lawrence, he said, as public health projects. Im trying to protect myself and my family, Lawrence said. Addressing stigma As they left the clinic, attendees emphasized that continued vaccine efforts should involve breaking stigma surrounding monkeypox and the LGBT+ community. Some in the community, as well in as the public health community, worry that monkeypox vaccine messaging stigmatizes gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, the N&O reported in July. This isnt just a queer thing, said Hailey Brumley, 26, who lives in Holly Springs. As soon as the vaccines available to most of the population, I think thats important for them to get it, and not think that theyre safe just because theyre straight. Whats next Wake County will open additional monkeypox vaccine appointments on Monday. To sign up for one, residents can dial the new call center at 919-212-9398. Starting Monday, residents can also fill out a survey at wakegov.com/monkeypox to see if theyre eligible for a vaccine. Those who attended Saturdays clinic can receive a second dose through the county in 28 days. Rishi Sunak bragging about working to divert funding from deprived urban areas towards more prosperous towns has divided Tory figures, with Labour labelling it as scandalous. The Tory leadership hopeful told party members that he had started changing public funding formulas to ensure more prosperous towns receive the funding they deserve. The New Statesman magazine, which obtained video footage revealing Mr Sunaks remarks, said they were made to grassroots Tories in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, on July 29. A supporter of the former chancellor on Saturday insisted the comments had been misunderstood. Conservative former minister Andrew Mitchell, MP for the affluent seat of Sutton Coldfield, told Times Radio: Im not saying for a moment that the needs arent far greater elsewhere, but we will not be able to rejuvenate our high street infrastructure, the town centre infrastructure, which has suffered so grievously from economic change over the last 10 years. We wont be able to do that without some, admittedly smaller, but some Government taxpayer support and what Rishi was saying, I think, was that he had adapted the rules to ensure that both the Red Wall and the poorer seats can receive the help they need, but also where its needed on a wider front, which of course affects the Red Wall seats, such funding can be made available. The Sunak campaign defended the remarks, arguing he changed the Treasurys green book setting the rules for government spending to help towns and rural areas also in need of investment. In the video, Mr Sunak told Tory supporters: I managed to start changing the funding formulas, to make sure areas like this are getting the funding they deserve because we inherited a bunch of formulas from Labour that shoved all the funding into deprived urban areas and that needed to be undone. I started the work of undoing that. Speaking ahead of a Tory hustings in Eastbourne on Friday evening, the former chancellor defended his comments, saying he was making the point that deprivation exists right across our country. He told Sky News: I was making the point that deprivation exists right across our country and needs to be addressed. Thats why we need to make sure our funding formulas recognise that. And people who need help and extra investment arent just limited to big urban areas. You find them in towns across the United Kingdom and in rural areas, too. That was the point I was making, that our funding formulas that fail to recognise that are out of date, and they needed changing. The remarks from last week came as Mr Sunak tries to make up ground against Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to win the backing of party members who will choose the next prime minister. Ms Truss declined to say whether her campaign was involved in the leaking of the video when asked about it during a visit to the West Midlands, saying only: Im running a positive campaign. Foreign Office minister Lord Zac Goldsmith said: This is one of the weirdest and dumbest things Ive ever heard from a politician. Jake Berry, chairman of the Northern Research Group of Tory MPs, said that in public Mr Sunak claims he wants to level up the North, but here he boasts about trying to funnel vital investment away from deprived areas. He says one thing and does another from putting up taxes to trying to block funding for our armed forces and now levelling up, the Truss supporter said. Shadow levelling up secretary Lisa Nandy said: Its scandalous that Rishi Sunak is openly boasting that he fixed the rules to funnel taxpayers money to prosperous Tory shires. This is public money. It should be distributed fairly and spent where its most needed not used as a bribe to Tory members. Ms Nandy later wrote to Communities Secretary Greg Clark, who is the MP for Tunbridge Wells, urging him to investigate Mr Sunaks comments and the changes to funding formulas. Rishi Sunak has vowed to phase out university degrees that do not improve students earning potential, create a Russell Group of world-class technical colleges and introduce a British Baccalaureate that would prevent 16-year-olds from dropping maths and English. The Tory leadership hopeful said his plans to reform post-16 education marked a significant stride towards parity of esteem between vocational and academic education. If he becomes the next prime minister, Mr Sunak would strengthen networks of technical institutions and their links with industry, as well as giving them powers to award degrees, his campaign said. The former chancellor would assess university degrees through their drop-out rates, numbers in graduate jobs and salary thresholds, with exceptions for nursing and other courses with high social value. In an apparent bid to appeal to the right, Mr Sunaks campaign said he would also expedite the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Bill, which is currently in the House of Lords. The Government has argued the Bill is needed to tackle growing intolerance in universities, but opponents have said it aims to address a problem that does not exist and could protect hate speech. Mr Sunak also pledged to improve professional development for teachers, commit to plans to open 75 new free schools announced by the Government in June, and give school trusts an accountability holiday for two years after taking on underperforming schools. He would also work to expand the use of artificial intelligence and digital technology in classrooms and to reduce teachers workloads. Mr Sunak said: A good education is the closest thing we have to a silver bullet when it comes to making peoples lives better. These proposals represent a significant stride towards parity of esteem between vocational and academic education. And they will take a tougher approach to university degrees that saddle students with debt, without improving their earning potential. I will also take bold, practical steps to build on the successful Conservative education reforms of the past decade by harnessing technology and improving the quality of teaching in underperforming areas. Every child deserves a world-class education and, if I become prime minister, I will make it my mission from day one to ensure thats what they get. The former chancellor would also create a new British Baccalaureate which would require pupils to continue studying core subjects such as maths and English until they finish school at 18. In an interview with The Times, he criticised the overly narrow specialisation of the current curriculum, which he said does not prepare young people for the economy of tomorrow. We are almost unique in the western world, for an advanced economy and all high-performing education systems, in allowing people to drop maths and stop studying their native language at 16, he told the newspaper. In Germany, France, Asia, youngsters are studying maths all the way to 18 and in the way a modern economy works, I think its going to hold us back if our youngsters dont have those skills. After private schooling at Winchester College, where he was head boy, and a degree in politics, philosophy and economics at Oxford, Mr Sunak took an MBA at Stanford University in California. His Tory leadership rival Liz Truss has pitched herself as the education prime minister with a plan to replace failing academies with new free schools, and a promise that pupils with top A level grades would get an automatic invitation to an interview at Oxford or Cambridge which has raised questions about whether the timing of the academic year would have to be altered. There were more electives There were better teachers There were less tests There were more exciting ways to learn Other Vote View Results A source told AsiaNews that the attack took everybody by surprise. After arresting some members of Islamic Jihad, Israel wants to continue its "counterterrorism operation for a week. So far, half a score have died, including a five-year-old girl. The risk of further escalation is high. Gaza (AsiaNews) The situation in Gaza is very bad; everyone was taken by surprise by the Israeli attack last night, said a source in Gaza who spoke to AsiaNews following an Israeli airstrike that killed at least 10 people, including a five-year-old girl. At least 70 were wounded. This kind of violence had not occurred since clashes in May 2021 when more than 200 Palestinians and 12 Israelis lost their lives in 11 days of conflict. Israeli authorities say they killed Tayseer Jabari, a senior commander in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group, an Iranian-backed group. The PJI responded firing a hundred rockets, almost all intercepted by Israels Iron Dome anti-missile system. In the early hours of this morning Israel resumed its operation, dubbed Breaking Down, which could go on for a week army spokesman Ran Kochav said. Israeli authorities also announced the arrest of 19 members of Islamic Jihad in the West Bank. According to Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Israel carried out a precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat. The sudden escalation follows the arrest of Bassem Saadi in the evening of 1 August; the latter is considered the leader of the PIJ in the West Bank. A 15-year-old boy died in the operation. According to Israeli authorities, yesterday's attack was designed to foil an imminent attack. What will happen now is anybodys guess. We will respond forcefully to this aggression, said PIJ secretary general Ziyad al-Nakhalah. Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, has made it clear that all armed groups are united in the fight, but for now it has stayed out. For its part, Egypt announced that it has begun talks to reach a ceasefire. The other news of the day: In India Congress leaders are held in custody for six hours. In the Philippines an indigenous tribe is threatened by development. At least eight die in an explosion in Kabul claimed by the Islamic State. In Iraq Al-Sadr followers occupy the Green Zone. Uzbekistan is less and less democratic. CHINA UNITED STATES China has halted cooperation with the United States in several areas, including climate change, military talks, and international crime. This follows the ongoing confrontation over Taiwan. Beijing has also announced plans to impose sanctions on US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her family. PHILIPPINES A road that allows access to Dumagat land north of the capital Manila is raising several questions about the relationship between development and cultural preservation. The Dumagats symbiotic rapport with nature is in danger of disappearing, CNA reports. Already in the 1970s the tribe was driven into the interior of the island to make room for tourism. INDIA For six hours Delhi police detained various leaders of the Indian National Congress, including Rahul Gandhi, during anti-government protests against rising prices and unemployment. Although announced in advance, the rally did not receive government authorisation. "What we are witnessing is the death of democracy in India, Rahul Gandhi told reporters. AFGHANISTAN The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for yesterdays explosion in a Shia residential area of the capital Kabul. According to local police, at least eight people were killed and 18 were wounded. According to an Afghan security official, the death toll is likely to rise. IRAQ Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr have occupied and prayed in Baghdad's Green Zone, the area in the heart of the capital that houses parliament and foreign embassies. Iraq is in political crisis after the countrys parties failed to form a government. Yesterday Al-Sadr called again for fresh elections, while the United Nations warned that there is a risk that tensions will escalate with pro-Iranian parties. UZBEKISTAN In Uzbekistan, public servants are required to back constitutional changes, which will extend the presidential term from five to seven years, following a pattern established by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Some are forced to sign a petition demanding that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev remain in power for life. RUSSIA A court has decided to keep Yakut shaman Alexander Gabyshev under involuntary confinement in a mental hospital. Two years ago, he set out for Moscow to cast a death curse on Putin. His followers are convinced that the authorities fear his opposition to the war, which he foresaw years ago. So far 20 children have contracted the disease, but none are in serious conditions and the symptoms, fever and vomiting, are mild. Health workers blame poor hygiene and the lack of clean drinking water. The state is the scene of clashes between the military and rebel groups. Yangon (AsiaNews) Refugee camps in Kayah State (Myanmar) face a serious health crisis because of poor hygienic conditions, which favour the development and spread of disease, a situation compounded by a chronic lack of drinking water and medicines. The camps, which hold internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled fighting between the military and rebel groups, are a source of concern. The latest development, a few days ago, was an outbreak of chickenpox that spread quickly among children. Polluted water and poor personal hygiene among refugees are its main cause, this according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). Aid workers report that some 20 children have contracted the disease, but more are expected given the close and prolonged contact between residents. Karenni Human Rights Group (KNHRG) spokesman Ko Ba Nyar said that children have been sick, vomiting, and feverish since late last month. It happened in the west side [of Demoso Township], he explained. It is the rainy season and drinking water is difficult to access, especially clean water. The children might possibly have been infected because they are living together. Luckily, infections seem to have caused only mild symptoms and none of the affected children appears to be in serious condition so far, the activist said. For now, the camps are being closely monitored to prevent the disease from spreading; however, parents are not aware of the risks. Right now, we are treating the infected children with medicine in the camp, Nyar said. The rash appeared on the faces, abdomens and backs of the infected children, this according to people who are assisting with the medical treatment. The main refugee camp in the town of Demoso is home to over 1,400 IDPs from 11 different villages. The sick struggle to reach government hospitals due to the ongoing fighting between the military and armed groups, often opposed to the central government and the ruling military junta. This is where the first armed group mobilised against the military after it overthrew in February 2021 the democratically elected government of Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and arrested its members. Since then, more than half of Kayah State's population, about 200,000 people, have fled due to the fighting and military repression. by Alessandra De Poli Fr Giuseppe Didone has seen Taiwanese society evolve, and the Taiwanese are determined not to be robbed of their future. Used to living under threat, most continue to live as usual. Last month, the Camillians marked 70 years on the island. The government truly appreciates what we do, the clergymen told AsiaNews. Milan (AsiaNews) Pelosi's visit brought tensions, but people continue to quietly live their lives, said Fr Giuseppe Didone, a missionary with the Camillian order. Originally from Cittadella, Padua (Italy), he has lived in Taiwan for 58 years. The Taiwanese are not as worried like they are in Europe," he told AsiaNews. They know that China is a threat but if it really tries to invade the island, they also know that they are protected by America and Japan. Japan reported that four of the five ballistic missiles China fired the other day into Japan's exclusive economic zone flew over Taipei, a first. With intense military exercises that will continue for another couple of days, Beijing is showing that it can occupy air and maritime spaces that it has claimed for a long time. However, analysts point out that in the event of an invasion, global supply chains would be disrupted, generating a crisis worse than the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. More than half of the world's maritime trade transited through the Taiwan Strait this year. Was it just a Twitter crisis, as some have suggested? In Hong Kong, which has been absent from the debate and analysis, things are not so well. Beijing has offered Taiwan the same status as Hong Kong in accordance with principle One country, two systems, but the Taiwanese immediately refused, said the clergyman. They do not trust China and do not want to end up like Hong Kong, at any cost. Chinas crackdown in the former British colony is one of the reasons why the Democratic Progressive Party and Tsai Ing-wen won the presidential election in 2020. Paradoxically, the Kuomintang, the mainland Chinese nationalist party whose forces fled to the island in 1949, have been more open to Communist China, which turned out to be fatal in the presidential race. The Taiwanese do not want to be robbed of their future. When I arrived here in 1965 the population was very poor, the missionary explained. Sixty years ago, we mostly helped the aborigines, the islands indigenous population who lived in what was then called Formosa before ethnic Chinese began migrating in the 17th century. They were the most destitute group, but now they too can come to the city, find good jobs, and lead a dignified life. The situation on the island of Taiwan is on hold. On the one hand, Beijing considers it a rebel province; on the other, it is for intents and purposes its own nation-state with its own currency and passport. In fact, Chinas threats have highlighted what has developed with increasing force, namely the national traits of Taiwanese society. One of the differences with mainland China is the relationship with religious minorities. "The [Catholic] Church here is highly respected, and we are well liked for all the work we do, especially in the social sphere. Fr Didone started out as bursar and deputy director at St Mary's Hospital in Lutong. The Camillians, whose actual name is Clerics Regular, Ministers to the Sick, also set up parish kindergartens, which are now run by the government. Eventually, Fr Giuseppe Didone headed seniors centres and facilities for people with physical and mental disabilities. The stigma is still strong and children who have some handicap at birth are usually abandoned. They are completely discarded; no one wants them. In Camillian centres, they get quality care and assistance. Some go out in the morning and return in the evening; others stay in residence all day, he noted. For this reason, People have great respect for the Church. The Camillians, who first set foot on the island in 1952, celebrated their 70th anniversary on 14 July. President Tsai Ing-wen came to congratulate us and show that the government truly appreciates what we do. Taking the tarmac and the runway out of the equation and replacing them with natural stretches of open water won't solve all of these problems. But in the early days of aviation, most pilots would have probably told you they'd prefer to take off from the sea than on dry land. Of course, aviation had its beginnings in a grassy field in North Carolina . But it didn't take early aviators long to understand the benefits of long, open spaces to take off on top of.In an era when aero engines were underpowered and spat oil in your face for most of the flight, the more space, the better was a popular viewpoint. For this purpose, bodies of water were all nothing but perfection. It's generally agreed upon that the first example of a seaplane, i.e., either a flying boat with a ship-like hull or a float plane with pontoons for landing gear, was built in 1898 by the Austrian inventor Wilhelm Kress.However, blueprint patents for similar designs precede him at least somewhat. His invention was named the Kress Drachenflieger (Dragon-flier). The Drachenflieger's automotive-derived Daimler produced 30 horsepower and wiped out during a taxiing test before it could ever get out of the water.Over the next decade, Kress's design philosophies were modified to fit a growing understanding of the ins and outs of how powered aviation truly worked. French aviator Francois Denhaut is credited with designing the first seaplane with a boat-like hull. Or, as we call it, a flying boat.Before long, seaplanes had made their way overseas to the United States in earnest. New York State native and iconic pioneer aviator Glenn Curtiss especially used seaplane designs to make his name in aviation after a career building motorcycles and bicycles. Curtiss's Model E first took off from Keuka Lake in New York's Finger Lakes region on 25 February 1911, with the faster Model F taking off in January 1912.Curtiss was awarded the U.S. National Aeronautic Association's Collier Trophy for excellence in the innovation of aviation back to back in 1911 and 1912 for his efforts in the field of "hydro-aeroplanes," as they were called at the time. Before long, seaplanes began to form the backbone of an ever-expanding global aviation sector that struggled to find plots of flat, solid land to launch airplanes on.Companies like Curtiss, but also Sopwith, Saunders-Roe, and Felixstowe from Great Britain, Fokker in the Netherlands, and Hansa-Brandenburg in Germany were all testing and manufacturing water-dwelling seaplanes even before the start of the First World War in some cases. The type would become a vital part of the war effort for both the Allied and Central powers.If the advancements in seaplane technology before the war laid the groundwork for a renaissance, the end of said war kicked it into action. Once peace was signed in 1918, the importance of seaplanes in a global peacetime economy would only grow exponentially. One that, in the beginning, was largely formed on the backs of ex-Army Air Service airplanes repurposed for civil use.Around the world, services like cargo and mail transport, military trainer airplanes, and even the earliest airliners opted for a water-based takeoff and landing in the years before World War II. At this time, the Curtiss NC-4 became the first airplane to cross the Atlantic Ocean.With several landings along the way to rest and refuel, of course.The first commercial passenger transport seaplane business was founded in 1923 as a puddle jumper service between the Channel Islands between the U.K. and France. Soon after, wealthy residents of New York State's Long Island region began riding commercial seaplanes as their daily commute between their homes on the affluent North Short to their offices on Wall Street in Manhattan via the East and Hudson Rivers.Across the ocean in Germany, the Dornier Do X became the largest, heaviest commercial airliner ever to fly in July 1929. The largest airplane in the United Kingdom at that time, the Short Sarafand, was also a flying boat with a biplane wing configuration, first flying in 1932. By 1939, the Boeing 314 Clipper monoplane took to the skies for the first time.Based in part on the failed XB-15 heavy bomber prototype and one of the first flagship airplanes of the Pan Am airline , the Clipper flying boat paved the way for the iconic 707 and 747. Doing so by helping to generate the revenue Boeing needed to be able to innovate. Of course, building a fair percent of every American Second World War strategic bomber of significance also helped tremendously.During World War II, the seaplane evolved with the changes in contemporary warfare. On both the Allied and Axis sides, seaplanes grew larger, more powerful, and carried deadlier armament than ever before. On the Allied side, flying boats like the Grumman G-21 Goose, Consolidated PBY Catalina, and Short S.25 Sunderland flew adversarially against German and Japanese flying boats like the Blohm and Voss BV-138 Wiking, and Kawanishi H8K "Emily."The U.S. Army Air Corps even managed to fit a pair of pontoons underneath a Grumman F4F Wildcat and a Douglas C-47 Skytrain for a trial run during this time. The Axis did a very similar test with the Japanese A6M Zero among a host of Imperial Japanese floatplanes. But with the war's conclusion in 1945, the era of dominance by seaplanes was well and truly finished.Years of warfare taught militaries and civilians alike how to build large land-based airfields in relatively short periods. More powerful aero engines that could take off at shorter distances meant the smoothness of a tarmac takeoff quickly rendered sea planes largely obsolete. A handful last hurrahs came from the British Saunders-Roe Princess turboprop airliner and the positively colossal American Hughes H-4 Hercules-Spruce Goose. The Martin JRM Mars also deserves a mention in this time period, among a few other outliers.The Hughes H-4 specifically, was the largest airplane ever flown for a staggering period between 1947 and 2019. Today, only a handful of companies globally produce flying boats. Almost all turboprop cargo transports, most often built in either China, Japan, or Canada. As for their seaplane cousin float planes, they're almost strictly the domain of small private airplanes like Cessnas, with a few exceptions. In 2022, it's almost unfathomable to believe that in the distant past, takeoff and landing by water were by far the preferred method.Check back soon for more from Sea Month here on autoevolution. EV I hereby challenge @paraga to a public debate about the Twitter bot percentage. Let him prove to the public that Twitter has <5% fake or spam daily users! Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 6, 2022 Elon Musk surprised everyone when he made an offer to buy Twitter at $54.20 per share back in April. But less than three months after that serious bid, thetycoon backed out of the deal. Naturally, Twitters board was angry with the entrepreneur and sued. The parties are set to start the litigation in October.The whole point of this ordeal was the number of real and fake users that are active on the social media platform. Elon Musk requested real, transparent data from Twitter, but what he got was a vague response derived from a metric that was specifically created for this issue alone.But Teslas CEO didnt back down and requested more data sets. He continued to receive outdated data or recent reports that didnt show how things were looking exactly.Elon Musk reconfirmed that he would buy Twitter as originally agreed if the company would tell him how the fake versus real accounts data had been gathered and how they'd discovered which accounts were real and which were fake.Now Twitters CEO Parag Agrawal has been publicly challenged to participate in a public debate that would settle the matter of fake accounts. At the time of writing, there was no answer coming from the social media company.Let him prove to the public that Twitter has <5% fake or spam daily users! said Musk.On the other hand, Twitters legal representatives argue that Musks counterclaims are factually inaccurate, legally insufficient, and commercially irrelevant.Its unlikely that Agrawal will accept the challenge since the trial in the Delaware Court of Chancery is set to begin in a couple of months.Elon Musk is the CEO of Tesla , SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. SUV This is not the first collaboration between Lincoln and Shinola. Last summer, the two American companies jointly built a one-off Lincoln Aviator Shinola Conceptthat debuted at the 2021 Pebble Beach Concours dElegance. The vehicle featured several design elements inspired by Shinola s products.This year, to celebrate Lincolns 100th anniversary, the two brands continued their partnership with two limited-edition timepieces that take design cues from Lincolns luxury cars.As we celebrate 100 years with another iconic brand who is equally committed to craftsmanship, design and artistry, we are proud to showcase our combined approach to luxury with these Shinola watches a memento to mark Lincolns anniversary, said Michael Sprague, Director or Lincoln North America.As part of the renewed collaboration, Shinola will produce a total of 1,000 watches, 500 units of the Runwell Automatic and 500 of the Runwell Sport Chronograph. Both watch models will sport the Lincoln logo engraved on the case back and will be delivered in an elegant Lincoln 100 Years wooden watch box.The first model, the Shinola Runwell Automatic, is a 39.5 mm unisex timepiece with a polished stainless steel case and a two-piece leather strap that features the carmakers logo stamped on the underside. The watch also comes with a black vellum-textured dial, a custom Lincoln -branded seconds sub-eye, and rose gold numbers.Meanwhile, the Runwell Sport Chronograph is a 48 mm mens watch also featuring stainless steel case and leather strap, but this one has rose gold details on the uni-directional rotating bezel, as well as black and rose gold accents on the dials and hands, which is a reference to similar trim seen on the Aviator Shinola concept Both watch models feature double domed sapphire crystals and similarly styled screw-down crowns. Moreover, both are water-resistant, but the Lincoln x Shinola Runwell Sport Chronograph comes with an official depth rating of 100 meters, while the Runwell Automatic offers just 50 meters of water resistance.The Lincoln anniversary timepieces are available for pre-order starting August 5. The Shinola Runwell Sport Chronograph is available for $1,100, and the Runwell Automatic can be bought for $1,300 through Lincolns merchandise page. EV It is absurd to say that a car junkie hates a car. I still remember the thrill of riding shotgun in a Tesla Roadster more than a decade ago. I admired the combination of the Lotus Elise's nimble chassis and the electric motor's instant torque. That model sparked the electric car revolution and deserves all credit. Just like the Prius is the epitome of the hybrid revolution, so hats off to that, too.Come 2022, see what's happening with the world's biggest-maker. There are lawsuits against Tesla for various reasons. Some of them were already lost by Musk's company, and Tesla had to pay for them. In Germany, they had to buy back some vehicles. Moreover, several deaths have been confirmed in the U.S. due to Tesla cars.You might say that users were to blame, I know. But then, why didn't Mercedes-Benz record any deaths blamed on the customers' misuse of their driving aids? Why not other carmakers? Why not Ford? I'll tell you why: these carmakers, with over 100 years of experience, already know that having a person die in a vehicle is the worst-case scenario. Only Ford's bean counters considered that paying for Pinto deaths would be cheaper than fixing the cars, and its reputation went down the drain.So, back to Tesla. We have some astonishing vehicles with that logo. Besides being drag-strip kings in front of countless muscle cars and supersports, the Model S, 3, X, and Y are so cost-effective that most people don't care about problems.If a car is studied well and assembled wrong, then the end result is a bad car. If you give people a car that allegedly drives itself, they will let it drive itself. Other carmakers did the same, but made it clear that it's not good to do that. In addition, they even installed sensors to force drivers stay alert. Of course, some people find some ways to avoid that. But then, it's their full responsibility. If you trick the car, it's on you.But if the vehicle tricks you, then who's to blame? Tesla could have avoided that. But no, Musk said that LiDar is terrible, and we should rely solely on cameras and ultrasonic sensors. Well, tell that to those emergency vehicle drivers hit by Teslas.After a while, we found out that Tesla started installing experimental equipment in its vehicles, and their owners didn't know anything about that. It's kind of like buying an Advil and not knowing it's something else. Would that be right? I guess not. So why would it be suitable for vehicles? As it has already been proved, a car can kill more than one person at once.If Tesla is so advanced, why didn't it install breathalyzers in their cars' ventilation systems to stop the vehicles and prevent a drunk driver from skidding off the road? Why didn't they install sensors to "see" if the driver was taking a nap at the wheel from the beginning? Because Tesla didn't care about that. It's a way of saying, "the driver is solely responsible."But blaming the driver doesn't make you a safer carmaker. First, you have to protect your customers. Then, if they make their own mistakes, they'll probably understand that it was their fault, and the car's merit was to save their lives.Some of you have already accused us of being against Tesla, and that's not true. For instance, I can't hate a car. I might dislike a producer or a CEO, but not a vehicle. As a result, as long as Tesla continues to build cars without really caring about their drivers, to protect them against their own mistakes, you'll see more articles against Tesla cars all over the place. And we're not doing that because we hate Tesla or Musk. But if nobody raises a red flag about Tesla's problems, we'll end up being crushed by a badly assembled Cybertruck with a drunk or asleep driver behind the wheel. Indiana has become the first state in the nation to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in June that overturned Roe v. Wade Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. A 21-year-old Beaumont man, who allegedly robbed a man with his two toddlers in the car, will face court for another crime hes accused of committing on the same day. Jereem Ajani Cunningham on Wednesday was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury for aggravated robbery in connection with an alleged attack on a woman in Beaumont. The Beaumont Police Department said the woman was walking at about 6:30 p.m. June 18 in the 6200 Block of Texas 105 when Cunningham ran up behind the woman and threw her on the ground. Cunningham struck the victim on the head and face causing injuries, court documents said. Court documents said Cunningham was holding a black handgun while trying to go through the womans pockets. He allegedly stole the womans phone and left. Within about 30 minutes, police said, Cunningham was arrested by police for another aggravated robbery. The officers found the womans stolen cell phone in Cunninghams vehicle, court documents said. A previous news release from the Beaumont Police Department said officers had also received a call for a robbery on June 18 from the 6100 Block of N. Major Drive where the Lakeside Apartments are located. Upon arrival, Officers spoke with a (man) who advised he was robbed at gun point while his two toddlers were in the car with him, police said. The suspect fled in a dark gray Dodge Charger with Georgia plates. As police were taking the report and checking for possible video, the man allegedly saw the vehicle pass the apartments and head north on Major, court documents said. He alerted the officers on scene and officers attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, police said. The driver evaded at a high rate of speed and was eventually stopped Police identified Cunningham as the driver and allegedly found a gun in the vehicle. Jefferson County jail records, as of Thursday, showed that Cunningham has been held since his arrest on June 18 on three charges, including aggravated robbery for a $100,000 bond amount, aggravated robbery for $75,000 and evading detention with motor vehicle for $20,000. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Two game rooms logged more than a dozen violations during a Thursday check by the Orange County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division. At the Getaway Game Room, 2610 N. Main St., in Vidor, officers noticed the business was out of compliance with several portions of the Orange County Gaming Regulations, according to an Orange County Sheriff's Office news release. The officers discovered 15 violations after a complete investigation. "Orange County Health and Code Enforcement Deputy Director James Scales arrived and began the process of terminating this business operation indefinitely," the release said. "Orange County Emergency Services District #1 was also contacted due to the establishment being outside their fire code requirements." RELATED: Orange County Sheriff shuts down Vidor game room Also on Thursday, detectives were looking for a wanted fugitive at the Rose City Fuel Mart Game Room, 23841 Interstate 10, in Rose City, according to the release. Once inside, the officers noticed that an armed security guard and the on-duty clerk were both committing state law violations, participating in gambling promotion and keeping a gambling place. "Detectives contacted the Orange County Criminal Investigations Division to assist with evidence and contraband collection," the release states. "During the investigation, numerous items of evidence were collected including an amount of U.S. currency, circuit boards, and other items. Rose City Marshals Office arrived and assisted with the investigation as well." A misdemeanor warrant arrest was made and several people who were illegally gambling were identified. This investigation is ongoing for engaging in organized criminal activity. The violations were discovered just one day after the Sheriff's Office shut down another game room in Vidor. The Double Diamond Game Room was closed after members of law enforcement found several local and state law violations. An investigation into "engaging in organized criminal activity" also is ongoing for the facility. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Courtesy photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Kim Brent/The Enterprise Show More Show Less 3 of 3 On historic Calder Avenue sits a funky little art studio that lets the communitys creativity shine. MAKE Creative Space is a hub for DIY crafting, workshops and fun, fit for the whole family, even your pups! And when we say the whole family, we mean it. There is no age limit for those who want to participate and can be any project from finger-painting to the most intricate design you could want. Owned and operated by Melissa Londenberg, MAKE Creative Space is a project of love that fit the needs of those in the community who want to get out and make art. When you get to the studio, you will be greeted with two murals on the outside of the building (completed during Mural Festival) and colorful windows and art displays, making it an engaging place right from the start. Sixty-four years ago in July, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the National Aeronautics and Space Act, which established NASA and emphasized our commitment to space exploration and manned space flight. NASA later elected to build a new flight-control center outside of Houston, making Texas an essential piece of the space race. Here are five things happening around your state: 1) ALERRT and House Committee release reports on shooting in Uvalde Last month, both the Advance Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center and the House Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting released reports on their assessment of the tragic shooting in Uvalde. Each report highlighted different parts of the overall response. The ALERRT center covered the timeline, a physical assessment, and a tactical assessment. The tactical assessment spoke to their expertise on strategies used during the shooting and different strategies that could have been used in this situation. Their expertise lies in responder training and their report reflected deficiencies in training and execution of that training. To read the report, visit https://alerrt.org/ The House Investigative Committee on the Robb Elementary Shooting released their report a few weeks after the ALERRT Centers report. The House report detailed an extensive timeline of the events leading up to the shooting, during the shooting, and after the shooting. They delved into the attackers family life and background, the schools security and facilities, the law enforcement response, and drew several factual conclusions. I commend my colleagues for their important work on this issue and look forward to working with other House and Senate members to develop recommendations moving forward. To read the full report, go to https://house.texas.gov/_media/pdf/committees/reports/87interim/Robb-Elementary-Investigative-Committee-Report.pdf 2) Suicide hotline number changes to 988 This month, the Federal Communications Commission implemented a change to the national suicide hotline number. Instead of the old 11-digit number, the new number is just three digits and easier to remember. Now, calling 988 will give you resources for immediate mental health emergencies, such as people at risk of suicide and other crises. The hope is that calling 988 for a mental health crisis will become just as instinctive as calling 911 in an emergency. Those who call the hotline will connect directly with a crisis center staffed by trained professionals that offer free and immediate help at any time. The line offers communication options in several languages and is now available. People in distress can also chat with a trained counselor by visiting www.988lifeline.org 3) Universal Service Fund rates will increase on some phone lines Beginning Aug. 1, telephone customers will see an increase in monthly bills due to a court ruling that state regulators must fully fund the Universal Service Fund (USF). The USF was created to ensure that Texans in rural areas have access to phone services, which is legally a public necessity. Each telephone customers bill has a line item for the USF which has charged a 3.3% fee of the cost for intrastate voice service. That percentage is now going up to 24%. For many single-line customers, that charge was as low as 30 cents a month. That cost could rise to about $2 per month or more. This change comes after the Public Utility Commission, which oversees the USF, rejected a more modest increase in 2020, which wouldve brought the assessment to 6.4%. In 2021, Governor Abbott vetoed a measure aimed at addressing the issue, as well. 4) Tax free weekend for back-to-school approaching This years sales tax holiday weekend for back-to-school is Friday, August 5 through Sunday, August 7. Texans can save money on tax-free purchases of most clothing, footwear, school supplies and backpacks during the annual tax-free weekend. Qualifying items can be purchased in-store or online. The exemption applies to each eligible item sold for less than $100 and there is no limit to the number of qualifying items Texans can buy. 5) Texas Parks and Wildlife accepting drawn hunt permit applications The Texas Parks and Wildlife opened applications for drawn hunt permits for the 2022-2023 hunting season in July. There are almost 10,000 permits in 62 hunt categories. The permits allow drawn hunts on public and private land, including hunts for white-tailed and mule deer, pronghorn, turkey, alligator, dove and some exotic species. An online interactive map shows all drawn hunt opportunities by category or area. All applications, fees and permit issuances are handled online. Permits are open to resident and non-resident hunters. The first application deadlines are in August. For more information, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/hunt/public/public_hunt_drawing/ U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday said Beijing had acted irresponsibly in halting cooperation with the United States on topics including defense and climate change, as he sought to reassure Southeast Asian countries over raging tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Meanwhile, China pressed forward with its major military exercise around Taiwan for a third day on Saturday, with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) apparently staging a simulated attack on Taiwans main island, Taipeis Defense Ministry said. Since their missile launches, Beijing has taken an irresponsible step of a different kind: Theyve shut down eight different areas where our two countries have been able to work together, the top U.S. diplomat said during a press conference Saturday in Manila. Beijing announced the countermeasures on Friday in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis recent visit to Taiwan, freezing bilateral dialogue on several military-to-military channels as well as talks on the climate crisis, repatriation of illegal immigrants, counter-narcotics and legal assistance in criminal matters. The worlds largest carbon emitter is now refusing to engage on combating the climate crisis. Suspending climate cooperation doesnt punish the United States; it punishes the world, particularly the developing world, Blinken said. While Beijing appeared to have halted live-firing exercises around Taiwan, multiple Chinese military aircraft and vessels operated near Taiwan on Saturday, some of them crossing the median line dividing the Taiwan Strait, the ministry said in a statement. The Taiwanese military sent warnings, scrambled aircraft and deployed defense missile systems to track the Chinese military planes, the statement said. Blinken, traveling from Cambodia where he attended ASEAN meetings, said that the U.S. government was determined to avoid a crisis and to deescalate the tensions. The United States is not going to engage in any provocative actions of our own, Blinken told the Voice of America in an interview late Friday in Phnom Penh, transcripts of which were released to the press Saturday. We think the seas should be calmed. The Taiwan Strait is of vital importance to virtually every country in the region. So much commerce goes through there. If that were interrupted, it would have a terrible impact on the global economy and on everyones desire to recover from COVID, Blinken stressed. So I think its incumbent upon all countries the United States, but also China to act responsibly and not use the visit of a member of our Congress as a pretext for engaging in potentially dangerous and destabilizing actions, he added. Nonetheless, he noted that the U.S. House Speaker had every right to make the recent trip to Taiwan, and that Chinas reaction by launching 11 ballistic missiles and deploying its ships around the region is so disproportionate and so dangerous. Meeting with Marcos The U.S. diplomat met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Saturday morning, and underlined the two sides long-standing alliance. Blinken is the highest-ranking U.S. official to travel to the country since the inauguration of Marcos, the son and namesake of the late dictator whom Washington helped flee into exile in Hawaii after a 1986 people power uprising. Were committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty. We're committed to working with you on shared challenges, Blinken said, referring to a 1951 pact between Manila and Washington that binds both sides to come to each others aid in times of aggression from outside forces. The U.S. government has repeatedly cited that partnership in the face of continued Chinese buildup in the disputed South China Sea region, where Beijings maritime claims overlap with those of the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries. He assured Marcos the United States would honor its commitments to the decades-old joint defense pact. The alliance is strong and I believe can grow even stronger, Blinken said. Marcos, for his part, stressed the importance of the alliance amid the volatile outlook in the region even as he stated that Pelosis visit to Taiwan did not raise the intensity of tensions in the Taiwan Strait. But nonetheless, this just demonstrates how volatile the international diplomatic scene is, not only in the region, Marcos said. So again, this just points to the fact of the importance of the relationship between the United States and the Philippines. He said that the MDT is in constant evolution while noting that the Philippines and the United States enjoyed a special relationship linked by shared history. Marcos succeeded President Rodrigo Duterte in May after six years of a somewhat rocky relationship with Washington that saw the Philippines pulling away from its traditional ally in favor of Beijing. After meeting with Marcos, Blinken held a virtual meeting with his counterpart, Enrique Manalo, who earlier this week announced that he had contracted COVID-19. Manalo likewise reiterated the ties that bind the two nations, and the importance of keeping the peace over the Taiwan Strait. The Philippines continues of course to look at the big powers to help calm the waters and keep the peace, Manalo stressed. We can ill afford any further escalation of tensions in the region. Blinken responded by saying that Washington was determined to act responsibly, so that we avoid crisis, we avoid conflict. Beijing considers the self-ruling, democratic island a breakaway province, to be united with the mainland by force if necessary, and objects strongly to high-level U.S. visits. The United States does not recognize Taiwan diplomatically, as part of a One China policy demanded by Beijing, but retains close unofficial ties with Taipei and is obligated by law to provide it with defense capabilities. Myanmar situation worsens Meanwhile, Blinken said that the situation in Myanmar had deteriorated sharply, with the military regime there totally unresponsive to international calls for it to resolve the crisis there peacefully. Well, I think what weve seen, exactly as you say, is a situation thats gone from bad to worse, including with the heinous act of executing four members of the democracy movement despite pleas from ASEAN, from Cambodia, from many others not to do that, Blinken said, according to the VOA interview. Blinken urged the junta to implement the five-point consensus that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) had drafted earlier for Myanmar to return to the path to democracy. Failing to do so would unleash more pressure on the regime economic pressure, political pressure, he warned. We have to press the regime to allow humanitarian assistance to reach people in Myanmar, and we should look at ways to make sure that weapons dont get to the regime. So well look at everything, including additional forms of economic pressure and sanctions, Blinken said. He said ASEAN was correct to exclude Myanmars foreign minister in recent meetings, but said moving forward the bloc would have to look at what that means, including suspension of Myanmar. Jojo Rinoza and Basilio Sepe contributed to this report from Manila. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. NEWFANE Due to a calculating error, the municipal tax rate on bills already in property owners' hands was wrong. Town staff accidentally deducted budgeted revenue for fiscal year 2023 twice and only realized the mistake after tax bills were sent out. "The impact of the error is that the town would collect $300,197 less than it needs to cover its expenses," states a news release issued Thursday. "This shortfall represents a little more than 15 percent of our annual expenses." The issue came up at the Select Board meeting on Monday. Board Vice Chairwoman Ann Golob said procedures were agreed upon to ensure that new checks are in place so the error isn't repeated in the future. Now, the Select Board is considering whether to issue new, corrected tax bills or use surplus funds to cover the shortfall. New tax bills would result in an additional $120 in annual taxes for every $100,000 of home value and involve mailing costs on the town's end. This year, a news release states, the town has a larger than usual surplus of about $500,000 due to a recent reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for expenses associated with Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. "Because the reimbursement was so long overdue, all loans that Newfane had taken out for the repairs have been repaid in full," states the news release. "The FEMA funds therefore represent a surplus to the towns budget which can be spent in any way the town chooses." Board member Mike Fitzpatrick suggested the possibility that the town could come in under budget this fiscal year. At the meeting, he spoke in favor of using the surplus if needed but other board members voted against it, favoring more discussion at the next meeting. Surplus funds could possibly supplement federal American Rescue Plan Act money to address big infrastructure needs, Board Vice Chair Golob said. "I think there is a real value in maintaining these pools of money," she said, commending Treasurer Melissa Brown for all her effort in getting the FEMA reimbursement. "I'm sorry the error happened. Things happen." Golob offered to assist in administrative work associated with getting revised tax bills out. "These moneys belong to the taxpayers and it's up to them what they want to see happen with it," said Doris Knechtel, town lister. "I suspect we're going to have more surplus funds." At its Aug. 15 meeting, the board will discuss the two options for dealing with the issue. If it wants to use the surplus, a town-wide vote could happen at 6 p.m. on Sept. 20 at the NewBrook Fire Station, when the community will decide if retail cannabis should be allowed in Newfane. Newfane next to weigh allowing retail cannabis NEWFANE Next up in voting on allowing retail cannabis is Newfane. The board envisions an article might ask voters if a portion of the town's surplus funds should be moved into a "rainy day fund" that would allow the treasurer to correct the shortfall. The Aug. 15 meeting will be held at the town offices and via Zoom. Residents also are invited to share feedback by emailing tnewfane@newfanevt.com. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks at a news conference as Democrats push to bring the assault weapons ban bill to the floor for a vote, at the Capitol in Washington on July 29. BECKET At Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival this week, the legendary choreographer Alonzo Kings company Alonzo King LINES Ballet, celebrating its 40th anniversary presents a program which illustrates, powerfully, his decadeslong investigation into the flow between the physical and the metaphysical. Hes interested in how the physics of dance work, but hes also interested in the poetic possibilities of the human body. Theres nothing cookie-cutter about the supreme artist/athletes in his troupe; individualism is king, but the sense that a beings uniqueness will result in more unified humanity is King. Dance Review What: Alonzo King LINES Ballet Where: Ted Shawn Theatre, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, 358 George Carter Road, Becket When: Through Sunday, Aug. 7. Performances: 8 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6; 2 p.m., Aug. 6 and 7 Tickets: $55 - $85 Reservations and more information: 413-243-0745, jacobspillow.org The first, shorter part of the program is composed of four excerpts from longer dances stitched together and titled Four Heart Testaments. In the 2020 Grace, from Pie Jesu, longtime company dancer Adji Cissoko picks her way from upstage to downstage, stork-stepping on her gloriously long legs while her torso and arms wave and ripple; this physical multiplicity one or more parts of the body extending out, with impossible length, while other parts of the body curve, whip and furl with impossible speed is one of many familiar Kingisms seen throughout the physical vocabulary in his dances. When Ilaria Guerra enters, soon after, she underscores another breathtaking aspect of Kings phrases, and so remarkable about the level to which his dancers have taken them: despite the velocity of many of the movements, they arent blurred, somehow, they are instead etched into space. While this juxtapositional physicality is, in Kings choreography, usually imbued with a creamy texture, there are some purposely jarring images, as in Writing Ground, the excerpt from the 2010 Over My Head, set to a gorgeous recording of Kathleen Battle singing the traditional song of the title. Madeline DeVries, another star in Kings galaxy, bumbles about on awkwardly tottering, turned in legs, or flops over like a rag doll at the end of her rope, but presses on nonetheless. The two men, Shuaib Elhassan and Michael Montgomery, in the opening section, meanwhile, demonstrate other King specialties, the pirouettes in which the gesture leg moves, as if restless, from one position to another, while the rest of dancers body maintains an eerie eye of the storm, so the turn somehow goes on and on. Sometimes dancers morph into another movements, seamlessly, though sometimes they pause, cannily, hovering. King has staging trademarks as well. His dancers will often stand off to the side, watching another dancer, usually with easy camaraderie; in the third section, however (an excerpt from Kings 2008 The Radius of Convergence), this motif is infused with uncertain drama as four men encircle a now-cool, now-agitated James Gowan, or form various lines behind or to the side of him, like a corps de ballet framing the soloist. Often, when the observers do begin dancing, its not necessarily to form a traditional duet, or an ensemble, but rather the effect is of a series of overlapping, thrillingly virtuosic soloists. In the fourth section, the excerpt from Kings 2007 Rasa, Elhassan, Gowan, and Montgomery take this to high octane heights and then end, simply, wittily, just sittingspent, their hands to their heads. The roaring (no kidding) standing ovation that followed this compilation felt like a deeply cathartic release after this absorbing dive into Kings world. After an intermission, his 2019 Azoth is shown in its entirety (its about 50 minutes long): Pace yourself. This tour de force is another visual feast, but, over the course of the evening, there is so much to take in, that the so much can feel like too much. Or that first course can serve as the perfect entry into the main entree. It is, certainly, familiar King territory, which means that (to me, anyway) along with the occasional sense that there is an over-reliance on the fireworks-out-of-nowhere-displays, there is also the frequent pleasure of the outright, undeniable, otherworldly beauty of his images, and performed by these spectacular dancers. To Charles Lloyds and Jason Morans now-bluesy, now-jazzy score for piano, sax, and flute, the cast of twelve move through an eclectic series of sections, some of which flow seamlessly together, while others appear abruptlyor tantalizingly, you decide. With three hanging grids, and later, small portable lights, the lighting and image technology of Jim French and Jim Campbell cast the dancers either in evocative shadow or bathed in warmth. The title, as the program note explains, refers to the element believed to be the essential agent of transformation in alchemy, and though much of the ballet is an abstract display of those fireworks, there are indeed hints of transformation here and there. Some shifts are sartorial the dancers have several costume changes; sometimes they are almost denuded by Robert Rosenwassers handsome designs, their leotards blending right in to their skin tones, sometimes waves of gold morph out of deep blues. The most overt, but mysterious, possible narrative unfolds in a long sequence in which Lorris Eichinger first battles unseen forces, thrusting at the air with spiky limbs, but is ultimately caught up, and cradled, protectively, by the others. He crouches off, into the wings, his fate uncertain. At the end of their equally-curious duet, Cissoko and Montgomery, via King, reverse the all-too-usual order of the gendered pas de deux, she upright and leading him, also crouching, by the hand, off into the opposite wings. DANCE REVIEW What: Alonzo King LINES Ballet Where: Ted Shawn Theatre, Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, 358 George Carter Road, Becket When: Through Sunday, Aug. 7. Performances: 8 p.m. Aug. 5 and 6; 2 p.m., Aug. 6 and 7 Tickets: $55 - $85 Reservations and more information: 413-243-0745, jacobspillow.org 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. On Saturday, Sept. 24, legal scholar, author and journalist Linda Greenhouse will discuss the question of Does the Supreme Court Have a Future? with Nikolas Bowie, an assistant professor of law at Harvard Law School as part of The Authors Guild's inaugural Words, Ideas and Tinkers Festival. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close About one month after the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945, an allied correspondent examines the landscape of destruction at Hiroshima, Japan. (AP Photo) Editors note: The Berkshire Eagle will bring readers updates on candidates and campaigns ahead of the Sept. 6 primary elections. Berkshire District Attorney Berkshire District Attorney Andrea Harrington is challenging DA candidate Timothy Shugrues statements on the potential of collaboration between the office under his leadership and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following a mid-week candidate forum that featured both attorneys. During the forum, co-hosted by the NAACP, the ACLU and local branch of the League of Women Voters, candidates were asked about whether the office would communicate with ICE if they encountered someone with an administrative warrant from the federal agency. Shugrue said that he would not create blanket policies and would treat each case individually. It depends on the severity of the particular crime, Shugrue said. If someone is charged with a minor drug offense and ICE wants to come and take them, then I don't think it's appropriate for us to do that. Shugrue said that if the person is a very serious violent felon and a conviction can happen that he felt he would have an obligation to notify the agency. In their first public meeting, Berkshire DA candidates point to their records During a roughly hour and a half forum, the candidates for Berkshire District Attorney incumbent Andrea Harrington and defense attorney Timothy Shugrue gave an audience of over 200 people a display of how they differ on issues like substance use, pretrial holds, and the overall quality of public safety in Berkshire County. Harrington issued a statement late this week calling Shugrues response disturbing, and called on him to change his thinking on the matter. Wading into federal immigration policy, Harrington said, is not the job of the District Attorney and sets a dangerous precedent that erodes trust of our immigrant communities and makes it less likely victims will report other crimes like domestic violence. Berkshire County embraces the diversity of our immigrant communities, and it's unfortunate that my opponent supports prosecution methods that hurt these communities," she added. Berkshire County Sheriff Sheriff Thomas Bowler and challenger Alfred E. "Alf" Barbalunga will sit down with local blogger and personality Dan Valenti in-person on Monday for a recorded debate. Barbalunga released details of the event in a recent news release. Valenti said Friday on his blog Planet Valenti that the debate will be a closed-door event, with an unedited version of the recording to be released later in the evening via social media. The candidates are also set to meet in-person at a debate event the following week, co-hosted by PCTV and iBerkshires. Bowler and Barbalunga will participate in the moderated discussion in the auditorium of the Berkshire Athenaeum. The event start at 6 p.m. on August 15 and will be simulcast on PCTV CityLink Channel 1303 in Pittsfield, the PCTV Select app on Roku and Apple TV, and on the broadcasters Facebook page. The event is set to last 90 minutes, at which point PCTV and iBerkshires will begin a live moderated debate between the DA candidates, Harrington and Shugrue. Chinese Foreign Ministry announces countermeasures in response to Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan Xinhua) 08:45, August 06, 2022 BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- In disregard of China's strong opposition and serious representations, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China's Taiwan region. Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced the following countermeasures in response: 1. Canceling China-U.S. Theater Commanders Talk. 2. Canceling China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks (DPCT). 3. Canceling China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) meetings. 4. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on the repatriation of illegal immigrants. 5. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on legal assistance in criminal matters. 6. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation against transnational crimes. 7. Suspending China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation. 8. Suspending China-U.S. talks on climate change. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) GREAT BARRINGTON Typically, hydrant flushing roils the town's water into something that looks like tea or coffee. This time, its the searing heat. Meanwhile, residents in the Housatonic section of town are bracing to pay to fix the ongoing problem with the water supply. Long Pond, the Housatonic Water Works Co.s source, reached 83 degrees on July 25, according to James Mercer, the company's co-owner and treasurer. Water that warm dissolves naturally occurring manganese present in the pond, turning brown the water that pours out faucets. The price tag for fixing this and other problems in the aging water supply system? At least $4 million, if it all gets approved. Monthly water bills would double. A customer with a $44.73 bill now will pay $45 on top of that, Mercer informed customers in an Aug. 1 letter. Residents are not happy. With increasing frequency since late July, their Facebook posts show photos of bathtubs, sinks and pools filled with dingy water, along with at least one ruined white skirt. Half the pool was brown, said Kayla Aberdale, a Housatonic native who recently moved into what was once her grandparents house, and loves the pool she grew up with. It hasnt been bad until a few days ago. Christine Koval's water looks like coffee. It's been that way every day since June 4, she said. She's been buying bottled water, and is now planning to buy a water cooler. Pressure continues to mount for the privately owned waterworks to fix discoloration and other problems with the aging system. Some residents stopped paying their water bill in protest. Sign-up for The Berkshire Eagle's free newsletters Sign up Fixing the discoloration means buying a greensand filtration system at a cost of between $1.75 million and $2 million. Housatonic Water Works Co. engineers think it will do the trick. The company will begin a pilot study to make sure. It got approval from regulators on Aug. 1 to begin. The second phase of fixing what ails the system will cost another $2 million, and that includes a new 800,000-gallon storage tank. Regulators continue to say the water is safe to drink, but residents are skeptical. The safety came into question in January when the company announced elevated levels since last August of a compound linked to cancer. Those levels have since dropped. In an Aug. 1 letter to customers, Mercer thanked them for their understanding during incredibly challenging times caused by the seasonally induced episodes of discolored water. Mercer says the culprit is climate change, and that Housatonic is not alone. Nine other communities in the state have discoloration problems due to manganese. Unfortunately, theres no quick and easy fix for this problem due to approvals required by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); and Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU), Mercer wrote. Lenox native James Brooke has traveled to about 100 countries, reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America. Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying Are about to engage in that work, or are engaged in it, performing it in such a posture; for standing was an usual posture in praying; (See Gill on Matthew 6:5); forgive, if ye have ought against any, that your Father also in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. The sense is, that if, while a man is praying, it comes into his mind that such an one has committed a trespass against him, has done him an injury, of which he has just reason to complain; but instead of complaining of it before God, and calling upon him to avenge his cause, he should immediately in his heart, and from his heart, forgive him, even though he is not present to acknowledge his sin, and ask his pardon; and such an one may expect forgiveness of God, and a manifestation of it to his soul; which is one the things he is constantly praying for, as his daily case makes it necessary: not that it is to be understood as though his for, giving the person that has offended him, is the cause, or condition, of his receiving remission of sin at the hand of God; for then it would not be through the blood of Christ, and according to the riches of his grace; but this points at a temper and disposition of mind well pleasing to God, and describes persons who may expect this favour from him; (See Gill on Matthew 6:14). In response to China's sanctioning US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi overnight, the White House has summoned China's ambassador to the US, Qin Gang, on Friday morning to complain about Beijing's "provocative actions" - also of course the massive PLA military drills which are ongoing around Taiwan. Taiwan's defense ministry has said the drills are an attempt at blockading the island, following Pelosi's overnight trip earlier this week which infuriated China, also on Friday leading it to cancel a series of US-China bilateral talks, including military ties and dialogue. "After Chinas actions overnight, we summoned Ambassador Qin Gang to the White House to demarche him about the PRCs provocative actions," White House national security spokesman John Kirby confirmed to the The Washington Post. Veteran Chinese diplomat Qin Gang, source: NPR The Chinese ambassador was officially informed that the Biden administration "condemned" the ongoing military drills, which have also seen dozens of military jets breach the so-called median line which separates the Taiwan Strait. Chinese state media earlier this week said it has effectively "ceased to exist". Despite Beijing's protestations to the contrary, which has also highlighted months of US weapons transfers to the self-ruled island, Kirby also emphasized in his latest statements that "nothing has changed about our one-China policy" and that the US stands ready to respond to threats from China. "We will not seek and do not want a crisis," Kirby said in the fresh statements. At the same time, we will not be deterred from operating in the seas and skies of the Western Pacific, consistent with international law, as we have for decades supporting Taiwan and defending a free and open Indo-Pacific." Beijing for its part, in unveiling the personal sanctions targeting Nancy Pelosi (which however according to many reports remain "undefined" and unspecified - though without doubt it includes a travel ban to China), said further it will "definitely take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity in response to the U.S. Speakers visit." According to a Bloomberg report from earlier this week, Pelosi's Taiwan visit was not backed by the White House, but instead left the administration in a desperate scramble to salvage the diplomatic pieces with China. "But behind the scenes, officials in President Joe Bidens administration were fuming at her insistence on using the trip as a capstone for her career at a moment of highly delicate relations with Beijing," the report reads. The White House sent national security briefers to warn her of all that could go wrong with such a trip, but were unable to alter her plans. Officially, the White House told the public that Congressional members "make their own decisions". But behind the scenes, according to Bloomberg, it was an administration in full crisis mode: "When it became clear that Pelosi could not be swayed, the administration instead planned for contingencies, setting up a scramble to ensure communication channels with Beijing were functioning and any fallout could be minimized," Bloomberg revealed. According to more behind-the-scenes details of the lead-up to the controversial trip, White House efforts at preemptively defusing tensions with China "included meetings between US officials and their counterparts at the Chinese embassy in Washington, people familiar with the matter said. They were granted anonymity to discuss the private deliberations." "But even as they tried to convince Pelosis team that now was not the right time to go, administration officials knew they had to plan for the possibility that she would do so and gird for any Chinese response," the report noted. Also interesting is that the full itinerary and planned Taiwan stop had been kept even from lawmakers accompanying Pelosi on her Asia tour down to the last minute. And then there's this astounding section from the Bloomberg reporting: The more the administration tried to weigh in behind the scenes, the more Pelosi dug in. At one point, her team suggested she might consider delaying the trip if the president publicly asked her to. Biden advisers didnt believe that was a good idea, not least because they were unsure that she would comply, people familiar with the exchange said. After days of treating the travel plans as a hypothetical, on Monday, White House officials changed their tone. Before Pelosi landed in the region, Kirby warned Beijing not to overreact to a potential Taiwan stop or use it as a pretext to increase tensions. Indeed, Kirby has since condemned what he called on Thursday a China 'overreaction'. Pelosi while in Japan on the last stop of the trip said that Beijing used her visit as an "excuse" to conduct threatening exercises to pressure Taiwan. China's foreign ministry has said all along that the White House could have stopped the Pelosi trip if it wanted to, but chose to allow it to happen. WASHINGTON, D.C. -(Ammoland.com)- The House Oversight Committee has served Smith & Wesson with a subpoena requesting records surrounding the companys popular M&P15 rifle. The subpoena comes after the CEO of Smith & Wesson refused to participate in a gun control hearing in which CEO Marty Daniel of Daniel Defense and CEO Christopher Killoy of Sturm, Ruger & Co. testified via Zoom last month. Committee Democrats complained that the gun company did not submit enough documents for their liking. The Democrats claim that the information the Connecticut-based company provided was incomplete and left out key metrics around its sale of AR-15 style rifles. While your company refused to provide information specific to AR-15-style rifles, the limited information provided shows that your company brought in at least $125 million from AR-15 style rifles in 2021 alone, the Committees chairwoman, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) wrote in the subpoena. The Committee is investigating the top five leading sellers of AR-15 style rifles. It says those companies have made $1 billion of revenue from selling AR-15s which might hamper Democrats attempt to ban the firearm. The hearing itself proved that the AR-15 is the most popular rifle in the country. According to the Supreme Court Heller decision, guns in common use are protected under the Second Amendment. That stat means if the AR-15 is not considered in common use, then no other rifle could be regarded as in common use. The Committee accused firearms sellers of marketing toward children. The Democrat members showed an ad for the JR-15 rifle. The rifle was marketed as a smaller version of the AR-15 rifle. The gun fired a .22LR caliber round. It was sold as a safer way for children to learn how to handle a rifle properly. Democrats also harped on childrens gun safety, insinuating that the firearms industry was using gun safety campaigns to indoctrinate youths. The gun industry insists that gun safety for children will reduce firearms accidents by teaching proper handling of guns. The Democrat members of the Committee were not impressed. They view anything involving firearms and kids as some type of gateway drug. Democrats even accused video games with guns as some type of gateway to gun culture. During the hearing, Democrats asked Mr. Daniel about the M&P-15 rifle. They focused on the letters and standing for military and police. Although the M does stand for military, the actual military doesnt use the rifle. They then asked Mr. Daniel about the naming of the gun. Daniel reminded the Committee that Daniel Defense is not the maker of the rifle. The Committee harped on Smith & Wesson not showing up. Democrats are demanding Smith & Wesson turn over documents about the sale and marketing of the semi-automatic rifle. Democrats also want to know if Smith & Wesson tracks the use of its products in crimes. The same question was asked to the companies that did show up, and the companies informed Congress that there is no way to track those stats. Congress wants to know how the company prevents its products from going to problematic dealers. President Joe Biden, in recent months, demanded that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) crackdown on rogue dealers. Since then, license revocations have been up by 500%. Both companies stated that they sell to distributors and not directly to gun shops. Smith & Wesson has not responded to the subpoena as of this writing. About John Crump John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com. Canada is to ban imports of handguns part of a move that could see a total freeze on their purchase and sale. The temporary ban starting on 19 August will be enforced until parliament passes strict new rules. Handguns have one purpose and one purpose only and that is to kill people, Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told reporters on Friday. The governments proposed total ban, unveiled in May, follows outrage over several deadly shootings. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed the legislation known as bill C-21 days after the Texas primary school shooting in the US which killed 21 people. The UKs Express called it caving in to Putin. Bloomberg dubbed it "corrections to previous sanctions." Whatever it is called, it comes down to the same thing: the EU is loosening the noose. And its not just the EU, either. For starters, the European Union decided to add exemptions to Russian sanctions, which would allow countries from outside the bloc to deal with sanctioned Russian entities, including banks and state companies such as Rosneft. Per the Bloomberg report, these exemptions are for entities "deemed essential to shipments of food, agricultural goods and oil to third countries outside the EU". The EU appears to be putting a lot of effort into convincing whoever is listening that their sanctions against Russia have absolutely nothing to do with either food or energy supply disruptions or, at the very least, they did not aim for them to happen. It said it directly in a news release by the Council of Europe that announced the latest round of sanctions that targeted Russias gold. "More broadly, the EU is committed to avoiding all measures which might lead to food insecurity around the globe. None of the measures adopted today or earlier in view of Russias actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine target in any way the trade in agricultural and food products, including wheat and fertilisers, between third countries and Russia," the news release stated. What all this effectively amounts to is an admission that sanctions against Russia are not working too well in their intended way and are instead hurting or threatening to hurt third parties not involved in the Ukraine conflict. Theres more, too. While the EU tweaks its sanctions to allow the trade of more Russian oil in order to avoid another spike in oil prices, the UK is hesitant to join the block in its oil insurance ban on Russian vessels. The UKs participation in the insurance squeeze is essential because of the market share British-based insurers hold in shipping insurance and yet they are stalling. A recent Financial Times report on the topic suggests this might have something to do with the UKs big geopolitical brother and its concern about oil prices. The U.S., unlike the EU and its embargo, has opted for an alternative way of trying to reduce Russias oil income: price caps. The UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, France, and Italy have agreed to pursue this cap. Judging by the latest news from the G7 camp, however, the cap is not moving ahead as planned. A lot of people - analysts, shipping industry insiders, and the head of Russias central bank, among others - said that a price cap on Russian crude would not work. It appears that G7 has not heard them. Per a Reuters report from earlier this week, the G7 is looking into "a comprehensive prohibition of all services that enable transportation of Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products globally, unless the oil is purchased at or below a price to be agreed in consultation with international partners." Talk, however, is cheap, while action is not. Yet talking is important when the world is watching you, so the G7 planners also said that "In considering this and other options, we will also consider mitigation mechanisms alongside our restrictive measures to ensure the most vulnerable and impacted countries maintain access to energy markets including from Russia." In other words, just like the EU, the G7 would be wary of causing unintended damage to countries not involved in the Ukraine mess by making sure Russian oil reaches them freely. And then, refined products made from Russian oil will head back to the EU. India buys Russian oil, runs it through its refineries, and sells 'Indian refined products where? To the EU. Ditto for other cargos. Ditto for Saudi Arabia. Those vessels bills of lading wont mention Russia as they arrive at their EU destination. "In short, the EU is quietly facilitating the bypass of its own proclaimed 'crushing' sanctions regime," according to Alastair Crooke, director of Lebanon-based nonprofit Conflicts Forum, as quoted by the Express. It must have dawned on EU, UK, and U.S. policymakers that sanctioning Russia would not be as easy as sanctioning a smaller oil exporter, especially if this oil exporter also exports a lot of other vital stuff, such as food and fertilizers. The U.S. even issued a fact sheet to clarify that its sanctions do not target Russian fertilizer exports, or, indeed, agricultural product exports. And this while Amos Hochstein said that "Their economy has nothing else. They produce weapons and they produce and they drill for oil and gas." It appears that 'their economy" has at the very least a lot of fertilizers and agricultural produce that serves to feed people outside Russia as well, and thats without mentioning the metals, too. As for the oil, it seems pretty critical as well: nothing short of critical would force the EU, the UK, and the U.S. to loosen the sanction noose. As the snake devours its own tail, SJW ideology reaps its karma. The facade is crumbling because it lacks any foundation. The SJW house built on weird, self-contradictory, incoherent academic dogma victimizes itself with its own inertia. Such ideologically-driven social engineering endeavors fail, on a long enough timeline, without exception. The principal cause is that they are not rooted in material reality. Nor do they justify themselves. Nor are their abstract theories sufficiently tested in real-world conditions. The SJW phenomenon went supernova circa 2014, and is now in the process of imploding into a black hole. The star that burns twice as bright, as the expression goes, burns half as long. The quickening is palpable. No previously untouchable protected minority not Anne Frank nor the diverse pale-skin LGBTQ+++ sexual minorities is immune from the SJW cannibalism. Similar in function to the military-industrial complex, SJW ideology depends on the continual advent of new enemies to maintain its vitality. The framing of the white heterosexual, Christian man as the devil is now passe. That horse has been beaten to death, and no longer satisfies the SJW bloodlust. The mob requires newer adversaries in the out-group to be hated at ever-greater intensities. The absurdity accelerates towards the point that, in the near future, the only marginalized voice deemed worthy of consideration will be that of an ultra-intersectional BIPOC, genderqueer, non-binary, neurodivergent, disabled, non-binary transgender lesbian furry. The woman below in blue lipstick and some sort of Kentucky Derby/Harry Potter hat with a matching doo rag (both an aesthetic win and a sure sign of mental stability) explains. White women dont get to have opinions about the recent Roe vs. Wade overturn. White people are not allowed to talk about the Supreme Court ruling and must only listen to BIPOC women pic.twitter.com/dkjBpp5fC3 Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 27, 2022 The delicious irony is that baby-boomer white women in liberal arts colleges products of the 60s counterculture in which abortion rights were front and center singlehandedly drove the development of the ideology that has now turned on them. And now they cant talk about abortion. Eventually, even the most privileged SJW voice like the non-binary BIPOC (apparently) bipolar one above will be silenced for some reason or other. She breathes air and thats asphyxiation-phobic against non-breathing individuals or whatever. At the risk of mixed metaphors, SJW ideology is a rabid animal, lashing out at anything it can, and becoming more degenerate, unrestrained and undisciplined in its violence by the day. This is the inevitable dead end of an ideology with nothing substantial to support it no sustaining principles at its core except victimhood as a virtue and the visceral satisfaction that hate of the oppressor provides. The left is an unlikely hodgepodge of blacks, Hispanics (although increasingly not so as they identify less and less with the Democrat Party), other racial groups, women, feminists, transgenders and related gender ideologues, Marxists, academics, religious minorities like Muslims, etc. In the absence of any real class solidarity or shared economic aims, the bonds that ultimately tie these groups together are merely resistance to the phantom white patriarchy, which itself is a conjured specter. The left, therefore, is, by its nature, weak. Its various divergent elements can be manipulated, reconfigured, or disbanded at will. The left wont ever seriously threaten the power structure because their constituent parts can simply be pitted against one another at will. The alliance among the many factions of the left is a ticking timebomb. Their only uniting feature is hatred of their own society based on various identity-based grievances. The canceler becomes the canceled YouTuber Ethan Klein, host of h3h3 Productions, earlier this year deleted his old interview with Jordan Peterson in a virtue signaling gesture. He denounced Peterson as transphobic based on out-of-context soundbites. In reply, Peterson sent the following prescient warning to Klein: You will be held to higher and higher and soon impossible to maintain ethical standards by the very mob you currently wish to please. Then you will make a mistake, and they will devour you. With glee. Mere months later, Klein found himself cancelled for making what, in context, was an obvious joke about bombing an NRA convention. Taken in full context, no reasonable interpretation could be made that it was a literal incitement to violence. However, his political opponents clipped out a 10-second soundbite, disseminated it without context, and he ended up suspended from YouTube. Unless you are genuinely a member of the power elite, censorship will always come back to bite you. Promoting of censorship is promotion of your own eventual future silencing. Third-wave feminists birthed the social justice monster, now it eats them Social justice activists inevitably bite the hand that feeds. Matricide is the technical term for killing ones own mother. The delicious irony is that baby-boomer white women in liberal arts colleges products of the 60s counterculture in which abortion rights were front and center singlehandedly drove the development of the ideology that has now turned on them. And now they cant talk about abortion, transgender men usurping their place in womens sports, or any of a dozen of sacred cows. JK Rowling, a prominent leftist feminist, is now persona non grata at Harry Potter events for defending basic biological reality (ie being transphobic). Portland, Oregon lesbian bar shut down for transphobia A lesbian bar opened in ultra-progressive Portland and closed no more than a week later, due to its failure to accommodate penis-packing men who self-identified as lesbians. The owners were also accused, of course, of racism and non-compliance with COVID safety measures. Delicious. The mob will unleash itself on everyone in due time The problem with mobs while they do serve political utility in the short-term (i.e., BLM) is that they are unruly. Their chaotic energy requires an outlet; like a fire, they consume whatever they can in their immediate reach. Ideological motivations, to the extent that they were ever really central to begin with, become an afterthought to the mob. The prime directive is to feed. The beautiful thing is that, because of its totally manufactured, plastic nature, imploding the SJW movement requires exactly zero effort from the opposition. Kick back and enjoy the implosion of social justice the greatest cultural scourge of the 21st century. The end is nigh. Dance on its grave, in celebration of the demise of the moral obscenity. Above: Social justice marches inexorably towards its fate Ben Bartee is an independent Bangkok-based American journalist with opposable thumbs. Follow his stuff via Armageddon Prose and/or Substack, Patreon, Gab, and Twitter. Bitcoin public address: 14gU3aHBXkNq8bDqmibfnubV7kSJqfx5LX Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The rock band is the electric through-line of Australian popular music: vocals, guitars, bass, and drums, whatever the decade. But if the instruments stay much the same, what those groups represent changes sharply, to reflect their times. Thinks of the Easybeats in the 1960s, with their immigrant drive, or the defiant passion of Cold Chisel in the 1970s, who refused to toe any line dictated by authority. Every era gets its authentic amplification, and you can trace the lineage onwards through Powderfingers egalitarian concern and Gang of Youths embrace of raw passion. But what does the next generations emblematic rock band look and sound like? The band would be the first verse-to-chorus summation of Generation Z, the successor to Millennials and a cohort primed by digital culture and raised on climate changes looming impact and the need to protect their mental health through the pandemic years. If you want to turn that outline into an outlier, please consider Spacey Jane. The Perth four-piece vocalist and guitarist Caleb Harper, guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu, bassist Peppa Lane, and drummer Kieran Lama have enjoyed an unstoppable ascendance over the past three years. Zooming up through Triple J, the quartet saw their debut album June 2020s Sunlight, debut at two on the national charts. In June this year its successor, Here Comes Everybody, took the extra step and debuted at one. Out of lockdown and able to tour, both nationally and increasingly overseas, Spacey Jane are playing five consecutive nights at Melbournes Forum Theatre later this month. They may yet add more shows, or it could be the last time they play a room that size in Melbourne before they graduate to arenas. Measured by commercial benchmarks, the band and their buoyant alternative-tinged singles, have achieved startling success. But sales and sold-out shows arent the only metric that matter to the group. Spacey Janes latest album, Here Comes Everybody, debuted at No. 1 on the national charts. Credit:Sam Hendel Sitting in his Christchurch hotel room, midway through a New Zealand tour, Caleb Harper talks about Spacey Jane with unadorned honesty, as if its the mechanism that gives him both purpose and satisfaction. Rocks traditional taxonomy dictates that bands are gangs, or a boys club, but Spacey Jane feels both broader and necessarily inclusive: something to share with people close to you, a business to be nurtured, a means of expression, an example to be set. We really love each other and are so grateful that we get to do this together. The thing that has changed the most is that before we were just friends doing this collective thing for fun, but now were bonded through fear of the unknown and the end of our safety net, and being in this business together, Harper says. Advertisement More than half of what we do now is unrelated to creating or performing music. We have to have each others back because we all depend on each other, he adds. Its unspoken, but then it is spoken about some of the times. We have a true commitment to each other and what we do. I first spoke to Harper in February 2020, while putting together a list of new Australian artists to watch out for. Spacey Jane had just cracked Triple Js Hottest 100 for the first time with their whirlwind single Good for You, although Harper had missed the big moment: when the countdown got to 90 he figured they hadnt made the cut and did a bottle-shop run. He was in the queue when it came in at 80 and his phone started blowing up. A year later Booster Seat would reach number two of the 2021 Hottest 100. Harper was not at the bottle shop. Even then the lanky frontman had an innate understanding of what he got from making music and what other people got from listening to it. Not much of what I write is sweet. Its shrouded in bubbly, indie sounds, but the last two years have been pretty tough for me in an emotional sense and a relationship breakdown is at the forefront of my mind, Harper told me. Everyone can relate to bad things happening in their lives, but at the same time they want to sing and dance along, too. That final sentence could be considered something of a manifesto for Harpers songwriting. Sunlight, and particularly Here Comes Everybody, delve deep into his teenage depression, subsequent bouts of indecision and self-destruction, and heartbreak that comes tempered with regret and despair. The sound coming from my head thats screaming I dont feel right, as Hardlight succinctly puts in. The week Here Comes Everybody was released, Spacey Jane did signing sessions at record stores in six different capital cities on consecutive days. The fan queues were lengthy, and because the band hadnt set a time limit, they stayed for hours until everyone waiting got their signature and, in many cases, the chance to communicate to Harper and his bandmates what certain songs meant to them. It was not a responsibility the songwriter had foreseen. Sometimes I feel like I dont have the right thing to say. Just because I talk about these things doesnt mean Ive conquered them all or have this broad range of understanding of how and what to do. But I try hard to relate to people and talk about things, Harper says. But in the same way I do, some people just want to talk, they dont need an answer or a solution. They just want to tell someone. For me its really nice to be reciprocated: I asked them to listen to me, and now theyre doing the same. Advertisement Harper has come a long way from Geraldton, the regional city 400 kilometres north of Perth, where he grew up listening to Wilcos Yankee Hotel Foxtrot on repeat in his stepfathers car and was in a high school band with Lama before they headed to Perth and formed Spacey Jane at university in 2016. His latest addition is a chunky silver chain, a recent purchase during a stay in Los Angeles that whacks his chin when he runs onstage. Its the kind of purchase he was too scared to make until recently, lest the band fall over. Spacey Jane at the Enmore Theatre, Sydney, last year. Credit:Charlie Hardy Caleb really believes in people. Hes very encouraging and has faith. And hell always have your back, Peppa Lane says. And hes a really good decision maker and always has his eye on a vision. Its very easy to trust his leadership. The 22-year-old bassist joined in 2019, replacing Amelia Murray who departed on good terms to focus on her medical degree (shes now doing her first year in Western Australias rural hospital system). A one in a million addition according to Harper, Lane was then in her first year of university, lamenting on her phone call home to her parents each week that she hadnt yet joined a band. Offered a share of Spacey Janes then going gig rate, $48 and 12 cans of beer, she happily accepted. When I first joined the band I was overwhelmed by giving up other stuff in my life. But its just fun to keep growing. A lot of people in the world are successful. We havent made it more than anyone else, Lane says. A good band has to be creative and expressive and meet your full musical potential. I think weve still got plenty to uncover. As self-honest as he is, Harper also has a keen sense of humour. He jokes about not having enough Instagram followers to get free clothes (which he would very much like to) and slips in self-deprecating asides. Thats also helped him look anew at what Spacey Jane might be. Part of his Los Angeles trip was to try songwriting with other musicians, with a view to how that might help Spacey Jane. Were always looking to expand and evolve and bring in as many positive influences and opinions to this thing as possible, without giving away our sense of agency, Harper says. Prior to the last six months I felt very possessive and vulnerable, but I want it to be a fun, collaborative thing, not a gut-wrenching introspective process. Advertisement Others got in touch to ask if my current boyfriend was feeling nervous. I hope you stay one step ahead of the false accusations, Julia Gillard commiserated via email. If you dont, I will bake a file in a cake for you. Actually, the way I bake, you will be able to use the cake as a file! I even got a message from Stephen Frys 90-year-old mum, Marianne. Kind Kathy could not be a killer she only cracks killer jokes, bless her. Loading Speaking of jokes, Jane Turner rang to tell me a cracker about a woman at the morgue with her deceased husband. When asked about the cause of death, the widow replied: Poisoning. But, mourners pointed out, his body is covered in bruises. Yes, she explained. He wouldnt take it! As the humorous momentum built, my lovely first husband, Kim Williams, got in touch with reassuring words. Last time I looked, I was still kicking hard! My lovely second husband, Geoffrey Robertson, also confirmed that he was still vertical. David Williamson wrote to corroborate recent sightings. Kathy, Kim and Geoffrey are indeed still with us, but Ive heard youve got dozens of thank you messages from grateful wives whove used your plot line to advantage. But this amusing case of mistaken non-entity took a more serious turn when it made its way into social media and newsprint. A letter to Washingtons Courier Herald, published on June 9 and titled Kathy Lettes Conviction, goes on to talk about the author whose book about murdering husbands turned out to be fact, not fiction. Now, every woman wants to be wanted just not by Interpol. Yes, my novel does have a plot to die for, but its not a DIY manual. So, the question is: do I sue, or let rumours persist that Im a murderess? My Sydney libel lawyer, Patrick George, urged me to insist that the Courier Herald remove the falsehood. Defamation is a strict liability, so whoever published this has certainly defamed you mistaken identity is no excuse, he told me. It can be repeated and spread and before you know it, the next time you meet the Queen shell ask when they let you out of prison. Well, Im sure thats a question the royals are inclined to ask all Australians. Besides which, there could be an upside. Rumours that Im a murderess would definitely encourage book critics to stay on my good side. But what finally persuaded me to seek an apology (which Im still waiting for, by the way), is the fact that Nancys essay is just so badly written. She murders the English language. And I dont want to take the rap for that. What finally persuaded me to seek an apology, is the fact that Nancys essay is just so badly written. She murders the English language. Plus, her murderous modus operandi is so unimaginative. Homicide is not easy, but shooting him with a traceable gun? Wheres the suspense in that? So, how to do it? Local hardware stores just dont stock female-friendly Shallow Grave shovels. Cant live with him, cant cut him up with a chainsaw and dispose of his body in black bin liners because the neighbours might notice. When the downtrodden wife in my novel is abandoned by her philandering hubby, shes suddenly single and trying to master her own DIY as in which kitchen gadget can be used as a deadly weapon and the deed made to look like an accident. A domestic goddess, she knows the best way to a mans heart is through his stomach with an upwards thrust of a carving knife. The interesting thing about looking at a knife aimed at your philandering husbands groin is how small the tip of the blade is, and yet what a huge hole it would make in his future reproductive plans, she says. Youll have to read the novel to discover her ingenious method of husband removal. But this is just a fictional flight of fancy. On balance, I think it best not to encourage readers to kill their spouses. Whatever a wife does to him might originally be reported as an accident, but not after those highly advanced forensic tests prove that his heart was gouged out of his body by his brides nail file. I suggest angry wives forgo murder and opt for some creative revenge. If a hubby needs his comeuppance, secrete Nair hair remover in his shampoo bottle. Turn up his bathroom scales by five kilos the best revenge on a weight-conscious egotist. Replace his KY Jelly with a tube of superglue that will fix him, literally. Encourage your kids to leave their descant recorders at their fathers place, so that they have something to play when next staying over. Then let them graduate to bagpipes. Loading Or perhaps just give him a copy of my novel How to Kill Your Husband and tell him how the author was mistaken for a real murderess. With any luck, hell die laughing. Since my murderous mix-up, friends have been getting in touch to tell me their own doppelganger dramas. In 2015, Bruce Beresford, who directed the movie of my first book, Puberty Blues, seemed to be starring in one of his own thrillers when he found himself mistaken for US TV producer Bruce Beresford-Redman, who was convicted of murdering his wife in Mexico. People with no stated medical credentials are making contraception claims that some young people may consider accurate, Temple-Smith said. I was very horrified with the TikTok stuff I observed ... a young person might easily think these are people who know what theyre talking about. She is particularly worried that the withdrawal method of contraception is anecdotally fashionable among those wishing to avoid hormonal contraception and that some young people believe it to be far more effective at preventing pregnancy than it often is. However, psychiatrist and Monash University Professor Jayashri Kulkarni said the concerns of young women about potential adverse impact of the pill on their mental health should be taken seriously. Much research, including her July 2022 paper Hormonal contraception and mood disorders, has demonstrated a link between the pill and depression in certain groups of women. The pill does have the potential to cause depression, it is a problem, Kulkarni said. The oestrogen component is good for the brain, but most pills have a synthetic progesterone that is bad for depression and some are particularly bad for mental health. Loading Women pre-disposed to depression, who are in very stressful situations or who have experienced trauma are among those most likely to experience mental health issues while on the pill. Women are voting with their feet on this; theyve known for ages that theres something not right in their own mental health when theyve taken the pill, often tried to tell their practitioner and got nowhere. Few pills have been put through rigorous clinical trials for their effect on womens moods and only one currently available Zoely is marked as mood neutral. Melbourne student Zoe Aarons decided to come off the pill after realising it was affecting her moods badly. I just found myself more sensitive, more emotional, more irritable and I didnt know why, she said. After changing her contraception to an IUD, the uncontrollable moods ceased, she said. Aarons said young women were not educated enough about the contraception methods available, the pluses and minuses of each. I think if [young women] were given the full spiel, a lot more would be not taking the pill, she said. Zoe Aarons found great improvement in her mood once she stopped taking the pill and had an IUD administered. Credit:Justin McManus Tayla Miksad has also experienced mental health side effects linked to the pill and is considering an IUD. Having made an informed decision to go on it, a couple of months in she experienced a dramatic change in her temperament, behaviour and mood. It made me more emotionally unstable and volatile, she said, adding that her symptoms included depressive episodes. I was still doing the same kind of things as before I went on the pill. I was happy in my job and all of that. It was a process of elimination to realise it was the pill causing all of these symptoms. Miksad said her symptoms were relieved after she quit the medication last year. Tayla Miksad says her experience on the pill was traumatising. Credit:Eddie JIm Temple-Smith said that for those seeking very reliable contraception with no hormones, the copper IUD, which is 99.5 per cent effective, was ideal. But take-up of such pill alternatives hasnt gone up as much as wed hoped its only been a couple of per cent in the last decade. Obstetrician and GP Dr Ines Rio said she had noted an increase in young women raising valid questions about the side effects of hormone-based contraception methods, but many were not well-informed of the very high likelihood you will get pregnant without excellent birth control. Loading Some women using fertility-tracking apps believe them to be more foolproof than they are. Some of the women Im seeing are using fairly sophisticated apps to try to work out their fertile times, theyre saying, Im not going to get pregnant because this tells me when Im going to ovulate, Rio said. I talk to them about the fact that it might decrease [the likelihood of unintended pregnancy] from 80 to 90 per cent chance of pregnancy from unprotected sex per year down to 20 to 40 per cent per year, said Rio, an Australian Medical Association (Victoria) spokeswoman. She sees young women every week who are distressed about being accidentally pregnant. Natural Cycles, the only so-called digital contraceptive on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods is driven by an algorithm based on the womans basal temperature, taken first thing in the morning. The fertility awareness app, developed by CERN physicist Elina Berglund and husband Raoul Scherwitzl, is promoted as being 93 per cent effective with typical use. It has none of the side effects of hormone-based birth-control, but was reported to Swedish authorities in 2018 after a hospital recorded 37 unwanted pregnancies among the apps users. This number is in line with the apps 93 per cent typical usage effectiveness rate. After the inquiry, no action was required to be taken by Natural Cycles. Dr Elina Berglund and her husband, Dr Raoul Scherwitzl, designed the fertility-timer app Natural Cycles. Tina Aimes, a GP specialising in womens health at Jean Hailes, said it was positive that young people were talking about their experiences with contraception. However, while it was encouraging that taboos around the subject were vanishing, much word-of-mouth information could be misleading, she said. For example, those wanting to use natural methods such as fertility awareness apps often do not realise that if their cycle is irregular, they are unlikely to work. There is not enough understanding of how [fertility awareness methods] work, the limits of its efficiency and what the ramifications of failure may be for that woman, she says. The pill wouldnt be available on the Australian market if we thought it was potentially dangerous for women to take. With Rebecca Sadique You can find a fact sheet on contraception methods, by the Victorian Health Department, here. Man charged over Queensland shooting to face court Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss A flurry of venue openings in the inner city is sparking hope Sydneys nightlife is about to rebound after a lost decade of lockout laws, COVID-19 restrictions, over-regulation and the lure of Netflix. You just have to know where to go. Four years after iconic night spot World Bar shut its doors, the Bayswater Road site re-emerged on Friday night as Kings Cross Pavilion, the latest venture of Ussi Moniz Da Silva, who also owns Maali nightclub and Eros restaurant on the same strip, and Double Bay hit Sinaloa. Opening night at Kings Cross Pavilion, which is on the Bayswater Road Kings Cross site once occupied by World Bar. Credit:Flavio Brancaleone As the clock struck midnight the downstairs dance floor was pumping and the teapots were flowing. Yes, in a symbolic throwback to the heady 2000s, they have resurrected World Bars much-loved cocktail containers. But in other ways the offering is more sophisticated. The venue capacity 900 will be pub-style during the day, with burgers named after Kings Cross Streets and a sports bar. At night, it becomes a club open until 3.30am, with a second DJ upstairs and a cocktail bar on the top floor. Obviously, that needs to be done in a really safe way to make sure that it can be done in a confidential way that women escaping domestic violence or subject to domestic violence are able to access that. Loading Asked whether that would include expanding the service to encrypted applications, such as WhatsApp and Signal, Rishworth said: Well be exploring a whole range of different options about how women might be able to use different types of technology to actually access and get support. With Australia having higher gambling losses than any other country on a per capita basis at $1276 per year, Rishworth also committed to cracking down on online gambling through three significant reforms before the end of the financial year. This will include a requirement for online wagering companies to adopt consistent messaging about the harm of gambling in all of their advertisements. The other two measures will be compulsory training for staff in responsible gambling, and a national self-exclusion register to allow individuals to exclude themselves from all online gambling services. The move will complete a 10-point plan agreed to between the states, territories and the Commonwealth in 2018. We think its critically important because online gambling, and problem online gambling, is a fast-growing issue that we do need to tackle, Rishworth said. In her first two weeks of parliament as minister, Rishworth has introduced legislation to phase out the cashless debit card over the next six months and create paid domestic violence leave. Loading The governments move to scrap the cashless debit card which quarantines up to 80 per cent of a persons welfare payment onto a card that cant be used to withdraw cash was widely welcomed by the social services sector. But the move was slammed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton who claimed it would lead to higher rates of domestic violence and assault in Indigenous communities and appealed to a inner-city woke audience. But Rishworth said the evidence for the cards effectiveness just isnt there to show that the cashless debit card actually did what it was intended to do. Rishworth promised that issues with phasing out the measure such as the fact that thousands of people have connected their cashless debit card to buy now, pay later schemes and rental deductions would be sorted out within the next six months. She also confirmed that the government would now look at how to reform the Basics Card, which usually quarantines 50 per cent of a welfare participants income and covers more welfare participants than the cashless debit card. We will be looking at ... both the technological aspects of the Basics Card and how its applied to communities, she said. But that will take some time as we first deal with the cashless debit card. During the election campaign then-opposition leader Anthony Albanese dropped plans to review the JobSeeker rate despite long-standing questions over whether Australians could live on the base rate of $46 per day. But Rishworth said Albaneses commitment was to take each budget cycle as it comes and there would be no hike in the October budget. Asked whether this meant the government could raise JobSeeker within this term of parliament, Rishworth said: The prime minister said in the first budget, and that is what my focus is on at the moment. Rishworth also flagged more measures to tackle domestic violence, supporting more women to be able to go back to work and the development of a national strategy for early childhood learning along with Minister for Early Childhood Education Anne Aly. Loading Im very keen to get a National Early Years Strategy for Little Children, she said. Most states and territories have a strategy on the early years and the Commonwealth doesnt. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In a promotional video sent to prospective buyers of new homes overlooking Northcotes Merri Creek and selling for up to $3 million, MAB Corporation development manager Ross Osidacz is spruiking hard. The site is really something thats very unique, says Osidacz, of a hectare of land where MAB will soon begin construction of 151 apartments, including some lavish penthouses with river views or city skyline panoramas. To have the ability to develop a project in the inner city, on the banks of the Merri Creek, is something thats extremely special. What neither Osidacz nor MABs accompanying 59-page brochure highlights is who lived on this land for the six decades preceding its clearance in 2020. William Gwynne leans on a tree in what was once his backyard in Northcote, on the banks of the Merri Creek. Credit:Penny Stephens Public housing tenant William Gwynne doesnt want it forgotten. Until three years ago, he lived there, in an apartment with river views. His was one of 87 dilapidated flats, spread across the land in nine walk-up blocks, that housed the poor from the 1950s. Rundown it might have been, but his flat had a small balcony overlooking the Merri the same view now being marketed to wealthy Melburnians by MAB. It was beautiful and green; you may as well have been in the Dandenongs, it was that green, says Gwynne, who like every family in the estate was rehoused by the Andrews government elsewhere in the city. The housing that once stood on the Northcote land will be replaced by private apartments spread over five buildings four with river views. On 20 per cent of the land once entirely devoted to public housing, a separate building will contain 106 new social housing units; its view is of High Street. Advertisement A deal with hidden terms As well as the inclusion of 79 affordable apartments in the Northcote development, a profit-sharing arrangement for the private sales was struck by the Andrews government in 2019 with MAB. The developer is also selling apartments at two other public housing sites in Preston and North Melbourne as part of the deal. It means a proportion of the profit from each apartment comes back to public coffers, and is reinvested to create more social and affordable housing. But what proportion of those profits will go back to government remains secret. Asked by The Age this week, and in parliament in 2019, the government said these deals were commercial-in-confidence (a spokesman points out Victorias valuer-general has signed off on the contracts, guaranteeing value for money). MAB is owned by brothers Michael and Andrew Buxton who, according to this years AFR Rich List, have a net worth of $764 million. The Age asked MAB the same question on the profit-sharing deal; it referred all queries to the government. The Northcote public housing estate before it was demolished in 2020. Credit:David Kelly Gwynne and his former neighbours all have the right to return to the new social housing building, which will actually have cooling, vastly better heating, and accessibility for those in wheelchairs or with impaired movement. Gwynne says he wont return, in part because of the view he fears from his window. What Ill be looking out at will be rich people living where I used to live. On conscious and subconscious levels, that is just gonna make me feel, yknow, not good. Advertisement He says the sense of community on the old estate as bleak and confronting as it could be at times will also be gone. Being a poor person and marginalised through mental health, when I was living there before, I was with other people who were like me, in some sense, says Gwynne. They were migrants, or women fleeing domestic violence, there were drug addicts, there were blind people and people in wheelchairs, and everyone was, like, struggling along in their own way. Public housing is demolished at the Northcote estate in 2020. Credit:A still taken from the Things Will Be Different documentary Filmmakers Lucie McMahon and Celeste De Clario will this month preview their documentary, Things Will Be Different. It tells the story of Gwynne and a neighbour whose families were among the last to leave the increasingly broken estate as it emptied in 2019. Its an intimate portrait of their experiences with the loss of community, and the strain of displacement, says McMahon, who argues that renewal programs like Northcote look good on paper but in reality do real damage. These programs take people who often have already experienced trauma into a traumatic situation. They have to deal with the psychological impacts of displacement. An artists impression of the new private housing to be built overlooking Northcotes Merri Creek. Credit:MAB Corporation Weve got to do better Advertisement This isnt the narrative the Andrews government wants as the focus of its social housing program an enormous once-in-a-generation investment in increasing the number of homes available to the disadvantaged. In 2020, amid the pandemics grimmest days, former housing minister Richard Wynne convinced his party to fund new homes on a colossal scale: $5.3 billion is being poured into building more places to live for those with the least. The Big Housing Build, as the spending has been branded by the government, is the largest single investment in social and affordable housing by any state or territory government in Australias history, says new Housing Minister Danny Pearson, who last week held his first press conference on housing in Melbourne. The event was called to mark the halfway point of the Big Housing Build and to showcase the construction of 206 new social housing and affordable apartments in Hawthorn, on land once occupied by 52 run-down public housing units. Pearson talks passionately about his electorate of Essendon. Housing Minister Danny Pearson (front), with Hawthorn Labor MP John Kennedy, at last weeks media conference in Hawthorn. There, in Flemingtons sprawling public housing estate, he had once met a five-year-old boy who lived in a rundown, walk-up apartment, similar to those now demolished in Northcote. During a summer heatwave, that boy tried to open a window. This little boy [had] put his hand on the window-sill just to rest for a moment, to get some cool air to come in and freshen his face. The window dropped and he nearly lost his finger. Advertisement Pearson recalls thinking at the time: Weve got to do better. Now, in the job that requires him to deliver better, Pearson appears fired up about the mammoth task ahead. The Andrews governments Big Housing Build will result in the construction of more than 12,000 new homes across Victoria boosting supply of social housing by 10 per cent in the four years to 2026. It is a massive jump on what state governments of all persuasions have managed in decades. The funding will mean thousands of existing public housing units, built decades ago that are freezing in winter and boiling in summer, will be replaced with energy-efficient homes, saving tenants money on power bills. The program combines the existing Public Housing Renewal Program at sites like Northcote, commenced in 2017, with initiatives like the governments $1.38 billion Social Housing Growth Fund. Its going to change the lives of tens of thousands of Victorians, not just now but for decades to come, says Pearson, who in his press conference drifts almost into a sermon. Those of us in the Labor Party, this is what weve been sent to do. Public life, its a calling ... This is what I was sent to do, he says, adding that becoming the housing minister has given him the opportunity of being able to do something like this to make these sorts of really significant investments right across the state, to provide safe, secure, affordable housing, to give public housing clients a decent place to call home, a place where they can live and lay down their roots. Advertisement Gaza: Palestinian militants in Gaza fired dozens of rockets into Israel on Friday in response to Israeli airstrikes which killed at least 10 people, including a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. As darkness fell, Israeli authorities said sirens had been sounded in southern and central areas, while images broadcast by Israeli television stations appeared to show a number of missiles being shot down by air defence systems. In Tel Aviv, Israels economic centre, witnesses said they could hear booms but there were no reports of sirens. Rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel. Credit:AP Islamic Jihad, a militant group with a similar ideology to Hamas, the Islamist movement in charge of Gaza, said it had fired more than 100 rockets on Friday into Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv. Israels ambulance service said there were no reports of casualties. The strikes came a little more than a year after an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May 2021, which killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel and left the blockaded enclaves economy shattered. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) has stayed an order passed by the Kolkata Bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) that had termed allotment of shares to the Roys of Peerless General Finance & Investment in 1988 void and ordered cancellation. In an order passed on Friday, the appellate tribunal said, the impugned order dated July 18, 2022, passed by the is stayed till further order. It said, By the impugned order since the has dealt with about 30,000 shares which were issued long back in the year 1987-1988, prima facie we are of the opinion that only while passing an order for maintaining Status Quo may not serve the purpose. We are of the opinion that during the pendency of the Appeal the impugned order shall remain suspended. Jayanta Roy, MD of Peerless, said that he had full respect and faith in the judiciary. We had received an order regarding this case from the Kolkata Bench on July 18. Being aggrieved with the order we had filed an appeal with the . The upon considering all the facts and circumstances of the case has granted a stay on the NCLT order dated July 18. Parasmal Lodha said, as per Supreme Court order, this is on fast track, has dedicated September 21 full day hearing and will give its verdict in two-three days. Therefore, the stay was given by our mutual consent until September 21. The issue relates to issuance and allotment of shares going back 34 years. About 30,000 shares of Peerless had been issued to friends, relatives and nominees of the Roys, promoters of Peerless, in 1988 following an annual general meeting in 1987. Around the same time, the promoters had bought 15,626 shares of the company from Parasmal Lodha, Bhagwati Developers and other shareholders. The transactions shored up the holding of Roys in Peerless and brought down the holding of Parasmal Lodha. The matter had landed in the Supreme Court which transferred it to the NCLT. The NCLT, last month, declared the issuance and allotment of 30,000 shares void and ordered that the dividend received by allottee shareholders or their nominee or assigns be cancelled and returned to Peerless within 30 days. The issuance of 15,626 shares was also declared null and void and the holders were directed to return the shares, bonus shares and accrued dividend to previous shareholders within 30 days. The NCLT order, it may be mentioned, puts the control of Peerless in question. The NCLAT in its Friday's order said that the status which is prevailing today with regard to disputed shares may not be changed by either of the parties. The appellate tribunal has asked the counsels for the parties to ensure completion of pleading within three weeks. The Appeals have been listed for September 21. CEO Elon Musk, who is locked in a court battle with over a failed acquisition bid that now intends to force through, said that the social media giant jeopardized its third largest market by failing to disclose "risky" litigation against the Indian government. In a countersuit in a Delaware court which was filed under seal last Friday and made public Thursday, Musk also claimed that he was "hoodwinked" into signing the deal to buy the San Francisco-based social media company. Musk said that should follow the local law in India, according to the court documents. Snapshots of the court documents were seen circulating on Twitter posted by New York Times Tech Reporter Kate Conger @kateconger. "In 2021, India's information technology ministry imposed certain rules allowing the government to probe social media posts, demand identifying information, and prosecute that refused to comply. While Musk is a proponent of free speech, he believes that moderation on Twitter should "hew close to the laws of countries in which Twitter operates" read a portion of the legal filings in Twitter Vs Musk lawsuit, as posted by New York Times tech reporter Kate Conger in a series of tweets. To Elon Musk's averments in the court filings, Twitter responded that it "respectfully refers the Court for their complete and accurate contents. Twitter lacks knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegations," and said it "therefore denies them on that basis." Referring to a petition filed in Karnataka High Court in July, Musk also objected to Twitter's failure to disclose litigation against the Indian government. "Twitter avers that it has challenged certain blocking orders issued by the Indian government under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, directing Twitter to remove certain content from its platform, including content from politicians, activists, and journalists, and that Twitter's legal," the company said in its response. Twitter, through its lawyer at the Karnataka High Court, said that their India business would close if they complied with Indian government orders to block content that competent authorities had deemed illegal. The High Court had issued notices to the Centre and adjourned the hearing for August 25th. The microblogging website and the world's richest man are now heading to trial on October 17 after Musk sought to abandon his deal to acquire Twitter over what he says is a misrepresentation of fake accounts on the site. Twitter is trying to compel Musk to follow through on the deal while accusing him of sabotaging it because it no longer served his interests. Earlier in April, Musk reached an acquisition agreement with Twitter at USD 54.20 per share in a transaction valued at approximately USD 44 billion. In May, Musk put the deal on hold to allow his team to review the veracity of Twitter's claim that less than 5 per cent of accounts on the platform are bots or spam. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Saturday said it has taken a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on lease, which will help the airline increase its number of to Frankfurt and Paris. This is the first Dreamliner plane taken on lease by . The private carrier already has two Dreamliner aircraft, which were purchased from Boeing, in its fleet. had to take the plane on lease because Boeing has not delivered four more Dreamliner planes to it for two years. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the US aviation regulator, wants Boeing to make rectifications in Dreamliner's production line before restarting the deliveries. Vistara had ordered six Dreamliner planes in 2018 but has received only two from Boeing. The second plane was delivered in August 2020. Since then, it has been waiting for the other Dreamliners to come so as to boost its international flight operations. Dreamliner is a wide-bodied aircraft with a bigger fuel tank that allows it to easily operate on long-haul international routes. In a press release, Vistara said it will be increasing its number of to Frankfurt in Germany and Paris in France as it "gears up to receive its third Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, which has been leased recently". It is not clear when the plane will be delivered to the airline in India. Meanwhile, Vistara said the additional to and from Frankfurt and Paris will start from October 30. The private carrier will operate six weekly flights on the Delhi-Frankfurt route from October 30, instead of the three weekly services currently, it said. The airline will operate five weekly flights on the Delhi-Paris route from October, instead of its two weekly flights currently. (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.) Land measuring around 9,000 hectares is available in the Yamuna floodplains, which could be used for raising plantation suitable to the river ecology and compensatory afforestation for projects of importance, the Development Authority (DDA) has been informed by the city forest department. The DDA has repeatedly raised the issue of "shortage" of land for greening activities in the capital. The forest department said it has conducted a detailed analysis of the land available for plantation in the Yamuna floodplains, considering the Centre's project to rejuvenate 13 major rivers, including the Yamuna, through forestry intervention. The Union Environment Ministry had, in March, released the detailed project reports (DPRs) for the rejuvenation of the 13 rivers. The DPRs focus on protection, afforestation, catchment treatment, ecological restoration, moisture conservation, livelihood improvement, income generation and ecotourism by developing riverfronts and eco-parks. According to the Centre, the activities proposed in the DPRs will help increase the green cover, reduce soil erosion, recharge the water table and aid carbon dioxide sequestration, in addition to benefits in the form of non-timber forest produce. "As per the directions of the chief secretary, a detailed analysis of the land available for plantations in the Yamuna floodplains has been done, taking into consideration the prescription of the DPR for forestry intervention for the rejuvenation of the Yamuna and O-zone," read a forest department communication to the DDA. Land measuring at least 5,532 hectares is available in the O-zone. Overall, the available area in the Yamuna floodplains is around 9,000 hectares, it said. The department asked the DDA to provide inputs on the analysis, considering the "acute need for land for compensatory afforestation and plantation, and transplantation, which often hinders the progress of important projects of importance". It said the 9,000 hectares of land in the river floodplains is in addition to 2,480 hectares of land, which has been encroached upon or developed since 2009. According to forest department officials, Delhi's green cover can be increased from 23 per cent at present to 25 per cent by 2025 if suitable plantation is raised in the river floodplains. Raising the issue of land scarcity in Delhi, the DDA had earlier asked the forest department to revise the compensatory plantation scheme guidelines and bring down the number of saplings to be planted for every tree felled from 10 to two. The land-owning agency had also written to the Union Environment Ministry, requesting it to allow compensatory afforestation for all projects undertaken in and the neighbouring states in view of the shortage of land in the capital. According to the guidelines issued under the Forest Conservation Act, compensatory afforestation is to be done on suitable non-forest land, equivalent to the area proposed for diversion, at the cost of the user agency. A senior DDA official said under the Master Plan of Delhi, it was decided to set aside 15 per cent of the area for recreational land use under which all parks, green belts and forests are maintained. "Against the 15 per cent area identified for recreational green use, the total forest and tree cover in the capital is now over 23 per cent, according to the latest State of Forest Report," the official said. Most of the recreational green areas identified under the master plan are already saturated with plantations. Other vacant land parcels available in small patches are required for basic developmental needs of the citizens of Delhi, officials 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.) Union minister on Saturday said the Central Administrative Tribunal, which adjudicates government employees service matters, has achieved a disposal rate of over 91 per cent in five years. He said the higher disposal rate was achieved from 2015 to 2019 under the Narendra Modi government, while it was around 89 per cent from 2010 to 2014 during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime. Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) achieved a disposal rate of around 91 per cent in five years and there continues to be a steady rise in the disposal of cases, said Singh, the Minister of State for Personnel. He said the Modi government is committed to transparency and justice for all, and the people-friendly reforms taken in the last eight years have benefitted the entire country. The minister was speaking during a meeting with newly appointed chairman of CAT, Justice Ranjit Vasantrao More, who had called on Singh and discussed the modalities to achieve most zero pendency of cases as mandated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a statement by the Personnel Ministry. The minister said despite the crippling effects of COVID-19, CAT benches tried their best to dispose of cases through online mechanisms. During the pandemic situation in 2020 and 2021, a total of 55,567 cases were instituted. Despite the adverse situation, about 30,011 cases were disposed of, with a disposal percentage of 54, the statement said. In 2021, the disposal rate was 58.6 per cent and this was despite the fact that around 18,845 old pending cases of Jammu and Kashmir High Court were transferred to the Jammu bench of CAT, it said. On measures to strengthen CAT, Singh said recommendations of the search-cum-selection committee (SCSC) have been received in respect of 33 members and a proposal in this regard has been submitted for seeking the approval of the competent authority. CAT has 19 regular benches, 17 of which operate at the principal seats of high courts and the remaining two at Jaipur and Lucknow. CAT has a sanctioned strength of 70 members, including chairman (35 judicial and 35 administrative members). According to the Tribunal Rules, 2021, the chairman can be either judicial member or administrative member. At present, CAT chairman is from the judicial stream. Selection of members in CAT could not be done earlier due to various ongoing court cases in Supreme Court/high courts challenging the Act/rules governing the appointment of members of tribunals, the statement said. Hence, the selection process could be initiated only after notification of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021 and rules made there-under, it 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.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two more persons in connection with the Rs 25 lakh Trust (PPT) case, sources said on Saturday. The had arrested PPT chief mechanical engineer Saroj Kumar Das and three others on Friday after conducting raids at several places in the state. After their interrogation, the agency arrested Charchit Mishra, director of Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) and the son of the state's leading industrialist, Mahimananda Mishra, on Saturday, the sources said. The agency also apprehended real-estate developer Sisir Kumar Das in this connection, which took the total number of arrests made so far in this case to six. After producing them before a local court, the has taken them on remand. The accused will again be produced before the special court on August 10. Mishra's lawyer Joydeep Pal claimed that there is no direct evidence against his client. "As he is the director of OSL and was looking after the business at Paradip port, he has been arrested," Pal said. Apart from Charchit, Sisir and the engineer of the port, the others arrested include Surya Narayan Sahoo, Deputy GM (operations) of OSL, Sumanta Rout and Sankha Subhra Mitra, the manager of Kolkata-based logistics company Karam Chand Thapar (KCT). As per sources, OSL officials allegedly damaged the conveyor belt at the while unloading cargo, and its repairment cost the port a lot. The port's Chief Mechanical Engineer, in alleged conspiracy with Charchit, Mitra, and conduit Sumanta Rout, got it repaired with funds from the Trust. In return, on behalf of Das, the conduit allegedly demanded Rs 60 lakh as bribe. Accordingly, he collected Rs 25 lakh from Cuttack and kept Rs 10 lakh separately for himself, the said. It was also alleged that the conduit handed over Rs 10 lakh to Sisir, with whom Saroj had allegedly booked a property. --IANS bbm/sks/arm (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.) Photo taken in Gaza City on Aug. 6, 2022 shows rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel. The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday, leaving at least 15 killed and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) GAZA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday, leaving at least 15 killed, including a five-year-old girl, and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip. On Saturday, the Palestinian health ministry said in a brief statement that a Palestinian was killed and another wounded in an Israeli airstrike on the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. Tayseer al-Jabari, commander of the PIJ's armed wing, and three of his aides were killed when Israeli warplanes bombed a residential apartment in a Palestinian tower in central Gaza that houses media offices. Meanwhile, the PIJ's militants continued firing rockets from the Gaza Strip into Israel, as sirens were heard in the southern city of Ashkelon and other Israeli cities near Gaza. "There is no talk of calm or mediation" with the continued Israeli bombardment on Gaza, the PIJ said in a statement, warning that the situation in the Gaza Strip "is heading for an escalation." Since Friday, more than 160 rockets have been fired toward Israel, 30 of which fell short in Gaza, and 60 were intercepted by Iron Dome defense systems, while the rest landed in open areas and the sea, according to the Israeli army. The Israeli media reported that the army is ready for at least one week of fighting in the Gaza Strip. Since Friday, Israeli fighter jets have launched more than 30 airstrikes on over 40 targets belonging to the PIJ in Gaza, including rocket launchers, workshops for production of weapons, warehouses for storing rockets, and observation posts, according to the army. The media reports said 55 missiles were fired at the targets. In a brief statement sent to Xinhua on Friday night, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned that the ongoing escalation in the Gaza Strip "is out of control and will have serious consequences for the population." The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement that it holds the Israeli government "fully and directly responsible for the aggression and crimes it perpetrated in Gaza." "The Israeli government is the one that started the dangerous escalation. It is the right of the Palestinian people, who are subjected to killings and destruction, to defend themselves," the ministry said. The heightened tension came after Israeli forces arrested a senior official of the PIJ in the West Bank city of Jenin on Monday. The PIJ vowed to take revenge, prompting the Israeli military to raise its alert along the border with Gaza. Israel and Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip since 2007, have fought several wars in the Palestinian enclave in recent years, the last of which was in May 2021. Photo taken in Gaza City on Aug. 6, 2022 shows rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel. The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday, leaving at least 15 killed and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Photo taken in Gaza City on Aug. 6, 2022 shows rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel. The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday, leaving at least 15 killed and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Photo taken in Gaza City on Aug. 6, 2022 shows rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel. The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday, leaving at least 15 killed and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) People take part in a protest against the military operation against the Gaza Strip in northern Israeli city of Um al-Fahem, on Aug. 6, 2022. The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday, leaving at least 15 killed and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip. (Roni Ofer/JINI via Xinhua) People take part in a protest against the military operation against the Gaza Strip in northern Israeli city of Um al-Fahem, on Aug. 6, 2022. The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday, leaving at least 15 killed and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip. (Roni Ofer/JINI via Xinhua) People take part in a protest against the military operation against the Gaza Strip in northern Israeli city of Um al-Fahem, on Aug. 6, 2022. The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday, leaving at least 15 killed and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip. (Roni Ofer/JINI via Xinhua) The high concentration of in in certain districts in has left the authorities worried and 100 water samples from ten districts have been sent to Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) center in Lucknow for scientific analysis, a top official said. Presence of in drinking water is a matter of great concern in respect of public health, CGWB (Middle-East region) regional director Thakur Brahmanand Singh said. The water samples have been sent for isotopic analysis through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) method which measures isotopic ratios at a reasonably high accuracy. The future course of action will be decided only after getting the report, he told PTI here. Districts from where the samples have been recently collected are Nalanda, Nawada, Katihar, Madhepura, Vaishali, Supaul, Aurangabad, Gaya, Saran and Jehanabad. "The CGWB, publc health engineering department of Government and the Geological Survey of India are jointly working towards quantifying uranium concentration in in the state and also preparing a comprehensive action plan to deal with the situation, Singh said. The uranium concentration reported in previous studies in the state will be compared with the new findings. The Bureau of Indian Standard has not mentioned any standard for uranium in drinking water, while the World Health Organisation have set drinking the water standards for uranium in drinking water as 30 g/L. During 2019-20 the CGWB had collected a total 14377 groundwater samples from shallow wells water sources across the country for the quantification of presence of uranium. From 634 samples were analysed and it was found that concentration of the heavy metal in 11 samples was beyond the permissible limit set by WHO, Singh said. The analysis found that districts where groundwater had high uranium are Saran, Bhabhua, Khagaria, Madhepura, Nawada, Sheikhpura, Purnea, Kishanganj and Begusarai, he said. Explaining its detrimental impact of the heavy metal, chairman of Bihar State Pollution Control Board Ashok Kumar Ghosh told PTI, Uranium contamination in groundwater is a matter of serious concern as it is hazardous to the health of those exposed. High exposure may cause bone toxicity and impaired renal function and cancer". The Board's study too found uranium contamination in the groundwater in Bihar, he added. It took one and a half years for the researchers to come to the conclusion. Studies show that uranium is a chemo-toxic and nephrotoxic heavy metal. This chemotoxicity affects the kidneys and bones in particular, Ghosh said. Uranium concentrations are elevated mostly in the north west-south east band along and to the east of Gandak river and south of the Ganga river towards Jharkhand, particularly in Gopalganj Siwan, Saran, Patna, Nalanda and Nawada districts, the study said. The study, which was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health in April, 2020, was conducted by David Polya and Laura A Richards of the University of Manchester (UK), Ashok Kumar Ghosh and Arun Kumar of Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, Patna. (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.) Inks MoU with SRM University-AP to Lend up to 50 Crores for Start-ups Andhra Pradesh, India (NewsVoir) has collaborated with Hatchlab Research Centre, TBI of SRM University-AP to launch 'IND Spring Board', an initiative for financing start-ups and MSMEs. The bank will extend loans of up to Rs. 50 crore to start-ups incubated at SRM Hatchlab for their working capital requirements or purchase of machinery and equipment. This collaboration is one of its kind in the state of . Introducing the ventures at Hatchlab Research Centre, which will be availing of the Ind Spring Board scheme, Mr. Udayan Bakshi, Associate Director - Entrepreneurship, Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, highlighted the successful student ventures from SRM University-AP that has crossed 1Cr turnover. SRM AP actively engage in business through the local community. This collaboration will further strengthen the MSME sector, stated University Registrar Dr. R Premkumar, signing the MoU. Speaking on the occasion, Sri N K Sharma GM - MSME expressed his delight in collaborating with SRM University-AP along with other premier institutes like IITs and IIMs across the country. Sri C D Ramarao - Zonal Manager, Indian Bank, Guntur, described the genesis of the Ind Spring Board project and said has a start-up-friendly ecosystem to nurture innovations. Hatchlab Research Centre - the technology and livelihood business incubator of SRM University-AP facilitates the incubation of student . 10,000+ sq. ft., state-of-the-art incubator space and Seed Funding are provided to eligible student ventures. 40+ student startups, 200+ industry mentors, and $120,000 angel investment are peculiar to the conducive entrepreneurial environment of SRM University-AP. The alum entrepreneurial venture Oureye.ai received an additional investment of $50,0000. Integrating global vision and grassroots connect, the entrepreneurship-based clubs and activities like Socio Impacto, Explorer Hive, Saurvi, Research Clan, etc., are vital elements of SRM E-cell. The university further promotes student-run labs such as Next-Tech Lab and Ennovab, where students share their ideas to curate those into applications that benefit society. Jaya Prakash Narayana - Head of International Collaboration & PR - Hatchlab Research Centre, Sri C Jagan Mohan Rao - Deputy Zonal Manager, Sri Raghavendra - Senior Manager, Sri Satya Dev-Branch Manager and Sri M S Sagar - Chief Manager were also present on the occasion. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and (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 liquor traders in the city have requested the to reinstate private liquor vend licences issued under old excise policy. Delhi Liquor Traders Association in a letter to Excise department, on Friday, urged for reinstatement of retail vend private licenses (L-7 and L-10) that were issued in old regime of excise duty based policy prevailing before November 17, 2021. Currently most of the former L-7 and L-10 licensees have the possession of their owned or leased shops and are capable of providing their services from September 1, if issued the required license, the Association said. The L-7 license for retail sale of liquor was issued for vends on the main roads and commercial markets while L-10 was meant for stores in shopping malls. had last month announced to withdraw it's new Excise Policy 2021-22, under scanner with a CBI probe recommended by the LG into alleged irregularities in its implementation, and run liquor stores through its four undertakings only from September 1. Under the excise policy 2021-22 implemented from November 17, 2021, zonal licences were issued to successful private bidders for 849 liquor vends grouped into 32 zones covering the whole city. The Association made the case for reinstating private liquor vend licenses claiming in its letter that the L-7 and L-10 vends accounted for 40 per cent of all retail stores in Delhi but contributed 60 per cent of overall revenue for the exchequer. In the old excise regime, a total 864 retail vends were there in Delhi before November 17, 2021. These included 475 run by undertakings and 389 by private entities. Under the old regime, out of a total of 272 municipal wards, 77 wards were completely unserved, because neither a government-owned nor a privately-owned wine shop was sanctioned there, said the Association. Furthermore in 28 wards no government shop was located and such areas were served only by the privately-owned liquor shops, it said. As licensee under old excise regime, the liquor traders had a great partnership with the Delhi Excise department going back 15 to 20 years. However, presently they were out of job, said Naresh Goel, president of the Association. (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.) Punjab Chief Minister said he will raise several issues, including a legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm debt, at the NITI Aayog governing council meeting in Delhi on Sunday. Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Mann slammed his predecessors Charanjit Singh Channi and Amarinder Singh for not attending such meetings earlier. Prime Minister will chair the seventh governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog, the government's apex policy think tank. "I am going to attend the NITI Aayog meeting. I have done my homework on Punjab issues which will be put forth during the meeting, Mann said. He said it was after three years any representative from Punjab was going to attend the NITI Aayog meeting. "I will raise issues of water, debt of farmers, legal guarantee to MSP, canal system, cleaning of 'buddha nallah' (in Ludhiana), BBMB (Bhakra Beas Management Board) and also health-related matters, Mann said. The chief minister said he would also try to meet Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Delhi and raise the issue of direct international flights from Amritsar and Mohali airports to London, Chicago, San Francisco and Vancouver. Replying to a question on the MSP committee formed by the Centre, Mann said the government should involve farmer representatives rather than those who were in favour of the now-repealed farm laws. The Centre last month had formed a committee on MSP. The committee will look into ways to make MSP available to farmers by making the system more effective and transparent. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Government has said it would distribute this month itself the compensation to pig in Wayanad and Kannur districts, who had suffered loss due the outbreak of African swine fever. The government also made it clear it would pay the full amount without waiting for the central allocation in this connection. Pigs had been culled in these districts following the outbreak. State Minister for Animal husbandry and Dairy Development, J Chinchurani said adequate amount for the preventive steps taken and for the compensation will be spent from the corpus fund of the Animal Disease Control Project of the department. A government order has been issued for the same, she said, adding that respective district animal welfare officers have been instructed to assess the losses incurred by the . The state government had taken all precautionary measures following the reports of African Swine fever in north eastern states and in Bihar, but the infection was confirmed in Mananthavady, Thavinjal and Nenmeni in Wayanad district and Kanichar panchayat in Kannur, the minister detailed. Then, as per the central government's action plan, pigs in farms within one kilometer radius of the epicenter of the disease had to be culled. As many as 702 pigs in Wayanad and 247 pigs in Kannur have been culled so far, she said. Normally, the compensation amount is to be borne jointly by the state and the central governments. "However, here the government will pay the full amount immediately without waiting for the central allocation and will demand for the same later," Chinchurani said. The minister also said she would soon visit the affected districts and distribute compensation to the who had lost their pigs. The members of the rapid action forces, formed under the department, would be felicitated for the effective preventive measures taken by them, she added. had in July tightened biosecurity measures following an alert from the Centre that African swine fever had been reported in Bihar and a few northeastern States. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), African swine fever is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease of domestic pigs. It was first detected in Kenya, East Africa, in 1921 as a disease that killed settlers' pigs. Contact with warthogs was proven to be an important factor in transmission of the virus. (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.) Over 85 per cent votes were polled in the Vice Presidential election till 2 PM, with Prime Minister and his predecessor casting their ballots early in the day, officials said. Of the 780 MPs in both Houses -- another eight Rajya Sabha seats are vacant -- around 670 of them had cast their vote so far, they said. The Trinamool Congress, which has 39 MPs, including 23 in Lok Sabha, has already announced its decision to abstain from this election. Democratic Alliance's (NDA) Jagdeep Dhankhar (71) is pitted against Opposition's (80) for the post. Polling to elect the next Vice President of India began at 10 am, with Modi being among the first ones to do so. Former Prime Minister arrived in a wheelchair and needed support to stand up and vote. CPM MP John Brittas was among those who helped the veteran leader in exercising his franchise. The two-term former prime minister greeted those present with folded hands. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president J P Nadda, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Commerce Minister and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal were among the leaders who turned up early at the Parliament House. Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former party chief Rahul Gandhi also cast their ballot post noon. The polling will continue till 5 pm, following which the counting of ballots will take place. With the ruling BJP having an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and 91 members in the Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar has a clear edge over his rival. He is likely to succeed incumbent M Venkaiah Naidu, whose tenure ends on August 10. All MPs of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are entitled to vote in the vice presidential election. The two Houses of Parliament together have a sanctioned strength of 788 MPs, of which there are eight vacancies in the Upper House. (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.) Chinese tech conglomerate has bid goodbye to nearly 10,000 in an effort to cut expenses amid sluggish sales and slowing economy in the country, the media reported on Saturday. According to South China Morning Post, more than 9,241 left Hangzhou-based during the June quarter, as the company trimmed its overall headcount to 245,700. "That put the total decrease in employee numbers for Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, to 13,616 over the six months to June, marking the firm's first drop in payroll size since March 2016," the report noted. reported a 50 per cent drop in net income to 22.74 billion yuan ($3.4 billion) in the June quarter, down from 45.14 billion yuan in the same period last year. "The reduced payroll reflects Alibaba's renewed efforts to cut expenses and drive up efficiency, as it faces continued regulatory pressure, sluggish consumption and a slowing economy in China, the world's biggest e-commerce market," the report noted. Alibaba Chairman and CEO Daniel Zhang Yong said the company will add nearly 6,000 fresh university graduates to its headcount this year. Last month, reports surfaced that billionaire Jack Ma is planning to give up his control of Ant Group amid pressure from the government regulators. According to a report in Wall Street Journal, the move is aimed at part of the fintech giant's effort to move away from affiliate Alibaba Group Holding that is under immense scrutiny from the government. Since last year, Chinese regulatory authorities have been cracking down harder on domestic tech giants like Alibaba and Ant Group to end their dominance in the internet sector. According to the report, Ma could relinquish his control by transferring some of his voting power to other Ant officials, including Chief Executive Eric Jing. Ma has controlled Ant since he carved its precursor assets out of Alibaba more than a decade ago. Founded in 1999, Alibaba went through a major reshuffle when Ma passed the baton as CEO to Daniel Zhang in 2015 and further appointed him as Chairman in 2019. --IANS na/ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State told the new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr that ties between the two countries were "extraordinary" during a visit to Manila on Saturday. Stressing Washington's commitment to the two countries' joint defence agreement, Blinken said that the US was grateful to and looking forward to working with Marcos Jr's administration to "deepen" the alliance with the Philippines, reports dpa news agency. This is Blinken's first trip to the Southeast Asian nation as Secretary of State. "Our relationship is quite extraordinary because it is really founded in friendship" he said. "It's forged as well in partnership and it's strengthened by the fact that it's an alliance as well." "The alliance is strong and I believe, we will all (be) stronger. We're committed to the mutual defence treaty. We're committed to working with you on shared challenges," he added. Marcos Jr said recent regional and global tensions, such as the visit of US Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan and the war between Russia and Ukraine, highlighted the importance of the relationship between Manila and Washington. "I hope that we will continue to evolve that relationship in the face of all the changes that we have been seeing and the changes between bilateral relations between us and the US," he said. Marcos Jr said he saw the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty, which commits the US and the to come to each other's aid in the event of foreign aggression, to be "in constant evolution". "We can no longer isolate one part of our relationship from the other," he added. "We are too close." --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On the tenth anniversary of the attack on the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, US President on Friday called for strict measures to reduce gun violence and defeat domestic terrorism and hate in all its forms, including the poison of white supremacy. Mourning the loss of lives in the attack, Biden said, "The Oak Creek shooting was the deadliest attack on Sikh Americans in our nation's history. Tragically, attacks on our nation's houses of worship have only become more common over the past decade. It is up to all of us to deny this hate-safe harbour." According to the official statement, Biden said that when generations of Sikh-Americans in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, constructed their own place of worship after years of renting local halls, it was a sacred place of their own and a connection shared with the broader community. "That sense of peace and belonging was shattered on the morning of August 5, 2012, when a white supremacist wielding a semiautomatic handgun arrived at the Gurdwara and began shooting." The gunman murdered six people and wounded four that day, as well as another victim who survived his wounds only to succumb to them years later. "Jill and I know that days like today bring back the pain like it happened yesterday, and we mourn with the victims' families, the survivors, and the community devastated by this heinous act," the US President said. He further said that "Oak Creek has shown us the way. After the attack, the Sikh community returned to their Gurdwara and insisted on cleaning it themselves." "The son of one of the victims became the first Sikh in American history to testify before Congress, successfully calling for the federal government to track hate crimes against Sikhs and other minority groups," US President added. Every year, the congregation now hosts an annual memorial run to honour the victims. The event bears the words Charhdi Kala, meaning "eternal optimism." Biden said, "Fueled by that spirit of eternal optimism, we must continue to take steps now to reduce gun violence and keep our fellow Americans safe." Biden said that no one should fear for their life when they bow their head in prayer or go about their lives in America. He said, "We must continue to take steps now to reduce gun violence and keep our fellow Americans safe. We must do more to protect places of worship, and defeat domestic terrorism and hate in all its forms, including the poison of white supremacy." "We must ban assault weapons--used in many mass shootings at houses of worship and other sites across the country--as well as high-capacity magazines. Last week, the House of Representatives passed a bill to do just that," Biden added. The US President said that to stand in defence of religious freedom, we must all stand together to ban the weapons that terrorize congregations around our 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.) Britains West Midlands region, the epicenter of an automotive industry that once employed a million people, is lobbying Indian industrial conglomerate Ltd. to open a factory in the area as Mayor Andy Street seeks to restore its manufacturing might. Street, the former head of retailer John Lewis Plc, is targeting Mahindra as part of a bid to lure automakers with incentives while promoting the expertise of a wider Midlands region thats still home to more than 400 specialist firms including Lagonda and India-owned Jaguar Land Rover. Mahindra already has an automotive research center near Coventry after reviving the BSA brand dormant since 1973, though its first model, the 650cc Gold Star, is currently scheduled to be built only in India. Mahindra have committed to R&D at the moment. I am hoping we will persuade them to commit to be doing manufacturing, said Street, a Conservative who was elected the first West Midlands mayor in 2017 after a shock victory in what had been a Labour heartland. Birmingham, Britains second-largest city and at the heart of the region, is currently hosting House, a conference aimed at promoting trade and investment alongside the Commonwealth Games where Street has been courting manufacturers and businesses to set up shop. Battery Plant The mayor is also aiming to get JLR, the UKs biggest carmaker and controlled by Mumbai-based Tata Motors Ltd., to commit to building batteries at a Coventry airport site dubbed the West Midlands Gigafactory. He says the West Midlands authority has put together a financial package to make the case to JLR, bolstered by the advantages of a skilled workforce and having a location thats ready to go. Bloomberg reported in May that JLR was in talks with European battery makers Northvolt AB and SVolt Energy Technology Co. for a range of electric vehicles it may assemble in Slovakia. Street said that JLR has committed to making EVs in its factory at Solihull, though has yet to make a decision on batteries. Street, who is backing Liz Truss in the Conservative leadership race, said hell press the next Prime Minister to increase support for the automotive industry, including funding for suppliers transitioning to EVs and the setting up of charging infrastructure. Norton, Enfield The industry is witnessing a revival of classic brands, a number of them owned by Indian . Chennai-based TVS Motor Co. bought Norton Motorcycles in 2020 and has a manufacturing facility in Solihull, with plans for a range of UK-built electric . Royal Enfield, another storied marque, is owned by Indias Eicher Motors Ltd. and has a technical center in Leicestershire in the East Midlands. PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday expounded on China's stance on the South China Sea issue and refuted the so-call concerns the United States has expressed over the issue. He made the remarks at the 12th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Wang said China's position on the South China Sea issue is supported by abundant historical and legal basis. China has never changed the basis and scope of its position which has seen no excessive claims, Wang said, noting that China and the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been committed to properly handling their differences through bilateral consultation and negotiation based on the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Over the years, China and ASEAN countries have worked together to maintain the overall stability in the South China Sea, providing a stable environment for their development and prosperity, Wang said, pointing out that at present, the biggest risk to peace and stability in the South China Sea is the inappropriate intervention and frequent interference by major countries outside the region. For a long time, the U.S. side had not raised any objections to China's sovereignty, rights and interests in the South China Sea, saying that it does not take a position on the sovereignty of the islands there, and now it has turned to total negation of China's position, Wang said, stressing it is baseless in terms of logic, law and justice. What is the credibility of a major country if it changes its established policies so arbitrarily according to its own political needs? How can it win the trust of others in the future? Wang said. In recent years, an increasing number of U.S. warships and aircraft have frequently headed to the South China Sea. China and other coastal countries couldn't help but wonder what on earth is the U.S. side intended to do? Wang added. Countries outside the region should scrupulously abide by their duty and faithfully respect regional countries' efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said. The Chinese side and ASEAN countries are now speeding up consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and will join forces to upgrade the DOC and set effective regional rules with practical significance, Wang added. China's Special Envoy for Yue Xiaoyong paid a quiet visit to this week during which he held talks with a senior Indian official on ways to ensure peace and stability in the war-torn country. People familiar with the development said on Friday that the Chinese envoy held wide-ranging talks with the external affairs ministry's point person for J P Singh. It was Yue's first trip to which came over four months after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Delhi. On Twitter, the envoy described his visit as "good" and said both sides agreed to "encourage engagement, enhance dialogue and give positive energy for Afghan peace and stability". The talks were learnt to have taken place on Thursday. There is no official word from the ministry of external affairs on Yue's visit. The people cited above said the visit by the Chinese envoy reflected China's acknowledgement of India's important role in . They, however, said the talks should not be seen as the resumption of all kinds of engagement by with without complete resolution of the eastern Ladakh border standoff. India has been consistently maintaining that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) were key for the overall development of bilateral ties. India has been in touch with several leading powers on the situation in Afghanistan. In June, India re-established its diplomatic presence in Kabul by deploying a "technical team" in its embassy in the Afghan capital. India had withdrawn its officials from the embassy after the Taliban seized power last August following concerns over their security. The reopening of the embassy came weeks after an Indian team led by Singh visited Kabul and met Acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and some other members of the Taliban dispensation. In the meeting, the Taliban side had assured the Indian team that adequate security will be provided if India sends its officials to the embassy in Kabul. India has not recognised the new regime in Afghanistan and has been pitching for the formation of a truly inclusive government in Kabul besides insisting that Afghan soil must not be used for any terrorist activities against any country. In the last few months, India supplied several consignments of humanitarian aid to Afghanistan. India has been pitching for providing unimpeded humanitarian aid to Afghanistan to address the unfolding humanitarian crisis in the country. Concerned over developments in Afghanistan, India hosted a regional dialogue on the situation in the country last November that was attended by NSAs of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The participating countries vowed to work towards ensuring that Afghanistan does not become a safe haven for global terrorism and called for the formation of an "open and truly inclusive" government in Kabul with representation from all sections of Afghan society. (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.) said Chinas drills on Saturday appeared to be simulating an attack on its main island, as Chinese warplanes and warships crossed the straits median line in a continued show of force. The Taiwanese army responded by issuing radio warnings, sending air patrols and naval ships, and deploying land-base missile systems, the Defense Ministry said in a statement. is carrying out its most provocative drills in decades in the wake of House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to this week. It has also likely fired missiles over the island of 23 million people, sent warships across the Straits median line and waves of warplanes across the US-defined boundary. The Taiwanese Maritime & Port Bureau on Thursday told ships to avoid designated areas around the island until Aug. 8 in waters to the east of the island. Beijing has denounced the visit by Pelosi -- second in the presidential line of succession -- as a violation of the US pledge 50 years ago not to formally recognize the government of Taiwan, which claims as its territory. It announced on Friday it would cut off defense talks with the US. Ukrainian President called for sanctions to be imposed on Russia's nuclear industry following the shelling of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant. "Anyone who creates nuclear threats to other peoples is definitely not in a position to use nuclear technology safely," dpa news agency quoted Zelensky as saying in his daily video address on Friday night, calling for punitive measures to be taken against Russian nuclear energy authority Rosatom. Kiev and Moscow on Friday both accused each other of firing on Europe's largest nuclear power station in the Russian-occupied city of Enerhodar. Ukraine accused Russian troops of attacking the site itself in what Zelensky called an "act of terrorism". The Defence Ministry in Moscow, on the other hand, blamed Ukrainian soldiers for the shelling and said that while a fire at the plant had been extinguished, one of the plant's reactors had been forced to partially shut down. Earlier this week, the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had expressed concerns over the safety of the power plant and said that a technical inspection was urgently needed. The Foreign Ministry in Kiev appealed to the community to work with Moscow to return control of the plant to the Ukrainian authorities, warning that if an operational reactor were to be hit, the consequences could be "equivalent to the use of a nuclear bomb". The mayor of Enerhodar, Dmytro Orlov, warned the city's remaining inhabitants that residential areas were being shelled from the site of the power plant. Britain's Ministry of Defence also said that Russian forces were likely jeopardizing the security and safety at the power station in an intelligence update published Friday. "Following five months of occupation, Russia's intentions regarding the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant remain unclear," the report said. "However, the actions they have undertaken at the facility have likely undermined the security and safety of the plant's normal operations," it continued. It added that the Russians had used the area around the plant, in particular the adjacent city of Enerhodar, to rest and regroup their forces, "utilising the protected status of the nuclear power plant to reduce the risk to their equipment and personnel from overnight Ukrainian attacks". --IANS ksk (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli jets pounded militant targets in early Saturday as rockets rained on southern Israel, hours after a wave of Israeli airstrikes on the coastal enclave killed at least 10 people, including a senior militant and a 5-year-old girl. The fighting that began Friday with Israel's dramatic targeted killing of a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad continued throughout the night, drawing the sides closer to an all-out war. But the territory's Hamas rulers appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained, for now. and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers have fought four wars and several smaller battles over the last 15 years at a staggering cost to the territory's 2 million Palestinian residents. The latest round of Israel- violence was sparked by the arrest this week of a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank, part of a month-long Israeli military operation in the territory. Citing a security threat, then for days sealed roads around the Strip and on Friday took out the militant leader in a targeted strike. (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.) unleashed a wave of airstrikes in on Friday, killing at least 10 people, including a senior militant, and wounding dozens, according to Palestinian officials. said it was targeting the Islamic Jihad militant group in response to an imminent threat following the arrest of another senior militant in the occupied West Bank earlier this week. Palestinian militants launched a barrage of rockets hours later as air raid sirens wailed in central and southern Israel, pushing the sides closer to all-out war. Islamic Jihad claimed to have fired 100 rockets. and Gaza's militant Hamas rulers have fought four wars and several smaller battles over the last 15 years at a staggering cost to the territory's 2 million Palestinian residents. A blast was heard in City, where smoke poured out of the seventh floor of a tall building on Friday afternoon. Video released by the military showed strikes blowing up three guard towers with suspected militants in them. In a nationally televised speech Friday night, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said his country had launched the attacks based on concrete threats. This government has a zero tolerance policy for any attempted attacks of any kind from towards Israeli territory, Lapid said. "Israel will not sit idly by when there are those who are trying to harm its civilians." He also added that Israel isn't interested in a broader conflict in Gaza, but will not shy away from one either. The violence poses an early test for Lapid, who assumed the role of caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in November in which he hopes to keep the position. He has experience in diplomacy, having served as foreign minister in the outgoing government, but his security credentials are thin. Hamas also faces a dilemma in deciding whether to join a new battle barely a year after the last war caused widespread devastation. There has been almost no reconstruction since then, and the isolated coastal territory is mired in poverty, with unemployment hovering around 50%. The Palestinian Health Ministry said a 5-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman were among those killed and that another 55 people were wounded. It did not differentiate between civilians and militants. The Israeli military said early estimates were that around 15 fighters were killed. Islamic Jihad said Taiseer al-Jabari, its commander for northern Gaza, was among those killed. He had succeeded another militant killed in an airstrike in 2019. Hundreds marched in a funeral procession for him and who were killed, with many of the mourners waving Palestinian flags and Islamic Jihad banners as they called for revenge. Israeli media showed the skies above southern and central Israel lighting up with rockets and interceptors from Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. An explosion was heard in Tel Aviv. It wasn't immediately clear how many rockets were launched and there was no immediate word on any casualties on the Israeli side. Israel continued to strike other targets Friday, including weapons production facilities and Islamic Jihad positions. Following the initial Israeli strikes, a few hundred people gathered outside the morgue at Gaza City's main Shifa hospital. Some entered to identify loved ones, only to emerge in tears. One shouted: May God take revenge against spies, referring to Palestinian informants who cooperate with Israel. An Israeli military spokesman said it launched the strikes in response to an imminent threat from two militant squads armed with anti-tank missiles. The spokesman, who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, said al-Jabari was deliberately targeted and had been responsible for multiple attacks on Israel. Defense Minister Benny Gantz meanwhile approved an order to call up 25,000 reserve soldiers if needed. And the military announced a special situation on the home front, with schools closed and limits placed on other activities in communities within 80 kilometers (50 miles) of the border. Israel had closed roads around Gaza earlier this week and sent reinforcements to the border as it braced for a revenge attack after Monday's arrest of Bassam al-Saadi, an Islamic Jihad leader, in a military raid in the occupied West Bank. A teenage member of the group was killed in a gunbattle between the Israeli troops and Palestinian militants. Israel and the Hamas fought four wars since the militant group seized power in the coastal strip from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. The most recent was in May 2021, and tensions again soared earlier this year following a wave of attacks inside Israel, near-daily military operations in the West Bank and tensions at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah, speaking to the al-Mayadeen TV network from Iran, said the fighters of the Palestinian resistance have to stand together to confront this aggression. He said there would be no red lines and blamed the violence on Israel. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the Israeli enemy, who started the escalation against Gaza and committed a new crime, must pay the price and bear full responsibility for it. Islamic Jihad is smaller than Hamas but largely shares its ideology. Both groups are opposed to Israel's existence and have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years, including the firing of rockets into Israel. It's unclear how much control Hamas has over Islamic Jihad, and Israel holds Hamas responsible for all attacks emanating from Gaza. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory since the Hamas takeover. Israel says the closure is needed to prevent Hamas from building up its military capabilities, while critics say the policy amounts to collective punishment. Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of the Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza, said hospitals faced shortages after Israel imposed a full closure on Gaza earlier this week. He said there were enough supplies and essential drugs to sustain hospitals for five days in normal times, but that with a new round of fighting underway, they may run out at any moment. Israel called off an expected fuel delivery for Gaza's sole power plant, which was expected to shut down early Saturday if the fuel did not enter the territory. Even when the plant is running at full capacity, Gazans still endure daily power outages that last several hours. Earlier Friday, a couple of hundred Israelis protested near the Gaza Strip on Friday to demand the return of the remains of two Israeli soldiers held by Hamas. The protesters were led by the family of Hadar Goldin, who along with Oron Shaul was killed in the 2014 Gaza war. Hamas is still holding their remains, as well as two Israeli civilians who strayed into Gaza and are believed to be mentally ill, hoping to exchange them for some of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Israel says there can be no major moves toward lifting the blockade until the soldiers' remains and captive civilians are released. Israel and Hamas have held numerous rounds of Egyptian-mediated talks on a possible swap. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Saturday called US House Speaker the worst destroyer of peace and stability, accusing her of inciting anti- sentiment and enraging China during her Asian tour earlier this week. Pelosi travelled to South Korea after visiting Taiwan, which had prompted China to launch military exercises including missile strike training in waters near the self-governed island. China views as part of its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. While in South Korea, Pelosi visited a border area with and discussed the North's nuclear programme with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo. According to Kim, the two agreed to support their governments' push for denuclearisation and peace on the Korean Peninsula based on strong, extended deterrence against the North and diplomacy. On Saturday, Jo Yong Sam, director general at the North Korean Foreign Ministry's press and information affairs department, slammed Pelosi over her visit to the border and discussion of anti-North Korean deterrence. Pelosi who had come under a volley of due criticism from China for destroying regional peace and stability by visiting Taiwan, stirred up the atmosphere of confrontation with North Korea during her stay in South Korea, Jo said in a statement carried by state media. Calling Pelosi the worst destroyer of peace and stability, Jo argued Pelosi's behaviour in South Korea clearly showed the Biden administration's hostile policy toward North Korea. It would be a fatal mistake for her to think that she can go scot-free in the Korean Peninsula, Jo warned. The US will have to pay dearly for all the sources of trouble spawned by her wherever she went. Pelosi's visit to the Joint Security Area at the Korean border on Thursday made her the highest-profile American to go there since then-President Donald Trump visited in 2019 for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Located inside the world's most heavily fortified border, the area is jointly controlled by the American-led United Nations Command and North Korea. US presidents and other top officials have previously travelled to the area to reaffirm their security commitment to South Korea in times of animosities with North Korea. During her JSA visit, Pelosi didn't make any strong public statements against North Korea. She uploaded several photos from the JSA on Twitter and wrote: We conveyed the gratitude of the Congress and the Country for the patriotic service of our servicemembers, who stand as sentinels of Democracy on the Korean Peninsula. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following North Korea's torrid run of missile tests earlier this year. US and South Korean officials said North Korea is ready to carry out its first nuclear weapons test in five years. North Korea has said it would not return to denuclearisation talks and instead focus on expanding its nuclear programme unless the United States drops its hostile policies, in an apparent reference to US-led sanctions on the North and its regular military drills with South Korea. After Pelosi visited and reaffirmed Washington's commitment to defending democracy on the self-governing island, North Korea on Wednesday issued a statement berating the US and supporting China, its main ally and biggest aid benefactor. Pelosi was the the first House speaker to visit in 25 years. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ferdinand Marcos Jr welcomed US Secretary of State on Saturday, the highest ranking American official to visit the Philippines since he took office, although the meeting came at a delicate time as ties between Washington and Beijing have rapidly plummeted to their worst level in years. There was no live broadcast of the morning visit by Blinken at the presidential palace in Manila on the state-run TV network, which showed a local agricultural programme and later reported on the the visit of America's top diplomat in a brief newscast. Only a few Manila-based journalists were allowed in a pool coverage of the event. The presidential office later released photographs showing Marcos Jr greeting Blinken with a handshake and the two huddled in a meeting with their officials where Marcos Jr mentioned he was surprised by the turn of events related to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan this week. Pelosi's trip to the self-governed island infuriated China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. China on Thursday launched military exercises just off Taiwan's coasts and on Friday cut off contacts with the United States on vital issues, including military matters and crucial climate cooperation, as part of retaliatory moves against the US for Pelosi's visit to Taiwan despite dire warnings from China. I do not think, to be perfectly candid, I did not think it raised the intensity, it just demonstrated it how the intensity of that conflict has been, Marcos Jr said based on a transcript released by the presidential palace. This just demonstrates how volatile the diplomatic scene is not only in the region, he added. Marcos Jr, who took office on June 30 after a landslide election victory, cited the vital relationship between Manila and Washington, which are treaty allies, and US assistance to the Philippines over the years, adding without elaborating his hope that we will continue to evolve that relationship in the face of all the changes we have been seeing. Blinken reiterated to Marcos Jr Washington's commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines and to working with you on shared challenges. Our relationship is quite extraordinary because it is really founded in friendship, it's forged as well in partnership and it's strengthened by the fact that it's an alliance." Blinken arrived Friday night in Manila after attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ministerial meetings in Cambodia, where he was joined by his Chinese and Russian counterparts. During the meeting, ASEAN foreign ministers called for maximum restraint as China mounted war drills around Taiwan and retaliatory moves against the US fearing the situation could destabilise the region and eventually could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers. After briefly meeting Marcos Jr, Blinken was scheduled to meet by video with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, who recently tested positive for the coronavirus. They were to hold a brief online press conference, where journalists were asked to focus their questions only on Blinken's Philippine visit. Blinken will also visit a vaccination clinic in Manila, where he will meet groups helping fight coronavirus outbreaks and then go to a clean energy fair and meet US Embassy staff before flying out Saturday night. Shortly before Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, when speculations arose that her aircraft might stop over briefly at the former US Clark Air Force base north of Manila for refuelling, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian expressed Beijing's vehement opposition to Pelosi's then-unannounced plan to visit Taiwan. He expressed his hope in a TV interview that the Philippine side will strictly abide by the one-China principle and handle all Taiwan-related issues with prudence to ensure sound and steady development of China-Philippines relations. Huang's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros, who said the ambassador shouldn't pontificate on such policies, especially considering that his country stubbornly and steadfastly refuses to recognise a decision rendered by an arbitral court and ignores and flouts law in the West Philippine Sea when it suits her interest. Hontiveros was referring to a 2016 arbitration ruling on a Philippine complaint that invalidated China's vast territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. She used the Philippine name for the disputed waters. China has dismissed that ruling, which was welcomed by the US and Western allies, as a sham and continues to defy it. (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.) Russian President signed a decree banning "unfriendly" investors from making transactions with their shares in strategic Russian enterprises and projects until the end of the year. The decree, published on the country's official portal for legal information, prohibits foreigners associated with "unfriendly countries" to carry out any kind of transactions with their shares and assets in strategic Russian enterprises and banks until December 31, reports Xinhua news agency. According to the decree, foreign investors are banned from carrying out transactions with shares in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project, and the Kharyaginskoye oil field project. The Russian President has ordered the Central Bank and the government to compile a list of all banks, which would fall under the decree, within 10 days. As an exception, certain transactions will be allowed only if this will be permitted by Putin, and the decree can be prolonged after its expiration date. "The measures will be taken to protect Russia's national interests, and in response to the hostile actions of the US and other foreign countries and organisations," according to the decree. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) insisted he is not out of the Conservative leadership contest after his campaign suffered another blow when a video emerged of him boasting about deliberately moving funding away from deprived urban areas of the while he was Chancellor of the Exchequer. In an interview with GB News published late Friday, Sunak said he had spoken to thousands of party members in recent days and that the contest is closer than suggested by a bombshell YouGov poll on Tuesday, which found his rival Liz Truss had a huge 34-point lead with Tory members. Im getting a really positive reception where Im going and Im enjoying having those conversations with our members, Sunak said, adding: I think the race is closer than it might appear in the newspapers. But Sunaks campaign spent Friday on the back foot as he faced widespread criticism over his remarks about reversing government funding for deprived urban areas. The comments seemed at odds with the Tory election pledge to level up less well-off areas of the country including northern England and the Midlands, under the premise that wealthier areas in the southeast have enjoyed the economic spoils for too long. Sunak was speaking to a group of Tory activists in Royal Tunbridge Wells, southeast of London, at the time. The backlash from across the political spectrum also undermined his campaigns push to present Sunak as the more electable of the two candidates. I managed to start changing the funding formulas to make sure that areas like this are getting the funding that they deserve, Sunak said in the video. The New Statesman, which published the footage, said it was filmed on July 29. We inherited a bunch of formulas from the Labour Party that shoved all the funding into deprived urban areas and that needed to be undone. I started the work of undoing that. Tunbridge Wells is a traditional Conservative stronghold and is a relatively affluent seat in southeast England, although it does contain some deprived areas. This is one of the weirdest -- and dumbest -- things Ive ever heard from a politician, Conservative minister Zac Goldsmith said on Twitter. The opposition Labour Party said Sunaks remarks were evidence of the former chancellor helping better-off Conservative areas at the expense of poorer parts of the country. This is public money, Labours shadow Levelling Up Secretary Lisa Nandy said. It should be distributed fairly and spent where its most needed -- not used as a bribe to Tory members, Truss is also seeking to capitalize on the gaffe with a commitment to review the governments levelling up formula, promising to fix underinvestment in regional infrastructure. Seeking to defend Sunak, Tory MP Richard Holden accused past Labour governments of moving money from small cities, towns and rural areas into metropolitan centers. He represents the type of seat in northern England which switched to the Tories from Labour in 2019, and which the Conservatives are seeking to hold onto with the levelling up plan. Tens of thousands of flyers had their travel plans upended Friday after airlines cancelled about 1,400 US flights as thunderstorms hit the East Coast. Another 6,300 flights had been delayed by early evening, according to tracking service FlightAware. It was the second straight day of major disruptions and the worst day for cancellations since mid-June. The three major airports in the New York City area and Reagan National Airport outside Washington, DC, recorded the most cancellations. American Airlines scrubbed about 250 flights, or 7 per cent of its schedule. Republic Airways, which operates smaller planes for American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express, cancelled a similar number, about 25 per cent of its flights. Thunderstorms were stopping or delaying early-evening flights in New York, Boston, the Washington, DC, area, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Denver, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. About 1,200 US flights were cancelled Thursday, 4.6 per cent of all those scheduled. Travelers have been hit with widespread cancellations and delays this summer. Travel bounced back faster than expected to about 88 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in July and airlines weren't able to increase staffing fast enough. They have been cutting back on schedules in an attempt to make remaining flights more reliable. Airlines flying in the US had a bad June, cancelling more than 21,000 flights or 2.7 per cent, up from 1.8 per cent in June 2019, before airlines pushed workers to quit during the pandemic. The airlines did better in July, however, cancelling about 14,000 flights, or 1.8 per cent. Delays have been more persistent above 23 per cent in both June and July. (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.) BEIJING, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Political parties of various countries have in recent days lashed out at the visit by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to China's Taiwan region and voiced oppositions to U.S. attempts to connive at "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. In messages addressed to the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the political parties also voiced their firm commitments to the one-China principle as well as support for China's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Gennady Zyuganov, chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, said Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region is totally unacceptable. U.S. politicians should stop their hostile actions against China and fully grasp the meaning of the Chinese proverb that says "those who play with fire will perish by it," said Zyuganov. Adem Farah, deputy president and general secretary of the Prosperity Party of Ethiopia, said Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region is a clear violation of the one-China principle. Ethiopia respects the Chinese government's conduct of military exercises around the Taiwan Island, which is China's internal affairs, Farah said. Penildon Silva Filho, member of the Executive Committee of the Workers Party of Brazil, said in disregard of China's strong opposition, Pelosi insisted on visiting China's Taiwan region, sending a very wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. The sinister intentions of the United States in attempting to use Taiwan to contain China and provoke a "new Cold War" are obvious, he said. Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee's commission for external relations said in a statement that Laos firmly supports the efforts of the CPC and the Chinese government in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Laos always pursues the one-China policy and opposes any move to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan," said the statement. All India Forward Bloc said in a statement that Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region and her related remarks are in violation of the Resolution 2758 adopted by the UN General Assembly. All India Forward Bloc supports the Chinese government in taking measures to safeguard sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity, said the statement. Syria's Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party condemned Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region in a statement, and said it will firmly support the CPC and the Chinese people in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Patriotic Front in Zambia said in a statement that in disregard of oppositions of China and other peace-loving countries, Pelosi insisted on visiting China's Taiwan region. The move is aimed at suppressing China and aggravating the tension across the Taiwan Strait, said the Patriotic Front, while urging the United States to stop any provocative action that might trigger conflict. The Party of the European Left said in a statement that Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region in disregard of China's strong opposition has seriously undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. In the meantime, other political parties including Pakistan's National Party, Iran's Islamic Coalition Party, the Independent Nasserite Movement in Lebanon, the Yemeni Socialist Party, Jordan's Communist Party, the Communist Party of Peru (Red Fatherland), the Communist Party of Belarus, the Communist Party of Tajikistan, Greece's Coalition of the Radical Left, the Progressive Party of Working People of Cyprus, and the Communist Party of Australia, among others, also issued statements supporting China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukraine's General Staff on Saturday said that Russian troops were fiercely attacking Bakhmut, a cornerstone of the defence system around the last Ukrainian-held urban area in the eastern Donbas region. "The enemy is carrying out an attack on Bakhmut; The fighting continues," the General Staff said in its latest situation report. The pro-Russian rebels had reported the day before that there was fighting already inside the city area, reports dpa news agency. The statements from both sides however, could not be independently verified. Since the capture of the Luhansk region in early July, Russian offensive efforts in eastern have concentrated on the neighbouring Donetsk region. Luhansk and Donetsk make up the Donbas region, a predominantly Russian-speaking area which has been the focus of Moscow's war aims for months. Step by step, the Russian invaders have been able to push back the Ukrainian defenders in recent weeks. They now control about 60 per cent of the territory, the situation report said. The headquarters of the Ukrainian troops in Donbas is located in the built-up urban area of Slovyansk-Kramatorsk, where some half million people lived before the war. From the east, this area is secured by the Siversk-Soledar-Bakhmut line of defence. This line is now wavering in several places. Russian troops are also outside Siversk and Soledar. However, the heaviest fighting is currently going on around the Bakhmut traffic junction, which the Russians are shelling with artillery and tanks. Fighting is also continues directly outside the former regional capital Donetsk, which has been in the hands of pro-Russian separatists since 2014. The troops loyal to Moscow are trying to push the Ukrainians further back. In the area of the small town of Avdiivka, north of Donetsk, there were several attempted attacks, which were repelled, the Ukrainian general staff reported. Large areas of the region are being shelled with artillery. In the south of the country, however, the initiative is going the Ukrainians' way. There, Russian troops are concentrating on defending their positions in the occupied areas, the situation report said. The Ukrainian military's Southern Command had previously reported having destroyed at least six Russian weapons and ammunition depots as well as two command points in the Kherson region. --IANS ksk/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukrainian military personnel are fortifying their positions around the eastern city of Sloviansk in expectation of a fresh Russian attempt to seize the strategic point in the fiercely fought-over Donetsk region. As heavy ground fighting continues on the front line only miles to the east, southeast and north of Sloviansk, members of the Dnipro-1 Regiment are digging in after a week of relative calm. The last Russian strike on the city occurred on July 30. While the lull provided Sloviansk's remaining residents a reprieve after regular shellings between April and July, some unit members say it could be a prelude to renewed attacks. I think it won't be calm for long. Eventually, there will be an assault, Col Yurii Bereza, the head of the volunteer national guard regiment, told The Associated Press on Friday, adding that he expected the area to get hot in the coming days. Sloviansk is considered a strategic target in Moscow's ambitions to seize all of Donetsk province, a largely Russian-speaking area in eastern where Russian forces and pro-Moscow separatists control about 60% of the territory. Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk province, which has almost entirely captured since Ukrainian forces withdrew in early July from the remaining cities under their control, together make up the industrial Donbas region. The separatists have claimed the region as two independent republics since 2014, and Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised their sovereignty before he sent troops into . Seizing Sloviansk would put more of the region under Russian control, but it also would be a symbolic victory for Moscow. The city was the first to be taken by the separatists during an outbreak of hostilities between and in 2014, though it was later brought back under Ukrainian control. Furthermore, Russia's military would like to take control of nearby water treatment facilities to serve Russian-occupied cities like Donetsk to the southeast and Mariupol to the south, Sgt Maj Artur Shevtsov of the Dnipro-1 Regiment said. The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in Washington, said in a Friday assessment that Russian forces had increasingly transferred personnel and equipment from the Donbas toward southern Ukraine to push back at a Ukrainian counteroffensive around the occupied port city of Kherson. Those attempts to secure Kherson come at the expense of (Russian) efforts to seize Sloviansk...which they appear to have abandoned," the institute's analysts said. But Col Bereza said he thought muddy conditions after recent rainy weather in the region, not the abandonment of Sloviansk as a target, were responsible for the pause in Russian artillery strikes. In two or three days, when it dries out, they will proceed, he said. Only around 20,000 residents remain in Sloviansk, down from over 100,000 before Russia's invasion. The city has been without gas or water for months, and residents are only able to manually pump drinking water from public wells. From a position on the outskirts of the city, soldiers in the Dnipro-1 Regiment expanded a network of trenches and dug bunkers against mortar strikes and phosphorous bombs. At the outpost, Sgt Maj Shevtsov said the provision of heavy weapons from Ukraine's Western allies, including US-supplied multiple rocket launchers, had helped keep some Donbas cities like Sloviansk relatively safe since their delivery in June. But such weapons have likely only bought time for Ukrainian forces, he said, adding that the lack of strikes in the last week worries me. In his experience, a lull means the Russians are preparing to go on the attack. Another officer, Cmdr Ihor Krylchatenko, said he suspected the silence could be broken within days. We were warned that there could be an assault on the 7th or 8th of August, he said. We'll see, but we are ready. (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.) Russian President and Turkish President agreed to strengthen bilateral relations during their talks in Russia's Sochi. Putin and Erdogan on Friday pledged to increase bilateral trade volume on a balanced basis and to meet each other's expectations in the economic and energy fields, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a joint press statement issued after their meeting in the Black Sea resort city. According to the statement, the leaders vowed to take concrete steps to boost collaboration on issues concerning such sectors as transportation, commerce, agriculture, industry, finance, tourism and construction. Putin and Erdogan praised the Russia-Ukraine grain export deal reached last month in Turkey's Istanbul, and they underscored the need to ensure its full implementation, including the unimpeded export of Russia's grain, fertilizers and raw materials. They also discussed the situations in Syria and Libya, the statement said. --IANS int/shs (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.) Sikh and Gurdwara communities in America have urged the US Congress to heed the call by the Sikh Coalition and Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) to pass the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, on the tenth anniversary of the attack on a Sikh gurudwara in Oak Creek, . "On this day we also join the call to US Congress by Sikh Coalition and SALDEF to pass the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act," Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and American Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (AGPC) said in a statement on August 5. Remembering the "senseless shooting", members of the SCCEC and AGPC prayed for the victims and their families. "Today is the 10th anniversary of the August 5, 2012 mass shooting at the Sikh Gurdwara in Oak Creek, by a white supremacist. It was the deadliest act of anti-Sikh hate in US history that took the lives of seven Sikh worshippers while they were praying," according to a statement by the SCCEC and the AGPC. "Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and American Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (AGPC) memorializes this senseless shooting and prays for the departed souls and their families," it added. On n August 5, 2012, a 40-year-old army veteran Wade Michael Page shot several people, killing six and injured four people at a gurdwara in Oak Creek in Wisconsin, One more person in a mass shooting at a gurdwara in Oak Creek in died in the year 2020. Meanwhile, the SCCEC and AGPC also remembered the church mass shooting in Charleston where nine Black worshipers were shot and killed in 2015 and the shooting incident at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh where 11 worshipers were slain in 2018. "Both SCCEC and AGPC stand in full solidarity with other faith communities that have fallen victim to mass gun violence and white supremacy. We realize that there is much strength we can draw from each other to help in process of healing and moving forward," the statement read. US President Joe Biden on Friday (local time) called for strict measures to reduce gun violence and defeat domestic terrorism and hate in all its forms. Mourning the loss of lives in the 2012 gurudwara attack, Biden said, "The Oak Creek shooting was the deadliest attack on Sikh Americans in our nation's history. Tragically, attacks on our nation's houses of worship have only become more common over the past decade. It is up to all of us to deny this hate-safe harbour." According to an official statement, Biden said that when generations of Sikh-Americans in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, constructed their own place of worship after years of renting local halls, it was a sacred place of their own and a connection shared with the broader community. Every year, the congregation now hosts an annual memorial run to honour the victims. The event bears the words Charhdi Kala, meaning "eternal optimism." The US President said that to stand in defence of religious freedom, all must stand together to ban the weapons that terrorize congregations around our 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.) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor This week, T N Ninan looks at many of the things that India has done in the past 75 years and, more importantly, many things it didnt do. Aditi Phadnis says the Congress, if it can exploit the opponents weaknesses, has a chance of returning to power in Karnataka. Sandeep Goyal: The Hiroshima event (August 6) is not just about the 10,000-odd lanterns that float down a river. It is about remembrance. It is about dignity. It is about respect. It is about love. Read the review of a new book on Agyeya. The fascinating account shows how much of the maverick writer and polymaths thinking was rooted in cosmopolitanism. Read here Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener on Saturday said his party will form an "advisory body" of traders to guide the government if it came to power in in the coming Assembly elections. The Delhi chief minister also promised sops related to Value Added Tax (VAT) and said the party's government would stop the "raid raj" as he met a group of traders here. Kejriwal arrived in BJP-ruled Gujarat, where elections are due by year-end, for a two-day visit on Saturday. "I am not here to seek donations, I do not need donations. I am here to make traders and industrialists partners in the development of Gujarat," he said. "You will be treated as partners when forms a government here. You will give the order and the government will implement that order," he added. As part of his "guarantees" to the trader community, Kejriwal said the will form an "advisory body" to guide the government if it came to power. "There are different types of businesses, different industries, and different problems come up every day. So we will form an advisory body with representatives from every sector. You will tell the government what to do, and the government will do it. Your decision will be binding on the government," he said. The other "guarantees" of the included a commitment to do away with "atmosphere of fear" among the business community and treat them with respect. An AAP government in will put an end to the "raid raj" or harassment of traders and businesspersons by government agencies, he said. It will also offer an amnesty scheme for Value Added Tax arrears and implement a VAT refund mechanism within six months, Kejriwal 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.) JERUSALEM, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army said early Saturday that it will continue to bomb military sites in Gaza as cross-border fighting continued despite Egyptian efforts to broker peace. The Israeli Air Force continued to carry out several airstrikes in the Gaza Strip throughout the night, targeting a rocket manufacturing site, mortar shell manufacturing workshops and rocket launchers -- all said belonging to the Islamic Jihad, an armed Palestinian group. "At this time, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) will continue to target legitimate terrorist targets belonging to the Islamic Jihad terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip," the army said in a statement. The statement was issued shortly after Egypt's official Ahram news site reported that Egyptian officials were mediating between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza in an effort to end the fight and restore the 2021 cease-fire agreement. "Egypt is conducting intensive communications with the Palestinian and the Israeli sides to end the ongoing escalation in Gaza," the report said, citing an Egyptian official. Gaza militants continued to launch more rockets throughout the night, triggering sirens in Israel's southern communities, according to a notice issued by Israel's Homefront Command. On Friday, Israel launched a series of surprise airstrikes, killing at least 10 people, including a 5-year-old girl and Tayseer al-Jabari, an Islamic Jihad commander, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Israel's Defense Minister Benny Gantz said in a broadcast statement that the attack came in response to an "imminent threat" following the recent arrest of a senior Islamic Jihad member in the occupied West Bank. Hours after the first airstrike, militants in Gaza launched a barrage of rockets at southern and central Israel. Overall, at least 100 rockets were fired, according to a statement by the Islamic Jihad. Israel's Magen David Adom emergency health service said in a statement that at least five people were injured during the rocket fire. A heatwave in China has brought drought to regions that rely on the Yangtze river, the countrys longest. In Southwest Chinas Chongqing, local media reports more than 600,000 people and 36,000 hectares of crops are affected. Further east, the extreme weather is also threatening crops in Jiangxi province. Local authorities have issued warnings for high temperatures and carried out drought relief measures in parts of the country Aug 17, 2022 05:59 PM PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed here on Friday the role of the ASEAN-centered cooperation platform in maintaining peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region. Addressing the 29th ASEAN regional forum foreign ministers' meeting in phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wang said under the current circumstances, the aspirations of regional countries for maintaining peace and stability and for promoting common security do not change, their appeals to speed up economic recovery and achieve sustainable development do not change, and their spirit of seeking solidarity and cooperation, and pulling together to tide over the difficult times does not change. Wang made three proposals to give full play to the role of the ASEAN-centered cooperation platform in maintaining peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region. First, truly abiding by the United Nations Charter and international law. Regional countries should maintain the international system with the United Nations at its core and uphold the international order underpinned by international law, instead of imposing the so-called "house rules" of an individual country or a bloc of countries on other states to coerce them into taking sides. Second, taking into account the interests of every party. Wang called for unity, mutual support, and providing more global public goods. In the pursuit of its own interests, Wang said, one country should respect the development needs of other countries and boost the region's common progress while achieving its own growth. The Chinese side opposes some major countries blindly pushing unilateralism, still less accepts illegal acts of sanction and suppression, Wang noted. Third, promoting common security. Wang called on countries to heed and respect the legitimate security concerns of others and to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, so as to achieve true security. Wang said China welcomes the participation of various parties in the Global Security Initiative, their efforts to implement the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and their commitment to resolve differences and disputes through dialogue and consultation. PLA Eastern Theater Command continues joint exercises around Taiwan Xinhua) 09:01, August 06, 2022 A soldier looks through binoculars during combat exercises and training of the navy of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) in the waters around the Taiwan Island, Aug. 5, 2022. The Eastern Theater Command on Friday continued joint combat exercises and training in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island. (Photo by Lin Jian/Xinhua) NANJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday continued joint combat exercises and training in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island. The exercises took place in the waters and airspace off the northern, southwestern and eastern coasts of the island. More than 10 destroyers and frigates conducted joint blockade operations in the waters around the island, while a number of frigates, missile ships and ground-to-ship missile units engaged in stimulated assaults aimed at major maritime targets. The theater command's air force corps deployed multiple types of warplanes, including fighters, bombers, early warning aircraft and electronic reconnaissance planes, on missions such as reconnaissance, airspace control, support and cover, and airstrikes. Meanwhile, the army corps and conventional missile force of the Eastern Theater Command remained in a state of readiness and conducted supporting tasks. All units have been placed on high alert for any possible emergencies. A video screenshot shows a warplane conducting operations during exercises and training of the air force corps of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) around the Taiwan Island, Aug. 5, 2022. The Eastern Theater Command on Friday continued joint combat exercises and training in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island. (Xinhua) Photo taken on Aug. 5, 2022 shows a Taiwan military vessel as seen from a warship of the navy of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the navy's combat exercises and training in the waters around the Taiwan Island. The Eastern Theater Command on Friday continued joint combat exercises and training in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island. (Photo by Lin Jian/Xinhua) (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) A Palestinian inspects the rubble of a house after an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) GAZA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. A woman was killed in the afternoon when an Israeli warplane struck a car in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, bringing the total death toll in two days of Israeli airstrikes to 15, including a 5-year-old girl, according to the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza. The ministry also warned that its medical services could stop within 72 hours because of the lack of fuel needed to operate the generators. During a press conference, Ashraf al-Qidra, the ministry spokesman, announced the suspension of outpatient services and scheduled surgeries in all hospitals to ensure emergency operations for the injured in the "aggression." The pharmaceutical situation in Gaza is going through its "worst" time in years, al-Qidra warned. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a house after an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) A Palestinian inspects the rubble of a house after an airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Children mourn during the funeral of Tamim Hijazi, 24, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Women mourn during the funeral of Tamim Hijazi, 24, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Mourners carry the body of Tamim Hijazi, 24, during his funeral in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the rubble of houses after an airstrike in Gaza City on Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the rubble of houses after an airstrike in Gaza City on Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the rubble of houses after an airstrike in Gaza City on Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the rubble of houses after an airstrike in Gaza City on Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the rubble of houses after an airstrike in Gaza City, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the rubble of a house after an airstrike in Gaza City, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the rubble of a house after an airstrike in Gaza City, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the rubble of a house after an airstrike in Gaza City, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Flames and smoke are seen during an Israel airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua) NAIROBI, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is on course to establish a sanctuary for mountain bongos (antelope) and black rhinos on the slopes of Mount Kenya to strengthen the conservation of the two critically endangered iconic species, conservationists said. The conservationists including Kenya, Wildlife Service, Lewa wildlife conservancy, and Kenya Forest Service among others said already, a 250-acre parcel of forest land has been identified in the Mount Kenya Forest Reserve to establish a sanctuary for mountain bongos and the black rhinos, whose survival is threatened by poaching, habitat loss and climatic stresses. "This initiative will be carried out in stages, with the bongos introduced into the sanctuary during the first phase and black rhinos introduced in the second," the conservationists said in a joint statement issued in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on Friday. Kenya's population of mountain bongos currently stands at 100, after decades of decline linked to poaching, habitat fragmentation, and climate change. To boost the population of mountain bongos, a spacious sanctuary will be built in the Mount Kenya ecosystem to enable them to breed, thrive, and be introduced to other habitats in the country, according to conservationists. Kenya's National Bongo Recovery and Action Plan covering 2019-2023 calls for innovative measures to restore their population, enhance ecosystem balance and boost tourism revenue. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions The number of questions citizens are raising about relocating the Lookouts stadium keeps growing. Few are being answered. Based on the information available to the public on land use and economic impacts, a stadium is by no means the ideal anchor for South Broad redevelopment. Citizens, however, appear to be most concerned about the public sector economics. From that perspective, the economic impact analysis the City Council will consider Tuesday is missing very critical information, namely the opportunity costs. The stadium proposal only relocates an existing public good. Whatever economic impacts the stadium spins off now move with it. Let that sink in. Most, if not all, of the economic impact is negated by that singular opportunity cost, and that does not even include whatever public costs will ultimately be needed to then redevelop the old stadium site. After accounting for that, the only new direct community benefit from the stadium proposal is the removal of blight in the path of development. It is incumbent on local government to answer the most basic policy questions: Is the stadium proposal the most efficient use of taxpayer resources to accomplish the cleanup of US Pipe/Wheland Foundry brownfield sites? Is it more cost-effective than just investing in the cleanup and letting the market determine the use? Would an RFP offering comparable public incentives attract a better use with greater public benefits? What are the relative risks and means, such as claw back provisions, to minimize the risks? Hamilton County economic development resources have largely focused on the same regional market areas for four decades while neglecting declining smaller-scale community market areas and other regional market areas. Public investments and incentives for redevelopment have changed little in that time. PILOT and TIF have remained the dominant incentive programs guided by the same metrics - the amount of private investment and the number of jobs created for PILOT with loosely defined blight removal criteria for TIF. Local governments have realized diminishing returns from this model over time as public investments increasingly incur opportunity costs inherent in redeveloping already productive land or relocating productive uses like the stadium to at best expand a current focus area. Other opportunity costs have accumulated, including residential displacement in current focus areas, the perpetuation of poverty in neighborhoods served by neglected community market areas, the loss of community economies and cultures, related increases in demand for social services, and the cumulative effect on tax equity. Increasingly, allocations using this redevelopment policy model have made fewer better off while making more worse off. Local governments and their economic development partners clearly need a broader framework for cost-benefit analyses of public investments and incentives for redevelopment. What are the public policy alternatives for the type of development incentivized, why it is incentivized, where it is incentivized, and how it is incentivized? There is no reason to hurry the stadium proposal. Most of the Phase I environmental assessment have only just begun, and it will take another year or two at least to complete the Phase II assessments needed to estimate the cleanup costs accurately. It is only prudent for the city council and county commission to slow down and give the new county mayor time to conduct a more thorough analysis of the stadium relocation proposal. It is only fair to let him steer county government as he sees best. Frank Wrinn PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Japan on Saturday signed up to provide a loan of 306 million U.S. dollars to Cambodia for the expansion of a new container terminal at the Sihanoukville Port, according to a press release from the Cambodian foreign ministry. Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and his visiting Japanese counterpart Hayashi Yoshimasa exchanged notes and related documents on the extension of the loan under the presence of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen. The loan agreement for the project was signed between Cambodia's Economy and Finance Ministry Secretary of State Hem Vanndy and Kamei Haruko, chief representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency Cambodia office, according to the note. "This loan will substantially contribute to the expansion and modernization of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and the transformation of the port into a principal deep-sea port for Cambodia and in the region in line with the commitment made by the prime ministers of the two countries earlier this year," Cambodian foreign ministry's spokesman Chum Sounry said in the press release. Located in the southwestern province of Preah Sihanouk, the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port is the sole international and commercial deep-sea port of Cambodia. The listed seaport made a gross revenue of 93.2 million dollars in 2021, up 17.6 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. The port handled 6.9 million tons of containerized cargos last year, up 6 percent year-on-year, the ministry added. Police were called to a disorder on Amin Drive and Shallowford Road where a woman was very afraid. She didnt want to talk to police and make a report. The woman said a short, black male with dark clothing and a thin beard had liquid acid on him and was trying to burn her with it. The woman also said the man tried to run her over with his vehicle the night before. At this time the woman asked officers to leave. Officers BOLO'd the male suspect for officers safety. * * * A man on E. 44th Street told police his son's motor bike was stolen from his front yard. He said the bike was sitting beside the porch and was taken by a black male with a polo horse tattoo on the back of his head. He said the man left with the motor bike and came back 30 minutes later around 8:30 p.m. and pointed a gun at him. He said the gun was black and looked similar to the Sig police use. He went towards Rossville Boulevard after pointing the gun at him. He didnt know who the man was. * * * A Walmart loss prevention employee at 5764 Highway 153 told police a man had stolen approximately $10 in merchandise and had become belligerent with him when he asked for his identification. The employee didnt want to press charges for the theft and didnt trespass the man from Walmart. * * * A woman on Gunbarrel Road told police her boyfriend had locked her out of the apartment. Police knocked on the door and the boyfriend opened the door and let her in as he was leaving. She said nothing physical had taken place, just a verbal argument. * * * A woman on Mountain Creek Road told police sometime during the night, someone entered her unlocked 2017 Jeep Renegade and stole a few items. * * * A woman told police she was traveling northbound on I-75 when an object flew off the back of a semi truck, damaging her front windshield. She pulled alongside the truck and flagged for the driver to pull over, which he did. The truck driver told police the woman had flagged for him to pull over, but was unaware if anything flew off his truck. * * * A man on Ziegler Road told police he had received messages on his Steam account (online) requesting gift cards valued at $300 from GameStop. The man complied with the requests before realizing that he was being scammed. * * * Police responded to a shoplifting at 1905 Gunbarrel Road. Once on scene, officers spoke with an employee who said a white male in his 40's came in and stole two cans of beer. She wanted to press charges if he could be identified. * * * A man called police and said someone called the Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union at 728 Market St. and identified themselves as him. He said they withdrew $8,700 from his account without his permission. * * * Police saw a car traveling south on Central Avenue with dark tinted windows. Police initiated a stop and spoke with the driver who had a valid license and insurance. He would only roll his window down about an inch. The driver was given a warning. * * * A man called police and said he had credit cards stolen out of his wallet while he was at Planet Fitness at 5425 Highway 153. * * * An officer conducted a traffic stop at 1933 Hamill Road on a black Nissan Altima for a tag not coming back on file. The officer had dispatch run it after not being able to verify it. Dispatch was unsuccessful also with getting the tag to come back on file. The officer spoke with the driver who was from Mississippi and doing work at a local Walmart. The officer had info channel run the driver because her drivers license was also not in the system. The woman showed to have valid drivers license. She had paperwork for the vehicle and it did not come back stolen. She was released. * * * An employee at Wurthrevcar Fastener at 6170 Enterprise Park Dr. told police sometime between 2:40-2:50 a.m. someone cut the catalytic converter from the company's truck. The only suspect information is that they may have been driving a white truck. He later called back to report that there was second catalytic converter stolen as well. * * * The office manager of Earthscapes called police to report an incident at 800 E. 3rd St. at Mizpah Cemetery. Some of their workers were there doing some mowing the day before and two backpack blowers were stolen from their box van, possibly between noon and 3 p.m. They had left the van back door closed but unlocked when they parked it and when they came back, the blowers were gone. They didnt see anything suspicious. * * * An employee at The District at Hamilton Place Apartments at 1920 Gunbarrel Road told police a woman used a fake name to rent an apartment and also gave a fake place of work. The employee had the womans real name. She said the woman presented staff with all of the other persons personal information and stole her identity. The employee said they will be evicting her soon for using someone else's information. Officers spoke to an investigator who said the fraud division would investigate further. Officers attempted to make contact with the woman in her apartment, but made no contact. There are a couple of things you can just about be guaranteed of when you enter the Missionary Ridge Road Race. Most of the time, its going to be hot and humid. Every now and then, cooler weather prevails, but thats more the exception than the rule. And secondly, runners are going to be faced with one of the most challenging courses for any race on the Chattanooga Track Club schedule. The uphill segments challenge the most fit runners while the downhills reward you for your hard effort of going up. There are very few flat spots on this run that starts and finishes at Bragg Reservation. The 49th running of this popular race was held on Saturday with the overall winners being a couple of outstanding college runners who had never run this race before. Carter Cheeseman, a bearded 21-year-old runner who is getting ready to enter his senior year at the University of Notre Dame, was the overall winner as he covered the 4.7-mile course in 24 minutes, 29 seconds as he averaged 5:13 per mile for the distance. Madisyn Peeples, a 24-year-old speedster who did her college running at the University of Kentucky but is now a third-grade teacher at Wallace A Smith Elementary, was the class of the womens field as she averaged 6:17 in posting a time of 29:28, which was sixth overall in the field that totaled 171 finishers. Xian Campbell and Marisa Kimple both led for the first half of the race, but faltered somewhat on the way back and had to settle for the runner-up award, Campbell finishing in 25:50 and Kimple in 30:54, which was 12th overall. Dean Thompson, Zach Buffington and Jack Sullivan rounded out the top five men with times of 27:14, 27:45 and 28:02 while the remaining top five ladies included Juanita Chalmers in 33:43, Janis Kelman in 35:13 and Karen Harr in 35:21. Cheeseman is the son of Ken and Cathy Cheeseman, both former winners of this race. Carter will be heading to South Bend in the next few days as he enters his final season for the Fighting Irish. Hes spent most of his college career on the injured list, so hes keeping his fingers crossed that he will be injury-free this last time around. I really didnt know what the competition would be like today, but Xian and I were together for most of the first two miles. We passed one mile in 5:13 and I decided to pick it up a little and thats when I put some distance between us. I was looking over my shoulder the whole time and was doing fine until I got the last hill at four miles. It got me a little bit as that was a brutal climb at the end. This is my first time to run this race and my parents had told me about it, but it was even more challenging that I expected. But Im in the middle of a 90-mile week and I feel really good about todays race. And Im confident that this will be my year at Notre Dame, the English major concluded with a smile. Campbell is a slender 19-year-old who will be heading to Johnson City to run track and cross country at East Tennessee State after graduating from Baylor in May. He broke from the starting line and led the way for most of the way out before Cheeseman caught him. It was a race for second place on the way back. I went out fast as I didnt know who he was at first, Campbell suggested in a quiet tone. I wasnt expecting the hills to be such a factor, but he pulled ahead about time time we turned around and he just kept pulling away on the way back, he added. While Cheeseman is 21 and Campbell just 19, Thompson will be 57 on Sept. 11. Hes been a competitive runner for most of his life and quickly admitted afterward that Saturday was one his best days on this course in a number of years. I had a really good day as this was my fastest time in the last eight years. I was hoping to break 28 and was closer to 27, so things went really well for me. When I caught Zach (Buffington) at the three-mile mark, that really gave me a big boost as hes a better runner than me, the Run For God executive explained while runners continued crossing the finish line. Peeples liked what she experienced in her first race on this course. I felt pretty good for the first half, but it was tougher on the way back. I had chased the young girl (Kimple) for the first couple of miles, but was feeling good, so I just went for it. It was hot and I jus kept pouring water down my face, but was a nice course and the people along the way were awesome. Its been a long time since I entered a road race, but Im glad I came today, she nodded. Kimple is a 16-year-old junior at Armuchee High School in Rome who is getting ready for cross country. She too was running this race for the first time. It was a little hillier than I expected and I went out a little too fast. Ive been training pretty hard this summer and Im ready for cross country. When the girl passed me, I thought about trying to stay with her, but I couldnt maintain that pace, she smiled. Sergio Bianchini claimed the Arnold Godwin Award for being the oldest participant. Sergio is now a youthful 81, but acts like hes 31. He finished Saturdays race with a time of 45:17 and was 87th overall. Ryan Shrum served as the race director for the eighth straight year. Everything seemed to unfold without incident and he was just happy to get through another big event. Its been a great day as we had a good turnout and nobody got hurt. There were a lot of new faces today and that always makes me happy. Things can get tense at times, but Im always glad to get another one behind me, he added. Matthew Studholme celebrated his 59th birthday on Saturday. Hes a member of the CTCs Timing Team and does a great job making sure all the results are correct. He tried to tell everyone that he was just 29, but we all knew different. (Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com) Actor Sharon Stone once found herself in a situation where she was courted by a fairly well-known producer. After rejecting the executives advances, however, the producer vowed to end her career. Sharon Stone laughed when she was asked if she faced any harassment in the industry Sharon Stone | Stephane Cardinale Corbis/Getty Images The often candid Stone has been very open about her experiences in Hollywood regarding sexual harassment. In excerpts from her own memoir, for instance, Stone recalled situations where others attempted to pressure her in uncomfortable situations. Ive had other producers on other films just come to my trailer and ask, So, are you going to f*** him, or arent you? You know it would go better if you did. I take my time and explain that I am like the nice girl they grew up with, and get them to recall that girls name. This leaves us all with a little bit of our dignity, she once wrote in The Beauty of Living Twice (via Vanity Fair). So when Stone was asked if shed ever experienced harassment in the industry, the actor couldnt help but laugh at the question. Ive been in this business for 40 years, Stone said in an interview on CBS. Can you imagine the business I stepped into 40 years ago? Looking like I look, from nowhere Pennsylvania? I didnt come here with any protection. Ive seen it all. The Quick and the Dead actor felt this sense of entitlement in some men was partially due to how women were raised. But societal changes were making it so women in the industry were beginning to recognize their value more and more. We were raised to accommodate men, particularly in my generation. And women so often lose their own identify to the identity of the men that theyre with, she said. Were starting to acknowledge our own gifts as women and not think that we have to behave as men in order to be empowered or powerful or valuable. Sharon Stones career was once threatened for turning down the advances of an executive The Basic Instinct star was once told her career would be ruined after a meeting with a studio executive went awry. Years ago, the Oscar-nominee was propositioned by someone with influence in the film industry. The first time I turned down a studio executive who wanted to sleep with me, he screamed, Youll never work in this town again, she once said in a 1992 printed edition of Movieline. And I thought it was the funniest thing Id ever heard. Stone would also face a producer who unexpectedly exposed himself in front of her. Her reaction to the incident was similar to her reaction during her CBS sit-down interview. When a well-known producer opened his zipper and went to pull out his thing during a meeting, I thought that was the funniest thing Id ever seen, she said. I mean, hey, if youre going to act out a movie, couldnt you at least act out a better one? Im a trophy to a lot of men, but who needs that? Sharon Stone once revealed executives would only hire her if she had enough sex appeal Earlier in the industry, the Catwoman star shared how she believed film executives had a certain standard they wanted women to meet before hiring them. This standard was based on a womans looks and sex appeal. Because of this, Stone initially had trouble getting her foot through the door in Hollywood. When I entered the business the term f***able was used to see if you were employable. The studio executives sat around a large table and discussed whether or not each of us was in fact f***able. They thought I was not, she once told Vogue. I gave this some hard thought as I wanted to work, so I did a strategically planned semi-naked Playboy shoot. Did I fit the part? Obviously not. Did I use my brain to figure out how to appear f***able? You bet. RELATED: Sharon Stones Mini Seizures Filming Basic Instinct Had Coworkers Thinking She Was Doing Drugs Last year, Netflix debuted its hit Korean survival drama Squid Game, in which a group of contestants must compete in a series of childrens games for the chance to win a huge cash prize. However, with each round, their lives are at stake. In just 12 days, Squid Game became Netflixs most popular series. Many fans wanted to play their own Squid Game without the death, of course. Now they can, thanks to a new Squid Game virtual reality experience heading to the U.S. in September. Heres what to know. Squid Game | Netflix Squid Game fans can schedule in-person virtual reality competitions based on the Netflix show Netflix has partnered with Immersive Gamebox to create a virtual reality experience based on Squid Game. Players will compete in six games from the show, including Red Light, Green Light, Marbles, Tug of War, and the titular Squid Game. Every time someone wins a round, theyll earn virtual money. If they lose, it will cost them virtual lives. Fans of the show and their friends (everyone must be at least 16 years old) can schedule an hour-long VR gaming session at eight locations across the U.S. Rancho Cucamonga, California; Denver, Colorado; Oakbrook, Illinois; San Antonio, Texas; North Dallas, Texas; Houston, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Arlington, Virginia. Depending on the location, the price can range from $21.99 to $39.99 per player. The Squid Game virtual reality experience launches on Sept. 21. Netflix has already kickstarted other real-life Squid Game events The virtual reality experience is one of several ways that Netflix is expanding the Squid Game universe with immersive real-life events. Earlier this year, the streaming service announced a reality competition called Squid Game: The Challenge. The new show has found 456 contestants from around the globe who will compete in games inspired by Squid Game. The grand prize is the largest-ever cash prize on reality TV $4.56 million. Squid Game: The Challenge does not yet have a release date. The Netflix series has also inspired other real-life Squid Game events, such as a competition in South Korea last year. Squid Game Season 2 is on its way Red light GREENLIGHT! Squid Game is officially coming back for Season 2! pic.twitter.com/4usO2Zld39 Netflix (@netflix) June 12, 2022 Back in June, Netflix announced that Squid Game was officially renewed for a second season. The next installment will feature familiar characters, as well as some new faces. We are working on the script right now and making the form of the story, executive producer Kim Ji-yeon told Netflixs blog, Tudum. But theres definitely a lot of pressure on how to make [season 2] even better. I know that a lot of the different fans and audiences have enjoyed the series very much, but really were focusing on how to make it even more joyful to the global audience. Squid Game Season 2 does not yet have a release date, but its expected to arrive in 2024 or sooner. In the meantime, season 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Stay tuned to Showbiz Cheat Sheet for more updates. RELATED: Squid Game Creator Says Season 2 Has Him Losing Quite a Lot of Sleep Yellowstone Season 5 is currently in production in Montana. And star Cole Hauser (Rip Wheeler) has offered up a few behind-the-scenes updates on social media. In a recent post, the 47-year-old actor shared images from the Bitterroot Valley that he dubbed a little slice of heaven. But as the Yellowstone storyline warns, that spectacular land is in serious trouble. Cole Hauser | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic Cole Hauser shares a little slice of heaven from behind-the-scenes of Yellowstone Hauser doesnt post often from the set of Yellowstone. But when he does, he offers up some breathtaking views. In late July, the Dazed & Confused alum shared three pics from his day at work. The images featured the Dutton Ranchs prized cattle and horses, as well as Hausers view on horseback. He made it very clear that he doesnt need WiFi to do his job. Pushin cows in the Big Hole just a slice of heaven. @yellowstone YS5 No WiFi out here, but I promise you will find a better connection, Hauser wrote in the caption. In the comments, Coles co-star Kelly Reilly (Beth Dutton) replied: The best day. Yellowstone Season 5 will be the biggest season yet The first four seasons of Yellowstone featured no more than 10 episodes each. But now that Taylor Sheridans neo-western is the most-watched show on television, they are expanding Season 5 and splitting it into two parts. The upcoming season of Yellowstone will feature a total of 14 episodes, which will be divided in half with two seven-episode blocks. According to Reilly, the super-sized season means that the Dutton story will get bigger with more adversaries lurking. And its a reflection of whats really happening now in the American West. Theyre [Dutton adversaries] coming. Theyre infringing. Its like what is really happening in Montana. It is being bought up by billionaires. People come here because they love what I just showed you [spectacular views of Montana], but theyre going to destroy it because they come here, Reilly told Vulture. The amount of cement, and building, and taking from the land. Wheres the water going to be cleared for the sewage? What is the effect on the environment? They cant protect it without playing dirty. The Dutton Kingdom gets bigger in season 5 At the end of Yellowstone Season 4, John Dutton (Kevin Costner) made a big move in an attempt to save his ranch by declaring his candidacy for Montana governor. Reilly says that this was a light-switch moment for Beth because she didnt think her father would be willing to do something like that since hes not a politician. Beth understands this will be the way she can manipulate power in order to shut down the airport and shut down Market Equities. So when he I dont know if Im allowed to tell you that, Reilly stopped herself before giving away too much. Yellowstone: @MonizWendy & Mo Brings Plenty Upped To Series Regulars, Josh Lucas Leads New & Returning Recurring Cast For Season 5 https://t.co/qfTp5kMu3B via @Deadline #YellowstoneTV Yellowstone (@Yellowstone) June 10, 2022 When asked if John Dutton will become the governor of Montana in season 5, Reilly wouldnt say. But, she did share some details about whats coming for her character. I will say as the kingdom gets bigger, it becomes more difficult to manage. In a strange way, at the beginning of season five, Beth is probably at her most powerful. But how she toes the line of that is going to be interesting. Yellowstone Season 5 (part one) premieres Sunday, November 13 on the Paramount Network. RELATED: Yellowstone: Cole Hauser on His Relationship With Kevin Costner I Dont Know That I Would Ever Call Him Kev by John Rook Herald Staff Ilona Somogyi considers herself a natural preservationist. A costume designer by trade, Somogyi is constantly handling older wardrobe items and marveling at the craftsmanship that went into their completion. Youll look at the old costumes, the quality of the materials, the skills of the designer, and just be amazed, said Somogyi. Youll look at this old wool (item) and think, We dont have wool like this any longer. Over the years, Somogyi has brought that mindset to her other passion Ball & Socket Arts. Taking the aging brick buildings that made up the old Ball & Socket factory on West Main Street and turning them into a modern hub of activity featuring retail shops, art galleries, even restaurants, has been about ensuring that the quality old bones of a historic structure dont go to waste. This (factory) was built well and then there are the aesthetics. The buildings look cool, she said. There is just no reason not to reuse (the facility). The project to bring Ball & Socket Arts to life by transforming the abandoned factory has been a labor of love more than a decade in the making. Somogyi and her co-founders, none of whom had any experience with major development projects, took as their inspiration MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts, an arts-centric facility situated on 16 acres in buildings formerly used for a print works, and later an electric component maker. The success of the project, as well as similar sustainability efforts, helped provide a template as to how the development could proceed. Its pretty common now for arts groups to reuse old buildings, said Somogyi, and old mills are frequently reused for condominiums. Ball & Socket, it wasnt really conducive for that, but it was for the kind of (art complex) we were imagining. Somogyi described the first time she and her team walked into the old buildings as akin to having an Alice in Wonderland experience. While both the interior and exterior were somewhat in disrepair, having not been in use for years the factory closed in 1994 after 144 years in operation she could immediately see the potential. When we walked through (the facility), (I) said, God, this will be great for art (galleries), classes this will be really great for restaurants, she recalled. But taking the dream and making it a reality has been challenging, and Somogyi pointed to one big hurdle that had to be overcome. Code, she said. Bringing everything up to code is a big deal. When the factory was built, codes didnt exist. Some of the requirements are navigable because there are things innate to its historic nature, continued Somogyi, pointing to the fact that the facility, deemed a historic site, has certain attributes that cannot be changed. But addressing things like accessibility, thats been a challenge. However, the mindset of Ball & Socket Arts continues to be that the building will let you know what you can do, said Somogyi, and that creative solutions are there if they are sought. For instance, Somogyi insists that her biggest fight has been to preserve the old windows of the factory, which she was told initially would be far too expensive an endeavor. I said, Are you sure? she recalled, with a laugh. I was pretty sure it would not be more expensive to restore these windows than to have them custom-made, times 60. In the end, Somogyi was proven correct. Doggedly researching companies that specialize in restoration as well as individual craftspeople, Somogyi was able to get the windows restored to close to their original look, all for less than what it would have cost to have new windows made and installed. The only thing that made it happen, that saved the windows, was that I was stubborn, joked Somogyi. All the people who said, You cant save those windows, now say, Wow, those windows look great. Such solutions are common, Somogyi believes, when restoring old structures. Its often believed that such endeavors can be more expensive than razzing the buildings and constructing something new. However, Somogyi insists that the process and the expense need not be more burdensome. There are challenges with materials (when restoring old buildings) and there are issues with things like asbestos, lead paint but youre going to face those challenges whether you demolish it or reuse it, she said. For our building, we dont have many structural issues. It was built so well, its not going anywhere. It is sitting on a high water table and it is still incredibly stable. To make sure the facility is ready for modern-day tenants, much of the internals at the site have been upgraded, such as wiring, plumbing, HVAC systems, a sprinkler system, and more. Besides that, the focus has been on re-energizing the space so as to make sure this old facility has new life in Cheshire. There is so much history there, said Somogyi. You still meet people who say, I worked there, or, My grandmother or grandfather worked there. This is really a way for us to honor the people who came before, she continued. Ball & Sockets effort has helped the community gain a reputation for a commitment to sustainability. The Coalition for a Sustainable Cheshire, which is a part of the state-wide Sustainable CT program, has cited Ball & Socket Arts as an example of the towns dedication to the cause. Somogyi believes that projects like hers and others in Cheshire are gaining steam as people become more aware of the need to preserve what is already in place. Right now, we are living in a time when people are more tuned in to repurposing old things, she said. I think people recognize that what was made before oftentimes was just made better and not pre-programmed so that, after a short period of time, they have to be replaced. The success of projects like Ball & Socket breeds more interest in other communities to reuse such old facilities, Somogyi believes. However, in the future, shed like to see more established developers, rather than independent art groups, take on such projects, and hopes that lending companies are more open to providing the funding necessary to tackle them. Many (lending companies) are reluctant to offer loans for projects at these brownfields, she said, and thats probably the biggest barrier right now. Yet, the future looks bright for Ball & Socket. Its expected that the facilitys first tenant, Sweet Claudes Ice Cream, will be moving in sometime soon, and recent increases in funding will allow for the founders to ramp up their construction efforts to allow for the rest of the facility to be tenant-ready in the near future. Ive lived in Cheshire for a long time, said Somogyi. Im raising my son here. I clearly think highly of the place, but there are things happening here and around the world that we need to address we have to look at trends in health, in climate, in extreme waste. There are things everyone can do to work against the trends. Muslim extremists beat, kill evangelist in his home in retaliation for preaching NAIROBI, Kenya Muslim extremists went to the home of an evangelist who had held open-air events in eastern Uganda and killed him, sources said. Cut with a sharp instrument that left his head and neck with deep wounds, Sozi Odongo was killed at his home in Omorio cell, Agule Town Council, Pallisa District on July 29 while his wife and four children hid in a room. Odongo was 45. The previous week, sources said, Odongo had received threatening text messages, including one from Nasuru Ongom, a Muslim sheikh (teacher) in Palissa town, that read, Please stop preaching to our people using the holy Quran, or else you risk your life. Odongo had cited the Quran and the Islamic hadiths (sayings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) in evangelistic events directed at mixed-race Arabs in several villages of Pallisa District, sources said. After such an event on July 29, he arrived home and had eaten dinner with his family when they heard a group of people coming toward their house at about 7:15 p.m., said his wife, Stella Kilo. They locked the door. We heard them talk in the Arabic language and wondered what could be the matter, Kilo said. They then arrived and knocked at the door. She and their children went into the bedroom, but Odongo unlocked and opened the door, and the assailants began beating him on all parts of his body, she said. He screamed while mentioning the name of Nasuru, saying, Leave me Nasuru, Nasuru, Nasuru, please dont kill me, just tell your colleagues to leave me, Kilo told Morning Star News. Then I heard a loud hit, and thereafter no more screaming. The assailants likely left, but she and the children remained in the bedroom for an hour, afraid that they were still there, she said. Kilo opened the bedroom door and found her husband in a pool of blood, she said. I tried calling to my husband, but he was unable to talk, and I then rang a neighbor and informed him about the situation, she said. The neighbor arrived and informed the LC1 chairperson of the area, George Ochola, who came and found Odongos body cut several times in the head, neck and arm, Kilo said. Ochola called police, and officers immediately arrived. Ochola filed a report with Agule police (CRB 434/2022), and sources said officers were searching for Ongom on suspicion of murder. The attack was the latest of many instances of persecution of Christians in Uganda that Morning Star News has documented. Ugandas constitution and other laws provide for religious freedom, including the right to propagate ones faith and convert from one faith to another. Muslims make up no more than 12% of Ugandas population, with high concentrations in eastern areas of the country. Originally published at Morning Star News Pastors son and namesake who played drums at church on Sundays killed in shooting A Louisiana pastor who has an outreach to bring down street violence in his community is mourning the death of his son in a shooting near his church where the deceased would play drums every Sunday. Orin Grant Jr., the 20-year-old son of the pastor of St. Paul Baptist Church in Gretna city and his namesake, was shot and killed on Tuesday, NBC News affiliate WDSU reported. The pastor, who had been working for peace on the streets in the community, is now asking, 'What could I have done better or more? Now I have to live the rest of my life without my son, Grant was quoted as saying. He said his son was by his girlfriends house and might have been lured out of the house. In the backyard of his girlfriends house. He was shot by two individuals multiple times, he said. The pastor said he would like to tell the person who killed his son that violence is not the answer. The negative use of weapons is not the answer. God renders forgiveness. Find peace with God, Grant was quoted as saying. About 15 hours after the body of the pastors son was found, police discovered that a 23-year-old man, Xevion Davis of Conroe, Texas, had also been killed, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office. An autopsy determined he had been shot in the head, nola.com reported, adding that the sheriffs office said it was not known whether the two shootings were related, but they were investigating all possible angles. Last Sunday, the pastor of a Milwaukee church possibly saved congregants lives as they found themselves caught in a deadly crossfire outside the church building right after the Sunday service ended. Upon them coming out of the church, a car pulled right here and began to fire at another car that was behind them, Bishop Henry Kilpatrick of Reformation of Holiness Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, told ABC News affiliate WISN. There was a massive shooting right here. Me and one of the deacons began to push the people back inside and tell them to hit the floor, get down on the floor, and they got down on the floor, added Kilpatrick, who founded the church 24 years ago with his late wife, Rose. No churchgoer was injured. TOKYO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Japan marked the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing of its western city of Hiroshima on Saturday. At a memorial ceremony held at the Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui cautioned in the Peace Declaration that dependence on nuclear deterrence is gaining momentum in the world. "We must immediately render all nuclear buttons meaningless," he said. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attended the ceremony, warning that a new arms race is accelerating. A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m. local time, the exact moment a uranium bomb dropped from a U.S. bomber detonated over the city on Aug. 6, 1945, killing around 140,000 people by the end of the year. While Japan inwardly looks at the tragedies it had experienced at the end of World War II, historians and political minds of the international community have encouraged Japan to come to see themselves not as merely victims of the atomic bombings but also as the perpetrators who led to these tragic incidents to happen in the first place. Japan brutally occupied many parts of Asia before and during World War II, causing untold suffering and death to hundreds of thousands of innocent victims. The Southern Baptists pastor controversy: A study in terminologys pitfalls and their consequences Editor's Note: The author of this column was one of the 15-member study committee selected by the Southern Baptist Convention to propose revisions to the Baptist Faith & Message (1963) and to present those revisions for approval or rejection by the SBC business session in 2000. He was also one of three committee members (along with Charles S. Kelley Jr. and R. Albert Mohler Jr.) appointed by the study committee to answer questions during the floor debate on the proposed revisions. After the revised confession was overwhelmingly approved as the Baptist Faith & Message 2000 (BF&M), the Convention asked these three men to write a study guide to the confession (Kelley, Land, and Mohler, The Baptist Faith & Message, Nashville, LifeWay Press, 2007). Also, Land is the only person to have served on both the 2000 study committee and on the seven-member committee appointed to draft a confessional article on The Family for the BF&M, which was overwhelmingly approved by the Convention in 1998. What is the controversy roiling Southern Baptists concerning the term pastor all about? Is it a major doctrinal disagreement or is it merely a tempest in a teapot, unworthy of the heat it has generated? And why, in the larger scheme of things, does it matter? The truth is that it is neither of the above but instead falls somewhere between misunderstanding and disagreement. It matters a great deal to me because the SBC has always been my spiritual home as a Christian. However, it is also the largest Protestant denomination in the country, Evangelical or otherwise. What happens in Southern Baptist life impacts American Christianity for good or ill. If Southern Baptists catch a cold, American Evangelicals start sniffling. Part of the problem with the pastor terminology debate is that it is an ecclesiological (church) issue, and Baptists are pretty unique (at least within historical Protestant Christendom) when it comes to the doctrine of the church. I taught a course on Baptist Distinctives to Southern Baptist seminarians for 13 years and I always started the first lecture with the doctrine of the church. The first sentence of the BF&M on The Church says: A New Testament church of the Lord Jesus Christ is an autonomous local congregation of baptized believers associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the gospel; observing the two ordinances of Christ, governed by His laws, exercising the gifts, rights, and privileges invested in them by His Word, and seeking to extend the gospel to the ends of the earth. I would always tell my students, Almost every phrase of that definition separates Baptists from virtually all other major faith traditions arising out of the 16th and 17th century Reformation (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Anglican, even Congregational). Perhaps the most unique part of the definition, and often the most difficult for outside observers to understand, is that each local congregation is autonomous through democratic processes and under the Lordship of Christ. Consequently, there is no hierarchy or denominational vertical structure in Baptist ecclesiology. Each church calls her own pastors and staff members, owns her own property, and decides annually what percentage of her budget she wishes to contribute to Southern Baptist causes at the local, state and national levels. That is why the denomination is called the Southern Baptist Convention it is a convention of local churches (approximately 46,000 local congregations) who have voted voluntarily to be part of the Convention and have been accepted by the other throng of Convention churches as espousing the doctrines outlined in the BF&M confession. Each Baptist fellowship group, starting with the local congregation, the local association of churches, the state convention of churches, and the national Convention, decides for themselves (independently of what any other Baptist fellowship group may decide) whether a local church fits within acceptable Baptist doctrinal parameters. For example, a local church could be and sometimes is, a member of the national Convention, even after the church has been removed from the state convention and/or the local association. During the theological controversies which produced the Conservative Resurgence in the last quarter of the 20th century, it was often claimed by Southern Baptist moderates that being Baptist means you are free to believe anything you want to believe under the priesthood of the believer. That assertion is only partially true. Baptists do believe that humanly speaking, you are certainly free to believe whatever you wish. However, you do not have the right to believe, or disbelieve, anything you choose and still call yourself a Southern Baptist. Each fellowship group of Baptists, local church, local association, state convention, and national Convention, decides independently of each other whether you have strayed beyond the boundaries of what they each collectively believe it means to be Southern Baptist. At the national level, the BF&M defines the doctrines and theological parameters Southern Baptists, as a corporate body, believe are acceptable for Southern Baptists to affirm and espouse. The BF&M is not a creed and it is not binding on any individuals conscience. The Southern Baptist Convention does, however, have the right to say by a vote of its member churches that a particular church has moved beyond the boundaries and consensus of what the member churches believe represents Southern Baptists faith and practice. The BF&M is binding on the various entities owned and operated by the SBC at the national level (the six seminaries, the two mission boards, etc.) which are owned and operated by the Convention on behalf of the churches and for the benefit of helping the churches expand the Gospel around the globe. About 20 years ago I was preaching a revival in a city away from my home in Nashville. I was invited, after the evening services one weeknight, to have a late dinner with a group of Southern Baptists from another church in town. Since I never eat before preaching at night, I accepted their invitation. It soon became clear that these church members were very exercised about the fact that their church was in the process of being voted out of membership in the local association of Southern Baptist churches because they were no longer requiring a baptism by immersion in water, subsequent to a personal testimony of having made a profession of faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior as a prerequisite to membership in that local church. Evidently, they had invited me to dinner because they wanted to know what a denominational official thought about their controversy. They were quite exercised as they explained to me how persecuted they felt that this was being done to them and that it was a violation of local church autonomy and the priesthood of the believer. I listened politely to their indignation as I enjoyed an excellently prepared (seared on the outside, RARE on the inside) Porterhouse steak. Just as the dessert (a magnificent chocolate bread pudding souffle) arrived, they turned to me and said, Dr. Land, what do you think? I took a bite of the souffle, which was sublime (If you are what you eat, parts of me are chocolate). Then I asked them to please remember in about five minutes that they did ask me for my opinion. I told them, This is not a violation of local church autonomy. No one is trying to come in and remove your pastor and your church leadership. No one is proposing to confiscate your property. This is a local association of Southern Baptist churches that are saying that if you no longer require baptism by immersion in water after a profession of faith in Jesus as your personal Savior, then you are no longer a Baptist church by their collective definition of the term. They are removing you from fellowship in the association in order to witness to the surrounding world what their beliefs are about what a Baptist church is. I concluded by saying, Frankly, if I were in your association, I would vote to disfellowship you as well. The dinner party broke up quite quickly after that exchange. I hope this background helps to explain the non-hierarchal, horizontal nature of Southern Baptist ecclesiology and polity. Also, I used this example because of the current kerfuffle concerning the nomenclature used by churches in ordaining or dedicating certain women staff members as pastors with qualifying descriptors such as childrens pastor or pastor to senior adults as opposed to childrens minister or minster to senior adults certainly does not rise to the level of rejecting a proper definition and mode of baptism as a prerequisite for church membership in a local Baptist church. Instead, it is a question of whether or not the pastoral office is a position of authority and if so, does conferring even a restricted use of the term pastor inevitably give some people the impression, intended or not, that the church has conferred pastoral authority on a woman in violation of apostolic mandate. The BF&M does state that while both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture. Why do Baptists believe that? There are several reasons, all having to do with their understanding of the Manual for Faith, Order, and Practice in Baptist Churches the New Testament. In the section of the New Testament most directly applicable to things being done with order in the local church (The Pastoral Epistles) the Apostle Paul tells his son in the faith, Timothy, I suffer not a womanto usurp authority over the man (I Tim. 2:12). As Kelley, Mohler, and I point out in the BF&M Study Guide: The New Testament words that Baptists identify with the pastoral office include terms translated as bishop, elder, and pastor. Each term adds to our understanding of the pastoral office and the pastors responsibility. Bishop means overseersomeone who oversees the work of othersIn the Christian church elder was used for someone who presided over assemblies and served as a counselor. The term pastor describes a shepherd who loves and cares for the believers who make up the congregation. The Apostle Pauls requirement that a pastor be the husband of one wife (I Tim. 3:2) clearly indicates in the New Testament pastors were to be men. The verb form of all three of these words describing the office of pastor: episkopos (bishop), presbutero (elder), and poimaino (to shepherd, or pastor) are found in the Apostle Peters first epistle (I Pet. 5:1-5). There is also a vivid example of the authoritative and shepherding role of the pastor in the 13th chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The Hebrew Christians are exhorted to put themselves under the authority of those who watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy. (Heb. 13:7, 17, emphasis supplied). Those who watch for your souls were the pastoral elders of the early church. And the statement that the pastoral undershepherds are going to give an account to the Lord Jesus concerning their watch care should be sobering to all who have the privilege of being the Lords undershepherds here on Earth of some of the Great Shepherds flock. In life, and especially in religious life, with its eternal consequences, we have the responsibility to seek to be understood correctly. We have the additional responsibility to do our very best not to be misunderstood. From much experience, I know that some people, when reading this column will automatically assume that my position on this issue is dictated by my supposed prejudice toward women. So let me put my cards on the table (if a Baptist can be permitted to use such a phrase). I believe the New Testament does not allow women to be in authority over men in the local church. However, while serving as president of the Southern Baptist Conventions ethics and public policy entity (the Christian Life Commission, now the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission), I called a woman to be the head of our Washington, D.C., office (the home office is in Nashville). And yes, she did have supervisory authority over men, which was perfectly appropriate because the Washington office was not a church and her supervisory role was not pastoral. And by the way, her name was Shannon Royce and she did a great job until she felt that her responsibilities as a mother required her to resign. We were sorry to see her go and we missed her dedication and expertise. I personally would have no theological problem with a woman being the head of any Southern Baptist institution or serving as a dean or a professor in any Southern Baptist seminary or college. If former U.N. Ambassador Jean Kirkpatrick had wanted to run for president, I would have been all for it. If an American Margaret Thatcher (my personal favorite political leader) emerged on the current scene, I would enthusiastically back her political ambitions. And, having attended Southern Baptist churches all of my conscious life I am well aware that virtually all of our churches would implode upon themselves without the myriads of women who invest their spiritual gifts and time in local churches and in personal discipleship and other ministry efforts. At the time the Baptist Faith & Message study committee was appointed, the idea of women serving in a pastoral role, senior and otherwise, in a local church was a bigger issue than I believe it to be in the current SBC. At the time the committee felt that it had to be addressed forthrightly in the BF&M 2000, and it was. The present discussion is a disagreement among complementarians, not a debate between complementarians and egalitarians. On one side, you have complementarians who believe that, based on Scripture, women should not be given the title of pastor in any sense by the church because it would inevitably be perceived and interpreted as a church conferring some degree of pastoral authority on the individual woman given the title and that would contradict New Testament apostolic teaching. The other group is complementarians who believe that while the role of senior pastor is reserved only for men, women can be given the title of some type of pastor without violating the New Testament admonition of not having a woman in authority over men in the local church. I am certain that the overwhelming consensus among the study committee members was that the prohibition on women as pastors was meant to be inclusive, and did not leave room for female church staff members to be accorded even a qualified version of that title. Frankly, I believe it is impossible in Southern Baptist culture and tradition for a church to confer even a qualified portion of the term pastor on a woman staff member without conferring some degree of pastoral authority upon her, which would be a violation of New Testament teaching. As the discussion continues, Southern Baptists will have to decide how wide like faith and practice can be stretched and what is amenable to a significant majority of the local churches who will ultimately decide the matter. I do know that those who object to expanding the pastoral terminology to women believe that if the practice is widely accepted, there will be an inevitable vocabulary-driven mission creep and sooner rather than later the Convention will have to arbitrate the issue of women being accepted as the pastor of local assemblies of believers. This Southern Baptist would ask, Why invite the confusion such imprecise vocabulary would inevitably bring with it? Why invite confusion and discord by calling a woman pastor to senior adults when minister to senior adults conveys an understanding of her important role in the churchs ministry without inevitably conferring perceived pastoral authority upon her in violation of the Apostle Pauls clear direction. Embattled megachurch Pastor Tavner Smith denies reports of church foreclosure Tennessee megachurch Pastor Tavner Smith of Venue Church in Chattanooga has denied reports that his church is facing foreclosure less than a year after staffers quit over a rumored affair he had with a former church employee. Smith assured followers on Instagram that reports of the church shutting down are "absolutely not true." The post was an apparent response to a July 31 report in The Chattanooga Times Free Press stating Venue Church defaulted on its loan for the property at 6401 Lee Highway. A notice of foreclosure and sale indicated an upcoming auction on Aug. 24. According to the notice, Venue secured the original loan for $2.8 million for the property in 2019. Hamilton County records indicate the property is valued at $4.86 million. "First of all, it's absolutely not true. Venue Church is not shutting down," Smith said. "Our legal team, who is amazing, has assured me that I can tell you with confidence that our Chattanooga location is going nowhere." "The best is yet to come for Venue Church. It ain't over. We're just getting started," Smith added. He invited his followers to come to Sunday's service, where he said he would "set the record straight." Attempts by The Christian Post to reach Smith and Venue Church were unsuccessful. Venue Church, a nondenominational church of about 2,000 members, was rocked by scandal in December after Smith was accused of engaging in an extramarital affair. Before the recent turmoil, Venue Church had become one of the fastest-growing congregations in America. The Chattanooga Times Free Press obtained audio from a widely-reported Dec. 17 meeting between Smith and over 100 church volunteers at the fast-growing Venue Church after several employees resigned from the church over the alleged affair. In January, a Facebook page critical of the church called "The Venue is NO Church" published images showing that Venue Church is now only operating from the Chattanooga campus on Lee Highway. While Venue Church previously listed a campus in North Georgia, that location is no longer listed on the church's website. Around that time, Smith began a sabbatical after a video circulated online showing him kissing a church staffer who was not his wife, which drew national media attention. Upon returning from that sabbatical, Smith confessed to his congregation that he was involved in an "inappropriate relationship" and asked for forgiveness. "Before I preach a word today, I've just come to say I'm sorry. So many things I've said, that I've done, that I've not said, that I've run from were wrong," Smith said, according to a recording of the apology posted on YouTube by journalist Julie Roys. "I was involved in an inappropriate relationship. And I want to say that I'm sorry that I put you through any embarrassment, heartache or confusion. I've wounded people, and I've caused devastation that I know I can never take back," he added. "As your leader and pastor, I come to you to publicly acknowledge my mistakes and truly ask for forgiveness. It grieves me to think that my pride and my selfishness could've caused anyone hurt." Smith and his wife, Danielle, who have three kids, began divorce proceedings in May 2021. In 2008, Smith was hired as executive student pastor at Redemption World Outreach in Greenville, South Carolina, a church led by Ron and Hope Carpenter. Smith's website lists Carpenter as his mentor. In 2012, the Smiths moved to Chattanooga, where they launched Venue Church. Joel and Victoria Osteen talk evangelism, repentance and building the local church post pandemic NEW YORK Amid the societal loss, separation and loneliness exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, televangelist couple Joel and Victoria Osteen are on a mission to recharge and renew the Body of Christ and encourage greater involvement in the local church. The couple, who lead the 45,000-member Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, say that is the goal behind their "Come Home to Hope event, held this weekend at Yankee Stadium after being delayed for three years due to the pandemic. I think it's significant that after three years, we'd come back to the iconic stadium in the biggest city in America, Joel Osteen told The Christian Post. We hope it inspires people in their faith; let's start believing again, and dreaming again and hoping again God, youre good; life's good. Yes, that was difficult, but Youre still in control. And so that's kind of what this night is about. I just think God dropped it in our hands, and we took the step of faith, and you know what? God does what we can't do. The night will feature singing and worship from CeCe Winans, Tauren Wells, Lakewood music and more, along with an inspirational message from the Osteens. It will be, Victoria Osteen emphasized, almost like a new beginning. Let's recharge, let's refuel again, she said. If we don't get with it ... and just really take back our lives, we're going to be just stuck in perpetual problems. Because there's always going to be problems, but it's what we do with those problems, it's how we view those problems that make all the difference in the world. Osteen, a bestselling author whose sermons are seen on television by millions worldwide each week, estimated that about half of those who will attend the event wont be churchgoers. The pastor expressed hope that the event would spark in that demographic an interest in the Gospel. I feel like my calling is to throw a wide net of hope to get people interested in the things of God, Osteen said. Most of the emails I get say, I never watch TV preachers, and I don't like TV preachers, but I watch you. So it's just trying to let them know that God's got a purpose, God's got a plan, that they can forgive, they can break an addiction, they can reach their dreams, and then we pray that prayer at the end. So it's an opportunity for people that watch and listen to come. Osteen stressed that the event isnt just about encouragement and positivity; its also an evangelistic event to call believers to take a stand for their faith. At the end of the event, Osteen said he issues a call to salvation. The ultimate, toward the end is, Do you know Christ? Or do you need to recommit yourself? he said. Jesus said, If you're not ashamed of me, I won't be ashamed of you, so that's the goal, he added. So at the end, I'll say, I encourage you to get into a good Bible-based church, and many of you have come with somebody that attends a good faith-based church, why don't you get plugged into that church? Joel Osteen Ministries is working with about 200 local churches with the intention of getting 20,000-30,000 attendees plugged into their local church bodies, the pastor said. He revealed that, like many churches across the United States, the pandemic hurt Lakewoods church attendance, nearly halving pre-COVID-19 numbers. My thing is, how do we build the local church? Im a local pastor so my thing is not coming in here trying to just make a splash, but I'm going to put people in local churches, and I think this is one of the best ways. A lot of these people that come here, they won't go to a church, not yet. They're not ready for it. But you know what? The little bit of influence I have, if they took the time to come here, I think that we can persuade them, and they'll feel that conviction to say, you know what? Im going to get into a community of faith. So that's the goal. Victoria Osteen added that she and her husband challenge local pastors to gather and disciple new believers in their midst: We're just here to plant the seed, water the seed, and then God brings the harvest, she said. For the Osteens, ministry is a family affair. Joels father, the late Pastor John Osteen, founded Lakewood in 1959 before handing it off to his son in 1999. The Osteens daughter, Alexandria, is part of Lakewood music, a collective of worship leaders, musicians and songwriters from the church. Osteen said that he and his wife strive to steward the influence that God has given them, and that influence, Victoria agreed, begins in the home. She shared that she and Joel have always sought to be an example they want their children to follow, spending time in the Word and focusing on discipleship. You can't minister to all these other people and not have developed a family that's strong and rooted and grounded in God, she said. I think sometimes we get so busy working for God that we [forget] we have a responsibility to our family. You can get sidetracked in that area. I think first, you have to disciple your family before you can go disciple the rest of the world. Osteen, whose sermons are seen on television by millions worldwide each week, is aware that some in the Evangelical community criticize him for being too seeker-friendly or for preaching what they consider a watered-down Gospel. But according to the pastor, theres so much more to what they see on television. At home, after they give their lives to Christ, they go to a four-week, new beginnings class, and then we talk about what it means to live a holy life and what happened with the new birth and how you're a new creation, he said. Still, he sees his positive messages as a bridge to something deeper. Jesus, he said, didnt stay in the synagogues; He went out to the people, told parables and related to them. The pastor shared that he hears from people of all different faiths who came to Christ after hearing his encouraging messages sometimes after years of listening. A lot of times, you have to have a connection with people before theyll open their hearts, he said, later adding. Thats what I feel like I'm called to do, to have a relationship with them. Sometimes, they just see it as, Oh, he's talking about forgiveness or, you know, being positive, thinking better. But I believe all those principles in Scripture, they help anybody, whether you're a believer or not, but the ultimate is to come to know Christ and to be in relationship with your Creator. Osteen contended that one definition of repentance is to change your mind, adding: Every week, when I'm speaking on television, I'm trying to get people to change their mind, to know that God's for them, to see themselves as if made in the image of God, not unworthy, not a failure, to change their mind about forgiven, to change their mind about living a life of compromise and addiction and not making good decisions. So it's just a different way to do it. In one sense, I'm preaching repentance every week, because I'm trying to get you to change your mind into what Christ says you are and what the Bible says, he continued. This is what I feel like I'm called to do. I know it's more encouragement, but this is who I was before I was a minister; I didn't just change one day when I decided to start ministering. Its just what was in me. I stepped into that never knowing stadiums would fill up. I dont even know how this happened except the grace of God and the sovereignty of God. Victoria Osteen added that people are drawn to a God that is good, not one who is judging everything you do. That's really our thing is that, yeah, it's tough, but you know what? God's for you and He can do things that you can't do for yourself. But if you don't come to Him and believe in Him, He won't be able to help you because faith is coming and believing and going to Him. That's faith right there: believing that God wants to help you. To tangibly bring hope to those struggling, on Thursday, Joel Osteen Ministries, alongside World Vision and several other ministries, distributed baby formula, diapers, wipes, and back-to-school backpacks to 300 mothers and children in New York. Osteen shared that in recent months, hes also spent time in low-income areas in the Bronx, providing encouragement to local pastors. It's just a tough time. It's a tough life. They dont have money, they don't have opportunity. Its just tough. So I just want to let them know that God sees them, God cares about them and He can lift them up, Osteen said. Several of those pastors, Osteen said, will be at Yankee Stadium on Saturday night for the Return to Hope event. The pastor hopes that they, like thousands of others in the audience, will leave believing that God is good, that He's for them, that He hasn't brought them this far to leave them where they are. We're saying, Come back to hope, come back to faith, come back to church, come back to believing again, he added. Its time to come back to God, come back to faith, turn toward God. Yes. It's been hard. But you know what? Don't stop believing that when you come to God, that's when good things can happen. Richard and Brittini De La Mora share tips for Christian singles, warning signs to look for Single Christians should be wary of being deceived by "looks" and "words" when dating in search of a future spouse, cautioned husband and wife podcasters, Richard and Brittini De La Mora. Looks are deceiving, because someone can "look like the right one but it doesn't mean they are the right one, the couple said in their discussion about looking for the attributes of a godly partner in the most recent episode of their "Lets Talk Purity" podcast on edifi. They can say the right things, but that doesnt mean that they're the right person. And too often, we know people who are really good with their words, but their words dont reflect who they are, said Richard, an evangelist and founder of Love Always ministries. A lot of people get deceived because they think, Wow, thats a powerful man of God, or that's a wonderful, beautiful woman of God. And then, its like, Wait a minute, you switched up. How were you this person the first three months and then, you just changed to a whole different person? Richard also warned that a Christian can end up with a good person, but that doesnt mean they're your good partner. The first thing Christians should look for in a godly partner, according to the De La Moras, is that they are equally yoked, referring to 2 Corinthians 6, which warns Christians against being "yoked with unbelievers." Richard explained that there are "a lot of things that can go wrong with" dating a nonbeliever, warning that the "reason why is because theres a different value system." And whenever there is a different value system, there will be a different priority system, he explained. "But here you are, wanting to go to church, reading your Bible, and then you're mad because they dont want to go to church [and] read the Bible. But theyre so sweet, with dreamy eyes." "And youre like, 'Oh my gosh, I just want to be with them. But the reality is that you want to be with them, but they dont want to be with Him Jesus. So everything changes. While someone "can be a 'Christian' that doesn't mean they actually are a Christian, noting that just because they have the label doesnt mean they have the fruit. Brittni, who escaped the porn industry, said she and her husband want "to extend Gods grace" to Christians who are struggling with habitual sin and wonder if their struggles disqualify them from dating Christians who arent struggling with habitual sins. Maybe God is still dealing with certain issues in your heart; like you got extreme anger or youre still battling with some drugs. Maybe you have some secret sin, like pornography, Brittni continued. "We're here to extend God's grace, but we know that there is freedom and deliverance in Jesus." Though there are Christians who've been set free from their habitual sins, oftentimes those Christians don't know who to look for in a godly partner. You definitely want to find somebody that has that fruit of the Spirit; they're gentleness, kindness. Theyre filled with joy. They know who they are in Christ. Theyre faithful. They have good character, Brittni continued. Some people will say, 'How do I even know?' Even people who are battling with a lot of things privately, they can pretend to be a great person publicly, but maybe internally theyre full of pride or whatever it may be. Well, time will always tell." God does give us the gift of discernment," she added. "Its never for you to judge people when you have discernment. Its for you to give them grace, but also to pray over them. But you want to make sure that they have the fruit of the Spirit. Its important that couples dont rush toward marriage because it takes time to develop a godly romantic relationship, Richard added, echoing his wife's comment about how "time will tell." "Because time is literally our greatest asset," he continued. "Time is our friend. What Ive seen when people just jump right into relationships. but have only been with the person for two months, Richard shared as an example. Ive also known a plethora of people [where] that has not worked out. I mean, their marriages are in shambles. Why? Because you didnt allow time to unveil who that person is." Brittni stressed that "even when you get married, there might have been things you were hiding" that are revealed well into the marriage. For Christians in romantic relationships, the De La Moras warned that it is crucial to "be patient when it comes to the dating process. Get to know that person. And this is where you ask significant questions. I believe the greatest leaders and the greatest relationships are those who ask questions, Richard said. As an example, he referenced the biblical figure David who wanted to fight Goliath and asked King Saul various questions about the challenge. I love it. Heres this guy thats asking a plethora of questions. Thats good. I really believe that we should ask a lot of questions, Richard said, explaining that when he and Brittni were dating, he asked several questions, including ones about her finances and credit score. He also made sure they remained in the dating stage until they got to know each other better. Communication, they added, is the key to every relationship. Richard also felt it was important to inquire about Brittnis "sexual history." How many people do we know that cant deal with peoples sexual history? They get jealous," said Richard. "So many people have talked to me, saying, I dont know how you do it. And I say, because God gave me the grace and thats my wife, not yours." "I truly believe that I have the grace to be with you," he said to his wife. Listen to "Let's Talk Purity" and many other shows on the edifi Christian podcast app. Archie Battersbee to be taken off life support Saturday after family loses appeal for hospice care UPDATED AUG. 6 at 10:20 AM ET: Archie Battersbee died on Saturday afternoon local time sometime after he was taken off the ventilator that was sustaining his life. On Friday, his parents had exhausted all legal options in their fight to keep him alive or moved to a hospice. Original report: Archie Battersbees life support will be withdrawn Saturday after the High Court ruled Friday that the boys parents cannot move their son to a hospice center. Justice Lucy Theis denied the request of Archie Battersbees parents to move their son from the hospital to a hospice in the latest setback in their effort to keep their preteen son on a ventilator for life support. The Telegraph reports that Archies ventilator will be withdrawn at around 10 a.m. local time Saturday. In her ruling, Theis decided that transporting Archie from the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel to a hospice would be against his best interests. Archie, aged 12, has been hospitalized on life support at Royal London Hospital since his mother found him unconscious with a ligature around his neck at her home in Essex in April. According to doctors, he has remained unconscious throughout his hospitalization. After Archies parents were denied permission to appeal the High Courts decision by the Court of Appeal they applied to the European Court of Human Rights on Friday. However, the ECHR said it would not intervene in the case. The childs mother, Hollie Dance, believes her sons condition was the result of a TikTok challenge gone wrong. Since June, the parents have been engaged in a legal battle with the hospital against removing Archie's ventilator after doctors diagnosed him as brain-stem dead. Archies parents insist that their son is not brain-dead. Dance elaborated on her belief in a video released by the Christian Legal Centre, which is representing the parents in litigation. Hes held my hand. Ive got video of him gripping two fingers, she said. On Thursday, Battersbees parents asked the High Court to allow them to move their son from Royal London Hospital into a hospice so he could receive palliative oxygen, which would help him breathe if or when his life support is removed. If Archie is denied oxygen if and when life-support is removed I will continue to give him oxygen, Dance said in a statement to Christian Concern. If they refuse permission for us to take him to a hospice and for him to receive palliative oxygen it will simply be inhumane and nothing about Archies dignity. In an interview with Times Radio on Thursday, Dance said she wanted Archie to spend his last moments with his family in private away from the hospital. "We cant even have the chance to be in a room together as a family without nurses, she told Times Radio. Theres absolutely no privacy, which is why, again, the courts keep going on about this dignified death why arent we allowed to take our child to a hospice and spend his last moments, his last days together privately? Why is the hospital obstructing it? In addition to pushing back on the doctors' belief that her son is brain-dead, Dance has maintained that When he is to die, we believe it should be in Gods way and in Gods time. Highlighting Dances belief that the whole system has been stacked against us, Christian Concern said, the family have had offers from doctors in Japan and Italy to treat Archie and are considering those options. Dance has indicated that we will fight to end for Archies right to live. The legal battle between doctors and the parents began after a judge on the Family Division of the High Court gave Royal London Hospital permission to remove his life support. Archies parents appealed the ruling, only for a different judge on the Family Division to once again determine that removing the ventilator was in the childs best interest. When the Court of Appeal denied their request to appeal the ruling, Archies parents took their case all the way to the U.K. Supreme Court as well as the ECHR. In both cases, the courts sided with the doctors over the parents. In the interim, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities issued an injunction stating that the British government must keep Archie on life support while the Committee reviewed the parents allegation that withdrawing ventilation would constitute violations of Articles 10 and 12 of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of People With Disabilities and Article 6 of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Children. Article 10 of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of People With Disabilities declares: States Parties reaffirm that every human being has the inherent right to life and shall take all necessary measures to ensure its effective enjoyment by persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others. According to Article 12, persons with disabilities have the right to recognition everywhere as persons before the law. Article 6 of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Children states that States Parties recognize that every child has the inherent right to life and that States Parties shall ensure to the maximum extent possible the survival and development of the child. For its part, the U.K. government has maintained that the U.N. injunction was not binding. Archies case has garnered international attention. A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING the child and his family may need, including medical fees, rehabilitation, second opinions, legal advice, [and] home renovations to cope for Archies medical needs has raised over $41,600 (34,550). Youth advocacy group denounces gov't plan to cut abstinence-only sex education An organization that teaches youth to avoid unsafe sexual behaviors has denounced a recent decision to eliminate federal funding for abstinence-only sex education programs. Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee announced the release of the proposed Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2023. The proposed appropriations act eliminates funding for Sexual Risk Avoidance education (SRA), which promotes abstinence until marriage, for the 2023 fiscal year. The explanatory statement summarizing the budget argues that SRA is ineffective and withholds pertinent information about sexual health from teenagers. Mary Anne Mosack, president and CEO of Ascend, an organization that advocates for SRA training to help youth form healthy relationships, argues that the program should be funded. In a Monday statement to The Christian Post, Mosack said parents should be given a choice regarding their childs sex education. Teaching clarity over confusion in a culture of sexual accommodation demands that we are clear, intentional and sufficiently loud enough for youth to hear over the noise of chaotic, disoriented messages about sex, relationships and marriage, she said. How adolescents learn and process this important part of their natural development is key to their healthy decision-making skills. Mosack contended that adolescents need to know the biological facts concerning puberty, reproduction and disease transmission and that youth should understand the benefits of delaying sex until marriage. They need to know the red flags of sexual coercion and dating violence, the SRA proponent said. They need to know the risks of teen sex, not just to physical health but to mental, emotional and spiritual and ethical health. SRAs holistic approach puts sex education into a context that goes beyond the mere mechanics of sex to the development of protective factors that help move adolescents along a positive continuum as they journey toward adulthood." Mosack added that sex education is about more than just not getting pregnant or contracting an STD" and that students "need to hear the message that sex is always about more than sex. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions national Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which was released in 2016, reported that about 41.2% of high school students in the U.S. admitted to having sexual intercourse, a decrease of 5.6% compared to its 2013 survey. Despite former President Barack Obamas administration funding Comprehensive Sex Education programs over SRA, the CDC report found an increase from 2009-2015 in the number of sexually active students who did not use contraceptives during sexual intercourse. "Policy makers must place an emphasis on SRA education, rather than an approach that normalizes teen sex," Valerie Huber, then-CEO of Ascend, told The Christian Post in 2016 in response to the CDC report. "Parents should be encouraged to set the high expectation that their children reserve sex for marriage. School sex education classes should reinforce the healthy behaviors being made by more and more teens. And churches, local agencies and every other entity that has an influence over America's youth should rethink the message they are sending to teens about sex. Are these messages normalizing teen sex or normalizing waiting?" "If youth can make increasingly healthy decisions about sex without the reinforcement and support of adults and mentoring organizations, think of what it might look like if those influencers stepped up to the plate and promoted the healthiest choices for teens and their sexual health?" Huber continued. Comedian Jo Koy talks lasting impact of the Church: 'My most memorable times' For comedian Jo Koy, attending church is inextricably intertwined with his childhood memories; it was the place where he, along with his large Filipino family, gathered, worshiped and fellowshipped at least once a week. "When my mom came to this country, it was in the late 60s, so there was no Instagram, there was no Facebook, there was no TikTok to find her community; she moved to this country basically blind," the 51-year-old comic told The Christian Post. "She had to find other Filipinos to associate with, and she had to find her community and build it herself. And the way she did that was through church." Growing up, Koy said that his family was in church "every Sunday." "One, because of [my mother's] faith, and then two, because she really wanted to see other Filipinos, and that's where she met them," he said. "Like she would literally be at church just looking around. I clearly remember my mom: 'I'm just going to walk up to her and start a conversation.' Next, we've got this full-on Filipino community. My most memorable times were the friends that my mom met through church." So decades later, when concocting a film based on his life experiences, stand-up comedy and family, it made sense for it to be centered around Christianity's most notable holiday: Easter Sunday. "It's the most memorable holiday that I can think of, especially bring the whole family together. It was always Easter Sunday for me," Koy said. Hitting theaters Friday, "Easter Sunday" tells the story of a family gathering for Easter and the chaos that inevitably surrounds the holiday get-togethers. Loosely based on Koy's life, the cast includes Lou Diamond Phillips, Eva Noblezada, Tia Carrere and comedian Joey Guila. The holiday comedy takes a lighthearted look at complicated family dynamics while highlighting the beauty of community and sacrifice. For Koy, the movie is, in many ways, a love letter to his culture. The Steven Spielberg-produced project features an all-Filipino cast, a first for Hollywood. "I know for a fact that this movie is going to get our message across. We finally have a voice," Koy said. "It's going to also uplift and give a sense of pride to a lot of Filipinos out there that don't feel like they're being heard." A film highlight is Lydia Gaston, who plays the comedian's longsuffering mother. The actress, who grew up in the Philippines, also reflected on how deeply religion is engrained in the Filipino culture. It's not just a weekly practice it's a way of life. "I think when you go to the churches where there are a lot of Filipinos here in the states, it really recreates what I grew up with in the Philippines. ... It's almost exactly the same. Filipinos recreate what they miss back in the states, so it's very important to the Filipino community," she said. Despite its name, "Easter Sunday" is not a faith-based or family-friendly film. It's rated PG-13 for some strong language, including the Lord's name in vain, and suggestive references. Viewers will want to proceed with caution. But rife with deeper themes, "Easter Sunday" reminds viewers how family and relationships are worth holding onto and fighting for, even when challenging. A mother herself, Gaston said she hopes the movie reminds mothers, in particular, that they can relinquish some of the worries that often come along with parenting. "I would like moms to trust that their upbringing of their children was good. We, as parents, doubt ourselves so much: Did I do this right? Is it my fault? Did I make my daughter paranoid by always worrying about things? But they're really going to be fine because you were a good parent. You did your best. And it was good enough." And Koy, who sees his comedy as a way to bring joy to an increasingly stressed-out and divided culture, hopes the film provides a little bit of humor and reprieve to audiences. "We just wanted everyone to just laugh with us," he said. "We're going to show the world that we're all relatable no matter what race, religion you are. Family is a family; a mom's a mom, a son's a son. And that's what this movie is to me, and I know that's what it's going to do." Lakewood Church returns to in-person worship after 7 months Lakewood Church in Texas reopened its doors for its first in-person worship service on Sunday since the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions began in March. An emotional Pastor Joel Osteen spoke about reigning over problems to more than 4,000 people. About a month ago, or a few weeks ago, I felt like God put in my spirit it was time to come back, said the pastor of the Houston megachurch, which held the indoor service at 25% capacity. Attendees were required to wear masks at all times and follow social distancing. Weve never been closed; the building was closed but can I tell you these last months, we have had our greatest outreach of ministry in 61 years, Osteen told the congregation, sharing that 12 million people watched the service online during Easter weekend. God has raised up Lakewood for this time. Hey, when does the world need hope any more than now? During his sermon, Osteen said, "We were not created to go through life overcome by problems, struggling to make it in mediocrity God created us to reign, to be the victor, not the victim. We can reign over all our problems, he added. "Things that have been reigning over you, the loneliness, the guilt, the bad breaks, there's about to be a turnaround. It's your time to reign." He later added, "You don't have to be perfect. We've all made mistakes. It's not so much about your performance. It's about your heart. Keep God first place. Do the right thing when it's hard. Say no to things that are pulling you down ... God is saying to you what He's saying to Joash (2 Chronicles 23), 'It's time for the King's children to reign.'" Calling on the congregation to be believers, not doubters, he stressed, "God's brought us this far ... He's going to continue to protect you, give you wisdom ... Let's watch God do what He's famous for shutting mouths of lions, parting Red Seas, and bringing us through pandemics." Since the onset of the pandemic, Lakewood had been holding services online. Osteen told the congregation that it had been tough preaching to an empty hall during the pandemic. The last time the church held an in-person service was in March. After the service, Osteen told ABC13 that he didnt want to pressure people to come because some, especially older people, still need to be careful. I was so excited to walk in the building and see all the people that came you feel enthusiasm and passion, theres faith. Theres nothing like a building filled with faith-filled people It felt overwhelming, it felt emotional couldnt see their faces, but to feel the warmth, the excitement, the applause, people wanting to worship , he said. It was like meeting a family member after a long time, he added. Before reopening, the church had announced in a statement, For the past six months we have been consulting with medical experts here in Houston and adhering to the guidelines set by the Texas Governor and the Houston Mayor, and feel that it is the appropriate time to begin reopening the church for in-person worship services. According to the Barna Group, more than half of pastors have now resumed in-person worship services, many with precautions in place. Some megachurches have chosen to remain closed during the pandemic, including North Point Community Church in Georgia, Saddleback Church in California and The Potter's House in Texas. Georgia approves tax break for parents of unborn babies 'with a detectable human heartbeat' Expectant parents in Georgia can now apply for a tax break for an unborn child or children following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade allowing state law banning abortion as early as six weeks of gestation to go into effect. In guidance Monday by the Georgia Department of Revenue, the state will recognize "any unborn child with a detectable human heartbeat as eligible for the Georgia individual income tax dependent exemption." Taxpayers with any unborn child or children between July 20 and Dec. 31 can claim exemptions of $3,000 for their 2022 individual income tax returns, according to the state. The guidance states that any taxpayer claiming the deduction might be asked to provide an "income tax return, relevant medical records or other supporting documentation" to substantiate the claim. The state plans to issue additional instructions on how to claim the personal exemption later this year. The guidance follows the June Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide, and a subsequent July ruling by the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Sistersong v. Kemp in July, which allowed the state's 2019 ban on abortions after six weeks to take effect immediately. The 2019 law, House Bill 481, recognizes "unborn children as natural persons." Lauren Groh-Wargo, the campaign manager for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, questioned the guidance. "So what happens when you claim your fetus as a dependent and then miscarry later in the pregnancy, you get investigated both for tax fraud and an illegal abortion?" she tweeted. Following the 11th Circuit's ruling, the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood released a joint statement calling the ruling "highly unorthodox" and "horrific." "This is a highly unorthodox action that will immediately push essential abortion care out of reach for patients beyond the earliest stages of pregnancy. Across the state, providers are now being forced to turn away patients who thought they would be able to access abortion, immediately changing the course of their lives and futures," the statement read. "This is horrific. We'll continue doing everything in our power to fight for abortion access in Georgia in the face of these harmful attacks on people's ability to control if and when to have a child." On the other hand, Georgia Right to Life issued a statement on Facebook describing the ruling as "wonderful news, no matter how you slice it." The pro-life organization explained that "our offices are rejoicing over all the lives that are being saved, even today!" "Yesterday, children in the womb were in grave danger today, children in the womb are in significantly less danger! This is to be celebrated!" Georgia Right to Life wrote. In 2019, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed into law The Living Infants Fairness and Equality Act, a ban on abortions in Georgia upon detecting a fetal heartbeat. "Georgia is a state that values life," Kemp said as he approved the measure. "We protect the innocent. We champion the vulnerable, we stand up and speak for those that are unable to speak for themselves." Following the Dobbs ruling, several states have enacted policies that ban abortion under most circumstances. The Biden administration has taken efforts to help secure abortion access. Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice launched a "Reproductive Rights Task Force" chaired by Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta to monitor state and local laws restricting abortion. President Joe Biden also signed an executive order to "protect and expand access to abortion" in response to abortion bans in several states. In an executive order released July 8, Biden said his administration was "taking action to protect healthcare service delivery and promote access to critical reproductive healthcare services, including abortion." "It remains the policy of my Administration to support women's right to choose and to protect and defend reproductive rights. Doing so is essential to justice, equality, and our health, safety, and progress as a Nation," the president stated in the order. Biden ordered the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to give him a report within 30 days outlining strategies to "protect and expand access to abortion care, including medication abortion." Riding the waves of the Holy Spirit Kelly Slater is widely regarded as the greatest professional surfer of all time, having been crowned World Surf League champion a record 11 times. Slater said, Your surfing can get better on every turn, on every wave you catch. Learn to read the ocean better. A big part of my success has been wave knowledge. Something similar occurs in the spiritual realm as well, where wave knowledge is crucial. While most Christians will never ride a surfboard in the ocean, millions of believers engage in spiritual surfing every day as we ride the waves of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him (John 7:38). The Day of Pentecost produced a spiritual tsunami 2000 years ago and Acts 2:4 tells us that all of those in attendance were filled with the Holy Spirit. This caused Christianity to surge onto the scene. Here are 3 important reasons to ride the spiritual waves God sends your way: 1. Ride the waves to be saved, redeemed, justified, born again, and forgiven. No one can say, Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit (John 3:7). God saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:5-6). No one enters Gods family without riding the waves of the Holy Spirit. Repentance and faith in Jesus are produced by the Holy Spirit working through the Word. Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). 2. Ride the waves to be sanctified in your Christian life. New Christians quickly discover that sin and temptation remain an ever-present danger. While a believer's justification is complete at conversion, sanctification is a lifelong process of growing more consistent in holy living. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age (Titus 2:11,12). As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy. (1 Peter 1:14,15) The third Person of the Trinity is not called The Above-Average Spirit. The Holy Spirit is absolutely perfect in every way! When believers are riding the waves of the Holy Spirit, we are being sanctified and becoming more Christlike in our attitudes, words, and behavior. Any true holiness within a believer is Gods work in us as we ride the waves he provides (Philippians 2:13). One of the many blessings of sanctification is the fruit God produces in our life. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22,23). Our hearts and minds need the Word of God every day. In the midst of our daily spiritual battles, the Bible is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:17). The Holy Spirit works through his Word to keep us strong in the Lord and in his mighty power (Ephesians 6:10). Persistence in prayer is another essential aspect of a Spirit-filled life. Believers are instructed to: pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ephesians 6:18). The Holy Spirit directs and empowers our prayer life. We do not know what we ought to pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26). Gods Word declares: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you (Ephesians 4:30-32) Whenever we grieve the Holy Spirit through our thoughts, words, or actions, the peace and power of God are greatly diminished in our hearts and minds. 3. Ride the waves to be empowered to witness for Jesus. Pentecost empowered the disciples to spread the Gospel. Jesus said, You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Peter denied the Lord three times. (Luke 22:54-62) Those denials of course took place prior to Pentecost. After being filled with the Holy Spirit, it was a completely different story as Peter began riding the waves of the Holy Spirit. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus (Acts 4:13). Peter and John said, For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:20). Riding the waves of the Holy Spirit makes you courageous and loving in your witness for Jesus. We are unable to produce these waves, but we can sure ride them to the glory of God! A wonderful promise in Luke 11 inspires believers to continually ask God for more waves. Jesus said, If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13) This simple prayer may help: Father in Heaven. Please empty me of anything that is grieving the Holy Spirit. Wash me with the precious blood of Jesus, and fill me with the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name. Amen." (You might also be interested in this CP op-ed I wrote 10 years ago: How to Be a Spirit-Filled Christian.) COLOMBO, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka on Friday appointed a committee to select suitable companies to import, distribute and sell petroleum products in the country, said a minister on Saturday. Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera said that they want multiple companies to engage in the petroleum industry in Sri Lanka. Currently, the only two players in Sri Lanka's market are Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Lanka IOC. In June 2022, Sri Lanka's cabinet gave the green light to allow companies from oil-producing nations to import and sell fuel to the Sri Lankan market. Sri Lanka took this step following fuel shortages that have greatly affected its economy. Kids executed, raped as Haitian gang wars intensify, United Nations warns Church set on fire as gang tried to kill opponents The United Nations has warned that innocent women and children have been executed and raped as gang wars have intensified in and around the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, stating that children as young as 1 year old have had their bodies burned. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti said in a report this week a fight between two gang coalitions killed at least 94 residents, wounded over 120 and led to the disappearance of of 12 others between April 24 and May 16. Nearly 16,000 people fled their homes to take refuge in make-shift sites or in relatives' homes. "Armed with assault rifles, but also with machetes and gas cans, gangs spared no one," the report states. "Women and children as young as one year old, were executed and their bodies burned. Young teenagers, accused of spying for the opposite side, were shot in public spaces. Rape against women and girls, some of whom were less than 10 years old, was used as a weapon to terrorize and take revenge on the local populations living in neighborhoods controlled by rival gangs." The criminal groups said to be responsible for the acts are known as "Chen Mechan" and "400 Mawozo," with the support of their respective allies the "G9 in Family and Allies." According to the U.N. Integrated Office for Haiti, coalitions between gangs are not new in Port-au-Prince and became a prominent issue during President Jovenel Moise's administration. The increased gang fighting has made it dangerous for vulnerable local communities to live in the unstable Caribbean country. "This recent outbreak of armed violence in Cite Soleil, Croix- des-Bouquets and Tabarre shows that they persist and have even intensified with the probable implication of political and economic actors already involved back then," the report reads. Last Wednesday, communities in downtown Port-au-Prince witnessed heavy gunfire as suspected members of the G9 gang coalition set a transitional church on fire and tried to kill their opponents in an attempt to gain control over more territory from rival gangs, The Associated Press reports. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated in an alert last month that 934 were killed, 684 injured and 680 kidnapped across the capital from January to the end of June. Over the five days from July 8 to July 12, at least 234 people were killed or injured in gang-related violence in the Cite Soleil area, according to OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence. Laurence urged the authorities in Haiti to ensure fundamental rights are protected and "placed at the front and center of their responses to the crisis." "The fight against impunity and sexual violence, along with the strengthening of human rights monitoring and reporting, must remain a priority," Laurence said. "Most of the victims were not directly involved in gangs and were directly targeted by gang elements. We have also received new reports of sexual violence." Gangs have grown more powerful since the July 7, 2021, assassination of President Moise, as Haiti is struggling in its social and political aftermath. The country is yet to recover from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people last August. Last year, the U.S. State Department urged Americans to "depart Haiti now." "The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to make plans to depart Haiti now via commercial means. U.S. citizens should carefully consider the risks of traveling to or remaining in Haiti in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges," a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Haiti said at the time. Last December, the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries announced that all the 17 missionaries who were kidnapped by the notorious 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti had been released. DALLAS Irving-based family entertainment chain Chuck E. Cheese is developing a new approach to cultural sensitivity after a mascot in New Jersey ignored a Black child at one of the franchises locations. On July 30, Natyana Muhammad visited the companys Wayne, New Jersey, restaurant with her 2-year-old. As the mouse mascot was approaching a group of children, he high-fived multiple white children, but ignored Muhammads little girl. Muhammad took to Twitter to tell her story. The tweet has over 82,000 likes. On July 30 at Chuck E Cheese in Wayne, NJ, my 2yo was racially discriminated against, her tweet said. As you can see, he gives all of the yt kids hi-5s & PURPOSELY ignored my black baby. When confronted, he ignored me as well. The manager, Angie Valasquez, made excuses for him. David McKillips, Chuck E. Cheeses president and CEO, and senior leadership will visit the Wayne location to discuss the incident, the stores performance and the companys plans for improving experiences for guests, the company said Friday. Kanarys, a Dallas-based diversity startup and the franchises partner since 2021, will lead employee engagement sessions next week and work with the company on culture and sensitivity training. First on the companys list will be implementing training at the Wayne location and surrounding locations, then it will expand out to all of the U.S. locations. We are grateful for the opportunity to improve our experience in every aspect of our business and welcome guests to continue to provide feedback to better inform our processes, the company said in announcing the training. As always, our mission is to provide a fun and safe place where families can make life-long memories and to ensure that every guest leaves happy, each and every day. Just last week, a Maryland family sued a Sesame Street theme park in Pennsylvania for $25 million alleging that multiple characters at the park ignored their 5-year-old Black daughter and other Black guests, the Guardian reported. Oil and gas operators tapped the brakes on drilling activity, sending the rig count lower during the first week of August. Oilfield services firm Baker Hughes said Friday its US rig count which it has released weekly since the 1940s fell by three to 764. Still, the rig count is 273 rigs or 56 percent above the 491 counted at this time last year. The number of rigs drilling for crude slumped by seven to 598, the sharpest decline since last September and the first decline in 10 weeks. The count is 211 rigs higher than the 387 reported last year. The number of rigs seeking natural gas rose by four to 161, the highest tally since August 2019. Texas inched up two rigs for 373 at work statewide 144 more than the 229 reported last year. New Mexico sank by six rigs to 104. Colorado (2), North Dakota (1) and Wyoming (1) were the other producing states to see higher drilling activity while Louisiana (3) joined New Mexico in seeing a decline. Activity weakened in the Permian Basin, where the rig count fell by four to 347, still 104 more rigs than the 243 at work within the region last year. Declines were led by New Mexico, whose counties showed the biggest drops during the week. Lea County, New Mexico, remains the most active county in the Permian Basin with 55 rigs, down three for the week. Eddy County, New Mexico, was second with 46 rigs, also down three for the week. Midland County follows with 39 rigs, down one. Next is Loving County, which added two rigs for 29. Reeves County reported 28 rigs for a second week, and Martin County reported 27 rigs, down one for the week. Howard County remained at 23 rigs for a second week. Ward County saw 14 rigs at work within county lines, up two and Upton County was at 13 rigs for a fourth week. Andrews County reported 10 rigs for the week. Enverus Foundation, part of the energy-focused Software as a Service firm Enverus, said its US rig count dropped by 10 to 825 as of Aug. 3. Its count is down 1% in the last month, but up 47% year over year. Activity reached as high as 842 rigs during the week, seven rigs higher than the prior weeks peak. During July, the count averaged 829 rigs, which is up 15 rigs from the June average. The monthly average has increased every month since August 2020, with 2022 thus far averaging monthly increases of 22 rigs. On a peak-to-peak basis, the Permian added seven rigs last week. The regions total of 316 is a return to the 2022 high last hit in May. The Anadarko Basin added three rigs to reach a weekly peak of 74, while the Williston Basin was up by one at 43 and Appalachia was down one rig at 56. Weekly peak activity in the DJ Basin and Gulf Coast were flat at 22 and 116. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate In Tuesdays primary election, Republican incumbent Cindy Harrison and Republican Jason Buchsbaum will face off to become the GOP candidate for the 69th District state House seat. No Democrats have filed to run for the seat, which includes the towns of Roxbury, New Milford, Bridgewater and Southbury. Harrison, a Newtown native, said she believes the two critical problems facing residents are Connecticuts economy and public safety. She said she is a major supporter of law enforcement and has voted against any criminal justice reform bills. Shes a certified public accountant and wife of a retired police officer. Harrison was appointed to serve on the legislatures Appropriations Committee, Environment Committee and Transportation Committee for the 2021-22 session by House Republican leader Vincent Candelora. Harrison and her husband, Bob, own and operate Breezy Knoll Farm in Southbury. The farm has been in the family for five generation and they breed and raise registered polled herefords. Buchsbaum, who is a Southbury selectman and partner at the law firm Cohen and Wolf, P.C., said he believes a representative should be present and engaged with the community and be an effective communicator. Additionally, he said hes an advocate for transparency and collaboration. Buchsbaum is serving his fourth term as a member of the Board of Selectmen in Southbury and was recently appointed the chairman pro tempore of the board. He also serves as a member of the ARPA Task Force and the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and as liaison to the Emergency Medical Services Committee and the Library Board. Buchsbaum previously served as vice chairman of the 2013-14 Charter Revision Commission, and vice chairman of the Southbury Republican Town Committee from 2012-2015. Before moving to Southbury in 2009, he served as an elected member of the Seymour Board of Education. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) A Poland-registered bus carrying pilgrims to a shrine in Bosnia skidded from a highway in northern Croatia early Saturday, killing at least 12 people and injuring several others, police and officials said. Croatian police said on Twitter that in the skidding of a bus with Polish license plates, according to initial information from the field, 11 people died and several were injured." Officials said one more passenger died later in a hospital and that the bus was carrying 43 people. Croatias state HRT television reported that about 30 people were injured, many seriously. It said the most likely cause of the crash was the driver falling asleep. The broadcaster showed video of a smashed blue bus in a ditch next to the highway. The bus was traveling in the direction of Zagreb, Croatia's capital. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the bus was taking pilgrims to the Catholic shrine in Medjugorje, a town in southern Bosnia. The shrine is Europes third-most popular pilgrimage destination after Lourdes and Fatima, although the Vatican has not verified any of the reported miracles that witnesses claimed to have seen there. This morning, I spoke about the details of the tragedy with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who assured the full support of Croatian medical services," Morawiecki said on Facebook. "I recommended our consular services to organize a support organization for the families of accident participants." Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinic said the bus originated from a place near Warsaw" and that according to some information," it was carrying pilgrims to Medjugorje. The accident happened at 5:40 a.m. local time (3:40 a.m. GMT) some 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Zagreb, on the A-4 highway, which is busy during the peak of the tourist season. Rescue teams were sent to the location of the accident that an investigation what caused the accident was ongoing, Croatian media reported. BOGOTA, Colombia - The boy had been in the child-welfare system for nearly two years, and his court-appointed guardian was running out of options. Brought to Bogota by his Venezuelan mother and abandoned, the brown-haired child had spent more time in the custody of Colombia's Institute for Family Welfare than the law here allows. Agency officials had told the country's highest court that they had done all they could to find the mother and had come up empty. Nor could they locate relatives in Venezuela to care for him. Now the boy's guardian ad litem was asking the court to make him a citizen - a first step toward putting him up for adoption. But in the boy's Venezuelan hometown, members of his extended family - an aunt, a great-grandmother and a cousin who watched him when he was an infant - say they were never contacted by Colombian government officials. None knew about the court case. The boy, now 6, is one of about 1,200 Venezuelan children trapped in a child-welfare system that has proved unwilling or unable to find their families, under a government that has no diplomatic relations with their own. Colombia has now settled on what it sees as a solution: It wants to begin making these children eligible for adoption. With a judge's approval, about 235 children in similar circumstances could be placed permanently with new families. But a Washington Post investigation calls the government's claims into question. Officials told the constitutional court that they had exhausted all means of finding relatives who could care for the boy. Judge Jorge Enrique Ibanez Najar agreed, writing that "the maternal family has no interest in being contacted or taking care of the child." It took Post reporters using Facebook less than a week to identify and contact the boy's relatives in Venezuela and also his mother in Bogota. All said they wanted the child back. - - - In January 2019, officials of Venezuela's Foreign Ministry traveled to Colombia with plane and bus tickets for 12 children. The 12 were part of a longer list of Venezuelan children in Colombia's child-welfare system who had been identified by authorities in 2017 and 2018, according to documents reviewed by The Post. Colombian and Venezuelan authorities had given the green light for the 12 children to return to their home country, with some going to their families and others to foster homes or government-run care centers. But during the Venezuelan officials' trip, Colombian authorities stopped responding to calls, according to people with knowledge of the mission, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. After three days, the Venezuelan diplomats returned home without the children. Colombian authorities said they had decided not to repatriate them to Venezuela in part because they could not guarantee that they would be safe in facilities run by the crumbling socialist state. Venezuelan officials said the decision was made without their knowledge or input. They accused Colombia of using the children as pawns in the political conflict between the neighboring governments. Some of the 12 stayed in Colombia's child-welfare system until they aged out. In at least one case, a parent traveled to Colombia to look for the child. Others are still in the system. A month after the failed mission, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro cut diplomatic relations with Colombia. The immediate cause was Colombia's refusal to recognize Maduro's reelection in a 2018 vote widely viewed as fraudulent. Colombia, like the United States, recognized National Assembly President Juan Guaido as the country's legitimate leader. But the move followed years of antagonism between socialist Venezuela and Colombia, led by the conservative President Ivan Duque. Yet, with Venezuela's economy in free fall, its citizens continued to pour into Colombia, home to nearly 2 million such migrants, and their children continued to flood the child-welfare system. The Guaido-led opposition, recognized by Colombia, the United States and others as Venezuela's rightful government, had no access to state resources to aid in the search for their families. "Behind all of this is a complicated diplomatic and political issue," said Felipe Cortes, a former coordinator for migrant children in the Colombian child-welfare agency who now works with Save the Children. "Venezuela could say we are kidnapping their children. But if we return them, we could also be accused internationally for not looking out for the conditions of those children." In 2019, the Colombian government asked the International Committee of the Red Cross to help reunite Venezuelan children with their families. But the organization has made little progress. It says it has established contact with the families of 64 children and has reunified five. The ICRC searches for relatives by activating "a network of family ties," using state databases and checking with churches, community leaders and others who might have clues, said Rafael Barrantes, a deputy protection coordinator for separated or missing persons in Colombia. The success of a search can depend on the information a child can provide about his or her family. Scores of Venezuelan children have stayed in the child-welfare system longer than allowed by Colombian law, putting pressure on the agency's overburdened workers, according to interviews with advocates and current and former local officials. Guardians ad litem, lawyers with the welfare agency who represent the interests of children in court, are obligated to close cases within 18 months. This has caused some government officials and employees to take matters into their own hands, tracking down families on Facebook - even though they're prohibited from using social media in government offices. Some told The Post they have personally walked children across a bridge over the Venezuela border to meet their relatives. Other guardians are so disheartened that they are opting not to admit Venezuelan teenagers into the child-welfare system, advocates said, instead allowing them to continue living in Colombia on their own. Lina Maria Arbelaez Arbelaez, the director general of the Colombian Institute for Family Welfare, said her agency has increased investment in Venezuelan children. It has recently launched a webpage called "Do you know me?" that features their photos. "Let me ask you a question," she said. "If we return those children, knowing the conditions Venezuela is in, who will guarantee the well-being of that child? . . . International conventions tell us that whenever there is a gap, or a risk, do not return that child." Colombian President-elect Gustavo Petro, who is to be inaugurated Sunday, has taken steps to reestablish relations with Venezuela. Advocates say this could help in the search for children's families across the border. The Duque administration, for its part, advanced a bill in Congress that would grant Colombian citizenship to migrant children in the welfare agency. An agency spokesman said lawmakers did not intend to put the children up for adoption. But analysts warned that granting them citizenship could open the door to that possibility. The bill has since failed. But Cortes, the former child-welfare official, said the citizenship plan had shown the administration's urgent desire to "fast-track" a way out rather than address the root issue. "The underlying problem," he said, "is how do you find these families in Venezuela?" - - - When the boy was born, his mother was herself a child. Pregnant at 16 by a neighbor more than a decade older, she relied on her mother to raise her baby. But four months after his birth, her mother died in a car accident. Her death in 2016 hit the family just as Venezuela's economic crisis was spiraling out of control. The young woman decided to join the throngs crossing the border into Colombia. She found occasional work in the nightclubs of Bogota but often didn't make enough to pay her daily rent, said the woman, who spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. It was no life for a child, she said, so the baby often stayed with his father, who lived briefly in Colombia. Then the mother became pregnant again. In late 2019, she left the boy, then 3, with a friend, Sorleidys Alcala, while she worked at a bar and saved up money for rent. A month and a half later, Alcala said, the mother had sent no money and stopped answering her phone calls and messages. The bar staff told Alcala that the woman hadn't shown up for work in weeks. A social worker urged Alcala to give the child to authorities. On a morning in November 2019, Alcala carried him to an office in Bogota and watched as a small white van took him away. "I wanted to help you more," she wrote in a Facebook post with a photo of the boy, a last-ditch effort to reach his mother. "But it was out of my hands." The post worked. Across town, a friend showed it to the mother, letting her know her son had been handed over to Colombia's child-welfare system. It was her 20th birthday. Her daughter later entered the system as well. If she wanted the boy back, a child-welfare worker told her, she would need a relative to come to Colombia to prove she would have a support system to help her care for the child in the country, the mother said. She called an aunt in Venezuela, Neyda Josefina Guanipa, and asked her to meet her in Colombia for an appointment with the agency. But the aunt never made it. After Guanipa took a bus to the Colombian border, her niece stopped answering her calls, and she never sent the money she had promised to pay for the trip, the aunt said. Guanipa returned to Venezuela, devastated. The mother did not return to the child-welfare agency, and Guanipa says she has not heard from her since. "Nothing will be in my favor. I don't have family here. I live in a place that's not apt for a child," explained the boy's mother, now 22, tears running down her face. "In that moment, I thought maybe it would be better for him." The boy's father said that he tried once to visit a child-welfare office in Bogota but that his name was not on his son's birth certificate and he was unable to find information about the case. Then the pandemic hit. - - - The boy had spent nearly two years living with a foster family and in a group home when his case reached the constitutional court. His court-appointed guardian told the judge the lack of diplomatic relations between Colombia and Venezuela made it "impossible" to reunite the boy with his family. The guardian had filed a lawsuit asking for the boy to be granted Colombian citizenship. Colombia's Foreign Ministry said it asked the Guaido-led opposition, which occupies the Venezuelan Embassy in Bogota, for assistance tracking down the child's family. The ministry said the opposition never responded. Reached by The Post, the legal adviser to the embassy, Zair Mundarain, did not confirm that it had received an official request from the Colombian Foreign Ministry. The constitutional court in July gave the child-welfare agency three months to exhaust all resources to find the family. Otherwise, it said, the boy could be placed in the adoption system. But officials in Colombia and around the world have struggled to define what it means to exhaust all resources - and to decide whether the burden of reunifying families should fall on the child's family or on the government. Jose Angel Rodriguez Reyes, a member of the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child, said adoption should be considered a last resort, for "when it is known with a significant level of certainty that, in fact, the child does not have relatives." This is especially true when there are political barriers to identifying families, he said, such as in Colombia and Venezuela. "As long as these difficulties are not overcome, I believe that adoption may not be adequate," he said. One advocate with knowledge of the constitutional court case, who spoke to The Post on the condition of anonymity to comment on a sensitive issue, argued that parents or other relatives should be responsible for looking for a family's children. "The question is, what did that family do all year? Why didn't they show up? Why weren't they looking out for the child? Why didn't they call [the child-welfare agency] to ask?" the advocate said. "There is no mother, no father that wouldn't cross an ocean, even with no money, to find their child." Ibanez Najar, the judge, wrote that "the behavior of the mother, and even the grandmother," showed that the maternal family had no interest in caring for the child. Child-welfare officials said in court documents that the boy's maternal grandmother is in Colombia and once appeared at an agency office. In fact, the boy's maternal grandmother has been dead for more than five years. It is unclear to whom the judge and officials were referring. The boy's mother, living in a cramped apartment in a low-income neighborhood of Bogota, was unaware that her son was the subject of a case before the country's highest court until informed by The Post. She lives with a 43-year-old partner and their 9-month-old, her third child. The names of her two other children are tattooed on her arms. She said she had assumed her son had been adopted - perhaps by an American couple. She said she didn't know there was still a chance for him to remain in her family, "with his own blood." - - - Three generations of the Guanipa family were born and raised in the small town of Punto Fijo, in Venezuela's western coastal area. The family's houses, which take up an entire block, look alike: one-story structures with three rooms, a kitchen, and a patio where the families hang their clothes to dry in the sun. In one family home on a recent afternoon, children were curled up watching a movie in a bedroom, the one room with air conditioning. The matriarch of the family, Yoleida Guanipa, held two great-grandchildren in her arms. One great-grandchild was missing. The 67-year-old woman couldn't bring herself to speak about him without breaking down in tears. The boy's aunts, cousins, great-aunts and great-grandmother say they wished they could have done more to keep him with the family, but they didn't know what. They didn't know how to contact his mother. Money for travel was limited. The pandemic made everything more difficult. "Who is going to get in touch with us from Colombia, knowing we're Venezuelan?" asked Yoselyn Carolina Gonzalez, the mother's cousin. "They probably think we're bad people, or that we just went back to Venezuela and forgot about that boy. But we didn't." Neyda Josefina Guanipa, who had made the trip to the Colombia border, recently remembered that the boy's birthday was coming up, on Aug. 15. When she said his name, the boy's 12-year-old cousin asked where he was. "He's still in Colombia," she replied. The boy's great-aunt felt confident that she could care for him. Guanipa now works cleaning houses and says she makes enough money to cover everything she needs. She has a spare room for the boy. The many children in the extended family all go to school just a block away. Another great-aunt took out her cellphone and pulled up a photo of the boy on Facebook. She pointed out a comment she had left on the photo recently. "God bless you my child," she had written, "wherever you are." - - - The Washington Post's Mariana Zuniga in Punto Fijo contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Israel and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip were exchanging fire Saturday in the worst bout of cross-border violence since an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas last year. Israeli airstrikes have killed 11 people, including a senior commander from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an Iran-backed militant group, who was slain in a targeted attack. Militants have fired dozens of rockets at Israeli cities and towns, disrupting life for hundreds of thousands of people. Here's a look at the latest round of violence: IN HAMAS' SHADOW Islamic Jihad is the smaller of the two main Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip, and is vastly outnumbered by the ruling Hamas group. But it enjoys direct financial and military backing from Iran, and has become the driving force in engaging in rocket attacks and other confrontations with Israel. Hamas, which seized control of Gaza in 2007 from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, is often limited in its ability to act because it bears responsibility for running day-to-day affairs of the impoverished territory. Islamic Jihad has no such duties and has emerged as the more militant faction, occasionally even undermining Hamas authority. The group was founded in 1981 with the aim of establishing an Islamic Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza and all of what is now Israel. It is designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, European Union and other governments. Like Hamas, Islamic Jihad is sworn to Israel's destruction. THE IRANIAN CONNECTION Israel's archenemy Iran supplies Islamic Jihad with training, expertise and money, but most of the groups weapons are locally produced. In recent years, it has developed an arsenal equal to that of Hamas, with longer-range rockets capable of striking central Israels Tel Aviv metropolitan area. Air raid sirens went off in the suburbs just south of Tel Aviv on Friday, although no rockets appear to have hit the area. Although its base is Gaza, Islamic Jihad also has leadership in Beirut and Damascus, where it maintains close ties with Iranian officials. Ziad al-Nakhalah, the groups top leader, was in Tehran meeting Iranian officials when Israel began its operation in Gaza on Friday. TARGETING COMMANDERS This isn't the first time Israel has killed Islamic Jihad leaders in Gaza. The commander it killed Friday, Taiseer al-Jabari, replaced Bahaa Abu el-Atta who was slain by Israel in a 2019 strike. His death had been the first high-profile assassination of an Islamic Jihad figure by Israel since the 2014 war in the Gaza Strip. Al-Jabari, 50, was a member of Islamic Jihad's military council, the group's decision-making body in Gaza. He was in charge of the Islamic Jihad militant activities in Gaza City and the northern Gaza Strip during the 2021 war. Israel said he was preparing to launch an anti-tank missile attack against Israel. His death came on the heels of the arrest by Israel of a senior Islamic Jihad commander in the West Bank earlier this week. Bassam al-Saadi, 62, is a senior Islamic Jihad official in the northern West Bank. According to Israeli media, al-Saadi was working to deepen the group's reach in the West Bank and expand its capabilities. Al-Saadi spent a total of 15 years over several stints in Israeli jails for being an active Islamic Jihad member. Israel killed two of his sons who were also Islamic Jihad militants in separate incidents in 2002, and destroyed his home during a fierce battle in the West Bank city of Jenin the same year. Once you will hit the commanders it will affect immediately all the organization, said Zvika Haimovich, the former head of the Israeli militarys air defense force. It immediately creates a big mess in the Jihad. A DELICATE BALANCE Since seizing power in 2007, Hamas has fought four wars with Israel, often with support from Islamic Jihad fighters. Aside from a flare-up earlier this year, the border has largely been quiet since last year's 11-day war and Hamas appears to be staying on the sidelines of this current conflagration, which might keep it from spilling over into all-out war. Islamic Jihad militants have challenged Hamas by firing rockets, often without claiming responsibility, to raise its profile among Palestinians while Hamas maintains the cease-fire. Israel holds Hamas responsible for all rocket fire coming from Gaza. Hamas must walk a tightrope between restraining Islamic Jihads fire at Israel while avoiding the ire of Palestinians if it cracks down on the group. Like in past flare-ups, Hamas will have the final say in how long and how violent this round of fighting will last. CARETAKER LEADER The current fighting comes as Israel is mired in a protracted political crisis that is sending voters to the polls for the fifth time in less than four years in the fall. Caretaker leader Yair Lapid took over earlier this summer after the ideologically diverse government he helped form collapsed, triggering the new elections. Lapid, a centrist former TV host and author, lacks the security background many Israelis see as essential for their leadership. His political fortunes could rest on the current fighting, either gaining a boost if he can portray himself as a capable leader or take a hit from a lengthy operation as Israelis try to enjoy the last weeks of summer. Lapid hopes to edge out former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a security hawk who is on trial for corruption charges, in the upcoming vote. ___ Akram reported from Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Emily Rose in Jerusalem contributed. HONOLULU (AP) The campaign committee of former Hawaii Democratic state Rep. Ty Cullen, who pleaded guilty earlier this year after taking bribes, donated to two candidates for the state House of Representatives last month. State Campaign Spending Commission data says Friends of Ty Cullen has donated $2,000 to the campaign of Jamaica Cullen on July 26. She is running in the Democratic primary for parts of Waipahu and Hoopili, the area Ty Cullen used to represent. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Jamaica Cullen is Ty Cullen's sister-in-law and worked in his office during the past four legislative sessions. A voicemail message left for Jamaica Cullen wasnt returned. Campaign Spending Commission data shows Friends of Ty Cullen on July 8 donated $2,000 to Rachele Lamosao, who is running in the Democratic primary to represent central Waipahu. A report filed by Friends of Ty Cullen said he bought two fundraiser tickets for that amount. Lamosao, in an emailed statement received after this article was first published, said she donated $2,000 the same amount she received from Friends of Ty Cullen to the Campaign Spending Commission, which will help fund other campaigns seeking public financing. She said she accepts all contributions to her campaign. "However, under these circumstances, I felt it was most appropriate to donate this amount to the Campaign Spending Commission fund. I will always put my community first in every decision, regardless of any contributions made to my campaign, she said. State law says $2,000 is the most an individual may give to a House candidate in one election period. Friends of Ty Cullen had a cash balance of more than $133,000 as of June 30, according to a report filed with the commission. Cullen did not return a voicemail message seeking comment. Ty Cullen resigned from the state House of Representatives in February shortly before federal prosecutors announced charges against him and former Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English. Court documents said they took bribes in exchange for shaping legislation that would benefit a company involved in publicly financed cesspool conversion projects. Cullen agreed to forfeit $23,000 the amount he received in bribes as part of a plea agreement. He's due to be sentenced on Oct. 20. English was sentenced to three years and four months in July. Corey Rosenlee, who is running in the Democratic primary against Jamaica Cullen, questioned whether Ty Cullen should continue to control his remaining campaign funds. It should be automatic that if you admit guilt or are found guilty for bribery, that money should go back to the donors and not be set up as some sort of slush fund, which you can use for however you want to, Rosenlee said. And in this case, helping out a family member. Maurice Morita, who is running in the Democratic primary against Lamosao, said if he received money from Ty Cullen he would give it back. The money is tainted. Whatever you get from him, or English, said Morita. Tony Baldomero, associate director of the Campaign Spending Commission, said Hawaii law doesn't address whether an individual loses control of their campaign funds after a conviction. A lawmaker is disqualified from holding office for 10 years after a conviction. Ty Cullen last ran for office in 2020, which means he can use the balance of funds up through 2024, Baldomero said. Hawaii law authorizes eight uses for such money, including purchasing candidate fundraiser tickets. The money may also be used to donate to charity, public schools, libraries and to award scholarships. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOSCOW (AP) The Kremlin said Friday that it's open to talking about a possible prisoner exchange involving American basketball star Brittney Griner but strongly warned Washington against publicizing the issue. Griner, a two-time U.S. Olympic champion and an eight-time all-star with the WNBAs Phoenix Mercury, has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 after police at a Moscow airport said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. A judge convicted the 31-year-old athlete Thursday of drug possession and smuggling, and sentenced her to nine years in prison. The politically charged case comes amid high tensions between Moscow and Washington over Russias military action in Ukraine. Asked at the White House Friday about the prospects of securing Griners release, President Joe Biden said: Im hopeful ... Were working hard. In an extraordinary move, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke last week to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, urging him to accept a deal under which Griner and Paul Whelan, an American jailed in Russia on espionage charges, would go free. Lavrov and Blinken were both in Cambodia on Friday for a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Blinken did not even glance at his Russian counterpart as they took their seats at an East Asia Summit. Lavrov told reporters that Blinken didnt try to contact him while they were attending the ASEAN meeting. We were separated by just one person at the discussion table, but I didnt feel his desire to catch me. My buttons are all in place, he said when asked about Washingtons statement that Blinken would try to buttonhole Lavrov for a quick interaction in Phnom Penh. Lavrov said Moscow was ready to discuss a prisoner swap but that the topic should only be discussed via a dedicated Russia-U.S. channel that Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to establish when they met in Geneva in June 2021. If the Americans again try to engage in public diplomacy and make loud statements about their intention to take certain steps, its their business, I would even say their problem, Lavrov said. The Americans often have trouble observing agreements on calm and professional work. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the same point more harshly, saying the U.S. already has made mistakes, trying to solve such problems via microphone diplomacy. They are not solved that way. He, too, emphasized that any discussions on a possible trade should be held via the previously established confidential channels that Putin and Biden agree to during last year's summit. Such mechanisms exist, but they will be thrown into doubt if the discussion continues in the public domain, Peskov said. He said: If we discuss any nuances related to the issue of exchange via media, no exchange will ever take place. People familiar with the U.S. proposal have said it envisions trading Griner and Whelan for a notorious Russian arms trader, Viktor Bout. He is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. after being convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization. The call between Blinken and Lavrov marked the highest-level known contact between Washington and Moscow since Russia sent troops into Ukraine more than five months ago, underlining the public pressure that the White House has faced to get Griner released. Griner was arrested as she was returning to play for a team in Russia, where she has competed since 2014. Blinken said Friday that her conviction and sentence compounds the injustice that has been done to her. It puts a spotlight on our very significant concern with Russias legal system and the Russian governments use of wrongful detentions to advance its own agenda using individuals as political pawns, he said. On Thursday, Biden denounced the Russian judge's verdict and sentence as unacceptable and said he would continue working to bring Griner and Whelan home. ___ David Rising in Phnom Penh, Cambodia contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Brittney Griner case at https://apnews.com/hub/brittney-griner When a 14-year-old boy was in danger of drowning off the Spanish shores of Valencia last month, help came in an unusual form: a drone. Within seconds of spotting trouble, lifeguards used walkie-talkies to notify trained drone pilots to fly one over to the child. The drone battled crosswinds and hovered a few feet over the boy, dropping an auto-inflating life vest. Shortly after the child put the vest on, a lifeguard arrived on a personal watercraft to bring him back to shore. The rescue mission relied on technology from General Drones, a Spanish company that offers a preview into summers of the future: one where sun-kissed lifeguards can use drones to help respond to potential drownings quicker. The technology has gained traction in Spain, where it's being used on nearly two dozen beaches. In other countries, including the United States, lifeguards are also using drones as an extra set of eyes. Lifesaving drones provide a crucial benefit, lifeguards and company officials say, especially when time is of the essence. "Every second matters," said Adrian Plazas Agudo, the chief executive of General Drones and a former lifeguard. "Our first response is in about five seconds . . . It's very important to reduce the time." In the United States, the concept of lifeguarding originated around the 1700s, mostly to save people from shipwrecks. About a century later, as shipwrecks began to dwindle and recreational swimming rose, the roots of modern day lifeguarding emerged: trained life savers patrolling pools and beaches, ready to respond. For years, the tools of a lifeguard have not changed. Rescuers spot a person struggling in the water, rush out and throw them a doughnut shaped ring buoy. But as technology advanced, so did lifeguards's gear. Lifeguards began using personal watercraft and inflatable raft round the 1980s to quickly reach people in danger on the beach. In the 2000s, companies created software to visually detect struggling swimmers in pools, providing lifeguards an early-warning system. (It is unclear whether these systems were ever commonly used.) But lifeguards still face significant issues in saving people, said Bernard J. Fisher, the director of health and safety for the American Lifeguard Association. The pandemic halted lifeguard training, and the red-hot job market drove younger Americans to higher paying summer gigs, sparking a national lifeguard shortage that's forced fewer people to monitor wider swaths of shore. In the United States, roughly 3,690 people drown unintentionally per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lifeguards must get to people struggling in the water as quickly as possible, Fisher said, and a delay of seconds could be the difference between life and death. Using motorboats to rush out to people is costly and still takes time, he added, and swimming to a person is a difficult process. The lifeguards in the water rely on colleagues on land to direct them. But if the person struggling in the water is tired, they could go underwater or move along the shoreline quickly, making it hard to be spotted. "It's difficult," he said. Agudo, who spent years as a lifeguard in Valencia and is an industrial engineer, started General Drones in 2015 after a harrowing incident on the beach. He was patrolling a stretch of shore alongside Enrique Fernandez, who became his company co-founder. They saw a woman starting to drown and rushed out to her - but they were too late. "I could see how the woman drowned in front of me," he said. "It was the breaking point." After that, Agudo and Fernandez partnered with engineers at Valencia's Polytechnic University to create a drone that could reach people quicker than the fastest swimmer or water scooter and potentially save lives. They realized the beach was a harsh environment and needed a drone that could withstand water, sand and wind. Ultimately, they created a drone that's roughly two feet wide and weighs about 22 pounds. Made of carbon fiber and wrapped in a Go-Pro-like casing, it keeps the beach environment from eroding the mechanical innards. The drone is outfitted with high-resolution camera and carries two folded life vests that inflate once upon touching water. Currently, 22 beaches in Spain use the technology, Aguro said. It has been used in roughly 40 to 50 lifesaving incidents in Spain. The drones can reach speeds of up to 50 mph, and monitor roughly 3.5 miles of shore. The drone, called the Auxdron LFG, costs roughly 40,000 euros to purchase. Counties that purchase the drone also shell out 12,000 euros per month for specialized drone pilots who've been trained by General Drones to execute the challenging task of flying a drone out into the ocean, where winds are strong, and deploying life vests precisely over someone who's drowning. A number of lifeguard officials in the United States said they are excited about drones. At the same time, they noted that the technology is not a replacement for actual lifeguards and will not get widespread adoption until the cost comes down. Chris Dembinsky, the technology manager for Florida's Volusia County beach safety division, said he has four small drones in his arsenal to patrol the lakes and beaches in his jurisdiction, which include famed Daytona Beach. Dembinsky said he can't use his drones for lifesaving missions right now. They are too small to drop buoys or help tow people ashore. The life vests they drop whip around in the wind too much. Mostly, he said, they are used to help patrol beaches and lakefronts. They have been particularly helpful in finding kayakers lost in the backwaters and helping guide them back ashore or feeding their precise location to public safety officials for rescue efforts. In the future, Dembinsky would like to add more drones to his arsenal and deploy them in lifesaving missions, but only if the prices come down. His budget only covers smaller $3,000 to $8,000 models, which are more helpful for patrolling shores. But the lifesaving ones can cost tens of thousands of dollars and are out of reach. "If we had that amount of money," he said, "we would probably pay our lifeguards more." Tom Gill, chief of the Virginia Beach Lifesaving Service and vice president of the United States Lifesaving Association, agreed that drones would be helpful for lifeguards to patrol the shores and assist in lifesaving missions. In a best-case scenario, he said, lifeguards or a drone could spot a drowning person. Then a drone could be quickly deployed to drop a life vest to them. That would allow the person to stay afloat while a lifeguard swims or rides a personal watercraft over to help the person come back ashore. But he said that no matter how advanced the technology gets, drones cannot replace lifeguards, who can spot unsafe situations as they're beginning. "It may be nice to have that drone go out there and maybe they do get there quicker than the lifeguard," he said. "But a lot of times the lifeguard has already prevented this from happening in the first place." PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Timor-Leste on Saturday pledged to promote bilateral cooperation in trade and tourism for mutual benefits, a Cambodian spokesman said. The pledge was made during a meeting between Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn and Timor-Leste's Foreign Minister Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno here on the sidelines of the 55th ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting and related meetings in Phnom Penh, said foreign ministry spokesman Chum Sounry. "Both sides emphasized the need to deepen bilateral relations through regular consultations and early conclusion of a pending memorandum of understanding on trade and tourism cooperation," he said in a news release. Magno congratulated Cambodia for the success in hosting the above-mentioned meetings, the spokesman said, adding that she also thanked Cambodia for supporting Timor-Leste's application for the membership of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The two ministers also discussed the suitable date and preparations for the state visit of Timor-Leste's President Jose Ramos-Horta to Cambodia and agreed to organize some events to celebrate this year the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Sounry said. ANNE ARUNDEL, Md. (AP) Police in Maryland have arrested a 66-year-old man on multiple hate crimes charges after racist graffiti was discovered at a church in Anne Arundel County. The Capital newspaper reports that the graffiti discovered at Kingdom Celebration Center Wednesday followed a similar incident last month, when a racist slur was found on the churchs doors before a food distribution one morning. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) In a move that shocked environmentalists, the government of Brazils third-largest state has given up a legal fight over protecting a state park in one of the Amazon's most biodiverse areas. The upshot of that decision is that a man responsible for the deforestation of huge swaths of protected land wins with finality a lawsuit against the government. The park will cease to exist. Antonio Jose Rossi Junqueira Vilela has been fined millions of dollars for deforestation in Brazil and for stealing thousands of hectares (acres) of the Amazon rainforest. Yet it was a company linked to him that filed a lawsuit against the state of Mato Grosso, alleging it had improperly set the borders of the Cristalino II State Park. The park stretches for 118,000 hectares (292,000 acres), larger than New York City, and lies in the transition zone between the Amazon and drier Cerrado biomes. It is home to the endemic white-fronted spider monkey (Ateles marginatus), a species endangered due to habitat loss. In a 3-2 decision, Mato Grossos upper court ruled that the government's creation of the park in 2001 was illegal because it took place without public consultation. The state government did not appeal that decision, leaving it to become final. Now the park will be officially dissolved, the government press office confirmed to The Associated Press. The loss of the park is a measure of how bad things are today for the Amazon. Not only are environmental laws going unenforced, now a court has invalidated a major protected area. Scientists say not only are ecosystems being lost, but massive deforestation is damaging the forest's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a crucial role it plays for the planet. LAYING WASTE TO THE FOREST Before he challenged the validity of Cristalino II park, Vilela's presence was already well known there. In 2005, he was fined $27 million for destroying 11,000 hectares (27,000 acres) of forest inside the protected area, according to local press reports at the time. In 2016, the Vilela family made headlines in Brazil for being at the center of a landmark enforcement operation against deforestation in the Amazon, known as the Flying Rivers Operation, carried out by the Brazilian environment agency, Ibama, the federal police and the attorney general. Vilela was also indicted for deforesting 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of public forests in Para state, the equivalent of five Manhattans. Brazil's attorney general called Vilela the worst perpetrator of deforestation the Amazon had ever seen. Legal proceedings often stretch for many years in Brazil. If convicted in the Para case, Vilela could be sentenced to more than 200 years in prison. He could be fined more than $60 million. Attorney Renato Maurilio Lopes, who has represented both Vilela and an affiliate company, did not respond to messages left by The Associated Press Wednesday and Thursday. According to researcher Mauricio Torres, a geographer from Para Federal University, Vilelas family follows the classic script of land grabbing in the Amazon. The way to steal land in Brazil is to deforest it and then claim it, he said. It is through deforestation that the land-robbers concretely mark their ownership of the land and are recognized as 'owners' by other gangs, he wrote to the AP. According to official data, as of March 2022, Cristalino II had lost some 22,000 hectares (54,000 acres) to deforestation, even though it is a fully protected area. The area destroyed makes up almost 20% of the park. Mato Grosso, Brazils largest soybean-producing state, is run by governor Mauro Mendes, a pro-agribusiness politician and ally of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly said Brazil has too many protected areas and vowed not to create more of them. Mendes state secretary of the environment is Mauren Lazzaretti, a lawyer who made a career defending loggers against criminal charges related to the environment. During their tenure, Mato Grosso experienced one of the worst environmental disasters in Brazilian history. In 2020, wildfires burned 40% of the states Pantanal biome, the worlds most extensive tropical wetlands. Mendes signed a law Thursday that allows cattle raising in the Pantanals private preservation areas. Via email, Mato Grossos Environment Secretary said it will proceed with the parks dissolution and did not appeal because it was deemed technically unviable. The office noted that the adjacent Cristalino State Park I is still a protected area and covers 66,000 hectares (163,000 acres) of Amazon rainforest. In a statement, the Mato Grosso Socio-environmental Observatory, a non-profit network, said that the parks extinction sets a dangerous precedent and the state government has shown itself incapable of protecting preserved areas. It said it is assessing legal options to maintain Cristalino II. The public should not have to pay the price for the omission and incompetence of the state of Mato Grosso, Angela Kuczach, head of the National Network for Conservation Units, told the AP. _____ Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations. See more about APs climate initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content. GULFPORT, Miss (AP) A teenage student was taken into custody Friday morning after bringing a loaded handgun to a south Mississippi campus. The teen, 15, is a student at Harrison Central High School in Gulfport, WLOX-TV reported. Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson said the school resource officer received a tip from a teacher that the teen had a weapon about 9 a.m. School officials located the student on campus and found the gun tucked into the teen's waistband. Police took the student into custody minutes later as he entered the school building. The student told officials that he brought the handgun for protection from another student, the news station reported. The juvenile has since been charged as an adult with possession of a weapon on school property. The student is being held at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center. A $10,000 bond was set by Justice Court Judge Brandon Ladner pending his initial court appearance. It was not immediately known whether the teen had an attorney. Police said they are still conducting interviews related to the incident. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. (AP) A natural hair school will be opening in Kings Mountain and is the first of its kind in Cleveland County. Free 2 B Natural Hair Academy will welcome new students this fall. Yolanda Harris, owner and instructor, said the family-run business is the only school of its kind in the county. Were excited to be the trailblazers, she said. She said although the community college has a cosmetology program, it doesnt touch on natural hair care in great length. Students want to know more about the natural hair field, she said. The 2,000-square-foot building is painted a crisp white, and Harris said a Charlotte team completed the renovations and design. The motto inscribed beneath the name of the business on the outside of the buildings reads, not a hairstyle, but a lifestyle. The academy offers the opportunity to gain professional training and teaching that leads to licensure. Harris has been a natural hair stylist for 15 years and owns her own salon in Kings Mountain. She said she has a passion for people wanting to embrace their naturally textured hair without altering their natural curl pattern with chemicals. No perms, dye or chemicals are used. Students learn first and foremost infection control, sanitation, sterilization of equipment and blood exposure. Before they can see clients, they have to go through that process, Harris said. The 16-week program is equal to 300 clocked hours. Once they graduate, students will take a state board written exam and then a practical exam. During the practical exam, they will demonstrate braiding, twisting, hot thermal iron, silk pressing and adding in hair. In addition to what is required by the state board, we are offering locs and loc maintenance, Harris said. Locs is a popular hairstyle, which involves coiling, braiding, twisting or palm rolling hair. Once they take and pass the exam, they will apply for a natural hair care specialist license for North Carolina. Harris said enrollment starts in August for both the fall 2022 semester and spring 2023. They will accept 10 to 12 students and will have a wait list. The academy offers two disciplines. Natural hair care specialist, which is 300 clocked hours, and tuition of $3,775 and natural hair care specialist instructor trainee, which is 320 clocked hours and $3,975 tuition. Harris said for the first year, classes will be held at night on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. After the first three weeks, students will start servicing clients in the community by appointment. In addition to Harris, there will be a second instructor, Shanise Flott, who is a salon owner in Gaston County and licensed instructor. So far, theres already been interest, even though they havent yet advertised. We havent really advertised yet, other than word of mouth, Harris said. Interested students and community members can take a tour of the school and pick up brochures and applications. Students will be given a kit, which includes textbooks, supplies, uniform and ID badge. Students will be learning how to operate a full service salon, Harris said. This teaches them to open their own business or rent a booth or suite. Students are required to write a business plan and apply for a business license. In addition to the administrative office, laundry room and classroom, is the clinic. This is where the magic happens, Harris said. This is the fun part. The clinic has capacity for 12 students. There are stations with mirrors and chairs and two hair dryers and students will put into practice what theyve learned in the classroom. The last two weeks of the semester, students prepare for state boards and pack their bags with everything theyll need for the practical exam. We want 100% pass for state boards for all students, Harris said. Thats the goal. MEXICO CITY (AP) Nicaraguas police said Friday they have begun an investigation against a Roman Catholic bishop who has been an outspoken critic of President Daniel Ortegas government. They accused Bishop Rolando Alvarez, leader of the Matagalpa diocese, of allegedly organizing violent groups and inciting them to carry out acts of hate against the population. The police statement Friday said the investigation would include a number of people and warned that they would not be allowed to leave their homes while the investigation was carried out. Alvarez had been inside his residence Thursday when police cordoned the area. Alvarez came out to pray in the street and approach them with an outstretched crucifix. Police blocked his attempt to go to the cathedral Friday so he instead celebrated Mass from home. The police announced came just hours after first lady and Vice President Rosario Murillo criticized sins against spirituality and the exhibition of hate in an apparent reference to Alvarez. Earlier, Wilfredo Navarro, a congressional leader for Ortegas Sandinista National Liberation Front party, accused Alvarez of creating a media circus in front of police to again incite violence and disorder. Navarro accused Alvarez and others of directing what Ortega and his party consider a failed coup attempt in April 2018. Navarro said the churches were caves of delinquents and murderers and that Alvarez is transforming the church again into bases where they stockpile weapons and plan violence. He warned that Alvarez was not above the law. The comments from Navarro and Murillo seemed to lay the groundwork for the police announcement late Friday of an investigation. In his homily Friday, Alvarez said that he and others confined to his residence have happiness in our hearts, interior strength and peace for our life. Neither church leadership in Nicaragua nor the Vatican have commented on the situation this week. This week, Ortegas government closed eight radio stations and a television station in Matagalpa province north of Managua. Seven of the radio stations were run by the church. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The eastern Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis has elected a new prime minister after holding snap elections three years earlier than planned. Dr. Terrance Drew of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labor Party ousted Prime Minister Timothy Harris of the Peoples Labor Party, according to preliminary election results released Saturday. Three people, including a Wisconsin couple celebrating their 56th wedding anniversary, have died after a lightning strike Thursday evening in Lafayette Square, just north of the White House, D.C. police said Friday. Four people - two men and two women - were critically hurt in the strike just before 7 p.m. in the center of the park, in a grove of trees about 100 feet southeast of the statue of Andrew Jackson, fire department spokesman Vito Maggiolo said at a news briefing Thursday night. The U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Park Police rendered aid to the victims, assistance that fire officials credited with all the victims' initial survival. Among those who died were Donna Mueller, 75, a retired teacher, and her husband, James Mueller, 76, who owned a drywall business for decades before retiring, according to one of their daughters-in-law, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her privacy. They were high school sweethearts before marrying and were in Washington as tourists, a vacation trip to mark their anniversary, the daughter-in-law said. She said they had no connection to the other people who were under the tree when the lightning hit. The couple lived in Janesville, Wis., about 70 miles west of Milwaukee, and had five grown children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. "Both would do anything for their family and friends," their relatives said in a statement. The other person killed was a 29-year-old man, police said in announcing his death Friday afternoon. His identity was withheld pending notification of relatives. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement: "We are saddened by the tragic loss of life after the lightning strike in Lafayette Park. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones, and we are praying for those still fighting for their lives." Because lightning tends to strike tall objects, experts warn that taking shelter under a tree during a thunderstorm is highly dangerous. When a tree is hit by the electrical charge, moisture and sap in the tree easily conducts the electricity, carrying it to the ground around the tree, according to a National Weather Service webpage on lightning science. "When lightning strikes a tree or other object, much of the energy travels outward from the strike in and along the ground surface," the webpage says. "This is known as the ground current. Anyone outside near a lightning strike is potentially a victim of ground current." The lightning was unleashed by a severe thunderstorm that swept across the District just before 7 p.m. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for much of the Beltway area between 6:30 and 7:15 p.m., cautioning of the threat of damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-size hail. Chris Vagasky, an analyst for Vaisala, which operates a national lightning detection network, said in a message that there was a "6 stroke flash near the White House that hit the same point on the ground" at 6:49 p.m. He explained that means six individual surges of electricity hit the same point on the ground within half a second. Vagasky tweeted that between 2010 and 2021, "289 cloud-to-ground flashes occurred within 1 mile of the White House, an average of 24 per year." "This incident underscores the need for people to get to a safe place any time a thunderstorm is in the area," said John Jensenius, a safety specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council, in an email. "Even a distant rumble of thunder should serve as a warning to get inside a substantial building or hard-topped metal immediately." Lightning kills 23 people in the United States in an average year. The fatalities from Thursday's strike in the District boosted 2022's lightning toll to 12 - exceeding last year's total of 11. According to the Lightning Safety Council, this is the first fatal lightning incident in the District since 1991, when a teenager was killed and 10 other people were injured at St. Albans School in Northwest Washington. In June 2020, two National Guardsmen were injured in a lightning strike near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue in Northwest Washington. In 1998, a woman was critically injured and other spectators hurt when lightning struck RFK Stadium during a concert. July and August are the peak months for lightning in the United States. Numerous storms, containing frequent lightning, flared up in the region Thursday evening after temperatures soared into the mid- to upper 90s earlier in the day, prompting a heat advisory. Heat indexes, a measure of how hot it feels with humidity factored in, reached 100 to 110 degrees. Thunderstorms are forecast for the Washington region throughout the weekend. - - - The Washington Post's Clarence Williams, Emily Davies and Razzan Nakhlawi contributed to this report. WFO PHOENIX Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, August 5, 2022 _____ AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY Flood Advisory National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 416 PM PDT Fri Aug 5 2022 ...FLOOD ADVISORY HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A FLASH FLOOD WARNING... The threat of flooding continues and a Flash Flood Warning is now in effect. Please refer to that bulletin for more information. The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... Riverside County in southern California... San Bernardino County in southern California... * Until 600 PM PDT. * At 416 PM PDT, Emergency management reported thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 0.5 and 1 inch of rain has fallen. Flash flooding is ongoing. HAZARD...Life threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding. SOURCE...Emergency management reported. IMPACT...Life threatening flash flooding of roadways and normally dry washes. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Northwest portions of Joshua Tree National Park. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where you are relative to streams, rivers, or creeks which can become killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid streams or creeks. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO SAN DIEGO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, August 5, 2022 _____ AREAL FLOOD ADVISORY Flood Advisory National Weather Service San Diego CA 404 PM PDT Fri Aug 5 2022 ...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 715 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...A portion of Southern California, including the following county, San Bernardino. * WHEN...Until 715 PM PDT. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 404 PM PDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. - Some locations that will experience flooding include... Eastern Lucerne Valley and Johnson Valley. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be aware of your surroundings and do not drive on flooded roads. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas has issued a * Flash Flood Warning for... San Bernardino County in southern California... * Until 700 PM PDT. * At 405 PM PDT, Doppler radar indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly. HAZARD...Life-threatening flash flooding. Thunderstorms producing flash flooding. SOURCE...Radar. IMPACT...Life-threatening flash flooding of low-water crossings, creeks, normally dry washes and roads. * Some locations that will experience flash flooding include... Twentynine Palms, Twentynine Palms Base, Twentynine Palms Airport, Joshua Tree Lake Campground and Joshua Tree. ...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHERE...A portion of southern California, including the following counties, Riverside and San Bernardino. * WHEN...Until 600 PM PDT. * IMPACTS...Flooding of normally dry washes and low-lying areas. Water over roadways. - At 406 PM PDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain due to shortly in the advisory area. Up to 0.5 inches of rain have fallen. Northwest portions of Joshua Tree National Park. Flooding is occurring or is imminent. It is important to know where you are relative to normally dry washes which can become killers in heavy rains. Campers and hikers should avoid washes and low lying areas. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Colorado Politics is published both in print and online. Our website features subscriber-only news stories daily, designed for public policy arena professionals. Member subscribers also receive the weekly print edition of our award-winning newspaper, containing outstanding features and news stories, in their mailboxes every Saturday. Teenagers from the Colorado Youth Advisory Council proposed several new state policies on Friday, including suggestions to better address substance abuse, eating disorders and HIV in schools. The council presented to state lawmakers seven policy recommendations, one of which seeks to reform the way schools intervene and respond to substance abuse among students. Colorado is the 7th most pervasive state for substance abuse in the country, according to a 2022 study, and youth substance abuse is more common here than the national average. As a youth who attends public school, every day I see and hear firsthand the impact that substance abuse has on our youth, Sidd Nareddy, 16, of Broomfield, told members of an interim committee. The harsh reality is that substance abuse has almost become a norm among youth in Colorado. Nareddy said this is partly due to Colorado schools lacking adequate substance abuse programs, with current programs focused on prevention rather than intervention. In addition, the Colorado Crisis Services hotline that serves students struggling with substance abuse is overwhelmed, experiencing a 55% rise in calls during the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in average hold times nearly tripling and call abandonment rates rising by 329%, Nareddy said. The councils proposal would perform a needs assessment to gauge how Colorado high schools are handling substance abuse, implement a substance use screening program in secondary schools and increase funding for Colorado Crisis Services. Another proposal would address eating disorders and weight discrimination within schools. In 2015, Colorado had the fifth-highest rate of eating disorders in the country among adolescents. Aimee Resnick, a recent high school graduate in Centennial, said she struggled with disordered eating herself, culminating in her hospitalization in 2020, weighing only 95 pounds. Resnick, 17, recalled being picked on due to her weight in the fifth grade, but said her disordered eating began the summer after freshman year of high school, when she took a health class in which students were assigned to track the calories they eat in a week and create a weight loss goal. Even though I already had the mindset and habits forming before that, that was what really sparked its development into a full-blown issue, Resnick said. Im proud to say that now I am in a full recovery, but whats really hard about having an eating disorder is that it doesnt ever really go away. This proposal would form a committee to review and revise the states health class and physical education standards to promote healthy body image and reduce the impact of eating disorders. It would also expand state definitions of bullying and discrimination to include weight and create the Office of Disordered Eating Prevention to research disordered eating and its effects in Colorado. The third proposal seeks to increase education and awareness of HIV among teenagers. With the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s fading from the collective consciousness, many young people today are unaware of how the disease is transmitted and prevented, said Skye OToole, 16, of Denver. Among Generation Z, 41% said they are not at all informed or only somewhat informed about HIV, according to a 2019 survey, compared to 23% of Millennials. While HIV/AIDS is not as captivating as it was in the 1980s, it is still around, OToole said. Most youth dont know about HIV and how to prevent it. Its preventing youth from getting on HIV medication, getting HIV treatment when they need it. The proposal would require school health classes to provide HIV education, including information about medications that reduce the risk of contracting HIV and how to access the medications in Colorado. In addition, the proposal would fund a youth-led education initiative about HIV and HIV-preventing medications, fund youth-targeted clinics to provide HIV testing and prevention medications, and remove a portion of the state statute that requires doctors to encourage youth receiving HIV tests to tell their parents about it. Supporters said they want to prevent LGBTQ teens from being pressured to come out to parents who might not accept them. The remaining four proposals involved strategies to reduce inequalities in school disciplinary action, increase the number of students who apply for financial aid for higher education, increase the number of licensed psychologists within schools and establish youth participation in committees tasked with updating educational standards. The Colorado Youth Advisory Council will meet with the interim committee again on Aug. 19 to request that six of their proposals be drafted as bills. On Sept. 30, the committee will vote on which three of the bills to move forward to a legislative council meeting on Oct. 4, which will determine if the bills go to the General Assembly, which convenes again in January next year. I've been a reporter and editor at Missouri community newspapers for 35 years and joined the Columbia Missourian in 2003. My emphasis at the Missourian is on local government and elections. You can reach me at swaffords@missouri.edu or at 573-884-5366. Follow this search 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 Busy ports mirror China's economic pickup 09:09, August 06, 2022 By Bai Guangdi ( People's Daily Photo taken on May 30, 2022 shows the Suzhong international terminal of the Rugao port in east China's Jiangsu province. (Photo by Xu Congjun/People's Daily Online) The Rugao port in east China's Jiangsu province is seeing a busy scene these days. Containers are constantly hoisted by travelling bridge cranes and various types of cargo are being unloaded from gigantic vessels in the water. As of July 15, the Suzhong international terminal of the Rugao port had handled 300,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) this year, up 6.8 percent from a year ago. Ports are a barometer of foreign trade and the national economy. Apart from the Jiangsu port, major ports along China's coastline are all prospering. The monthly throughput of the Bohai Bay port in east China's Shandong province for the first time exceeded 50,000 TEUs this May, and the daily throughput of the Shanghai port has grown to pre-pandemic levels. The total throughput of the Zhongshan port in south China's Guangdong province went up 6.4 percent year on year in the January-June period this year. A container ship docks at a terminal in Qingdao, east China's Shandong province, May 30, 2022. (Photo by Han Jiajun/People's Daily Online) China's foreign trade in goods surged 14.3 percent in June this year. Efforts are continuously being made to ensure smooth logistics at ports across the country, and the business environment at ports is constantly improving, which has laid a solid foundation for ensuring steady and high-quality growth in foreign trade. The development of the port economy is inseparable from intelligent technologies. From unattended cranes to real-time logistics visibility, the application of intelligent technologies has brought drastic changes to ports over recent years. For instance, the handling efficiency at the fully automated terminal of Qingdao port in east China's Shandong province is 50 percent higher than that at similar ports. At the fourth phase of the Yangshan deep-water port in Shanghai, the world's biggest automated container terminal, rail-mounted gantry cranes are remotely controlled by a nine-member team, while they needed 119 operators in the past. By optimizing devices and work procedures with technologies, Chinese ports are enhancing their economic performance and further lowering cost to gain an edge in the increasingly fiercer global competition. Land-sea interaction is opening up new prospects for the development of ports. Inland areas remain a vast backup for ports, and ports are important outlets for inland areas. To achieve development, ports must make use of complementary advantages with inland areas. Containers are piled at a logistics center in Lianyungang, east China's Jiangsu province, July 17, 2022. (Photo by Wang Chun/People's Daily Online) To make port services more accessible and smoothen shipping routes, efforts must be made to advance cargo transfer, shorten work procedures and reduce transport distance. The Lianyungang port in east China's Jiangsu province is "seamlessly" connected to China-Europe freight trains. Cargos transported to the port by trains from across the country are immediately distributed overseas by freighters. The busy shipping routes are injecting strong impetus into the development of the regions along them. Secure and smooth industrial and supply chains are key to the development of ports. While ensuring the sound performance of traditional businesses, Chinese ports are also constantly expanding digital services and extending their reach to trade, finance, insurance and electronic clearing. Ports are always a symbol of opening up and hope. Though China's development is facing more risks and challenges, the fundamentals sustaining the country's long-term economic growth remain unchanged. The busy ports and fully loaded cargo ships are a signal that the Chinese economy is bound to achieve stable growth. By making better use of the advantages of ports, smoothening the domestic economic cycle, and promoting the "dual circulation" development pattern, China will definitely achieve long-term economic stability and growth. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. NORWALK U.S. Navy corpsman Will Angione was about to close the sailing school at Calf Pasture Beach last Sunday when he heard the commotion near the partially submerged sandbar that extends into Long Island Sound. Angione, 27, was among four bystanders who swam Martha Rodas and her husband Mauricio Rodas-Garcia to shore after the couple waded too far out into the sandbar. We heard people screaming and yelling in the water, and at first we thought it was people goofing around, but it was enough to trigger our attention, that we should look at that, he said. Me and my instructors went down there. We split up. I had them go after the husband and I went after the wife. Rodas-Garcia went to help his wife, who fell into the water and had difficulty regaining her balance, when he was pulled under water, city officials said. Despite the efforts of the bystanders who tried to save Rodas-Garcia from the area that is not monitored by lifeguards, the 60-year-old Colombia native died. Angione speaks a little Spanish and understood Martha Rodas was shouting for her husband as he swam her to shore. At first, she was frantic, but drowning victims will do anything to stay above water. Then she calmed down and laid there for a while. It took me forever to swim in because of the current, Angione said. She was saying, my husband, my husband. Angione, a supervisor at the Norwalk Sailing School, said the couple was separated by about 30 feet and in total between 20 and 30 feet offshore. They were looking for the husband. I grabbed the wife pretty quickly, but she was almost under as well, Angione said. We noticed it within 40 seconds and started running down the beach. Bringing them back to shore was harder. The current was strong. As Angione went to rescue Martha Rodas, his two sailing school instructors, siblings Nicolas and Jacqueline Suarez, tried to save her husband. The Suarez siblings, who grew up in Norwalk before moving to Westport about four years ago, received their lifeguard certifications through a course at Staples High School, but had never conducted a rescue. I had a head start and went out to the guy and Will said hed go to the woman. I sprinted out. I used to swim but its been a while. When I got out to where I generally thought he was, I was pretty exhausted, said Nick Suarez, 18, who will be a sophomore at Cornell University where he is studying applied economics and management. I couldnt find him at first, but it was hard to see him because he was mostly submerged. Once I got over to the general direction, I saw his hat and it was only hit hat, he wasnt there with him. A few moments later, Nick Suarez located Rodas-Garcia and swam to him. However, by that point, Rodas-Garcia had already become cyanotic. I did what we were taught to do. I got my arms under his shoulders and his head out of the water. I got underneath him and had him on my chest with his head on my shoulder, Nick Suarez said. Once we got to shallow water, others helped out and administered CPR thankfully, but I couldnt. I was shot. Once I got out, before I found him, it was stressful because I knew how time sensitive it was and when I couldnt find him immediately, I was really worried if I wouldnt be able to find him in the next minute or so he would be fully submerged and wouldnt find him at all. Jacqueline Suarez, 17, who will be a senior at Staples High School, was about 10 feet behind and directed her brother to Rodas-Garcias location in the water. You were carrying him but then I got up to you and helped to look for a pulse, but we couldnt find one, she said to her brother. Then we tried to get him to the sandbar and shallow water, but that was what took the longest time. Once the Suarez siblings had Rodas-Garcia, Norwalk resident Maya Santangelo swam out to help bring him back to shore. Santangelo, who lives down the road from Calf Pasture, often goes to the sandbar area, engages in open-water swimming and had her swimming fins with her at the time. The three of us were holding him up, his head out of the water, and swam to shore like that, taking turns holding parts of him up so, if he was able to, he could breathe, Santangelo said. As we were rushing him to shore, I started yelling, Does anybody know CPR? and the crowd on the beach pointed toward the entrance and there was a woman waiting for us there. Jennifer Gonzalez wasnt supposed to be at the beach Sunday, but her son, who was paddleboarding with friends, forgot swim trunks. At home studying for her nursing license exam, Gonzalez took a break to drive down the road to deliver the swimsuit. A registered nurse with nearly a decade of experience in caring for infants and babies, Gonzalez has performed CPR, but never on an adult. I was quickly swinging by the beach to drop off the trunks and he waved me down and told me I was needed down at the beach. I went and saw there were people screaming for CPR. The people on the beach were pointing where to go. I had no idea where I was running to, I just ran, Gonzalez said. Thats when I got to shore and saw they were swimming in. I wasnt supposed to be there. I was frustrated with my son, but it was fate. Everything happens for a reason. Gonzalez attended Rodas-Garcias wake last week and gathered Friday with the other rescuers with the exception of Angione, who was out of state, at the beach where the drowning occurred. As they reconnected and reflected on the incident, they said they feel the city needs to take measures to prevent a similar tragedy from happening in the future. They suggested adding lifeguards to the area and installing signs in multiple languages warning of the sandbars deepness. Some residents have also reached out about preventative measures, city spokesperson Michelle Woods Matthews said. Interestingly, the city is in the process of developing a new unified signage plan as part of our Recreation and Park's master plan planning process. The master plan will address signage related to wayfinding, parking, safety and park rules, and it includes an evaluation of bilingual signage, Woods Matthews said. Our intention is to utilize our signage to ensure residents know where to go, know where to park and are clearly aware of beach and park rules. Resident's convenience, safety and well-being remain among our top concerns. abigail.brone@hearstmediact.com NEWTOWN A Connecticut man was able to sell a lakefront property he didnt own to an unsuspecting buyer because his name was strikingly similar to the rightful owners, investigators said in an arrest warrant. In a court filing, Newtown police allege that Edwin Robert Lewis III sold the Bankside Trail property in July 2021 to a Southbury resident for $65,000. The property was appraised at close to $260,000, according to town records referenced in the filing. Last week, Lewis, 61, was charged with second-degree money laundering, first-degree identity theft, first-degree larceny, criminal impersonation and second-degree forgery, Newtown police said. Reached by phone Thursday, Lewis referred questions to his attorney. The Willington mans attorney, Christopher Cerami, said Lewis plans to plead not guilty to the charges and we intend to present evidence in the appropriate forum to confirm his not guilty plea. Newtown investigators were alerted to the alleged fraudulent sale on Aug. 24, 2021, when the legitimate owner of the property reported a potential identity theft, according to the warrant for Lewis arrest. The owner, a man in his 60s who lives in Massachusetts, told police the lakeside property was an investment containing a home that was uninhabitable. The owner said he considered selling the property in the past, but never listed or offered it for sale, the warrant stated. However, the owner told police he heard from neighbors in Newtown that a man had been visiting the property and introducing himself as the new owner, the warrant stated. An attorney for the property owner who represented him in a civil proceeding over the sale could not immediately be reached for comment. Land records showed the property had been sold in July 2021 to a Southbury man for $65,000, the warrant stated. The Southbury man in his 30s, told investigators he was an entrepreneur who wanted to purchase land on Lake Zoar, according to the warrant. He told police he found the Bankside Trail home that appeared vacant and abandoned, and talked to neighbors who told him the owner considered selling the property, but it was not on the market, the warrant stated. The buyer told police he contacted a real estate agent, who gave him paperwork that listed several telephone numbers for the owner of the Bankside Trail home, the warrant stated. The buyer called the first number listed, which was for Lewis, and said he was looking to purchase the property, the warrant stated. Lewis identified himself as the propertys owner and agreed to sell it for $65,000, the warrant stated. The propertys actual appraised value, according to Newtown land records, was $258,537, the warrant stated. Police believe Lewis obtained a notarized deed from a bank in South Windsor on July 21, 2021, according to the warrant. It is believed that since the fraudulent seller ... and actual property owner ... have such similar names, the notary believed Lewis was the person listed on the property deed, the warrant stated. A sale and wire transfer for the property was completed on July 27, 2021, the warrant stated. The owner of the property filed a lawsuit against Lewis and the buyer in state Superior Court, requesting a judge to issue decrees naming him the rightful property owner and the buyers claim to the property null and void. He also asked for unspecified damages. The owner later removed the buyer from the suit. The court also issued a default judgment against Lewis on April 14 for failure to appear, civil court filings show. Police allege that the more than $62,000 Lewis received from the sale was funneled through an intermediary account controlled by another person before he deposited the proceeds under a different final amount in his personal bank account, according to the warrant. That was done to obfuscate the source of the fraudulent proceeds, the warrant stated. Lewis was released on $150,000 bond. Hes due to appear in court on Aug. 11. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the sale and wire transfer for the property was completed on July 27, 2021. SIMSBURY A mother bear and her two cubs were rescued from a storm drain in Simsbury this week, according to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Conservation. Environmental Conservation police with DEEP were called to a neighborhood on Wednesday. Officers originally thought the bear was using the drain to travel or to take a break from the heat, but they soon realized she needed help. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN, Texas After four hours of deliberation, a jury awarded two Sandy Hook parents defamed by Alex Jones $45.2 million in punitive damages Friday. Jones was not in the courtroom when the verdict was read. The award comes one day after the same jury required Jones to pay the parents $4.1 million for intentional infliction of mental anguish they endured during years of Jones Infowars broadcasts that claimed the death of their son Jesse in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings was a hoax committed by crisis actors. This means the parents will be awarded $49.3 million in total damages. This falls about $100 million short of the parents request of $150 million $1 in compensation and $1 in punishment for the estimated 75 million Americans who experts claim dont believe or doubt the shooting occurred. I think hes been held accountable, said Scarlett Lewis, mother of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was killed in the Sandy Hook massacre. And I am hoping that he really takes this to heart because in the end love is a choice, and what hes putting out there, lies, hatred, fear, thats a choice too, and I think sometimes we have to have the awareness to have a choice and I hope going forward that he will choose love. Alex Jones attorney challenged the verdict on the grounds that Texas has a cap of $750,000 in punitive damages. I'm sure the judgment will properly conform with the laws of Texas in that regard, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble said. The parents attorney has said hes prepared to fight any cap. Jones finances Alex Jones is probably worth between $135 million to $270 million and has been siphoning money from his main company, Free Speech Systems for years, especially after he lost three defamation lawsuits by default in 2021, according to an expert paid by two Sandy Hook parents in their lawsuit for damages. Jones withdrew $65 million in September 2021 after Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled that he had lost the lawsuits to Sandy Hook families by default for not complying with court orders, said financial forensic expert Bernard Francis Pettingill, Jr. on the stand in a Texas courthouse on Friday. He has a rabid following, Pettingill said. Hes a very successful businessman. After awarding $4.1 million to two parents Alex Jones defamed on Thursday, a jury heard evidence on Friday on his net worth, which they have to consider when deciding punitive damages. The jury must agree unanimously what the amount of damages will be, the judge said. They began deliberations on the damages phase around 1:30 p.m. Friday. The parents asked for $145.9 million in punitive damages, which would bring the total award to $150 million. Jones attorney recommended $270,000 in punitive damages. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis won their defamation lawsuit against Jones, who promoted the Sandy Hook shootings that killed their son Jesse as a hoax staged with crisis actors. The trial that concluded Wednesday focused on how much the jury will award for intentional infliction of mental anguish to the parents, who are claiming Jones lies are causing fear, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, on top of the grief that comes with losing a child. You cannot separate Alex Jones from the companies, Pettingill said when asked by a juror if Jones net worth was the same as his companys net worth. He is the company. Pettingill did not have access to financial records that Jones was supposed to file as part of the lawsuit. Instead Pettingill looked at what was publicly available, he said. Free Speech Systems is a private company, not publicly traded, so Jones does not have to submit paperwork to the state of Texas, he said. He estimated that Jones makes about $70 million a year through Infowars and the various products the company peddles including health supplements and books. Jones is carrying a $54 million loan he took out for one of his companies, which makes it appear that his net worth is less than it actually is, Pettingill said. He also didnt suffer any financial loses since being deplatformed barred from several social media companies in 2018 for hate speech. He made as much money as before, Pettingill said. Attorney Wesley Todd Ball, representing Heslin and Lewis implored the jury to come back with a $145.9 million verdict for damages to bring the total amount with the $4.1 million to about $150 million, during his closing argument Friday. They reached the $150 million figure by seeking $1 in compensation and $1 in punishment for the estimated 75 million Americans who experts claim dont believe or doubt the shooting occurred. That award would send a message not only to Jones but to others like him who promote conspiracy theories, Ball said. It will make them understand that they will sit their (butt) in that chair and respond if they do the same thing Alex Jones did, Ball said. Jones attorney Andino Reynal pointed out that the trial has already discussed Sandy Hook for a longer period than had Jones broadcast the issue on the air. He ran a story irresponsibly, Reynal said. He shouldnt have done it, he explained to why it happened. Reynal wanted the jury to consider that despite the mistake, Jones was reporting on a topic of national significance. Reynal asked the jury to come back with a fair and proportional damages verdict of $270,000 based on the number of hours of broadcast about 19 that were presented in the trial. The night before Jones said he was maxed out and couldnt afford the $4.1 million verdict, let alone more in punitive damages. Thats more money than my company or I personally have, but we are going to work on trying to make restitution there, Jones said on his Infowars platform after the $4.1 million verdict was read. What I did to those families was wrong, but I didnt do it on purpose, Jones said before giving his audience a pitch to send money to keep Infowars on the air. Were in bankruptcy, were all maxed out, Jones said before adding, if you dont fund us, if you dont buy products, we will shut down. Jones Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy last week but the Sandy Hook families suing Jones in this case and two others have said the companys debt is based on a fabricated loan from another Jones-controlled company. It is possible that Jones attorneys could invoke a Texas state law that caps damages in certain cases to $750,000. But the parents attorney, Mark Bankston, argued the cap doesnt apply in this case and said hes prepared to challenge the constitutionality of Texas cap if the defense tries to enforce it. However, Bankston said he does not think it will get to that point because the multiple Sandy Hook families suing Jones will be carving up the corpse of Infowars in bankruptcy. In the first phase of deliberations, the jury decided compensation for Heslin for the loss of his reputation for Infowars coverage that occurred in 2017 including a report questioning whether he held his son in the hours after he died. The 12-member jury also had to decide how much Heslin and Lewis should receive for the intentional infliction of mental anguish that spanned from 2013 to 2018. The trial resumed Friday to determine punitive damages for the same incidents of defamation. The parents were in the courtroom throughout the testimony. Jones arrived at the beginning of the day but left after roughly 10 minutes of testimony and had not returned by early afternoon. Heslin and Lewis have been in court every day with the exception of when mental health clinicians testified about the effect that Jones repeated contention that their son didnt die has had on their lives. Both later took the stand to give heart-wrenching testimony about Jesse and his last hours before he was killed by a lone gunman with 19 of his classmates and six educators. I got to look into (Jones) eyes and I got to tell him what the impact of his actions had me and my family and not just us but all the others and all the people that live in Sandy Hook and the ripple effect that had through the world, Lewis said after the verdict. They are still in fear of Sandy Hook deniers and had to go into isolation under the protection of security due to some encounters this week, their attorney Mark Bankston said. The $4.1 million will go to the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, Bankston said, referring to the nonprofit started by Lewis following her sons death. What a way to honor Jesse, Bankston said. To know that with this money thats being disgorged from Alex Jones, school children across this country are going to be taught social emotional learning. AUSTIN, Texas Alex Jones drew a few quizzical looks as he and his posse of security guards and attorneys strolled into lunch last Tuesday across the street from the courthouse where jurors have been tasked with deciding how much he should have to pay for the lies he made famous through his globe-spanning website, Infowars. Around the Texas capital, Jones is infamous for his angry run-ins with hecklers and protesters. But that afternoon, Jones was mostly met with indifference from the crowded lunchroom and after ordering a cup of coffee, he hastily left the restaurant leaving several of his attorneys behind. As if unable to help himself, he hurled a few loud insults at a table full of reporters on his way out the door. In a series of interviews over the last week, local residents said Jones reputation is not what it once was in Austin, the city where he built his first audience by spewing conspiracy theories on local public access television and radio before the internet lifted his ideas and spread them to millions of followers, including powerful figures like former president Donald Trump. One coffee shop patron noted years ago it was common to find stickers advertising Infowars plastered to light poles and street signs around town a kind of satirical homage to the citys Keep Austin Weird campaign. Now, however, he said its rare to see advertising for Jones around town, and his public image has soured amid his multiple legal battles with Sandy Hook families and embrace of a far-right message. But Jones got his practice promoting conspiracy theories like the one that has him facing three defamation damages trials in Texas and Connecticut on the Austin airwaves. He had this sort of history of trying to get attention and saying what needed to be said in order to get attention, said Amy Sanders, a former journalist and professor at the University of Texas at Austin Jones rise in Austin counter-culture Sergio Flores/For Hearst Connecticut Media Jones was born in Dallas in 1974 and later moved with his family to Austin, which is where he got his start in the 1990s hosting a call-in show on Austin Community Public Access Television. Several events around that time quickly became fodder for Jones early conspiracies and rants about government cover ups. In 1993, a siege by federal agents that resulted in the deaths of 86 members of a Branch Davidians compound in Waco, Texas about 100 miles from Austin became a topic of fascination for Jones, who later produced a documentary on the raid and led an effort to rebuild the church. Several years later, Jones began spreading false flag conspiracy theories about the Oklahoma City bombing by white nationalists, a theory that he later would use when talking about Sandy Hook. Sanders said that Jones beliefs did not depart very far from the culture of public broadcasting in Austin at the time noting that other hosts often used their airtime to discuss UFOs and other fringe beliefs. Most people today of course think of Austin as this very liberal bastion, but back when Alex Jones was running his public access television show, the counterculture was really sort of generically anti-authoritarian, a dont-tell-me-what-to-do kind of culture, Sanders said. Jones also found a receptive audience in Austins counter-culture scene, Sanders said, and he was soon hosting evening talk shows on KJFK, a local radio station. In 1997, the readers of the alternative weekly Austin Chronicle voted Jones Best Looking Crank, and two years later dubbed him the citys best talk radio host. Interestingly he was fired by the radio station shortly thereafter because advertisers had started to react negatively as he got, lets say, more grandiose in his conspiracies,'' Sanders said. By that point, however, Jones fame enabled him to secure a deal with Genesis Communication Network, a radio company that broadcast Jones show on over 100 stations across the country, according to Sanders. By the early 2000s, Jones had also launched Infowars as an online platform to sell products to his listeners. Reputation today As Jones fame grew, so did his notoriety in the city of Austin, with its large population of college students and an influx of residents from more traditionally liberal states like California. Dylan Lindsey, a 21-year-old former student at the University of Texas, likened Jones to the actor and Texas native Matthew McConaughey for the sporadic sightings that students and Austinites are known to report around town. Only with Jones, Lindsey said, those run-ins are often at local protests or parades where tensions run high and conflicts have occurred. While Lindsey said he's never personally encountered Jones, he said a few of his friends in college were "harassed" by the radio host at a demonstration several years ago. "This is definitely a more liberal city in general, so I think it's going to be difficult for him to find a favorable jury," Lindsey said while visiting with friends outside the Herman Marion Sweatt County Courthouse as jury selection took place last week. One current Texas student, 23-year-old Michael Hilborn, said he had seen Jones on several occasions around Austin while participating in Black Lives Matter marches and other protests. He just kind of shows up at large gatherings and tries to incite stuff to get attention, said Hilborn, referring to Jones as the town idiot. Yet while Jones public tirades often simply result in laughs from passers-by, Hilburn said that his show and conspiracy theories are still attractive to a small segment of the citys population. When people start taking what he says seriously, he becomes dangerous, Hilburn said. Jones himself was characteristically confident when asked about his reputation within the city, saying it was better than ever. All I get is like, basically high fives and support most places I go, Jones said. There are some areas where particularly super uneducated folks who arent into politics just dont know who I am. (A week later, Jones told reporters that he is planning to move out of the city to avoid its weaponized court jurisdiction). For others, however, Jones is little more than a longtime subject of local news coverage for his controversies, or perhaps a voice that comes over the airwaves while flipping through radio stations during long drives across Texas hinterlands. John Auchterlonie, a 65-year-old Travis County resident who was one of dozens people called for jury service last week, said he had occasionally come across Jones show on local radio over the years. His passing familiarity with Jones did not factor into jury selection, he said, and he was dismissed from the jury pool near the end of the day. I know who he is, Auchterlonie told a reporter outside the courthouse. Hes not my cup of tea. With Infowars broadcast online around the world, Sanders said that Jones today relies on his network of listeners who are willing to purchase everything from seeds and toothpaste to freeze dryers from the site, calling it the real key to Alex Jones success. Attorneys representing the families of Sandy Hook victims have estimated the size of Jones audience to be in the tens of millions of people just in the United States. Other than his occasional appearances in front of the media and television cameras at public demonstrations, however, Jones does little to make his presence in Austin well known. The location of his Infowars studios is nominally a secret kept by Jones company, Free Speech Systems LLC. In bankruptcy papers filed with the court last week, however, the company listed its place of business at an office park near the highway about four miles south of downtown. (In another set of filings, Jones listed the companys address as being on the top floor of a ritzy downtown office building). At the office park location last week there was a series of several small offices with tinted windows facing the parking lot. At least one of the offices appeared to be abandoned, while the others had blinds or black paper further covering whatever was inside. No one answered the door. When a reporter asked a man working at a nearby security services company whether Infowars was located next door, the man declined to discuss the topic and quickly closed the door. Donald Trump surprised Connecticut Republicans Thursday night by endorsing Leora Levy for U.S. Senate in a live phone call to an audience in Montville that included Levys two rivals, Themis Klarides and Peter Lumaj. Levy said the phone call from the former president came without warning during the Republican Town Committee fundraiser. She could be seen pacing the parking lot on her phone, deep in conversation. She said the call amounted to a brief interview with the former president, who quizzed her about issues and her competitors. Trump is full of surprises, Levy said. Asked after the event when she knew of the endorsement, she replied, Just this minute I almost didnt answer the call. She said the endorsement was a great honor. It will help me tremendously, she said. The phone call came as the Montville Republican Town Committee was nearing an end to its annual summer barbecue, where the three candidates for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate gave what will be among their final speeches before the primary Tuesday. The crowd applauded Levy and the master of ceremonies, Wills Pike, as they announced Trump was on the line. They held Levys cell phone to a microphone as Trump spoke. Im giving tonight my complete and total endorsement to Leora Levy, and shes going to go out and win this primary, Trump said. He said she will defeat Sen. Richard Blumenthal, whom Trump has repeatedly mocked on social media about his claims of service in Vietnam. Hes a total liar. Hes a sleazebag. But Leora is a great woman, he said. Its an honor to endorse her. Pike downplayed the impact of the endorsement, as did Klarides and Lumaj. The local town committee has endorsed Klarides in the primary. Klarides, the former House Republican leader, has publicly acknowledged she did not vote for Trump in 2020, while Levy and Lumaj frequently mention their continuing loyalty to the former president. Trump teased the crowd about his potential further involvement in Connecticut politics. Ill get up there and have a big rally or something, Trump said. AUSTIN, Texas Tears began to well up in Scarlett Lewis eyes on Wednesday as she watched Alex Jones grow frustrated trying to explain from a witness stand how he had gotten everything so wrong about Sandy Hook. Jones was careening between excuses he was simply asking questions, he was duped by so-called truthers, or that he had issued orders to staff that went ignored but as a judge repeatedly cut in to remind him, Jones was stuck now to rely on the truth. To Lewis, he seemed unable to grasp it. I don't think that he has a lot of love in his life. I don't think he's a very happy person, Scarlett said later that evening. I know that hurt people hurt people, and the amount of hurt that he's caused, I think is reflective of the amount of pain that he's in and I just felt a tremendous amount of compassion well up in me and I was fighting back tears. Lewis, who successfully sued Jones for defamation along with the father of her son, six-year-old Sandy Hook victim Jesse Lewis, spoke to Hearst Connecticut Media Group for nearly an hour Wednesday in the first media interview she has given during the nearly two-week trial in Texas. On Thursday, the jury returned a compensatory award of just over $4 million. It will consider punitive damages on Friday after hearing from witnesses. During the interview, Lewis said she wanted to make it clear that she felt sympathy for Jones despite the years he spent spewing conspiracies theories accusing her and other Sandy Hook victims of faking the tragedy conspiracies that have led Jones followers to hound Lewis and other victims even as the Infowars host has backed off of his previous claims. Lewis spoke to a reporter in Austin by phone, because she said she is still in isolation with Jesses father, Neil Heslin, following a series of encounters over the last week that left both parents rattled. In one incident, Lewis said, a car that was supposed to be carrying her son, JT Lewis, and his girlfriend was run off the road by another vehicle. Lewis said her security detail also spotted people trailing them around the city, and in one instance another driver attempted to block the parents vehicle. It's all very kind of surreal, Lewis said, a word that she repeated frequently in her recounting of the last two weeks. I am, like, really at a loss of words but it was deeply unsettling. Despite both her and Heslins continued anxiety over threats from Jones followers, both parents have been a steady presence in the courtroom, while Jones has come and gone as he continues to record his show on Infowars. On Tuesday, Heslin became the first of the Sandy Hook victims suing Jones to take the stand, only to discover that Jones would not be in the courtroom. I think its disrespectful, I think its a cowardly act, Heslin told the jury of Jones absence. (Through his attorneys, Heslin has declined to give public interviews). Lewis turn to take the stand came later Tuesday, and after a short break for lunch Jones arrived to take his seat at the defense table directly in from of Lewis. I was like, Oh my God, you know, this just increases my anxiety, Lewis recalled after seeing Jones. I wonder, What am I going to do? How am I going to find my words? But in fact, sitting across from him, and looking into his eyes and literally speaking directly to him gave me my confidence. And, and I felt just tremendous, I felt courage. Lewis forceful testimony, often directed at Jones, was widely shared across social media and the internet. My son existed, Lewis said in one clip that racked up more than 100,000 views. At one point, Lewis even extended an invitation for Jones to join her efforts to promote social and emotional learning through the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, which she started after the death of her son. Lewis said she stands by the offer, to which Jones also expressed an interest during his testimony. I mean, I hope that he chooses to live his life in a different way, she said. As for Jones own request to have Lewis and Heslin appear on his show, she said that neither planned to do so anytime soon. Lewis and Heslin are seeking $150 million in damages from Jones, plus an additional award for punitive damages. During his testimony, Jones said that any amount over $2 million would effectively force an end to the Infowars website. When asked whether that would be enough to stop Jones from continuing to spread false and baseless claims to his audience of millions, Lewis said she was hopeful that it would. I believe that we made a connection, Lewis said. I absolutely believe that if our lawsuit is successful, that it will change the way that he does business, and I believe that it will change the way others do business as well. If people think that they're going to be held accountable for lying about someone then they won't do it. As for her own outreach, Lewis said her staff at the Choose Love Movement have handled a tremendous amount of calls from people seeking to volunteer or donate money since she spoke about her work during her testimony. At one point while on the stand, Lewis attorneys began to play a promotional video for the nonprofit and Lewis caught Jones attention slipping away. Alex, I want you to hear this, too, she said, prompting him to look on as the video played. At the end of the day, Lewis approached Jones to offer him a bottle of water and several cough drops an acknowledgment of Jones difficulty speaking through a hacking cough, which he said was the result of a torn larynx. In the interaction that followed, Jones spoke face-to-face with Lewis and Heslin for the first time, telling them I let your son down and I apologize about everything. Within seconds, however, Jones had pivoted and began telling the parents about how they were being manipulated by their attorneys. One of the parents attorneys asked whether Jones would also apologize for a video he released earlier in the day calling Heslin slow, before another one of their attorneys stepped in to tell Jones to back off. What began as a gesture of kindness ended with another spectacle as the two sides were led out of the courtroom separately by bailiffs. That's the problem, Lewis said. I mean, he makes statements that are very human, and seemingly empathetic, and then he takes them and walks them back immediately afterwards. I felt so much compassion for him. Yet, I am not sure that he's capable of empathy and I know for a fact that he is completely unaware of the consequences, and doesnt care. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FANCY FARM, Ky. (AP) While Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear was consoling families displaced by historic flooding in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, Republicans at the states premier political event on the other side of the state were campaigning to oust him from office in 2023. GOP candidates speaking at the Fancy Farm picnic in western Kentucky bashed the Democratic governor's record earlier in this term, especially his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. But they also offered support for recovery efforts that Beshear is leading in the wake of historic flooding and tornadoes. While his challengers aimed zingers at him, Beshear spent the day meeting with families displaced by flash flooding that swamped the Appalachian region more than a week ago, killing 37. Beshear visited two state parks where some of the suddenly homeless took refuge. Today Im at our state parks, spending time with our eastern Kentucky families who have been displaced from the catastrophic flooding," Beshear posted on social media. "These Kentuckians have been through the unimaginable. My priority is being there for them. Last December, deadly tornadoes tore through parts of western Kentucky. The political speaking at the annual Fancy Farm picnic the traditional start of the fall campaign in Kentucky took place about 10 miles (16 kilometer) from Mayfield, which took a direct hit from a tornado. Living up to the event's reputation for edgy attacks, Republicans wanting to unseat Beshear took aim at restrictions that the governor imposed on businesses and gatherings in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor has said his actions saved lives at a perilous time when vaccines were not available. The state's GOP-dominated legislature reined in the governor's virus policymaking power in a case settled by the state's Supreme Court. GOP gubernatorial hopeful Ryan Quarles referred to Beshear as the "shutdown governor." He shut down our economy, said Quarles, the state's agriculture commissioner. "He shut down our mom and pop stores. He killed countless jobs and kept the big box stores open. Folks, just because we lived through a global pandemic doesn't mean that our rights, our freedoms and liberties should be tossed out the window, he added. In his speech, Kentucky Democratic Party Chairman Colmon Elridge came to the defense of Beshear, who consistently receives strong approval ratings from Kentuckians in polls. Elridge praised Beshear's efforts in leading recovery efforts in tornado-ravaged western Kentucky and said he'll do the same for flood victims in the state's Appalachian region. Once again, our governor is showing through his actions how we show up in moments of devastation and embrace our fellow Kentuckian, not as Democrats or Republicans, but as Kentuckians, Elridge said. The governor is highlighting his management of the state's economy in asking voters for a second term. Kentucky has posted records for job creation and investments during his term and recently posted its lowest-ever unemployment rates. Beshear was already a committed no-show for the state's premiere political event. The governor initially planned a visit to Israel that coincided with the Fancy Farm picnic. He canceled that trip after the massive flooding hit eastern Kentucky. The Fancy Farm stage was dominated by Republican officeholders reflecting the GOP's electoral dominance. The event is a rite of passage for statewide candidates, who are tested in stump-style speeches in the August heat while facing taunts and shouts from partisans from the other party. The political attacks were punctuated by calls for continued public support for people rebuilding from tornadoes and facing the same daunting task in flood-ravaged areas. We might be sharing a few laughs today, but whether were Republican or Democrat, know that we are with you," said GOP gubernatorial hopeful Daniel Cameron. "When natural disasters strike, we take off our partisan hats and we root for each other. We help repair and we help rebuild. Cameron then shifted into promoting his candidacy. He touted his endorsement from former President Donald Trump and his work as the state's attorney general in defending Kentuckys anti-abortion laws and fighting Biden administration policies in court. I am the best candidate and the only candidate that can beat Andy Beshear next fall, Cameron said. Two other GOP gubernatorial candidates also made pitches to the crowd and a statewide television audience that watched state Auditor Mike Harmon and state Rep. Savannah Maddox. The still-emerging 2023 governor's race already is overshadowing the state's top-of-the-ticket race this year the contest between Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and Democratic challenger Charles Booker. Paul was unable to attend the picnic because of Senate duties. Also missing from the political speaking Saturday was Kentucky's most powerful Republican, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell. A picnic mainstay for decades, McConnell relishes the verbal combat but also missed the event because of Senate duties. In a Senate speech Saturday, McConnell said the federal role in the long recovery for flood-damaged areas in his home state will grow once the rebuilding begins. Soon Ill visit the region myself to meet with flood victims and listen to their concerns," McConnell said. "Then Ill take what I hear from my constituents back to Washington and ensure we stand by their side as we rebuild bigger and better than before. Biden declared a federal disaster to direct relief money to hard-hit Kentucky counties. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) Taiwan said Saturday that Chinas military drills appear to simulate an attack on the self-ruled island, after multiple Chinese warships and aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei that infuriated Beijing. Taiwan's armed forces issued an alert, dispatched air and naval patrols around the island, and activated land-based missile systems in response to the Chinese exercises, the Ministry of National Defense said. As of 5 p.m., 20 Chinese aircraft and 14 ships continued to carry out sea and air exercises around the Taiwan Strait, it said. The ministry said that zones declared by China as no-go areas during the exercises for other ships and aircraft had seriously damaged the peace." It emphasized that Taiwan's military does not seek war, but would prepare and respond for it accordingly. China's Ministry of Defense said in a statement Saturday that it had carried out military exercises as planned in the sea and airspaces to the north, southwest, and east of Taiwan, with a focus on testing the capabilities of its land strike and sea assault systems. China launched live-fire military drills following Pelosis trip to Taiwan earlier this week, saying it violated the one-China policy. China sees the island as a breakaway province to be annexed by force if necessary, and considers visits to Taiwan by foreign officials as recognizing its sovereignty. Taiwan's army also said it detected four unmanned aerial vehicles flying in the vicinity of the offshore county of Kinmen on Friday night and fired warning flares in response. The four drones, which Taiwan believed were Chinese, were spotted over waters around the Kinmen island group and the nearby Lieyu Island and Beiding islet, according to Taiwans Kinmen Defense Command. Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a group of islands only 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province in the Taiwan Strait, which divides the two sides that split amid civil war in 1949. Our government & military are closely monitoring Chinas military exercises & information warfare operations, ready to respond as necessary, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said in a tweet. I call on the international community to support democratic Taiwan & halt any escalation of the regional security situation, she added. The Chinese military exercises began Thursday and are expected to last until Sunday. So far, the drills have included missile strikes on targets in the seas north and south of the island in an echo of the last major Chinese military drills in 1995 and 1996 aimed at intimidating Taiwans leaders and voters. Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills, while the U.S. has deployed numerous naval assets in the area. The Biden administration and Pelosi have said the U.S. remains committed to a one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. The administration discouraged but did not prevent Pelosi from visiting. China has also cut off defense and climate talks with the U.S. and imposed sanctions on Pelosi in retaliation for the visit. Pelosi said Friday in Tokyo, the last stop of her Asia tour, that China will not be able to isolate Taiwan by preventing U.S. officials from traveling there. Pelosi has been a long-time advocate of human rights in China. She, along with other lawmakers, visited Beijings Tiananmen Square in 1991 to support democracy two years after a bloody military crackdown on protesters at the square. Meanwhile, cyberattacks aimed at bringing down the website of Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs had doubled between Thursday to Friday, compared to similar attacks ahead of Pelosis visit, according to Taiwans Central News Agency. The ministry did not specify the origin of the attack. Other ministries and government agencies, such as the Ministry of Interior, also faced similar attacks on their websites, according to the report. A distributed-denial-of-service attack is aimed at overloading a website with requests for information that eventually crashes it, making it inaccessible to other users. Also Saturday, the Central News Agency reported that the deputy head of the Taiwan Defense Ministrys research and development unit, Ou Yang Li-hsing, was found dead in his hotel room after suffering a heart attack. He was 57, and had supervised several missile production projects. The report said his hotel room in the southern county of Pingtung, where he was on a business trip, showed no signs of intrusion. Taiwanese overwhelmingly favor maintaining the status quo of the island's de facto independence and reject Chinas demands that the island unify with the mainland under Communist control. Globally, most countries subscribe to the one-China" policy, which is a requirement to maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing. Any company that fails to recognize Taiwan as part of China often faces swift backlash, often with Chinese consumers pledging to boycott its products. On Friday, Mars Wrigley, the manufacturer of the Snickers candy bar, apologized after it released a video and materials featuring South Korean boy band BTS that had referred to Taiwan as a country, drawing swift criticism from Chinese users. In a statement on its Weibo account, the company expressed deep apologies." Mars Wrigley respects Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity and conducts business operations in strict compliance with local Chinese laws and regulations, the statement said. In a separate post, the firm added that there is only one China and said that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. Getty / Contributed NEW LONDON Police are looking for video that may help determine how a seagull suffered a significant injury to its bill Friday morning, requiring the animal to be put down. New London police said the Animal Control officer was called to the Fishers Island Ferry terminal for a report of an injured seagull around 8 a.m. Friday. EAST LYME Police say they have charged a second person who failed to intervene as a local woman allegedly slapped, strangled and smothered a toddler with a pillow. East Lyme police said 38-year-old David Martin, of East Lyme, was charged Friday by a felony warrant with one count of risk of injury to a child. Police said the arrest is in connection with the June arrest of Katie Nichols, 36, who has pleaded not guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment, risk of injury to a child and negligent cruelty. Nichols remains held on $250,000 bond and is next scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 23. Police said their investigation revealed that on several occasions Martin was present during incidents in which a child was abused by Nichols, and failed to intervene. In February, the state Department of Children and Families was notified by Nichols therapist that she had admitted to slapping the child on the stomach, and she also shakes, strangles and smothers him, East Lyme Police Detective Jean Babcock wrote in the arrest warrant affidavit. When an investigator visited the home that month, Nichols admitted having a history of yelling, hitting, violently shaking and smothering (the child) in a pillow, the warrant stated. The child was evaluated at the hospital, but no overt signs of trauma were found by medical staff, according to the warrant. Police on Friday did not elaborate on the relationship between Martin and Nichols. Martin was released on $50,000 bond and is due to appear Monday in state Superior Court in New London. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Native American voices and artistry are at the core of a new traveling exhibition of clay pottery from the Pueblo Indian region of the American Southwest, as major art institutions increasingly defer to tribal communities for displays of ancestral art and artifacts. In all, 60 Native American artists, museum professionals, storytellers and political leaders collaborated to curate the exhibit. Each picked a few of their favorite pieces from institutional collections in New Mexico and New York that didnt always defer to Indigenous perspectives. Personal statements and sometimes poetry accompany the clay ceramics. Among the many curators, Tara Gatewood a broadcaster and familiar voice across Indian Country from the daily talk radio show Native American Calling picked out an ancestral jar decorated with curling arrows that was created roughly 1,000 years ago. For the exhibition, Gatewood posed a few heartfelt questions to the pot's unnamed creator. Is your blood mine? she said. Where else beyond the surface of this vessel do your fingerprints appear on the blueprint of my own life? The exhibition Grounded in Clay debuted July 31 at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture in Santa Fe. It travels next year to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, before additional stops at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the Saint Louis Art Museum. The bulk of the exhibit's roughly 110 ceramic pieces are borrowed from the Indian Arts Research Center once reserved for visiting scholars and archaeologists at the campus of the century-old School of Advanced Research, set amid an affluent Santa Fe neighborhood of stuccoed homes. Efforts have been underway at the center for more than a decade to shift how Indigenous art and artifacts are cared for, displayed and interpreted under guidance and collaboration with Native communities. The changes were initiated under Cynthia Chavez Lamar recently named the director of the Washington-based National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. The effort also created a set of guidelines for collaboration that can help Native American communities everywhere communicate and build trust with museums. Curators on Grounded in Clay hail from the 19 Native American communities of New Mexico, the West Texas community of Ysleta del Sur and the Hopi tribe of Arizona. They include an array of accomplished potters, jewelers, bead makers, fashion designers and museum professionals among them, sculptor Cliff Fragua, who created the likeness of 1680 pueblo revolt leader Po'pay that stands in National Statutory Hall in the U.S. Capitol. Elysia Poon, who guided the curating process over the course of more than two years, paced the museum gallery during final touches prior to opening. We try to make sure everyone's voice is represented in some way, said Poon, director of the Indian Arts Research Center. It's either in the label, or the quote up here, or in that panel. It's in poetry form, other ones are in prose, others are a little more abstract in how they write. Some really reflect on the pot itself ... or fuzzy memories of growing up around pottery, how this pot inspires memory." Pueblo pottery traditions rely on coiling strands of clay into an array of shapes and sizes without a spinning pottery wheel. Pots, plates or figurines are often fired near the ground within improvised outdoor kilns. Brian Vallo, a consultant to metropolitan museums and governor of Acoma Pueblo from 2019-21, chose two pieces for the new traveling exhibition both with unmistakable ties to Acoma, known for its mesa-top sky city" and hundreds of contemporary artists and artisans. He found them in the New York-based Vilcek Foundation, a participant in the traveling show. He says something beautiful and refreshing awaits experienced museum-goers and curious tourists. It's Native voices, and it's even the items that are selected by Native people themselves, not the institutions, Vallo said. They'll appreciate that these cultures survived and are thriving, and the creative spirit of our people is very much alive. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN, TEXAS After four hours of deliberation, a jury awarded two Sandy Hook parents defamed by Alex Jones $45.2 million in punitive damages Friday. The figure falls shorts of the $150 million the parents sought, but brings total damages owed to the parents to $49.3 million when the $4.1 million from an initial verdict on Thursday is included. Thats on top of about $1.5 million in sanctions Jones had already been ordered to pay. As the judge read the verdict, their attorneys shook the hands of Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, parents to 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, who was killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. One attorney gave Lewis a hug. I think hes (Jones) been held accountable, Lewis said afterward to reporters. And I am hoping that he really takes this to heart because in the end love is a choice, and what hes putting out there lies, hatred, fear thats a choice too, and I think sometimes we have to have the awareness to have a choice, and I hope going forward that he will choose love. Jones was not in the courtroom when the verdict was read. His attorney Andino Reynal immediately challenged the verdict, invoking a state law that caps damages for certain cases at $750,000 for each plaintiff. I'm sure the judgment will properly conform with the laws of Texas in that regard, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble told Reynal. The award comes one day after the same jury required Jones to pay the parents $4.1 million for intentional infliction of mental anguish they endured during years of Jones Infowars broadcasts that claimed the death of their son Jesse in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings was a hoax committed by crisis actors. The trial that concluded Wednesday focused on how much the jury would award for intentional infliction of mental anguish to the parents, who claimed Jones lies are causing fear, anxiety and post-traumatic stress, on top of the grief that comes with losing a child. Jurors then heard testimony about Jones net worth on Friday. The parents requested $150 million total $1 in compensation and $1 in punishment for the estimated 75 million Americans who experts claim dont believe or doubt the shooting occurred. The parents have said their goal is to punish Jones for his lies in the hope that he and others will think twice about promoting conspiracy theories. They won their defamation lawsuit last year against Jones, who promoted repeatedly that the Sandy Hook shootings that killed their son Jesse were staged or a government cover up. I got to look into his (Jones) eyes and I got to tell him what the impact of his actions had on me and my family, and not just us, but all the others and all the people that live in Sandy Hook and the ripple effect that had through the world, Lewis said. She took the stand on Wednesday in an emotional testimony that included video footage of her son. That was a cathartic moment for me, to literally watch that video that had clips of Jesse running after all the times he said Jesse didnt exist, to make him sit there and watch that, it was a beautiful moment, she said Friday. After the verdict, Lewis and Heslin hung around the fifth floor of the courthouse, smiling and taking photos with their attorneys. We did exactly what we came to accomplish, said Wesley Todd Ball, one of their attorneys. Speaking to reporters afterward, Reynal said that the punitive award should be capped at $1.5 million in total under Texas law, and that he would make such arguments to the court. In the meantime, he said, Jones would continue broadcasting his show for the foreseeable future. "He's going to keep doing his job holding the power structure accountable," Reynal said, according to KEYE-TV in Austin. Jones company Free Speech Systems, which is also liable in the case, filed for bankruptcy last week, a day after Jones sued the company to be held harmless in any jury award. The Austin case has been called groundbreaking in that the acts of defamation occurred over the span of years. Jones will next face similar defamation damages trials in Connecticut and Texas involving other families who lost loved ones in the Sandy Hook massacre. Battle continues But the fight to hold Jones accountable will continue with sanctions and a battle to keep the verdict intact, their attorney said. After Reynal said he would challenge the amount of damages the jury determined, Attorney Mark Bankston, representing Heslin and Lewis, pointed out several objections he would be filing on how Jones and Reynal handled the trial, accusing the defense of trying to hide, destroy and tamper with evidence, and then tell a jury that it's our fault for not having it. Reynal also attempted to get the judge to require Bankston to turn over volumes of text messages his office had inadvertently sent to the plaintiffs. The Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the United States Capitol has asked Bankston for the texts as part of their work, he said Thursday. Im not getting between you and Congress, Gamble told Bankston when Reynal argued that the data should be returned to the defense. Gamble gave her blessing for the records to go the Jan. 6 committee, with the exception of any confidential medical information, though Reynal objected, arguing Bankston had surprised the defense with the contents of the phone during testimony. We became aware of the inadvertent disclosure while Mr. Jones was on the stand, Reynal said. Thats not true, Gamble replied. You're the one who gave me the email that showed me that you had known about it 12 days earlier. Reynal countered that it was their position, and said it was her prerogative to disagree, at which Gamble laughed. I disagree with the written word in front of me, she said. Yes, that's right. The materials included psychiatric evaluations of other Sandy Hook parents who sued Jones for defamation, a mistake that led a Connecticut judge to require Reynal and Attorney Norm Pattis, another lawyer representing Jones in Connecticut, to appear in court to discuss the issue in the next few weeks. Bankston said Thursday that the cell phone records also include intimate messages with Rogers Stone, an ally of former President Donald Trump who was subpoenaed alongside Jones by the Jan. 6 committee last year. Shortly after the verdict, Stone was seen in an Infowars video urging viewers to donate to support Jones. Jones net worth Jurors heard additional testimony on Friday from an economist who estimated Alex Jones net worth was up to $270 million. That testimony was meant to help them determine the punitive damages Jones and his parent company, Free Speech Systems, must pay. Jones took to his Infowars platform Thursday night to discuss the initial $4.1 million verdict which he called a major victory for truth. Thats more money than my company or I personally have, but we are going to work on trying to make restitution there, Jones said on his Infowars platform after the verdict was read. What I did to those families was wrong, but I didnt do it on purpose, Jones said before giving his audience a pitch to send money to keep Infowars on the air. Were in bankruptcy, were all maxed out, and then added, if you dont fund us, if you dont buy products (from his platform) we will shut down. In the first phase of deliberations, the jury decided compensation for Heslin for the loss of his reputation for Infowars coverage that occurred in 2017 including a report questioning whether he held his son in the hours after he died. The 12-member jury also had to decide how much Heslin and Lewis should receive for the intentional infliction of mental anguish caused by Jones false reports that spanned from 2013 to 2018. The second phase was based on the same incidents of defamation. But the jury had to come back with a unanimous verdict that took into consideration Jones net worth. Jones is probably worth between $135 million to $270 million and has been siphoning money from his main company, Free Speech Systems for years, especially after he lost three defamation lawsuits by default in 2021, according to an expert paid by two Sandy Hook parents in their lawsuit for damages. Jones withdrew $65 million in September 2021 after Gamble ruled that he had lost the lawsuits to Sandy Hook families by default for not complying with court orders, said forensic economist Bernard Francis Pettingill, Jr. on the stand in a Texas courthouse on Friday. Choose Love The parents plan to put the money toward the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement, the nonprofit started by Lewis following her sons death. The nonprofit provides social and emotional learning programs for schools across the globe. This money will help us be able to have an even greater impact, this is one of the most powerful ways to keep kids safe in schools," Lewis said. This will enable us to get to the point where we will be able to offer this comprehensive program on an individual basis for about one penny, which has been my dream, she added.My dream is that every child gets these essential life skills that are a direct path to flourishing and this will enable us to do that. When asked by a reporter whether she got through to Jones, Lewis said theres a possibility. He knows hes been sent a very strong message, she said. He's been held accountable for what he's done in my case so I hope he makes the right choice going forward. Staff writers John Moritz and Jordan Fenster contributed to this story. Tuesdays primary for the nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal in November will be a referendum on the soul of the Connecticut Republican Party. If moderate Themis Klarides the convention-endorsed candidate wins, GOP voters will have reaffirmed their support for middle-of-the-road politics, for which Connecticut Republicans have been known for decades. If either Leora Levy, of Greenwich, or Peter Lumaj, of Fairfield, emerges with the nomination, state Republicans will have abandoned their reputations for being socially liberal, lurching toward the ultra-conservative MAGA right. Levys late-campaign endorsement from Donald Trump on Thursday night, in a phone call during an event in Montville, adds more gravity to Primary Day. Klarides, of Madison, the former House minority leader of the General Assembly with 22 years in the legislature, has a major advantage, being at the top of the ballot. Another factor in her favor is that Lumaj, an immigration attorney, and Levy, a big-money contributor who is a member of the Republican National Committee, could split the hard-right vote in a solid blue state that hasnt had a Republican U.S. senator since Lowell P. Weicker Jr. left office in 1988 after serving 17 years. I am proud to be endorsed by those who know how to win in Connecticut: mayors, first selectmen, town councilors, state representatives, state senators, and town committee chairs, Klarides said in a statement Friday morning in response to Trumps endorsement of Levy. From Greenwich to Putnam; Torrington to Stonington, I have the support of the grassroots, the Republican party, law enforcement including the full endorsement of the State Police and the Fraternal Order of Police and those who actually win elections this state. If Levy, who has touted endorsements from ultra-conservative members of Congress as well as a high rating from the National Rifle Association, or Lumaj, who calls himself the most-conservative candidate in the race pulls off a victory on Tuesday, it could indicate that Connecticut Republicans are moving more in line with a national party that is still paying fealty to Trump, and working against womens reproductive rights. Klarides supports abortion rights, albeit with some limitations. But with less than 30 percent of the more than 463,000 registered Republicans likely to cast ballots, the winner will be determined by turnout. In the 20 years since the last September primary, Republicans have failed to reach 30 percent primary participation. When Linda McMahon won the right to challenge Blumenthal in 2010, only 29.8 percent of GOP voters turned out for the three-way primary, for which McMahon received 60,479 votes. The 2014 primary for the GOP governor nomination, when Tom Foley, of Greenwich, received 44,144 votes to John McKinney, of Fairfields, 35,282, had an anemic 19.5 percent turnout. Most endorsed candidates win the primaries, with a few notable exceptions, including Bob Stefanowski, who garnered the GOP primary in 2018 over then-Mayor Mark Boughton, of Danbury; and the 2014 primary for lieutenant governor won by Heather Somers, of Groton over Penny Bacchiochi, of Stafford. But if Levy or Lumaj scores the upset, it will mean that Connecticut Republicans have taken a sharp turn to the right. Klarides, who voted for the historic gun-safety measures following the Sandy Hook School shooting of 2012, stresses that she supports reproductive rights. She continually criticizes Blumenthal and Biden, stressing that she represents a stark choice. Im the only candidate who can beat Dick Blumenthal in November, is her mantra on the campaign trial, most recently on WFSB Channel 3s CT 22 program recorded on Thursday for Sunday broadcast. I want to give Connecticut and this country back to the people, she said. I dont feel that Dick Blumenthal represents Connecticut. I feel he represents Joe Biden and the radical left, and I dont feel like thats representative of Connecticut or this country. People are really sick and tired that they cant afford gas in this state. They cannot afford groceries. She dismissed campaign-trail criticism from Levy, Lumaj and other state conservatives. Those are comments by people who are behind and desperate, unfortunately, Klarides said. I believe in lower taxes. I believe in less regulation. I believe in strong borders. I believe in supporting our law enforcement. The question people have to ask themselves on Tuesday is: Who has the best chance to beat Dick Blumenthal and thats me because I have actually won 11 elections in this state. Levy cited a scheduling conflict Thursday as the reason she failed to get to the TV station, where Lumaj and Klarides were interviewed in separate segments. In the early afternoon, around the time the TV recording was finished, Levy released an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, of South Carolina, who after the Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, voted against the certification of President Joe Bidens victory. Within hours, during a local GOP picnic in Montville, Levy, wielding her mobile phone, got a personal call from Trump with an endorsement that may or may not help her campaign with five days before the primary. I am running to take on the far left, whose policies will make our country look more like the communist Cuba my family and I escaped in 1960 than the United States we have all known and loved, Levy writes on her website. I am running for Senate to lead the fight for freedom. Joe Biden isnt on the ballot in November but his policies are. The way to beat back Biden is to beat Dick Blumenthal and I am the conservative candidate who can get it done. Lumaj, in the TV stations Rocky Hill studio, continued to position himself as the only true conservative among the three candidates. I think that this midterm election is one of the most significant elections in the history of the United States, at least since (Ronald) Reagan, if not since (Abraham) Lincoln, the Albania-born Lumaj said. We have a confrontation in our nation, which is between two irreconcilable entities. I grew up in a country where I have seen state-ism. Ive seen socialism. I know what that evil ideology can do to people and nations, and whether we like it or not, socialism is here and we had better defeat it. Pressed by reporters on the panel on the difference between federally funded services for people and the totalitarian dictatorship he escaped as a young man, Lumaj, who received more than 489,000 votes during his unsuccessful run for secretary of the state in 2014, said democracy and socialism are two different things. When the government becomes a part of every aspect of your life, which it has become in our nation, that should concern all of us, Lumaj said. You look at the currency depreciation, what is happening with the Federal Reserve, you and I are being prevented from creating wealth and equity right now, which is a God-given right. Lumaj was recently heckled by supporters of Levy, who charged that he is working with Klarides team to deny Levy the nomination. After the trios only debate last month in New Haven, Lumaj noted that Levys position on abortion changed from pro-choice to pro-life, which Levy described as an evolution. I wouldnt call it flip-flopping, Levy told reporters after the 45-minute debate. I would call it learning from life. My heart changed, and isnt that what we want from all Americans? A former critic of Donald Trump, Levy then spoke glowingly of the former president. Look at the policy when President Trump was in office, she said. Our economy was strong. Everybody who wanted a job had a job. Highest employment for Blacks, Hispanics, women, young people. We were energy independent. In fact, we were a net exporter. Where would you rather be living? In America before 2020, or America since? But in two recent polls, Blumenthal at this point holds double-digit leads over any Republican challenger. Ben Proto, a Stratford lawyer who is the state Republican chairman, said the eventual candidate to challenge Blumenthals attempt at a third six-year term is in the hands of his partys voters. Republicans have a tremendous opportunity in November to change not only the face of the political landscape but the majority in the U.S. Senate, Proto said in a phone interview. I urge all Republicans to come out. Let your voice be heard on who should be the candidates to run against Dick Blumenthal and (4th District U.S. Rep.) Jim Himes. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT MONROE A woman was killed Friday morning after a fire broke out at a home on Bagburn Hill Road, officials said. Monroe firefighters were called the home in the 100 block of Bagburn Hill Road after a witness reported smoke from the home around 9 a.m., fire officials said. What a lot of rubbish Western leaders and commentators are extruding about Taiwan. If the Western world is really prepared to defend Taiwan against the arrogant aggression of mainland China, why dont they invite the last free bit of China to join Nato? After all, Nato these days operates all over the world, bombing Libya and sending troops to Afghanistan. It cannot say that China is outside its area. And Taiwan maintains very serious armed forces which would be a credit to the alliance. If the Western world is really prepared to defend Taiwan against the arrogant aggression of mainland China, why dont they invite the last free bit of China to join Nato? After all, Nato these days operates all over the world, bombing Libya and sending troops to Afghanistan. It cannot say that China is outside its area. And Taiwan maintains very serious armed forces which would be a credit to the alliance (Pictured: Taiwanese fighter jets) But no such invitation will be offered because our defence of Taiwan is bluster, a lot of noise made to hide utter weakness. Such a pledge might face a real test from China, a genuine superpower, rather than from a semi-decrepit Russia. So we do not make the pledge. The truth about Taiwan is that the West abandoned it long ago, and is quietly hoping that the Taiwanese will make peace with Peking (I refuse to call IT by its new name), as the people of Hong Kong eventually sank under Chinese dictatorship, while we did nothing to enforce the treaty we had signed with the Peking superpower. This was not our first shameful retreat. In late 2008, Gordon Brown sought Pekings help in stemming the banking crisis. China saw our bankruptcy as its chance. For decades, it had resented Britains longstanding and correct view that Tibets position was special and different from the rest of China. This infuriated the Chinese leadership, who like to pretend that Tibet has always been part of their empire. We do not know exactly what happened, but a few weeks after the IMF approach, the then Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, slipped an announcement on to the Foreign Office website that Britain had finally after 60 years of refusing to do so recognised Tibet as part of the Peoples Republic of China. When I found out about this in 2010, I wrote This is a total and unmitigated diplomatic defeat, and a warning of worse to come as we learn to toady to the new superpower. Since 2005, we have had two Chinese presidential visits to Britain, during which our police have worked hard to ensure that the visiting tyrants have been spared the sight of protesters against their rule. Tibetan freedom campaigners have been especially roughly handled. Can we really pretend to be resolute defenders of Taiwan when we (yes, that includes the mighty USA, though the British record is no better) are too scared of China to recognise Taiwan as a country or to maintain an embassy in its capital Taipei? It really is time that we in the West began to understand the danger from China is already far greater than from any other country, and comes from Chinas wealth and influence as well as from its undoubted military power. (File pic) Or when we allowed Taiwan to be expelled from the United Nations on the say-so of the Communist Chinese? Of course we cannot, and the Chinese dictatorship knows it. How they must laugh at our posturing. It really is time that we in the West began to understand the danger from China is already far greater than from any other country, and comes from Chinas wealth and influence as well as from its undoubted military power. Cambridge University recently developed a startling closeness to China. It has rowed back a little from that, but many other British universities have lucrative and sycophantic partnerships with China. The problem is worse in free countries closer to the Peoples Republic. Last year, Radio New Zealand reported the suspicions of academics that the Chinese Communist Party was infiltrating universities there. Also in New Zealand, a distinguished China expert, Anne-Marie Brady, suffered mysterious break-ins and other harassment after publishing material unwelcome to the Chinese state. New Zealands political and academic establishment has, to put it politely, done little to support her. If this can happen in an established Western parliamentary democracy, who is safe from it? At the peak of its power, Stalins Soviet Union never managed to attain such influence in Western countries. People sometimes ask me why I refuse to call the Chinese capital by its new name and stick to calling it Peking. It is very simple. I do it because I know it annoys the Chinese Communist Party. And I regard it as a personal duty to show my contempt for that horrible organisation. I spent long periods in China in the early part of this century, reporting for The Mail on Sunday, hugely helped by the brilliant photographer Richard Jones, who was in those days based in Hong Kong and was ceaselessly in and out of the Peoples Republic. Together, we investigated official cruelty, brutality and vandalism. We spoke to a woman whose house had been demolished because she refused to have an abortion (a womans right to choose, anybody?). We saw appalling pollution. We were among the first Westerners to report fully on the oppression of the Uighurs in Chinas far west, now well-known but then, in December 2009, little-noticed. Richards superb pictures revealed too much of the truth. At the end of our journeys, especially when we slipped back into what was then the safe haven of Hong Kong, we would breathe out with relief and wonder why the world was not paying more attention. After my first visit to modern Shanghai, a gigantic monument to the new mixture of tyranny and prosperity, I told Richard that I found China exhilarating, astonishing and terrifying. It seemed that a frightening new power was arising, writes Peter Hitchens After my first visit to modern Shanghai, a gigantic monument to the new mixture of tyranny and prosperity, I told Richard that I found China exhilarating, astonishing and terrifying. It seemed that a frightening new power was arising. It was enormous and had limitless potential, as an economic force and a military titan. And it had smashed into tiny pieces the fantasy which gripped the Western world at the end of the Cold War. This fantasy was that despotism, such as the old Soviet Unions, made people poor as well as unfree. So the idea spread that, as people get more prosperous, they will want and get political freedom. China proved for all time that tyranny can make people affluent, and that they do not automatically seek political freedom just because they are better off. By contrast, the old Soviet Union was always greatly limited by its failure to make its people prosperous. Anyone who visited it with open eyes could see the grim conditions of its people. And for the same reason Moscow had little power to buy friends and allies in free nations, relying instead on Communist fanatics or pathetic loners for sale for a few hundred pounds. What we face now is wholly different and much more dangerous. The USSRs leaders suspected so strongly that they were wrong that they eventually gave up power. Chinas power elite is utterly confident in its rightness, and fiercely patriotic, too. It does not secretly envy us. On the contrary, it despises our weakness. If we wish to resist it, we need better, more subtle weapons than bombast. The first time I heard of Instagram was about ten years ago while staying with a group of fifty-something friends. Someone asked if I knew about this fun app where you share pictures under a nickname and write a witty caption. It didnt sound that compelling to me, but I was eager to see what they were talking about so I joined with a private account. Now I regard the app very differently. Professionally, Im judged by my audience size. How many people follow me, how much attention I can attract. Someone asked if I knew about this fun app where you share pictures under a nickname and write a witty caption. It didnt sound that compelling to me, but I was eager to see what they were talking about so I joined with a private account. Now I regard the app very differently. Over the past decade, Instagram has increasingly become big business influencers can make millions by amassing large followings and it has drifted away from being just a place to post snaps for friends to see. Even so, Ive still enjoyed being able to peer into the lives of both those I know personally and those I dont. Or at least I did until very recently, when Instagram changed its algorithm. To compete with arch rival TikTok, the powers that be at Instagram decided the app should prioritise videos over images when deciding what to show users as we scroll through our feeds. Now the whole thing is a nightmare. Im fed an endless stream of posts by people I have no interest in, complete with noisy videos which wake my bedmate up at night when I sneak a peek at my feed. Other Instagram users complain that their posts have slipped so far down the new pecking order that their followers never see them. Meta (Instagrams owner) has reportedly backtracked on the changes but Im still getting far too many women showing me ways to tuck in my shirt to a Dua Lipa soundtrack for my taste. But the damage has been done and theres now a new kid on the block: Be Real. Its a social-media app like Instagram and TikTok, but the difference is its designed as an antidote to the careful presentation of our lives where pictures and videos are scrubbed up and edited through various filters. All Be Real followers are notified simultaneously at an unpredictable two-minute time slot and asked to post whatever they are doing right there and then. The random timing of this call to action makes it hard to construct a post showing a perfect existence (most people cant have a gorgeous tablescape ready at all times, or appear in flawless make-up all day). The whole point is to be impromptu. In the interests of research, I tried it out and had to post a hideous selfie with no time to even brush my hair and a snap of my messy desk. Alexandra Shulman: To compete with arch rival TikTok, the powers that be at Instagram decided the app should prioritise videos over images when deciding what to show users as we scroll through our feeds. Now the whole thing is a nightmare. Im fed an endless stream of posts by people I have no interest in, complete with noisy videos which wake my bedmate up at night when I sneak a peek at my feed. Looking at the app, the majority of posts were similarly mundane. A friend went to a party last week and reported a moment where half the guests suddenly stopped, like in a childrens game of musical statues, and brought out their phones to upload their Be Real moment. For many of us less in thrall to social media, that doesnt sound so appealing. I doubt Ill use Be Real again. However, for a generation who have been brought up to feel that their place in the world is judged by their social media persona, Be Real is an exciting new toy precisely because it captures the messy imperfection of real life, accepts that people and places rarely look pretty and encouragers its users to record a moment they have no control over. Music for those stuck in the middle age Whenever dedicated fashion ranges for older people are mooted, most of the target audience hates the idea. Who wants to be the person who wears the sartorial equivalent of a Stannah stairlift? But clearly when it comes to music tastes the middle-aged dont have the same reservations. The audience for Boom a new radio station aimed at oldies is indeed booming, featuring avuncular-style DJs and playlists. Personally, Im a Radio 6 Music type. But then Im the kind of deluded person who thinks I can still wear tie dye. Why Im made up for the Lionesses Watching the Lionesses triumph from a seaside bar in Italy, I became increasingly ashamed of how, until that final, Id had little interest in the whole thing. Now, like the rest of the nation, I am in love with the squad. Alongside their skill, determination and energy, another of the England womens teams qualities is obsessing me. Their make-up. How on earth did the players manage to stop their eyeliner and mascara from running? What hair product did they use to stop their shining ponytails collapsing, with scarcely a stray hair escaping? And most of all, what about the nails? Unchipped, colourful manicures incredible. Alexandra Shulman: It would certainly be a pity if these wonderful athletes felt pressured to look immaculate. But equally its wonderful for young girls to see success stories in a whole range of professions happy to engage with the same make-up and hairdos they love. It would certainly be a pity if these wonderful athletes felt pressured to look immaculate. But equally its wonderful for young girls to see success stories in a whole range of professions happy to engage with the same make-up and hairdos they love. We need scientists, doctors, academics and engineers who can demonstrate they can be brilliant in their careers and also manage an eyeliner flick just as the Lionesses did last weekend. Surgeon in need of a charm transplant Woozy after a prostate operation, a friend of mine thanked his surgeon using the mans Christian name. Dont call me Michael, the surgeon replied grumpily. Surprised by this churlish response, my friend amended his greeting to Thank you Dr White. To which the medic replied (and remember this was to a man who had just been through major surgery): We oncologists are a self-deprecating lot. Its Mr White. That all-important Mr being, of course, a signifier that you are superior to an ordinary GP. Ive changed his name to spare his blushes, but we can only hope that this ungenerous medics surgical skill is a great deal more refined than his empathy. The BA pilot who put the wind up me Last week we were delayed in boarding our BA plane for more than an hour with no explanation as to what was going on. Eventually, we and the luggage were all on board and the pilot came on the intercom. Just giving you an update. Due to the current wind conditions here in Naples the plane is too heavy to take off so we must wait for clearance from Rome. As a nervous flyer, I would have preferred him to have kept that particular piece of information to himself. A woman who was born with one arm and half her legs has revealed how her mother told her the disabilities were due to an attempted abortion when the parent was a teenager. Charlie Rousseau, 25, from Rouyn-Noranda, in Quebec, Canada, said she grew up feeling like a 'normal child' and 'didn't realise she was disabled' until she was a teenager. However when she was in her teens, her mother told her that the reason she was born with her disabilities is because the parent had tried to have an abortion and claimed it went wrong. The radio host told FEMAIL: 'The doctor allegedly told my parents to keep the baby even though the abortion process wasn't finished. They could've taken it further, they could've taken the hospital to court but we were living in a small town and my parents didn't want to make a big deal.' However she has said she doesn't allow her disabilities to get her down, and instead has spent the last few years travelling the world. Charlie Rousseau, 25, from Canada, told FEMAIL how her mother told her her disabilities were due to an attempted abortion when the parent was a teenager The 25-year-old, who works as a radio host, was born with half her legs, one arm and one thumb (pictured) When Charlie reached college age, she decided she wanted to build her confidence, and began working as a radio host Meanwhile she has spent the last few years travelling around the world, visiting Britain, Mexico, Ibiza, Portugal and Australia Charlie grew up feeling like a normal child. She said her parents were determined to raise her like every other one of her school friends. The 25-year-old said: 'I never realised I had a disability until I was 16. My parents sent me to a normal school and I had normal friends. I had a big character so I fitted in fine. 'It was only when I became interested in dating and fancying boys did I really accept my disability and that I was so different.' Charlie said as she began growing up, and became interested in boys, she 'noticed she was disabled.' She said: 'When boys tried to kiss me they had to bend down, I genuinely used to think will I ever have a boyfriend?' However when she was a teenager, her mother took her to one side and claimed her disabilities were as a result of a failed abortion attempt. She has been given prosthetic legs but Charlie rarely uses them, preferring to depend on her own legs She said: 'My mother decided to have an abortion but unfortunately it went wrong. My parents believed making a big deal of it would ruin my life because the story would be everywhere as I was growing up.' When Charlie made it to college, she decided to build her confidence, explaining: 'I decided I will have a boyfriend, I will live and people will love me.' She got her first job at 19-years-old as a junior radio host, explaining: 'I never had a job as a teenager because no one would give me one. 'All my friends had part-time jobs but I didn't. So when I got this job at a radio station I was overjoyed. And I love it. I think it helped build my confidence too.' In September 2019 she decided to travel to Britain, to teach French in schools in Shrewsbury, including The Priory School and Meole Brace School. The 25-year-old said she grew up feeling like a 'normal child' and 'didn't realise she was disabled' until she was a teenager From then, she decided to travel the world, and experience other opportunities - and despite confessing she finds it difficult to carry her bags, and does struggle in airports - she he has since visited Mexico, Ibiza, Portugal and Australia. 'People are very friendly everywhere, it's wonderful to travel,' Charlie said. 'If I ask people, they're quick to help. Just live your life. Don't waste any time.' It was around this time that Charlie started a TikTok and Instagram page. 'Initially, it was to share my photos with family and friends, so they all could see my journey,' she added. 'I never started them to become an influencer. But soon, I was getting comments and so many people started following me.' One video Charlie shared which showed her driving her adapted car has been viewed 3.9 million times on the social media platform. The radio host, who confessed she struggles with carrying her bag and travelling through airports, loves exploring different parts of the world She spent several years travelling to different parts of the world, before she returned to Canada during the pandemic But due to the pandemic she had to abandon her travels, and return to Canada. She said: 'I was inside in lockdown for weeks, I was just on my own, my family was very worried about me. So I flew back to Canada, I was very sad my trip came to an end.' By winter 2021, Charlie was desperate to get back on a plane and she eventually made it to Mexico. And in January this year, she finally made it back to Britain. Many of Charlie's followers love her upbeat positive character, despite her daily difficulties. She posts videos of her struggling to complete basic tasks, such as straightening her hair. She finds it impossible to tie her hair back in a band. Charlie first travelled to Britain in September 2019 but had to leave due to the pandemic, and she finally returned in January this year to finish her trip Charlie has never looked into surgery, however she has been given prosthetic legs but she sometimes prefers just to use her own two legs. Charlie has said, that now she's older, and now she understands what happened, according to her mother, she may one day decide to look into it - but for now, she wants to continue with her dream to work and live remotely, and see the world. 'No one knows how long they've got here, don't waste that time,' she added. 'Make friends, go out, go to that restaurant, take that flight. Say yes!' Daniel Chidiac, 34, from Melbourne earns millions as an author A university drop out has revealed how he went from earning the minimum wage on a muddy worksite to flying first class around the world thanks to his best-selling books. Daniel Chidiac, 34, from Melbourne, made it big after his first work as an author 'Who Says You Can't? You Do' hit the shelves in 2018. But before he was raking in cash Daniel had it tough - he was languishing under a mountain of debt from a failed business, had quit his commerce degree and was labouring on worksites for as little at $15-per-hour to make ends meet. Speaking to FEMAIL Daniel, who has since written a second book, 'The Modern Break Up', said he was ashamed of where he was in life before he 'made it'. 'One day I was knee high in concrete and mud on a building site, slipping around because it was raining, the boss was yelling at us and I knew I didn't want to be there anymore,' he said. 'I didn't tell anyone I was labouring, I was so ashamed, not that there is anything wrong with it but it didn't feel right for me,' he said. Daniel's life looks easy now but he says that wasn't always the case and he had to find his path the hard way At one point Daniel worked on the railways and as a labourer to make ends meet Years earlier Daniel had his first break through 'this isn't me' moment. He was sitting in a university hall listening to a guest lecturer explain how he earned $150,000 per year and was able to travel the world with his job. 'I looked around at everyone and they were nodding at each other like "this is alright",' he said. 'I picked up my books and I left. I knew I didn't want that life. I didn't want to be working for someone else at that age and I had bigger dreams financially,' he said. His next 'aha' moment was during the Global Financial Crisis when the business he'd started with his brother went under. 'Looking back that business was a big mistake, we were young and stupid,' he said. He had big dreams of success when he quit university - before starting a business which failed. This lead to him writing his thoughts down in a notebook Within three years these 'thoughts' became a self-help book which was picked up by a popular publishing house The brothers had been on a holiday together in Europe and took a liking to a brand of clothing, so they contacted the company to see if they had any distributers in Australia. 'They didn't, so we went to the bank and took out an unsecured $70,000 loan, looking back I don't even know why they gave it to us,' he said. They bought stock and started selling the expensive clothing range, which was popular at first. 'Some of the items were $500 each, so when the GFC hit business dried up,' he said. 'We ended up going under and my brother and I were both left with huge debts.' He then became a labourer to pay the bills. Now Daniel spends a lot of his time traveling, and claims he only books first class or business class tickets 'Some days I was working for $80 an hour, which was great but other jobs would only pay $15 or $20,' he said. He also took up a job with mates on the railway, but his heart was never in it. Then one day Daniel was bursting at the seems - he had so many thoughts he knew he had to write them down. One note book became two, soon he had dozens of lined exercise books full of ideas. 'I was finally taking ownership of my mistakes, looking back at where things had gone wrong and right,' he said. 'At first I had no idea I was writing a book, but one day it came to me as I stared at all of the notebooks.' Daniel's second book 'The Modern Break-Up' has been hugely successful - it is his first work of fiction Daniel had never been an avid writer before. 'I didn't plan it, it just poured out of me. I would wake up at three in the morning just to write before work, and stay up late doing the same thing,' he said. Once he realised he wanted to publish something he called his brother and close friends. 'My brother has always been supportive in everything I have wanted to do - but my friends thought I was crazy,' he said. Once he had finished his book he realised the challenge to get it published had barely begun. 'I couldn't even get it edited, and I was willing to pay people,' he said. Daniel says he used to be embarrassed of where he was in life - pictured here before success 'One really well-known woman in the industry told me the book would never be published or amount to anything.' That just made him want it more. He took another look at the book and reshaped it. Then managed to find someone willing to go through it. 'Writing the book was hard, but I had no idea that was the easy bit,' he said. By this time Daniel had paid off his debts and managed to save enough money to self-publish. 'That was in 2015 and sales were very slow to begin with,' he said. 'Then I started advertising it online and before I knew it I had sold 100,000 copies.' Then he finally caught the attention of publishers. Penguin scooped up the rights to the self-help book in 2018 and handed Daniel a healthy six-figure up-front sum. Now the book is available in 13 languages worldwide. Daniel's second book is fiction. Released in 2019 the novel is based around a woman who has broken up with her long term boyfriend. It follows her thoughts and feelings as the relationship comes to an end. He was afraid to tell people what he did for work because his heart wasn't in it And it has been a huge hit with celebrities and their followers. 'After the last book's success I started my own publishing company and put the book out myself,' he said. It has been translated into three languages, with Daniel signing individual contracts with small publishing houses rather than working with a firm that already has translating contracts globally. And he's not done yet. 'I am working with producers on my own movie and have spent the last six months working on a script,' he said. Daniel's days of debt are also behind him. 'I have been saving and investing and I am looking to move to the US to further my career so will buy a home there,' he said. Daniel's first business was a clothing store - but the high-end market took a hot during the GFC and his business failed Daniel wants people to follow their hearts - he had never written before but listened to his intuition and is forever grateful 'I spend most of my income on travel at the moment, I only ever fly first class or business and have been all around the world. 'I also funnel a lot back into the company and my brand,' he said. Daniel wants others to believe they too can achieve their dreams. 'There were so many times I doubted myself and wondered if I had done the right thing,' he said. 'But I followed my heart, and I found my calling. 'If you are authentic and what you do comes from the heart then you will succeed.' Daniel also has plans for a second novel which will follow from his last, this time telling the story of the male protagonist. From a dog on top of a roof to even an elephant in a kitchen, these images reveal the oddest places animals have been found. Social media users from around the world took to Twitter to share the hilarious photos - which capture pets and other creatures in surroundings they're not usually discovered in. The photographs, collated by Bored Panda after being shared by the account, Animals In The Wrong Places, show the animals exploring the strangest of areas - such as a kitten resting in a watering can. Elsewhere, a duck is captured sitting in a toilet, while another shows a cat sleeping in a frying pan. From a dog on top of a roof to a duck in a toilet (pictured), these images reveal the oddest places animals have been found The photographs, collated by Bored Panda after being shared by the account, Animals In The Wrong Places, show the animals exploring the strangest of areas - such as a kitten resting in a watering can (pictured) How pet-culiar! This adorable dog appeared totally relaxed despite resting in their owner's oven This is the moment a hungry elephant smashed through a family's kitchen wall to steal a bag of rice in the middle of the night. The adult bull, named Plai Bunchuay, sniffed out the food and broke into the house in Hua Hin, southern Thailand, in June 2021 Rule breaker: This brazen pet didn't care to stick the restriction that said no dogs were allowed on the beach Talk about an odd travel partner: One duck was found peacefully sitting on a chair on a subway train at an unknown location Tight squeeze: This cat managed to get themselves stuck in some packaging for grape soda Blending in: This kitten hid between packet of crisps when in a shop at an undisclosed location Shush! This sweet kitten was adorably curled up and closed their eyes when resting in a frying pan Falling in line! This ginger kitten looked part of the team when standing next to cadets Dapper dog: This pet oozed sophistication when bizarrely sitting up at a bar with a pint in front of them A student in Florida was left unable to walk up stairs and write after a deadly brain-eating amoeba that he caught from 'cannon-balling' into a stagnant pond left him underweight and brain damaged. Sebastian Deleon, now 22, from Weston in Florida, has revealed his experience after catching the brain-eating amoeba scientifically named Naegleria fowleri. He said it initially left him with a severe headache, before he became sensitive to the sun and struggled to get up. He is one of the lucky four to survive the infection out of 154 known cases Sebastian Deleon, now 22, from Weston, is one of a lucky four people to survive an infection with the amoeba named Naegleria fowleri out of 154 recorded cases in the United States. He was infected six years ago at the age of 16. In the early stages, he was struck down with a severe headache that felt like a smooth rock was 'pushing down' on his head. It quickly left him unable to get up and needing sunglasses 'even when the sun wasn't out', prompting his parents to rush him to hospital. Once there doctors put him on seven antibiotics and into an induced coma. When he came round about a week later, he needed some three weeks in rehabilitation to regain much of his strength. Experts are calling on Americans to be aware of the amoeba that lurks in waterways throughout the country, saying global warming heating stagnant pools further north in the country makes it a risk in other areas. After being in a coma for about a week, Deleon was transferred to a rehabilitation center to help regain his strength. He is pictured here learning how to walk up and down stairs again Pictured above is him strengthening his legs at the rehabilitation center called Joe Dimaggio's Children's Rehabilitation Center in Hollywood, Florida Doctors diagnosed him with the brain-eating amoeba after tests of his brain showed that he had been infected (Pictured above are amoeba that had infected him) Deleon was rushed to hospital by his parents in 2016 (pictured above) after he starting suffering a severe headache Revealing how he battled the amoeba in 2016, Deleon told ClickOrlando: 'For the first couple of years, it was kind of hard. 'The part that I most remember is the part that I was in rehab. It was tough, I had to, like, learn how to walk, how to write again, how to do all the basic stuff again.' What is primary amebic meningoencephalitis? Primary amebic meningoencephalitis is a rare and usually fatal brain infection. It is triggered the amoeba Naegleria fowleri, which enters the body when it is taken in through the nose. Once an infection is established, it spreads up nerves to the brain where it destroys tissue. Patients initially experience a headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. But in the later stages they can also face hallucinations and seizures. About 97 percent of people who become infected with the amoeba die from the disease. Source: CDC Advertisement Symptoms began days after being infected while he was visiting theme parks in nearby Orlando with his parents. Initially, he had a severe headache. But, he said: 'This headache was different. It felt more like the description that I kept saying at the hospital was that it felt like there was a smooth rock on top of my head, and someone was pushing it down.' It then became so severe that: 'I couldn't get up, and I couldn't move around and stuff like that, so my parents were like, "OK, there's something wrong with this boy. We need to take him somewhere". 'We got in the car. It felt like I was on one of those roller coasters spinning around and around and around, and I had to wear sunglasses, and the sun wasn't even out.' Asked where he caught it, Deleon said it was likely from the stagnant lake he had jumped into 'about two or three times'. The amoeba is present in small concentrations in most waterways, but when these become stagnant and heat up it multiplies posing a risk. It infects people when water goes up their noses, but there are no known cases of it being transmitted from one person to another. Doctors said when he arrived at the hospital in late August, Deleon was immediately put on seven different antibiotics. These included impavido, which some experts suggest may be better able to help sufferers than others. He was then placed in a coma for about a week, and scans revealed the amoeba had done damage to his brain while he also lost about 20lbs. But when his condition started to improve he was woken back up and discharged to Joe Dimaggio's Children's Rehabilitation Center to regain his strength. During this time nurses helped him gain the strength to go up and down stairs again, and improve muscles so that he could lift more than 5lbs. He is now much better, and even told a medical meeting in 2017 that he was more worried about his school work than the illness. The amoeba that triggered his illness is fatal in about 97 percent of cases, even those where treatment is delivered. Deleon (pictured in 2016) caught the disease when he was just 16 years old. He is one of only four people in America known to have survived it In 2017 he attended a medical conference, pictured, where he told medics he was now more worried about his school work than his infection with the amoeba Deleon is pictured above (second from left) with family members following him being discharged from hospital It is present in soils and freshwater worldwide in low concentrations, but typically only becomes a threat when water is heated above 115F (46C) and multiplies into much larger numbers. this happens during the summer months. People who catch the disease initially suffer symptoms such as a headache, fever, nausea, vomiting and a stiff neck. But in the later stages these can progress to seizures, hallucinations and an altered mental state. It is almost exclusively caught from swimming in hot stagnant water when water enters the noses of swimmers , where it infects the olfactory nerve and travels the short distance to the brain. There are no known cases yet of humans passing it between each other. Caleb Ziegelbauer (pictured), 13, of Port Charlotte, Florida, is the latest American to be hospitalized after suffering an infection from the brain eating amoeba Dr Anjan Debnath, a parasitic disease expert at the University of California, San Diego, told DailyMail.com last week that the disease is 'quite rapid' and 'literally eats brain tissue'. He warned because of how rare it is doctors often misdiagnose it as another disease such as meningitis wasting valuable time that could be used to save the patient. There are also concerns that the amoeba is advancing north thanks to global warming. At present, it is normally only found in the southern United States. But this year a man died after catching the amoeba from swimming in a warm lake in Iowa. Dr Bruce Hirsch, an infectious diseases specialist at North Shore University Hospital in Manhattan, New York, warned Medicinenet recently: 'Climate change may be playing a role [in its spread].' The latest American to be hospitalized with an infection with the amoebas is 13-year-old Caleb Ziegelbauer, from Port Charlotte, Florida. The teenager is believed to have been infected after swimming in a river near his home on July 1 during a family outing. Five days later he suffered fever and complained of hallucinations. His parents rushed him to hospital where doctors initially diagnosed him with meningitis, delaying the time it took for him to get treatment. A week later they finally realized he was suffering from the amoeba. He has survived over two weeks past the 17 that it generally takes for the infection to kill someone it infects. Giving powerful medication to patients suspected of having multiple sclerosis but who are not yet formally diagnosed could spare them a lifetime of debilitating symptoms, experts believe. At present, the most potent drug treatments that tackle the underlying causes of the neurological disease are reserved for those with more advanced cases. But a growing body of research suggests giving these types of medicines before symptoms worsen could keep the condition stable for at least a decade. Now in a world-first trial, British experts will explore whether treating patients at the earliest possible stage could prevent some from deteriorating in the first place. Some 130,000 people in Britain have multiple sclerosis (MS). The disease causes the bodys immune system to attack nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, which gradually leads to mobility and eyesight problems, muscle spasms, bladder issues and fatigue. There is no cure. A growing body of research suggests giving some types of medicines before symptoms worsen could keep the condition stable for up to a decade (stock image) There are several types, but the most common is whats known as relapsing and remitting MS, which affects roughly 80 per cent of patients and causes symptoms to flare up sporadically, sometimes with years of remission in between. Most first seek medical help after experiencing a period of telltale symptoms, such as tingling and numbness in the arms and legs. But getting an accurate diagnosis is challenging, partly because symptoms can come and go. Doctors perform brain scans to look for early signs of nerve damage in the brain, and a lumbar puncture to analyse spinal fluid for signs of MS-related damage. Some patients will have several visible lesions dark or light spots of scarring (sclerosis) in the central nervous system that appear different from normal tissue but others may develop these later. Having one lesion makes it 80 per cent likely someone has MS. Patients in the new study will be given a low-risk drug called natalizumab before their diagnosis is confirmed, to see if those in the earliest stage of the disease can benefit. Professor Klaus Schmierer, a neurologist at Londons Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University of London, plans to recruit 40 patients who have visited their GP or A&E unit with symptoms which suggest MS. All will undergo MRI scans to check for at least one brain lesion. Twenty volunteers, whose symptoms began within the last 14 days, will be given natalizumab once every four weeks over six months. It works by stopping the immune systems fighter cells from reaching the brain and spinal cord and attacking nerves. Earlier work by Prof Schmierer and his colleagues suggests some of these cells may drive the inflammation which occurs in MS. The drug stays in the body for only eight weeks while others can remain for 18 months or more so if patients are among the 20 per cent or more who have a brain lesion but do not have MS, they can come off it without risking long-term effects. The other 20 patients will be given a placebo for 12 weeks, before being transferred onto natalizumab for the remainder of the trial. NHS England will fund all patients to stay on the drug after the trial ends. In a world-first trial, British experts will explore whether treating patients at the earliest possible stage could prevent some from deteriorating in the first place (stock image) Experts say this effectively treats MS in the same way as a stroke starting treatment almost straight away, without waiting for a definitive diagnosis. Scientists say the new field of research marks a change of mindset in the understanding of how the condition develops and how it can be treated. It suggests that the microscopic damage to the brain and nervous system caused by the disease starts very early, and plays an important role in how the condition progresses. Dr Emma Gray, at the MS Society charity, has described the research, which will begin in September, as 'really exciting'. Weve realised that elements of MS progression start with the onset of the disease, Prof Schmierer says. In the early stages the brain still has the reserve capacity which can help reboot the connections that MS might have damaged. So if we start treatment early rather than waiting, might it give patients a better chance of really long-term remission? It could represent a huge change in quality of life for patients. The new study follows research which provides clues that this approach might work. An Australian paper published in the Lancet in April 2020 showed patients who started taking the drugs within the first two years after diagnosis - but not in its earliest stages - were less likely to see their disability worsen. After ten years, the patients who took the drugs early barely saw their condition change. Two women who understand the importance of early treatment are sisters Vikki Langford and Zoe Bowman, who were diagnosed with MS within weeks of each other in 2017. While Vikki was able to start treatment within weeks, Zoe, who has a less common type of MS which progresses without remissions, had to wait nine months. Vikki, 56, from York, said: Time is always of the essence. While we dont know what would have happened if Zoe had got earlier access to treatment, her symptoms worsened while she was waiting. In a separate study, Prof Schmierer plans to use Artificial Intelligence technology to analyse the MRI scans of people with multiple sclerosis, to see if it can more accurately detect new lesions, or changes to lesions over time. MRI results are critical to the type of treatment patients are given, but interpreting the scans is time-consuming for radiologists as they have to be compared, in great detail, to previous scans to find anything new or different. It is hoped the trials will be among many to be based at a new Clinical Research Facility at the Royal London Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust. Housed on the 15th floor, in former intensive care wards for covid patients, the revamped facilities are funded by Barts Charity as part of Barts 900, a campaign to mark the 900th anniversary of the founding of the original St Batholomew's Hospital. The world-class facility will develop innovative new treatments and aims to include more diversity in clinical trials. At least half of participants will be Black or Asian to better represent the hospitals diverse East London population where two thirds are from minority ethnic communities. These communities are less likely to get involved in medical research. But addressing this discrepancy is crucial because their risk of certain diseases may be different, and they often respond slightly differently to treatments. MS, for example, is most prevalent in people living furthest from the equator. A 2017 study on the East London population found people who move to the UK from communities where MS is rare particularly East Asia, South East Asia and Africa and the Caribbean increase their risk of MS, which suggests reduced exposure to vitamin D and UV, along with other environmental factors, may play a role. People with an Asian background may be more severely affected. Yet most studies on MS have been carried out in predominantly white populations. We dont know whether treatments work as well on people in minority ethnic groups, so we hope to find clues to that in our work too, says Prof Schmierer. The CRF hasnt opened yet but its aims are ambitious. Other planned work includes how different ethnicities respond to blood pressure drugs, studies in cardiovascular disease, diabetic kidney disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Another intensive care doctor plans to tackle muscle wastage in ICU patients. It will have beds for overnight stays, and specialist consulting rooms for gene editing treatments. Rupert Pearse, an intensive care consultant at the Royal London who will lead the new unit, said: The aim is to improve the health of our local population by encouraging more people to take part in trials and building up trust with communities who might be less likely to engage with health professionals. We know there are differences in health outcomes between Black, Asian and white communities and we want at least half our trial participants to come from traditionally under-represented groups. It could really make an enormous difference, and help us to better treat and understand a whole range of diseases. Disabled Britons are being forced to move to the opposite end of the country from their family and support networks due to a national shortage of accessible homes. Among the cases uncovered by The Mail on Sunday is a 52-year-old paraplegic man who had to close down his business when he had no choice but to move to a bungalow more than 100 miles from his home in Essex. And a 28-year-old woman with learning disabilities and a history of self-harm who needed round-the-clock care was moved from Birmingham, where she lived with her family, to Hertfordshire. Now her residential care home has been threatened with closure and she faces being shunted to Scotland. The disruption has left her increasingly anxious and her carers fear she is a danger to herself. Meanwhile, one profoundly disabled boy has been left traumatised after his parents were faced with a move from London to Birmingham taking him away from his special needs primary school. The school offered everything for this child one-on-one personal care and education, says Jo Underwood, a solicitor at the charity Shelter who is involved with the case. UPHEAVAL: Mary and Mike Nevin had to move to an accessible home at the other end of England Mr and Mrs Nevin had move more than 300 miles from their home in Taunton, Somerset, to a new property in Hartlepool, County Durham There wasnt anything like that near the new house. Not to mention the trauma of being prised apart from the family who helped look after him. After lengthy legal proceedings, Shelter helped the family put a halt to the move. About 1.9 million Britons with disabilities need their home to be accessible fitted with ramps, handrails, wide door frames and downstairs shower rooms so they can move around safely. Some 1.2 million of these are wheelchair users, according to NHS figures. If a disabled person is in a property that is no longer safe to live in due to their needs, they are placed on a waiting list for an accessible council house or residential care facility. A small number may choose to hunt for their own property, to rent or buy. In all cases, the supply is scant. Outside London, just 1.5 per cent of residential properties due to be built over the next decade will be suitable for a wheelchair user to live in, according to housing association Habinteg. The Government does not hold data on the current proportion of houses that can be lived in by wheelchair users, but housing experts believe it to be roughly two per cent. Ms Underwood says: Disabled people are sitting on waiting lists for years, in houses where their wheelchair cant fit through the door, or theres no toilet or bathroom they can get into so they have to use their kitchen. She describes people struggling in Dickensian conditions, forced to get by in a single room because the rest of their house is inaccessible. She adds: When something does come up, it might be hundreds of miles away, so they have no option but to move. It means children have to change schools and the family lose their support from local nurses and carers, as well as family. In some cases, nearby family and friends are the carers and without them, they are stranded. As for the private rental market, she adds: The few that are suitable arent affordable for most disabled people. Last week the Government announced plans to beef up minimum accessibility standards for new housing developments. Under the proposed legislation, they will be required to have step-free access to all ground-floor rooms, and bathrooms and staircases must have walls that are robust enough to withstand having handrails or stairlifts fitted. But according to analysis by Habinteg, more than half of homes due to be built over the next ten years will not meet these standards. A regional breakdown seen by The Mail on Sunday highlights striking disparities. In some areas of the UK, such as the West Midlands, less than one per cent of new homes planned to be built between 2020 and 2030 will be suitable for a wheelchair user. In London, the figure is 7.5 per cent. A third of new housing stock in the South East will be adaptable for wheelchair users, with space for bathrooms to be fitted downstairs and wide floorspace, but in Yorkshire this is not the case for more than nine in ten homes. Disabled adults more lonely than non-disabled adults One in seven disabled adults report feeling lonely 'often or always' - four times the number of non-disabled people. Advertisement Its a very patchy picture, says Christina McGill, director of social impact at Habinteg. Many local authorities fail to keep disabled people in mind when planning new homes. Daniel Slade, 52, fell victim to the problem in June 2018 when he suffered a burst blood vessel in his spine that left him paralysed from the waist down. At the time, the keen sailor was living in Southend-on-Sea, running a successful design business. After three months in hospital, doctors said he was ready to be discharged, but as he had been living on a houseboat which his wheelchair couldnt fit into, he had to stay on the ward. The local authority declared him homeless and put him on a waiting list for a wheelchair-friendly property. In November a place became available over 100 miles from home in Northamptonshire, in a care home for elderly people. I didnt have a choice. I remember thinking, if I dont take this Ill be out on the street, says Daniel. Two years later, Northamptonshire County Council found a suitable bungalow in nearby Kettering, featuring a downstairs shower room and wide corridors. Daniel adds: Im very isolated up here, and if I get ill or have to go to hospital there isnt anyone to help. Mike Nevin, 61, found himself in a similar situation. The former product manager from Taunton, Somerset, suffers from a rare genetic disease called syringomyelia, which causes progressive loss of function in the arms and legs. In 2018, Mike and his wife Mary were living in their two-bedroom Victorian terrace when Mikes health deteriorated and he became unable to walk. Wed bought the house at a time when I was more mobile, says Mike. I didnt expect to be relying on a wheelchair full-time. I couldnt get down the narrow corridor to use the toilet, nor would my chair fit through the front door. I found myself spending most days in bed, in the living room, not because I felt unwell but because it wasnt physically possible for me to get anywhere. While Mary was out most days caring for her 92-year-old father, Mike became reliant on friends from a local church group for support and delivering vital supplies. There is a national shortage of homes that are accessible for people with disabilities, with waiting lists lasting years He says: We looked at buying something more suitable, but there was nothing we could afford nearby, or even in neighbouring towns, that was wide enough for my wheelchair or easily adaptable. The first house we found that was in our price range was in Hartlepool, more than 300 miles away. Never did we expect to move that far. Moving miles from his life felt like losing an arm, he says. Our children live in the US so wed built a big group of friends and extended family in Taunton, and its heartbreaking to leave that. The UKs existing housing stock is mostly inadequate for the majority of disabled people, says Ms McGill. We have some of the oldest housing in Europe, most of which was built decades before anyone started thinking of the needs of disabled people. While some changes, like putting in handrails, might be possible with strong walls, other vital things like widening corridors and changing bedrooms into shower rooms arent always easy. Alexa Woodcock, a 48-year-old teacher from Chester, has waited a year for her local council to fund the installation of a downstairs bathroom for her disabled son. Finlay, 16, who has cerebral palsy and relies on a wheelchair, uses a bed pan in the kitchen and sleeps in the living room. The council found me properties that were miles from the local area, but that wasnt an option because my mother and sister are nearby and they help care for Finlay, she says. Alexa, who has two other children, applied for a Disability Facilities Grant local council funding for home adaptations and equipment to pay for the new bathroom and an extension, which would give Finlay a downstairs bedroom. But she has been refused the extension and told to wait at least 18 months for the bathroom. Struggled to find an accessible home? Tell us your story. Write to health@mailonsunday.co.uk Advertisement For the first five months I was carrying Finlay up and down the stairs, and injured my back, says Alexa. We have a temporary stairlift now but he cant always use it on his own. The councils response was that I should ask my other son, who is 14, to help. Campaigners have also warned of learning-disabled people being placed in residential homes far from their loved ones. According to the charity Mencap, some 22,000 learning-disabled people are living in accommodation outside their local authority area. Analyses by the charity also found 82 per cent of local authorities say they have a shortage of homes for people with learning disabilities. Last month, care home provider St Elizabeths in Hertfordshire announced it could be shutting its doors in November, leaving the 83 vulnerable adults who live there needing housing. Last week, after residents families sent a legal letter to its bosses, they agreed to allow for a consultation period before the closure goes ahead. Were far from out of the woods theres every chance the home will close, one relative told The Mail on Sunday. One resident is 28-year-old Renee Faragher, who suffers up to five epileptic seizures a day and requires round-the-clock care. She had been placed in a St Elizabeths bungalow moving there from Birmingham, 120 miles away. There was absolutely nothing nearby, says her mother, Linda, 60. It was a complete upheaval for her. Shed never been away from us, not even for one night. She was angry and couldnt understand why she had to be so far away. She can self-harm when shes feeling lonely and frustrated. If St Elizabeths closes, Linda could face an even longer round trip to see her daughter. Ive heard nothing from the local council about a new place, she says. Ive enquired with private providers and the only that has a place is in Scotland. I dont think either of us could cope with that. Britains leading cancer charity is pulling the plug on research centres devoted to offering patients potentially life-saving drugs, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Cancer Research UK funds eight clinical trial units where cancer patients across the country receive experimental medication, but insiders claim the charity is discussing shutting as many as half of them. Cancer doctors say the move will drastically reduce the number of sufferers able to access these last-resort treatments, which are offered when standard approaches available on the NHS fail to have a significant impact. One consultant oncologist, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: The vast majority of trials in the UK cannot happen without the Cancer Research UK clinical trial units. If you shut down these units, then the number of trials that NHS hospitals can run will be severely impacted and the number of patients getting these drugs will be significantly reduced. The charity has suffered financially since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic, with its annual income falling by 90 million, from 672 million in 2019 to 582 million last year. Despite this, it announced last month that it would contribute TO A 1 billion joint donation to the London-based Francis Crick Institute, the UKs leading biomedical laboratory. It is part of the charitys wider strategy to focus on funding early-stage research rather than drug trials. A consultant analyses a mammogram. Britain's leading cancer charity is pulling the plug on research centres devoted to offering cancer patients potentially life-saving drugs Professor Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UKs Chief Clinician, also holds the senior role of Principle Group Leader at The Francis Crick Institute. When the news was announced, medical commentators criticised the decision to prioritise funding to the London-based centre over other regional research labs. A cancer expert, who works closely with Cancer Research UK, told The Mail on Sunday colleagues had also questioned the role Prof Swanton had played in the decision to fund The Francis Crick Institute, due to his links to both organisations. There is a very real question of a conflict of interest here, the expert said. Prof Swantons lab benefits from this funding while many colleagues could lose their jobs if trial units are closed. Cancer Research UK denies there is any conflict of interest. Cancer doctors report growing difficulties setting up life-saving drug trials due to the impact of Covid. They say they have been instructed by Government officials to wind down studies into vital drugs as part of cost-cutting measures. There are roughly three million people living with a cancer diagnosis in the UK, with 375,000 new cancer cases every year with some 25,000 enrolled in a clinical drug trial annually. Doctors can offer eligible patients the chance to enrol, however NHS Trusts usually do not have the staff and resources to run these trials on their own. For this reason, Cancer Research UK clinical trial units are almost always involved in any cancer drug study taking place in the NHS. The units, in England, Scotland, and Wales, provide cancer experts to design and conduct the study, and statisticians to analyse the results. The Centre for Trials Research at Cardiff University specialises in blood cancer, while the University of Birmingham unit is home to experts in trials involving children. Earlier this year, directors of the clinical trial units were told they must apply to receive funding as part of a new streamlined core network. Those who fail the application process will see their unit closed. When we approached Cancer Research UK, it did not dispute insiders claims that as many as four could be shut down. GETTING DESPERATE: Breast cancer patient Constance Johncock, 32, has been on eight different treatments including two clinical trials The shrinking of the sector will only compound existing problems for patients, doctors add. When the Covid pandemic began in 2020, all clinical trials were temporarily suspended. More than two years later, experts say there are continued problems getting these studies back up and running. Professor Nick James, a clinical oncologist at The Institute of Cancer Research, speaking about the impact of the Covid pandemic on cancer clinical trials, says: This is a massive issue which isnt going away. It means thousands fewer patients getting drugs which could extend their lives. One patient desperate to get on to a cancer trial is Constance Johncock, 32, from Kent, who has advanced breast cancer. The student nurse has been on eight different treatments including two clinical trials. When her treatment was suspended temporarily at the beginning of the Covid pandemic, her cancer spread to her liver. The disease has now reached her lung and bones, and Constance is running out of effective treatments. She says: It really doesnt feel like there are many trials out there right now. There are so many people like me diagnosed with advanced breast cancer every year, but it feels like access to these drugs is going backwards. Cancer Research UKs Executive Director of Research and Innovation, Dr Iain Foulkes, said: None of our ongoing clinical trials have had funding withdrawn because of the financial pressures of the pandemic or our support for the Crick. The decision to contribute funding to the Crick Institute was made by our Trustee Board following the highest possible rating by an independent panel of international experts. Professor Charles Swanton, who has a lab at the Crick, had no involvement with any discussions or decisions regarding the Cricks funding settlement. Do you feel like youre drowning? These haunting words, in a social media post struck a chord with Paula Rastrick. The advert, from a private clinic specialising in menopause treatment, seemed to list all her problems: anxiety, insomnia, fatigue and lack of sex drive, to name a few. They were symptoms that, till then, Paula had put down to stress. After all, shed recently been though a redundancy, an aborted house move and launched a new business. But the psychotherapist and mother-of-one, then 45, had begun to feel like she was slipping under. Could her hormones also be to blame? If that post was anything to go by, then the answer was yes. Whats more, there was a treatment that could help. You can feel like you again, claimed another post. Searching for something that would ease the pressure, Paula booked an appointment with the clinic. The 30-minute consultation a few weeks later was short and to the point: the doctor said Paula was perimenopausal, the stage before the menopause when a woman is still fertile and having periods but levels of the female hormone oestrogen become erratic, triggering symptoms. She should start on HRT patches and tablets immediately. RECOVERING: Paula Rastrick was on double the maximum HRT dose which her NHS GP then slashed Paula asked few questions. This was a specialist menopause clinic, and the doctor was highly regarded, she says. I didnt know much about hormones I barely knew what oestrogen was. But I wasnt feeling well. I just did what was recommended. The medication would, Paula was assured, help her feel better. In reality, that appointment in February 2017 marked the start of a year-long ordeal that Paula is still struggling to come to terms with one that saw her symptoms worsen, her mental health deteriorate to the point of breakdown and her marriage almost collapse. Despite her fragile state, when she returned to the clinic the specialist who The Mail on Sunday is not naming for legal reasons simply upped her dose of HRT. Following this, at her lowest ebb, she admits she considered driving off a cliff and ending it all. And, alarmingly, she began to suffer heavy menstrual bleeding without warning. It was only at this point, after six months of worsening health, that Paula visited her own GP. He immediately told her the alarmingly high dose of HRT she was taking was the cause. Although she didnt know it at the time, Paula had initially been put on the maximum allowed dose patch. And when her medication was adjusted, the private menopause doctor had doubled it. Paula was given HRT at a specialist menopause clinic where she says the doctor was 'highly regarded' Both these actions break with standard guidelines produced by health watchdogs and the drug makers themselves. Paulas GP and the doctors who later treated her and gynaecologists spoken to by this newspaper have said that her bleeding was a direct side effect of the medication. Her psychiatric symptoms tearfulness, panic, uncontrollable, irrational rage and suicidal thoughts could have been, at the very least, exacerbated by the hormone drugs. Today, thankfully, Paula is well again. Now 50, she is still on HRT, but a moderate dose. Antidepressants helped ease the worst of her distress, and she says: I feel good. It was hard work to get here, but the worst is behind me. Yet reliving her darkest moments while speaking to The Mail on Sundays Medical Minefield podcast, the emotions are still clearly raw. Paula has decided to speak publicly to warn other women, because, worryingly, she is far from alone. Numerous reputable experts we spoke to said they have seen increasing numbers of women being prescribed these doses of HRT by private doctors. The majority of medics in the field work within limits set by health watchdog the National Institute For Health And Care Excellence (NICE). Yet there is a growing minority who are working outside the guidelines, they warn. HRT is astonishingly effective in reducing many symptoms of the menopause, but it is not without risks, particularly if too much is given. Indeed, there can be disastrous consequences, as Paula discovered almost too late. Recalling her state of mind before she booked that first private consultation, which cost roughly 300, Paula says: Life had been extremely stressful for a long time. I just wanted to feel better. Those social media posts really spoke to me I just thought, they know what Im going through. Although I wasnt having hot flushes, I was feeling anxious, tense and irritable. I was struggling to sleep, or concentrate, and had lost interest in sex, and in life generally. I felt exhausted, and often found myself crying at nothing. Before my appointment, I filled out a questionnaire detailing this, although we didnt discuss this. During the consultation, the doctor just told me my symptoms were related to the change in my hormones. Paula was prescribed Evorel one 100 microgram patch, twice a week and Utrogestan, a drug containing progesterone, another female hormone, to be taken daily for two weeks each month. A follow-up appointment in two to three months with the same doctor was recommended. HRT Fact Low-dose vaginal oestrogen, a form of HRT, will be available without prescription to menopausal women from September. Advertisement At that point, I felt relieved, Paula continues. I had an explanation for why Id been feeling so bad and I was getting something to help me get better. But thats not what happened. Paula was taking her medication as directed but says: My life was still stressful. I was on the rollercoaster of trying to launch a new business something Id never done before. Id just been through eight months of difficult redundancy negotiations. But I didnt feel like I could take a break and I was just frantically trying to stay afloat. Over the next few months, Paulas mental health worsened. I started to become extremely angry and aggressive, she says. At home, Id snap at the slightest thing, and yell at my husband. A friend suggested I didnt seem myself, and I flew into a rage at her. I hate to think about it now, but at the time I couldnt think rationally. I also started drinking to try to get to sleep two or three glasses of wine every night, and more at weekends. Paulas next appointment at the menopause clinic was in May that year. She says: I explained Id not improved, and in fact felt worse. Looking back, I think I was depressed. Id been prescribed antidepressants after having my son, so it wouldnt have been the first time. I also mentioned that Id started bleeding in between periods. In a follow-up letter to Paula, the doctor wrote: Understandably some of your stresses are related to starting up a new business... however I feel that some of your symptoms are related to your hormones. I do not feel that you are clinically depressed and need antidepressants at this time. Paula was told to double her dose of Evorel, to two 100 microgram patches twice a week and prescribed testosterone gel, a hormone medication. She says: I believed it would help me feel better. Yet at this point, she started to unravel. Paula continues: I became highly paranoid and my anxiety was through the roof. My husband and I were arguing constantly. One Sunday morning, after a screaming row, I was sitting in the car, parked outside the church in my village. I could hear the bells chiming and decided that was it. I would just drive off a cliff. I wanted to end it, thats how bad it was. Paula was told by her GP that the amount of HRT she had been taking was far too high and this was causing her bleeding Thankfully, Paula didnt follow through. After that, I moved out temporarily I stayed in a hotel, and then with a friend. And there was worse to come. I was in the pub one evening when I felt the most horrible sensation, almost like my insides were falling out of me. I stood up and looked down at the seat. It was covered in blood. I ran out and called my husband, who came and picked me up. I dont remember much else about it I was distraught. Realising something was wrong, Paula arranged to see her GP. It sounds stupid, but I didnt connect the HRT to what was going on. In fact, I asked my GP if hed write me another prescription. He took one look at what I was taking and said, What are you doing with this amount of HRT? There is no way were giving it to you. He explained that the bleeding, and possibly also the way I was feeling, had been due to the medication. He said theyd have to get my dose down. At first I refused I was convinced that without the HRT Id disintegrate. Worse, Paula was told she would need to be investigated for womb cancer. High doses of oestrogen can increase the risk of developing the disease, and heavy bleeding can be a symptom. She adds: He asked me whether I wanted to make a complaint to [doctors regulatory body] the General Medical Council about the specialist. But I was too shocked to even think about it. The following week, Paula saw a gynaecologist and underwent scans. At this point, I just fell to pieces, crying. I was put on antidepressants and medication to stop the bleeding. Fortunately, the cancer tests came back all clear. Slowly, the GP reduced my dose of HRT. And I began to feel more like myself again, but its been a slow process. In 2020, Covid happened and we had to close the business for a while. I took it as an opportunity to focus on my health and repair my marriage. Its been hard, but I feel Ive finally recovered. Guidelines produced by NICE and the Primary Care Womens Health Forum suggest menopausal or perimenopausal women should be started on a low dose of oestrogen HRT. If symptoms are still present after a month, an increase within licensed dose recommendations should be considered. More modest amounts, the guidelines say, can cause fewer side effects such as breast tenderness and vaginal bleeding, and keeps risks [including womb cancer] minimised. Most women find a standard dose of a 50 microgram patch adequate for symptom relief. Evorel patches are available in four strengths: 25, 50, 75 and 100 micrograms. According to the drug manufacturer: For initiation and continuation of treatment of menopausal symptoms, the lowest effective dose... should be used. A dose of 100 micrograms... should not be exceeded. Additional guidance from the British Menopause Society states that should a high dose of oestrogen be given, higher doses of progesterone medication should be offered too. Progesterone has a protective effect, reducing the risk of heavy bleeding and womb cancer. In Paulas case, this additional adjustment did not happen. Have you been given too much HRT by a menopause doctor? Write and tell us at: health@mailonsunday.co.uk Advertisement Gynaecologists warn that some private doctors are regularly prescribing far outside the guidelines. One senior medical source told The Mail on Sunday: We are all aware of whats going on and its a huge concern. There have been high-level meetings about it. Many of us have tried to explain to these doctors what theyre doing is not best practice, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears. Dr Paula Briggs, a sexual and reproductive health expert and chair of the British Menopause Society, says: Guidelines are important theyre what keep patients safe. Giving high doses of oestrogen, and not using enough progesterone puts women at risk. Dr Annice Mukherjee, a consultant endocrinologist and womens health expert, says Paulas is not the only such story she has heard, and adds: Best practice is to start patients on a low or standard dose of HRT and build up from there. If we are giving drugs in higher-than-recommended doses we call this off-licence its really important the patient is given evidence for why it is being done, and is fully aware of the potential risks. Its also important to mention that not every problem a woman has in midlife is due to the menopause. Just offering HRT, and giving more hormones when a patient doesnt respond, is an oversimplistic way of looking at a womans health. Paula has been left shaken by her experience. She called the clinic last year and attempted to initiate a complaint. She says: But as I spoke to the person on the phone, I realised I couldnt go through with it. It was just too difficult to relive. Im 50 now and Im still on HRT, but a low dose. I wonder whether I could stop completely, because I feel good these days. I dont want anyone to be scared of taking this medication, or to think HRT is dangerous. But I was given too much. I cant say the drugs caused all my problems, but I think they screwed me up even more. What scares me most is thats happening to other women. Do-it-yourself investors are being urged to review their portfolios to ensure they are fit for purpose. According to a major report issued this weekend by investment fund scrutineer Bestinvest, too many investors continue to hold funds that regularly underperform their peers. By switching a simple process if money is held on a wealth platform investors have a better chance of earning stellar returns. Running a rule over your portfolio should be done regularly at least every six months and is especially important when stock markets are as challenging as they are now. Under review: According to a major report issued by investment fund scrutineer Bestinvest, too many investors continue to hold funds that regularly underperform their peers The FTSE100 Index has fallen by one per cent in 2022 while the S&P500 Index in the US has dipped by more than 13 per cent. Portfolios should be well diversified across stock markets and individual investment funds. Jason Hollands, managing director of Bestinvest, says: 'The exceptional 12 years of strong equity performance that came to something of a halt at the end of 2021 meant most funds had generated gains irrespective of their managers' skills. This has helped to disguise poor relative performance and bad value.' He adds: 'In a bull market, when most funds rise in value, investing can seem easy, but tougher times provide a chance to reflect on your approach. If you want to be a successful DIY investor, then periodically reviewing your investments is vital and you need to be super-selective in the funds and investment trusts you choose.' Bestinvest, part of wealth manager Evelyn Partners, has analysed nearly 900 equity funds run by named fund managers and available to retail investors. These funds manage total assets of 570billion. Funds run by computers and designed to replicate the performances of specific indices such as the FTSE100 were excluded, as were stock-market-listed investment trusts. The analysis was designed to identify investment funds that have failed to pass two past performance tests. First, they must have underperformed their benchmark index (for example, the average return across all UK company shares) in each of the past three 12-month periods to the end of June. They must also have underperformed their benchmark by at least five per cent over the full three years. Bestinvest says that 31 funds, with combined assets of 10.7billion, failed these tests. Although past performance is no indicator of future returns, it is worrying that some of the highlighted funds are serial underperformers, going back more than three years. Among them are funds with brands owned by banking group Lloyds, which owns Scottish Widows and Halifax. The biggest is Halifax UK Growth. This 3.1billion fund has turned 100 into 94 over the past three years, while underperforming its benchmark, the MSCI UK All Cap Index, by 13 per cent. Other underachievers under the Lloyds umbrella include Halifax UK Equity Income, Scottish Widows UK Growth and Scottish Widows UK Equity Income. These four funds are managed by investment house Schroders. On Friday, it said it runs them according to strict mandates laid down by Lloyds and that it cannot be blamed for them continuing to misfire. Lloyds said: 'We take a long-term view approach to investment management, and we work continuously to improve performance across our entire fund range.' Seven years go, Alan Miller, cofounder of wealth manager SCM Direct, identified these four funds as 'closet trackers' actively managed, but performing in line with the market. On Friday, he said: 'It appears these funds have steered away from mimicking the market in favour of poor stock selection.' Asset manager Jupiter also comes out of Bestinvest's analysis poorly. Three of its funds, UK Growth, Global Managed and Asian, are identified as serial underperformers. Jupiter said: 'We take our commitment to delivering excellent investment outcomes to our clients very seriously. We have made changes to the management teams of the three funds, in the case of the Jupiter Asian fund transferring management to a 'pedigree' manager with a long track record of delivering leading returns.' Bestinvest's report can be accessed at bestinvest.co.uk/ research/spot-the-dog. Shares in Pendragon jumped after the car dealer revealed it approved a takeover offer but talks ended as a major shareholder didn't engage. The takeover offer from an unnamed bidder was 29p per share, representing a 35 per cent premium to Thursday's closing price. But the offer was contingent on support from the company's top five shareholders and only four backed the deal. Unnamed bidder: Pendragon said the bid needed 'commitments from all of Pendragon's major shareholders' Pendragon said the bid needed 'commitments from all of Pendragon's major shareholders'. The latest bid for Pendragon comes five months after the company's shareholder Anders Hedin, boss of Swedish car retailer Hedin Group, tabled a bid which was rejected by the Pendragon board. One broker said: 'I suspect Hedin blocked this latest takeover bid for Pendragon.' Pendragon's other four largest shareholders are Schroders, Odey, Briarwood Chase and Hosking Partners. Together with Hedin they have a combined stake of 64.78 per cent. News of the takeover comes two years after talks between Pendragon and Lookers about a potential merger stalled, ending a process which would have created the UK's largest car retail group. Shares jumped 8.4 per cent, or 1.8p, to 23.3p. Overall the FTSE 100 fell 0.1 per cent, or 8.32 points, to 7439.74 while the FTSE 250 retreated 0.5 per cent, or 104.28 points, to 20,051.48. The Footsie's decline would have been greater but for some enthusiasm for miners, particularly copper miner Antofagasta, which was up 3.6 per cent, or 40.5p, at 1170.5p, as the price of copper rose 2 per cent. Housebuilders were off the pace on further signs that the housing market is cooling. As if the Bank of England's rate hike was not bad enough, the Halifax reported the average UK house price fell by 0.1 per cent in July. Taylor Wimpey, down 3.7 per cent, or 4.7p, at 123.15p, was the hardest hit of the big names in the sector, while Rightmove, the property listings website operator, slid 2.8 per cent, or 18.6p, to 644.4p. Tullow Oil reversed earlier losses to finish 3.4 per cent, or 1.7p higher, at 52.1p, overcoming a disappointing drilling result at the BeebeiPotaro exploration well off the coast of Guyana. The company has now plugged and abandoned the well. Meanwhile Capita failed to impress investors as it continues to offload non-core businesses to strengthen its balance sheet. The company, which is responsible for enforcing BBC TV licences and provides customer support services for Scottish Power, saw profits plunge to just 100,000, from 261million a year earlier. It put the sharp fall down to weaker-than-expected returns from the sale of some of its businesses. Shares tumbled 8.5 per cent, or 2.48p, to 26.86p. On the broker front, Barclays downgraded Hikma Pharmaceuticals in the wake of the drugs company's half-year report on Thursday. 'With yet another downward revision to numbers and without a permanent CEO, we think it is difficult to put new money into the name,' the broker said, as it chopped the target price to 1750p from 2250p previously. Hikma shares trade at 1604.5p, down 2.8 per cent, or 46p yesterday. Citigroup reiterated its 'buy' recommendation for Serco after the outsourcer's results this week but much good it did the shares, which fell 4.6 per cent, or 8.4p, to 174.8p. Citi reckons they are worth 255p and says the market has failed to appreciate the US defence opportunity for the company. Defence giant QinetiQ has swooped on a US cyber security group in a 483million deal. The deal to buy Avantus Federal will double the size of the FTSE 250 company's US business, which it has been keen to expand. QinetiQ boss Steve Wadey said in May that it planned a takeover spree of American and Australian firms to hit a target to grow the business by 75 per cent in five years. Expansion: The deal to buy Avantus Federal will double the size of QinetiQ's US business The deal upends a pattern of US companies taking over successful British aerospace and defence firms. QinetiQ's FTSE 250 peers Cobham and Ultra Electronics, as well as FTSE 100 group Meggitt, have fallen prey to US businesses. The takeovers prompted outrage from MPs and experts, though a change of law means that the Government now automatically screens investments in sensitive industries. Wadey has said the rampant expansion plans are not an attempt to fend off being taken over itself. QinetiQ specialises in high-tech equipment. It was spun out of the Ministry of Defence and is famously said to be the inspiration for Q in James Bond. Wadey last night said that QinetiQ had been 'thoroughly impressed' by Avantus. Avantus's work includes providing cyber and data analytics service for the US departments of defence and homeland security. It has around 1,150 employees and was founded in 2016. Companies including QinetiQ have seen business boom since Russia invaded Ukraine, as countries increase defence spending. Shock: Sir Christopher Gent had a long and distinguished career One of the City's best known figures has been slapped with an embarrassing fine by financial regulators for sharing inside information. Sir Christopher Gent, the former boss of Vodafone, has been fined 80,000 by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for unlawfully disclosing inside information while chairman of the FTSE 250 medical devices company ConvaTec. The information related to an announcement regarding its financial guidance as well as the retirement plans of its chief executive, which Gent shared with two of the biggest shareholders before it was published to the stock exchange in October 2018. Mark Steward, FCA executive director of enforcement and market oversight, said Gent 'failed to properly apply his mind'. 'Inside information is not a private commodity for those with privileged access to it. The law requires inside information to be disclosed properly and not to major shareholders or others in advance of announcements, as in this case,' Steward added. While the watchdog said there was no evidence Gent traded on the information or intended to make personal gain, he 'acted negligently in disclosing the information' and had committed market abuse. 'Given his training and experience, Sir Christopher should have realised that the information he disclosed was, or may have been, inside information and that it was not within the normal exercise of his employment to disclose it,' it added. ConvaTec makes items including plasters, bandages, medical catheters and colostomy bags. Gent, 74, said he was 'very disappointed' but the ruling confirmed there was 'no impact on the markets and that I made no gain personally, nor intended to do so'. 'I have since retired from business life and wish now to draw a line under the matter,' he added. Gent left ConvaTec in 2019 following a restructuring. He rose to fame in the 1990s as boss of Vodafone, turning a small subsidiary of British electronics group Racal into one of the world's biggest telecoms firms, leading a takeover of Germany's Mannesmann in 2000, one of the largest corporate acquisitions in history, with a price tag of 110billion. He was knighted in 2001 and chairman of GlaxoSmithKline between 2004 and 2015. A mother who was left disabled with a stoma bag following a traumatic birth is set to become the first British ostomate to swim across the Channel as part of a campaign to improve maternity care in Britain. Gill Castle, 42, will swim across the Channel on her own for up to 20 hours until she reaches France in an extraordinary bid to raise awareness of women like herself who have sustained life-changing injuries through childbirth. The mother-of-one was left with a permanent colostomy in 2011 after consultants used forceps during the birth of her premature son Sam, resulting in Gill suffering from a fourth-degree tear and a fistula. A surgeon then left the new mother with irreparable damage after they mistakenly thought her serious fourth degree tear was a second-degree one. Her traumatic birth and the failings by medics, as well as a national silence on the issue, has prompted her to speak out in the hope that systematic changes in maternity care are enforced. Gill, a former police officer, is joined by dozens of women who have spoken to MailOnline about their own experiences of childbirth, with many being left disabled as a result. The vast majority of those women, like Gill, suffered from mistakes made by medics who thought they had a less severe tear - when in fact they had serious third or fourth degree tears. They are calling for more support for mothers after childbirth, including health check-ups which focus on the physical impacts of birth on women, and an immediate review into the use of forceps. Gill Castle, 42, will swim across the Channel on her own for up to 20 hours until she reaches France in an extraordinary bid to raise awareness of women like herself who have sustained life-changing injuries through childbirth Gill, a former police officer, is joined by dozens of women who have spoken to MailOnline about their own experiences of childbirth, with many being left disabled as a result. Pictured: Gill with her husband Chris and son Sam Gill was left with a permanent colostomy after midwives used forceps during the birth of her premature son Sam (pictured together), resulting in Gill suffering from a fourth-degree tear and a fistula It comes after healthcare expert Donna Ockenden released a report into Britain's worst maternity scandal, which found that the avoidable deaths of 201 babies and nine mothers at Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust were in part due to an obsession with 'normal births' and the use of forceps. About 30,000 women in the UK experience traumatic births every year, according to the British Trauma Association. And while rare, some women are left with incontinence, pain and infections. Gill, from Alnwick, Northumberland, has battled with being left permanently disabled in October 2011 after giving birth to her son Sam six weeks early. She faced PTSD, countless infections, and excruciating pain - and all the while, Gill felt she was not being listened to by medics. The pain was so severe in the days after childbirth that she collapsed in a hospital corridor in front of a male midwife who told her the pain 'might just be her perception' of it. On the day Gill went into labour, Sam's heartbeat had collapsed and medics took Gill into theatre for an epidural. But during the birth, he became stuck and surgeons used forceps to pull him out, saving Sam's life but leaving Gill with irreparable damage. Sam was taken to the Leeds General Infirmary's special care unit where he was tube-fed while Gill was told that she had been torn during birth and was being stitched up. But in the days that followed, Gill realised something was not quite right as she was in 'unbelievable' pain and she noticed brown discharge on her underwear. A day later - and four days after giving birth - Gill was incontinent. 'Every time I was going to the toilet, I was having to pull the emergency button, because I was in so much pain,' Gill tells MailOnline. 'I remember I was in the shower, and I was completely distressed, crying, and feeling like I was going completely insane because I couldn't work out where the poo was coming from.' In reality, Gill's tearing - a recto vaginal fistula - meant that all of her bodily waste was emerging from her vagina. But despite telling numerous midwives that she was incontinent and in pain, the midwives failed to react - or even take notes of her experiences. Gill is pictured with her husband Chris and their son Sam in hospital Sam was taken to the Leeds General Infirmary's special care unit where he was tube-fed while Gill was told that she had been torn during birth and was being stitched up Gill, from Alnwick, Northumberland, has battled with being left permanently disabled in October 2011 after giving birth to her son Sam six weeks early Gill's traumatic birth and the failings by medics, as well as a national silence on the issue, has prompted her to speak out in the hope that systematic changes in maternity care are enforced Gill's relationship has since improved with her son Sam (pictured together), and she recalls, seven months after his birth, falling in love with him Charities call for change in maternity care Dr Kim Thomas, the CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, says that one problem with maternity care in the UK is that the NHS doesn't keep a central record of how many women have physical injuries after childbirth. This means that all the evidence is based on research, which has found that 5.8 per cent of first time mothers who give birth vaginally will experience third or fourth degree tearing. But that figure is from 2012. 'We are desperately in need of better information on what's happening in maternity wards and the injuries women are having,' says Dr Thomas. Experts believes that this represents an under-diagnosis and the true number is much higher. The risk of a serious tear is nearly six times higher with a forceps delivery. 'If we had the data, we would know how common childbirth trauma is and then we could take action to reduce it,' says Dr Thomas. 'If we knew the percentage of women who have physical injuries from childbirth, we would know whether the numbers have gone up or down each year. 'We can then find out which interventions work and which don't.' Kim says that a major issue for women is that there is a silence surrounding the possible consequences of childbirth, meaning that they are unable to make informed decisions. 'It's very condescending, this idea that you shouldn't tell women what risks are associated with childbirth,' says Kim. 'In general medical care, you are informed of the risks of an operation, but there is a silence surrounding childbirth.' Because of this silence, Kim says, many women's injuries are undiagnosed because they might not know what is normal and what is not. Kim says that an important step that should be implemented nationwide is for the six week health check-up on the baby to be also about the mother, and whether she is experiencing any physical problems. Currently there are too many cases like Gill's where midwives have not taken complete or accurate notes about the new mothers, says Dr Thomas. 'Part of the reason is under-staffing is a big problem in maternity, but also there is a cultural problem in some maternity units as well. 'It seems to me that accurate recording of a really important part of the job, and if they're not being told to do that, then then it won't happen. It's such a big issue.' Dr Thomas added: 'If notes are incomplete or inaccurate it puts women at risk. 'In Gill's case, there were clear indicators that something was wrong and it wasn't recorded, putting her at serious risk.' Dr Thomas says that there have been other cases where midwives have been 'very dismissive' of women reporting issues that they are facing. 'One thing we've heard quite a lot is women becoming very ill over a period of days and being told 'nothing's wrong, it's just one of those things',' says Dr Thomas. She adds: 'They can be very dismissive and make the women feel like they shouldn't make a fuss while ignoring really, really important signs that something is badly wrong. 'It can be fatal.' Jen Hall, from the MASIC charity which supports women with childbirth injuries, says: 'The mental health effects of childbirth injuries cannot be emphasised enough.' Jen, who herself suffered a third degree tear during childbirth due to a forceps delivery, said: 'Many women are diagnosed with postnatal depression when they are actually suffering acute trauma from childbirth injuries. 'How would you feel if you went into hospital to have your baby, a supposed joyful event, and came out with a torn anal sphincter, faecal incontinence and a vagina that has been damaged so badly you are likely to have lifelong sexual and pelvic floor dysfunction. 'To cope with new motherhood alongside this devastating injury, and have the expectation of those around you that you will be a 'happy new mum', is pressure too much to bear for many women. We know of suicide attempts and severe depression.' Jen is also calling for an immediate review into the use of forceps during childbirth. She said: 'Forceps should be banned or an immediate review put in place to consider the impact of their use on the long-term health of women. 'As well as causing severe tearing, they are also associated with pudendal nerve damage - damaging and stretching the nerve that controls a woman's continence and sexual function, and they make the development of pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic floor dysfunction much more likely over time due to the damage they cause to the structures of the pelvis. 'We see women who are contending with all these issues following an emergency forceps delivery, and it has a devastating impact on quality of life.' Advertisement 'I had told one of the midwives that I was incontinent and the next day, a different midwife asked how I was going on and I told her I was now incontinent and in loads of pain. And she didn't know what I was talking about,' Gill says. 'Why didn't that go down on my notes? Why didn't she know I was incontinent?', asks Gill. Gill recalled later being in so much pain that she collapsed in a hospital corridor and was found by a male midwife who told her that it 'was her perception of the pain'. She says: 'I didn't have any fight left in me and could only till him, 'I can't do this anymore. I'm in so much pain that this is unbearable'. 'And he said to me, 'Well, maybe it's your perception of the pain'.' 'That is like the quote of the year,' Gill says in disbelief. 'I've never forgotten it and I never will. It's as if I was the problem. 'It's so dismissive - a part of me died at that point. I've literally collapsed on the floor, I've told you I couldn't do it anymore and you've just basically said 'it's all in your head love'.' Shortly afterwards, another midwife examined Gill properly - five days after she gave birth and had repeatedly said she was in pain - and she was not able get close as Gill jumped off the bed in agony. Realising that something was seriously wrong, the midwife sent Gill for a consultation where gynaecologists and colorectal consultants examined her under general anaesthetic due to the pain she was in. 'They told me I had a fourth degree tear, I had a septic fistula and a massive abscess. That's why I had been in so much pain,' Gill recalls. 'I did feel a bit relieved because I thought I'm not going completely insane, there was actually something medically wrong with me,' she says. The medics told Gill she needed a temporary stoma to help her wounds heal for 12 weeks, and then her would be repaired. 'I just remember the midwife holding me and I was absolutely devastated. I was sobbing. She told me 'just let it all out, you'll be fine',' Gill recalls. 'But I was pleased I was getting a stoma because it was going to stop the pain. Crucially I was told it was going to be temporary for 12 weeks.' But Gill was later told that her stoma would be permanent. After having her stoma surgery, Gill was unable to pick up her baby because of the pain - and had to ask a midwife to pick Sam up whenever she wanted to hold him. 'And that's ruinous for a bond,' Gill explains. 'You can't just react to your own baby. Somebody else has to be there to help you with it. And you can never get that time back.' After getting her stoma fitted, Gill and Sam were discharged from hospital, two weeks after he was born. In those first few months, Gill struggled with having a newborn and a stoma, suffered from countless urine infections and her fistula kept on becoming septic. Gill's mother stayed with her as her husband Chris, who works as a diver, was away. 'I remember going to the supermarket for the first time after coming home with my mum. I was just overcome, I wasn't well enough. 'Basically I nearly collapsed, it was just an unremitting hell.' Gill, who was on maternity leave from the police at the time, says she didn't cope with her stoma well in those early months, explaining: 'It was leaking all over the place all the time. 'I would go into the shop on my own, it would leak and I would have to rush to find a shop assistant and hand Sam over to them so I could go to the toilet and change. How can I be a police officer like that?' She added: 'As women, we accept so much. I shouldn't have come out of that hospital just thinking I've just been unlucky. 'I should have come out of that hospital and thought, 'Why have I been left disabled?'' Her relationship has since improved with her son Sam, and she recalls, seven months after his birth, falling in love with him. 'I remember the very moment it happened,' Gill says. 'I was feeding him on the sofa and I just remember looking down and I just felt this gentle warming going through my body. 'And I just thought, 'Oh my god, is this what everyone has been going on about?' It was really powerful. I can picture it as this very moment.' The hospital where Gill gave birth launched an investigation into Gill's care as it was not up to their standards. 'The consultant who delivered Sam asked to meet me to apologise and I thought that this is all pretty serious and I began to question what went wrong,' Gill says. Eventually, Gill met the consultant who delivered Sam and she was 'extremely apologetic'. Gill says: 'I don't blame her, because at the end of the day she did save my son's life. I don't feel any bitterness towards her, I never have done and I don't think I ever will.' The hospital's investigation found that the doctor who had delivered Sam thought that Gill had a second degree tear. 'So she stitched me up as a second degree,' Gill says. 'She then thought no, actually, this is a third degree tear. 'So she took all the stitches out and started again. But she wasn't really sure and this is critical - for her own ego, instead of calling the colorectal team to say she needed help, she stitched her up as a third degree tear. 'But what she had actually done is miss the fact that I had a fourth degree tear and a fistula. And because of that, it meant that poo was coming out of everywhere which is why the abscess developed.' Gill continues: 'Because she had done these stitches twice over, it meant that there was no legitimate tissue left to do an actual repair. She left me irreparable.' Gill is pictured with her husband Chris and their son Sam Gill has spoken out about her experiences during and after childbirth in the hope of raising awareness of the difficulties some women face Gill training to be the first British ostomate to swim the Channel near Newton by the Sea She started a 'bikini challenge' where she wore nothing but a bikini and took a sign to the local beach saying she had a stoma from childbirth That life-changing damage meant that Gill's stoma would be permanent. 'I just knew at that point, life's going to be really difficult and completely different,' Gill says. 'And I am never going to be the person I was before. It's like the whole world disappears from under you because I knew that this was major for my job as well. 'They've made me so completely different to the person I was before I had this baby.' In the weeks after, it would take Gill an hour and 20 minutes to walk a distance that would usually have taken her 15 minutes. 'For a year, basically, I was incapacitated,' says Gill. Her stoma meant Gill could no longer perform her job as a police officer on the ground and would instead be behind a desk. She was medically pensioned out by the police in 2013 and the NHS settled out of court in 2014 as a result of the damage caused during childbirth and their failings. After a year, Gill's fistula was repaired by surgeons at St Mark's Hospital in Harrow, the leading colorectal hospital in the UK. Gill recalls a surgeon telling her that in a few years, she wouldn't think about her stoma as part of your every day. 'And she's so right,' Gill says. But 10 years on, she believes the system that let her down is fundamentally flawed. Gill says: 'The problem is you don't feel supported. People are in a rush because there aren't enough midwives. It comes down to a lack of numbers, which means midwives can't provide the support that they want to. It's not their fault. 'I think the fact that I kept saying repeatedly that I was in agony, when I was quite obviously in distress, pulling emergency buzzers and bursting into tears every time I went to the toilet, collapsing in corridors, and no one listened... no I didn't feel supported. 'I remember thinking I don't even know my own body and nobody is listening'. Gill says some of the individual midwives who treated her were 'amazing' - the nurse who held Gill when she found out she was getting a stoma travelled to see Gill after her stoma surgery. 'There are some amazing people, but to me, it was the system that let me down because midwives weren't recording what happened to me. 'I remember when I got my notes back, there was no record of the pulling the emergency buzzer, there was no record of me collapsing in the corridor, there was no record of me saying I was incontinent. 'And I'm wondering why would people not be writing this down because there's a clear picture of a woman in major distress. 'And I'm sure it's not normal for a woman to call the emergency buzzer when she goes to the toilet and says she's too frightened to go to the toilet because it's so painful and I'm frightened of what's happening to my body. 'So if you're repeatedly saying that to people and no one is picking up on it and no one is writing it down, then inevitably, you don't feel supported.' Gill, who raising money for her charity 'Chameleon Buddies' which promotes social inclusion for those living with a childbirth injury or a stoma in the UK and in Kenya, is also calling for more information to be made available about the possible effects of childbirth. 'It's not about scaremongering, it's just giving us information so that you know what the signs are, and so that women feel more able to say after they've had a baby that they've got a problem,' says Gill. 'Things like stomas just aren't discussed.' The British Trauma Association currently provide a support line to women. 'It shouldn't have to be a charity doing this,' Gill says. 'The government should be doing this.' Gill says the problem is that people don't talk about childbirth trauma, and she is trying to start a conversation. She started a 'bikini challenge' where she wore nothing but a bikini and took a sign to the local beach saying she had a stoma from childbirth. She started a 'bikini challenge' where she wore nothing but a bikini and took a sign to the local beach saying she had a stoma from childbirth Gill says: 'I would get so many women who are very, very, emotional at that beach. Men as well. 'So many of them just said thank you. That's all they said, but it meant to much to me. 'This is a hidden thing that is not talked about - but it happens all the time in homes across the country.' After three years of having a stoma, Gill says she had a moment of realisation that she was grateful for the colostomy - and it made her want to go out and do everything that she wanted to do. 'So I had three years of existing and then after three years, I thought, I'm good to go embrace it. I proved that you can still live life with a stoma,' says Gill. Since then, Gill has completed the Half Iron Man, been scuba diving and skydiving and completing endurance events - all the while raising 20,000 for charity. 'I want to give women hope, because back in the beginning or me, there was nobody talking about childbirth injuries and nobody was saying that it can get better,' she says. Gill adds: 'Nobody will believe me but having a stoma is the best thing that's happened to me because I have never been so determined to live a more active and positive life. 'I want to show that to my son, that this isn't going to destroy my life. It's so important that he knows that the bag I've got as a result of his birth hasn't ruined my life. It's a lesson to him that no matter what happens to him and his life, he will be OK.' Gill is now looking forward to 2023 when she will swim 25 miles across the Channel to France - and she trains most weeks. 'This is going to show people what I am prepared to do, to raise awareness for these women, and to show people that you can do anything,' Gill says. Gill is now looking forward to 2023 when she will swim 25 miles across the Channel to France - and she trains most weeks Gill, who works at Pets At Home, will be swimming on your own - with a boat sailing next to her. But the people on board are not allowed to touch Gill under the rules, and she will be fed off a pole. But because she is the first Briton to swim across the Channel with a stoma, she has no idea what is going to happen. 'There are a lot of unknowns out there about swimming for such a long time with a stoma bag, what's it going to be like, and what happens,' Gill explains. Gill is planning on leaving her stoma bag open so that it can drain while she swims. 'I'm a completely ordinary mum, who has never done anything like this before, who is going to swim about 25 miles across the sea. I'm prepared to do that because it's important to show that after a stoma and trauma, you can do what you want.' Case Study: Clare was left with a second degree tear after childbirth Gill is joined in her calls for action and change by other women such as Clare, who went through a traumatic birth. Clare, who wishes to remain anonymous, suffered a hematoma and a third degree tear during childbirth in November 2008 - but like Gill, surgeons mistakenly stitched her up as having a second degree tear. Medics had used forceps to get her son out, leaving Clare with 'massive injuries'. The injuries left Clare incontinent, meaning she did not realise she needed the toilet until it was too late. A few weeks after giving birth to her son, Clare decided to look at the injuries, and she found a prolapse lump in her vagina. 'And that really was kind of the mental point that I started to lose it because I had no control over my wee or poo and now I've got this big lump and wound that's not healing,' Clare says. She also couldn't sit down for months because she was in so much pain from the injuries. Clare says: 'Everyone says you might tear, and that you might have slight discomfort for a couple of weeks, but nobody ever tells you that actually it could be months.' Clare, who wishes to remain anonymous, suffered a hematoma and a third degree tear during childbirth in November 2008 - but like Gill, surgeons mistakenly stitched her up as having a second degree tear She later visited a gynaecologist who fixed some of the injuries, but told her it was due to her poor mental health that she was still faecally incontinent. Clare says: 'The gynaecologists and their attitude were awful. It was almost like, 'stop making a fuss, there's nothing wrong'.' 'I still remember her words, she said to me 'Yes, your urinal incontinence is really bad, but your mental health is to blame for your faecal incontinence. And when your mental health is better, you'll realise there's nothing physically wrong with you'. 'It was those words, 'nothing physically wrong with you' that stopped me from going back to a different doctor to say that what I was going through physically wasn't right.' It wasn't for months until Clare decided to go to see a GP, because the incontinence, pain and constant infections putting such a strain on her mental health and her relationships with her son and husband. 'I ended up back at the GP because I was going to walk out on my husband and my son, I don't think he was even three months old,' Clare says. 'I thought they'd be better off without me. Who wants to be married to a woman who is weeing and pooing everywhere? 'The pain was overwhelming, the infections, the incontinence - everything. I found it really hard to just accept my body how it was.' Clare was diagnosed with PTSD and she was put on antidepressants. At the time, she recalls have flashbacks if she fell asleep - so she'd stay awake all night to avoid them. By her son's first birthday though, Clare was still mentally unwell and she was struggling to form a bond with him. A bucket that helps stoma patients to discreetly change their colostomy bag Clare says: 'I kind of felt like his child minder. My poor son. I just couldn't really feel any love for him. I was still doing a good job caring for him. 'He still had a really good bond with me, but I didn't bond with him.' But just before her son's second birthday, Clare was mentally better and she came off the antidepressants. 'All of a sudden I started to develop this bond with this amazing little person who had been through all of this completely unaware of what his mum was going through, Clare says. 'I was how I thought I would be after birth. 'Physically, things were still awful. But mentally I was stronger.' Gill has since gone to her GP and underwent surgery for a sacral nerve stimulation treatment last year - more than 10 years after her first child. 'It has changed my life. It just powers your muscles a bit more. So even though everything is still torn, and it's not repaired and all the scar tissue is still there, the muscles work better.' Clare is calling for the six to eight-week check, where families visit the GP so that they can check over the baby and the mother's mental health, to involve questions on incontinence and physical injuries. 'Let's ask women, are you struggling with incontinence, can you get to the toilet in time,' says Clare. 'We're so good at asking people about their mental health but with incontinence would you admit it to somebody if you're feeling a bit unsure? But if somebody asks you directly if you are and that you can tell them, it would mean so many more women would speak up.' She also says that childbirth trauma injuries should be given the same weight as another injury would. 'We really need to focus on as mothers, after we give birth, the long term problems that we have, they don't get given the same weight as other injuries,' Clare says. 'If people went into surgery and came out with long-term incontinence because of the surgery, people would think that's awful. But when you give birth, people just say, 'You wanted children, you wanted to give birth, that's what happens'. And that's the attitude.' She says that more needs to be done to normalise talking about traumatic births - and she says, while it is rare for women to become disabled as a result of childbirth, it does happen. 'It's really important for anyone reading to keep in mind that these tears, they're not common. 'But for those of us that do have an injury, don't kind of try and shove us away and pretend it doesn't happen.' She added that it's important that if a woman comes forward and says she's struggling with incontinence, the first response it not 'that's normal'. 'If someone is brave enough to come to you and say that to you, don't let them walk away. Take them seriously. Don't let them walk away because it will be years before they go back. It took me more than five years before I got that diagnosis.' The owner of an antiques market which trades in golliwogs and Nazi memorabilia has taken on outraged visitors who say such historical relics should not be offered for sale. A sign has been placed outside Morpeth Antique Centre in the New South Wales Hunter Valley describing the dealership as a 'purveyor of history' and warning customers about some of the controversial items they might confront inside. The sign says the emporium's stallholders stock golliwogs and other 'black Americana', World War II German militaria, 'child and slave labour objects' and Barbie dolls. The centre also sells stuffed animals, fur, whale bone, ivory, religious icons, 'colonial and empire jewellery' and indigenous artefacts from around the world. 'Entry is free,' the sign states. 'At your discretion.' The owner of an antiques market which trades in golliwogs and Nazi memorabilia has taken on outraged visitors who believe such historical relics should not be offered for sale. Trevor Richards is pictured left at his Morpeth Antique Centre in the New South Wales Hunter Valley A sign outside Morpeth Antique Centre says says the emporium's stallholders stock golliwogs and other 'black Americana', World War II German militaria, 'child and slave labour objects' and Barbie dolls. Pictured is a cabinet full of Nazi memorabilia on the centre's ground floor The antique centre, which operates from the 180-year-old Campbell's Store on Morpeth's main street, is one of the two-pub town's biggest weekend tourist attractions. In recent years it has also become a target of 'politically correct' antagonists who object to some of the wares on offer, particularly Nazi war relics emblazoned with swastikas. The sign, which went up about three weeks ago, is the work of centre owner Trevor Richards and his daughter Kylie, who refined the wording over several months of considering how to get their message across. The pair was sick of having to deal with outraged visitors, some of whom were abusive to their staff. 'We put it up just to try and minimise people being offended by some of the products we sell,' Mr Richards said. 'And explain to them what the expectation is when they enter Campbell's Store. The centre also sells taxidermy, fur, whale bone, ivory, religious icons, 'colonial and empire jewellery' and indigenous artefacts from around the world. Pictured is a basket full of golliwogs on the centre's first floor In recent years Morpeth Antique Centre has also become a target of 'politically correct' antagonists who object to some of the wares on offer, particularly Nazi war relics emblazoned with swastikas. Stallholder Matt Robinson says the memorabilia does not glorify Nazism 'As the sign indicates at the top, we are purveyors of history and history includes things like gollies, which were very fashionable in the 1900s.' Golliwogs - black dolls with frizzy hair and minstrel faces that first appeared in children's books in the late 19th century - were popular toys in Australia into the 1970s. There is a large display of them on the centre's first floor. The most contentious material for sale is World War II memorabilia from Nazi Germany's Third Reich. The centre has Jewish relics from the Holocaust era as well. Stallholder Matt Robinson, who sells German World War II uniforms, weapons, medals and books including Hitler's Mein Kampf, previously told Daily Mail Australia that Nazism appalled him. 'It's history,' Mr Robinson said. 'I don't sell it to glorify it. There was seemingly no end to the items that cause complaints at Morpeth Antique Centre. 'There's some about indigenous artefacts...' says Kylie Richards. 'And we get the odd one about antiquities - "you shouldn't have Roman coins" and so on' The most contentious material for sale is World War II memorabilia from Nazi Germany's Third Reich. The centre has Jewish relics from the Holocaust era as well. Pictured are items including a German helmet, Iron Cross medals, daggers and a photograph of Adolf Hitler 'I also sell Japanese World War II items which are extremely popular as well. As Australians, technically we probably should be more offended by that than anything with a swastika on it.' Ms Richards said it was a only tiny minority of visitors who took issue with what was on sale at the centre but she and her father wanted to diffuse any trouble. 'Usually you can have a good conversation with a customer about whatever it is that's caused them offence but sometimes they really do get quite defensive about it all,' she said. 'The team managing the counter downstairs don't need to put up with people walking in the door and abusing them about this, that and the other. 'Finally it got to the point where we just got one too many comment.' Ms Richards said the sign was meant to advise anyone who came into the centre 'that it's chock-a-block with thousands of years of history and that some people might be offended by what they see.' 'Our position in a very polite way is to say well, it's a part of history and we shouldn't be writing history out of books and society,' she said. Morpeth Antique Centre's Kylie Richards said the centre was 'chock-a-block with thousands of years of history and that some people might be offended by what they saw' Golliwogs were used to market Robertson's jam in the early 20th century, which is explained in a note on the window of a cabinet full of the black dolls. A further note recognises golliwogs 'may prove to be unpalatable to some' 'We're not confrontational. We don't want to be that. We just want people to come in and enjoy themselves without it necessarily becoming a woke issue. 'But it's their choice. It's a private business, we're not forcing you to come in the front door.' Ms Richards said the first complaints staff received when the centre opened five years ago were about the large number of golliwogs in a cabinet filled with black Americana. She dealt with those protests by displaying a pamphlet which explained the origins of golliwogs and how it spread as a marketing icon for Robertson's jam in the early 20th century. When Ms Richards was told that brochure presented a 'rose-coloured' view of the dolls she wrote a second one which recognised their racist connotations in modern times. 'That got handed to every person who made a comment and it was just there as a general information sheet for customers as well,' Ms Richards said. Kylie Richards from Morpeth Antique Centre says a tiny minority of visitors complain about some of the items being sold. 'We've had people have a go about Barbie dolls, taxidermy, fur, blood diamonds, whale bone, colonial and empire jewellery, anything Edwardian' 'But of course we get a fair few comments about other things, which is basically all the things that are written on the sign out the front.' There was seemingly no end to the items that could cause offence including uranium glass which contains the radioactive metal. When put under an ultra-violet light it glows. 'We've had people have a go about Barbie dolls, the taxidermy, fur, blood diamonds, whale bone, colonial and empire jewellery, anything Edwardian,' Ms Richards said. 'There's some about indigenous artefacts as well, and we get the odd one about antiquities too - "you shouldn't have Roman coins" and things like that. We get a little bit of that as well. 'Semi-precious stones that have been mined out of Sri Lanka and Burma - that type of thing. And Noddy.' The fictional character Noddy was created by English children's author Enid Blyton for a series of books published between 1949 and 1963. Golliwogs - black rag dolls that first appeared in children's books in the late 19th century - were popular toys in Australia into the 1970s. Pictured is a cabinet full of golliwogs The original publications featured golliwogs, often cast as villains, and in recent decades Blyton has been accused of being racist, sexist and xenophobic. Barbie, the collectable fashion doll launched by Mattel in 1959, is blamed for perpetuating gender stereotypes and conveying an unrealistic body image to girls. 'Even Smurfs - we get the odd comment about Smurfs too,' Ms Richards said. 'But it's mainly Noddy and Barbie.' Asked how Smurfs could offend anyone, Ms Richards said: 'I don't know about that one'. French academic Antoine Bueno claimed in 2011 the little blue figures represented an 'archetype of totalitarian society imbued with Stalinism and Nazism'. The centre's loudest critic has been Dr Dvir Abramovich, chairman of the Anti-Defamation Commission, who lives in Victoria and has never visited the store. Dr Abramovich has been spearheading a national campaign to ban the sale of Third Reich paraphernalia and believes the trade encourages neo-Nazism. Ms Richards counters that there has been a strong market for Nazi memorabilia for decades and much of it is so expensive that prices would be prohibitive to the average white supremacist. Ironically, efforts to ban the sale of such items only makes them more scarce and therefore more valuable. 'I've never met one yet,' Ms Richards said of potential neo-Nazi collectors. 'One of our main buyers are museums and we've sold and donated items to Jewish museums right through Australia and one overseas,' she said. 'They're using the items for historical context. 'The people who walk in the front door are predominantly professionals. They're lawyers, they're doctors, the come from all walks of life but they're rational, sensible people.' Ms Richards said no one had mentioned the sign since it went up but she believed the message had been absorbed. 'We haven't had any negativity come through the door since then,' she said. 'We haven't actually had any comment one way or the other but it has taken a bit of pressure off the team at the front counter in particular.' Indiana's legislature became the first in the nation on Friday to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Other states have already banned abortion, thanks to pre-existing 'trigger laws' that went into effect when Roe was repealed, but Indiana is the first to usher in a new law. The measure now goes to Republican Governor Eric Holcomb, who has not indicated whether he will sign it. The ban includes limited exceptions, including in cases of rape and incest, and to protect the life and physical health of the mother. The exceptions for rape and incest are limited to 10 weeks post-fertilization, meaning victims could not get an abortion in Indiana after that. Victims would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack. Indiana was among the earliest Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws after the Supreme Court ruling on June 24 that removed constitutional protections for the procedure. It is the first state to pass a ban through both chambers, after West Virginia lawmakers on July 29 passed up the chance to be that state. The debates come amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face some party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost. The Indiana Senate approved the near-total ban 28-19, hours after House members advanced it 62-38. Abortion-rights protesters fill Indiana Statehouse corridors and cheer outside legislative chambers on Friday as lawmakers vote to concur on a near-total abortion ban, in Indianapolis Protesters angered at the almost-total ban on abortion protest inside the statehouse in Indianapolis on Friday, ahead of the vote Senate Democratic Leader Greg Taylor, at podium just right of center, of Indianapolis, speaks to Indiana senators ahead of voting LOUD Demonstrators chant Pro-life is a lie. You dont care if people die as Indiana House debates abortion ban pic.twitter.com/3R8O8JGNGc Vic Ryckaert (@VicRyc) August 5, 2022 Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville, who sponsored the bill, told reporters after the House vote that the legislation 'makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation.' Outside the House chamber, abortion-rights activists often chanted over lawmakers' remarks, carrying signs like 'Roe roe roe your vote' and 'Build this wall' between church and state. Some House Democrats wore blazers over pink 'Bans Off Our Bodies' T-shirts. The House added exceptions for protecting the health and life of the mother after repeated requests from doctors and others. It also allows abortions if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Indiana lawmakers listened to hours of testimony over the past two weeks in which residents on all sides of the issue rarely, if ever, supported the legislation. Abortion-rights supporters said the bill goes too far, while anti-abortion activists expressed it doesn't go far enough. Abortion-rights activists stand outside the Indiana House chambers on Friday Rep. Renee Pack, wearing a 'Bans off our Bodies' t-shirt, speaks before the abortion vote is held on Friday The House also rejected, largely on party lines, a Democratic proposal to place a non-binding question on the statewide November election ballot: 'Shall abortion remain legal in Indiana?' The proposal came after Kansas voters resoundingly rejected a measure that would have allowed the state's Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten abortion in the first test of voters feelings about the issue since Roe was overturned. Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston told reporters that if residents are unhappy, they can vote for new lawmakers. 'Ultimately it's up to the Senate,' he said. 'Voters have an opportunity to vote, and if they're displeased, they'll have an opportunity both in November and in future years.' Indiana Republican House Speaker Todd Huston, left, and Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara, right, speak with reporters after the Indiana House approved a near-total abortion ban Indiana's proposed ban also came after the political firestorm over a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to the state from neighboring Ohio to end her pregnancy. The case gained attention when an Indianapolis doctor said the child came to Indiana because of Ohio's 'fetal heartbeat' ban. Democratic Rep. Maureen Bauer spoke tearfully before Friday's vote about people in her South Bend district who oppose the bill - the husbands standing behind their wives, the fathers supporting their daughters - as well as the women 'who are demanding that we are seen as equal.' Bauer's comments were followed by raucous cheers from protesters in the hallway and subdued applause from fellow Democrats. 'You may not have thought that these women would show up,' Bauer said. 'Maybe you thought we wouldn't be paying attention.' West Virginia legislators on July 29 passed up the chance to be the first state with a unified ban after its House of Delegates refused to concur with Senate amendments that removed criminal penalties for physicians who perform illegal abortions. Delegates instead asked for a conference committee to consider the details between the bills. The debates come amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost. Religion was a persistent theme during the special session, both in residents' testimony and lawmakers' comments. In advocating against the bill, Rep. Ann Vermilion condemned fellow Republicans who have called women 'murderers' for getting an abortion. 'I think that the Lord's promise is for grace and kindness,' she said. 'He would not be jumping to condemn these women.' A man in an orange jumpsuit and a red MAGA hat sits inside a cage, his head in his hands, and weeps. He looks around before standing at a blackboard and writing: 'Where is everyone?' He sits down and weeps again. The prisoner is Brandon Straka, a pro-Trump campaigner. And the one-man show highlighting his experience after being arrested in connection with the January 6 riot is the oddest exhibit at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Texas. A crowd watches him as they listen on headsets to the testimony of other people who were also arrested for their part in the attack. Then, just when it seemed things couldn't get stranger, rightwing firebrand Marjorie Taylor Greene arrived to take things to the next level. She was let into the eight-foot high cage where she kneeled and prayed with the inmate. A drained Straka, 45, spoke to DailyMail.com at the end of his performance. He explained that he wanted to highlight the stress and suffering of people prosecuted for minor crimes on the day of the riot. 'I think I have a lot of pent up pain and anxiety and fear, and it actually has been very kind of cathartic and therapeutic in a way as well,' he said, sitting in the tiny cell. Brandon Straka caused a stir at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Texas, with a piece of performance art designed to highlight what he says is unfair treatment of people arrested for minor crimes committed during the January 6 attack The crowd roared when Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared, entering the cage to join Straka He said he was taken by surprise when she knelt and prayed with him on Friday afternoon Straka, the founder of the conservative '#WalkAway' campaign, pleaded guilty last September to misdemeanour charges of 'engaging in disorderly and disruptive conduct in the Capitol Building or grounds. He avoided jail time and was instead sentenced to 90 days of home confinement and three years' probation. He did not enter the Capitol itself and maintained that he was there to film what was happening. But he admitted shouting, 'Go, go, go,' as the mob tried to storm the building. During the performance he slumped on the floor. At times he paced the cell. 'I think everybody is in agreement that anybody who committed violence, vandalism who caused extreme fear on that day needs to pay an appropriate price for what they did,' he said. 'But there are a lot of people suffering, I think, unduly. I think it's very disproportionate to what they actually did. 'And even more than that, I would like to say at this point that the hatred on both sides has to stop. It's time to forgive people who made mistakes on both sides.' The performance was a hit with attendees, who crowded around for a better view of Straka The testimony of people arrested in connection with the Capitol riot was played through headsets, 'silent disco' style. They described being kept in solitary confinement A soundtrack to the performance is offered through headphones in the style of a 'silent disco. Different voices describe what they say was disproportionate treatment by the authorities 'They put me in a cell by myself,' said one voice. 'Total solitary confinement and a cell not much bigger than a walk-in closet. 'And I spent the following nine days in that cell in total solitary confinement.' Another said: 'I didn't see a clock for four days. I had no concept of what day or time it was or what was happening or not happening.' The performance on Friday afternoon drew a big crowd. And it cheered when Greene entered the cage. 'I think I have a lot of pent up pain and anxiety and fear, and it actually has been very kind of cathartic and therapeutic in a way as well,' Straka told DailyMail.com Straka said he was taken by surprise. 'She prayed with me for our nation,' he said. 'Both sides of the aisle for all people and no, I thought it was a really beautiful, special moment.' Critics will say he is seeking soft treatment for political allies. Punishments are not meant to be easy. In response, Straka insisted he was not trying to get anyone off the hook for violent crimes committed on January 6 last year. 'I know people who saw open doors and walk through them and their lives have been destroyed,' he said. 'They've been turned in by their children. It's pretty horrific. Conservatives are holding a four-day conference in Dallas, Texas. Former President Donald Trump is due to deliver the key-note speech on Saturday evening Trump cutouts are used to sell conservative cellphone plans at CPAC Texas in Dallas 'So I am not suggesting nobody did anything wrong. And I'm not suggesting people shouldn't pay a price for what they did. 'What I'm saying is that this is an enormous amount of despair, and pain, and suffering and division that has been caused.' Among the observers was Judy Nordean. Her son Ethan is a leader of the Proud Boys, and has been indicted on seditious conspiracy charges for his alleged role on Jan. 6. She maintains his innocence and said Straka was doing an important job of keeping the issue alive. 'They are being falsely accused,' she said. 'They have no criminal history whatsoever. 'We are going to fight like hell.' A farm owner accused of shooting dead three of his neighbours and injuring a fourth over a long-standing dispute about a fence has been pictured - as new details emerge he was not even living at the property at the centre of the row. Darryl Young, 59, allegedly shot dead Graham Tighe, 35, his mother Maree Schwarz and step-father Mervyn Schwarz, 71, at the boundary line of their property in Bogie, in the Whitsundays region of North Queensland, at 9am on Thursday. Mr Tighe's younger brother, Ross, was also allegedly shot in the stomach, but managed to escape to a ute and drive 40km to get help - while soaked in blood - before he was airlifted to Mackay Hospital. Police took Young into custody and charged him with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder on Friday evening. He has been ordered to front Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday. Photographs have since emerged of the farm owner with one of them showing him sitting with his family and smiling at the camera. Daily Mail Australia understands Young was not even living at the 7,700 hectare property at the centre of the dispute. Fresh details have emerged that Young was not even living at the property at the centre of the dispute (pictured, Young's second rural property at Bowen) Graham Tighe (pictured) leaves behind a young family, including a little boy who was recently sick, and his toddler daughter Maree and Mervyn Schwarz died from gunshots wounds, along with Maree's son Graham Tighe. His primary place of residence was in fact just outside of Bowen - about 2.5 hours from his land in Bogie. The home - sitting on a far more manageable 65 hectares - is at the back of a quiet dirt track and protected by a fence with a warning sign which reads 'admittance by invitation only'. 'No trespassing to all men, women, persons and entities including police, government, sheriff, bailiff, council, private investigators, corporations.' The sign warns 'trespass damages' of at least $10,000 will be applicable 'upon one step onto this land'. A nearby neighbour told Daily Mail Australia Young often kept to himself and appeared 'a quiet fellow'. 'He doesn't have very many visitors at all,' the neighbour said, making light of the extensive list of prohibited people according to his legal notice. The person, who did not want to be identified, said Young had been spending less and less time at his primary residence in favour of his Bogie property. 'He's been out there fixing it up a lot lately,' the neighbour said. 'Everyone knows everyone out here but we like to all keep to ourselves. I knew him as a quiet, loner type.' Over the years Young's place had acquired more and more junk, to the point where it now 'looks like a junkyard' from the street, according to neighbours. Rusty old cars, farming machinery and random bits and pieces are littered across the front portion of the property and line the driveway to the tin shed at the back. His home is tucked around a corner, further out of the way of the main road. Photographs have since emerged of the farm owner with one of them showing him (right) sitting with his family Young's primary place of residence was in fact just outside of Bowen - about 2.5 hours from his land in Bogie The home - sitting on a far more manageable 65 hectares - is at the back of a quiet dirt track and protected by a fence with a warning sign which reads 'admittance by invitation only' The sign warns 'trespass damages' of at least $10,000 will be applicable 'upon one step onto this land' Graham Tighe spent as few as three days with his newborn son before he was allegedly shot dead by Young. Greg Austen - who is Mrs Schwarz's brother-in-law - told Daily Mail Australia that Graham Tighe's infant son was hospitalised in Brisbane, 1,000km south of Bogie, soon after his birth three weeks ago 'because he was crook'. He was released this week. The little boy spent just three precious days with his father before the alleged shooting, Mr Austen said. 'I reckon Graham only spent about three days with his son,' Mr Austen said. 'He's the first boy born that can carry on the Tighe family name.' A nearby neighbour told Daily Mail Australia Young often kept to himself and appeared 'a quiet fellow' The resident, who did not want to be identified, said Young had been spending less and less time at his primary residence (pictured) in favour of his Bogie property On July 11, Mr Tighe's wife wrote a gushing social media post to introduce their newborn to family friends - their toddler sat next to her new brother, beaming at the camera. 'Congratulations guys, so happy for your beautiful little family of four,' a friend wrote in the comments section. Mr Tighe's partner and their children have been flown to Mackay by charity organisation Angel Flight so they can be with family and Mr Tighe's brother Ross as he recovers in hospital. Police allege that on Wednesday night, Young invited the Tighe-Schwarz family to meet him at the border of their farms early on Thursday. However, he allegedly pulled out a gun and shot all four members, leaving Ross with a bullet wound to the stomach. Pictured: Graham Tighe and his pregnant wife, before their son was born three weeks ago Ross Tighe, pictured with his partner Kaitlyn, is recovering in hospital after allegedly being shot in the stomach Despite his injuries, Ross Tighe miraculously escaped by jumping into a car and driving 40km to another property to alert police. Cops rushed to the small rural town in search of the three other alleged victims and gunman. Queensland Police locked the area down after his call and found the three family members dead on the Shannonvale Road property a few hours later. Mr Austen, who is Mrs Schwarz's brother-in-law, told Daily Mail Australia the neighbours had been warring over where the boundary point should be between their two farms. Graham Tighe bought the property with his mother and stepfather in May last year. He is pictured at a wedding 'It was a fence line dispute, and it's been going for many years,' he said. 'How it happened in this day and age is beyond me. It's not America.' Ross Tighe, who has a one-year-old daughter with partner Kaitlyn, was airlifted to Mackay Hospital in a critical condition, where he was rushed into emergency surgery. He remained in a stable condition in the intensive care unit and was able to be interviewed by police on Thursday night. Mr Austen said he was shocked by how the feud allegedly escalated as he paid tribute to his community-oriented loved ones. 'When we first heard something happened, we thought they were playing silly buggers in Collinsville, but we didn't realise the outcome which was so severe,' he said. 'They were an honest Christian family. They were a bush family who worked seven days a week and had beers on Sundays, participated in events, very community-minded and well-respected in the community.' 'Just a normal Australian family.' Maree Schwarz's brother-in-law Greg Austen said Ross (pictured) is a strong man People who live around the Bogie region started leaving flowers at the property on Friday morning (pictured) Pictured: One of the Schwarz-Tighe family's properties, situated on Sutherland Road TIMELINE OF BOGIE MASS SHOOTING May 2021: The Schwarz family buy the 300-square-kilometre Bogie farm for $10million Thursday, August 4, 2022 9am: Mervyn and Maree Schwarz, and Maree's sons Graham and Ross Tighe meet neighbours at the boundary lines of their properties. An altercation occurs and all four are allegedly shot. Ross escapes and makes it to a property several kilometres away where he raises the alarm. 10am: Queensland Police confirm they have sent units to a rural property following reports four people have been shot 11am: Police announce they have located one man some distance from the property and he is being treated for gunshot wounds An emergency declaration is set up by police and members of the public are told to avoid the area 4pm: Police confirm three people have been found deceased at the Bogie property Friday, August 5, 2022 7.15am: Queensland Police Acting Superintendent Tom Armitt announces the alleged gunman has been taken into custody Advertisement Mr Austen said his nephew-in-law showed incredible courage. 'Ross has two girls, but he's OK. I haven't spoke to him yet because he's about three hours away, but we're heading there,' he said. 'Ross is a very strong young man. 'To witness what unfolded in front of him and then to be able to walk back to the car shows real resilience, and I'm sure he won't forget it for the rest of his life.' Acting Superintendent Tom Armitt said the man arrested was a 'long-time resident of the area'. 'He will be remaining in our custody, and we expect to lay criminal charges in relation to the matter sometime later on this afternoon,' he said. Police have released four of the five people that were taken into custody on Thursday night to assist with their inquiries. Supt. Armitt said two of those persons were involved in a power company, and after taking statements from them, they were released. He said the three others included the 59-year-old man, his son, and another female family member, who have also since been released. Police said the sole survivor was in a 'very distressed state' when he initially spoke to officers, which led to confusion as police tried to narrow down the area where the alleged shooting took place. The family only bought the huge 300sqkm plot of land for $10million in May 2021, which is zoned for cattle grazing, breeding and farming purposes. The purchase - which was made by Mr and Mrs Schwarz, along with Graham Tighe, netted the previous owners a profit of almost $7 million after holding onto the property for just three years. Property records show Mr Schwarz and Mrs Schwarz, who was then Ms Tighe, bought a livestock farm for $1.8million in Mount Abundance, in the Maranoa region, in December 2003. The couple married sometime within the next eight years before going into business with Graham to snap up a Bogie cattle grazing plot in October 2011. Maree Schwarz, who died on Thursday morning, is pictured with one of her grandchildren Pictured: The entrance to the Schwartz-Tighe property on Friday morning. Flowers could be seen at the gate Five years later, the trio purchased a $2.6million farm, with land use for sheep breeding or growing grains, at The Gums, west of Tara in the Western Downs region. Ross Tighe had his second child just 18 months ago. At the time, his doting mother shared a photo online of herself cradling her newborn grandchild with a beaming smile on her face. Forensic specialists will return to the scenes on Friday morning to continue examining the regions for clues. Police revealed on Thursday afternoon the rugged terrain had proven difficult to navigate and would pose further challenges throughout the course of the investigation. Ross Tighe was raced to hospital on Thursday, after driving 40km with a gunshot wound (scene pictured) The tragedy has rocked the small agricultural town, which is home to just over 200 people. When word spread throughout the community of a shooting, several of Mrs Schwarz' friends reached out via social media wishing her well. 'Hope all are safe,' one friend wrote on the notice, tagging Mrs Schwarz in her message.' Whitsunday Regional Councillor Jan Clifford said 'everybody knows everyone else' in their 'little village', adding the community would be 'devastated'. 'To my knowledge, nothing like this has ever happened in the Whitsunday region before. 'We are all deeply saddened by the tragedy.' Parents have been put on alert after scammers swindled more than $2million from families mainly across four states using a devious text message. The highly effective 'hi mum' mobile phone scam plays on the fears of parents when scammers send a text message from a different number pretending to be one of their children. The messages claim the son or daughter has a new phone and tells the parents to delete their other number. Con artists have used WhatsApp (pictured) where they play the part of the son or daughter, telling them they have a new phone number and to delete their old one The criminals spin a story pretending to be a parent's child about needing money to be transferred or to pay for something, which they can't do themselves due to a banking issue (pictured, one of the texts) Most of the victims are aged over 55 using apps like WhatsApp - 'Sadly, many parents are falling victim because they're simply nice people who are concerned for their child's welfare,' police said Parents have been duped into transferring more than $2million to the scammers across the country (pictured, one of the texts ) The scam messages spin a story about needing money to be transferred or to pay for something, which they can't do themselves due to a banking issue. The texts stress the issue is urgent before providing payment details, offering to reimburse their 'parents' later. Victims across NSW and Victoria account for more than half of the money lost in the scams, with Western Australia and Queensland close behind. It comes as fraudsters are now using other avenues such as 'traditional' SMS and text messages in order to approach their victims. Such scams have appeared on UK WhatsApp accounts in recent months, tricking British parents into handing over 1.5million in just six months. 'Victims of the 'Hi Mum' scam date back to at least October last year overseas, but since May, we've seen a significant increase in reports not just here in NSW, but jurisdictions across Australia,' NSW Police cybercrime squad commander Detective Superintendent Matthew Craft said. 'We encourage people to look out for suspicious behaviours demonstrated by these scammers; including their failure to personalise any communication and excuses as to why they can't speak on the phone. 'The demographic of victims is predominantly aged over 55, and sadly, many parents are falling victim because they're simply nice people who are concerned for their child's welfare,' Det Supt Craft said. The funds given over are usually quickly moved from bank accounts into cryptocurrency, with victims unlikely to get their money back. People who have lost money to a scam should contact their bank or financial institution as soon as possible and report the matter to police. Such scams have appeared on UK WhatsApp accounts in recent months, tricking British parents into handing over 1.5million in just six months (pictured, a text one Aussie received) The City University of New York deleted a profile of a graduate who was the youngest member of Johnny Depp's legal team in his defamation trial against Amber Heard. Yarleyn Mena, 29, a 2015 graduate of CUNY's Hunter College and a Brown Rudnick LLP associate, was originally touted for her work in helping Depp win a $10.35 million verdict in the heated trial that captured the nation's attention. The show of support for the graduate, however, went out the door after CUNY said it received concerns from students and faculty over the profile piece as they offered an apology. 'We understand the strong negative emotions this article elicited and apologize for publishing the item,' the public university system said in a statement replacing the link to the story on Mena. 'The article was not meant to convey support for Mr. Depp, implicitly or otherwise, or to call into question any allegations that were made by Amber Heard,' CUNY added. 'Domestic violence is a serious issue in our society and we regret any pain this article may have caused.' Yarleyn Mena, 29, a 2015 graduate of CUNY's Hunter College and a Brown Rudnick LLP associate, was the youngest attorney on Johnny Depp's legal team Depp (right) secured the Brown Rudnick team, which included Camille Vasquez (left), who helped the actor win a $10.35 million verdict against ex-wife Amber Heard Mena (third from the left) shared hugs with her team as they secured the verdict on June 1 in the widely publicized trial. Her inclusion in the team was touted by her alma matter on August 3 before CUNY deleted the story following backlash from students and faculty In the original article, which was published on August 3, the headline on the CUNYverse newsletter read, 'This CUNY grad was the Youngest Lawyer to Serve on Johnny Depp's Legal Team.' It included an overview of Mena, the daughter of two lawyers who came from the Dominican Republic, who earned her law degree from Fordham University. In the article she described her role on the legal team, led by Benjamin Chew, in the Depp v. Heard trial. 'I worked with the team on the opening and closing and was the master of the facts of all the evidence,' Mena said. 'If someone needed pictures or text messages, I would look them up and assist everyone as we went along.' She added that the legal team was incredibly focused on the trial and were mostly unaware of the spectacle it had become, adding that in the aftermath, it was exciting to know that such a big case was the first one she got to appear in trial. 'I am a third year associate and am fortunate to have worked a trial so early in my career. Most cases don't go to trial,' she noted. 'We were focused on the case around the clock and almost lived in a bubble throughout the trial so the pressure from the spotlight didn't affect us as much on a day to day. 'We are a tight knit team that kept each other grounded and fixed on our client's needs.' The article also included tips from Mena to other students on how to stand out in law school applications and avoid the pressures of college. Neither CUNY nor Mena immediately responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Pictured: Mena (center) during her graduation from CUNY's Hunter College in 2015 as she's accompanied by her parents, both lawyers who immigrated from the Dominican Republic Although CUNY claimed it received backlash over the article, the decision to take it down stoked its own wave of criticism, with CUNY Brooklyn College Professor KC Johnson condemning the move. 'Not a good look for CUNY, to put it mildly,' he tweeted. 'One line of the institution's [groveling] apology could even be read as casting doubt on the jury's verdict in the civil case,' he added. 'CUNY's message to talented young grads who go into the law seems to be we'll celebrate you only if we institutionally approve of your client.' Despite concluding in June, the Depp v. Heard trial continues to be a hot-button issue after the jury in Fairfax Virginia awarded Depp $10.35 million in damages. The jury ultimately found that Heard defamed him in a 2018 Washington Post op-ed where she referred to herself as a domestic abuse survivor. The jury also awarded Heard $2 million in her countersuit that Depp and his representative defamed her following her initial claims against him. Both Heard and Depp have said they're filing an appeal over the verdicts. The New York Times's housing columnist is being sued by her landlord over allegations of $35,000 in unpaid rent. Joyce Cohen, who writes the popular series The Hunt, featuring the trials and tribulations of New Yorkers attempting to navigate the city's real estate swamp, was sued on Tuesday in New York Supreme Court. Cohen and her husband, Benjamin Meltzer, are accused of subletting an apartment on the Upper West Side while their own home two blocks away was near another being renovated, and then refusing to pay the rent. The couple took over the apartment in November 2020, after it was advertised on Craigslist. They were looking for somewhere quiet, as Cohen suffers from hyperacusis - a condition of extreme sensitivity to noise, which forces her to wear industrial-grade ear protection when she leaves the home. The original renters, Amit and Jasmine Matta, moved to another property they owned as it was more suitable for their daughter during the pandemic, and Jasmine was recovering from cancer. Cohen and Meltzer agreed to pay $2,999 a month, on the understanding that it was a temporary arrangement and that the owner of the building on West 72nd Street was unaware it was being sublet. Joyce Cohen, a housing reporter, is being sued with her husband over allegations of $35,000 in unpaid rent Cohen and her husband Benjamin Meltzer both suffer from hyperacusis, meaning extreme sensitivity to noise. When building work began near their home they needed to move temporarily Cohen is pictured with her cat. The New York Times' housing reporter is now being sued with her husband, accused of failing to pay rent on a sublet When the landlord found out, in August 2021, the Mattas say they asked Cohen and Meltzer to move out, but claim the couple refused. 'Defendant's behavior is rich with irony and hypocrisy since the rent Defendants refuse to pay is less than the current rental market value of Plaintiff's Residence,' the Mattas wrote in the complaint. The Mattas emphasize in their complaint, obtained by Insider, that Cohen and Meltzer displayed extensive knowledge of the legal context in their communications with them, when discussing how to handle the situation. Cohen and Meltzer emailed the Mattas and said they needed to get lawyers involved, to prevent the Mattas being evicted, and said they would pay the legal fees. 'Hi Amit,' Cohen wrote. 'We read the documents carefully. Your landlord is planning to evict you. 'Anything you communicate to the building can and will be used against you, and against us. 'This situation calls for professional legal help. Ben and I are hiring a lawyer. The lawyer should be the only one communicating with the building. 'We will cover the lawyer's fee.' The Mattas said that they offered to work with Cohen and Meltzer to find a solution, provided that Cohen and Meltzer moved out, but the couple refused to budge. Cohen is pictured out and about with her hearing protection The Mattas claim that the pair then stopped paying rent: the couple insist that they 'have been paying rent all along', with the money deposited into an escrow account. The Mattas further insist that Cohen and Meltzer then launched an 'attempt to extort Plaintiffs into paying the Defendants to leave'. They cite an email from Cohen and Meltzer's lawyer, stating that the couple will leave if $15,000 in compensation is paid. Cohen told Insider she couldn't discuss the lawsuit. A New York Times representative said the company was aware of the lawsuit and was looking into it. 'I really didn't want to do this,' Amit Matta told Insider. 'I held on as far as possible.' Liz Truss called last night for the Conservative Party to 'unite' to take on Keir Starmer's Labour as 21 current and former Cabinet ministers issued a declaration of support for her. The Foreign Secretary, firm favourite to succeed Boris Johnson, appeared to put pressure on her rival Rishi Sunak to stand down as she shared the open letter from some of her prominent backers, including Lord Frost, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Sir Iain Duncan Smith. The signatories, which include ten sitting and 11 past Cabinet ministers, argued that only Miss Truss 'has what it takes' and would break from the 'tired economic managerialism of the past' in a thinly veiled swipe at the former chancellor. The Foreign Secretary, firm favourite to succeed Boris Johnson, appeared to put pressure on her rival Rishi Sunak to stand down as she shared the open letter from some of her prominent backers, including Lord Frost, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Sir Iain Duncan Smith Last night, senior Tory Nusrat Ghani endorsed Miss Truss after weeks of remaining neutral in the leadership contest. Introducing her to the hustings in Eastbourne, East Sussex, the 1922 Committee vice-chairman cited Miss Truss's record as Foreign Secretary and ability to unite the party. The letter was released as Mr Sunak's campaign appeared to stall, with his last high-profile supporters Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps emerging three weeks ago. In the past week, former Conservative leaders Lord Hague and Lord Howard have endorsed Mr Sunak. But in their open letter, the 21 senior Tories say Miss Truss's record as Foreign Secretary and low-tax promises should see her become prime minister. They wrote: 'For us, there is only one candidate who has what it takes: Liz Truss. She has shown she will do what is necessary and right, even in the face of great adversity. 'In challenging times, Britain needs a prime minister who can be trusted to deliver. Liz has a clear plan to grow our economy, founded on true Conservative principles of aspiration, enterprise and freedom, which will help fund our public services and NHS. The letter was released as Mr Sunak's campaign appeared to stall, with his last high-profile supporters Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps emerging three weeks ago 'She will unleash the huge opportunities of Brexit, break from the tired economic managerialism of the past and challenge failed groupthink.' The backers include Tories from all regions of the country and wings of the party, such as Northern Research Group chairman Jake Berry, current Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi and former leadership rival Penny Mordaunt. Miss Truss responded by saying, 'it's time to unite', and said she would 'unite our party, beat Keir Starmer, and... deliver for Britain'. For his part, Mr Sunak has repeatedly insisted he will not quit the contest even if he falls further behind his rival. Prince Charles met a Russian oligarch with links to Vladimir Putin the same year his charity accepted a 300,000 donation from the businessman. The Princes Foundation received the cash from a charity run by Moshe Kantor in 2020, despite the billionaire having been named on a Putin list released by the US Treasury in 2018. Mr Kantor, who lives in a 31million mansion in Hampstead, north London, was sanctioned by the UK in April after Russias invasion of Ukraine. But the Moscow-born oligarch had already spent years forging ties with Putin, while funnelling more than 15.5million into British institutions, including a 3million pledge to the Princes Foundation. The revelations have sparked fresh concerns over Charless dealings with controversial donors after reports that he brokered a donation from the family of Osama Bin Laden which Clarence House has denied. Mr Kantor, 68, who is worth an estimated 3.5billion, has met Putin on at least seven occasions. The Russian president was a keynote speaker at the World Holocaust Forum in January 2020, organised by Mr Kantor. Charles also delivered a speech and was pictured deep in conversation with the oligarch. Moshe Kantor, 68, donated 300,000 to Prince Charles' charity in 2020 and met the Prince in the same year Mr Kantor is estimated to be worth 3.5 billion and was sanctioned by the UK in April after Russias invasion of Ukraine The same year, the Princes Foundation accepted a second 300,000 donation from Mr Kantors charity. It followed a payment of the same amount in 2019, which was the first instalment of a 3million pledge to be paid over ten years. Clarence House said: As with all donations, the decision to accept this money would have rested with the charitys trustees. Last week, it emerged that the Prince of Waless Charitable Fund (PWCF) secured a 1million donation from the family of Osama Bin Laden after Charles held a private meeting with the terrorists half-brother, Bakr, at Clarence House in 2013. Clarence House said the PWCFs trustees accepted the donation without the princes involvement. It came just weeks after it was revealed that Charles personally received 860,000 in Fortnum and Mason carrier bags as one of three cash payments totalling 2.5million from a former Qatari prime minister to the PWCF. Separately, the prince faces being interviewed by police after it was alleged his closest aide offered to help a Saudi billionaire get a knighthood and British citizenship in exchange for generous donations to his foundation. Royal sources have insisted Charles had no knowledge of any alleged deal. But ex-Lib Dem minister Norman Baker, who filed a criminal complaint about the matter last year, said: The Princes Foundation has a long history of accepting money from unsavoury characters. It now turns out that you add to the list an oligarch with ties to Vladimir Putin. Either the Princes Foundation failed to carry out due diligence or it simply doesnt care. The Charity Commission froze the accounts of the Kantor Charitable Foundation after its founder was added to Britains sanctions list. Mr Kantor is the largest shareholder of fertiliser firm Acron, which has vital strategic significance for the Russian government, according to the Foreign Office. A spokesman for The Prince's Foundation said the donation 'received from the Kantor Charitable Foundation, which was a registered U.K. charity, regulated by the Charity Commission, and which also supported numerous other charitable causes in the U.K'. He added that to accept the money was 'based on the information available at the time, rather than information which subsequently comes to light'. It is understood Charles attended the World Holocaust Forum at the request of the UK Government, alongside other world leaders. Mr Kantor, who has Russian, British and Israeli citizenship, was named by the US in 2018 as one of 114 Russian politicians and 96 oligarchs on its Putin list, published after alleged Russian meddling in its 2016 election. Washington said inclusion on the list was determined by closeness to the Russian regime and their net worth, but did not indicate the US had evidence of involvement in malign activities. A spokesman for Mr Kantor said it was false and groundless to say he had ties to Putin and the depiction of him as a Russian oligarch is flawed and offensive. He added that Mr Kantors meetings with Putin have been in his capacity as president of the European Jewish Congress and World Holocaust Forum. And it was perfectly normal for his charity to donate to UK institutions, given that he and his family have lived in Britain for more than ten years, the spokesman said. Hundreds of civil servants will never have to return to the office after being allowed to work from home permanently. Official figures show the number of Government employees on special home-working contracts has almost tripled since the pandemic. There were 183 home workers across eight of the main Whitehall departments in 2019-20, rising to 309 the following year and 530 in 2021-22. The biggest increase was in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), where the number rose from 117 before Covid struck to 380 earlier this year. In the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) the number rose from 14 to 60 over the same period. Official figures show the number of Government employees on special home-working contracts has almost tripled since the pandemic And in the Cabinet Office which is meant to lead the drive for civil servants to get back to their desks it doubled from 30 to 62. The Department for Education has 15 home workers, the Department for Levelling Up nine and the Department for Culture five, while HM Treasury and the Ministry of Justice had fewer than five. Elliot Keck, of the TaxPayers Alliance, who obtained the data under the Freedom of Information Act, said last night: Taxpayers are sick of the double standards in the civil service. Central London real estate lies empty and public sector pay outstrips private sector pay, yet the number of Whitehall home workers soars. If mandarins insist on going remote long term, officials must make savings. Government efficiency minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has led the crusade against WFH by leaving notes on empty Whitehall desks and urging ministers to order civil servants back to the office The Cabinet Office said most civil servants are office based. Those who want to work from home permanently must apply to their line manager to change their contract and it will be approved only under certain conditions. Staff who need to carry out work such as handling sensitive documents cannot work from home permanently, for example. Those allowed to become contractual home workers must undergo a six-month trial and have a designated room as their office. A Government spokesman said: These arrangements go through strict approval processes. Meanwhile, tens of thousands more civil servants spend only a few days a week in the office under hybrid work arrangements. The latest figures show that in the last week of July, only the Ministry of Defences HQ was more than two thirds full, with 71 per cent of its staff in the office. The Scotland Office was the emptiest, with 27 per cent occupancy. Government efficiency minister Jacob Rees-Mogg has led the crusade against WFH by leaving notes on empty Whitehall desks and urging ministers to order civil servants back to the office. Tory leadership frontrunner Liz Truss said this week she supported his efforts and will be looking at that very carefully if she becomes prime minister. We need more people to work in the office, she added. The 'luxurious' apartment where two young Saudi sisters lay decomposing for a month is open for inspection with a $40 rent hike - but there's little the real estate can do to mask the acrid stench of death. Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, died a month before their bodies were found in separate bedrooms of their Canterbury apartment, in Sydney's south-west, on June 7. Two months' on from the grisly discovery, their deaths remain a mystery. No one has been arrested and police still aren't certain how two seemingly healthy young women died in the same place at the same time and lay there, undetected, for a month. Their remains were only uncovered during a police welfare check - conducted because they owed the landlord about $5,000 worth of unpaid rent, having failed to hand over their weekly $480 since mid-March. Unable to recoup the hefty financial loss, the owner gave the unit a fresh lick of paint, lay new floorboards, increased the price to $540 per week, and opened it up for public inspection on Saturday morning. Crime scenes normally cause price reductions, but the real estate agent said most prospective tenants were interested because surrounding units cost about $580 per week. Pictured: Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and her younger sister Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, who were found dead in their Canterbury unit on June 7 Before entering the property, prospective tenants received the same verbal disclaimer from the realtor - 'some people died in there but it's all been cleaned and it's all OK'. 'I just have to tell you that.' The news didn't come as a surprise to anyone - most weren't interested in signing the lease. Upon entering the unit on the relatively warm winter's morning, sun beamed through the large balcony doors and bounced off the tiles, white walls and laminated kitchen cabinets - filling the open-plan living space with light. However, there was a curious smell that became increasingly difficult to ignore. At first, it was easy enough to brush the smell off as chemical residue left over from the crime scene, or perhaps Pine O Cleen and Windex from the post-investigation cleaning blitz. It's understood bottles of chemicals, such as bleach and other substances, were discovered beside their bodies found in separate bedrooms - leading detectives to suspect the pair planned to take their own lives. Interim toxicology results showed traces of the substances found in the bedrooms also inside the women's bodies, but the cause of death has still not been confirmed. But even with fresh air streaming into the unit via the large balcony doors on Saturday morning, the aroma was present - particularly in the two small bedrooms - and it didn't smell like bleach or cleaning products. In fact, the acrid smell that had initially been difficult to pinpoint was suddenly, unmistakably, one of death and decay. According to the online advertisement, the property has 'spacious balconies' that allow 'airflow' 'Unsettling' was an understatement and 'eerie' wasn't the right word. It felt like despair. The front bedroom had its own balcony door overlooking Canterbury Road - a busy thoroughfare where trucks, buses, cars and people stream past at all hours. Thousands of unassuming people would have passed by between when the Alsehli sisters died in May, and when they were found in June - completely unaware of the heartbreaking situation that lay behind a few inches of plaster. In the real estate listing, the unit was described as a place that 'ensures a life of seamless and luxurious comfort'. In reality, the bedrooms were cramped and awkwardly-shaped - trying to squeeze a double bed in either would be a challenge, though one did have an ensuite and both had built-ins, albeit, small ones. The kitchen was, indeed, equipped with stainless steel appliances and, as the listing promised, there were 'reconstituted stone benches, mirrored splashback, and subtle leaf motif details keep the lines clean yet natural for a timeless contemporary look'. 'Marble-look tiles' and 'frameless showers' could also be seen, though whether they were 'paired with elegant detailing carrying through the easy, layered mood' was questionable. The mood was definitely layered, but perhaps not in the way the owner intended. While there was a disclaimer on the listing that said the sisters' deaths was 'not a random crime and will not be a potential risk for the community', it's difficult to imagine living there and sleeping soundly. Not due to any fear the new occupant would succumb to the same fate, but because it simply felt like tragedy inside. At the very least, the new tenant would probably suffer headaches from the smell alone - stepping into the fresh air after the viewing was a relief. The smell will undoubtedly cease to linger as time wears on - at which point, it might even be a nice place to live. New theory Saudi sisters were living in fear over their sexuality - and attended a 'girls only' queer event A new theory has emerged two Saudi sisters found dead could have feared persecution for their sexuality after it was revealed they attended a queer event. A woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she met the sisters at a girls-only queer event in January, The Guardian reported. She claimed police believe one of the sisters identified as queer and are unsure of the sexual orientation of the other one. The woman described the sisters as 'shy' and said they were reluctant to talk more about their personal lives in Saudi Arabia. 'They mentioned that they were from Saudi Arabia, and we talked about what it is like to be queer there,' she said. 'They said women live in fear of their safety and that they were grateful to be living in Australia, where they could more freely express themselves.' 'What's terribly sad is they told me they were excited to be out at an event like this and that they were ready to start exploring more of Sydney.' The woman said she contacted police after recognising photos of the sisters that were released by police following the discovery of their bodies. NSW Police refused to comment when approached by Daily Mail Australia. 'As the investigation is ongoing, police continue to appeal for information in relation to the death of the two women,' a spokesperson said. 'No further information is available at this stage.' Advertisement A black BMW coupe covered in dust was removed from the garage of the apartment block the day after the bodies were found Very little is known about the sisters lives both in Saudi Arabia and in Sydney, however, they are believed to have left their homeland in 2017. They were not in regular contact with their family, and were both actively seeking asylum in Australia. They were also in contact with a refugee service for the past five years, which helps foreign nationals escaping persecution and seeking asylum. Police are to yet rule out homicide or suicide as investigations continue. EXCLUSIVE: Major twist in Saudi sister timeline: How landlord sent letters warning them to pay up or ELSE...not realising they were already DEAD in their bedrooms Two Saudi sisters stopped paying rent ten weeks before their decomposing bodies were found in a south-west Sydney unit, in a major timeline twist surrounding their mysterious deaths. A letter sent on behalf of the landlord, exclusively obtained from a tribunal by Daily Mail Australia, show that Asra Abdullah Alsehli, 24, and Amaal Abdullah Alsehli, 23, racked up a $5,142.86 debt by May 13 - almost a month before their bodies were found, on June 7. The sisters also owed $26.18 in outstanding water bills. Their remains were uncovered in separate rooms of their $480-per-week Canterbury apartment by police during the last of three welfare checks. The first check was conducted in mid-March - around the same time they stopped paying rent - after the property's building manager raised concerns for their wellbeing because food was left out in common areas. Attending officers said the women appeared fine, and left the unit. The second check was done between March and June, before their bodies were found during the final visit. By the time the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal scheduled a hearing to address the rental debt on May 13, they were likely dead. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting the landlord was in any way responsible for the sister's deaths. READ THE EVICTION LETTER: On 13-May-2022 the following orders were made: The Residential Tenancy Agreement is terminated immediately and possession is to be given to the landlord on the date of termination. The order for possession is suspended until 20-May-2022 The tenant shall pay the landlord a daily occupation fee at the rate of $68.57 per day from the day after the date of termination, namely 14-May-2022 until the date vacant possession is given to the landlord. Within 60 days of the date for possession of the premises specified in these orders the landlord may request the relisting of the application to determine the amount of the occupation fee owing. The landlord's agent is to advise the tenant in writing by the delivery of a letter to the premises by 6:00 pm on 13-May-2022 of the orders made today. The tenant is to pay the landlord the sum of $5,169.04 immediately. Failure to pay any instalment in this order by the due date will result in the whole of the balance being payable immediately. The tenant has not appeared before the Tribunal in the hearing [on May 13]. Having regard to the Registrar's statutory declaration concerning notice and listing procedures in the Tribunal's registries, The Tribunal finds that a copy of the Notice of Hearing was sent to the tenant. It has not been returned to the Tribunal. There is nothing to suggest that it was not received by the tenant. The Tribunal is satisfied that the tenant has been served with notice of the hearing today. Advertisement According to the letter addressed to Amaal from the Tribunal on May 13, the women did not attend the hearing and were subsequently ordered to pay any amount of the total sum 'immediately'. Their lease was effectively torn up and they were given until May 20 to vacate the property, though it is unclear why the motion wasn't enforced. For every day they remained at the property after May 14, they were charged an additional $68.57. It wasn't until June 7 when police arrived to evict them that anyone realised they were dead. There was no sign of forced entry, no clear signs of injury, and the cause of death remains undetermined - although is being treated as suspicious. Police are hoping toxicology reports shed light on the situation. For confidential crisis support, contact Lifeline 13 11 14 Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 Forensic police scoured the unit (pictured) in the wake of the grisly discovery on June 7 - a month after the women died John Tingle, the father of prominent Aussie media personality Laura, died on Friday aged 90, his daughter revealed in a social media post. Tingle, who worked as a broadcaster for more than 50 years, was remembered as an 'excellent journalist'. Ms Tingle, the chief political correspondent for ABC's 7.30 program, took to Twitter on Saturday to announce her father's passing. 'John Saxon Tingle, November 2 1931 - August 5 2022, Love you Dadda,' her tweet read. John Tingle, who died at the age of 90 on Friday, with his daughter Laura, ABC 7.30's chief political correspondent Laura Tingle took to social media to announce that her father, John Tingle (pictured), a former leading radio presenter, had died on Friday John Tingle (pictured in 1985 celebrating a move to the afternoon slot at 2GB) worked as a broadcaster for more than 50 years Social media users were quick to offer condolences to Ms Tingle, commenting on how proud he must have been of his famous daughter and recalling memories of listening to him when he was one of Sydney's major talkback hosts. 'I remember his excellent journalism. Vale,' said one. 'He has a lovely, kind face. My Dadda was born in 1929, so similar age. I hope his life was full of joy,' one supporter said. Mr Tingle (pictured, with former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, right, in 1984) worked at 2GB during the 1980s and '90s Tingle was born in Edgecliff in 1931 and became a journalist at the ABC 20 years later, at one point becoming chief of staff of the ABC News Service. He ventured into commercial radio in 1969, going onto work for 2UE, 2SM in Sydney, 3AW in Melbourne and 4BK in Brisbane, before returning to Sydney to work at 2GB and 2CH. In 1992, Tingle entered politics when founded the Australian Shooters Party in opposition to tighter NSW gun laws, saying he represented responsible gun owners who posed no threat to anyone. He was also a notable opponent of former Prime Minister John Howard's gun reforms after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, where 35 people lost their lives. John Tingle (pictured in 1987) said he was a 'journalist, not a politician' after he had served 11 years in the NSW upper house He went on to serve 11 years in the NSW upper house until he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005, which sparked his resignation from the party the following year. 'What I'm trying to do is get my life back', he told Port Macquarie News. 'I had 46 years and three days in the media before this and I really thought I knew parliament because I had covered it ... but it's been more than a steep learning curve, it's been a steep, vertical climb. 'I won't forget in a hurry, it's been torturous at times ... I'm a journalist not a politician. A father to Peter, Laura and Sally, Tingle enjoyed photography, classical and jazz music and shooting during his life. Nearly half a billion pounds of taxpayers' money has been spent trying to prevent migrants crossing the Channel in the past seven years, according to research. The total includes huge sums handed to the French government in a bid to prevent would-be asylum seekers from leaving their shores. Figures show 473million has been spent on a range of security measures as well as the up-front cost of Priti Patel's Rwanda asylum deal. The Ministry of Defence revealed that there were a further 388 crossings from northern France on Thursday. Pictured: Migrants arrive in a Border Force Volunteer rescue boat, which escorted 90 migrants picked up in the English Channel by Border Force on Thursday, August 4 It came as the Ministry of Defence revealed that there were a further 388 crossings from northern France on Thursday, bringing the total number of arrivals since the start of the year to 17,483. It does not include a further unconfirmed number of migrants who reached the UK yesterday. Labour, who compiled the spending figures, said the Government had spent just under 230million on security measures at Calais and other embarkation points in northern France since 2015. Priti Patel (pictured) is expected to announce a further package later in the summer which is likely to hand an even larger sum to France to boost anti-migrant efforts by officials It included a 54million deal announced by the Home Secretary last year to be spent on bolstering the number of coastal patrols by French authorities. Miss Patel is expected to announce a further package later in the summer which is likely to hand an even larger sum to France to boost anti-migrant efforts by officials. The 473million also includes 74million to upgrade the UK Border Force's cutter fleet, an extra 50million pledged when the Ministry of Defence took command of British operations in the Channel in April, and the 120million given to Rwanda for initial costs. The sum does not include the 1.5billion a year it costs to run the asylum system. Labour's immigration spokesman Stephen Kinnock said: 'Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss are too busy competing to continue Priti Patel's failing policies and ramp up the rhetoric against refugees instead of coming up with a plan to tackle the criminal gangs that are putting lives at risk. 'The Government is spending hundreds of millions without ever coming up with a comprehensive plan and, as a result, the number of people making the life-threatening crossings has soared.' Labour say they would spend the money 'strengthening the National Crime Agency, as part of a comprehensive plan to prevent dangerous Channel crossings'. Labour's immigration spokesman Stephen Kinnock (pictured) criticised the Home Secretary's 'failing policies' Over the period covered by the spending, Channel migrants and people trafficking gangs have largely switched from clandestine smuggling in the backs of lorries to using dinghies and small boats. There were just 299 reported crossings by small boat in 2018. This rose to 8,466 in 2020 and then soared to 28,526 last year. Home Office projections which emerged in January suggested this year's total would hit 65,000, although it is unclear whether the Rwanda policy is deterring migrants. In June, Home Office permanent secretary Matthew Rycroft told MPs crossings were 'not rising as much as this year's projection'. Tory leadership frontrunner Liz Truss last night vowed to 'make sure France is held to account' for its role in stopping migrants crossing the Channel illegally. Speaking at a hustings event in Eastbourne, the Foreign Secretary said: 'Now, I spoke to my French counterpart last week to make it very clear we expect French border guards to be working all hours in Dover, to make sure that our border is protected.' Advertisement Palestinian militants in Gaza fired dozens of rockets into Israel on Friday in response to airstrikes that killed at least 10 people, including a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. Health authorities in the enclave controlled by Hamas Islamists said 10 people have been killed by Israel's bombardment, including a five-year-old girl, with 75 others injured. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said the Jewish state was forced to launch a 'pre-emptive counter-terror operation against an immediate threat' posed by the Islamic Jihad group, following days of tensions along the Gaza border. Islamic Jihad said the initial Israeli bombardment amounted to a 'declaration of war', before it unleashed a flurry of more than 100 rockets towards Israel. As darkness fell, Israeli authorities said sirens had been sounded in southern and central areas, while images broadcast by Israeli television stations appeared to show a number of missiles being shot down by air defence systems. In Tel Aviv, Israel's economic centre, witnesses said they could hear booms but there were no reports of sirens. Islamic Jihad, a militant group with a similar ideology to Hamas, the Islamist movement in charge of Gaza, said it had fired more than 100 rockets on Friday into Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv. But Israel's ambulance service said there were no reports of casualties on the Israeli side of the border, while its military said the operation in Gaza had killed 15 'terrorists'. Israel's military said Defence Minister Benny Gantz had approved plans to call up 25,000 reservists following the strikes, signalling that Israel expects an extended confrontation. Rockets fired by Palestinian militants toward Israel, in Gaza City, Friday Israel pounded Gaza with air strikes today, killing at least 15 people, and triggering a barrage of retaliatory rocket fire from militants in the Palestinian enclave Rescuers and firefighters put out a fire amid the destruction following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City, on August 5. The Israeli military said today it launched air strikes on Gaza Palestinians react at a hospital following Israeli strikes in Gaza City August 5. Israeli forces have launched a series of airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Friday killing at least eight Palestinians, including Taysir al-Jabari, a commander of the al-Quds Brigades, the military arm of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Casualties in Israeli airstrike on Gaza A large crowd mourn 5 years old Alaa Abdullah Qaddoum, who was killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip on Friday Five-year-old Alaa Kaddum had a pink bow in her hair and a wound on her forehead, as her body was carried by her father at her funeral. Hundreds of mourners gathered in Gaza City for the funerals of Jabari and others killed in the air strikes. Israeli tanks were lined up along the border and the military said Thursday it was reinforcing its troops. UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland said he was 'deeply concerned', warning that the escalation was 'very dangerous'. The strikes came a little more than a year after an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May 2021, which killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel and left the blockaded enclave's economy shattered. 'Israel carried out a precise counterterror operation against an immediate threat,' Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a televised statement in which he pledged to do 'whatever it takes to defend our people'. 'Our fight is not with the people of Gaza. Islamic Jihad is an Iranian proxy that wants to destroy the State of Israel and kill innocent Israelis,' he said. The Israeli military said in a Twitter post that its war planes targeted Islamic Jihad sites in Gaza that 'severely affect the organisation's ability to develop military capabilities.' An Islamic Jihad official confirmed that al-Jaabari, whom the Israeli military described as the main coordinator between Islamic Jihad and Hamas, had been killed in the strikes, which hit several targets around the densely populated strip. Smoke rose from a building where al-Jaabari was apparently killed and glass and rubble were strewn across the street amid the sound of ambulances racing to other sites. As mourners prepared to hold funerals for those killed in the attacks, hundreds, some holding Palestinian flags, marched through the streets of Gaza, while queues formed outside bakeries and supermarkets as people stocked up on food and staples. Smoke and flames rise as Israeli airstrikes over Gaza Strip continue, in Khan Yunis, Gaza on August 5. The Israeli army said Friday that it had begun carrying out raids on some targets in the Gaza Strip The strikes came a little more than a year after an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May 2021, which killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel and left the blockaded enclave's economy shattered The Israeli military said in a Twitter post that its war planes targeted Islamic Jihad sites in Gaza that 'severely affect the organisation's ability to develop military capabilities' Palestinian militants in Gaza fired rockets targeting Israel in response to earlier Israeli airstrikes in which, according to the Palestinian ministry of health, at least ten people were killed, including a child Israel's military said Defence Minister Benny Gantz had approved plans to call up 25,000 reservists following the strikes, signalling that Israel expected an extended confrontation The strikes came after Israel arrested Bassam al-Saadi, a senior leader of the Islamic Jihad group, during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin earlier this week Streaks of light are seen as Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercept rockets launched from the Gaza Strip towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel August 5 The strikes came after Israel arrested Bassam al-Saadi, a senior leader of the Islamic Jihad group, during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin earlier this week. It subsequently closed off all Gaza crossings and some nearby roads over fears of retaliation from the group, which has a stronghold in Gaza, further restricting Palestinian movement. In an interview on Al Mayadeen television, a pro-Iranian Lebanese channel, Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhala vowed retaliation for the strikes. 'There are no red lines in this battle and Tel Aviv will fall under the rockets of resistance, as well as all Israeli cities,' he said. Hamas' armed wing issued a statement saying: 'The blood of our people and our mujahideen will not go in vain.' Egypt, a historic broker between Israel and armed groups in Gaza, was seeking to mediate and may host an Islamic Jihad delegation later Saturday, Egyptian officials told AFP in Gaza. Islamic Jihad, one of a cluster of Palestinian militant groups, was founded in Gaza in the 1980s and opposes political dialogue with Israel. The Israeli military said today it launched air strikes on Gaza, which were witnessed by Palestinians in central Gaza City. Smoke rises from a building following an Israeli air strike The damaged apartment of Taiseer al-Jabari the Islamic Jihad commander for northern Gaza, following an Israeli airstrikes, in Gaza City, Friday Palestinians pray next to the bodies of fighters of Al-Quds Brigades, the armed wing of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, during their funeral in Gaza City, 05 August 2022 Smoke rises following Israeli airstrikes on a building in Gaza City, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Palestinian officials say Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed several people, including a senior militant, and wounded 40 others An Israeli Air Force Apache helicopter flies towards the border with Gaza Strip, Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Palestinian officials say Israeli airstrikes on Gaza have killed several people, including a senior militant, and wounded 40 others Considered close to Iran, it is separate from Hamas but generally cooperates closely with the movement. The Israeli military spokesperson said authorities expected there would be rocket attacks against the centre of Israel but said Iron Dome anti-missile batteries were operational. He said special measures had been imposed in Israeli areas 80 kilometres around Gaza. He said plans to allow fuel trucks into Gaza to keep the area's sole power plant operational had been dropped at the last minute as intelligence picked up movements that indicated attacks on Israeli targets were imminent. The lack of fuel is set to lead to more power cuts in Gaza, where residents already have just 10 hours of electricity a day, and further hit the economy of a region that depends on foreign aid and still struggles to recover from past wars. A narrow strip of land where some 2.3million people live on a patch of 365 square kilometres, Gaza has been a constant point of conflict ever since Hamas took control. The area has since been under blockade, with Israel and Egypt tightly restricting movement of people and goods in and out. 'We have not yet been able to reconstruct what Israel had destroyed a year ago. People didn't have the chance to breathe, and here Israel is attacking again without any reason,' said Mansour Mohammad-Ahmed, 43, a farmer from central Gaza. An Israeli army soldier aims his weapon during clashes against Israeli strikes in Gaza, in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank August 5 A Palestinian throws stones at Israeli army soldiers during clashes against Israeli strikes in Gaza, in Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank August 5 Palestinian mourners carry the bodies of two of the victims killed earlier in an Israeli air strike, during their funeral in Gaza City, on August 5 Palestinians attend a protest against Israeli strikes in Gaza, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank August 5 Hamas has fought four wars with Israel since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, including the conflict last May. Islamic Jihad is a separate group, aligned with Hamas, but that also acts independently. A flare up with Islamic Jihad came in 2019, following Israel's killing of Baha Abu al-Ata, Jabari's predecessor. The sides exchanged fire for several days without Hamas joining the fray. Hamas's moves amid the current violence could prove crucial in determining its severity, with the group facing pressure from some to maintain calm in order to improve economic conditions in the territory. Gaza City resident Abdullah al-Arayshi said the situation was 'very tense'. 'The country is ravaged. We've had enough of wars. Our generation has lost its future,' he told AFP. Hamas said Israel has 'committed a new crime for which it must pay the price'. Both Hamas and Islamic Jihad are considered terrorist organisations by much of the West. Palestinians, including patients and those with Israeli work permits, have been prevented from leaving the Gaza Strip since Tuesday, while the goods crossing has also been shut. Gaza's only power station is at risk of imminent outage due to a lack of fuel supplies through Israel, its manager warned on Thursday. A Ukrainian medic who was tortured and held captive by Russian forces for three months says a phone call from Prince Harry after her release inspired her to 'continue fighting' for her country. Volunteer paramedic Yulia Paievska, 53, was kidnapped by Russian soldiers in March while she was heading to treat injured members of public after a bomb attack on a theatre in Mariupol. She described being interrogated for three months and being told lies that Ukraine had been eradicated in the invasion, The Telegraph reports. Ms Paievska, a member of Ukraine's team for the Invictus Games, received a phone call from the Duke of Sussex one week after she was released by her captors. She said he spoke 'strongly and sincerely' about the conflict in Ukraine. 'He simply inspired me to continue to fight,' said Ms Paievska. 'He said that he supports Ukraine and all of us.' Volunteer paramedic Yulia Paievska, 53, was kidnapped by Russian soldiers in March while she was heading to treat injured members of public after a bomb attack on a theatre in Mariupol Ms Paievska, a member of Ukraine's team for the Invictus Games (pictured here at a training event) received a phone call from the Duke of Sussex a week after she was released by her captors Despite the trauma of her captivity, Ms Paievska says she is determined to carry on assisting Ukraine as it defends itself from continued Russian aggression. She initially retrained as a paramedic in 2014 to help as tensions arose in the eastern Donbas region and founded Tayra's Angels, the volunteer ambulance corps. Within her home country, Ms Paievska has risen to fame after treating 500 Ukrainian soldiers in the Dombas as well as training 8,000 people in tactical medicine. She and a colleague were driving an ambulance through an humanitarian corridor in Mariupol on March 16 when they were ambushed by Russian troops, who considered her a high profile target. Ms Paievska soon found herself in solitary confinement with just half a glass of water to drink each day and no treatment for her thyroid and asthma conditions. She was later moved into a women's cell measuring 10ft by 20ft, where she says the captives were routinely beaten and tortured with electricity. She said: 'I had absolutely no information about what was happening in the outside world, I didn't even know if my family was alive or if my house had survived because the Russians were already in Kyiv when we left.' Ms Paievska said she was 'grateful' to Prince Harry (pictured with wife Meghan) and that her interrogation and torture stopped after her daughter raised her plight during the Invictus Games Volunteer paramedic Yulia Paievska, 53, was kidnapped by Russian soldiers in March while she was heading to treat injured members of public after a bomb attack on a theatre in Mariupol. Pictured: The destroyed theatre in Mariupol According to Ms Paievska, the Russian guards fed prisoners false information that Ukraine was losing the war and the rest of the world had failed to intervene, proving nothing more than 'rusty weapons'. In order to preserve her physical and mental health, she says she stuck to a daily regimen of ab crunches, yoga and meditation to survive. While her was detained, her 19-year-old daughter Anna-Sofia Puzanova competed in her place in archery at the Invictus Games, winning a bronze medal. The young woman also raised her mother's plight with the board of Invictus Games, which led to a phone call from Prince Harry upon her mother's release. Ms Paievska added: 'I am very grateful to Prince Harry because it was after the Invictus Games... that the Russians stopped interrogating and torturing me. I think spreading the word to the whole world influenced their decision to trade me in a prisoner exchange.' Australia is facing an increased risk of conflict and must develop long-range missiles to deter an invasion, a top defence expert has warned. Australian National University emeritus professor Paul Dibb has sounded the alarm about a 'high intensity' conflict developing within the country's 'strategic environment'. 'Let's be very frank, it's code-name for a certain country to our distant north,' he said. His warning comes as tensions continue to build between China and Taiwan. Taiwan views itself as an independent country, while China views it as a breakaway province that needs to be 'reunified'. Australia must develop long range missiles to deter an invasion with the country facing an increased risk of conflict, a top defence expert has warned Australian National University emeritus professor Paul Dibb has sounded the alarm about a 'high intensity' conflict developing within the country's 'strategic environment' 'China is an aggressive, autocratic communist power,' Professor Dibb told ABC. 'According to Xi Jinping, the time is now on the side of the People's Republic of China to revenge the century of humiliation in the 19th century, and to take over as the leading power in our region from the United States.' Professor Dibb warned that if a conflict broke out Australia would be dragged into it to support the United States - or risk destroying the ANZUS alliance. Professor Dibb is the former director of the Defence Intelligence Organisation and former deputy secretary for strategy and intelligence in the Department of Defence. He was the primary author of the 1997 Defence White Paper, a forerunner to the defence review announced this week by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to be headed by Professor Stephen Smith and former chief of the Australian Defence Force, Angus Houston. He said Australia's best chances of deterring an invasion from the north would be to develop long-range missiles. 'By long-range I don't mean just a couple of hundred kilometres, I mean thousands of kilometres, certainly at least 2,000,' he said. Meanwhile, a former Australian army major general has warned China could attack US resources in a similar way to the infamous surprise attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II. Liberal Senator Jim Molan believes it's possible China could achieve its twofold objective of removing American influence from the western Pacific and bringing Taiwan into its control by attacking US resources in the region. Professor Dibb warned that if a conflict broke out Australia would be dragged into it to support the United States - or risk destroying the ANZUS alliance Chinese anti-aircraft batteries take part in military drills aimed at intimidating Taiwan 'Having removed America from the Western Pacific they say to Taiwan, well, Taiwan, what are you going to do now? Are you going to fight on without the Americans backing you up? Of course they're not,' Mr Molan told Sky News Australia. He then went on to warn that Australia should be very careful about its commitment to the United States if such a scenario eventuated. 'Whatever it will be that war will be high technology, it will be sharp, it will be fast and we won't have a clue that it's coming,' he said. Earlier this week China declared it would conduct a massive set of war games around Taiwan beginning on August 2 and lasting until August 8. The military drills blockade the island from the outside world and intrude into its territorial waters, and involve ground, air and sea forces carrying out live fire exercises in what is the largest threat to the territory's independence in decades. The increased aggression from Beijing was sparked by US Speaker Nancy Pelosi - the third most senior politician in America - provocatively visiting the island on August 3. My Unorthodox Life star Julia Haart says a new court ruling shows she owns at least 49 percent of her estranged husband's $1.1 billion modeling agency company after the former billionaire Silvio Scaglia claimed she had 'less than 0.01 percent'. Haart, 51, broke away from an 'ultra-orthodox' Jewish community in 2013 and made a popular Netflix documentary about it: My Unorthodox Life. She married Swiss former billionaire Scaglia in 2019. She is now suing him in New York for allegedly defrauding her out of half of their company, valued between $700 million and $1.1 billion last year, amid a fraught divorce. She also launched a lawsuit against him in Delaware, where their company is registered. On Thursday a judge in the Delaware case issued a ruling highlighting documents showing an apparent share transfer from Scaglia to Haart of almost half the company. But after the alleged transfer Scaglia still had a controlling interest by the slimmest of margins: 50.0004043 percent to her 49.9995957 percent. Haart's lawyers say the documents show she owns almost half the company, while Scaglia's say the transfer was invalid and still claim she owns less than 0.01%. The battle between the couple is set to still rage on -- as in her ruling, vice chancellor Morgan Zurn didn't give a final decision whether the purported share transfer really went through. The ruling is the latest bombshell to drop in the bitter battle between the former couple over their modeling and media company and other assets. A Delaware judge ruled Julia Haart (pictured), star of My Unorthodox Life, might own nearly 50 percent of her ex's $$1.1billion company, Elite World Group Haart (left) is suing estranged husband Silvio Scaglia (right), claiming he defrauded her out of half of their modeling agency business Haart argued that Scaglia gave her half of their firm Elite World Group (EWG), but then allegedly looted its accounts, fired her as CEO, and behaved as if he had control, she claims. The Swiss entrepreneur, 63, has claimed that in fact his estranged wife owns just 50 of a total 123,765 shares, or less than 0.01 percent. 'The numbers don't lie,' his lawyer, Lanny Davis, wrote in a March 2022 press release. 'Mr. Scaglia owns more than 99% of the voting stock Ms. Haart owns less than .01%. That's a fact. 'Ms. Haart owns just 50 shares of common stock.' In the memorandum opinion, Delaware court vice chancellor Morgan Zurn wrote that Scaglia texted company accountant Jeffrey Feinman on May 28 2020 that the couple were 'now ready to finalize our wills and the transfer of the remaining 50 percent of the Freedom Holding shares tuo [sic] Julia.' Freedom Holding is the company that owns EWG. On June 12 that year, Scaglia transferred 61,832 of Freedom's 123,665 preferred shares using a 'Stock Power' document, the judge wrote. But she added in a footnote that the transfer may not have been valid, and didn't give a final decision on whether the shares now in fact belong to Haart. And, Zurn pointed out, the transfer was just shy of a full 50 percent it was only 49.9995957 percent. 'The Stock Power, by its own terms, does not transfer half of Scaglia's 123,665 preferred shares,' the judge wrote. 'Rather, it transfers one half share less than half, or 49.9995957 percent, of those preferred shares. Assuming the Stock Power was effective, Scaglia continued to hold the bare majority50.0004043 percentof Freedom's preferred shares. Both Scaglia and Feinman testified this structure was intentional. 'Scaglia protests that the witness line on this document was not signed and that Haart has not introduced proof that the shares were actually delivered,' Zurn added in a footnote. 'In this summary proceeding, I do not reach whether the Stock Power actually transferred the shares to Haart.' Haart was fired as CEO of Elite World Group in February, hours before she filed for divorce from her estranged husband after nearly three years of marriage Haart, 51, broke away from an 'ultra-orthodox' Jewish community in 2013 and made a popular Netflix documentary series about it: My Unorthodox Life. She is pictured at the premiere of the show with (from left to right) son Aron Hendler, daughter Miriam, son Shlomo Hendler, son-in-law Ben Weinstein and eldest daughter Batsheva Zurn wrote that despite the share disparity, Scaglia told investment bank Jefferies Group who was trying to take EWG public, that Haart was 'equal co-owner with me' and 'Julia and I own an equal share of EWG through own [sic] common holding company'. But Zurn ruled that because Scaglia owned more than half the shares in the parent company, his removal of Haart from the board and firing her as CEO was legitimate. Haart's lawyer, Christopher Milito, told DailyMail.com the ruling 'confirms the falsity' of Scaglia's claims that the Netflix star owned just 50 shares of the couple's modeling and media firm. 'This decision determines nothing other than that, at worst, Scaglia owns just one preferred share more than Ms. Haart,' Milito said. 'The court's decision is a tour de force examination of the many years of Scaglia's statements and documents confirming to Ms. Haart and to the world at large that she was a full fifty-percent owner. 'Ms. Haart disagrees with the ultimate decision and will appeal it. But in the event it stands, it will be the final piece of evidence proving Scaglia's fraud against his wife, fraud for which Ms. Haart is already seeking redress in New York State Supreme Court.' Scaglia's lawyer Peter Bicks hit back, denying she owned anywhere near half Freedom Holding's shares. Bicks pointed to criticism of Haart in the Delaware ruling, which said she attempted to pressure the companys accountant into falsely stating Scaglia intended to transfer her fifty percent. The Netflix star also claims Scaglia tried to mortgage their $65million Tribeca penthouse, which overlooks the Hudson River, for $40million to prop up his allegedly ailing companies Photos obtained by DailyMail.com show the inside of their $65million New York penthouse apartment, decked out for a 2021 Thanksgiving dinner party, as well as the former EWG CEO working at the modeling firm's office Last month DailyMail.com revealed emails, texts and photos that laid bare the split couple's lavish life, including a $65 million New York City penthouse, his and hers $340,000 Bentleys, and a $53,000 private flight to Mexico. In her New York lawsuit, Haart claims Scaglia tried to mortgage their $65million Tribeca penthouse for $40million to prop up his allegedly ailing companies. She also accuses him of using company funds for personal expenses, such as a $53,000 private flight to Mexico in October 2021, claimed as a business trip. An email from July 2020 also shows Scaglia allegedly asking EWG's CFO to 'take care of' a $14,000 bill for 'household staffing'. Haart even claimed her estranged husband filed a false police report against her, claiming Haart had stolen her own Bentley from EWG. The couple each had their own models of the Bentley Mulsanne, with MSRPs that started around $340,000. Scaglia's attorney, Davis, previously told DailyMail.com that Haart was trying to 'mislead the media' in her lawsuit. Haart working at her penthouse. The luxury apartment boasts five bedrooms and six and a half bathrooms He said her New York lawsuit was 'similar to claims that she made in a Delaware court.' 'After a full trial, the court ruled in April against her on all counts ie, that she does not own 50 percent of the parent company or any of the companies that are owned and controlled by Mr. Scaglia,' Davis said. 'Moreover, her own testimony and documents in that trial proved she knew before she filed the case that she did not own 50 percent of Mr. Scaglia's parent company assets. 'She forgot to include that fact in this latest lawsuit. She apparently thinks she can mislead the media. Again. She can't. 'Ms. Haart has touted in her book her mantra, 'Fake it till you make it,'' added Davis added. 'By her latest lawsuit filing, she proves she believes this works in a court of law. It does not. 'Maybe it is time for Ms. Haart to stop lying in court and to the media about Mr. Scalia and his companies and start accepting facts and the truth.' A semi-rural property turned into a dump site for toxic waste has left the owner furious and unable to sell the property. Three and a half years ago property owner Jeff Demanuele watched as 80 truckloads turned up and dumped 1,200 tonnes of bricks, concrete, metal, plastic and fibro in a pile at his property at Leppington, western Sydney. Mr Demanuele and his wife Rose, who captured the dumping on CCTV, said the illegal dump was so brazen in nature that a passing council ranger pulled in and spoke to the drivers and took down rego numbers. However, three years on no one has been charged and now the couple want to sell the property but have been told no-one will buy it due to the toxic waste. Three and a half years ago 80 truckloads turned up and unloaded 1200 tonnes of bricks, concrete, metal, plastic and fibro in a pile on the western Sydney property (left) and now owner Jeff Demanuele (right) is unable to sell the Leppington acreage 'I'm shocked and outraged this has happened and my local council and the Environmental Protection Agency aren't doing anything about it,' Mr Demanuele told A Current Affair. 'They opened the side gate and told the tenants that it was all approved by me. 'I knew nothing of it and would never have allowed that.' By the time Jeff got to his property, the trucks had finished and his backyard was left devastated with waste which Jeff estimates saved the dumpers millions of dollars in tipping fees. He contacted the the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) who came to investigate and in three and a half years no progress has been made. The NSW EPA website says they, 'enforce strict laws relating to illegal dumping to ensure wrongdoers pay heavy penalties for potentially harming human health and the environment, and deter dumpers from repeating the offence.' For individuals found waste dumping they can be fined up to $250,000. If a corporation is found to be dumping waste, they can be fined up to $1 million. NSW EPA told A Current Affair there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute anyone over the illegal dumping of the waste. Daily Mail Australia has approached the NSW EPA for comment. Dr Charlie Teo could be set to marry his model partner and former patient who has been leaving subtle hints on her Instagram page the pair are engaged. The world renowned surgeon was rumoured to be engaged to Traci Griffiths after she was spotted with a ring on her finger last year. Dr Teo denied the speculation insisting the pair had made no plans on marrying. Ms Griffiths has indicated otherwise by uploading photos of herself alongside her brain surgeon boyfriend with the tags '#ilovemyfiance' and '#myfiance'. Dr Charlie Teo could be set to marry his model partner and former patient who has been leaving subtle hints on her Instagram page the pair are engaged The pair have been frequently spotted attending public events together, working out and wearing outrageously funny costumes for fancy-dress parties She has been using the tags as early as May when she uploaded a video of herself attending the Charlie Teo Rebel Foundation Ball. 'Last night we stepped into a world of glitz & glamour to help raise awareness and much needed funds for Brain Cancer,' the post read. 'Thank you Charlie for putting the extra in extraordinary! We love you.' Another post was made in June and showed the pair dressed up in 1920s party attire after attending a Great Gatsby-themed party. Both posts had the tags '#ilovemyfiance' and '#myfiance'. Daily Mail Australia contacted Dr Teo and Ms Griffiths for comment. Ms Griffiths is a former model, pet apparel designer and animal conservationist who promotes health and wellbeing on her social media pages. She is a volunteer director at Zambi Wildlife Retreat and runs Miyow and Barkley - a pet designer accessory store. Ms Griffiths is a former model, pet apparel designer and animal conservationist who promotes health and wellbeing on her social media pages Ms Griffiths has hinted at impending nuptials by uploading photos of herself with her brain surgeon boyfriend with the tags '#ilovemyfiance' and '#myfiance' Ms Griffiths was introduced to Dr Teo in 2011 and has reportedly been operated on twice by the renowned surgeon She is also a reiki practitioner and launched a Reiki For Health website in December. Ms Griffiths was introduced to Dr Teo in 2011 and has reportedly been operated on twice by the renowned surgeon. The pair 'grew closer' after Dr Teo ended 30 years of marriage and split with his wife Genevieve Agnew in 2018. Dr Teo, 62, and Ms Agnew met when he was 25 while she was working at hospital as a nurse. The neurosurgeon had discussed his relationship with his then-wife in several newspaper and TV profiles and public speeches, and his family regularly supported him at black tie galas for his brain cancer research foundation. Dr Teo publicly announced the pair had split in a statement released in 2020 - saying they had split 'two years ago but remain friends'. 'This is something that is entirely private and confidential to us and not a matter of public interest,' he said. The pair 'grew closer' after Dr Teo ended 30 years of marriage and split with his wife Genevieve Agnew in 2018 Dr Teo with his then-wife Genevieve and their four daughters Alex, Nicola, Katie and Sophie at a Charlie Teo Foundation gala The statement was made during a turbulent year for the renowned, but controversial neurosurgeon, famous for his reputation of taking on patients who other doctors have deemed inoperable. Criticism was also heaped on the surgeon over patients paying six figure sums to fund their surgeries, with many turning to crowdfunding platforms, such as GoFundMe. The high private fees were charged as patients went outside the public system, Dr Teo explained. Dr Teo previously said he would receive about $8,000 to $15,000 himself from a $120,000 surgery, with the rest shared among the medical team and to pay for costs. Former CNN anchor Felicia Taylor has been arrested following a hit-and-run in Palm Beach. Taylor, 57, was driving her white Mercedes through the ritzy Florida town on July 28 and allegedly hit a black Ford, which was stopped in traffic ahead of her. Palm Beach police said that the 24-year-old man driving the Ford was injured in the crash, and left with pain to the neck, back and jaw. 'His vehicle was struck from behind by the white Mercedes,' the report states. 'The impact caused [him] to strike the steering wheel, causing multiple complaints of injuries.' Taylor's Mercedes was seen 'fleeing the scene of the accident without rendering aid or stopping to provide information,' the police said. Felicia Taylor, 57, is seen in her mugshot after being arrested for a hit-and-run on July 28 in Palm Beach Taylor is seen in 2011 carrying out an interview for CNN. She worked for the network from 2006-14 The journalist, who was based in London for CNN International's World Business Report from 2006-14, drove past the scene several times in her damaged car, and was then pulled over by a police officer. The officer said: 'Taylor acknowledged being involved in a traffic crash and the other driver was 'OK.' 'Taylor continued to state that she wanted to go back to her house and the accident was 'not a big deal.'' She denied being drunk or on prescription drugs, and the police officer added that he did not smell alcohol on her. A bottle of wine was found in the car, with a quarter missing, but the bottle was not within reach. She told the police officer in the report, obtained by The New York Post, that she was traveling from The Colony Hotel. When the officer said the hotel was closed, 'Taylor didn't have a response.' The officer said that she seemed confused as to where she had been. Taylor is seen in 2003 at a Cartier launch in New York City 'Prior to the crash, Taylor stated she was at a restaurant on Worth Avenue and then stated she was at a restaurant in the Royal Poinciana Plaza. We were unable to locate a restaurant that recalls Taylor as a guest.' Taylor is seen in her 2015 drunk driving mugshot, after she was arrested in the Hamptons Taylor also 'wanted the injuries of the other driver to be substantiated' and stated 'the damage to her vehicle is her problem, its 'hard to be a good person' and she didn't stop at the accident scene because she didn't know there was anything to be concerned with.' Taylor was arrested and taken to Palm Beach County Jail, where she was charged with careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident involving injury. She was released on $3,000 bail and has entered a not guilty plea. Taylor in 2015 was charged with aggravated DWI, after she side-swiped a car in the Hamptons. She was three times over the limit, and was taken to Southampton hospital to recover. Taylor has not commented on the July arrest. A neighbor has recalled the dramatic moment he raced to the scene of Anne Heche's car crash seconds after the horrific smash. David Manpearl heard Heche's car race down the Mar Vista street at speeds of what he believes could be as high as 90mph, before it slammed into a family home. Manpearl's doorbell camera captured video of Heche's Mini Clubman racing down South Walgrove Avenue, a normally quiet road, before a loud crash could be heard seconds later as the actor lost control of her vehicle. Manpearl's home office looks out over his front yard on the quiet residential street which sits about five houses away from where Heche crashed. Neighbor David Manpearl heard Anne Heche's car race down the Mar Vista street at speeds of what he believes could be as high as 90mph before it slammed into a family home Manpearl estimated the car to have been traveling at close to 90mph. The video ends seconds later with a loud crash 'At about 10:50am I heard a car go speeding by and looked out my window where I saw the car going about 90 miles an hour. Within seconds I heard a loud crash at which point I ran outside in my flip flops because I knew someone was hurt and boy was I right,' he told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. Manpearl who has lived in the family friendly neighborhood said he ran towards the intersection where the Mini had crashed into the home. 'Before I approached the car, I saw the resident of the home standing barefoot in the debris. She was in shock and frantically asked me to help get her pets out of the house. I was able to get the leashes for her two small dogs and escorted her out of the side of her house. She had her two dogs with her and a tortoise.' Manpearl explained how he then went to the car to help the driver who was wedged inside between the airbag and the seat. 'I tried speaking with her a few times asking if she was ok but she wasn't responding so I had to get closer. I was able to open the back door of the car and crawled half-way inside. This time when I asked her if she was ok, she said no.' An earlier shot also shows Heche moments before the second accident at the wheel with a bottle of vodka with a red cap sitting in the cup holder Actress Anne Heche has been intubated in a critical condition after crashing her Mini into a garage before speeding off and smashing it into an apartment block where it exploded The 53-year-old suffered horrific burns during the collision and was recorded being dragged out of the mangled wreck by firefighters after it burst into flames in LA around 11am Manpearl asked Heche if she could raise her hand to see if she was ok and she said no and made some grunts. That's when the hero neighbor felt water dripping on him only to realize another neighbor was squirting a hose at the car which had now caught on fire and was quickly spreading up the walls of the house. 'I tried to talk to her again and noticed it was getting smokey and the flames were now on my right and my left so I quickly made my way out of the car.' The engineer made his way to the front of the house and attempted to put out the flames with another hose but realized it was useless because the whole house was ablaze. By now nearly ten fire trucks had arrived on the scene. 'I was positive that the driver was dead. That she had burned up. It took at least 30 minutes for the fire department to douse the flames, extract the car and pull her out of the car.' 'I was surprised to find out that it was Anne Heche. I think I knew she had had problems in the past.' The owner of the home, together with all her pets, tortoise included, spent the remainder of the day at Manpearl's house where neighbors brought her food and clothes. The LAFD said her whole house is now destroyed. Smoke could be seen billowing from the home following the crash on Friday morning Neighbor David Manpearl took these photos of the wrecked mini. Firefighters could be seen at the home where Heche's car ultimately came to a stop, having put out the flames The wreck of the car could be seen having crashed into the home before it was removed by a recovery truck Shocking images also show the burnt out wreckage of Heche's Mini Clubman as it was towed out of a hedge across the road from a school. An earlier shot also depicted Heche moments before the second accident at the wheel, with what appeared to be a vodka bottle sitting in the cup holder. The actress, who dated Ellen Degeneres before they split up in the late 1990s, suffered severe burns and has been intubated but is expected to live following the horror crash. Heche had been driving her blue Mini Clubman in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles when she careered into a garage of an apartment complex. Locals rushed to help the stricken actress with one man demanding she get out of the car. She ignored the advice and restarted the ignition, slammed her car into reverse and sped off down the road at speed with the tires squealing as she did so. Pictures and video showed her looking dazed at the wheel after the first crash, with a witness capturing her with a bottle with a red top on it in her car. An interior shot shows the Mini Clubman's airbag had blown out along with most of the decor being burnt through following the crash Pictures and video showed her looking dazed at the wheel after the first crash, with a witness capturing her with a bottle with a red top on it in her car. It is not clear what was in the container but it looked like a vodka bottle The horrific crash caused the car to explode into flames before Heche was dragged away by firefighters and raced to hospital in an ambulance. The Los Angeles Fire Department said it took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to put out the 'stubborn flames' and 'rescue one female adult found within the vehicle.' 'The house was tons of smoke. I think they used the crane to move the car to extract the driver. It was crazy,' an eyewitness told NBC Los Angeles. Aerial footage showed her with brutal scarring across her back from the fire after her top appeared to have been shredded by the heat and she writhed across the stretcher in pain. Firefighters were able to get the flames out within about an hour, according to Fox 11 but Heche suffered severe burns in the resulting blaze and is now in intensive care. 'If there's somebody alive in there this is going to be a miracle' Fox 11 reporter Stu Mandel said as he watched from a helicopter hovering above the scene. Jawdropping pictures from the scene showed the burnt out hull of the car as it was recovered from the hedge before being towed away by the authorities. 'We really had a multifaceted incident here,' LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said. 'We had a significant traffic collision, we had entrapment of a woman inside that, we had car that erupted into fire, and then we had a home that had significant fire that is red tagged. It's at this point destroyed.' 'Her condition prevents doctors from performing any tests to determine if she was driving under the influence of alcohol,' TMZ reported. Firefighters were able to get the flames out within about an hour, according to Fox 11 but Heche suffered severe burns in the resulting blaze and is now in intensive care Heche had been driving her blue Mini Clubman in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles when she careered into a garage of an apartment complex Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones immediately took to the airwaves after the verdict in his defamation trial on Friday - which will see him be forced to pay nearly $50million in damages to the family of slain six-year-old Jesse Lewis. Lewis was among the 20 children who were shot dead by crazed gunman Adam Lanza at Sandy Hook elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, in December 2012. Another six people were killed in the massacre. For years Jones claimed on his InfoWars platform that the shooting in Newton was a 'false flag' operation perpetrated by the US government to further gun control. In his Friday broadcast, Jones claimed the trial against him was 'coordinated and run' by billionaire philanthropist George Soros and 'operatives.' He did not identify the other 'operatives' by name. The host also accused Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of being a 'blue-haired SJW' and insinuated that she was corrupt by saying that she 'altered the record of the trial.' 'SJW' stands for Social Justice Warrior. In his Friday broadcast, Jones claimed that the trial against him was 'coordinated and run' by billionaire philanthropist George Soros and 'operatives' The host also accused Judge Maya Guerra Gamble of being a 'blue-haired SJW' and insinuated that she was corrupt by saying that she 'altered the record of the trial' Jones said that the estimates of his net worth are wildly inaccurate and said that his actual net worth was closer to $5 million Jones alleged that Gamble turned off the livestream at certain points when his lawyer's were speaking in attempt to discredit him. Jones said: 'This is beyond any kangaroo rigged court ever.' He went on to say that the judge was 'coordinating with the corporate media' who were present in the courtroom covering the trial. The host also took aim at Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis' main lawyer, Mark Bankston, calling him an 'ambulance chaser.' Economist Bernard Pettingill Jr. reveals Alex Jones' estimated net worth and yearly revenue across all of his companies, including offshore account Next in the firing line was forensic economist Bernard Pettingill, who on Friday testified that he believed Alex Jones' net worth to be close to $270 million. Pettingill testified on behalf of Lewis' parents that Jones 'promulgated some hate speech and some misinformation' and 'made a lot of money.' Jones referred to 'Pettingil' as being 'dandruff covered' and that he looked as though he was wearing a wig. Jones also that Pettingill looked at him like 'he wanted to kill' him. Speaking about his supposed Pettingil's testimony, Jones said that his team were forbidden from calling a rebuttal expert and were only allowed to cross-examine. He denied having a net worth anything close to what Pettingil alleged. Jones said that his net worth was less than $5 million. Following Thursday's verdict of $4 million in damages, Jones, who was not present in court on Friday, bizarrely invited the Heslin and Lewis to appear on his show 'to discuss feelings about how the trial unfolded In court, Scarlett Lewis said: 'This is an important day for truth, for justice and I couldn't be happier. This has been a long battle, a long time spent 10 years and to have the result a strong message to the world that literally, choosing love is what we need to do Jones said that the biggest financial year for his company as $70 million gross. He said: 'It's not bad to make money. I wish we have a lot more money. We could do a lot more and not be so desperately trying to cling to stay on air.' Speaking about the revelation that his lawyers handed over a digital copy of his cell phone to the opposition team, Jones said that he willingly handed over a copy of the phone. Erika Wulff Jones, wife of the InfoWars host, tweeted following the verdict: 'I just want to thank everyone for the well wishes, and prayers. We are actually stronger than ever. God bless!' In his closing statement, a lawyer for the victims' families said: 'Alex Jones is worth almost $270 million that we know of. Please take an amount that punishes him, and an amount that ensures he never does this again.' This is the first of three trials that Jones will face in relation to his claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting was a hoax. Last year, he was found guilty of defaming the families of the victims. Two others are set for September, one in Texas and one in Connecticut, where the shooting took place. A total of eight families will be represented in the Connecticut trial. Scarlett Lewis tweeted in the aftermath of the jury's decision: 'Sandy Hook happened. Jesse was a hero. Alex Jones was held accountable. Today the jury proved that most of America is ready to choose love over fear and I'll be forever grateful to them.' She added: 'Ironically, Alex Jones ended up giving me a larger platform to share Jesse's story and message.' Lewis posted a link to her Choose Love Movement charity's website. In court, Lewis said: 'This is an important day for truth, for justice and I couldn't be happier. This has been a long battle, a long time spent 10 years and to have the result a strong message to the world that literally, choosing love is what we need to do.' She continued: 'I got to look into his eyes and I got to tell him the impact his actions had on me and my family. And not just us all the other Sandy Hook families, all the people that live in Sandy Hook and then the ripple effect that that had throughout the world. That was a cathartic moment for me.' Lewis told the media: 'This is an important day for truth, for justice and I couldn't be happier. This has been a long battle, a long time spent 10 years and to have the result a strong message to the world that literally, choosing love is what we need to do' Jesse Lewis' mother, Scarlett Lewis addresses the media following the verdict in Austin Following Thursday's verdict of $4 million in damages, Jones, who was not present in court on Friday, bizarrely invited the Heslin and Lewis to appear on his show 'to discuss feelings about how the trial unfolded.' For years Jones claimed on his InfoWars platform that the shooting in Newton was a 'false flag' operation perpetrated by the US government to further gun control. Jones' lawyer, Federico Andino Reynal, immediately objected to the ruling citing a Texas law that caps plaintiff compensation at $750,000 per person. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble acknowledged the objection. Speaking the media outside of the courtroom, Reynal said: 'We are very pleased with the result. We think the jury seriously considered the issues. We think the verdict was too high.' How is Alex Jones worth $270 Million? Economist Bernard Pettingill testified Friday that Alex Jones and his company's net worth could be as high as $270 million. Pettingill said Jones rakes in approximately $70 million a year from his website Infowars.com. He added Jones likely makes a significant amount from products he sells, like vitamin supplements called Anthroplex and Survival Shield X-2. He tracked Jones' funds and found the media figure brought in $165 million from September 2015 to December 2018. Infowars reportedly garners over 3 million unique readers and 25 million total site views a month, which Pettingill said contributes to his finances. He also said Jones took a $54 million loan from one of his companies, which makes his net worth appear smaller. Over three years, 'It averages to $53.2 million-a-year, but that is the starting point,' Pettingill said. Jones also withdrew $61.9 million from Free Speech Systems in 2021 and another $18 million from 2015-2016. Advertisement He went on: 'Alex Jones will be on the air today, and he will be on the air next week. He's going to keep doing his job holding our power structure accountable.' In an interview with Fox Austin, Reynal was asked about Jones' reaction to the verdict. He said: 'His reaction was that he'd been found guilty before he ever had a chance to defend this case on the merits. The First Amendment is under siege, and he looks forward to continuing the fight.' Judge Gamble went on to say she was not blocking Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin's lawyers from handing over Jones' phone data to law enforcement. On Wednesday, it emerged that Jones' lawyers accidentally sent his phone's data to the Lewis and Heslin's lawyers. The data contained two years of text messages. After the judge left the court, one of the plaintiff's lawyers, Mark Bankston, said: 'I'll take it,' in response to the verdict. The damages break down as $4.2 million for defaming Neil Heslin, $20.5 million to Heslin for mental anguish and $20.5 million to Scarlett Lewis for mental anguish. During the trial, the parents testified that they received harassment and even death threats from Jones' fans after he made repeated false claims about the shooting. 'We ask that you send a very, very simple message, and that is: stop Alex Jones. Stop the monetization of misinformation and lies,' Wesley Todd Ball, a lawyer for the parents, told jurors before they began deliberations. Reynal asked jurors to return a verdict of $270,000 based on the number of hours Infowars devoted to Sandy Hook coverage. The 12-person jury on Thursday said Jones must pay the parents $4.1 million in compensatory damages for spreading conspiracy theories about the massacre. That verdict followed a two-week trial in Austin, Texas, where Jones' radio show and webcast InfoWars are based. In an interview with Inside Edition, Jones' ex-wife, Kelly Jones, said: 'I know that he's hidden money. I think he's got a lot of buckets under a lot of shelves.' She added: 'Alex is truly mentally ill. To me, he should be protected from himself and others. He doesn't have any moral compass, he lives in his own universe and he is a very, in my opinion, delusional man.' Jones sought to distance himself from the conspiracy theories during his testimony, apologizing to the parents and acknowledging that Sandy Hook was '100% real.' Jones' company, Free Speech Systems LLC, declared bankruptcy last week. Jones said during a Monday broadcast that the filing will help the company stay on the air while it appeals. The bankruptcy declaration paused a similar defamation suit by Sandy Hook parents in Connecticut where, as in Texas, he has already been found liable. The ex-wife of an Egyptian man on trial for the murder of their two daughters for dating American boys called him the devil as she alleged 15 years of abuse under him. When prosecutors asked Patricia Owens to identify ex-husband Yaser Said, 65, in court on Thursday, she pointed at the man accused of killing her two daughters, 17-year-old Sarah and 18-year-old Amina, NBC 5 reported. 'That devil there,' she said as she testified about years of abuse she and her two daughters allegedly suffered at the hands of Said. The Egyptian-born cab driver, who lived with his family just north of Dallas, allegedly shot and killed his daughters in his taxi after telling them they were going out to eat on New Year's Day in 2008. It is widely speculated Said committed an honor killing - a practice where individuals are murdered for bringing perceived shame on their family - after he discovered the girls had non-Muslim boyfriends and thought they were becoming 'too American.' Patricia Owens (pictured) called her ex-husband, Yaser Said, 'that devil' during the murder trial of their two teenage daughters on Thursday Said, 65, is accused of shooting to death 17-year-old Sarah and 18-year-old Amina on New Years Day in 2008 in what prosecutors are calling 'honor killings' because the girls had allegedly shamed him for being 'too American' Sarah (left) and Amina (right) had fled from their father multiple times before their deaths During her testimony, Owens said she married Said in 1987 when she was just 15 and he was 29, giving birth to her three children within the first three years of their marriage. In 1998, Owens filed a report with the Hill County Sheriff's Office accusing Said of sexually abusing the two girls. She said she fled with all three kids for months before eventually returning to the family's home near Waco and telling the girls to recant their stories. Owens and her daughters fled again in 2007, moving to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after the girls said they feared for their lives if they lived together with their father. She noted that Said would allegedly look over the girls' phone records and call the numbers to see if they belonged to a boy or a girl. Despite fleeing from him, Owens and the girls returned to the Texas home because they were afraid there would be 'repercussions' if they didn't. When prosecutors asked Owens if she knew what would happen when they returned, she said: 'Part of me did. Part of me didn't.' Pictured: Yaser Said during his trial. He refused to look at officials who detailed the girls' bullet-ridden bodies that were found inside his cab Owens claimed Said would go through each of the girls' phones and call their contacts to find out if they were a boy or a girl The heartbroken mother described Said is abusive and controlling, and said she kept going back to him because she was afraid of the 'repercussions' if she didn't In the years following the 1998 allegations, friends of the girls reported they often saw them with bruises on their bodies or witnessed Said being physically violent to his family. The girls reportedly confided in friends that their father was obsessively controlling, and that they often feared he was surveilling them wherever they went. In a home video recorded by Said, the girls are filmed in their bedroom while Said can be heard suggestively saying 'Sarah sleeps with her pants? Mmm, very nice,' and 'Wow, look at those eyes. I got my eye on you.' Along with Owen's testimony, the court was also shown the bullet-riddled clothes of the victims and heard the 911 call Sarah made immediately following the shooting. 'Help, my dad shot me! I'm dying,' Sarah could be heard in the call she managed to make after she was shot. Investigators said Amina was killed instantly. Police received Sarah's frantic 911 call at about 7:30pm on that New Year's Day. Though she accused her father in the call, she seemed to lose consciousness before dispatchers could determine her location or any other information. Shortly after the call, the cops received another call from a man reporting two women unconscious in a car in the parking lot of the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Irving, Texas. There, police found the girls dead inside their father's taxi with multiple gunshot wounds each. Said immediately became the prime suspect, and when authorities raided the family's home the next day he was nowhere to be found. Said (right) pictured with his son Islam, and daughters Sarah (center, right) and Amina (left). Islam helped harbor his father after he allegedly murdered the girls Said spent six years on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list Said's son, Islam (left) and his brother, Yassein (right). They are both serving time in federal prison for harboring Said while he was a wanted fugitive Said spent six years on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. He was found hiding out in Justin, Texas - barely 30 miles from the scene of the murder - where he had been being harbored by his son, Islam, who, at the time of the killings, was aged 19, and brother Yassein, who was approximately 45. Both relatives were arrested after the capture and are serving sentences in federal prison. Owens said she never talked with Said again after the girls' deaths and divorced him in 2009. She said she feared her ex-husband would turn up and kill her one day. In 2011, while Said was still at large, Owens told The Dallas Morning News that she thought the killings could have been because of her ex-husband's belief that the girls were shaming the family with their western ways. 'He would say things like, 'They're becoming too American,'' she said. Advertisement Anne Heche is 'stable' after her Mini exploded when she smashed it into a house in Los Angeles, her ex-boyfriend Thomas Jane has told DailyMail.com. The 53-year-old actress is 'expected to pull through' but remains intubated in hospital following the horror crash in Mar Vista on Friday morning, he said. Jane, 53, also paid an emotional tribute to her, saying despite the fact they are no longer together he offers her his 'thoughts and prayers' and credited her 'one of the true talents of her generation'. It comes after Heche pranged her Mini Clubman on a block of garages around 11am, before speeding off at up to 90mph and plowing straight through a house. The actress, who also dated Ellen DeGeneres, was spotted on doorbell footage hammering down a residential street before she took out a hedge, slammed through building and her car exploded on impact. She is understood to have battled scorching heat in the burning vehicle for up to 30 minutes before 59 firefighters arrived to drag her to safety. Aerial footage also showed her bursting through the straps in a white bag before writhing in pain on a stretcher as she was bundled into an ambulance and rushed to a local ICU. A picture taken before her first crash also showed Heche with what appeared to be a bottle of vodka in the cup holder of her Mini ahead of the horrific second smash. Heche is a mother to two sons - Homer, with cameraman ex-husband Coleman Luffoon, as well as Atlas, who she had with former boyfriend James Tupper. Actress Anne Heche has been intubated in a critical condition after crashing her Mini into a garage before speeding off and smashing it into an apartment block where it exploded A photo from earlier on Friday shows Heche moments before the second accident at the wheel with a bottle of vodka with a red cap plonked in the cup holder One resident estimated the car to have been traveling at close to 100mph. The video ends seconds later with a loud crash The 53-year-old suffered horrific burns during the collision and was recorded being dragged out of the mangled wreck by firefighters after it burst into flames in LA around 11am Heche can be seen being removed from the scene on a stretcher and taken towards a waiting ambulance An interior shot shows the Mini Clubman's airbag had blown out along with most of the decor being burnt through following the crash Pictures and video showed her looking dazed at the wheel after the first crash, with a witness capturing her with a bottle with a red top on it in her car. It is not clear what was in the container but it looked like a vodka bottle The actress, who dated Ellen Degeneres before they split up, suffered severe burns and has been intubated but is expected to live following the horror crash The pair first became friends a decade ago when they played exes on the HBO series Hung for two years. They are pictured here in February of 2020 when they were officially a couple The actress, 53, (left) is the former partner of talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, and is known for films including Donnie Brasco, Cedar Rapids, and a remake of Psycho Heche is pictured with former partner James Tupper, left, in 2012. The couple had had a son together named Atlas, pictured in stripes. Heche also had a son with called Homer with cameraman ex-husband Coleman Laffoon. Homer is pictured front row in blue. Heche is pictured with Harrison Ford in 1998 movie Six Days Seven Nights, her biggest role to date Jane, who dated in 2019 and 2020 and worked together on the HBO series Hung, told DailyMail.com: 'While Anne and I are no longer an item, todays tragic news was devastating to me and to all who love her. 'My heart goes out to Anne and her two sons. As of right now Anne is stable and expected to pull through. My thoughts and prayers are with Anne, one of the true talents of her generation. Thank God no one else was hurt.' The couple dated as recently as 2020 and had even bought a house together. They had known each other for more than a decade and had co-starred as an acrimoniously divorced couple in Hung from 2009 to 2011. Last night, Heche was said to be intubated and in a critical condition in an LA hospital having suffered horrific burns during the collision. She was recorded being dragged out of the mangled wreck by firefighters after her car burst into flames mid-morning on Friday. She could be seen writhing around on the stretcher before she was bundled into the back of an ambulance and rushed to a nearby intensive care unit. Shocking images also show the burnt out wreckage of her Mini Clubman as it was towed out of a hedge across the road from a school in the Mar Vista area. An earlier shot also shows Heche moments before the second accident at the wheel, with what appeared to be a vodka bottle sitting in the cup holder. Video captured by a doorcam shows the vehicle owned by the actress speeding down a Mar Vista street moments before crashing into a home, sparking the blaze. Heche had been driving her blue Mini Clubman in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles when she careered into a garage of an apartment complex. Locals rushed to help the stricken actress with one man demanding she get out of the car. She ignored the advice and restarted the ignition, slammed her car into reverse and sped off down the road at speed. Pictures and video showed her looking dazed at the wheel after the first crash, with a witness capturing her with a bottle with a red top on it in her car. She later quickly veered off the road again, smashed through a hedge and and rammed into a nearby home in the 1800 block of South Walgrove Avenue. An overhead view shows the massive amounts of damage caused by the fiery car crash to Anne Heche's Mini Firefighters survey the scene with Heche's wrecked car in the middle of the picture Firefighters were able to get the flames out within about an hour, according to Fox 11 but Heche suffered severe burns in the resulting blaze and is now in intensive care Heche had been driving her blue Mini Clubman in the Mar Vista area of Los Angeles when she careered into a garage of an apartment complex Locals rushed to help the stricken actress but she immediately slammed her car into reverse and sped off down the road The horrific crash caused the car to explode into flames before Heche was dragged away by firefighters and raced to hospital in an ambulance Smoke can be seen billowing out of the roof of the home which the LA Fire Department say has been destroyed Firefighters dampen down the remains of the blaze as they stand on the rooftop of the home Smoke could be seen billowing from the home following the crash on Friday morning Firefighters were able to get the flames out within about an hour, according to Fox 11 but Heche suffered severe burns in the resulting blaze and is now in intensive care Kiss kiss: The two looked happy as can be as they were photographed at the Hollywood China Night Oscar viewing party in February 2020, but the pair are no longer together The Los Angeles Fire Department said it took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to put out the 'stubborn flames' and 'rescue one female adult found within the vehicle.' 'The house was tons of smoke. I think they used the crane to move the car to extract the driver. It was crazy,' an eyewitness told NBC Los Angeles. Aerial footage showed her with brutal scarring across her back from the fire after her top appeared to have been shredded by the heat and she writhed across the stretcher in pain. Firefighters were able to get the flames out within about an hour, according to Fox 11 but Heche suffered severe burns in the resulting blaze and is now in intensive care. 'If there's somebody alive in there this is going to be a miracle' Fox 11 reporter Stu Mandel said as he watched from a helicopter hovering above the scene. Jawdropping pictures from the scene showed the burnt out hull of the car as it was recovered from the hedge before being towed away by the authorities. 'We really had a multifaceted incident here,' LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said. 'We had a significant traffic collision, we had entrapment of a woman inside that, we had car that erupted into fire, and then we had a home that had significant fire that is red tagged. It's at this point destroyed.' 'Her condition prevents doctors from performing any tests to determine if she was driving under the influence of alcohol,' TMZ reported. The LAFD also revealed how the vehicle had driven 30ft into the residence but that the occupant had escaped without injury. The vehicle struck a two-story house 'causing structural compromise and erupting in heavy fire.' The building was left 'uninhabitable', spokesman Brian Humphrey added. DailyMail.com spoke exclusively with neighbor David Manpearl who caught the incident on his doorbell camera DailyMail.com spoke exclusively with neighbor David Manpearl who caught the incident on his doorbell camera. His home office looks out to his yard on a residential street about five houses away from where Heche crashed. He said: 'At about 10:50am I heard a car go speeding by and looked out my window where I saw the car going about 90 miles an hour. 'Within seconds I heard a loud crash at which point I ran outside in my flip flops because I knew someone was hurt and boy was I right.' Manpearl who has lived in the family friendly neighborhood said he ran towards the intersection where the Mini had crashed into the home. 'Before I approached the car, I saw the resident of the home standing barefoot in the debris. She was in shock and frantically asked me to help get her pets out of the house. 'I was able to get the leashes for her two small dogs and escorted her out of the side of her house. She had her two dogs with her and a tortoise.' Manpearl explained how he then went to the car to help the driver who was wedged inside between the airbag and the seat. he said: 'I tried speaking with her a few times asking if she was ok but she wasn't responding so I had to get closer. I was able to open the back door of the car and crawled half-way inside. 'This time when I asked her if she was ok, she said no.' Manpearl asked Heche if she could raise her hand to see if she was ok and she said no and made some grunts. That was when the hero neighbor felt water dripping on him only to realize another neighbor was squirting a hose at the car which had now caught on fire and was quickly spreading up the walls of the house. He continued: 'I tried to talk to her again and noticed it was getting smokey and the flames were now on my right and my left so I quickly made my way out of the car.' The engineer made his way to the front of the house and attempted to put out the flames with another hose but realized it was useless because the whole house was ablaze. By now nearly ten fire trucks had arrived. He said: 'I was positive that the driver was dead. That she had burned up. It took at least 30 minutes for the fire department to douse the flames, extract the car and pull her out of the car.' 'I was surprised to find out that it was Anne Heche. I think I knew she had had problems in the past.' The owner of the house that was hit, with all her pets including a tortoise, spent the remainder of the day at Manpearl's house and was in the garden when the car hit. The LAFD said her home is now destroyed. There was plenty of emergency services in attendance in the aftermath of the crash Heche could be seen, arms flailing, as she was placed into the back of an ambulance Heche's vehicle crashed into a home setting it ablaze This is the Mar vista home which Anne Heche crashed her car into engulfed the house and her mini, Anne was reportedly severely burned and taken away by ambulance Media crews can be seen filming outside of the home where the accident occurred Onlookers try to catch a glimpse of the carnage as they pass by the site of the accident on Friday The properly has been 'destroyed' according to the LAFD and has been cordoned off Fire crews were on scene as they attempted to put out the flames which took about an hour Smoke could be seen coming from the home into which Heche has crashed ino EMTs quickly ushered Heche into the back of an ambulance The home into which Heche crashed into suffered significant fire damage with much of its roof destroyed Heche, a native of Aurora, Ohio, most recently starred in the action pic 13 Minutes,'in which she starred alongside Thora Birch, Amy Smart and Will Peltz. She went through a very public divorce in January 2018 from her ex-husband James Tupper. The couple were together for 10 years and share a son, Atlas, 13. She was well known for her romance with DeGeneres in the 1990s. She brought the talk show host to the premiere of her movie Volcano in 1997. She claimed the act saw her being 'blacklisted' from Hollywood. 'I didn't do a studio picture for 10 years,' she told Page Six. 'I was fired from a $10 million picture deal and did not see the light of day in a studio picture.' Following her and Ellen's breakup, she was found incoherent and babbling in the California desert. She stumbled into a stranger's home before being carted off to a hospital hours after breaking up with the comedian. 'I was told to go to a place where I would meet a spaceship. I was told in order to get on the spaceship that I would have to take a hit of ecstasy,' Heche explained. 'Fresno was the culmination of a journey and a world that I thought I needed to escape to in order to find love.' Shortly after the couple dated, the director tied the knot to Coley Laffoon. They also share 20-year-old son Homer Laffoon. Heche's divorce from the cameraman was finalized in 2009, two years after they initially ended their romance. The blonde later started dating Men In Trees co-star James Tupper in 2007, before they split in 2018. Heche shares son Atlas with her ex James Tupper. Horrified witnesses watch on as the car is towed out of the garden following the horrendous crash on Friday morning in LA One clasps her hands to her mouth as she watches the carnage unfold in front of her following the explosion near a school The apartment complex with adjoining garage is pictured following the crash on Friday morning in Los Angeles The interior of the home which was struck appeared to be an almighty mess following the blaze A warning sign tells people not to venture inside the home which was badly damaged by fire on Friday morning Firefighters are seen outside the home after the flames were put out More recently, Heche had been involved with fellow actor Thomas Jane. The pair had co-starred as an acrimoniously divorced couple in the provocatively named 2009-2011 HBO series Hung. At the time, they were both involved with other people. She with James Tupper and he with Patricia Arquette. Almost a decade later, the pair worked alongside each other once more as they portray a married couple in the Netflix indie thriller The Vanished. In late 2019, the pair went public with their romance, although they are not together anymore. Heche has also previously been open about her battles with substance abuse. 'I drank. I smoked. I did drugs. I had sex with people. I did anything I could to get the shame out of my life,' she told ABC News in 2001. She said her choices were because of a painful childhood in which she was sexually abused by her father, Donald Heche. 'I'm not crazy, but it's a crazy life. I was raised in a crazy family and it took 31 years to get the crazy out of me. 'I had a fantasy world that I escaped to. I called my other personality Celestia. I believed I was from that world. I believed I was from another planet. I think I was insane.' 'He raped me, he stuck his d**k in my mouth, he fondled me, he put me on all fours, and had sex with me,' Heche said of the abuse by her father. 'I think it's always hard for children to talk about abuse because it is only memory. I didn't carry around a tape recorder I didn't chisel anything in stone. 'Anybody can look and say, 'Well how do you know for sure?' And that's one of the most painful things about it. You don't,' Heche said in the 2001 interview. Heche also revealed that she had herpes as a young girl, but did not know if her mother knew she was being molested by her father. 'I had a rash, I had sores, I had welts on my nose and on my lips.' She said she does not describe herself as straight, gay or bisexual. 'I would never limit myself to saying I would be with a man or a woman,' she said. Anne Heche and Ami Goodheart are pictured attending the 24th Costume Designers Guild Awards at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in March 2022 in Santa Monica, California It is believed Heche was back to dating women once again. Last month she shared photos with fashion designer Ami Goodheart Ami Goodheart with Anne Heche in a May 8, 2022 photo from her Instagram page. Caption reads: #11oclocklive @anneheche every day see you here Their exes: On the left is Thomas and Patricia Arquette in 2005. And on the right is Anne with James Tupper in 2009 Heche noted how her relationship with DeGeneres 'wasn't a long-term love affair;' the two were snapped in 2000 Anne Heche and James Tupper are pictured together in 2009 in Los Angeles, left. Tupper and Heche are pictured together in 2017, right 'I'm not crazy, but it's a crazy life': Anne Heche battled sexually abusive father to rocked to fame in the 1990s... but says relationship with Ellen DeGeneres saw her blacklisted by Hollywood Even before Friday's horror crash Anne Heche had lived an eventful life in front of the cameras. The actress, 53, shot to stardom in the late 1990s when she featured in the smash hit Donnie Brasco. Her fame only increased when she started dating talk show host Ellen DeGeneres from 1997, before they split in 2000. She told in a previous interview how she felt shunned by Hollywood when she turned up to the premiere of Volcano in 1997. Heche claimed: 'I didn't do a studio picture for 10 years. I was fired from a $10 million picture deal and did not see the light of day in a studio picture.' Heche noted how her relationship with DeGeneres 'wasn't a long-term love affair;' the two were snapped in 2000 Heche is pictured in the 1998 film Return to Paradise Heche is seen in the romantic comedy and action adventure film Six Days Seven Night, released in 1998 Heche is seen in the 1997 thriller I Know What You Did Last Summer. The film centers on four young friends who are stalked by a hook-wielding killer one year after covering up a car accident in which they killed a man Following their breakup, she was found incoherent and babbling in the California desert. She stumbled into a stranger's home before being carted off to a hospital hours after breaking up with the comedian. Heche has stated that all of her other romantic relationships have been with men. The ex files: Heche tied the knot to cameraman Coley Laffoon a year after breaking up from Ellen, but their divorce was finalized in 2009 (pictured in 2004) After reportedly leaving DeGeneres for Coleman 'Coley' Laffoon in 2000, on September 1, 2001, Heche married the cameraman whom she met the previous year on DeGeneres' stand-up comedy tour. They share a son. Laffoon filed for divorce in February 2007, after five years of marriage. The divorce was finalized in 2009. Heche reportedly left her husband for Men in Trees co-star James Tupper and in December 2008 she got pregnant with their first child. Tupper and Heche separated in 2018. Heche has also previously been open about her battles with substance abuse. 'I drank. I smoked. I did drugs. I had sex with people. I did anything I could to get the shame out of my life,' she told ABC News a September 2001 interview. She said her choices were because of a painful childhood in which she was sexually abused by her father, Donald Heche. 'I'm not crazy, but it's a crazy life. I was raised in a crazy family and it took 31 years to get the crazy out of me.' Heche's first starring role came in the 1998 romantic adventure Six Days, Seven Nights, where she appeared opposite Harrison Ford, portraying a New York City journalist ending up with a pilot, played by Ford in a deserted island following a crash landing. Six Days, Seven Nights received mixed reviews She was cast in the film one day before her same-sex relationship with Ellen DeGeneres went public. Although Heche was cast in a second starring role shortly thereafter as Vince Vaughn's love interest in the 1998 drama Return to Paradise, she felt that her relationship with DeGeneres destroyed her prospects as a leading woman. Her 1998 films remain the only theatrically released films in which she played a leading role. Heche was chosen by People as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in that year. Most of her roles in the early 2000s and 2010s were in independent films and television dramas. She also took on a role on Broadway in a play. She has also featured in I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), Six Days, Seven Nights (1998) and Return to Paradise (1998). Anne Heche and James Tupper are pictured together in 2009 in Los Angeles, left. Tupper and Heche are pictured together in 2017, right James Tupper, left, with son Atlas Heche Tupper, Anne Heche and Homer Laffoon are seen in Los Angeles in August 2012 Advertisement Anne Heche's hour of horror: How star 'drunkenly crashed into garage, sped away at 90mph', plowed through an LA house and spent 30 minutes in a burning car before being rescued Actress Anne Heche was involved in two car crashes minutes apart in Los Angeles on Friday. The second crash caused a fire that destroyed the house. As a result of the blaze, Heche, who is best known for her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres and her acting roles in the 1990s, was taken to a local hospital and intubated. Heche first crashed her car into an apartment building in Los Angeles on Friday morning around 11:00 am, she fled that scene and continued driving on the same block before crashing into another home. At the scene of the first crash, residents of the apartment building attempted to free Heche from the car. The star resisted, putting her car in reverse and speeding off. The TMZ report mentions that photos from the time of the first crash show that Heche may have had a bottle of 'alcohol' in the cup holder. In June 2021, Heche said on an episode of her podcast 'Better Together' that she is sober. Following the initial crash, Heche's blue Mini Cooper is shown on a doorbell camera speeding past a home along South Walgrove Avenue in the Mar Vista neighborhood around 90 miles per hour. Minutes later Heche crashed into a two-story home along the same street causing the house and Heche's car to become engulfed in flames. The home is located around 15 miles from Heche's home in the Eastern Columbia Lofts building in the Broadway Theater District of Downtown Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the crash caused 'structural compromise and erupting in heavy fire.' In a tweet, the LAFD said that it took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to put out the blaze. The home is now 'uninhabitable.' The owner of the home was unharmed as they were in the backyard when Heche careered into the front of the building. Pictures and video showed her looking dazed at the wheel after the first crash, with a witness capturing her with a bottle with a red top on it in her car. It is not clear what was in the container but it looked like a vodka bottle An earlier shot also shows Heche moments before the second accident at the wheel with a bottle of vodka with a red cap plonked in the cup holder In a report from the scene prior to Heche's extraction around 11:30 am, Fox 11's Stu Mandel said: 'If there's somebody alive in there this is going to be a miracle.' Minutes later, Heche can be seen being carried from the scene. A witness told NBC Los Angeles that a crane was used to extract Heche from her car. Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott told the media: 'We really had a multifaceted incident here. We had a significant traffic collision, we had entrapment of a woman inside that, we had a car that erupted into fire, and then we had a home that had significant fire that is red tagged. It's at this point destroyed.' The 'Six Days, Seven Nights' star was rushed to a local hospital. At the time of writing, she is listed as being in critical condition as she is being treated for burns. Heche is expected to survive According to TMZ, Heche was behaving erratically. Video from the scene shows Heche being carried away with burned clothes and covered in a white sheet. At one point, Heche sits up on the stretcher and gesticulates with the firefighters while seemingly trying to escape. Burn victims are regularly wrapped in a sterile sheet doused in sterile water to cool the wounds. An overhead view shows the massive amounts of damage caused by the fiery car crash to Anne Heche's Mini Smoke can be seen billowing out of the roof of the home which the LA Fire Department say has been destroyed Shocking images also show the burnt out wreckage of her Mini Clubman as it was towed out of a hedge across the road from a school in the Mar Vista area The incident occurred in the Mar Vista-section of Los Angeles. There were no other injuries as a result of the crash. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, a law enforcement source said that Heche was 'deemed to be under the influence and acting erratically.' 'Her condition prevents doctors from performing any tests to determine if she was driving under the influence of alcohol,' TMZ reported. DailyMail.com spoke exclusively with neighbor David Manpearl who caught the incident on his doorbell camera. Manpearl's home office looks out to his front yard on a quiet residential street about five houses away from where Heche plowed into a home. 'At about 10:50am I heard a car go speeding by and looked out my window where I saw the car going about 90 miles an hour. Within seconds I heard a loud crash at which point I ran outside in my flip flops because I knew someone was hurt and boy was I right.' Manpearl who has lived in the family friendly neighborhood said he ran towards the intersection where the Mini had crashed into the home. An interior shot shows the Mini Clubman's airbag had blown out along with most of the decor being burnt through following the crash Heche can be seen being removed from the scene on a stretcher and taken towards a waiting ambulance 'Before I approached the car, I saw the resident of the home standing barefoot in the debris. She was in shock and frantically asked me to help get her pets out of the house. I was able to get the leashes for her two small dogs and escorted her out of the side of her house. She had her two dogs with her and a tortoise.' Manpearl explained how he then went to the car to help the driver who was wedged inside between the airbag and the seat. 'I tried speaking with her a few times asking if she was ok but she wasn't responding so I had to get closer. I was able to open the back door of the car and crawled half-way inside. This time when I asked her if she was ok, she said no.' Manpearl asked Heche if she could raise her hand to see if she was ok and she said no and made some grunts. That's when the hero neighbor felt water dripping on him only to realize another neighbor was squirting a hose at the car which had now caught on fire and was quickly spreading up the walls of the house. 'I tried to talk to her again and noticed it was getting smokey and the flames were now on my right and my left so I quickly made my way out of the car.' The engineer made his way to the front of the house and attempted to put out the flames with another hose but realized it was useless because the whole house was ablaze. Heche arrives for the premiere of Netflix's 'The Unforgivable' at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles in December 2021 Heche and long-timer partner Ellen DeGeneres pictured together in 2000 By now nearly ten fire trucks had arrived on the scene. 'I was positive that the driver was dead. That she had burned up. It took at least 30 minutes for the fire department to douse the flames, extract the car and pull her out of the car.' 'I was surprised to find out that it was Anne Heche. I think I knew she had had problems in the past.' The owner of the home, together with all her pets, tortoise included, spent the remainder of the day at Manpearl's house where neighbors brought her food and clothes. The LAFD said her whole house is now destroyed. The 53-year-old actress is best known for her roles in hit movies from the 1990s such as 'Volcano', 'Donnie Brasco' and 'I Know What You Did Last Summer.' In her early career, Heche won a Daytime Emmy Award for her role on the soap opera 'Another World.' Heche long claimed that she was blacklisted from Hollywood following her lesbian relationship with Elle DeGeneres. The couple dated between 1997 and 2000. Following that relationship, Heche married James Tupper and had a son together named Atlas. In a 2021 interview, Heche said that she was 'patient zero' of cancel culture. In 2000, Heche was arrested after she went on to someone else's property in Fresno wearing in her bra, California. This led to her being hospitalized. A witness said that time: 'She proceeded to tell me that she was God and was going to take everyone back to heaven with her in some sort of spaceship.' In her 2001 memoir 'Call Me Crazy,' Heche wrote that that at one point of her life: 'I believed I was from another planet. I think I was instane.' Heche, a native of Aurora,, most recently starred in the action pic 13 Minutes,'in which she starred alongside Thora Birch, Amy Smart and Will Peltz. Police in Albuquerque are investigating a possible serial killer, after three Muslim men were murdered within five miles of each other in the last nine months. The trio were all ambushed alone outside their home or work place, and killed by a gunman. They did not know each other, although the two most recent victims attended the same mosque. After the third killing, on Monday, Albuquerque police and the FBI held a news conference Thursday in front of the Islamic Center of New Mexico to announce investigators have found a 'strong possibility' the same attacker could have carried out all three murders. 'While we won't go into why we think there's a connection, there's one strong commonality in all of our victims their race and religion,' said Deputy Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock. He appealed for the public's help in tracking down the killer. A funeral was held on Friday in Albuquerque for the two most recent victims: Aftab Hussein, 41, and 27-year-old Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, both from Pakistan Altaf Hussein cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque on Friday Altaf Hussain sprinkles dirt over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein, who was murdered on July 28 in the parking lot of his apartment complex 'My guess is someone out there either directly knows who did this and they can provide that information to police or they've noticed some behavior changes in someone around them that they think could possibly do this,' Hartsock said. 'Two of these murders have happened in (a) week. Whoever's doing them, is changing up their lifestyle, their behavior, something is off more than usual.' Tahir Gauba, a spokesman for the Islamic Center, said Albuquerque's Muslim community is feeling panicked by the news. 'We have never felt this much fear in our community,' Gauba said. 'I've never seen this much fear within my own family.' The first murder was carried out on the evening of November 7. Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, was found outside the cafe he ran with his brother Sharief A. Hadi - Ariana Halal Market & Cafe. The Afghan-born brothers emigrated to the United States with their father in the early 1980s: first living in Pennsylvania, then moving to New Mexico after Hadi, making a living selling gemstones, came across the region and loved it. 'I had to travel all over, then I got to New Mexico,' Hadi told ABP News Online. 'I like it the weather and the people were so nice. And I chose to stay here because of my business.' Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, was killed on November 7 Hadi and his brother opened the market in 2008, with Ahmadi working as a cook, specializing in traditional Afghan dishes and often catering for groups at the nearby university. Hadi said he left Ahmadi at the shop to finish cooking, and suspects his brother had gone out to smoke a cigarette when he was shot around 6pm. 'I left at 5 o'clock and he had laid down in the back,' Hadi said. 'When I went home someone called me and said 'Sharief what's going on at your store?' When I came back the police were all over.' Hadi in January said he was baffled by the unsolved murder. 'I don't have anything to tell you,' he said. 'He is my brother. I loved him, he loved me.' Eight months later, a second Muslim man was murdered: 41-year-old Aftab Hussein, who moved to New Mexico in 2016. Working as a busser for a local cafe, Hussein rented a second-story apartment near the Mesa Verde Community Center with two roommates and told them he had recently got engaged to a woman back home in Pakistan. Aftab Hussein, 41, a busser at a local restaurant, was murdered on July 28 He was working to get his passport and other travel documents together so he could go to Pakistan and get married, his friend Iftikhar Amirjan told The Albuquerque Journal. 'He was very happy. He said 'I'll go to Pakistan and get married and bring my wife here' and he said 'I'll make my life,' you know,' Amirjan said. 'He said 'I'll buy a house later on and have children.'' Hussein was shot in the evening of July 26 in the parking lot of the complex where he lived. His roommates, frightened, have since moved out, while Hussein's brother has flown in from the United Kingdom. The third killing was on Monday, when well-known local community organizer and city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was murdered outside his home. Born in Pakistan, he moved to the United States in 2017 to get a master's degree in community and regional planning at the University of New Mexico and served as president of the Graduate and Professional Student Association from 2019 to 2020. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was shot dead outside his home while his brother cooked dinner inside on Monday He worked with Representative Melanie Stansbury's campaign for Congress and then got a job as the planning and land use director for the city of Espanola, 90 miles north of Albuquerque. Hussein had been commuting for the past year but was shortly to move to Espanola. His older brother, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, a former prosecutor who moved to the U.S. in 2014 to continue studying law, had been staying with his sibling, and brought his two young children with him. Imtiaz Hussain told The Albuquerque Journal that Afzaal Hussain stepped outside around 9pm, likely to call friends or family in Pakistan, while he cooked dinner. Neighbors reported seeing a car pull up alongside his brother as someone inside opened fire, shooting once and then four to six more times. 'My brother he was such a decent, lively young man, an unmarried person involved with the community, all the time helping everyone,' Imtiaz Hussain said. 'So what is the motive. Why did they shoot him? If he's shot, how are we safe? 'I want a proactive, rigorous investigation, detailed and speedy trials so that those people who want to take life for another person for nothing. 'Maybe they were stealing his phone, I don't know, whatever. 'But this is life and many lives are connected to him.' Jordan Yutzy, the Espanola city manager, said the team was in shock. 'He is going to be truly missed by the city,' Yutzy said. 'He was very smart, very dedicated, and really cared about the community as a whole. His will be very big shoes for the city to fill.' Prayers are held for Hussein and Hussain on Friday in the Islamic Center of New Mexico The University of New Mexico said it was 'deeply saddened to hear about the tragic and sudden loss of a cherished alumni' who 'was a prominent student leader and vibrant human being.' 'Muhammad was an inspiring leader and a really special Lobo who touched so many lives,' UNM President Garnett Stokes said. 'It was my privilege to know and work with him.' Stansbury tweeted: 'As we grieve the unthinkable loss of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, law enforcement has released new information that his shooting may be linked with the deaths of Mohammad Admadi and Aftab Hussein in our community. 'We are working closely with federal, state, and local partners to protect our Muslim, immigrant, and Middle Eastern communities and bring those responsible to justice. Our communities will not tolerate hate in any form.' Martin Heinrich, senator for New Mexico, said: 'Muhammad Afzaal Hussain was a pillar in the UNM community and an incredible force for good. 'I'm very concerned by law enforcement reports that his murder may be linked to two other murders of Muslim men in Albuquerque. Racist, hate-fueled violence has no place in New Mexico.' Tim Keller, the mayor of Albuquerque, said the city will continue to 'stand by our Muslim neighbors'. 'While we do not have all the answers yet, what we do know is that violence against members of our community based on race or religion will not be tolerated in Albuquerque,' he said in a statement. On Friday, more than 1,000 people attended a joint funeral for Hussein and Hussain. Imam Mahmoud Eldenawi spoke of the community's shock, 6Park News reported. 'All of us, not just Muslims, all other communities, were shocked and saddened by this kind of death of innocent people, they did nothing,' Eldenawi said. 'But this evil guy who committed this crime, he doesn't have any kind of religion, he doesn't have any kind of sympathy, passion, mercy at all.' The Council on American-Islamic Relations is offering a $5,000 reward for information, and the Anti-Defamation League is urging a swift investigation. 'It is abhorrent for someone to be targeted simply for who they are, and we express our deep concern and support for the Muslim community in New Mexico,' said Regional Director Scott Levin. 'We thank members of law enforcement for investigating and taking the matter seriously, and strongly encourage prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges if evidence shows the killings were committed because of the Muslim identity of the victims.' Actress Anne Heche was involved in two car crashes minutes apart in Los Angeles on Friday. The second crash caused a fire that destroyed the house. As a result of the blaze, Heche, who is best known for her relationship with Ellen DeGeneres and her acting roles in the 1990s, was taken to a local hospital and intubated. Heche first crashed her car into an apartment building in Los Angeles on Friday morning around 11:00 am, she fled that scene and continued driving on the same block before crashing into another home. At the scene of the first crash, residents of the apartment building attempted to free Heche from the car. The star resisted, putting her car in reverse and speeding off. The TMZ report mentions that photos from the time of the first crash show that Heche may have had a bottle of 'alcohol' in the cup holder. In June 2021, Heche said on an episode of her podcast 'Better Together' that she is sober. Following the initial crash, Heche's blue Mini Cooper is shown on a doorbell camera speeding past a home along South Walgrove Avenue in the Mar Vista neighborhood around 90 miles per hour. Minutes later Heche crashed into a two-story home along the same street causing the house and Heche's car to become engulfed in flames. The home is located around 15 miles from Heche's home in the Eastern Columbia Lofts building in the Broadway Theater District of Downtown Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the crash caused 'structural compromise and erupting in heavy fire.' In a tweet, the LAFD said that it took 59 firefighters 65 minutes to put out the blaze. The home is now 'uninhabitable.' The owner of the home was unharmed as they were in the backyard when Heche careered into the front of the building. Pictures and video showed her looking dazed at the wheel after the first crash, with a witness capturing her with a bottle with a red top on it in her car. It is not clear what was in the container but it looked like a vodka bottle An earlier shot also shows Heche moments before the second accident at the wheel with a bottle of vodka with a red cap plonked in the cup holder In a report from the scene prior to Heche's extraction around 11:30 am, Fox 11's Stu Mandel said: 'If there's somebody alive in there this is going to be a miracle.' Minutes later, Heche can be seen being carried from the scene. A witness told NBC Los Angeles that a crane was used to extract Heche from her car. Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott told the media: 'We really had a multifaceted incident here. We had a significant traffic collision, we had entrapment of a woman inside that, we had a car that erupted into fire, and then we had a home that had significant fire that is red tagged. It's at this point destroyed.' The 'Six Days, Seven Nights' star was rushed to a local hospital. At the time of writing, she is listed as being in critical condition as she is being treated for burns. Heche is expected to survive According to TMZ, Heche was behaving erratically. Video from the scene shows Heche being carried away with burned clothes and covered in a white sheet. At one point, Heche sits up on the stretcher and gesticulates with the firefighters while seemingly trying to escape. Burn victims are regularly wrapped in a sterile sheet doused in sterile water to cool the wounds. An overhead view shows the massive amounts of damage caused by the fiery car crash to Anne Heche's Mini Smoke can be seen billowing out of the roof of the home which the LA Fire Department say has been destroyed Shocking images also show the burnt out wreckage of her Mini Clubman as it was towed out of a hedge across the road from a school in the Mar Vista area The incident occurred in the Mar Vista-section of Los Angeles. There were no other injuries as a result of the crash. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, a law enforcement source said that Heche was 'deemed to be under the influence and acting erratically.' 'Her condition prevents doctors from performing any tests to determine if she was driving under the influence of alcohol,' TMZ reported. DailyMail.com spoke exclusively with neighbor David Manpearl who caught the incident on his doorbell camera. Manpearl's home office looks out to his front yard on a quiet residential street about five houses away from where Heche plowed into a home. 'At about 10:50am I heard a car go speeding by and looked out my window where I saw the car going about 90 miles an hour. Within seconds I heard a loud crash at which point I ran outside in my flip flops because I knew someone was hurt and boy was I right.' Manpearl who has lived in the family friendly neighborhood said he ran towards the intersection where the Mini had crashed into the home. An interior shot shows the Mini Clubman's airbag had blown out along with most of the decor being burnt through following the crash Heche can be seen being removed from the scene on a stretcher and taken towards a waiting ambulance 'Before I approached the car, I saw the resident of the home standing barefoot in the debris. She was in shock and frantically asked me to help get her pets out of the house. I was able to get the leashes for her two small dogs and escorted her out of the side of her house. She had her two dogs with her and a tortoise.' Manpearl explained how he then went to the car to help the driver who was wedged inside between the airbag and the seat. 'I tried speaking with her a few times asking if she was ok but she wasn't responding so I had to get closer. I was able to open the back door of the car and crawled half-way inside. This time when I asked her if she was ok, she said no.' Manpearl asked Heche if she could raise her hand to see if she was ok and she said no and made some grunts. That's when the hero neighbor felt water dripping on him only to realize another neighbor was squirting a hose at the car which had now caught on fire and was quickly spreading up the walls of the house. 'I tried to talk to her again and noticed it was getting smokey and the flames were now on my right and my left so I quickly made my way out of the car.' The engineer made his way to the front of the house and attempted to put out the flames with another hose but realized it was useless because the whole house was ablaze. Heche arrives for the premiere of Netflix's 'The Unforgivable' at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles in December 2021 Heche and long-timer partner Ellen DeGeneres pictured together in 2000 By now nearly ten fire trucks had arrived on the scene. 'I was positive that the driver was dead. That she had burned up. It took at least 30 minutes for the fire department to douse the flames, extract the car and pull her out of the car.' 'I was surprised to find out that it was Anne Heche. I think I knew she had had problems in the past.' The owner of the home, together with all her pets, tortoise included, spent the remainder of the day at Manpearl's house where neighbors brought her food and clothes. The LAFD said her whole house is now destroyed. The 53-year-old actress is best known for her roles in hit movies from the 1990s such as 'Volcano', 'Donnie Brasco' and 'I Know What You Did Last Summer.' In her early career, Heche won a Daytime Emmy Award for her role on the soap opera 'Another World.' Heche long claimed that she was blacklisted from Hollywood following her lesbian relationship with Elle DeGeneres. The couple dated between 1997 and 2000. Following that relationship, Heche married James Tupper and had a son together named Atlas. In a 2021 interview, Heche said that she was 'patient zero' of cancel culture. In 2000, Heche was arrested after she went on to someone else's property in Fresno wearing in her bra, California. This led to her being hospitalized. A witness said that time: 'She proceeded to tell me that she was God and was going to take everyone back to heaven with her in some sort of spaceship.' In her 2001 memoir 'Call Me Crazy,' Heche wrote that that at one point of her life: 'I believed I was from another planet. I think I was instane.' Heche, a native of Aurora,, most recently starred in the action pic 13 Minutes,'in which she starred alongside Thora Birch, Amy Smart and Will Peltz. Alistair Bidmead (pictured) was a professional stone mason with almost 20 years in the business before he was trapped and killed by falling debris on a Petersham school site A migrant English craftsman has been named as the stonemason who was killed when 'several tonnes' of scaffolding and bricks collapsed and crushed him on Friday. Alistair Bidmead was working on the facade of a building when the tragic accident occurred at Fort St High School at Petersham in Sydney's inner west. The stonemason, who owned Bidmead & Co based in Fairlight on Sydney's northern beaches, died while working on the third storey of the school's main building. NSW Ambulance Inspector Michael Corlis said attempts to resuscitate Mr Bidmead were futile. 'His injuries were [such] he could not be resuscitated ... unfortunately there was nothing we could do,' Inspector Corlis told 9News. It is believed a facade broke loose from the structure before collapsing on top of him at 11am, with a number of workmates witnessing his death. NSW Ambulance tried to revive Mr Bidmead (pictured) but his injuries were too severe It is believed a facade broke loose from the structure before collapsing on top of him at 11am, with a number of workmates witnessing his death (pictured, an image from the scene) A crane was brought in five hours after the accident to remove the colossal slab of masonry and heavy rubble that crushed Mr Bidmead, originally from the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. His body was found among the twisted scaffolding and debris. The tradie was a classically trained stonemason whose business did restoration services on heritage buildings and constructed new stonework too. He had been in the business for more than 16 years, undertaking and managing projects in both Australia and the UK. No children at the school witnessed the horrific freak event. The education department and the school declined to comment. A crime scene was established with police and Safe Work Australia investigating. Stonemason Alistair Bidmead (pictured) died on Friday after several tonnes of debris, including a sandstone concrete slab fell on him as he worked Police have seized 700kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of $280million but are appealing for the public's help to smash the criminal syndicate behind it. Australian Border Force officers found the drugs on July 22 while inspecting containers on the vessel Maersk Inverness at Port Botany in Sydney. Federal police seized 28 denim bags, each holding about 25 kilograms of cocaine in brick form, the AFP and ABF said in a statement on Saturday. Australian Border Force officers seized 700kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of $280million from a cargo ship in Port Botany, Sydney Forensic officers found different labels on the bricks of cocaine, including the numbers '365', '5' and the word 'Netflix' (pictured, one of the bags of cocaine labelled '365') Forensic examination identified different emblems on the bricks, including the numerals 5 and 365 and the word Netflix, the agencies said. AFP Detective Inspector Luke Wilson said the ship, which has been allowed to continue its journey, had stopped at ports in Central America and South America before making its way to Australia. Insp Wilson said the interception of the drugs would be a significant blow to what was likely a well-resourced criminal syndicate. 'We are still investigating where the drugs were loaded and who was planning to collect them in Australia,' he said. ABF Detained Goods NSW Superintendent Joanne Yeats said the seizure disrupted a criminal network's supply and 'stopped this large shipment of cocaine from entering our community' (pictured, wrapped bricks of cocaine seized in Sydney) 'The AFP estimates this seizure has saved the community more than $451 million in drug-related harm.' ABF Detained Goods NSW Superintendent Joanne Yeats said the seizure showed the technical expertise of officers who detected the cocaine. She said the agency had disrupted the criminal network's supply and 'stopped this large shipment of cocaine from entering our community'. Anyone with relevant information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The deputy head of Taiwan defence ministry's research and development unit was found dead on Saturday morning in a hotel room, succumbing to a heart attack, according to the official Central News Agency. Ou Yang Li-hsing, deputy head of the military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST), had died in a hotel room in southern Taiwan. Authorities said 57-year-old Ou Yang died of a heart attack and the hotel room showed no sign of any 'intrusion', CNA said. His family said he had a history of heart disease and had a cardiac stent, according to the report. Ou Yang was on a business trip to the southern county of Pingtung and he had assumed the post early this year to supervise various missile production projects. The military-owned body is working to more than double its yearly missile production capacity to close to 500 this year, as the island boosts its combat power amid what it sees as China's growing military threat. The deputy head of Taiwan defence ministry's research and development unit was found dead on Saturday morning in a hotel room. Pictured: Tien Kung II Missile Launcher Display at Hukou Camp Ground An enraged China halted dialogue with the US as part of their retaliation for Nancy Pelosi's 'provocative' Taiwan visit - with diplomatic tensions reaching boiling point It come as an enraged China halted dialogue with the US on climate change, military issues and anti-drug work as part of their retaliation for Nancy Pelosi's 'provocative' Taiwan visit - with diplomatic tensions reaching boiling point. Earlier, Beijing decided to sanction House of Representatives Speaker Pelosi and her immediate family in response to her 'vicious' actions and after their military fired 11 ballistic missiles into the Taiwan Strait - with five landing in Japan's exclusion zone - and surrounded the island. 'Despite China's serious concerns and firm opposition, Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan, seriously interfering in China's internal affairs, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampling on the one-China policy, and threatening the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait,' a foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement. A spokesman for the communist government then compared the United States' behavior to the slaying of George Floyd at the hands of cops in Minneapolis. Hua Chunying wrote: 'We cannot allow the US to take itself as "world policeman" and treat other countries like George Floyd whom it can bully and strangle at will.' It emerged that the White House summoned Chinese ambassador Qin Gang on Thursday to condemn escalating actions against Taiwan and reiterate that the United States does not want a crisis in the region. A Mirage 2000 fighter jet takes off at an airbase in Hsinchu, Taiwan The Rocket Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducts conventional missile tests into the waters off the eastern coast of Taiwan, from an undisclosed location The Biden administration has thrown their support behind Pelosi's trip as a way to promote democracy in Taiwan and have criticized Beijing's 'sabre rattling' and 'unnecessary' military drills. 'After China's actions overnight, we summoned Ambassador Qin Gang to the White House to demarche him about (China's) provocative actions,' White House spokesman John Kirby told the Washington Post. A demarche is a protest through diplomatic channels. 'We condemned the PRCs military actions, which are irresponsible and at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.' On Friday morning, Taiwan condemned its 'evil neighbor' China as huge military drills once-again encircled the self-governing island - drawing harsh criticism from its allies. Taipei said multiple Chinese warships and fighters today crossed the 'median line' that runs down the center of the Taiwan Strait, separating it from the mainland. The line is an unofficial but previously widely-recognized border that Beijing insists 'no longer exists,' as it tries to exert control over its much smaller neighbor. A Chinese fighter jet armed with missiles flies out over the Taiwan Strait early Friday, as Beijing continues to host huge war games around the island Taipei said multiple Chinese jets and warships (pictured) had today crossed the 'median line' - the unofficial maritime border between the two The White House on Friday once again rapped Beijing for its rhetoric and recent escalations. 'We dont want a crisis. Were not seeking a crisis,' White House communications coordinator for national security John Kirby told reporters. 'And quite frankly theres no reason for a crisis to erupt out of this.' 'Its the Chinese side that has been issuing bellicose rhetoric and threats,' he said. He called on China to stop 'provocative military exercises' and end the rhetoric. 'There was nothing inconsistent about the speakers trip about the one China policy,' he said, calling China's latest move an 'overreaction.' He said despite China's move to pull back military contacts with the U.S., there were still channels between 'very senior members,' and that 'unit-to-unit' contacts were still possible. But he acknowledged that during a 'At a time of tension, and things are certainly tense, you want to be able to talk.' Beijing's latest moves comes after a day in which China fired barrages of missiles at Taiwan - some of which flew over the island for the first time - as it held massive war games, that state media say are a rehearsal for an invasion. Chinese rocket artillery opens fire during training drills on Thursday, which saw more than a dozen rockets fired out over the Taiwan Strait A Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft flies over the 68-nautical-mile scenic spot, one of mainland China's closest points to Taiwan on Friday as tensions spiralled China on Thursday launched at least 11 ballistic missiles, some of which are thought to have flown over the island for the first time before landing in Japanese waters Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized those missile launches - some of which landed in Japanese waters - calling them a 'significant escalation. Beijing began the military drills late Tuesday as Nancy Pelosi, US House Speaker, visited the island and says they will continue until midday Sunday. Taipei reported that Chinese fighter jets and ships crossed the 'median line' that runs down the Taiwan Strait on Friday morning. 'As of 11am, multiple batches of Chinese warplanes and warships conducted exercises around the Taiwan Strait and crossed the median line of the strait,' Taipei's defense ministry said in a statement. Chinese incursions have become more common since Beijing declared in 2020 that the unofficial border no longer existed. AFP journalists on the picturesque Chinese island of Pingtan saw a fighter jet flying overhead, prompting tourists to snap photos as it flew along the coast. A Chinese military vessel was also visible sailing through the Taiwan Strait, they added. Beijing has insisted its war games are a 'necessary' response to a visit to the self-ruled, democratic island by Pelosi, but Washington countered that China's leaders had 'chosen to overreact.' They point out that a similar visit by male senators just weeks before had passed off without a response. The head of Amnesty International's Ukraine branch has acrimoniously quit after the human rights NGO published a 'pro-Russia' report that condemned Ukraine for 'endangering civilians'. Oksana Pokalchuk said the controversial study on Thursday had 'unwittingly created material that sounded like support of Russian narratives'. She added in a Facebook post last night: 'Seeking to protect civilians, this study instead has become a tool of Russian propaganda. 'If you dont live in a country invaded by invaders and are tearing it to pieces, you probably dont understand what its like to condemn an army of defenders. And there are no words in any language that can convey this to someone who has not felt this pain. Amnesty International Ukraine bureau chief Oksana Pokalchuk (pictured in May) slammed the group's report as 'a tool of Russian propaganda' as pointed out a 'disagreement on values' 'It pains me to admit it, but we disagreed with the leadership of Amnesty International on values. That's why I decided to leave.' The NGO on Thursday listed 19 towns and cities in which Ukrainian forces were accused of putting civilians in harm's way by basing soldiers in residential areas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky furiously lashed out at the group over the report, accusing it of victim blaming. He said it had sought to offer 'amnesty [to] the terrorist state and shift the responsibility from the aggressor to the victim'. A Ukrainian HIMARS system is pictured being fired at an unknown location during the war President Zelensky (pictured during a recent press conference) slammed the report as giving 'amnesty [to] the terrorist state and shift the responsibility from the aggressor to the victim' In response to widespread criticism, Amnesty on Friday said it fully stood by its accusations. In a statement given to MailOnline, an amnesty spokesman said 'we will never ignore human rights violations'. And later on Friday, the organisation's Secretary General Agnes Callamard told AFP: 'Amnesty fully stands by our research'. 'The findings... were based on evidence gathered during extensive investigations which were subject to the same rigorous standards and due diligence processes as all of Amnesty International's work,' she added. Ukrainian officials say they take every possible measure to evacuate civilians from frontline areas. Russia denies targeting civilians in its so-called 'special military operation' in Ukraine, although Putin's forces reportedly shelled humanitarian corridors in Mariupol during the first three months of the war. Widespread war crimes were also reported in Kyiv suburb Bucha, seemingly recorded in chilling footage. It came as the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) warned that Russia's invasion was entering a 'new phase' - with Putin's army expected to send a new battalion to defend occupied Kherson. The MoD stated this morning: 'Battalion tactical groups (BTG), which comprise between 800 and 1,000 troops, have been deployed to Crimea and would almost certainly be used to support Russian troops in the Kherson region.' A grandmother was left with blood gushing from her head after a crazed seagull swooped down and clawed her as she walked home on Wednesday. Brenda Thrumble said she resembled 'something from a Freddy Krueger film' as a result of the vicious attack. The 66-year-old was caught off guard by the surprise attack and forced to hide behind a bush in order to escape the gull's wrath. In the aftermath of the attack, Mrs Thrumble had to get a tetanus injection on the advice of doctors to avoid suffering a bacterial infection from the bird's claws. She fell victim to the angry bird - thought to have been protecting its young - on Wednesday afternoon as she made her way home in St Peters in Broadstairs, Kent. The mum-of-three said: 'I was walking along, minding my own business when suddenly something went for my head. 'It came at me from behind so there was no way of expecting anything, it just went 'whack' on my head. 'I put my hand on my head and blood was coming out profusely. I thought 'oh my gosh' that's a lot. Brenda Thrumble, 66, was left bleeding heavily from her head after a seagull attacked her with its claws 'It had instantly drawn blood, it went at me with its claws rather than beak. There was lots of blood from the claws that had gone straight across my head. 'I looked like something from a Freddy Krueger film. Blood was pouring out, down my face, top and onto my toes. It was a real shock. 'There were lots of little holes where it had clawed at me, so there wasn't one big gash. 'It was a right old nightmare and not a good experience to have.' Mrs Thrumble took cover behind an overhanging hedge before being escorted to safety by a neighbour wearing a motorbike helmet. She said: 'I was frightened to move, and afraid of it coming at me again. I was close to a wall when it swooped. 'A nice man called Aaron on a motorbike came to help me and walked with me to his house. 'He was wearing a helmet and we got there without the seagull attacking. Luckily everyone was really nice, the neighbours all helped me.' After reaching safety, Mrs Thrumble was assessed by paramedics and her head wound was cleaned. Mrs Thumble said she will now be 'very cautious' around seagulls following the vicious attack. Thrumble had been on her way home in Broadstairs, Kent, when she was attacked and was forced to hide in a bush to get away from the bird She added: 'It's hard to say to people to be careful as it came at me from behind. It's hard to know how to warn people to avoid it happening to them because it came from nowhere and was so sudden. 'I wasn't eating anything at the time, you hear about it happening at the beach when people are eating chips, but I was walking down a side road. 'I presume the seagull was protecting its young, but I couldn't see any anywhere, I couldn't see any nests or any babies. 'I know residents around there have been plagued by them. I'd be nervous of what it could do to a dog or to little children. 'Anyone who was a bit frail could have been really seriously injured or knocked over, the force with which it hit me was quite powerful. 'I decided to cut down a side road on the way home rather than going along the busier high street, but I won't be doing that again. I'm happy to have lived to tell the tale.' Mrs Thrumble did not need stitches for her head injuries, but did have a tetanus jab. Due to a two-week wait at her doctors' surgery, she was forced to spend 35 for a injection at a nearby pharmacy. Since lockdown, some residents have seen an increase in gulls feasting on other birds and rats - after scraps of food left by humans decreased during the pandemic. Bloodthirsty gulls have been spotted attacking and pecking to death helpless pigeons along London canals as well as carrying off rats to eat. Last July a seagull was seen swallowing a pigeon whole in a playground in Brighton, East Sussex. Yorkshire residents in seaside towns were also warned by the council to watch out for seagulls left hungry for food during lockdown as they might become more aggressive. According to the RSPCA, gulls that swoop are usually trying to protect chicks that have fallen out of or left the nest. The reason for the seagull attack was likely because it was trying to protect chicks that had fallen out the nest or were flying nearby The animal charity said: 'They'll stop when the person or animal has moved away from their young. 'This behaviour usually only lasts for a few weeks until the chicks have fledged and are able to protect themselves.' Anyone who sees a nest or chick on the ground and cannot avoid walking close by should 'hold an open umbrella above their head to help deter the parents from swooping'. The RSPCA argues culls should only be considered if there is a serious problem and non-lethal means are ineffective or impractical. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, gulls can't be killed unless they're being controlled under the terms of licences issued by Natural England or Natural Resources Wales. According to the RSPCA, controlling gulls under licence can only be done for specific reasons - for example to protect public health and safety. The charity added: 'However, it remains illegal to do anything that will cause unnecessary suffering to the birds and the conditions specified on each licence must be followed.' NEW DELHI: The Indian Army is betting big on Artificial Intelligence (AI) to deal with threats. It has deployed several units of AI-powered smart surveillance systems in northern and western borders of the country. This has reduced the requirement for manual monitoring. Also, the Indian Army deployed an AI-based suspicious vehicle recognition system in eight locations in northern and southern theatres. An AI lab has been established at Military College of Telecommunication Engineering wherein AI projects undergo extensive in-house testing before being given to a production agency for deployment. We have an AI surveillance system employed at multiple locations where inputs from the thermal images, cameras, and electro-optical devices are integrated and we are in a position to give real-time inputs to field formations," said sources. This provides soldiers on the ground real-time intelligence. "It has features like motion sensor alarms. So when a device picks up a movement, an alarm comes up on the TV screen," said sources. The Army has also deployed an AI-based suspicious vehicle tracking system in insurgency-hit areas where vehicle registration numbers are noticed and matched with the data of the ministry of surface transport. "It gives real time input to the soldiers in that particular area to identify whether that vehicle registration number is correct or incorrect," said sources. The Indian Army has also developed an AI-based cervical cancer detection system which has been deployed in some of the hospitals. "We have made our in-house algorithms in our institutions where we have established a centre of excellence for artificial intelligence. We have trained a pool of specialists, who have started working with the field formations trying to have assets which are deployable in the field. It could be surveillance based-systems, it could be HR management systems or it could be logistic systems. All of them are based on algorithms which we developed in-house," said sources. The advantage of in-house research centre, sources said, was that "we used to get the data from the field formations." "We used to create the algorithms in-house and then give it back to the formation. Again it used to be a continuous endeavour where we interacted with the field formations. We have 145 deployments of assets which have come up based on this," said sources. Millions are snubbing Covid booster shots with almost 30 per cent of the population still to get their third dose and around three-quarters yet to get a fourth jab, amid fears hospitals will buckle under the pressure. State and federal health authorities are worried the number of Australians getting third and further doses of the Covid vaccine is plummeting, with only 72 per cent of eligible Aussies having received a third shot. More than 5.6million out of the 20million eligible have yet to get their first booster jab - and only 5million have so far rolled up their sleeve for a fourth shot. Federal health minister Mark Butler admits the vaccine roll out is now 'flatlining'. More than 5.6million out of the 20million eligible have yet to get their first booster jab - and only 5million have so far rolled up their sleeve for a fourth shot The widespread vaccine fatigue comes amid almost 29,000 new virus cases recorded across the nation on Saturday along with 89 deaths. While decreasing daily over the past week, the number of virus patients in hospital care also remains a touch under 4500 or accounting for almost one in 12 hospital beds. The number of active cases nationwide officially remains above 300,000. Queensland is the worst-performing state for boosters, with 64.5 per cent of eligible residents receiving a third jab, while the ACT has the best coverage at 79.9 per cent. The booster rate is 55 per cent for Indigenous Australians nationally. New third doses are barely rising each day, ranging from NSW recording 2075 on Friday and the Northern Territory 45. 'Third booster dose rates have flatlined, which is something I'm very concerned about,' Health Minister Mark Butler said. Federal health minister Mark Butler admits the vaccine roll out is now 'flatlining'. Information campaigns are being rolled out but there is a persistent problem with the slow rate of uptake by under-65s. So far 4.22 million Australians have received a fourth dose, after the program was extended several weeks ago. Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston says the federal government's response to the Omicron wave is 'worrying'. 'They have ended a range of supports that have helped Australians through the pandemic and have been forced to backflip on the pandemic leave disaster payment,' she said. 'With no explanation and no apparent advice or modelling to support their decisions, 70 COVID-related telehealth items, free RATS for concession card holders and aged care homes, and Operation COVID Shield have all ended.' Senator Rushton said the government should release its health advice and modelling. National cabinet, which is overseeing the pandemic response, is due to next meet on August 31. The number of active Covid cases across Australia officially remains above 300,000 with almost one in 12 hospital beds taken up by Covid patients Authorities are rolling out further vaccination information campaigns but there is a persistent problem with the slow rate of uptake by under-65s. The vaccination concerns come with Victoria announcing slightly fewer patients awaiting elective surgery despite one of the worst winters on record due to a horror flu season and the ongoing pandemic. The state's wait list for elective procedures shrunk from a revised 88,920 to 87,275 during the June quarter, while Ambulance Victoria experienced the busiest period for code one call-outs in its history. It comes after some Victorian hospitals, including The Alfred and Bendigo Health, delayed or cancelled surgeries in mid-July amid the nation's third Omicron wave. Any potential impact of their decisions will therefore not be reflected until the next quarterly data batch. 'We're in the midst of a record-breaking period of demand on our health system but this latest data shows we are weathering the storm and building a system that will be stronger than ever,' health minister Mary-Anne Thomas told reporters in Melbourne. 'All our healthcare workers are doing an incredible job under challenging circumstances and this government is ensuring they have all the support they need, to give Victorians the care they deserve faster.' Ms Thomas says there's no quick fix but the government's $12 billion pandemic repair plan and $1.5 billion COVID-19 catch-up initiative are starting to have an impact. While fewer people were waiting for elective surgery than three months ago, opposition health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier noted there were 21,000 more people on the waiting list than at the same time last year. 'That is 21,000 more Victorians waiting in pain with their health deteriorating,' she said. It's not often that a weapons system inspires a hit viral folk song, especially one with lyrics that talk of destroying inventory and Russian tankmen hiding in the bushes, but then it is hard to underestimate the appeal of the Bayraktar TB-2. For ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this Turkish aerial drone has proved to be one of the biggest hits of the war at least for the Ukrainians. Since February, the Bayraktar, which costs in the region of one to two million dollars, has obliterated an astonishing amount of Russian equipment, including ten helicopters, thirteen surface-to-air missile systems, seven armoured vehicles, twenty-seven other vehicles, six naval vessels, and numerous other targets such as command posts and fuel dumps. Little wonder then, that the technology has become a vital component in the war against Putins forces, as it scouts terrain and identifies targets before carrying out precision strikes using laser-guided weaponry. A fearsome Bayraktar drone is pictured at a test centre in Istanbul before shipment in July Footage recorded by a Bayraktar drone above Snake Island shows Ukraine wrecking targets The Bayraktars took on a vital role in the early days of the conflict with Russia, helping to keep Kyiv out of Putins reach. They were in play just days after the war began. Most famously, they were sent to destroy Russian fuel trucks, rendering inoperable the tanks that had formed a miles-long military convoy heading towards the Ukrainian capital. The images of beleaguered Russian armoured vehicles abandoned at the side of the road was an early win for Ukraine in the all-important propaganda war. A crucial characteristic of Turkish drones is that they are nearly invisible to conventional air defence systems. TB-2s drones are able to evade S-300s, the next generation of Russian-developed defensive missile batteries. In Azerbaijan in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Turkish drones were reported to have not only avoided the S-300s, but then also taken them out. TB-2s were also used to destroy numerous Pantsirs - the Russian-designed anti-missile system that have been the mainstay of defence against Western offensives - in Syria, Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh. In fact, the Bayraktar is proving so troublesome to Putins ambitions, that it has been reported that Moscow is now offering a 50,000-rouble (800) reward for each destroyed drone. In addition, it has also been rumoured that Russia, with a somewhat unsophisticated drone programme of its own, is eyeing up Iranian drones in order to try to restore the balance in the drone wars. Whether any deal has taken place is yet to be confirmed. The Turkey-made drones are so troublesome that Moscow is offering cash to destroy them Defence officials taxi a vehicle at an air base in Lithuania in July as it prepares to go to Ukraine Each one costs around $2million, just one fortieth of the cost of an American F-35 fighter jet Of course, Putin would love to get his hands on the Bayraktar, but Turkey will not sell them to Russia. In turn, Moscow has complained to Ankara that it should stop supplying the Bayraktars to Ukraine, but the Turks have insisted that the sales and in some cases donations from the manufacturer, Baykar, are private matters between the firm and the Ukrainians, and are nothing to do with the state. Ankara is of course very happy that a Turkish aerospace firm is proving its worth. Last year, Turkish arms and aerospace exports reached $3.2 billion 2.7 billion a new record, with drones a fast-growing part of that success story. In the past two years, Since the TB-2 made its first confirmed kill in April 2016, Baykars UAVs have been sold to more than a dozen countries. Turkish-made drones have made such an impact in other active war scenarios, from North Africa to the Caucasus, that they are now considered the major challenger to the United States, the industry leader. Another benefit of the Turkish kit is that they are cheaper than US or Israeli-made drones. At a meeting of US military personnel, a high-ranking Danish official in attendance made himself a few enemies when he wondered aloud how many TB-2s could be bought instead of one American-built F-35 fighter jet. Even the most cursory cost-benefit analysis shows that is a no-brainer: With an F-35 costing around $80 million and a Bayraktar costing no more than $2 million, you get forty times more aircraft for your money, and they are far easier to replace and maintain than a fighter jet and its pilot. Despite their cheapness and effectiveness, the Russians are getting their own back at the Bayraktar. The Russians shot down their first drone in March, and of course they would have scrutinised the wreckage and identified the frequency it uses and its telltale electromagnetic signatures, meaning that the Russians would be better able to target the drones, as well as being able to jam signals to them. Given their limited supply of TB2 drones, the Ukrainian military is unlikely to fly them into areas where there is a high potential for them to get shot down, thus they are limiting their usage in the Donbas region, says Professor Vikram Mittal from the Department of Systems Engineering at the United States Military Academy. Meanwhile, the Ukrainians are replacing the drones as quickly as the Turks can supply them. Kyiv is said to have bought up to three dozen more TB-2s, which will be a big help. However, Ukraine may well be in line for the Akinci, a Baykar-designed drone that is ten times the size of the 21ft TB-2, and a potential game-changer. When fitted with a 280-mile range Som-J cruise missile, two 30-mile range Teber guided-bombs and a dozen other precision-guided miniaturised ordinances, the Akinci is as almost deadly as a fighter jet and capable of staying in the air for 12 hours. Five of them are already operating in the Turkish Air Force. Two client-states are reportedly awaiting delivery of their order very soon, although it is not known when any will be sent to Ukraine. Moreover a next-generation supersonic drone, the TB-3, is soon to go into mass production. Although the outcome of the war is uncertain, what seems clear is that the conflict is making the world realise that countries such as the United States and Britain do not have the monopoly on developing drones and other technologically sophisticated weapons systems. Far from it. The growing part played by the Turkish defence industry is now impossible to ignore, whether on the battlefields of the Donbas or around the negotiating tables of NATO and even the European Union. Game Changer - Turkey and Erdogan by Erbil Gunasti and Daphne Barak is published by Simon and Schuster Erbil Gunastis week-by-week analysis of Turkish and American foreign policy Failed assassins allegedly spent 10 days planning a botched attack against a former gang kingpin who recovered in under three weeks. Ex-Mongol, Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim was shot eight times while sitting in his Mercedes-Benz during his cousin's funeral procession on June 25. Four of the bullets landed in Abdulrahim's chest, injuring his lungs, while the rest injured liver and kidneys. Scroll down for the video. Police have hunted down one fo the alleged attempted-killers from the purchase of two jerry cans from Bunnings Warehouse in Epping, Melbourne (pictured, the suspect carrying the jerry cans) CCTV footage shows one of the alleged shooters (above) fleeing the scene where he allegedly shot ex-Mongol bikie Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim during his cousin's funeral procession The 32-year-old made a 'miraculous' recovery just two weeks later and shared an ominous post showing his healing chest from a hospital bed. 'Allah is bigger than all these flops, they'll get their day,' he said. On Saturday it was revealed police hunted down one of the alleged attempted-killers from a pair of plastic fuel cans he bought from Bunnings Warehouse in Epping, Melbourne, 10 days before the attack on June 15, the Herald Sun reports. Abdulrahim shared a photo taken of his bullet wounds healing once he was out of hospital just two weeks after the attack, writing: 'Allah is bigger than all these flops, they'll get their day' Detectives allege the cans were intended to carry fuel to incinerate the car driven in the attempted assassination, a Mazda SUV, which was wrecked as the suspects fled (above) CCTV footage of the man's Bunnings purchase shows him taking the two cans to a silver Subaru Impreza WRX with two other people inside. Detectives allege the cans were used to carry fuel intended to incinerate the car driven in the attempted assassination, a Mazda SUV. However, the jerry cans were never used as the Mazda was destroyed in a crash as it fled the scene of the shooting. Video footage captured just minutes after the crash shows one of the attempted killers jumping into a fast food restaurant's bin in an attempt to hide before leaving less than a minute later to find another spot. One of the alleged attempted-assassins (above) was caught on CCTV walking down a residential street with a full Coles shopping bag shortly after the attack Abdulrahim (above) was reportedly told by new Mongol boss, Phil Main, that the attack was not the work of the bikie gang Another of the alleged would-be-killers was spotted by CCTV walking down a residential street in Epping with a loaded Coles shopping bag. However, the almost-killers are likely more worried about revenge from the former Mongol. The 35-year-old kickboxer is believed to still have strong ties with leading figures in the world of Middle-eastern organised crime and was supported by other former Mongols members who left the gang at the change of leadership in April. The group's new leader, Phil Main, reportedly spoke to Abdulrahim in the days after the shooting and told him it was not related to the Mongols. Scotland has left its vital role in the slave trade out of the school curriculum to 'whitewash' its history and 'vilify' England, a leading historian has claimed. Professor Neil McLennan, a senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, said he repeatedly asked the SNP for Glasgow to be included in a list of UK cities 'associated with slavery gains'. Students sitting National 5 history - the Scottish equivalent of GCSEs - are only taught about Bristol and Liverpool in the module The Atlantic Slave Trade, 17701807. This is despite Glasgow importing huge amounts of rum, sugar and tobacco from the American colonies. The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), which is partly funded by the SNP, refused to include Glasgow, according to The Telegraph. McLennan, who began his career as a history teacher, said: 'It is part of our reconciliation with a bloody history which England, Scotland and other European countries, we are all guilty of. Professor Neil McLennan (pictured), a senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, repeatedly asked the SNP to include Glasgow in a list of UK cities 'associated with slavery gains' but was refused 'Unless we acknowledge it in our education system we will never cleanse the demons of the past. 'That is a good example of the vilification of English history without presenting the totality of it, that is a real concern.' In fact historical evidence shows that Glasgow - together with Greenock and Port Glasgow - was importing more tobacco from slaves in America than all the English ports combined by 1782. Many Scots owned, managed and supplied plantations, while Glasgow grew rich from the goods being imported into the city. The city was also bringing in large amounts of rum and sugar to its port. Students in Scotland are to be taught about Liverpool and Bristol's role in the slave trade, despite the fact that Glasgow was importing huge amounts of tobacco, rum and sugar. Pictured: Glasgow marina In addition there are 62 streets in Glasgow named after slave owners who built their fortunes on plantations supplying tobacco. The SQA's course description of The Atlantic Slave Trade module says pupils 'should be taught the organisation and nature of the slave trade: its effect on British ports, eg Liverpool, Bristol'. Another historian, Sir Tom Devine, said that Scotland has developed a sense of 'moral superiority' over England because Scotland 'came very late' to understanding its connection to the slave trade. Oliver Mundell, the Scottish Tory spokesman for education, said it was part of an 'insidious attempt to rewrite aspects of our history in a misleadingly partisan fashion' by the SNP. He added that students need to be taught an accurate account of historical events - one which includes the sad reality of Scotland's implication in the slave trade. McLennan has previously called out the SQA for its 'apparent inability to reform' and backs its abolition. The professor, who has worked with Learning and Teaching Scotland, wants to break the SQA's monopoly over exams so pupils can have the opportunity to achieve other qualifications, such as A Levels and the International Baccalaureate. A spokesman for the SQA said: 'We fully recognise the importance of learners understanding Scotland's role in the Atlantic slave trade and teachers have always been free to include this content in their lessons. 'We will work with history teachers to review our curriculum guidance to see if any further changes are needed.' The Russian soldier suspected of castrating a Ukrainian captive in a sickening video has been named after a detailed investigation by independent Russian journalists. Respected independent Russian media The Insider named the alleged perpetrator as Ochur-Suge Mongush, born in 1993. Although Mongush denied the accusation when confronted by The Insider, they claim he 'gave himself away by getting confused in his own testimony.' Sickening video of the war crime emerged on July 28 showing a soldier using a box-cutting knife to remove the victim's genitals then holding them up to the camera. The victim is later shot in the head. The footage was geo-located to having taken place in the Pryvillya Sanatorium in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, which fell under Russian control in early July. Mongush told investigators from British open source unit Bellingcat, who also tracked him down, that the FSB had detained him for two days while they studied the videos but concluded that they were fakes. Respected independent Russian media The Insider named the alleged perpetrator of the castration of a Ukrainian prisoner of war as Ochur-Suge Mongush, born in 1993 Mongush claimed he had never held a gun in his hands, but on his Vkontakte page (now deleted) he posted photos with weapons The Insider said 'sadist' Mongush was fighting with the Akhmat battalion of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov - something he denied even though he is present in the photos with the 'Akhmat' fighters, including those taken in Chechnya He was identified from his trademark cowboy hat and a distinctive bracelet that he wore in the offending video and also in other clips that clearly show his face, to which he admitted was him 'When I was with them on the second day, they realised that it was not me, and explained that Ukrainian soldiers did this themselves because the person who was being mutilated raped a ten-year-old girl,' Mongush explained by telephone. 'They found him, punished him, and then somebody found this [spliced-together] video and led to all of this nonsense. () The FSB officers suddenly understood everything and let me go after two days.' At the same time, he told The Insider - which was forced into exile by Putin's government at the outset of the war - that he hadn't tortured anyone and had never held a gun in his hands but was simply accompanying Russian journalists. However, both respected investigative outlets claim to have conclusively proven that Mongush is the individual who carried out the castration. He was identified from his trademark cowboy hat and a distinctive bracelet that he wore in the offending video and also in other clips that clearly show his face, which he has admitted was him. The Insider also said the man was identified by use of video analysis and modern facial recognition technology which had eliminated all last doubts about his identity. The 'castrator' in Russian military uniform is from the remote Republic of Tuva on the border with Outer Mongolia, the same region of Siberia as Putin's defence minister Sergei Shoigu. He also served in the Russian emergencies ministry, once headed by Shoigu, who has overall responsibility for Russian forces. The Insider said 'sadist' Mongush was fighting with the Akhmat battalion of Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov - something he denied even though he is present in the photos with the 'Akhmat' fighters, including those taken in Chechnya. He claimed he had never held a gun in his hands, but on his Vkontakte page (now deleted) he posted photos with weapons. Mongush admitted being this man in the cowboy hat. The Insider also said the man was identified by use of video analysis and modern facial recognition technology which had eliminated all last doubts about his identity Several other names of pro-Putin fighters had been identified earlier by Ukrainian sources - but were incorrect, say both The Insider and Bellingcat. 'The sadist who tortured the Ukrainian prisoner of war turned out to be a mercenary from the Akhmat battalion, Ochur-Suge Mongush,' said The Insider in a detailed report. The grotesque footage - which shows no signs of tampering - was initially posted approvingly by pro-Kremlin groups. Later, as scandal swirled over the scene, Russian groups dismissed them as fake, but it now appears that the castration was real. Image recognition led to researchers finding social media accounts and phone numbers for Mongush. The suspect told Bellingcat that he had returned from the war 'more than a month ago' after serving with Kadyrov's forces in Ukraine. Russian journalists he had met in Ukraine had sent him the violent castration videos shortly after they were widely published. They told him: 'Look at the crap that's been filmed about you.' They urged him to make a statement to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), which he did. The FSB appears to have then given him a cover story. Officers told him the violent incident from the videos involved Ukrainian and not Russian soldiers and were filmed after he had left Ukraine. Photos from the Azot plant used by researchers 'are 100 per cent me, but the others are not 'I'm not prepared to do that kind of nonsense, I didn't even fire a single shot from the weapons they gave me', he said. The 'castrator' in Russian military uniform is from the remote Republic of Tuva on the border with Outer Mongolia, the same region of Siberia as Putin's defence minister Sergei Shoigu (pictured) Bellingcat said: 'If it was Ukrainian soldiers in the video, as he states the FSB told him, he did not offer any explanation as to how these soldiers came to be wearing a strikingly similar hat, bracelet, ribbon and uniform as he was seen wearing in other videos. 'He also claimed that he never saw, and that Akhmat did not use, a white car such as that filmed in the execution footage, despite the fact that he is standing directly next to it in [one] video.' The Insider also said Mongush's denial was not credible. 'If you believe Mongush, it turns out that the AFU [Ukrainian] fighters found some video where a certain rapist mocks a Ukrainian soldier, and then for some reason mounted it so that the rapist looked like Mongush, and with all the small details, including patterns on the hat and bracelets.' It was not plausible that the Ukrainians 'really wanted to defame an unknown Tuvan for some reason'. Ukrainian MP Inna Sovsun who tweeted the sickening footage said the war crime must be punished. 'Russia has to pay for it,' she said. 'Give Ukraine the weapons we need to stop this nightmare once and for all. The world can't pretend like this isn't happening.' Advertisement Photos of Nazis taken at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp during its most lethal period, June 1944 to January 1945, in which 400,000 Hungarian Jews were murdered, show them sunbathing, eating blueberries and preparing Christmas trees. The album was turned over to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington in 2007, having been compiled by Obersturmfuhrer Karl Hocker, the military administrative assistant to Richard Baer, the last commandant of the Auschwitz concentration camp. The photos also show other documented SS camp officers including Rudolf Hoss, Josef Kramer, Franz Hossler and Dr. Josef Mengele - the photos are the only known images of some of those men. Auschwitz-Birkenau, also known as Auschwitz II, was the biggest camp, established by the Germans in 1941 in the Polish village of Brzezinka. It held over 90,000 prisoners in 1944 and the greater part of the mass extermination chambers were built there, meaning the majority of Jews were murdered there. A nazi can be seen lighting Yule Trees at the Auschwitz camp in the Christmas period of 1944 while Jews are killed This photo was taken at the SS holiday resort called Solahutte about 30km away from Auschwitz where camp workers could enjoy time off The women can be seen eating blueberries alongside a man playing the accordion right next to the Germans's biggest extermination camp Karl Hocker, who compiled the album, joined the SS in 1933 and the Nazi party in 1937 and began working at Auschwitz in May 1944 overseeing the murder of 430,000 Hungarian Jews. The photos he collected show Nazi officers, their families and colleagues all laughing and dining together as well as relaxing in the sun and playing a concertina at the killing centre. The images of the lighting of the Yule tree and the hunting trip were taken in January, only two weeks before the SS began evacuating the camp, with Soviet soldiers liberating the remaining prisoners on January 27, 1945. Nazis can be seen laughing and enjoying the music played on a concertina at the Solahutte resort next to the camp A Nazi stood smiling with his dog, likely to patrol the isolated camps that were surrounded by barbed wire fencing - the writing in the album loosely translates to 'my favourite dog' Nazis can be seen sunbathing with their families while taking a rest from working at the extermination camp which held 90,000 prisoners at a time A Nazi can be seen smiling while eating at a dinner party and drinking wine at the Auschwitz camp built in 1941 The guards at the extermination camp can be seen enjoying a break with food and wine as they gather around the table in 1944 Many of the photos are taken at an SS holiday resort called Solahutte about 30km away from Auschwitz, built for Nazi officers, guards and and administrative assistants on their days off from the killing camp. Rebecca Erbelding the museum archivist who recognised the significance of the photos told the Washington Post: 'They do not look evil (the Nazis); theyre smiling. Theyre playing with their dogs. They look like they might resemble a neighbour that you have. And, yes, that is correct, that humans have this capacity.' Hocker was captured by British troops after another camps surrender, Dora-Mittelbau, in April 1945, but was released in 1946 because it was not known he was an SS officer. He was eventually sentenced to seven years in prison for aiding and abetting the murders of at least 1,000 people and to a further four years in prison in 1989 for aiding and abetting a triple murder of 20 people at a time. Nazis can be seen in uniform at the camp with their rifles - this was one of the many photos that was handed to the museum in 2007 Nazi men and women can be seen laughing on a bridge in uniform while a man plays the accordion before the camp was evacuated in 1945 Two men can be seen conversing at a dinner party at the concentration camp - these are the only known pictures of some of these men Nazis can be seen in uniform walking the camp which was responsible for the majority of the murders of Jews during this time Hocker died on January 30, 2000 after he had been released from prison in October 1992 and returned to his family in Lubbecke. The photos also came to the attention of American stage director and son of Holocaust survivors, Moises Kaufman, prompting him to write a play called Here There Are Blueberries. The 90-minute play will premiere at La Jolla Playhouse in South California on August 21, 2022. The idea that the perpetrators of the Holocaust looked so regular and were partaking in holidays and dinners together was so disconcerting that Kaufman felt it had to be addressed. The holiday resort for the Nazis was so workers and the SS could enjoy a break from the horrors of the extermination camp next door Nazis smile, smoke and drink at the Auschwitz camp which killed 430,000 Jews during the period this photo was taken Nazis can be seen in the shoot stands practising their aim in case they need to shoot any prisoners of the concentration camp Two Nazis can be seen sat in a car at the biggest and most deadly Auschwitz camp - responsibly for extermination hundreds of thousands of Jews Among the photos released by the U.S. Memorial Museum Nazis can be seen at dinner after a hunting trip, smoking and eating The album also includes documentation of official visits and ceremonies as well as showing the day to day activities of SS soldiers, like social gatherings. The earliest photos are from June 1944 which show prominent Luftwaffe General Erich Quade, SS Obergruppenfuhrers Oswald Pohl and Ernst-Heinrich Schmauser, arriving to visit the camp and inspect construction works. Late July images depict a gathering in honor of Rudolph Hoss and a day trip for SS Helferinnen (young SS women who worked as communications specialists) on July 22, 1944. There is also an image of the SS-Lazarette (troop hospital) at the entrance to Birkenau, taken in mid-September. The Lazarette was bombed by the Allies on December 26th, 1944, killing 5 members of the SS, whose funeral is also represented in the album. A married Nazi soldier can be smiling at a dinner with a glass of wine - the man who compiled the album was sentenced to seven years in prison Guards can be seen standing outside the entrance, in a ceremony, to the SS-Lazarette troop hospital which stood at the entrance to Birkenau Nazis can be seen walking with a child across a courtyard in 1944 during the most lethal period at the concentration camp The donor of the album was a former member of the Counter-Intelligence Corps of the United States Army. They discovered the album in an apartment in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1945 and donated it many years later on January 16, 2007. In its entirety the album was composed of 116 snapshots of commandants, secretaries, SS members and guards. Nazis can be seen boarding a bus to travel to Solahutte for a break from the concentration and extermination camp Four soldiers can be seen talking outside one of the buildings in the camp which was shut down in January 1945 by Soviet soldiers Two older Nazis can be seen at the hunting dinner after enjoying some time away from the concentration camps and gas chambers The donor of the album including this picture was a former member of the Counter-Intelligence Corps of the United States Army Russian tanks, trucks and artillery are amassing in southern Ukraine as Putin's forces seek to tighten their grip on the region amid a valiant counter-offensive by Kyiv. The Kherson region near Crimea has been under Kremlin control since March 2 after a bloody six-day battle, with Russians driving north from the occupied peninsula. Yet the invaders have faced intense pushback by Ukraine over recent weeks, with Kyiv now confident it will liberate the region by September. According to the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) daily intelligence update this morning: 'Long convoys [...] continue to move away from Ukraine's Donbas region and are headed southwest.' The ruined Fabrika shopping mall in occupied southern capital Kherson (image from July) Locals look at damage caused by Russian airstrikes on a residential street in eastern Ukraine The MoD added: 'Battalion tactical groups (BTG), which comprise between 800 and 1,000 troops, have been deployed to Crimea and would almost certainly be used to support Russian troops in the Kherson region. 'Ukrainian forces are focusing their targeting on bridges, ammunition depots, and rail links with growing frequency in Ukraines southern regions. 'Russias war on Ukraine is about to enter a new phase, with the heaviest fighting shifting to a roughly 350km front line stretching southwest from near Zaporizhzhia to Kherson, paralleling the Dnieper River.' Meanwhile footage posted to Telegram appeared to show Ukrainian rockets strike a Russian armoured car - the type likely to be in the 'long convoys' said to be on their way to Kherson. Resident stands on ruined plants in Kostiantynivka, 50 miles south of Kyiv-held Kramatorsk The news comes amid reports of heinous Russian war crimes in Kherson 'on a scale almost too sickening to contemplate', according to Ukraine. Pro-democracy campaigners in the city claim that in Kherson, Russians are hunted by snipers, ambushed and bombed. Thanks to consignments of Western arms, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has the power to inflict serious damage. The weapon the Russians fear most is the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), supplied by the US and capable of firing barrages of missiles from the back of an armoured lorry. Both manoeuvrable and lethally accurate, these rocket launchers are effectively unstoppable. They can wipe out an ammunition dump or a column of tanks in one hit. The last consignment of HIMARS was expected to sustain the AFU for a month. But they blazed off the whole lot in three days and with devastating effects. Homeowners take in the horrific damage caused by the airstrike in Kostiantynivka yesterday Kherson regional governor Serhii Khlan vowed last week: 'We can say that the Kherson region will definitely be liberated by September, and all the occupiers' plans will fail.' The bold predication came after a week in which Ukraine struck two key bridges leading to Kherson in an apparent attempt to cut the city off from reinforcements, and as video revealed destroyed Russian anti-air systems in the region. Kherson is the only regional capital to have fallen to Putin's troops in the five-month war and is Russia's only foothold on the western bank of the Dnipro river which flows down the centre of Ukraine. Recapturing it would deal a major propaganda blow to Putin's forces, and spell a possible end to its attempts to push west along the Black Sea to the port of Odesa. Russia's generals have previously said that cutting off Ukraine from the Black Sea - denying Zelensky's government access to its most-lucrative trading routes - is a key aim of their war. Firefighters were called to battle a dramatic night time blaze Thursday that ripped through a field near Leeds as Britain bakes in the driest July since record began. Drone footage captured firefighters in the eerie red-hued fields as the blue fire engine sirens flashed in the night and the flames seared parallel lines through the corn. Multiple West Yorkshire fire services and over 40 fire crew attended the burning corn field on Spitalgap Lane in Pontefract around 9.30pm and battled well into the night. The fire was brought under control by Friday morning without reports of injuries or damage of property. After already breaking the all-time heat record for the UK in July, when the mercury hit 40 degrees on July 19, the heatwave has parched the fields and parks of England, leaving conditions for ideal for wild fires to spread. Firefighters were called to battle a dramatic night time blaze Thursday that ripped through a field near Leeds as Britain bakes in the driest July since record began Multiple West Yorkshire fire services and over 40 fire crew attended the burning corn field on Spitalgap Lane in Pontefract around 9.30pm and battled well into the night The fire was brought under control by Friday morning without reports of injuries or damage of property After already breaking the all-time heat record for the UK in July, when the mercury hit 40 degrees on July 19, the heatwave has parched the fields and parks of England, leaving conditions for ideal for wild fires to spread Fires ripped through London and the surrounding areas on the hottest day on record, with the Essex village of Wennington seeing at least 19 homes destroyed. The London Fire Brigade (LFB) said the day was its busiest since the Second World War, with crews attending 1,146 incidents. Many blazes start as grass fires that spread to residential areas, driven by winds, extreme temperatures and bone-dry conditions. This year so far alone England and Wales have seen 442 wild fires, compared to just 247 for the whole of 2021. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) put this down, in part, to climate factors, with their tactical adviser, David Swallow, telling the BBC that 'services need to recognise the risk they've now got'. This year so far alone England and Wales have seen 442 wild fires, compared to just 247 for the whole of 2021. Pictured: Parched fields in Dorset View from the air of the parched fields surrounding the village of Abbotsbury in Dorset where the grass has been scorched by the hot sunshine and lack of rain during the summer drought conditions 'If they don't, then they're naive,' he said. 'There are very urban services that think that wildfires are low down on the risk list. I understand the need to prioritise resources, but there needs to be a review.' Andy Roe, the head of the London fire brigade, called the fires in the capital last month 'unprecedented', adding 'I saw stuff this week that I had not expected to see as a London firefighter.' South-east and central southern England saw an average of only 5.0mm of rain last month, while East Anglia had 5.4mm. For both areas it was the lowest amount of rainfall in July since Met Office records began almost 200 years ago, in 1836. It is under these conditions that a second hosepipe ban hitting millions more households took effect across Hampshire, Isle of Wight South East Water in Kent and Sussex, and Welsh Water in Pembrokeshire as the dry spell continues. (Stock Image) Around 2.2 million people in Kent and Sussex will be affected by the hose pipe ban Holidaymakers and families pack the beach as they enjoy the hot sunshine at Weymouth in Dorset yesterday Crowds of people swim in the sea at Woolacombe in North Devon yesterday ahead of another heatwave on the way next week Southern Water begins the 'temporary usage ban' yesterday - a week before South East Water restrictions for Kent and Sussex start, covering 2.2million people. The 85,000 people on the Isle of Man have had a ban since last Friday. Now, Welsh Water has also announced restrictions for 200,000 customers in Pembrokeshire and a small part of Carmarthenshire from August 19 - with the firm blaming the driest conditions since the drought of 1976. And Britons are preparing for another heatwave next week with temperatures set to soar towards 100F (38C) for the second time in less than a month - with a hot weekend also on the way as the mercury hits 27C (81F). The Met Office said it expects temperatures to reach the 'low or even mid-30Cs (mid-90Fs) by the end of next week', thanks to an area of high pressure building from the Atlantic into the South and South West of England. The Met Office confirmed the mercury is unlikely to reach the same heights seen in July next week and records are therefore not expected to be broken again - but there could still be several days of very high temperatures. Meanwhile, a huge wildfire has broken out in Truro this afternoon. One local was pictured frantically dampening the grass surrounding his home as the fire spread closer. A huge wildfire has broken out in Truro, Cornwall Saturday afternoon in the area of Boscawen Park At least four fire crews have been sent to the Boscawen Park area of Truro to tackle the wildfire Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it had been called 22 times since 11.18am this morning One local was pictured frantically dampening the grass surrounding his home as the fire spread closer Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service confirmed it had been called 22 times since 11.18am this morning. At least four fire crews have been sent to the Boscawen Park area of Truro. A nearby resident has confirmed police and four fire engines on the scene. One fire engine from Truro was immediately sent to the scene and the firefighters requested further assistance. A spokesperson for Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Critical Control began receiving 999 calls at 11:18 informing them of a wild fire in the area of Boscawen Park, Truro. 'One appliance from Truro was immediately mobilised. The crew on scene have requested assistance from a further two appliances and an officer, which are on their way to the incident from Tolvaddon. In total, 22 calls have currently been received to this incident.' At 12.40pm, a spokesperson added: 'Crews have requested a fourth appliance be mobilised to the scene. An appliance from St Austell has been mobilised and is en route.' CornwallLive reporter Olivier Vergnault said: 'It's huge. I've been told to get out.' He added: 'The wind is pushing the fire towards the residential area having it seems started near Sunny Corner. 'The flames are now six feet high. And you can hear the tall grass swishing as they light up and burn in the heat. Large pine trees are being licked by the flames as the fire pushes towards the houses.' Comanchero boss Allan Meehan has sent a public message of support to his former bikie boss Mark Buddle after the alleged drug kingpin was dragged back to Australia. The new national Comanchero boss posted a media image of Buddle in the back of an armoured police wagon, staring defiantly back at the camera after facing court. Under the image of the smirking Buddle, Meehan captioned it: 'Can't keep a good man down.' He ended the Instagram post with a heart emoji in the yellow colours of the Comancheros. Comanchero boss Allan Meehan (right) has sent a public message of support to his former bikie boss Mark Buddle (left) after the alleged drug kingpin was dragged back to Australia Under the image of the smirking Buddle, Meehan captioned it: 'Can't keep a good man down.' He ended the Instagram post with a heart emoji in the yellow colours of the Comancheros Meehan's post was liked by notorious Melbourne gangland widow Roberta Williams - Carl Williams' former wife - who posted an emoji of praying hands in reply The post came on the day the raunchy past of Buddle's partner Mel Ter Wisscha resurfaced in a series of pictures from her days as an NRL cheerleader. Meehan's post was liked by notorious Melbourne gangland widow Roberta Williams - Carl Williams' former wife - who posted an emoji of praying hands in reply Sydney-born Meehan, 35, officially took over as national president of the Comancheros in June after Buddle, 37, fled the country six years ago. Despite being overseas, Buddle declared himself the Comanchero 'Commander of the World' - and Meehan's post confirms Buddle is still the bikie gang's number one. Sydney-born Meehan, 35, officially took over as national president of the Comancheros in June after Buddle, 37, fled the country six years ago Buddle and Ms Wisscha were reportedly living a jet set life in Dubai, Turkey and Cyprus after fleeing the country when he was linked to the 2010 shooting of Armaguard guard Gary Allibon in Sydney. Ms Wisscha was a regular on social media while they were overseas, posting bikini pictures of herself in exotic locations and glitzy five star resorts. But on Saturday, pictures of her days as an NRL Wests Tigers cheerleader resurfaced, showing a more fresh-faced look than her current heavily made-up appearance. She won the 2005 Big League Cheer Girls of the Year award when she was still known as the less exotic-sounding Melanie Terwisscha. Mark Buddle and Mel Ter Wisscha were reportedly living a jet set life in Dubai, Turkey and Cyprus after fleeing the country Mel Ter Wisscha was a regular on social media while they were overseas, posting bikini pictures of herself in exotic locations and glitzy five star resorts. The touchline pin-up won the princely sum of $1000 for the win, but that was a far cry from the luxury life she's been living until recently. She and Buddle are said to have quietly split up a year ago but Ms Wisscha maintained her high life until she was seized by Turkish authorities on July 22. Police pounced on her taxi as she left her home in Bitez near the Bodrum holiday hotspot and took her into custody as a 'foreigner who posed a risk to public order and security.' She is still in an immigration detention centre awaiting a decision on her future - and was even unaware that her former partner had been deported back to Australia. Buddle was grabbed in a raid on his home in Iskele in Northern Cyprus on July 12 when police stormed through the windows to grab and deport him to Turkey before he was this week finally sent back to Australia. Mel Ter Wisscha and Mark Buddle are said to have quietly split up a year ago but Ms Wisscha maintained her high life until she was seized by Turkish authorities on July 22 Footage from his arrival in Darwin saw him literally being dragged backwards onto a flight down to Melbourne to face court. Buddle, 37, came before Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday to face charges over the importation of 160kg of cocaine, worth $40 million, in May 2021. He has has also been charged with conspiring to import a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug between March 19 and June 3, 2021. He faces life in jail on each charge and was remanded in custody by Magistrate Kieran Gilligan to reappear by videolink on November 25. How new boss of Australia's most feared bikie gang rose to lead the Comanchero - as cops welcome him to the top job by slapping him with a crime order while he smokes in a dressing gown Allan Meehan, 35, is the new leader of Australia's most powerful bike gang Former Rebel turned Comanchero boss has spent entire adult life as a bikie Takes over from Mick Murray, who was recently charged with a 2019 murder Predecessor Mick Hawi was murdered in 2018 and alleged killer was acquitted Gang's national sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed was also gunned down in May Like any new local CEO of a multinational business, Allan Meehan has plenty of work to do - but the consequences of failure might be more severe for him. The freshly minted president of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang takes over an organisation facing major internal and external challenges after a particularly chaotic first half of the year. Meehan's immediate predecessor is in jail charged with murder, another of the men who previously held his position was shot dead four years ago, and his ultimate boss is on the run overseas. Police are already working hard to limit his powers as the new boss after officers paid him a visit at his home in Yerrinbool, in the Southern Highlands of NSW, on Friday. They handed Meehan a notice informing him they intended to go to the Supreme Court and take out a serious crime prevention order against him. The order would allow police to stop Meehan from associating with other bikies in NSW or use phones or bank accounts that aren't approved by them. New Comanchero national president Allan Meehan, 35, (pictured) has his work cut out for him taking over the country's most powerful outlaw bikie gang. Meehan takes over a club that has been embroiled in turmoil in recent months Meehan (right) has succeeded Mick Murray (centre) as the Comanchero national president after Murray was charged over a 2019 murder. National sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed (left) narrowly escaped death after being gunned down in May Police are already working hard to limit his powers as the new boss after officers paid him a visit at his home in Yerrinbool, in the Southern Highlands of NSW, on Friday Criminal Groups Squad Commander superintendent Grant Taylor said the order was only taken out against the 'most serious' of people. To make settling into the job even more difficult, the club's main enforcer barely survived a shooting in May which left him unable to perform his role and claimed the life of his brother. Dozens of other Comanchero have been arrested in federal police raids as part of Operation Ironside, one of the most significant crackdowns on Australian organised crime. Shortly before Meehan's elevation Detective Inspector Graham Banks from Victoria Police's anti-bikie Echo Taskforce said the 'Comos' were struggling to maintain an effective leadership structure. 'Together with partner agencies, the Echo Taskforce is committed to targeting any attempt by the Comancheros to rebuild their ability to cause harm within the community,' he said. Meehan, who had been considered the heir apparent for some time, must have thought carefully about taking what has been a poisoned chalice but the career bikie appears to have the right resume for the job. Police handed Meehan a notice informing him they intended to go to the Supreme Court and take out a serious crime prevention order against him The order would allow police to stop Meehan from associating with other bikies in NSW or use phones or bank accounts that aren't approved by them Meehan's appointment comes as the Comanchero 'commander of the world' Mark Buddle is believed to be in Cyprus or Turkey. Buddle is pictured when he was NSW president Meehan was reportedly lured to patch over from the Rebels to the Comanchero by onetime national president Mark Buddle, pictured with his partner Mel Ter Wisscha The 35-year-old grew up in public housing at Liverpool in Sydney's south-west and joined the Rebels when he was just 18, rising to president of that club's Cronulla chapter. He was reportedly lured to patch over to the Comanchero by onetime national president Mark Buddle who is now the club's self-declared 'commander of the world'. Buddle, who is wanted by Australian authorities and has an estimated wealth of $100million, is believed to be in Cyprus or Turkey. Police want to speak to him about crimes including the 2010 slaying of Sydney security guard Gary Allibon and major drug shipments as well as any knowledge he might have of recent gangland murders. Meehan was promoted to commander of the Canberra chapter of the Comanchero early last year after the murder of its president Pitasoni Ulavalu and became the Sydney boss six months later. Meahan (above) grew up in public housing at Liverpool in Sydney's south-west and joined the Rebels when he was just 18, rising to president of that club's Cronulla chapter Meehan (above) was promoted to commander of the Canberra chapter of the Comanchero early last year after the murder of its president Pitasoni Ulavalu and became the Sydney boss six months later He announced that elevation with an Instagram post showing a patch on his leather vest which revealed his new title and the caption: 'U cant see the eyes of the demon, until him come a callin.' Two days later, police searched Meehan's home at Yerrinbool in the Southern Highlands as part of a firearm prohibition order. Detective Superintendent Grant Taylor of the NSW Criminal Groups Squad warned back then that Meehan would continue to be targeted like other Comanchero leaders who came before him. 'He assumed the role of the Commander of the ACT Comanchero OMCG over the last number of years and has now declared himself in charge of the Comanchero in NSW,' Detective Superintendent Taylor said at the time. 'So whenever you're involving yourself in the hierarchical structure of an outlaw motorcycle gang... and you want to publicly declare that you're in charge of that outlaw motorcycle gang in a particular area or state of Australia, well you can expect to get a lot of attention from law enforcement.' Meehan announced that elevation to Sydney chapter president with an Instagram post showing a patch on his leather vest which revealed his new title and the caption: 'U cant see the eyes of the demon, until him come a callin.' This week Meehan took over the Comanchero national presidency from 44-year-old Mick Murray, who was arrested in April over the 2019 killing of Mitat Rasimi, an associate of high-profile drug lord Tony Mokbel. The appointment was made at a meeting of senior Comanchero leadership in Melbourne after a gang member's funeral and followed Murray standing down. It presumably came with the approval of Buddle. Murray had run the gang from the Victorian capital but Meehan is expected to base himself in New South Wales where the Comanchero was founded. Since its inception on the Central Coast the 'Condor Empire' - named for the bird of prey on the Comanchero colours - has stretched its wings to start in Russia, Bosnia, Spain and New Zealand. The Comanchero's first president, Scotsman William 'Jock' Ross, ruled the club as a dictatorship in its early years and made himself 'supreme commander'. Ross led the gang into the Milperra Massacre on Father's Day 1984 in which four Comanchero, two Bandidos and a 14-year-old girl were shot dead in the carpark of a pub in south-west Sydney. The Comanchero's first president, Scotsman William 'Jock' Ross, ruled the club as a dictatorship in its early years and made himself 'supreme commander'. He is pictured with wife Vanessa Ross remained leader after serving five years in prison over that atrocity until he was usurped by Beirut-born Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi who was just 22 when he took control in 2003. Under Hawi, the Comanchero further expanded their recruitment to include young men with Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander, Greek and Serbian backgrounds. Leading the club has always been dangerous. In November 2007 a car in which Hawi was travelling was hit by bullets outside Grappa Ristorante at Leichhardt in Sydney's inner-west. Two men had pulled up and fired up to 10 shots before speeding away. Hawi was in charge when 12 Comanchero confronted five Hells Angels at Sydney Airport in March 2009 when Angels associate Anthony Zervas was bludgeoned with a bollard and died. That killing in front of dozens of horrified witnesses led to a NSW police crackdown on bikies that has never let up. Jock Ross remained leader until he was usurped by Beirut-born Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi who was just 22 when he took control in 2003. Hawi was shot dead in 2018 after he had left the gang. Hawi is pictured with wife Carolina Gonzalez While Hawi was in jail over that attack his place was taken by Rotorua-born Duax Hohepa Ngakuru until he left Australia in 2010 and the crown went to Buddle. Ngakuru was recently believed to be in Turkey. There is a warrant for his arrest in his native New Zealand where he faces dozens of drug importation crime charges. Buddle fled Australia in 2016, initially travelling to Europe with right-hand man Ali Bazzi, leaving Murray in charge of local operations. Bazzi was sent back to Melbourne in 2017 to enforce some discipline in the absence of the president and had a punch-up with another high-ranking Comanchero, Mezan Chandab. That altercation reportedly led Buddle to send a text message to Comanchero in Australia which read: 'I'm the f***ing commander of the world... no one is to touch another member or set up another chapter without my permission.' Bazzi has since renounced any affiliation with the Comanchero. Mick Hawi was succeed as Comanchero president by Rotorua-born Duax Hohepa Ngakuru, whol he left Australia in 2010 when the crown went to Mark Buddle. Ngakuru is pictured with Hawi's wife Carolina Gonzalez In February 2018, Murray's senior offsider Robert Ale was shot nine times by two gunmen while getting a tattoo in a parlour at Hampton Park in Melbourne's south-east. Ale survived and is serving an 18-year prison sentence imposed in 2019 for his role running the Last Kings, a Comanchero enforcement outfit. Hawi, who was released from prison in 2015 and left the Comanchero, was shot dead outside a Rockdale gym in Sydney's south in February 2018. The man accused of being the triggerman in that assassination, Yusuf Nazlioglu, was acquitted at trial in 2020 but shot dead in a carpark below his apartment at Rhodes in Sydney's inner-west on Monday night. That killing followed the shooting of Tarek Zahed, 41, and his brother Omar, 39, as they were ambushed by two gunmen while leaving an Auburn gym in the city's south-west on May 10. National sergeant-at-arms Tarek Zahed (above) and his brother Omar were ambushed by two gunmen while leaving an Auburn gym in the city's south-west on May 10. Omar was killed but Tarek miraculously survived Omar died at the scene at Tarek, the Comanchero's national sergeant-at-arms, is recovering from ten bullet wounds to his head and body and is now blind. In the wake of Zahed's shooting and Murray's arrest, Meehan turned to Instagram with another post: 'bad times don't last, but bad guys do!' Nazlioglu's murder was the 14th in Sydney's underworld in the past two years but Meehan is said to not be planning on relocating to Melbourne. One source recently said Meehan was regarded as 'pretty full on' but has a level head to control some of the gang's more volatile elements. He is well respected among the Comanchero's remaining old guard as well as new recruits, according to the Herald Sun. 'He's spent his entire adult life in bikie gangs,' one source told the publication. 'He doesn't know any other life.' A Catholic who regularly attends Mass, Meehan might want to pray for protection from a power even higher than his old mentor Buddle. At least 12 people have been killed and 30 have been injured after a bus carrying pilgrims skidded on a motorway in Croatia early this morning, according to police. The crash happened at 5.40am local time (4.40am GMT) 30 miles north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital, on the A-4 motorway, which is busy during the peak of the tourist season. The bus was carrying 43 people, including three priests and six nuns, to a catholic shrine in Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was heading in the direction of Zagreb. Croatian Police said on Twitter: 'In the skidding of a bus with Polish licence plates, according to initial information from the field, 11 people died and several were injured.' A Polish bus carrying 43 people skidded off a Croatian motorway into a ditch at around 4.40am GMT this morning. Pictured: A crane moving the wreckage of the bus from where it veered off the motorway Rescuers at work removing the bus with Polish licence plates from the motorway in northern Croatia At least 12 people have died and 30 are injured, many seriously. Pictured: the wreckage of the bus Croatia's state HRT television said the most likely cause of the crash was the driver falling asleep, before the bus skidded off the motorway into a ditch (pictured) The crash happened 30 miles north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital, on the A-4 motorway, which is busy during the peak of the tourist season Officials said another passenger later died in hospital, bringing the total to 12. 30 people are said to be injured and Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said some of them are fighting for their lives. Croatia's state HRT television said the most likely cause of the crash was the driver falling asleep, before the bus skidded off the motorway into a ditch. The crash happened at 5.40am local time (4.40am GMT) 30 miles north of Zagreb, the Croatian capital, on the A-4 motorway, which is busy during the peak of the tourist season. The bus was carrying 43 people, including three priests and six nuns, to a catholic shrine in Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was heading in the direction of Zagreb. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Facebook: 'This morning, I spoke about the details of the tragedy with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who assured the full support of Croatian medical services. The bus was carrying 43 people, including three priests and six nuns, to a catholic shrine in Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina and was heading in the direction of Zagreb Rescue teams were sent to the accident and an investigation into its cause is ongoing, according to Croatian media Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed his condolences to the families of the victims on Twitter. Pictured: members of the police and emergency services standing on the motorway next to the wreckage of the bus 'I recommended our consular services to organise a support organisation for the families of accident participants.' Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic expressed his condolences to the families of the victims on Twitter. Rescue teams were sent to the accident and an investigation into its cause is ongoing, according to Croatian media. The Catholic shrine in Medjugorje is Europe's third-most popular pilgrimage destination after Lourdes and Fatima. Twitter fixes security vulnerability exposing 5.4 mln accounts Xinhua) 10:16, August 06, 2022 SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Twitter said on Friday that it has fixed a security vulnerability that allowed threat actors to compile information of 5.4 million Twitter accounts. The vulnerability allowed anyone to enter a phone number or an email address of a known user and learn if it was tied to an existing Twitter account, potentially exposing the identities of pseudonymous accounts. In a statement released on Friday, the company said, "if someone submitted an email address or phone number to Twitter's systems, Twitter's systems would tell the person what Twitter account the submitted email addresses or phone number was associated with, if any." The bug resulted from an update to code in June 2021. After a bug bounty report by a security researcher, the company investigated and fixed it in January, Twitter said in the statement. According to the bug bounty report, the vulnerability posed a "serious threat" to users who have private or pseudonymous accounts, and could be used to "create a database" or enumerate "a big chunk of the Twitter user base." Hackers had already exploited the vulnerability before its fixation to create a database of email addresses and phone numbers of 5.4 million Twitter accounts, a report by TechCrunch said. "After reviewing a sample of the available data for sale, we confirmed that a bad actor had taken advantage of the issue before it was addressed," Twitter said. "We will be directly notifying the account owners we can confirm were affected by this issue." (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Covid 19 cases increases day by day in Telangana, A health worker collects a nasal swab sample from a citizens to test for the Covid-19 coronavirus infection at a Fever hospital at Nallakunta in Hyderabad. (Photo:DC) HYDERABAD: The Union health secretary has written to the Telangana state government, asking it to take a slew of measures to prevent the spread of Covid including conducting adequate testing, keeping an eye on districts reporting higher cases, carrying out genome sequencing, increasing pace of vaccination etc, especially in light of the upcoming festivals. This comes in the wake of high count of Covid cases in the state for the past one month and low testing in 12 districts. The state has reported over 1,000 cases on the last two days. The letter directed the state to increase the pace of vaccination which was also sent to the secretaries of six other states Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. The letter written by Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan stated that Telangana had been reporting a high number of average daily new cases 678 per day with a high of 1,061 new cases reported on Friday. The state reported 5.7 per cent of Indias weekly new cases in the week ending on August 5, and also recorded a 1.28-time increase in average daily new cases, from 712 in the week ending on July 29 to 908 in the week ending on August 5. The letter further stated that analysis of the districts showed that 12 districts had reported a decline in the number of tests conducted in the week ending on August 4 as compared to the previous week, and four districts reported an increase in cases for the same period. These 12 districts are Hyderabad, Mulugu, Khammam, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Narayanpet, Suryapet, Jagityal, Wanaparthy, Medchal Malkajgiri, Rangareddy and Jogulamba Gadwal. The upcoming months are likely to witness mass gatherings for various festivities, with many people travelling, which may facilitate transmission of infectious diseases, including Covid-19, added the letter. Keeping it in view, the state has been asked to ensure adequate testing in all districts, closely monitor districts reporting higher cases, positivity rates and clusters, monitor and report district wise influenza-like illness and suspected/confirmed Covid cases in all health facilities on a regular basis and undertake genome sequencing of samples of international passengers and samples from sentinel sites (identified health facilities) and local Covid clusters. Telangana has also been instructed to pay renewed attention to ensuring Covid appropriate behaviour in crowded places, increase pace of vaccination for all eligible population, accelerate pace of administration of precaution doses, and follow the five-fold strategy of test-track- treat, vaccinate and adherence to Covid appropriate behaviour. The health secretary pointed out that the state had not filled the Covid-19 hotspot form on the Covid-19 India portal for the past six months and asked the state to address it swiftly. Campaigner and Brit expat Tig James said UK nationals who made Portugal their home before Brexit now face deportation and arrest when they try to enter another EU country Thousands of British expats in Portugal are having their lives 'paralysed and damaged' because of the country's failure to issue them with post-Brexit residency cards, it has been claimed. Tig James, who runs the British in Portugal campaign group, says many UK nationals who made areas such as the Algarve their home before the withdrawal agreement came into force are facing deportation and arrest when they try to enter another EU country. They are also suffering 'dreadful consequences' in Portugal - including being unable to register for health care, difficulties registering a child's birth and obstacles when it comes to family reunification. Expat representatives say the problems are being caused by the Portuguese Border and Immigration Service's failure to issue WA biometric cards needed by every UK national under the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. So far on mainland Portugal only a temporary document and QR code has been issued which affected Britons say is not recognised locally or at international borders. Mrs James, who claims the problem has severely affected those who arrived before the Brexit agreement kicked in at the start of 2021 and were unable to obtain residency from immigration offices due to the pandemic, said: 'The process needed for UK nationals to register for residency took months to be put in place and, prior to that, caused a great deal of difficulties specifically for those arriving just before the end of 2020 who were not allowed to obtain any residency documentation. Expats in Portugal (photo by James) face 'dreadful consequences' and no healthcare, she said 'This meant they were unable to sign work contracts with many being threatened with retraction of them including, most notably, five Easyjet pilots who had moved to Portugal with their families solely for that purpose. 'People were not only unable to obtain work but were not permitted to register for health care, social security, at banks, the tax office, every known institution in Portugal. 'Many stopped at Portuguese borders were being threatened with deportation. 'Finally they were allowed to register for residency and a system put in place where a QR code was given stating that all were legally resident in Portugal but it wasn't the WA biometric card needed by every UK national coming under the withdrawal agreement. 'I have been promised the cards would be arriving soon since July 2019 and that has been the unvarying reply since. 'The reasons for the three year delay by the immigration department? Staff shortages, holiday periods, the pandemic, and now Ukrainian refugees. 'The dreadful consequences of not having a WA biometric card, the seriousness of which cannot be underestimated, has paralysed and damaged UK national's lives emotionally, physically and financially. 'Without one you can't register for health care if you move address (people seriously ill, potentially terminally ill, cannot get treatment), doctors refusing treatment, appointments cancelled. 'Repeatedly it has been advocated UK nationals exchange their driving licence for Portuguese licences to be fully covered by the law. 'One UK national has submitted her application seven times due to loss of documentation, and the driving licence office refusing to take any applications without the WA biometric card. The tax office refuse to change addresses without one so even if a UK national gets a driving licence it gets sent to the wrong address if people have moved. 'Banks refuse to change addresses without the tax office say-so, so credit and debit cards are sent to the wrong address, vehicles are unable to be matriculated costing UK nationals thousands in importation fees for vehicles that should be free to import, and garages are refusing to repair vehicles. Brits abroad in Portugal face unprecedented paperwork in the wake of Brexit (Faro pictured) 'The QR code people have been given is not being accepted at many EU borders with the holders of such codes often being threatened with refusal of entry into the country, detained or deported. 'Two people were recently detained in Germany because of out of date residency documentation. 'The Portuguese Border and Immigration Service have refused to renew any residency documentation held by a UK national saying the QR code covers them. 'No other EU country is in this situation and many border forces refuse to accept expired documents resulting in refusal of entry or detention. 'The two people in Germany had to purchase other return tickets as they were told they were not allowed to return through Germany costing them approximately POUNDS 4,200. 'They are now waiting to see if and when they have a court date in Germany having had to employ a German immigration lawyer when they have done everything legally and as they were told to do.' She added: 'Portuguese institutions or businesses are simply refusing to deal with UK nationals or provide a service. 'The Portuguese social security office has ceased family allowance payments until a WA biometric card can be produced and the birth of a child cannot be registered. 'Only a WA biometric card is acceptable for companies taking on new employees, the ramifications being UK nationals cannot either gain employment or move jobs or, if they are employed but unable to register for health care and are then ill, obtain a sick note covering their period of sickness. Tourist and expat hotspot Tavira in the Algarve, which numerous Brits call home, is pictured 'EU employers, outside of Portugal, are demanding a WA biometric card in order for contracts to be signed and are refusing the QR code together with the pre-Brexit residency paperwork UK nationals have. 'UK nationals wishing to bring their third country national spouses to Portugal under the family reunification rules are not being allowed to do so until they have the biometric cards. One couple have been waiting three years to be together and another two and a half without even being able to start the process.' A pilot scheme to provide British expats with their long-awaited biometric cards, known as WABC's, began in the Azores and Madeira in February of this year but nothing has yet been done on mainland Portugal and experts reckon around 60,000 UK nationals living in Portugal are still waiting for them. Nicola Franks, a British resident in Portugal, told Portuguese TV channel SIC of her problems when she flew to Amsterdam in June three years after her move abroad with her husband: 'We knew of the deadline and wanted to get here well in advance and make sure we had all our paperwork done and didn't leave everything till the last minute. 'In June I was stopped after flying to Amsterdam and told as I tried to enter Holland I had overstayed my visa. 'The border control official looked at these papers he had obviously never seen before and decided they were not legitimate, that in fact they were only applications for residency. 'To make a long and frightening story as short as possible, he turned me back to Portugal. 'He told me everyone in the UK has a residency card. I told him Portugal has not got around to issuing them and he kind of laughed and said he was talking and I should be listening and that was the end of his listening.' She added: 'I don't go to the local clinic which has great doctors and good people. I showed my QR code to them and they said: 'You're not a resident, you need to pay' Tig James said: 'Nicola's case is not an isolated one. In 2021 alone, nearly 50,000 Brits moved to Portugal to assume residency (Algarve pictured) 'I know of people who are resident in Portugal and are still trying to work within the Schengen area. 'I know of people who have been stopped by border guards in every single European country. 'They've had their papers taken off them, they've had them thrown to the floor because they are simply not the withdrawal agreement biometric cards that the Portuguese Border and Immigration Service are failing to give us and are directed under the withdrawal agreement to do so.' She said: 'My own residency expired last year. The Portuguese Border and Immigration Service SEF will not renew expired residency documents, hence if I travel outside Portugal I'm going to be showing border controls expired documents. 'I cannot take the risk of being detained.' One British national who asked not to be named said: 'There are thousands of British people with husbands and wives and children who are almost landlocked in Portugal because there is no way forward.' An SEF spokesman said the current residence documents of British citizens living in Portugal continue to be accepted. Despite the problems British nationals say they are experiencing with the temporary documents and QR codes they have been issued with, he said: 'The document with the QR can be used whenever they travel, as proof of their residence in Portugal, guaranteeing also access to public health services and social security benefits. 'This document containing the QR code was disclosed in a timely way to the relevant European authorities, assuring the holders all the rights contained in the Withdrawal Agreement.' A UK government spokesperson said in a statement: 'We continue to urge the Portuguese government to complete the process of issuing biometric residency cards to UK nationals living legally in Portugal without further delay. 'Portugal must immediately and fully implement the withdrawal agreement commitments it signed up to in 2018 so UK nationals have the security they need.' Advertisement Talk show host Bill Maher has railed against the fat acceptance movement which he said has become a national security issue as obesity rates drive down military recruitment. 'It's literally a national security issue now,' Maher said in the closing monologue of his show Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday night. 'Military recruitment is down by the most since the end of the draft, because mainly 17 to 24 year olds are too fat to fight.' He cited a 2019 New York Times article showing that about one-third of potential recruits are too overweight to enlist in the US military. The article also noted that obesity rates in the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps have doubled in less than a decade, while in the Navy, obesity rates have risen six-fold since 2011. Those rates could negatively impact 'physical performance and military readiness,' the authors of the Defense Departments Medical Surveillance Monthly Report wrote at the time. 'At some point, acceptance becomes enabling,' Maher said of what he describes as the 'Orwellian' fat acceptance movement. 'And if you're in any way participating in this joyful celebration of gluttony that goes on now, you have blood on your hands, full stop.' 'You can make believe you're fighting some great social justice battle for a besieged minority, but what you're really doing is enabling addicts which I thought we decided was bad.' Talk show host Bill Maher railed against the fat acceptance movement in the closing monologue of his show Real Time with Bill Maher Friday night He cited a 2019 New York Times article showing that about one-third of potential recruits are too overweight to enlist in the US military Maher began his closing monologue on Friday by saying: 'Everybody should be allowed to let themselves go a couple of times a year like now, the dog days of summer. School's out, rules out. 'And the holidays, that's the other "OK I'll let myself go" time of year, and who can blame us it's the end of the year, structured around feast days.' But, he said: 'There's a disturbing trend going on in America these days: rewriting science to fit ideology or just to fit what you want reality to be. 'We've gone from fat acceptance to fat acceptance to fat celebration,' Maher continued. 'This is new to view letting yourself go as a point of pride. 'Now the term body positivity is used to mean "I'm perfect the way I am because I'm me,"' he said, adding: 'It's Orwellian how often positivity is used to describe what's not healthy.' Maher then went on to explain that the notion of 'healthy at any weight is an unchallenged lie that people tell themselves [so] they can go on eating whatever they want. 'Obesity is horrible for the immune system,' he said, noting that it could lead to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and stroke. And during the coronavirus pandemic, many studies found that those with the greatest risk of dying from the novel virus were those who were obese. According to the Centers for Disease Control, all states and territories reported having more than 20 percent of adults were obese The country's obesity rate has been increasing over the past four decades, according to a study by Johns Hopkins University But the obesity rate has only been increasing over the years. According to a study by Johns Hopkins University in December, the country's average Body Mass Index, a measure of body fat based on height, weight and age, increased 4.6 points over the past four decades. As a result, the Washington Post reports, the number of overweight people between the ages of 18 to 25 went from about 18 percent in the late 1970s to nearly 24 percent by 2018. The largest spike in weight measurements, however, was in the prevalence of obesity defined as having a Body Mass Index of 30 or higher which increased from about 6 percent to nearly 33 percent over that time period. And at the same time, the percentage of adults with a BMI indicating a normal weight dropped from about 69 percent to 38 percent. Now, the Centers for Disease Control says, the U.S. obesity rate was 41.9 percent from 2017 through March 2020, and in 2020, all states and territories reported having more than 20 percent of adults were obese. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity was nearly $173 billion in 2019, the CDC reports, and the medical costs for obese adults were an average of $1,861 higher than medical costs for people at a healthy weight. 'Somehow 50 years ago, this country looked entirely different,' Maher said in his closing monologue. 'You don't think it was a struggle for them? You think cake wasn't delicious in 1969?' 'And that's the saddest part, because we can do this, I think, but by lying about it and making excuses, psychologically it's telling ourselves that letting ourselves go is the best we can do. 'And I got to believe that as Americans we can still do better than that.' A man on a kayak had to be rescued by British authorities yesterday after attempting to cross the channel alone. A further 288 people crossed the English Channel on Friday, August 5, taking the total number of migrants who reached the UK this week to 1,372. Five small boats made the crossing during the most recent 24-hour period, government figures show. This includes one migrant who was rescued yesterday morning after attempting to travel along by kayak. He was picked up by British Border Force officers at around 9am, five miles from the English coast, GB News reports. Earlier this week, a new daily record was set for 22 as 696 people made the dangerous journey on Monday, according to figures from the Ministry of Defence. A man on a kayak had to be rescued by British authorities yesterday (August 5) after attempting to cross the channel alone Meanwhile a record number of people for this year made the crossing on Monday, with 696, including women and children, made it to UK shores This marked only the second time this year that more than 600 people arrived in the UK via small boat crossings, with the previous high being 651 on April 13. With the 696 on Monday, the total number of people to have crossed this year rose to 17,134. New research shows that in the past seven years nearly half a billion pounds has been spent by government trying to prevent migrants making the crossing. The total includes huge sums handed to the French government in a bid to prevent would-be asylum seekers from leaving their shores. Figures show 473 million has been spent on a range of security measures as well as the up-front cost of Priti Patels Rwanda asylum deal. Home Secretary Priti Patel is expected to announce a new package of funding imminently, to include tens of millions of pounds to the French for more beach patrols and surveillance equipment. A Government spokesperson said: 'The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. 'Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk lives and hinder our ability to help refugees who come to the UK through safe and legal routes. 'The Nationality and Borders Act will enable us to crack down on abuse of the system and the evil people smugglers, who will now be subject to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. 'Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK in order for their claims to be considered and rebuild their lives.' A billionaire tech entrepreneur has died of dementia aged 81 while fighting a $2 billion tax evasion claim - the largest ever made against a single person by American prosecutors. Robert Brockman died Friday night while receiving hospice care, his lawyer Kathy Keneally said. The Houston-based businessman's death came in the midst of a $2 billion tax fraud claim brought against Brockman by prosecutors. Lawyers for Brockman insisted his dementia - which they say had been worsened by Alzheimer's - made him unfit to stand trial. But a judge ruled that he was competent to face the charges in May this year. Brockman was born in Florida to a modest upbringing with a gas station owner father and physiotherapist mother, according to Bloomberg, but died with a net worth of about $4.7 billion. He made his riches teaching himself programming and eventually developing software that allow vehicle dealers to run business more efficiently. The 81-year-old left behind his wife of 53 years, Dorothy and a son Robert II; as well as his brother David, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Brockman was indicted in 2020 on 39 counts, including wire fraud, tax evasion and money laundering that the U.S. Department of Justice said totaled a $2 billion scheme to conceal his income and defraud investors of his Reynolds and Reynolds company. Robert Brockman, a software entrepreneur who made a massive fortune before being indicted in the largest individual tax evasion case in US history, has died. He was 81 The 81-year-old left behind his wife of 53 years, Dorothy (pictured right) and a son Robert II; as well as his brother David, a daughter-in-law and two grandchildren In filings submitted to court in April, Brockman's defense said he contracted COVID in December, which caused him to be hospitalized over toxic metabolic encephalopathy (TME), an acute cerebral dysfunction. They claimed COVID and TME has worsened his dementia. A judge, however, ruled him competent in May Brockman's lawyers, however, argued that the billionaire was incompetent to stand trial, claiming in filings submitted in April that his Parkinson's disease caused dementia, which only grew worse after he contracted COVID in December. In the filings, the lawyers said Brockman was hospitalized in January with toxic metabolic encephalopathy (TME), an acute cerebral dysfunction that can be caused by COVID, claiming that, 'For patients already suffering from dementia, COVID-19 and TME can exacerbate the existing dementia and accelerate cognitive decline.' The lawyers added: 'During a February 15, 2022 examination by Dr. James Pool, Mr. Brockmans primary care physician, neuropsychological testing was performed to assess Mr. Brockmans current cognitive status. Dr. Pool concluded that Mr. Brockmans condition had progressed to severe dementia.' The attorneys also noted that follow-up testing backed-up the conclusion that Brockman was less mentally competent than when the software tycoon had his last evaluation in October. George Hanks, the judge presiding over the case, had previously heard arguments about Brockman's dementia claims in November but has yet to rule on the issue. The case involving Brockman accuses him of hiding $2 billion in income from the IRS over two decades using a web of off-shore companies in Bermuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis. The indictment alleged Brockman appointed nominees to manage the off-shore entities for him as a means of hiding his involvement, saying he even went so far as to establish a proprietary encrypted email system and use code words such as 'Permit,' 'Red fish' and 'Snapper' to communicate. The prosecution claims Brockman's sprawling network of offshore trusts grew to The Cayman Islands, Singapore, the British Virgin Islands and the Isle of Man. Authorities had been investigating Brockman over the tax fraud allegations for several years and prosecutors claim he found out about the probe as early as 2016. Prosecutors allege that Brockman started seeking medical evaluations for his mental health shortly after a 2018 raid on his attorney's home in Bermuda, according to court documents obtained by the Wall Street Journal. A doctor found in March 2019 that Brockman had poor short-term recall. Prosecutors claim, however, that Brockman's doctors have a conflict of interest because they work with the Baylor College of Medicine, of which the billionaire has donated millions of dollars to over the years. They also argue that Brockman continued to head his software company during this time despite his alleged mental decline. Court documents reveal he took a cognitive test late last year and had difficulties drawing a clock, with a doctor ruling he had 'moderate dementia'. The case involving Brockman (left) accuses him of hiding $2 billion in income from the IRS over two decades using a web of off-shore companies in Bermuda and St. Kitts and Nevis The Department of Justice outlined the sprawling web of offshore accounts Brockman controlled that allegedly allowed him to withhold $2 billion in taxes The software tycoon lives in his $8 million mansion (pictured) in Houston, Texas. He also owns a 143-acre Colorado property and fishing lodge on the Frying Pan River Along with his properties, Brockman owns a 209-foot yacht named 'Turmoil' (pictured) Prosecutors said he also owns a Bombardier Inc. Global 6000 private jet worth about $62 million The $62 million jet typically features a spacious and luxurious cabin room for its wealthy fliers Fellow billionaire Robert Smith, who is the CEO of a private equity firm that aided in the alleged schemes, was cooperating with the investigation after turning against Brockman to avoid prosecution himself. Smith, the richest black person in America with a net worth about $7 billion, has also been ordered to pay $139 million in back taxes and penalties. Brockman and Smith had a business relationship dating back to the late 1990s, according to documents filed in connection with Smith's non-prosecution agreement. The majority of his fortune was believed to be held in a trust in Bermuda that owns most of his software company. Court documents show the trust has assets worth at least $7 billion. Even though that wealth would likely see him ranked about 50th on the Forbes 400 list of billionaires, Brockman didn't ever appeared on the list as without the inclusion of the alleged hidden funds, Forbes ranks him at 601 with $4.7 billion. Fellow billionaire Robert Smith, who is the CEO of a private equity firm that aided in the alleged schemes, is cooperating with the investigation after turning against Brockman to avoid prosecution himself Prosecutors said he owns a Houston mansion worth an estimated $8 million, an Aspen, Colorado ski cabin, a Bombardier private jet and a a 209-foot yacht. According to court filings obtained by Bloomberg last year, the government has been trying to seize the 143-acre Colorado property and fishing lodge on the Frying Pan River and a trove of cash in Switzerland's Mirabaud Bank tied to the fraud case. Prosecutors, however, believed Brockman (above) - was faking his mental decline to avoid standing trial The outlet reported that prosecutors in the United States first sought forfeiture of the Mirabaud account in October 2020 and that Swiss prosecutors have frozen more than $1 billion held in bank accounts belonging to Brockman. The 42-page indictment against Brockman names two Colorado properties of interest in the case. According to the indictment, Brockman paid $15 million to purchase the 'Mountain Queen' property located in Pitkin County on May 17, 2005. He later spent another $15 million of funds allegedly obtained through debt fraud on the 'Frying Pan Canyon Ranch' in Pitkin County on December 16, 2010, according to the indictment. Brockman allegedly spent another $8.2 million on renovations and improvements to the Frying Pan Canyon property in 2014. It was not immediately clear if the asset forfeiture reported by Bloomberg also includes the Mountain Queen property or his Houston mansion. As the case against Brockman continued, his former associates and employees painted a picture of him as a penny-pinching billionaire who believed the IRS unfairly went after taxpayers. Brockman, who had a reputation for being litigious, would stay at budget hotels and ate frozen dinners on business trips. He would buy used furniture for his offices and banned his employees from smoking so the company could save on health insurance. At the time of the indictment, Reynolds & Reynolds issued a statement saying the allegations were outside Brockman's work with the company and that the company is not alleged to have participated in any wrongdoing. The software helps set up websites, including live chats with potential customers, find loans and calculate customer payments, manage payroll and pay bills. The heartbroken family of a man mauled to death by six dogs has revealed his partner listened in on the phone as he was 'ripped apart' during a call to her. The body of Neville Thomson, 69, was found at his home in the remote town of Panguru, on New Zealand's north island, on Thursday alongside 25 unregistered dogs. Mr Thomson's stepdaughter Stella Matthews said her mother, Mr Thomson's partner, was on the phone with the 'big hearted' elder as he was killed. Neville Thomson (above) was found mauled to death in his remote New Zealand home after a 'friend' took advantage of his kindness and abandoned 19 aggressive dogs on his property 'Apparently he had gone outside and put the phone down and my mum heard scuffling and shouting and growling,' she told The Sun. 'She stayed on the phone for a good 25, 30 minutes.' Police said six of the 25 unregistered dogs on the property were involved in the violent attack on Mr Thomson and didn't belong to him. Of those six, two were captured by police, one was shot dead, one escaped and returned the following morning and two remain at large. Mr Thomson's family revealed on Friday that the dogs that attacked him weren't his own but were dumped on the elder by a supposed friend who took advantage of his kindness. Mr Thomson's son, Te Ahu Thomson, said the elderly man offered to help a friend who needed a place to live. Police have captured 25 dogs from the home, some of which as understood to be wild dogs from local packs, and said the primary breeds being neo mastiff and bulldog cross (pictured, a stock image of a dog which was not from Mr Thomson's property) Instead the friend left Mr Thomson with a pack of 19 aggressive dogs that endangered the lives of Mr Thomson's own dogs, which he kept inside his home for fear they would be attacked. Te Ahu Thomson also confirmed that the generous man's own two dogs were not involved in the attack that took the elder's life. Mr Thomson's daughter, Nataria Moore, said her father was in the process of having the dogs removed from his property when he was brutally killed. 'He was actually trying to get (the friend) out because he didn't want those dogs around him,' she told One News. Ms Moore said her father's death has been incredibly difficult for her family and that it hurts that his death was caused by someone taking advantage of his 'big heart'. 'We're surviving, just. It's a shock. When I found out, I felt like the air had been taken from the room,' she said. Ms Matthews said the 19 dogs were all but 'abandoned' by their previous owner and left for Mr Thomson to handle. 'They weren't his dogs. I don't know how you expect a 69-year-old man who was barely in good health himself to willingly look after 25 dogs,' she said. It is understood some dogs from a local pack that were not in the care of Mr Thomson may have also been involved in the attack. The Far North District Council's services general manager Dr Dean Myburgh said 25 dogs have been removed from the property with the primary breeds being neo mastiff and bulldog cross. He said the dogs are in 'very good condition' and said police are investigating why so many animals were at the property. Mr Thomson's family have created a Give a Little fundraising page to help his grieving family cover funeral costs. This is the first picture of the British woman killed in a horror motorboat crash in the waters off the bustling Turkish holiday resort of Marmaris. Anna Capuano suffered catastrophic head injuries when the speed boat she was traveling in struck a water taxi close to the beach. The 44-year-old mother-of-three died shortly afterwards despite the frantic efforts of Turkish paramedics and first aiders to save her. Her partner, Peter Oxford, 39, was knocked unconscious and suffered severe internal injuries that have kept him in intensive care at the town's Ahu Hospital. Two other British tourists were involved in the accident but suffered minor injuries. They returned to the UK yesterday. A tour operator today told how Anna, 44, from Ilkeston, Derbyshire, died in his arms after she was brought to shore. Anna Capuano, a 44-year-old mother-of-three died shortly afterwards despite the frantic efforts of Turkish paramedics and first aiders to save her. Anna's partner is still in intensive care in hospital in Turkey after he suffered severe internal injuries in the crash Mustafa Bey, a tour guide, described holding Anna in his arms as she died. He said: 'There has never been an accident like this in Marmaris. Everyone is in shock and upset. It's so sad' Mustafa Bey told MailOnline: 'It's a tragedy. She died in my arms. 'It is such a terrible thing to have happened. 'There has never been an accident like this in Marmaris. Everyone is in shock and upset. It's so sad.' He added: 'Her partner was knocked unconscious. He broke six or seven ribs and has other internal injuries. 'He was rushed to hospital. He was in a coma but he has regained consciousness now. He is traumatised.' The couple, who had only recently got together, were enjoying a seven-day package holiday at the five-star Lalila Blue Hotel in Marmaris, booked through TUI, when tragedy struck at 1.30pm on Thursday lunchtime. Anna mother to two daughters aged 11 and 13 and a son 22 had separated from her second husband Jonathan Capuano but the pair had remained on good terms. Peter Oxford, 39, was knocked unconscious and suffered severe internal injuries that have kept him in intensive care at the town's Ahu Hospital. Ex-husband Jonathan said: 'Anna's a nice, friendly person, and was going off to Turkey with her new partner.' Friends and neighbours have told how the couple had been looking forward to their sunshine break in Marmaris, a popular Turkish resort with Britons. Baljeet Randhawa told MailOnline: 'This is so sad, she had two young girls, and they will be heartbroken. 'Anna has been so looking forward to her holiday in Turkey this week. 'She had split up with her husband about a year ago and had recently met a new partner. It was their first time away together. 'The girls lived with her but we're not going on holiday, but were going to stay with their dad.' Her husband Sabjeet added: 'She was a lovely person, bubbly and happy and always smiling. 'It is such a shock. Everyone around here knew her but not that well. A neighbour added: 'Anna was a very nice woman and a good neighbour. 'She had just met a new partner and seemed happy, It is a terrible thing to happen, shocking.' The Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into the fatal motor boat crash. A Foreign Office spokesman added: 'We are providing consular assistance after the death of a British woman and hospitalisation of three British nationals in Turkey, and are in contact with the local authorities.' RAF recruits are waiting months and even years to learn to fly warplanes, using desks to practice instead, leaked documents have revealed. An internal memo from May and slides from a top RAF meeting in July revealed the Royal Air Force's (RAF) fast jet pilots are experiencing a severe delay in waiting times for training slots due to a lack of aircraft and instructors. The 'crisis' backlog means not enough pilots may be available in the future to fly planes on the frontline, including Typhoon and F35 squadrons, reports Sky News. The delays come at a time of international insecurity with growing threats from Russia and China and war in Europe. The documents revealed that 347 trainees - more than half of the total 596 in aircraft training - are waiting for a training course slot or are on a 'refresher course' due to delays between training phases. UK trainee frontline pilots are learning to fly desks instead of warplanes due to severe training delays, leaked documents have revealed. Pictured: RAF Typhoons intercepting a Belgian transport plane in January 2020 Waiting times to learn how to fly a Chinook helicopter are between two to three years. What did the leaked documents reveal? There is an engine problem in the Hawk jets used by recruits for training. This could increase training delays by a year Concerns about qualified pilots who have left the RAF for better-trained jobs in a 'damaging drain' Only 11 trainee UK pilots are scheduled to learn how to fly an F35 or Typhoon this year, despite there being 43 slots Limited training space is being taken up by the UK's commitment to train pilots from Qatar and Saudi Arabia Source: An internal memo and slides from a meeting of RAF officers, reported by Sky News Advertisement Trainee pilots are waiting around RAF bases, military headquarters and even at the Ministry of Defence in London - called 'holdies' as they remain on hold for a training course. This means that the average age of a newly-qualified pilot is now 29 - up from early 20s. A former senior air force officer spoke anonymously to Sky News, calling the delays a 'scandal' and a 'crisis'. But a spokesperson from the RAF said 'most trainee pilots will experience a hold at the start of their career' and said training times have 'steadily improved' with enough instructors now having been hired. One internal note alleged the RAF was considering asking up to 30 recruits to quit voluntarily due to the problems. The RAF said 'no final decisions have been made' and that asking the staff to leave was just one option being considered. Training courses have had to be rescheduled as instructors have had to take time out to protect UK airspace - an instance that occurred at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Other aircraft - including military transport, planes and helicopters - as well as the army and navy are also said to be suffering. Pilots in the RAF receive 30,000 minimum average pay in their first year, rising to 42,000 after specialist training. In November the RAF announced it would aim to have pilots spend only 20 per cent of their training time in the air during training - and the other 80 in a flight simulator to reduce carbon emissions. An RAF spokesperson said: 'Our people are our greatest asset and we're committed to ensuring we attract and retain the best and brightest talent to meet current and future threats. The documents revealed that 347 trainees - more than half of the total 596 in aircraft training - are waiting on a slot on a training course or are on a 'refresher course'. Pictured is a 208 Sqn Hawk TMK1 with two 19 (F) Squadron Hawk TMK1s 'Whilst we acknowledge there are challenges with the training pipeline, we are working across defence, with industry and our international partners to improve the training experience and results for our personnel, including recruiting more instructors and actively managing timeframes for training. 'We continue to have sufficient aircrew to meet our operational commitments.' Background: Training pipeline 'We acknowledge the challenge the flying training pipeline has faced and that it was taking longer than planned for trainees to complete their flying training. 'But much progress has been made, and the number of trainees progressing through UKMFTS has steadily improved. We have sufficient aircrew to meet our current frontline operational commitments. 'A steady flow of trained aircrew is vital to deliver our future capability. We actively manage the pilot training pipeline in order to maintain pilot throughput and reduce the waiting time between courses and within training overall. The 'crisis' backlog means not enough pilots may be available in the future to fly planes on the frontline, including Typhoon and F35 squadrons. File picture of RAF Typhoons above 'There have always been planned holds in the flying training pipeline to ensure all courses are fully utilised, and most trainee pilots will experience a hold at the start of their career before commencing operational training. 'Aircrew on hold are fulfilling required and essential roles within the Armed Forces with an aim to expand their skills in other areas of MOD business. 'While we acknowledge there are challenges, we continue to work with industry partners and frontline commands to improve the training pipeline and ensure the MOD continues to have sufficient qualified pilots to meet our frontline commitments.' Numbers of qualified instructors 'The RAF acknowledges that it has previously not had sufficient numbers of qualified flying instructors but this has improved, and we now have enough instructors to fulfil the tasks. 'We will continue to work closely with our training partner to find ways of increasing instructor numbers. 'The voluntary withdrawal of up to 30 trainees is but one option, amongst many, that is being considered by the Aircrew Pipeline Steering Group as part of its routine business. However, no final decisions have yet been made.' China simulated an invasion of Taiwan today after dozens of jets and warships crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to the island's Ministry of Defence. The highly aggressive display of intimidation featuring some 20 Chinese aircraft and 14 ships comes days after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei that infuriated Beijing. Taiwan's armed forces issued an alert, dispatched air and naval patrols around the island, and activated land-based missile systems in response to the Chinese exercises, the ministry said. The ministry said that zones declared by China as no-go areas during the exercises for other ships and aircraft had 'seriously damaged the peace' in what was effectively a blockade of the island - an act of war by international law. The Taiwanese military, finding itself in a situation similar to Ukraine in February, emphasised that it did not wish to poke the dragon, but would defend itself if attacked. The median line has been an unofficial border separating the two warring sides that was drawn by a US general in 1955 China's Ministry of Defence said in a statement Saturday that it had carried out military exercises as planned in the sea and airspaces to the north, southwest, and east of Taiwan, with a focus on 'testing the capabilities' of its land strike and sea assault systems. A French-built Mirage 2000 fighter jet takes off at an airbase in Hsinchu, Taiwan during military alerts as Chinese jets crossed the median line A Chinese military plane flew on training exercises with the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Friday A PLA serviceman looks through binoculars at Taiwanese frigate Lan Yang cruising the Straits of Taiwan amid a tense stand-off The highly aggressive display of intimidation comes days after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (pictured in the poster) visit to Taipei that infuriated Beijing China's Ministry of Defence said in a statement Saturday that it had carried out military exercises as planned in the sea and airspaces to the north, southwest, and east of Taiwan, with a focus on 'testing the capabilities' of its land strike and sea assault systems. Some of the exercises clearly violated Taiwanese sovereign territory China launched live-fire military drills following Pelosi's trip to Taiwan earlier this week, saying it violated the 'one-China' policy. China sees the island as a breakaway province to be annexed by force if necessary, and considers visits to Taiwan by foreign officials as recognizing its sovereignty. Taiwan's army also said it detected four unmanned aerial vehicles flying in the vicinity of the offshore county of Kinmen on Friday night and fired warning flares in response. The four drones, which Taiwan believed were Chinese, were spotted over waters around the Kinmen island group and the nearby Lieyu Island and Beiding islet, according to Taiwan's Kinmen Defense Command. Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a group of islands only 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) east of the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province in the Taiwan Strait, which divides the two sides that split amid civil war in 1949. 'Our government & military are closely monitoring China's military exercises & information warfare operations, ready to respond as necessary,' Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said in a tweet. 'I call on the international community to support democratic Taiwan & halt any escalation of the regional security situation,' she added. The deputy head of Taiwan defence ministry's research and development unit was found dead on Saturday morning in a hotel room. Pictured: Tien Kung II Missile Launcher Display at Hukou Camp Ground The Rocket Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducts conventional missile tests into the waters off the eastern coast of Taiwan, from an undisclosed location Taipei said multiple Chinese jets and warships (pictured) had today crossed the 'median line' - the unofficial maritime border between the two The Chinese military exercises began Thursday and are expected to last until Sunday. So far, the drills have included missile strikes on targets in the seas north and south of the island in an echo of the last major Chinese military drills in 1995 and 1996 aimed at intimidating Taiwan's leaders and voters. Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defence drills, while the U.S. has deployed numerous naval assets in the area. The Biden administration and Pelosi have said the US remains committed to a 'one-China' policy, which recognises Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations and defence ties with Taipei. The administration discouraged but did not prevent Pelosi from visiting. China has also cut off defence and climate talks with the US and imposed sanctions on Pelosi in retaliation for the visit. Pelosi said Friday in Tokyo, the last stop of her Asia tour, that China will not be able to isolate Taiwan by preventing US officials from travelling there. Pelosi has been a long-time advocate of human rights in China. She, along with other lawmakers, visited Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1991 to support democracy two years after a bloody military crackdown on protesters at the square. Meanwhile, cyberattacks aimed at bringing down the website of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs had doubled between Thursday to Friday, compared to similar attacks ahead of Pelosi's visit, according to Taiwan's Central News Agency. The ministry did not specify the origin of the attack. A Taiwanese F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet is seen before landing at Hualien Air Force Base on Saturday Taiwanese F-5 fighter jets are seen after taking off from Chihhang Air Base on Saturday in response to highly aggressive Chinese drills violating Taiwanese territorial waters A Taiwanese vessel as seen from a Chinese vessel, indicating how close the rival military assets are from one another in a powder keg situation Chinese warship Changchun, a Type 052 destroyer, is escorted by the Cheng Kung, a guided-missile frigate, as they sail in the Taiwan Strait Other ministries and government agencies, such as the Ministry of Interior, also faced similar attacks on their websites, according to the report. A distributed-denial-of-service attack is aimed at overloading a website with requests for information that eventually crashes it, making it inaccessible to other users. Also Saturday, the Central News Agency reported that the deputy head of the Taiwan Defence Ministry's research and development unit, Ou Yang Li-hsing, was found dead in his hotel room after suffering a heart attack. He was 57, and had supervised several missile production projects. The report said his hotel room in the southern county of Pingtung, where he was on a business trip, showed no signs of intrusion. Taiwanese overwhelmingly favour maintaining the status quo of the island's de facto independence and reject China's demands that the island unify with the mainland under Communist control. Globally, most countries subscribe to the 'one-China' policy, which is a requirement to maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing. Any company that fails to recognise Taiwan as part of China faces swift backlash, often with Chinese consumers pledging to boycott its products. On Friday, Mars Wrigley, the manufacturer of the Snickers candy bar, apologized after it released a video and materials featuring South Korean boy band BTS that had referred to Taiwan as a country, drawing swift criticism from Chinese users. In a statement on its Weibo account, the company expressed 'deep apologies.' 'Mars Wrigley respects China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity and conducts business operations in strict compliance with local Chinese laws and regulations,' the statement said. In a separate post, the firm added that there is 'only one China' and said that 'Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.' The lone survivor of an alleged mass shooting is responsive and walking around just two days after he fled for his life with a gunshot wound needing emergency surgery. Ross Tighe witnessed the alleged shooting of his mother and stepfather, Maree and Mervyn Schwarz, and his older brother Graham, at their $10million property in Bogie, inland from Queensland's Whitsunday region. Police will allege the young father hid in bushes and ran for his life as gunshots rang out on the extremely remote, 29,000 hectare bush property. Ross Tighe (pictured) has undergone a lifesaving emergency operation at Mackay base hospital after he fled for his life and sources close to him say he is responsive and walking Graham Tighe (pictured) was killed along with his mother and stepfather, Maree and Mervyn Schwarz Neighbour Darryl Young has been charged with three counts of murder and one of attempted murder. Police suspect the alleged incident was sparked by a property dispute regarding boundary lines. Mr Tighe allegedly fled for his life and was able to drive 40km through unforgiving terrain along a winding gravel track to his nearest neighbour's property to seek help - all while trying to remain conscious with a gunshot to the abdomen. He underwent emergency surgery on a Thursday night at Mackay Base Hospital and spent two days in intensive care. His uncle-in-law, Isaac Regional councillor, Greg Austen, revealed on Saturday Mr Tighe is now 'up and walking'. But Mr Austen noted the young dad still has a long way to go to recover from the alleged horrors of the past 72 hours. Bogie man and alleged triple-killer Darryl Young has been taken in police custody following the deaths of Mr Tighe's family members A wreath of flowers (pictured) lay at the entrance of the road leading up to the property where the alleged murders took place It's a remarkable recovery for a man who was found in the middle of nowhere with life threatening injuries on Thursday morning. Police said Mr Tighe was was in a 'very distressed state' when he initially spoke to officers, which led to confusion as police tried to narrow down the area where the alleged shooting took place. He's understood to have sought out neighbours at the Flagstone cattle farm 40km away. A man at the property said he would not comment on the incident, adding his family were 'too close' to those involved. Young, a neighbour to Mr Tighe, has been taken into custody and charged with three counts of murder and a count of attempted murder The $10million Schwarz estate has gone under the hammer five times in the last 17 years. It's understood previous owners had also butted heads with Young over the boundary lines but Mr Schwarz did not feel put off by the disputes. Extended family have made the journey from all over Queensland to be by Mr Tighe's bedside. It's understood the wife and children of his late brother Graham were flown via Angel Flight Australia to be there when he woke up. 'They were getting a bit inundated,' Mr Austen said, adding his family were hoping for time and space to come to grips with the immense loss. Alleged gunman Young is understood to have been living at a Bowen property (pictured) at the time of the alleged fatal fence dispute Daily Mail Australia also understands alleged gunman Young was not even living at the 7,700 hectare property at the centre of the dispute. His primary place of residence was in fact just outside of Bowen - about 2.5 hours from the land in Bogie. The home - sitting on a far more manageable 65 hectares - is at the back of a quiet dirt track and protected by a fence with a warning sign which reads 'Admittance by invitation only'. 'No trespassing to all men, women, persons and entities including police, government, sheriff, bailiff, council, private investigators, corporations.' The sign warns 'trespass damages' of at least $10,000 will be applicable 'upon one step onto this land'. Young's Bowen property is a secretive one with a large and extensive warning sign posted on its barbed wire fence reading: 'No Trespassing' A nearby neighbour told Daily Mail Australia Young often kept to himself and appeared 'a quiet fellow'. 'He doesn't have very many visitors at all,' the neighbour said, making light of the extensive list of prohibited people according to his legal notice. The person, who did not want to be identified, said Young had been spending less and less time at his primary residence in favour of his Bogie property. 'He's been out there fixing it up a lot lately,' the neighbour said. 'Everyone knows everyone out here but we like to all keep to ourselves. I knew him as a pretty quiet, loner type.' Over the years Young's place had acquired more and more junk, to the point where it now 'looks like a junkyard' from the street, according to neighbours. Young was understood to have been spending a lot of time at his Bowen property which is smattered with rusty hues - old cars and machinery are strewn about the property (pictured) Rusty old cars, farming machinery and random bits and pieces are littered across the front portion of the property and line the driveway to the tin shed at the back. His home is tucked around a corner, further out of the way of the main road. Mackay Detective Inspector Tom Armitt revealed Young was taken into custody alongside four other people several hours after they were first alerted to the alleged shooting. 'It took a period of time for us to make contact with him,' Det Insp Armitt said. Meanwhile townspeople are mourning the loss of the Schwarz family, and their son Graham. One Collinsville store owner told Daily Mail Australia they were a friendly family who always went out of their way for the community. 'They were genuine people and they'll be missed. What a tragedy,' she said. A top Indonesian minister fired back at Pauline Hanson's claims that Indonesia's foot and mouth disease will enter Australia from Bali because 'people walk in s***'. The controversial One Nation leader told Senate on Thursday that Bali's approach to disease control is 'totally different to other countries' in another scathing attack on the government's response to foot and mouth disease. 'Cattle roam the streets, cattle s*** on the ground, people walk in that s***,' she said. A top Indonesian minister fired back at Pauline Hanson's claims that foot and mouth disease will enter Australia from Bali because 'people walk in s***'. 'That s*** is then brought back in their clothing and on their person and back into this country.' Indonesian Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno hit back at Ms Hanson's comments, saying they were unfounded and insensitive. 'Firmly and with straightforwardness, I say, never insult Bali, Indonesia's tourism icon and centre,' he said. 'Don't disturb (our) peace, moreover our economic recovery with untruthful statements. 'Oh yes, FYI, Bali is not a country. Next time, please check it first in Google.' Indonesian Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno (pictured centre right) hit back at Pauline Hanson's comments, saying they were unfounded and insensitive. Indonesian Veterinary Medical Association's Professor Ketut Puja added: 'Maybe she has never been to Bali. [What she described] is the ancient time.' 'Today's Bali is different. You don't find cows wandering around in Denpasar, for instance. They are definitely not in cities. 'They are in cages, in villages or tied up at coconut trees in someone's field.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Government has defended its response to viral fragments of foot and mouth disease found in Melbourne, despite worries from the agricultural industry which faces a $80billion loss if the disease enters the country. The Opposition has called for Australia to shut its borders to Indonesia in response to a foot and mouth disease in the country, including major Australian tourist destination Bali. Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said the disease is most likely to enter Australia through smuggled meat, not dirty footwear Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive Patrick Hutchinson said the disease is most likely to enter Australia through smuggled meat, not dirty footwear. 'The key thing I say to people who want a ban is when was the last outbreak globally caused by poo on the boot (of travellers returning from Bali)?,' he told The Age. Professor Wiku Adisasmito said earlier this week the rate of the disease's spread has slowed in Bali and that the government 'hope to have the disease under control by the end of this year'. Less than 5 per cent of Indonesia's livestock have been vaccinated against the disease due to a shortage. But Professor Adisasmito insisted: 'We are doing everything we can to minimise the chain of transmission.' Basar IIIT students meet Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan at the Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum on the problems they have been facing at the campus. (DC Image) ADILABAD: Political significance is being attached to Governor Tamilisai Soundararajans visit to Basar IIIT campus where she will interact with students and staff over breakfast on Sunday. From there she will head for Telangana University in Nizamabad. It is believed that her visit to Basar IIIT campus follows pleas by its students when they met the Governor at Raj Bhavan on August 3 and narrated their woes. The Governor, who will travel to Nizamabad and also return by train, will first have darshan of Goddess Saraswati in Basar around 6 am.She will meet students and faculty of Telangana University around 11 am and return to Hyderabad. It may be recalled that Basar IIIT students had demanded Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao or municipal administration minister K. T Rama Rao to visit the campus to know the ground realities. The students had launched an agitation for settling around 12 demands, including the appointment of a regular vice-chancellor and cancellation of contracts of three messes. Education minister Sabitha Indra Reddy visited the campus and released Rs 11 crore as immediate relief to mitigate the problems. In the subsequent days, food poisoning in the mess saw over 500 students falling sick. Yet another advanced Russian T-90 tank has been destroyed in Ukraine, dramatic footage shows. The 3million weapon of war was thought to be one of the world's premier tanks, but a spate of destructions since Russia's invasion began has thrown that into doubt. Video posted on Telegram channel Butusov Plus appears to show the T-90, nicknamed the 'Vladimir', obliterated after its own ammunition is struck by a rocket. Ukrainian veteran Butusov, who has more than half a million YouTube subscribers, claimed the attack was carried out by the air defence force in Kharkiv. Before (left) and after (right): the T-90 is blown to smithereens after its internal ammunition appears to have been struck by a rocket. Kharkiv's air defence force was through responsible Within a few hours, the incredible footage had well over 80,000 YouTube views. At least 20 Russian T-90 tanks plus two advanced T-90Ms, first built in 2016, are estimated to have been destroyed so far, open intelligence source Onyx claims. As of this morning, the Ukrainian army claims to have destroyed a total of 1,792 tanks, up three from yesterday. The vast majority are the less advanced T-72s, but at least a handful of T-90s are also thought to have been wrecked since the outbreak of war on February 24. The 3million tank is thought to have joined at least 20 elite weapons of war wrecked so far A destroyed Russian T-90 tank is displayed at an exhibition about the war in Prague last month Footage first emerged of T-90s being destroyed by Ukrainian soldiers in early May, with a pair of verified losses by Russia prompting excitement in Kyiv. Days after the first T-90 was destroyed, a second of the supertanks was wrecked with an 18,000 Swedish rocket launcher. Another is said to have been blown up with a 400 rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Another verified video in early May showed the T-90 destroyed by an 18,000 rocket launcher The T-90 is Russia's most-advanced tank, with the base model entering service in 1992. Production ramped up in the late-2000s. The T-90M is the latest version of the tank, first entering service in 2016. Russia is thought to field around 1,000 of all T-90 variants, compared to around 5,000 T-72s - the tank the T-90 is based on and which has done the bulk of the fighting in Ukraine. The incredible footage emerged as Russian tanks, trucks and artillery are amassing in southern Ukraine. Putin's forces are seeking to tighten their grip on the region amid a valiant counter-offensive by Kyiv. The Kherson region near Crimea has been under Kremlin control since March 2 after a bloody six-day battle, with Russians driving north from the occupied peninsula. Yet the invaders have faced intense pushback by Ukraine over recent weeks, with Kyiv now confident it will liberate the region by September. According to the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) daily intelligence update this morning: 'Long convoys [...] continue to move away from Ukraine's Donbas region and are headed southwest.' The ruined Fabrika shopping mall in occupied southern capital Kherson (image from July) Locals look at damage caused by Russian airstrikes on a residential street in eastern Ukraine The MoD added: 'Battalion tactical groups (BTG), which comprise between 800 and 1,000 troops, have been deployed to Crimea and would almost certainly be used to support Russian troops in the Kherson region. 'Ukrainian forces are focusing their targeting on bridges, ammunition depots, and rail links with growing frequency in Ukraines southern regions. 'Russias war on Ukraine is about to enter a new phase, with the heaviest fighting shifting to a roughly 350km front line stretching southwest from near Zaporizhzhia to Kherson, paralleling the Dnieper River.' Meanwhile footage posted to Telegram appeared to show Ukrainian rockets strike a Russian armoured car - the type likely to be in the 'long convoys' said to be on their way to Kherson. Resident stands on ruined plants in Kostiantynivka, 50 miles south of Kyiv-held Kramatorsk The news comes amid reports of heinous Russian war crimes in Kherson 'on a scale almost too sickening to contemplate', according to Ukraine. Pro-democracy campaigners in the city claim that in Kherson, Russians are hunted by snipers, ambushed and bombed. Thanks to consignments of Western arms, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has the power to inflict serious damage. The weapon the Russians fear most is the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), supplied by the US and capable of firing barrages of missiles from the back of an armoured lorry. Both manoeuvrable and lethally accurate, these rocket launchers are effectively unstoppable. They can wipe out an ammunition dump or a column of tanks in one hit. The last consignment of HIMARS was expected to sustain the AFU for a month. But they blazed off the whole lot in three days and with devastating effects. Homeowners take in the horrific damage caused by the airstrike in Kostiantynivka yesterday Kherson regional governor Serhii Khlan vowed last week: 'We can say that the Kherson region will definitely be liberated by September, and all the occupiers' plans will fail.' The bold predication came after a week in which Ukraine struck two key bridges leading to Kherson in an apparent attempt to cut the city off from reinforcements, and as video revealed destroyed Russian anti-air systems in the region. Kherson is the only regional capital to have fallen to Putin's troops in the five-month war and is Russia's only foothold on the western bank of the Dnipro river which flows down the centre of Ukraine. Recapturing it would deal a major propaganda blow to Putin's forces, and spell a possible end to its attempts to push west along the Black Sea to the port of Odesa. Russia's generals have previously said that cutting off Ukraine from the Black Sea - denying Zelensky's government access to its most-lucrative trading routes - is a key aim of their war. An ICU nurse was arrested after she plowed through a red light and killed a pregnant mom, her boyfriend and baby boy, along with three others in a horror crash while she was allegedly drunk and fighting with her partner. Nicole L. Linton, 37, a nurse from Texas who works in Los Angeles, was taken into custody for vehicular manslaughter after police said she slammed her car into five other vehicles while driving as fast as 100 mph by an intersection at Windsor Hills. Eight-month pregnant Asherey Ryan, 23, was pronounced dead at the scene alongside her one-year-old child Alonzo Luchiano Quintero and her unborn baby boy following the horrible crash. The unborn child's father, Reynold Lester, was also killed in the crash after the car split in half immediately on impact, those close to the family confirmed. Asherey, Reynold, and little Alonzo were on their way to a doctor's appointment for a pregnancy check-up when the 'drunk' driver smashed into the car they were traveling in. Tabia Johnson, a witness to the crash, took a photo of Linton sitting down on a nearby sidewalk following the crash, with the burning aftermath visible in the background. Johnson, who condemned the woman's driving, said Linton only appeared to have suffered minor injuries, including bleeding near the head. Linton is cooperating with investigators checking her bloodwork to see if she was under the influence when the fatal collision took place. Linton will be booked after she's released from hospital and will be formally charged by Los Angeles County district attorney on Monday, according to the LA Times. The mangled wreck of the Mercedes that Linton was speeding in is shown here after the crash. Linton survived the crash but six others died, including Asherey Ryan and her one-year-old son, Alonzo Tabia Johnson, a witness to the crash, took a photo of the suspect, Nicole L. Linton (center), commenting that Linton only appeared to suffer minor injuries in the horrible crash PICTURED: Asherey Ryan, 23, died in the fiery crash with her one-year-old child and her unborn child. Tributes have poured in for the mother, who was expecting another child this year One-year-old baby boy Alonzo (pictured) was also killed in the horrific collision between South La Brea Avenue and Slauson Avenue on Thursday afternoon Tributes poured in for the mother after she was tragically killed in the violent collision. Her one-year old Alonzo was also pronounced dead at the scene The father of the unborn child Reynold (right) also died in the deadly crash. He is pictured with Asherey Mary Thompson prays as she brings a bouquet to the memorial site set after the crash which has taken six lives so far This is the horrific moment the Los Angeles driver Nicole L Linton sent the row of cars hurtling toward another gas station over the road before stopped just before the pumps A child's car seat was seen ejected from a vehicle on the crash site. It was confirmed that a baby died in the horrific ordeal Graphic shows the direction the SUV was going in along South La Brea Avenue when it ran the red light and caused the horrendous crash Skid marks are seen on the ground at the intersection as investigators on Thursday evening tried to work out what had happened Vehicles were sent screeching across the street, bursting into flames, before finally coming to a stop in a mangled wreck just feet away from rows of highly flammable pumps. A woman has claimed that speeding driver Linton, who was her friend, was 'drunk' and 'fighting with her boyfriend' before she got in her car and smashed into a traffic jam. The gut-wrenching fatal pile up happened between South La Brea Avenue and Slauson Avenue on Thursday afternoon. Eight people were left fighting for their lives with horrendous injuries following the devastating smash at 1:40 p.m. Of those injured, six were teens and one suffered major injuries. The driver is one of those with injuries in hospital. LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner confirmed and listed Asherey Ryan's death, along with unborn 'Baby Boy Ryan.' Tributes have poured in for Asherey, who is believed to have been eight months pregnant, and her child after the devastating collision. Asherey's sister, Seana, who posted a message on Instagram about the incident, said she's still shaken and heartbroken over the loss and condemned the driver who she said slammed into her brother-in-law's car. 'We're looking for legal representation because this doesn't make any sense,' Seana said after reviewing videos of the crash. 'Her taking my sister, my nephew, my brother-in-law, she took my son's only cousin. We're deeply hurt. We have to bury four people,' she added, including the unborn child. Alonzo's father Luis Fernando Quintero wrote online: 'I dont have any words rn [right now] Im too much in pain because this is something I never expected no one did Im going to miss you both and I didnt get to say goodbye or make up for time lost with you Alonzo my heart is aching may yall rest in piece [peace] god has gained two amazing angels.' The family have created a GoFundMe to help with funeral costs following the horrific ordeal. Witness Veronica Esquival said that she was pumping gas when debris suddenly started flying through the air during the horrific smash - caused by the female driver, who was alone in the car. Witness Veronica Esquival said that the baby landed at her feet after the deadly smash. She was pumping gas at the station when the tragedy happened She said that a baby tragically landed on the floor in the middle of the gas station before panicked workers tried to resuscitate the child. She said: 'I was about to pump gas and all of a sudden, I hear all of the noises from all of the collisions, and then the fire explosion and I saw things, metal and things flying in the air. So, I just covered myself behind the pump. 'All of the sudden, a baby literally flew from the middle of the intersection to the middle of the gas station and landed right on the floor in front of me. 'One of the workers came and saw me with the baby and took the baby out of my hands. Somebody tried to resuscitate the baby, but the baby was gone.' One woman, who claims to be a friend of the Mercedes driver, said she believed she had been drinking after having an argument with her boyfriend before the deadly crash. Linton was alone in the car, officials confirmed. She told KTLA: 'She was drinking and she was not aware that it was a red light because she shot straight through.' Another heartbroken witness, Alphonso Word, who was just a few cars away from the intersection when the tragedy struck, said that the crash sounded 'like a bomb.' He said that the child was 'ejected from the street' as was the pregnant mother, who 'landed over to the side.' Devastating images show vehicles left burnt out after firefighters doused the huge flames caused by the crash - after an inferno made it look like 'the whole intersection was on fire.' London Carter, with Southern Missionary Baptist Church, prays over a makeshift memorial across the street from where a fiery multi-car crash left pregnant Asherey Ryan and her one-year-old son dead CHP and other officials investigate the fiery crash where six were killed and another eight were taken to hospital The gut-wrenching fatal pile up happened between South La Brea Avenue and Slauson Avenue on Thursday afternoon. Asherey Ryan (pictured) was one of the victims The woman was thought to have been eight months pregnant when she was killed in the car crash The mother and Alonzo (pictured) were two of the victims in the car crash. The driver, 37-year-old Linton thought to be a nurse, has been arrested after the collision The Mercedes races past a gas station then smashes into the side of a traffic jam, causing a flaming inferno in the Windsor Hills district Fire department officials are seen on Thursday with a burnt-out car following the crash The Mercedes coupe can be seen speeding past the gas station toward the intersection before the sickening crash on Wednesday A memorial cross is posted on a traffic pole as Los Angeles City as Los Angeles City Public Works technicians replace burned traffic lights and signs after the horrifying crash One woman claimed that the driver was her friend, and that she had been drinking after fighting with her boyfriend prior to the deadly crash The shocking footage, taken from a gas station overlooking the scene, starts as the Mercedes coupe races past the pumps at a blistering pace. The doomed vehicle fails to break as it bears down on traffic flowing both ways across the packed intersection. It slams into the first car, which immediately bursts into a fireball before plowing through several others that spin from the huge impact. The crash sends them all hurtling towards another gas station across the intersection before finally coming to a stop in a crumpled mess. The pile up came to a stop just before the second gas station over the road, which is considered an architectural icon. The gut-wrenching pile up, between South La Brea Avenue and Slauson Avenue, killed the pregnant woman, her unborn child and the one-year-old The doomed vehicle fails to break as it bears down on the traffic flowing both ways across the packed intersection Social media images showed the battered vehicles left without wheels and roofs following the brutal impact Images show mangled, burnt-out vehicles splattered across the street in what was described by California Highway Patrol as looking 'like a war zone.' Debra Jackson, who was filling her car with gas, told CBSLA: 'All of a sudden, I heard a big explosion and flames went over my whole car. I though my car was on fire.' California Highway Patrol spokesman Franco Pepi said that 'at least six or seven' vehicles were involved - and three became engulfed in flames. He added: 'Just unknown reasons for the high speed at this time Everyone needs to drive with more due regard because a lot of collisions happen, and this just happens to be at the top of the list of how bad they can get.' The shocking footage, taken from a gas station overlooking the scene, starts as the Mercedes coupe races past the pumps at blistering pace A young woman has become the third member of a British family to die in a suspected poisoning while on a visit to Bangladesh. Samira Islam, 20, has died in hospital 11 days after her father and brother were found dead in their rented holiday apartment. Taxi driver Rafiqul Islam, 51, and his son Mahiqul, 16, died, while two other members of the family are recovering in the mystery poisoning. The family of five travelled from Riverside, Cardiff, to visit relative in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh before the tragedy Police say they were found collapsed after a family meal - with tests being carried out over a suspicion of poisoning either in the heating system or in the food. Samira's brother Sadiqul, 24, and her mother Husnara Begum, 40, were also in the flat but have since been released from hospital. Police said Husnara and Sadiqul had told them there was a faulty electricity generator in the property which was to be used in emergencies. Mourners gather for the burial of the father and son in Bangladesh on July 28 while other family members remained in hospital Samira Islam, 20, has died in hospital 11 days after her father and brother were found dead in their rented holiday apartment Local reports say it was used the night of the incident on July 26 due to a power cut. Supt Farid Uddin said police visited the property with Husnara and Sadiqul, and said that when the generator was running it pumped out smoke. He added that this could have caused the family to be suffocated and samples had been sent to a laboratory for analysis. It had previously been reported that the father and son allegedly found with brown and blue liquids inside their nose after police broke down the door of the flat. It then emerged that the family of five had bought burgers and juice from a nearby Taipur market which they ate together before falling unconscious, according to local news outlet Daily Sylhet. The family were on a two month visit to Bangladesh when they were found unconscious by a relative. The relative said that when there was no answer at the flat on 26 July, they peered through a window and saw the family sprawled across two beds. Police officers broke into the building on Tuesday morning after the alarm was raised. The family - who are British citizens - left their home in Riverside, Cardiff, to visit family in Sylhet. They arrived in Bangladesh on July 12 and that they moved into the flat where after eating an evening meal together. Rafiqul's brother-in-law Abdul Mumin Khan told the BBC: 'I didn't know what to do or what to say. 'Everyone is very sad. Everybody is crying. My wife, all the time, is crying. I am crying as well. Rafiqul Islam, who is in his 50s, and Mahiqul Islam, 16, were found dead in a rented flat locked from the inside in the Tajpur area of Sylhet on Tuesday 26 July The family rented an apartment in the same building that Hosne Ara Islam's family lived in the Osmani Nagar district of Sylhet of Bangladesh 'I can't believe this has happened. This person is very friendly, a very nice guy. His son is very sweet and friendly. Everyone likes him and he likes everyone. His son is a very, very nice boy. One neighbour of the family in Cardiff said: 'My [family member] called me in the morning saying two passed and that three members of the family were in hospital. 'I thought maybe it had been an accident and then we heard something about poisoning. What happened is just speculation at the moment. It's really sad. 'We've been living near them for more than 25 years. They are a quiet family who do their own thing. I couldn't believe it, I've been getting so many phone calls. They were just a nice, neat family. They've been away for a couple of weeks.' A second neighbour added: 'I'm a taxi driver as well and I've known them around 20 years. I know [Rofikul] - he's a really good guy. I found out on social media. We just thought they were going on holiday to Bangladesh.' Labour councillor for Riverside Kanaya Singh spoke to WalesOnline about the incident. He said: 'Clearly this is a worrying and tragic event. Everyone I have spoken to in the community speaks very highly of the family and our thoughts are with them. 'There is also a great deal of concern because many people from Riverside go to Bangladesh on a regular basis. I hope that the authorities are able to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible.' Violence continued in Gaza and Israel today as the Palestinian territory was hit by more Israeli airstrikes before Tel Aviv was reportedly struck by rockets sent from Gaza. Explosions were heard in southern Tel Aviv and Jaffa this afternoon as rockets fired from Gaza set off alarms in Israel's largest city. It came within minutes of an airstrike on a busy street in western Gaza today, which followed similar military action last night against Islamic Jihad terror leaders. Thirteen militants were killed in the strikes last night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed, with two civilians including a five-year-old girl slain. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi this afternoon met with the leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, secretary-general Ziyad Nakhaleh in Tehran. Alaa Kazhdum was carried through the streets by her father as crowds swelled in Gaza City earlier today. Air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv just after 6pm local time (3pm GMT), with a series of explosions in the city's southern district and Jaffa reported on social media. There were no immediate reports of casualties and at least three explosions, possibly caused by interceptions, were heard in the city, Reuters reported. IDF spokesperson Ran Kochav said the nation would conduct a 'week of operations' to root out Islamic Jihad terror chiefs from the Palestinian territory. He said today: 'The Islamic Jihad is a group without a leadership, and less well organised than the Gaza ruling Hamas 'It sustained a major blow during last year's 11 days of fighting, which was evident with its ability now, to fire rockets accurately.' A fireball erupted at a building in western Gaza this afternoon after it was struck by the IDF Smoke rises from a building following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on August 6, 2022 The Israeli military launched deadly strikes against what it said were Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza as tensions continue to rise between Israel and Palestinian militant groups Palestinian children are pictured running away from an Israeli bombardment in Gaza City today. Thirteen militants and two civilians were reportedly killed in airstrikes last night No casualties have yet been reported in the strike today, which Israel said was pre-warned Within minutes of the Israeli strike, rockets were fired from Gaza to Tel Aviv, sounding sirens Alaa Kazhdum, five (left), was killed yesterday in the deadly Israeli strike on western Gaza. Right: Kazhdum's father carries her through the streets today Israeli army forces claim more than 200 rockets have been fired from Gaza into the country since Friday night. But they added some 95 per cent have been neutralised by the cutting-edge Iron Dome anti-missile system. Gaza's Hamas rulers have appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained, for now. Israel and Hamas have fought four wars and several smaller battles over the last 15 years at a staggering cost to the territory's two million Palestinian residents. A missile from Israel's Iron Dome air defence system, designed to intercept and destroy incoming short-range rockets and artillery shells, is launched in the southern Israeli city of Sderot Palestinians inspect the rubble of houses after an airstrike in Gaza City today The airstrike in Gaza City killed at least 15 Palestinians. Pictured: Palestinians inspect the rubble of houses after the attack A mushroom cloud rises above Gaza City this afternoon after another Israeli airstrike Shortly before noon, Israeli warplanes stepped up air strikes in Gaza. After warning residents in phone calls, fighter jets dropped two bombs on the house of an Islamic Jihad member, flattening the west Gaza City two-storey structure and badly damaging surrounding homes. Women and children rushed out of the area. Residents of houses targeted for destruction said they were given 15 minutes warning to evacuate. 'Warned us? They warned us with rockets and we fled without taking anything,' said Huda Shamalakh, who lived next door. She said 15 people lived in the targeted home. Another air strike hit an Islamic jihad site nearby. Gaza's Hamas rulers have appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained, for now. Children playing sport in an open space flee the bomb damage The latest round of Israel-Gaza violence was sparked by the arrest this week of a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the West Bank, part of a month-long Israeli military operation in the territory. Citing a security threat, Israel then sealed roads around the Gaza Strip and on Friday killed the militant leader in a targeted strike. A blast was heard in Gaza City, where smoke poured from the seventh floor of a tall building. Video released by Israel's military showed the strikes blowing up three guard towers with suspected militants in them. In a nationally televised speech on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said his country launched the attacks based on 'concrete threats'. 'This government has a zero-tolerance policy for any attempted attacks - of any kind - from Gaza towards Israeli territory,' Mr Lapid said. A field on the outskirts of the southern Israeli city of Sderot burns after being hit by projectiles from rockets fired from the Gaza strip (pictured) PM Yair Lapid said: 'This government has a zero-tolerance policy for any attempted attacks - of any kind - from Gaza towards Israeli territory.' Pictured: Khan Yunis in Gaza is pictured today 'Israel will not sit idly by when there are those who are trying to harm its civilians.' 'Israel isn't interested in a broader conflict in Gaza but will not shy away from one either,' he added. The violence poses an early test for Mr Lapid, who assumed the role of caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in November, when he hopes to keep the position. Mr Lapid, a centrist former TV host and author, has experience in diplomacy having served as foreign minister in the outgoing government, but has thin security credentials. A conflict with Gaza could burnish his standing and give him a boost as he faces off against former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a security hawk who led the country during three of its four wars with Hamas. Hamas also faces a dilemma in deciding whether to join a new battle barely a year after the last war caused widespread devastation. Israel's formidable and costly Iron Dome is said to have neutralised 95 per cent of rockets. It is pictured in action earlier today There has been almost no reconstruction since then, and the isolated coastal territory is mired in poverty, with unemployment hovering around 50%. The Palestinian Health Ministry said a five-year-old girl and two women were among 15 killed in Gaza, along with more than 80 wounded. It did not differentiate between civilians and militants. The Israeli military said early estimates were that around 15 fighters were killed. Dozens were wounded. Islamic Jihad said Taiseer al-Jabari, its commander for northern Gaza, was among the dead. He had succeeded another militant killed in an air strike in 2019. An Israeli military spokesman said the strikes were in response to an 'imminent threat' from two militant squads armed with anti-tank missiles. The spokesman said al-Jabari was deliberately targeted and had been responsible for 'multiple attacks' on Israel. Hundreds marched in a funeral procession for him and others who were killed, with many mourners waving Palestinian and Islamic Jihad flags and calling for revenge. Israeli media showed the skies above southern and central Israel lighting up with rockets and interceptors from Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system. It was not immediately clear how many rockets were launched, and there was no immediate word on any casualties on the Israeli side. Overnight, Israel struck rocket launchers, rocket building sites and Islamic Jihad positions. The UN special envoy to the region Tor Wennesland said: 'The launching of rockets must cease immediately, and I call on all sides to avoid further escalation.' Following the initial Israeli strikes, a few hundred people gathered outside the morgue at Gaza City's main Shifa hospital. Some went in to identify loved ones and emerged later in tears. 'May God take revenge against spies,' shouted one, referring to Palestinian informants who co-operate with Israel. Defence minister Benny Gantz approved an order to call up 25,000 reserve soldiers if needed while the military announced a 'special situation' on the home front, with schools closed and limits placed on activities in communities within 80 kilometres (50 miles) of the border. Israel closed roads around Gaza earlier this week and sent reinforcements to the border as it braced for a revenge attack after Monday's arrest of Bassam al-Saadi, an Islamic Jihad leader, in a military raid in the occupied West Bank. A teenage member of the group was killed in a gunbattle between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants. Hamas seized power in the coastal strip from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Its most recent war with Israel was in May 2021. Tensions soared again earlier this year following a wave of attacks inside Israel, near-daily military operations in the West Bank and tensions at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. Israel withdrew troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005. Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhalah, speaking to the Al-Mayadeen TV network from Iran, said 'fighters of the Palestinian resistance have to stand together to confront this aggression'. He said there would be 'no red lines' and blamed the violence on Israel. Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said 'the Israeli enemy, which started the escalation against Gaza and committed a new crime, must pay the price and bear full responsibility for it'. Iranian-backed Islamic Jihad is smaller than Hamas but largely shares its ideology. Both groups oppose Israel's existence and have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years, including the firing of rockets into Israel. It is unclear how much control Hamas has over Islamic Jihad, and Israel holds Hamas responsible for all attacks emanating from Gaza. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory since the Hamas takeover. Israel says the closure is needed to prevent Hamas from building up its military capabilities. Critics say the policy amounts to collective punishment. Advertisement The RAF have today paid heartfelt tribute to former gunner Corrie McKeague who tragically died after clambering into a bin before being crushed in a waste lorry after a night out six years ago. The 23-year-old airman, who was stationed at RAF Honington, disappeared in the early hours of September 24, 2016 after being ejected from a night club 10 miles away in Bury St Edmunds. He was last seen on CCTV at 3.25am entering a service area behind a Greggs shop but his body was never found. Two years later, in October 2018, Suffolk Police said they believed his body was at a landfill site in Cambridgeshire. Suffolk and Norfolk police spent 137 days looking for Mr McKeague at the Milton tip and trawled through more than 7,000 tonnes of rubbish as part of a 2million investigation into his disappearance. However, no remains were ever found. Tragically, the RAF gunner vanished before finding out that his girlfriend April Oliver was pregnant with their daughter Ellie-Louise, who was born a year later. But today his memory lived on with friends, family and and former colleagues all gathering to pay respects to the 'loveable rogue' whose disappearance had been shrouded in mystery for six years. His mother Nicola Urquhart greeted mourners outside the military memorial service held at a church at RAF Honington, where he was stationed, as the City of Norwich Pipe Band played ahead of the service on Saturday. The RAF have today paid poignant tribute to missing airman Corrie McKeague (pictured above with his girlfriend April Oliver) who vanished after a night out in Bury St Edmunds in 2016 and was never found Brother Daroch McKeague and sister-in-law Cloe McKeague (left) join with his mother, Nicola Urquhart (right), arrive for the memorial service for RAF gunner Corrie McKeague on Saturday Mourners dressed in RAF uniform arrive for the memorial service at RAF Honington held to honour the life of airman Corrie McKeague following his tragic passing six years ago In March, an inquest jury recorded in a narrative conclusion that Mr McKeague died at approximately 4.20am in Bury St Edmunds as a result of 'compression asphyxia in association with multiple injuries' Ms Urquhart is pictured in a warm embrace ahead of the memorial service held for her son and RAF gunner Corrie McKeague Mr McKeague's girlfriend April Oliver pictured with the daughter he never got to meet Today the airman's memory lived on with friends, family and and former colleagues all gathering to pay respects to the 'loveable rogue' whose death had been shrouded in mystery until earlier this year Gunner Corrie McKeague had 'developed a binge-drinking' habit following the passing of his friend Mr McKeagues mother Nicola Urquhart, in a statement read to the inquest in Ipswich by lawyer Andrew Walker, said one of her sons very close female friends was hit by a train and killed instantly. This event had a huge impact on Corrie,' she said. She added that Mr McKeague had started to train as a hairdresser, then as a PE teacher, before joining the RAF. While he was prescribed antidepressants in the past, she said he was back to his usual happy self by 2015. Ms Urquhart said her son regularly lost his phone or wallet on nights out but was never aggressive with or without alcohol. There was nothing to suggest Corrie had any problems or concerns around the time of his disappearance, she said. She said he had told her that he had bumped a taxi on one occasion, meaning he had run off without paying. She said that if a stranger asked him to get into his boot to go to a party she believed that he would go. The inquest into Mr McKeague's death held earlier this year also heard that he was a heavy sleeper when drunk. Chief Superintendent Marina Ericson, who became senior investigating officer from November 2017, said senior officers at RAF Honington, where Mr McKeague was stationed, reported him missing to police in a phone call at 3.42pm on Monday September 26. She said it was treated as a high risk case as he was in the RAF, his disappearance was out of character and at the time the major investigation team was also investigating reports of an attempted kidnap at RAF Marham in Norfolk in July 2016, which was later discounted. She said there were four overarching hypotheses when she became senior investigating officer. These were: that Mr McKeague died following an accident; he died as a result of criminality; he remains alive but held against his will and unable to contact anyone; he remains alive and is deliberately staying away and does not wish to be found. She told the inquest one line of inquiry was to look at Mr McKeagues lifestyle. She agreed with Peter Taheri, counsel to the inquest, that she said in a witness statement that Corrie stated to a colleague he had previously slept in a bin. Asked for the source of this information, she said: Two witnesses who were colleagues of Corrie McKeague. She said in her witness statement that Mr McKeague was described as being a heavy sleeper when drunk. Asked by Mr Taheri for the source of this, she said: Colleagues, friends, I believe some of the family statements made reference to how he slept when he had had a drink. Advertisement Mr McKeague's brother Daroch McKeague and sister-in-law Cloe McKeague were among those to appear at the ceremony at mid-morning on Saturday. Attendees were pictured wearing yellow, blue and green after the family encouraged mourners to wear bright colours to the service to remember their vibrant character of a son. Station Commander Group Captain Dutch Holland said in a statement: 'I am privileged to have the memorial service for SAC Corrie McKeague today here at RAF Honington where he spent his RAF Regiment career. 'This memorial service is an act of worship led by a RAF Padre and we ask that the family's privacy is respected before, during and after this service as they remember the loss of a son, father and brother. 'Our thoughts continue to be with SAC McKeague's family, friends and colleagues and all those whose lives he touched.' On Friday, September 23, 2016, Mr McKeague drove into Bury St Edmunds and met up with RAF colleagues to go drinking and socialising. He drank so much he was asked to leave Flex nightclub and was later seen asleep in a doorway with a takeaway. At 3.25am on Saturday, September 24, CCTV footage shows him entering a horseshoe-shaped area in Brentgovel Street, behind a Superdrug and a Greggs shop, where there are several industrial waste bins. At 4.19am, a Biffa waste lorry emptied the Greggs bin and the bin was recorded as weighing 116kg (18st 3lb). This was around 70kg to 80kg (12st 8lb) more than its average weight. He died at about 4.20am in Bury St Edmunds as a result of 'compression asphyxia in association with multiple injuries', jurors at the inquest recorded. The rubbish was taken to a transfer station at Red Lodge. Records suggest it then went to the Milton landfill site, but police have not discounted it being taken elsewhere. Later that day, at around 3.40pm, Mr McKeagues colleagues at RAF Honington reported him missing. Mr McKeague never found out that his girlfriend April Oliver was pregnant before he died, it also emerged. In a statement, Miss Oliver previously said to her unborn child: You bring me so much pain yet just as much joy. Your daddy would be so proud of you, my little one and would love you as much as I do. Corrie will be part of both of us forever, no one can take that away. The fitness instructor had been dating Corrie for around five months before he went missing on September 24 following a night out with friends in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. She said: I struggle with finding the right words because sometimes when you have to be strong and out on a brave face you forget about the precious moments that pass by. Yesterday was an emotional but exciting day, and sometimes it only takes one person to help you see what you have. I miss and love Corrie with every part of my body and little things set off different emotions. I cant help but be truly unconditionally in love with my baby and youre not here yet. You bring so much pain yet just as much joy and your daddy would be proud of you my little one and would love you as much as I do. Corrie will be a part of both of us forever and no one can take that away. Mummy loves you little baby. Writing on the Find Corrie Facebook page in July, Ms Urquhart said that she had 'struggled to come to terms' with the findings, but 'as a family we are ready to have a memorial for Corrie'. 'The Royal Air Force are holding a military memorial for Corrie for us,' she said. 'I will never be able to thank the RAF for all they have done and tried to do for us, for all they did for Corrie.' She added: 'As this is on public ground and not on the actual RAF base, anyone can attend the service.' The family requested no flowers and instead took a collection for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Friends and family arrived at the service in yellow and blue (right) after the family requested bright colours be worn to remember their son. His mother Nicola Urquhart (left) greeted mourners outside the church at RAF Honington The City of Norwich Pipe Band play a thoughtful tune ahead of gunner Corrie McKeague's memorial service on Saturday Mr McKeague (pictured) was last seen in a part of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, known as the 'Horseshoe' at 3.24am on Saturday, September 24, 2016 - around nine miles from his base at RAF Honington Corrie McKeague, pictured on the night out when he disappeared, on one of the final CCTV images of him alive Picture shows the Biffa bins in Bury St Edmunds in 2017 where an inquest heard that Corrie McKeague climbed into Corrie McKeague was last seen near a bin loading area in Bury St Edmunds in 2016. Police searched a landfill site near Cambridge for his body in March the following year. In August 2020, police discovered human bones but they did not belong to Mr McKeague, police said How the search and subsequent case of missing airman Corrie McKeague unfolded September 24, 2016 - Corrie McKeague goes missing after a night out in Bury St Edmunds. He was last seen on CCTV at 3.25am entering a service area behind a Greggs shop but his body was never found September 26 - RAF Honington report disappearance to police October 4 - It is revealed that his mobile phone had been tracked moving 12 miles away to Barton Mills hours after he was last seen November 15 - Part of the A14 near Bury St Edmunds is closed while police carry out a roadside search January 2017 - Corrie's girlfriend April Oliver reveals she is pregnant February 2017 - A search begins at a landfill site in Milton, Cambridge, amid fears Corrie jumped into a bin March 1 - A man is arrested but later released without charge June - Corrie's daughter Ellie-Louise is born July - Search of Milton landfill site is ended by police October - Search is restarted at the dump as police focus on a new section of the site November - A report by specialist officers concluded Mr McKeague was 'most likely' at the landfill site December - Reward for information rises to 100,000. In the same month, the second search for him at the landfill site ends after police spent 137 days trawling through more than 7,000 tonnes of rubbish January, 2018 - It is announced that search has cost 1.6million so far March 26, 2018 - Police announce case has been passed on to cold case team October 2018 - Suffolk Police said they believed his body was at a landfill site in Cambridgeshire January 2019 - Suffolk and Norfolk police spend the next 137 days looking for Mr McKeague at the Milton tip and trawled through more than 7,000 tonnes of rubbish. No remains are ever found August 27, 2020 - A murder inquiry is launched after human remains are found in two bin bags in the River Stour in Sudbury September 4 - Police confirm the remains found in Sudbury were not Mr McKeague's. November 13, 2020 - Inquest opens into Mr McKeague's death four years earlier. Suspicions are raised that he died after falling asleep in a wheelie bin March 22, 2022 - The inquest records a narrative conclusion that Mr McKeague died at approximately 4.20am in Bury St Edmunds as a result of 'compression asphyxia in association with multiple injuries' Advertisement During the inquest into his death, Mr McKeague's father Martin McKeague said in a statement that he had a 'falling out' with his son shortly before his disappearance after 'having words' with him about his 'binge-drinking problem'. In March, an inquest jury recorded in a narrative conclusion that Mr McKeague died at approximately 4.20am in Bury St Edmunds as a result of 'compression asphyxia in association with multiple injuries'. In their conclusion, they said his 'death was contributed to by impaired judgment due to alcohol consumption', that there were 'ineffective bin locks', an 'ineffective search of the bin' before it was tipped, and 'poor visibility through a Perspex viewing window on the lorry'. Those attending the inquest in March heard how Mr McKeague had slept in a bin before this tragic incident unfolded. He had also slept under bin bags on a previous night out, using them like a blanket, and was a heavy sleeper when drunk, the hearing was told. Mr McKeague was also seen asleep in a shop doorway earlier on September 24 before he awoke and walked to the service area where he was last seen. Waste firm Biffa initially told police the weight of the bin was 11kg (1st 10lbs) but it was later recorded as 116kg (18st 3lbs). The force said the movement of Mr McKeagues mobile phone mirrored the movement of the waste lorry that collected the bin from the service area where he was last seen. Mr McKeague was not seen on CCTV leaving the area on foot. Members of Mr McKeague's family, including his mother, father, two brothers and his daughter's mother, were in court as the jury returned its findings. After the ruling, his father wept and embraced his family as he said that he hopes his son can 'finally be left to rest in peace', with the inquest shining 'a new light on the truth for everyone'. He also criticised 'conspiracy theorists' who he said had misled people, saying that the inquest had 'forced the truth out into the open for everyone to see'. Describing his son as a 'loveable rogue who loved to socialise and party', Mr McKeague continued: 'He could walk into a room and light it up. Corrie was the atmosphere and could speak to anyone. 'I have lost everything as a result of losing him and he is very much missed by all.' His father also thanked Suffolk Police for the 'amazing, untiring and exemplary work they did during the investigation into my son Corrie's death'. Meanwhile, Mr McKeague's mother Nicola Urquhart today said she now '100%' believes that is what happened - despite her son's body never being found, and gushed about her granddaughter who 'is the spit' of Mr McKeague. Ms Urquhart said: 'We did have a lot of things that, at the time in the investigation, they didn't make sense to us. 'We've always said the most obvious thing is that Corrie ended up in a bin and went to the landfill. 'We had other questions, though, and until they could be answered we couldn't get to that conclusion either. 'However, we've heard information in the inquest that we now completely believe in the verdict that the jury have given today, 100%. 'We've had a long conversation with the police, with the SIOs (senior investigating officers) of this team, and it has been a really productive, genuinely helpful, lessons-learned conversation with them. 'As a family, we've now all walked out of there with a huge weight lifted off our shoulders.' Three-year-old Sammy Ayling was rescued from the brink of death thanks to her doting uncle. The toddler had suffered a congenital disorder in 2019 that had starved her kidneys of vital nutrients, causing them to fail. Doctors told her devastated parents, Stacey, 44, and Jim, 46, from Manchester, that she had just a 50 per cent chance of surviving a year. The kidney damage meant she failed to grow properly and couldnt eat without vomiting, so had to rely on a tube to deliver nutrients into her stomach. So when her uncle, Andrew Silverman, 36, was confirmed as a suitable match for a transplant, he considered if he might be able to help. As soon as she was born we were told her only hope was a kidney transplant, says Andrew, who is a company director and has three children of his own. UNIQUE BOND: Sammy Ayling is now thriving thanks to her uncle, Andrew Silverman And I asked there and then if I could get myself tested for donation. Today, just over a year after their kidney swap, Sammy is healthy and happy. She has this rosy colour in her cheeks, says Andrew. As shes got older, its been incredible watching her reach the milestones that the other kids in our family have. As far as Im concerned, my kidney is where it should be. Experts say the story highlights the importance of adult kidney donors, and are urging more people to come forward. The number of people donating kidneys has reached new lows, dropping a third between 2020 and 2021. About 100 children are currently waiting for a kidney transplant. In most of these cases it is because a family member cant donate usually due to a mismatch of proteins in the blood which would cause the recipients immune system to attack the new kidney. Doctors can use a donated organ from a deceased donor, preferably from a child, who will be a like-for-like size match. But few grieving parents give permission for their childs organs to be donated after they die. In 2018 the most recent figures available just 57 donors of heart, lungs and kidneys were aged 17 or under. The best outcomes usually come from a living donor, says Dr Afshin Tavakoli, consultant surgeon in transplantation and renal failure at Manchester Royal Infirmary. And we rely on adults for this, because children cannot donate organs. People assume that if they donate a kidney it will go to an adult of a similar physical size, but that isnt the case. We simply move things around to make space. A 2001 study by researchers from Stanford University found that adult kidney donors in optimum health led to the best outcomes in children receiving the organ, compared with living donors of any other age. Living with one kidney doesnt shorten the donors lifespan, but they must be closely monitored due to an increased risk of high blood pressure and excess protein in their urine. Thousands on waiting list There are currently 6,269 patients on the waiting list for an organ transplant in the UK. Advertisement Donors and patients must be matched on blood type as well as other proteins that signal to the immune system that the organ is familiar, giving it more chance of being accepted. Sammy had two matched donors her mother and her uncle. But Stacey was unable to undergo major surgery due to caring responsibilities for Sammy and her two other children, as well as injuries related to Sammys traumatic birth. Andrew says: I have a son who has had five brain surgeries. The support from my sister was incredible throughout it all, and now it was my turn to return the favour. In June last year, both Andrew and Sammy went in for their respective procedures a stones-throw from each other Sammy at the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital and Andrew at the Royal Infirmary. My kidney was in her body within half an hour, says Andrew. After a month in hospital, Sammy was finally fit to go home. Like all transplant patients, she will have to take daily doses of immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of her life to stop her body rejecting her new kidney. Andrew, meanwhile, has been left with a 4in scar above his belly button and his fitness level has suffered. I used to get on my exercise bike for half an hour or so a few times a week, and Id lift pretty heavy weights, he says. Now, if I try to do any exercise, I get very tired. But I know it will get better in time. As for his unique bond with his niece, he adds: Maybe well talk about it when shes older, but for now were focusing on how shes doing and its a joy to see her thriving. The owner of a Las Vegas smoke shop was seen on video stabbing a would-be robber seven times after the criminal jumped the counter. Johnny Nguyen, the clerk working the counter of Smokestrom Smoke Shop on Wednesday, saw two people described only as juveniles enter wearing masks, according to 8NewsNow. Nguyen can be heard asking: 'Why are you guys wearing masks like that?' After they refuse to answer, he requests them 'to just leave'. The clerk said that 'at first I thought they were normal customers and then I realized they had like ski masks on. I had to assume they had a firearm so I just wanted to make sure I could protect myself'. He adds that though he never saw a visible firearm, he felt 'I couldn't take that chance' given the situation. Nguyen decided to strike back after one of the robbers, dressed in black, vaulted over the counter. He could be seen plunging a blade into the criminal, who later wailed for help. The two juveniles who tried to rob Nguyen - including the boy who was stabbed - were both arrested. The stabbing victim was taken to hospital, with no updates on his condition shared. It is unclear if Nguyen faces arrest. DailyMail.com has contacted him and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department for further comment. The owner of a Las Vegas smoke shop was seen on video stabbing a would-be robber seven times after he attempted to jump the counter Johnny Nguyen (pictured), the clerk working the counter of Smokestrom Smoke Shop on Wednesday, saw two people described only as juveniles enter wearing masks The clerk said that 'at first I thought they were normal customers and then I realized they had like ski masks on. I had to assume they had a firearm so I just wanted to make sure I could protect myself'. The accomplice of the attacker who was stabbed is pictured Before long, one of the two juveniles grabs what looks like a mug from the counter next to Nguyen's cash register and walks toward the door. Attempting to reason with him, Nguyen says he can take the mug but leave the coins that were inside of it. The same kid then reaches and grabs another item before turning and trying to make off with it. The other juvenile then jumps over the glass case toward Nguyen, who is on video grabbing some sort of sharp object by his register. The clerk then runs at the kid and stabs him what appears to be seven times, with the juvenile audibly heard yelling: 'I'm dead! I'm dead!'. He then falls to the ground. Nguyen seen looking down at the would be robber that he just stabbed in self defense seven times Nguyen calls 911 after leaving the masked crook near the front door of Smokestrom, where he can be heard telling Nguyen that this 'wasn't my idea' and asking him to 'not let me die' Nguyen said it was an 'adrenaline rush and fight or flight even thinking about it now my heart rate is a little bit elevated'. He then calls 911 after leaving the masked crook near the front door of Smokestrom, where he can be heard telling Nguyen that this 'wasn't my idea' and asking him to 'not let me die'. 'I don't think he planned on getting stabbed that day obviously, but if you try robbing a store you are taking a risk. This is a small business obviously,' Nguyen said. A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a black van was driven into a group of pedestrians in the early hours of this morning. Greater Manchester Police arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder in Westhoughton, Bolton, and emergency services reached the scene at 1.36am. Police believe the incident was 'domestic related' and followed an earlier 'altercation'. Nobody was injured in the incident on Market Street, although police said the outcome could have been 'very different'. A dramatic video of the attack filmed from a nearby building shows a black van coming round a corner at speed, before veering onto the pavement and nearly hitting a pedestrian. Greater Manchester Police arrested a 27-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder in Westhoughton, Bolton, and emergency services reached the scene at 1.36am. Pictured: Video footage shows the van swerving near pedestrians and the pavement The footage then changes to a new terrifying angle, showing the van driving head-on towards another another man. A man in a black t-shirt appears to come in close contact with it and begins to chase after the van. It knocks over a bin and speeds off after nearly hitting him yet again. Photographs taken from the scene also show shards of glass in the road. The area was taped off and a cordon remains in place as the police investigate. The van knocked over a ban and shards of glass were photographed at the scene The area remains cordoned off as police investigate A GMP spokesman said: 'At 1.36am this morning, police were called to a report of a male driving a van into a group of people on Market Street, Westhoughton. Officers attended the scene and a 27-year-old man was detained and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.' Detective Inspector Stuart Woodhead, of GMPs Bolton CID, added: 'Thankfully no one was seriously hurt during this incident but the outcome could have been very different, hence why we have arrested the suspect on suspicion of attempted murder. 'Following enquiries we believe this to have been a domestic-related incident with the suspect believed to have been driving into a group of people who he was involved in an altercation with. Police believe the incident was 'domestic related' and followed an earlier 'altercation' 'The suspect remains in custody for questioning and a scene will remain in place on Market Street today while our investigation continues.' Anyone with information, or anyone who witnessed this incident, is asked to contact police on 0161 85 65757 quoting log 235 of the 6th August 2022. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Pentagon officials have denied DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's plea for help to deal with thousands of migrants that Texas Governor Greg Abbott has bussed up from the border to her sanctuary city. On Friday, the Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin refused the request, saying troop 'readiness' may be affected if the National Guard were to divert its members to the city to help deal with the 6,200 illegal immigrants dumped on its streets. He also declined to provide the DC Armory to the city to assist with the reception of migrants to the city, claiming that the Department of Defense has determined that FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program has sufficient funds 'at this point to provide migrant assistance.' Bowser now says her office will submit a more specific request for federal assistance. Last month, she requested that the federal National Guard deploy 150 members each day to deal with the crisis, and create a 'suitable federal location' for a mass housing and processing center suggesting the DC Armory as a potential location. She spoke after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey shipped thousands of illegal immigrants to the nation's capitol to spread out the burden of a surge in illegal immigration since the president decided to lift a pandemic-era emergency health order that restricted migration on the southern border. Since April, the Associated Press reports, Abbott has sent at least 5,200 migrants to DC, while Ducey has sent more than 1,000 migrants since May. Those illegal immigrants often arrive in DC without resources and a place to go, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has said, and is straining the city's ability to deal with its own homeless residents. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser slammed the Pentagon's decision not to send in National Guard troops to deal with the city's growing migrant problem in a news conference on Friday Since April, Texas Gov Greg Abbott has sent at least 5,200 migrants to DC, while Arizona Gov Doug Ducey has sent more than 1,000 migrants to the city since May Bowser said in a news conference on Friday that the city plans to resubmit 'a more specified request for help' as they continue to work toward making the Armory a processing center. The mayor also rejected the two Republican governors' assertions that the migrant journeys are voluntary, and are part of an effort to reunite families in the United States. Instead, she said, the migrants are being 'tricked,' as many do not get close enough to their final destination and are being ditched at Union Station near the US Capitol and the White House. She then accused the two Republican governors of 'cruel political gamesmanship,' and said they had 'decided to use desperate people to score political points.' 'We want to continue to work with the Department of Defense so they understand our operational needs and to assure that political considerations are not a part of their decision,' Bowser said. 'We need the National Guard,' Bowser continued. 'If we were a state, I would have already done it.' She explained that a coalition of local charitable groups have been working to feed and shelter the migrants, aided by a $1 million grant from FEMA, but the organizers are running out of funds and personnel to deal with the growing problem. 'The reliance on NGOs is not working, and is unsustainable they are overwhelmed and underfunded,' Bowser said, adding: 'If the federal government is not going to do it, they need to at least give us the resources that we need.' Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has invited Bowser, as well as New York City Mayor Eric Adams, to the southern border to see the 'humanitarian crisis firsthand,' but Adams declined. Now, Abbott is sending migrants to the Big Apple as well, with the first busload of Central American migrants awaiting their court date arriving in the city on Friday. Bowser has said the influx of migrants to the nation's capitol has strained its ability to deal with its own homeless residents. About 30 migrants are pictured here disembarking after arriving to DC from Texas on July 29 The DC mayor has also claimed that the migrants are being 'tricked' to board the buses to the city. Migrants from Venezuela are seen here disembarking within view of the US Capitol on August 2 Bowser claims the city needs federal assistance to deal with the growing migrant problem The group was dropped off at the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan after making the almost 2,000-mile trip from the border that lasted days. A group of charity workers and volunteers greeted the roughly 50 migrants, who were mostly men, before they ventured into the city for hotels or shelters. One of the arrivals Jose Rodriguez, 38, told DailyMail.com he chose New York because it has the 'best opportunities' of the options he was given when he crossed the border. He added that the group wasn't allowed to leave a building in Texas building they were housed in and he lost all of his documents in his journey over the Rio Grande. Bertilio Rosale, 54, also told DailyMail.com on arrival: 'I want to see the Statue of Liberty and the rest of the city. There are more job opportunities here, I will do anything I can. The bus here was good, we have all come from all over.' But much of the group had only been told 24 hours before that they were being moved, with many losing any form of identification when crossing the river. The first footage of the bus arriving in New York at 6.30am Friday was captured by Fox News, as the The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless blasted Abbott's decision to send the migrants to the Big Apple. 'Governor Abbott is shamelessly exploiting these migrants - human beings who have endured immense suffering in their home countries and on the journey to the United States, seeking safe haven and a better life - to serve some myopic political purpose,' the organization said in a statement. 'Regardless of who these people are, where they are from, or for what cynical reason they are being sent here, New York is a sanctuary and right to shelter city, and the City must ensure that beds and critical services are immediately available to meet any demand. 'As representatives of homeless New Yorkers and the legal team who secured New Yorks historic right to shelter law, we will continue to monitor this development, including onsite at the Citys shelter intake centers for both individuals and for families. 'We call on City Hall to immediately provide this Administrations plan for addressing the needs of all migrants arriving in New York City and requiring our help.' The first bus of migrants sent from Texas by Governor Greg Abbott arrived in New York City on Friday morning at around 6.30am The group was dropped off at Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan after making the almost 2,000-mile trip from the border in footage captured by Fox News A group of charity workers and volunteers greeted the roughly 50 migrants, who were mostly men, before they ventured into the city Charity workers and volunteers met the migrants after their journey to help them get to shelters or hotels in New York Abbott has said he decided to ship the migrants to New York and DC after speaking to leaders in Uvalde and Del Rio who said they couldn't cope with the number of arrivals. 'And they were talking about getting the illegal immigrants that border patrol had dropped off into their communities that they were incapable of dealing with, and them actually busing them to San Antonio,' he told the Conservative Political Action Conference. 'I said don't do that. I have a better idea. 'We're gonna bust him all the way to Washington D.C. 'We deal with that number every single day, I got one thing to tell you and to tell them there are more buses on the way as we gather at this conference today.' The audience responded with whoops and cheers, before Abbott plugged a crowd-funding website that helps pay for the buses. He then announced on Friday: 'Because of President Biden's continued refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies, the State of Texas has had to take unprecedented action to keep our communities safe 'In addition to Washington, D.C., New York City is the ideal destination for these migrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams has boasted about within the sanctuary city. 'I hope he follows through on his promise of welcoming all migrants with open arms so that our overrun and overwhelmed border towns can find relief.' But Adams has already declared a city-wide emergency and called on the federal government to step in as a major influx of migrants strains New York City's shelter system. Roughly 4,000 asylum-seekers have come to NYC since May, Adams' office stated. 'New York is a city of immigrants, and we will always welcome newcomers with open arms. Over the past two months, we have seen a significant increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving in our city's shelter system,' Adams said in a statement. He pledged that he will 'continue to work with federal and state partners to procure additional financial resources immediately' to assist with the surge. Speaking of Abbott's decision to ship migrants on Friday, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said: 'We have lost operational control of the border'. In June, 240,991 migrants were caught crossing the border, including six who were on a terror watch list. It was a 14 per cent decline from May, but the surge in crossings over the last year has broken records. Twenty-six percent of all crossers in June had previously attempted to cross the border within the last year, which is up from the usual 15 percent between 2014 and 2019, CBP said. The largest group to come through was single adults, making up 68 percent of the crossing, with 140,197 people. A teenager has died outside a pizzeria after being the fifth to be stabbed in London in a four day flurry of knife crime. Police were called to High Road in Leytonstone this afternoon after reports of a violent attack in a busy high street. Officers and the London Ambulance attended, and found a man believed to be in his late teens suffering from stab injuries. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been informed. At this early stage, there have been no arrests and police are asking anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 3896/06Aug. Police were called to High Road in Leytonstone this afternoon after reports of a violent attack in a busy high street The latest stabbing occurred in north west London, following on from four other stabbings dotted around the city The tragic death comes just two days after a 15-year-old boy was stabbed to death in a knife attack at Highbury Fields, north London, at around 9pm on Thursday night. He reportedly told police 'I'm dying' as he lay bleeding beside a playground. Heartbreakingly, officers told him he was 'going to be OK' as they waited for an ambulance to arrive. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and rushed to hospital, but died not long later. The BBC said he is the youngest teenager to be stabbed to death in the capital so far this year and Scotland Yard officers have now launched a murder probe. Witnesses reported a gang of 50 to 70 people at the scene before the attack took place. Chloe Hadjimatheou, 47, was in the playground with her five-year-old son, she said: 'I didn't see the stabbing itself, I saw the young people running away and the guy on the ground. I didn't realise what was going on I didn't connect them at first, I thought he was drunk. A search took place at Highbury Fields after a fifteen-year-old was stabbed to death there on Thursday Forensics were gathering evidence at the crime scene in north London on Friday Emergency services rushed to Highbury Fields in Highbury, Islington, at around 9pm on Thursday 'Within five minutes a big police van came down and then another two unmarked cars, they cordoned off the whole thing and still there was no ambulance. 'It took a while to get there and the kid was in a lot of pain and at one point he was shouting 'I'm dying' and the police officer was saying 'you are going to be OK'. 'So I thought he would be OK. I was shocked to find out what happened this morning.' London remains gripped by a summer crime wave across the capital in the wake of 14 fatalities since the start of July. It follows three other stabbings in the capital on Wednesday night. In Ilford, east London, a 15-year-old boy was stabbed on Chadwick Road outside a Royal Mail sorting office at 4.20pm on Wednesday, August 3. Another teenager was stabbed three hours later on Eltham High street, in Eltham, south-east London, at 6.30pm. At around 10.38pm, a third stabbing happened in south London, at Lewisham station. Figures reveal how knife crime rate has shot up Last month it emerged police forces in England and Wales had recorded the highest number of offences in 20 years, driven by a sharp rise in fraud, rape and violent attacks. A total of 6.3million crimes were recorded in the year to March 2022 four per cent higher than the previous all-time high of 6.1million in 2019/20. It was also up 16 per cent on 2020/21, when crime levels were affected by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. The figures, which were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), showed knife crime, theft and domestic abuse all increased in the 12 months to March. Police-recorded offences of fraud and computer misuse rose 17 per cent, from 828,364 in 2020/21 to 965,162 in 2021/22. Knife crime rose by 10 per cent to 49,027 offences in the year to March, compared to 44,642 in the previous 12 months though this is below the pre-pandemic year of 2019/20, which saw 55,078 offences. Advertisement Last month it emerged police forces in England and Wales had recorded the highest number of offences in 20 years, driven by a sharp rise in fraud, rape and violent attacks. A total of 6.3million crimes were recorded in the year to March 2022 four per cent higher than the previous all-time high of 6.1million in 2019/20. It was also up 16 per cent on 2020/21, when crime levels were affected by Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. Knife crime rose by 10 per cent to 49,027 offences in the year to March, compared to 44,642 in the previous 12 months though this is below the pre-pandemic year of 2019/20, which saw 55,078 offences. It comes after Lilia Valutyte was brutally killed outside her mother's embroidery shop in the town centre of Boston, Lincolnshire at around 6.20pm on Thursday, July 28. Footage has shown the moment the youngster was playing with her five-year-old sibling on a street in broad daylight with a hula hoop - which the pair often did while their mother was at work - before Lilia was attacked just ten minutes later. Police officers could be seen running over to Lila followed by paramedics who rushed towards the little girl with their first-aid bags in a desperate bid to save her. Shocked residents could then be seen gathering at the scene on Fountain Lane before an officer ushers them away, ITV News reports. Lithuanian national Deividas Skebas, 22, of Boston, was charged with stabbing Lilia to death on Monday at Lincoln Crown Court. He has been remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at Lincoln Crown Court on September 19, when a provisional trial date will be fixed. After the tragedy, her family was said to be in hiding for fear of being targeted, according to the Sun. A family friend said they are 'so, so worried', adding: 'They have not been able to stay at home. They are worried whoever did this could still be out there. They are worried they could be a target. 'It is just so awful they have the impossible task of trying to come to terms with the loss of Lilia. Then they still feel they need to protect their other little daughter.' Lilia's death has prompted an outpouring of grief in a town known for its large Eastern European community. Lilia Valutyte (pictured) was brutally stabbed to death outside her mother's embroidery shop in the town centre of Boston, Lincolnshire at around 6.20pm on Thursday, 28 July HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday announced that he was boycotting the Niti Aayogs Governing Council meeting on Sunday. Declaring that nothing concrete ever came out of the Niti Aayog meetings, Chandrashekar Rao said, It is a waste of breath. Terming the institution a bhajana mandali (cheerleading squad), Chandrashekar Rao stopped short of directly calling it toothless and useless, but left no one in doubt. The Chief Minister was addressing a press conference at Pragathi Bhavan, where he also released an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in which he listed out various reasons why attending the meeting would be useless. In the letter, Chandrashekar Rao said, I do not find it useful to attend the 7th Governing Council meeting of Niti Aayog. and I am staying away from it as a mark of strong protest against the present trend of the Central government to discriminate against the states and not treating them as equal partners in our collective effort to make India a strong and developed country. Chandrashekar Rao said his boycott decision was not because he had any personal bones to pick with Modi but it was about raising his voice against him for the people of the country. Let the country discuss why the Telangana Chief Minister has boycotted the meeting. Let the Prime Minister be angry with me. My protest is my message to the nation, he told reporters. The Chief Ministers objections to Niti Aayogs functioning primarily revolved around the Centre ignoring the institutions recommendations, and not giving states the freedom to pitch their needs to Niti Aayog based on their specific local requirements. Chief Ministers do not get enough time to speak, and after a few minutes a bell rings saying you should stop now. Niti Aayog was set up as a replacement for the Planning Commission of India as a step towards cooperative federalism but there is no sign of it, he said. He also said the federal structure was being undermined deliberately by the Centre, and progressive states were being penalised forgetting the fact that development in any state contributed to the overall development of India. He also slammed the Centre for ignoring the Niti Aayogs recommendations to provide grants of `23,205 crore for Mission Kakatiya and Mission Bhagiratha, two schemes that were described by the Niti Aayog as pioneering in the country. These, he said, are among the reasons why he was boycotting the meeting. Let the Prime Minister know what the majority of people are thinking. The Centre must change its attitude. My protest is aimed at that, he said. Chandrashekar Rao also took objection to the Centre changing norms for borrowings by states, hitting progressive states like Telangana, and how the Centre was robbing states of their due share of tax revenues by renaming shareable taxes as cesses and keeping this stream of revenue for itself. Swimming with dolphins has long been the dream of many an adventurous backpacker. But one travelling Brit got more than he bargained for when he took a dive with a pod of dolphins off the coast of New Zealand to cross another exploit off the bucket list. Adam Walker from Nottingham was swimming with the mammals when a six-foot great white shark appeared only a few feet away. Adam Walker from Nottingham was completing the 16-mile challenge to swim across the Cook Strait when he came across the shark, with the cold blooded beast appearing underneath him He was completing the 16-mile challenge to swim across the Cook Strait when he came across the shark, with the cold blooded beast swimming beneath him. 'I happened to look down and saw a shark a few metres underneath me,' Adam said on his YouTube channel. 'I tried not to panic as I have an objective to successfully swim across.' Adam says the dolphins formed a protective ring around him when the shark approached, shielding him from any potential attacks. 'Id like to think they were protecting me and guiding me home,' he told the Marlborough Express. 'This swim will stay with me forever.' Sticking together in pods is the main way dolphins defend one another from a sharks attack, with the plucky creatures often harassing the predator and driving it away. Whether the dolphins did so in defense of Adam is another matter, but they saw off the shark in any case. Dolphins often stick together in pods as a means of defending one another from a sharks attack, often chasing it away by harassing it 'I can't say whether the dolphins came as a pod to my aid as they can't speak to me, however I can say that after a few minutes the shark disappeared and the dolphins stayed with me for another 50 mins which was an amazing experience,' said Adam. He said his friend told him he didn't need to worry about sharks in the water so close to the shore, prompting him to try and cross the strait, reported The Sun. Adam said he had encountered sharks while swimming on two other occasions, while in Hawaii and the Tsugaru channel in Japan, adding that the best approach when coming across a shark is not to panic. Freedom Caucus Rep. Lauren Boebert is expected to call out House Republican Party leadership today in a fiery CPAC speech on Saturday, demanding assertive conservative governing from a potential GOP majority. Boebert will tell the party she has been 'disappointed too many times' in a speech that suggests she may be unwilling to support certain Republicans who will vie for leadership positions in the party, including Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who will run for speaker if the GOP gains a majority in the November 2022 election. Boebert plans to tell the audience she and her 'fellow warriors' in the House Freedom Caucus are 'ready for battle,' at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Fox News reports. 'I wish I could tell you that I had full faith in GOP leadership in both the House and Senate to defund the deep state and to hold the Biden regime accountable,' she's expected to say. On the list of Boebert's proposed priorities are 'end medical tyranny, secure the southern border and fire Anthony Fauci.' She will say that any Republican opposed to these points will 'not have my support. Not in their re-election and certainly not for speaker.' Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) speaks during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit held in July. Boebert plans to fire off at Republican party leadership in her speech at CPAC, saying she will not support Republicans that disagree with her priorities Rep. Kevin McCarthy R-Calif., who is expected to run for speaker if the GOP gain a majority from the midterm elections, seemed to be the main victim of Boebert's ire, as he will likely be forced to work with liberal president Joe Biden 'The Freedom Caucus fired John Boehner, ran off squishy Paul Ryan and we will not tolerate another GOP speaker that works with Democrats more than Republicans.' Former House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Boebert and the Freedom Caucus can be compared to AOC and The Squad in the way they make it harder for the party to operate smoothly. 'What Nancy Pelosi and other sane Democrats the ones who've been around long enough to know how things work are dealing with from AOC and her Squad reminds me a lot of what I had to deal with during my days as Speaker from the far-right kooks of the Tea Party or the Freedom Caucus or whatever they were calling themselves,' Boehner wrote in his book, 'On the House,' which was published in 2021. 'The Freedom Caucus fired John Boehner (pictured), ran off squishy Paul Ryan and we will not tolerate another GOP speaker that works with Democrats more than Republicans," Boebert is expected to say in her CPAC speech. On the list of Boebert's proposed priorities are 'end medical tyranny, secure the southern border and fire Anthony Fauci.' 'House Republicans must stop funding tyranny. I will not vote to fund a government that mandates the COVID vaccine while allowing our country to be invaded by millions of unvaccinated aliens,' Boebert's speech will say. 'End the vax mandate for our hospital workers and service members, build the wall or Im voting to shut down Bidens bureaucrats.' Boebert's aggressive speech comes as many expect Republicans to win back control of the House of Representatives after the midterm elections in November. Boebert continued that 'my Freedom Caucus allies are a no, and I'm a hell no' in regards to 'any bill that funds tyranny while our country is being invaded.' A Republican House majority will be expected to block policies proposed by Democratic President Joe Biden and may decide to investigate the administration with newly acquired subpoena power. But Boebert's speech also indicates there are rifts within the GOP that may widen if Republican leaders are forced to work with the liberal president on must-pass bills such as raising the debt limit and funding the government. Boebert will give her speech among a star-studded lineup for CPAC, and other speakers include Kimberley Guilfoyle and former President Donald Trump. Boebert will give her speech among a star-studded lineup for CPAC, and other speakers include former President Donald Trump. Advertisement Longtime pals Huma Abedin and Georgina Chapman - the ex-wives of notorious perverts Anthony Weiner and Harvey Weinstein - stepped out in the Hamptons amid rumors the political strategist is dating Bradley Cooper. Abedin was seen signing her book - Both/And - and having a chat with readers at the Library at Bridgehampton. There was no sign of her rumored boyfriend, movie star Bradley Cooper, 47. The pair, who appeared in good spirits, were also seen walking out of the Hamptons restaurant Pierre's Friday evening. Chapman divorced ex-husband Harvey Weinstein in July 2021 after he was accused of sexual assault and harassment by over 100 women. Abedin, who has been an advisor and an aide to Hillary Clinton for 25 years, was previously married to Anthony Weiner, the former congressman who in 2017 pleaded guilty to sexting with a minor. She shares son Jordan, 10, with the disgraced congressman. Longtime pals Huma Abedin and Georgina Chapman - the ex-wives of notorious perverts Anthony Weiner and Harvey Weinstein - stepped out in the Hamptons amid rumors the political strategist is dating Bradley Cooper The pair, who appeared in good spirits, were also seen walking out of the Hamptons restaurant Pierre's Friday evening Abedin was seen signing her book - Both/And - and having a chat with readers at the Library at Bridgehampton Chapman divorced ex-husband Harvey Weinstein in July 2021 after he was accused of sexual assault and harassment by over 100 women Abedin, who has been an advisor and an aide to Hillary Clinton for 25 years, was previously married to Anthony Weiner, the former congressman who in 2017 pleaded guilty to sexting with a minor Huma Abedin and Georgina Chapman are seen enjoying a walk after having dinner This comes amid rumors Abedin is seeing Oscar-winning actor and director Bradley Cooper. The star, 47, and the political staffer, 45, are not in a rush to get serious, with their romance 'still in the earlier stages' and 'casual,' according to People. The duo, who were introduced to each other by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, 'are dating but it's not a full-speed-ahead type thing yet.' The insider revealed that 'Bradley is fascinated by her. Huma is very international and has seen and one so much.' 'He finds this intriguing and challenging,' the source told the outlet. This comes amid rumors Abedin is seeing Oscar-winning actor and director Bradley Cooper The star, 47, and the political staffer, 45, are not in a rush to get serious, with their romance 'still in the earlier stages' and 'casual,' according to People. Cooper is seen filming Maestro in NYC in June The duo, who were introduced to each other by Vogue editor Anna Wintour, 'are dating but it's not a full-speed-ahead type thing yet' Chapman first spoke about their friendship In the June 2018 issue of Vogue , the Marchesa creative director talks about her life in the wake of Weinstein's scandal, and the friends who have supported her over the period Chapman first spoke about their friendship In the June 2018 issue of Vogue, the Marchesa creative director talks about her life in the wake of Weinstein's scandal, and the friends who have supported her over the period. Abedin said the two grew close for a number of reasons, including the fact that they were both publicly humiliated by their husbands many, many times. 'We just... bonded,' said Abedin. 'In all kinds of ways.' The two had known one another for years due to Chapman's involvement in the Hillary Clinton campaign, and her son Dashiell would have plays dates with Abedin's son Jordan, who is the same age. Their sons do not attend the same school, but the women live just a mile apart from one another. Abedin also spent time in the Hamptons with Chapman back in 2014 and 2015 when her boss Hillary rented the mansion next door to the one that was owned by Weinstein. The mogul has since sold the mansion, along with all his other properties. For many of his millions of fans, Wilfrid Brambell was indistinguishable from the grumpy rag-and-bone man with questionable personal hygiene he played in Steptoe & Son for more than a decade. The grubby and conniving widower Albert Steptoe made Brambell a household name and, ultimately, the role would come to define him. Even the shows catchphrase, You dirty old man! uttered by Harry H. Corbett, who played his restless and more aspirational son Harold was synonymous with Brambell himself. But the actor, at least when it came to presentation, could hardly have been more different from the character that made his name. Dapper and fashionable, he was extremely well-spoken. There were good reasons that Brambell could inhabit the role of the wily and begrudging grump so well. For all his outward bonhomie, he too had endured a life full of heartache, embarrassment and controversy. The shows catchphrase, You dirty old man! uttered by Harry H. Corbett (left), who played his restless and more aspirational son Harold was synonymous with Wilfrid Brambell himself (right) Brambell, pictured in 1971, could hardly have been more different from the character that made his name. Dapper and fashionable, he was extremely well-spoken His role, as half of one of the most successful double acts in the history of British television, was launched without fanfare at 8.45pm on Friday, January 5, 1962, in the form of a half-hour comic play on the BBC called The Offer. That production about a father-and-son rag-and-bone business gave viewers their first glimpse of what would eventually become Steptoe & Son scriptwriters Ray Galton and Alan Simpsons greatest achievement, which ran for eight series. For all of the sitcoms easy charm, it was also a peerless study in hopelessness, repression and barely concealed despair. It shone a light on a rag-and-bone trade that was dying out in the early 1960s when London was just starting to swing. When it came to pathos, the writing and performances were at times worthy of Samuel Beckett. And, as it would emerge, Brambell did not have to stray too far from his own life to plunder inspiration for the part. Perhaps thats why he played it so well indeed, it was a signpost to the on-screen chemistry he shared with his co-star. Corbett had been born in Rangoon, Burma, where his father was in the Army. But he was just 18 months old when his mother died of dysentery. He was sent to live with relatives in Manchester and rarely saw his father at all. For Harry, his father had effectively turned his back on him. Meanwhile, for Wilfrid, as we will learn, a son had been taken away in devastating circumstances. Watching the pair play Albert and Harold, its hard to believe they werent father and son Is it too far-fetched to believe that their roles in Steptoe & Son allowed them to creatively fill the voids in both their lives, at least when the cameras were rolling? Could that be the secret of their success? Fine actors they both may have been, but watching them play Albert and Harold, its hard to believe they werent father and son. Brambells tragedy was to play out after he fell in love with, and married, actress Mary Molly Josephine Hall, a fellow Dubliner who had cut her teeth at the New Dublin Theatre Group. The wedding ceremony took place in July 1948 in Kensington. In 1952, their combined incomes allowed them to buy an attractive Victorian semi-detached property in Acton, West London. And what a sad, unhappy house it would prove to be, changing Wilfrids destiny forever and leaving him a heartbroken and lost soul. With a sizeable mortgage, the couple were reluctantly forced to advertise their spare rooms to lodgers. It wasnt long before they were taken, one by New Zealander Roderick Fisher, who was, by all accounts, a handsome student. Wilfrid continued to work and, with finances tight, it often meant he was away from home for several weeks at a time. With lodgers now in situ, Molly could no longer travel to stay with her husband as often as before. But their separation, coupled with the informal nature of the new living arrangements, meant that things began to unravel. Molly then likely in her late 20s or early 30s had an affair with Fisher. There were good reasons that Brambell could inhabit the role of the wily and begrudging grump so well. For all his outward bonhomie, he too had endured a life full of heartache, embarrassment and controversy When Molly announced she was pregnant, Wilfrid assumed the child she was carrying was his. There is no documented record of the babys birth and Wilfrid didnt disclose this life-changing event in his autobiography but he did not question that the boy she gave birth to was his son. Wilfrid was overjoyed at finding out his wife was pregnant, and he was as fully invested as any new father would be in the months leading up to the birth and the arrival of the baby. In 1955, records show Fisher was still living at the house, two years after the child had been born. But neither he nor Molly would be there for much longer. Whether Fisher could not stand to see his child being raised by another man right under his nose or whether guilt over her betrayal finally got to Molly will almost certainly never be known. But at some point during 1955, Wilfrid discovered the truth and his world collapsed around him. The lies, the deceit and the humiliation would stay with him for ever. Wilfrid wasted no time leaving the home and filed for divorce immediately, with Molly and Fisher and the child Wilfrid had raised as his own all leaving the property not long after. It was soon sold on, as Wilfrid sought to remove all memory that it had ever existed. In January 1956, Molly Brambell became Molly Fisher, marrying her lover in Ealing, while Wilfrid stayed at his friend Anne Pichons home for a short time. And while he was there, his anguish was only too clear to see. Anne said: He was staying in my home and I would hear him wake up in the night, literally screaming, howling with pain. In his autobiography, the only indication of the awful period of his life was when he claimed that, in about 1955, his personal life had come crashing down around him. As a tragic footnote to this painful episode, within a short time, Molly was dead, leaving her child without a mother and her new husband a widower. As for Wilfrid, everything was now different. His trust in women had been destroyed and his self-confidence shattered. His private life was undoubtedly guarded from that point on, and for good reason what few knew was that he was gay. It is entirely possible that Wilfrid had always had bisexual tendencies, but had carefully tucked them away in order to fit in. At the time, homosexuality was illegal and gay men were forced to take tremendous risks for even the briefest of encounters. For those in the public eye, the risks were greater still. It means Wilfrid, just like Steptoe, knew all about repression. He also knew how it felt to be exposed in the worst way possible because of an incident that cast a shadow over the rest of his life. In November 1962, shortly before filming began on the second series of Steptoe & Son, he was arrested outside a public lavatory on Shepherds Bush Green for persistent importuning for an immoral purpose. It could have ended his acting career. Wilfrids defence was that he had drunk too much at a cocktail party at BBC Television Centre nearby and was not aware that Shepherds Bush was an area peculiar people resorted to. He reasoned that the allegations were completely foreign to his nature and instincts. Nonetheless, he was taken to the police station, where he was formally charged, protesting his innocence as the gravity of the accusation dawned on him. In court, the magistrate, perhaps sensing that the 50-year-old actor may have been the subject of police entrapment, as well as understanding the seriousness of a guilty verdict for him, concluded that the explanation Wilfrid had offered in his defence was entirely plausible. The magistrate suggested that drink had brought out in Wilfrid excessive friendliness and some sexual tendencies which are normally controlled or sublimated. He added: It is not necessary for a person to be homosexual to do this sort of thing. Wilfrid was conditionally discharged for a year and ordered to pay 25 guineas in costs. As he left the court to face dozens of reporters and cameras outside, he said: Thank God my five weeks of hell are over. Now I just want to get back to work. Whatever his intentions on that night in November, he was going to have to live with the consequences and the reaction of the British public, who would be his real judge and jury. As it was, the hunger for more of Albert and Harold was insatiable for the viewing millions. And while rumours about Wilfrid would persist, he never again let his guard down. During the mid-1960s, Wilfrid became friendly with a younger Malaysian man named Yussof Bin Mat Saman. It is likely they met on one of Wilfrids trips to the Far East, and Yussof did, at one stage, move into the actors flat in Pimlico. Little is known of Yussof, and he was always referred to as a valet. If he was Wilfrids partner, he kept firmly out of the limelight, as Wilfrid would no doubt have insisted. Yussof also seems to have been an intensely private person. All that we know for certain is that he was someone Wilfrid thought a great deal of and who would remain his live-in companion until his death, two decades later. Britain by then had become far more liberal, but it would still have been extremely difficult for any relationship to have entered the public domain at that time. Carolyn Seymour (right), the actress who played stripper Zita in the first Steptoe & Son feature film, bonded with Wilfrid (centre) on the set. She said he was 'really unhappy and had been ridiculed all his life for being gay Carolyn Seymour, the actress who played stripper Zita in the first Steptoe & Son feature film, bonded with Wilfrid on the set, but revealed that the crew most of whom werent regulars from the series could be cruel and taunted him about the court case. She recalled: Wilfrid and I were like a couple of cohorts we understood each other and liked each other immediately because he knew I wasnt like Zita and I knew he wasnt like Albert Steptoe. But what we had on that crew was a bunch of awful homophobes who put a sign at the public toilets where we shot a scene that said Welcome home Wilfrid, because it was apparently the one that hed been arrested at. I was furious and tried to stand up for him but was just told to be quiet. It was horrible and mortifying for Wilfrid. Wilfrid wasnt a happy man, in my opinion. I dont think it ever got resolved for him, being homosexual. It was accepted within theatrical circles, but on the whole I just think he was really unhappy and had been ridiculed all his life for being gay. Sadly, it did not escape him even after his death. In 2012 27 years after he died two men claimed that, at some point in the early 1970s, they had been molested by Wilfrid in a back room at the Jersey Opera House. The truth of that will never be known. What is clear is that, despite the supposed animosity between Wilfrid and his co-star, Harry H. Corbett, they always worked well together. Their chemistry was superb. In 1977, after the TV series had ended, the pair took their double act on tour to Australia and New Zealand. Brambell was often inebriated during the tour: he missed one performance completely and was discovered drinking Guinness with an usher in a nearby bar. While it seems that Wilfrids drinking had considerably worsened, Harry had become used to it over the years. He may have frowned on it professionally and become incredibly frustrated from time to time, but he accepted it was how Wilfrid was. When necessary, Harry covered for him. When Harry died of a heart attack in 1982, aged just 57, Wilfrid was said to be absolutely devastated. When he attended the memorial service for the man he called his son on screen, radio and stage for three decades, he looked like a broken man and wept throughout. You Dirty Old Man!, by David Clayton, is published by The History Press at 20. To order a copy for 18, go to mailshop. co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937 before August 21. Free UK delivery on orders over 20. Teresa Giudice's brother Joe Gorga was spotted grocery shopping today just hours before her wedding to Luis Louie Ruelas - as it was revealed he would not be attending. Joe and his wife Melissa, 43, were notably absent from Fridays rehearsal, before posting a seemingly shady post on Instagram about how 'blood doesn't make you family.' Now, DailyMail.com has exclusively learned not only that the couple are snubbing the wedding, but the shocking reason why. According to multiple sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, there was a massive blow out fight between Melissa and Teresa when they were filming the latest season finale 'and it was all to do with cheating accusations. One insider revealed: Information was brought to Teresa about Melissa supposedly cheating on Joe. It was all totally baseless rumor, and she could have shut it down but instead she pushed for it all to come out. Joe Gorga, Real Housewives star Teresa Giudice's brother, was spotted going grocery shopping in New Jersey today - hours before his sister is set to tie the knot. DailyMail.com has exclusively learned not only that the couple are snubbing the wedding but the shocking reason why Siblings Teresa Giudice and Joe Gorga pictured together in 2016 Brother Joe Gorga (pictured) and his wife Melissa were notably absent from Fridays rehearsal. It's now been confirmed that Gorga will miss the wedding on Saturday night The revelations come after Joe Gorga posted a cryptic message on his Instagram story - saying that 'blood doesn't make you family.' Keen fans think that it may be in relation to the alleged feud Gorga and his sister Giudice has had DailyMail.com spotted Giudice, 50, and Ruelas, 46, arrive shortly after midday Friday for a run through the closely guarded ceremony. Giudice wore a white Chanel tank top paired with a thigh-skimming skirt embellished with ruffles, her husband-to-be wore white shorts and a white T-shirt Another said: Teresa uses what are known as her foot soldiers other younger or newer cast members that she gets to do her dirty work for her. That way she looks innocent while shes really stirring the pot. They described it as a crazy situation and the last straw for Joe whose relationship with his sibling is already fractured. The source said: Joe and Melissa always try to play nice with Teresa. Its not like they dont want her to be happy, but she always does something, and, in this instance, it was a step too far for Joe. DailyMail.com has also learned that Luis Louie Ruelas asked Gorga to be one of his groomsmen but that the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum declined when he learned that his wife was not to be one of Giudices bridesmaids. One source said: He just considered it very disrespectful and there was no way he was going to say, yes when Melissa wasnt part of Teresas bridal party. Instead, the Gorgas will be spending their weekend relaxing in their New Jersey beach home. Melissa posted a perhaps pointed story on her Instagram Friday night in which she and friends and family members from her side, enjoyed music and dancing by their pool. Joe then reposted the wholesome picture - with the cryptic caption 'blood doesn't make you family.' One source said: Joe and Melissa always try to play nice with Teresa. Its not like they dont want her to be happy, but she always does something, and, in this instance, it was a step too far for Joe. Joe and Melissa are pictured here in 2018 Luis Louie Ruelas asked Gorga to be one of his groomsmen but that the Real Housewives of New Jersey alum declined when he learned that his wife was not to be one of Giudices bridesmaids DailyMail.com can also reveal that the Gorgas are not the only people to snub Giudices big day. Another notable absence is Teresas close friend Dina Manzo. While there have been rumors of a rift between the close friends, sources close to both women tell DailyMail.com that Dina isnt attending the wedding because she doesnt want to be filmed by Bravo. Meanwhile Giudices fight with her sister-in-law has split other cast members down the lines of Team Melissa and Team Teresa. One insider said: Lets put it this way there will be some who are happy to party the night away and then there will be others, the ones on Team Teresa who will be there for the ceremony but have no intention of staying a minute longer. The loving father was seen holding a bag of Pretzels while his son drunk a soft drink and catches a soft toy won on one of the attractions Cool, calm, collected: Luis showed no signs of nerves as the clock ticks down to marrying New Jersey Housewife Teresa Giudice While Gorga was spotted shopping, Luis Ruelas took a moment to relax at the fair with his son today and to exclusively share with DailyMail.com that hes winning big.' Ruelas, 46, took a stroll to Middlesex County Fair, being held across the street from the Grand Chateau hotel where he and his bride-to-be stayed Friday night along with several members of their bridal party. Clutching a cuddly toy, won at the fair, when DailyMail.com asked how he was feeling about his wedding he said, Im winning big today! Ruelas wore a trey tank and white shorts for his brief lunchtime excursion and smiled and waved as he made his way back to the hotel on Park Chateau Estate where his wedding will take place Saturday evening. Large floral arrangements of white rhododendrons and roses were delivered shortly after noon as preparations for the hotly anticipated wedding got under way. Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com Real Housewife of Miami Alexia Nepola, who is attending the wedding with her husband Todd, said how happy she is for her friend, Giudice. She said: I believe in love and I know this is real love. Im very happy for her. Floods continue to wreak havoc in the US, most recently at Death Valley National Park in California, where flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall left 1,000 people stranded and crushed cars. Park officials said the Furnace Creek area of the park, near the Nevada-California state line, experienced 1.7 inches of rain, which they described as 'nearly an entire year's worth of rain in one morning.' The officials also said about 60 vehicles were buried by the rushing floodwaters, and 500 park visitors and 500 park workers were left stranded, though no injuries have been reported. The California Department of Transportation said it may take four to six hours to clear a main road out of the park, which would allow visitors to leave. 'All roads into and out of the park are currently closed and will remain closed until park staff can assess the extensiveness of the situation,' the National Park Service said Friday. Park officials at Death Valley National Park said flash floods that left 1,000 stranded were caused by 'nearly an entire year's worth of rain in one morning' The Furnace Creek area of the park, near the Nevada-California state line, experienced an unprecedented 1.7 inches of rain 60 vehicles were also wrecked in the floods, as they crashed into each other and were hit by floating dumpsters A park statement said Friday's rainstorms and floods 'pushed dumpster containers into parked cars, which caused cars to collide into one another.' 'Additionally, many facilities are flooded including hotel rooms and business offices,' the statement continued. The park also confirmed a water system that services park residents and offices failed after a line that was being repaired broke because of the floods. Before Friday's rains, the notoriously dry park had only experienced 0.04 inches of rain in 2022, making it a historically dry year. The rain started at approximately 2 a.m., park visitor and photographer John Sirlin told CBS. Sirlin was attempting to take pictures of the lightning as the storm approached. 'It was more extreme than anything I've seen there,' he said. Sirlin has been visiting the park since 2016 and has been chasing storms since the 1990's. This handout panoramic image courtesy of Death Valley National Park Service shows monsoonal rain flooding Mud Canyon in Death Valley National Park, California on August 5, 2022 Before Friday's rains, the notoriously dry park had only experienced 0.04 inches of rain in 2022 The damaged intersection of Kelbacker Road and Mojave Road in the Mojave National Preserve, California; photo taken Sunday, July 31, 2022 This is indeed a Death Valley. Floods everywhere pic.twitter.com/TPvHa50pCm Vince (@vincekakooza) August 6, 2022 'I've never seen it to the point where entire trees and boulders were washing down. The noise from some of the rocks coming down the mountain was just incredible,' he said Friday afternoon. The flash flood warning was removed for the park just after noon on Friday, but a flood advisory remains in effect, according to the National Weather Service. Experts say that the ever-increasing concentrations of heat-trapping gases, mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels, have caused the average temperature to increase by 1.1 degrees Celsius, or two degrees Fahrenheit, every year since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. And with each degree Celsius the temperature increases, the air can hold 7 percent more moisture, leading to more severe storms. Making matters worse, flooding associated with sea level rise is already accelerating, according to an annual report released Tuesday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'Sea level rise impacts are happening now, and are growing rapidly,' William Sweet explains in the report, noting that the rising sea level could exacerbate flooding from storms, which push more ocean water onto land. The saltwater could also fill underground drainage pipes, which means rainwater could back up and collect in the streets. By 2050, the report estimates, high tides could send water into neighborhoods dozens of days each year. There is a 'very real risk of a nuclear disaster' after military strikes damaged parts of Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in echoes of the Chernobyl catastrophe, the UN's nuclear watchdog said Saturday. Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for the attacks, which forced one of the plant's reactors to shut down. The munitions landed on the nuclear power plant - Europe's largest atomic power complex - on Friday, damaging a station containing nitrogen and oxygen and an auxiliary building, said Ukrainian state-run nuclear operator Energoatom. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the strikes 'threaten public health and the environment in Ukraine and beyond.' No radioactive leak has yet been detected, but the strikes hit a power cable and forced one of the reactors to stop working. 'There are still risks of leaking hydrogen and radioactive substances, and the risk of fire is also high', said Energoatom. A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the course of Ukraine-Russia conflict outside the Russian-controlled city of Enerhodar in the Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine August 4 Fire-damaged buildings at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear complex are pictured in March after coming under attack by Russian forces during the early stages of the invasion of Ukraine Moscow has accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the plant, with the European Union hitting out at Russia on Saturday over the shelling. 'The EU condemns Russia's military activities around #Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,' the bloc's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, wrote on Twitter. 'This is a serious and irresponsible breach of nuclear safety rules and another example of Russia's disregard for international norms.' Enerhoatom said Russian troops are using the plant's basement to hide from Ukrainian shelling and have barred its Ukrainian staff from going there. 'Ukrainian personnel do not yet have access to these premises, so in the event of new shelling, people have no shelter and are in danger,' Enerhoatom, a Ukrainian state enterprise, said on its Telegram channel. The shelling had 'caused a serious risk for the safe operation of the plant'. Russian troops have occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant since the early days of their invasion and Kyiv has accused them of storing heavy weapons there. Borrell insisted that the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, be given access to the plant. Rafael Grossi (pictured speaking in June), director general of the IAEA, said in an interview that the situation is getting more perilous every day at the Zaporizhzhia plant A Russian tank covered in green sheets outside the power plant. The UK Ministry of Defence has said Russia is using the power plant as a place to store equipment safe from Ukrainian strikes A Russian soldier stands guard in the grounds of Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in May. Although the plant remains operational, there are concerns the Russian occupation has undermined security and safety at the station A Russian serviceman stands guard outside Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in May after Putin's troops occupied the site He added that 'military action jeopardising the safety and security' of the plant was 'completely unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs'. The IAEA has been trying for weeks to send a team to inspect the plant. Ukraine has so far rejected the efforts, which it says would legitimise Russia's occupation of the site in the eyes of the international community. It said employees of Russian nuclear operator Rosatom had left the plant shortly before the attacks but that Ukrainian personnel had stayed on and the plant was still generating electricity. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky had said on Friday that 'any bombing of this site is a shameless crime, an act of terror'. And the Ukrainian foreign ministry had said that the 'possible consequences of hitting a working reactor are equivalent to using an atomic bomb'. Earlier in the week the IAEA described the situation at the nuclear power plant as 'volatile'. 'Every principle of safety has been violated one way or the other,' said Grossi. There are warnings that the power plant, which lies on the banks of the Dnipro river, is 'out-of-control' and fears a Chernobyl-like incident could take place The United Nations nuclear chief warned that Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine 'is completely out of control', raising fears of another Chernobyl. Pictured: Surveillance camera footage shows a flare landing at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant during shelling in Enerhodar, Ukraine March 4 - in the early days of Russia's invasion Grossi also reiterated his willingness 'to lead a mission of IAEA safety, security and safeguards experts' to Zaporizhzhia. 'I will continue to push and push again for this IAEA mission to finally take place,' he said, while admitting that it would require 'cooperation, understanding and facilitation from both Ukraine and Russia'. As part of such a mission 'IAEA safeguards inspectors could conduct essential verification activities at the plant' and the IAEA 'would also provide impartial and independent information' about the status of the plant, Grossi said. Servicemen of Ukrainian National Guard patrol area near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Chernobyl, Ukraine April 7, 2022 The governor of the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region said three civilians were injured after Russian rockets fell on a residential neighborhood in Nikopol, a city across the Dnieper River from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. Another Russian missile attack overnight damaged unspecified infrastructure in the regional capital of Zaporizhzhia. Russian forces have began an assault on two key cities in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, further jeopardising cooperation over nuclear safety. The cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka have been considered key targets of Russia's ongoing offensive across Ukraine's east, with analysts saying Moscow needs to take Bakhmut if it is to advance on the regional hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Emergency service workers search for two people in the rubble after a shelling in Bakhmut, Ukraine on July 31 People clean up at the damaged sites after Russian missiles hit residential areas in Sloviansk city, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine on July 29 'In the Donetsk direction, the enemy is conducting an offensive operation, concentrating its main efforts on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions. It uses ground attack and army aviation,' the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook. The last Russian strike on Sloviansk was July 30, but Ukrainian forces are fortifying their positions around the city in expectation of new fighting. 'I think it won't be calm for long. Eventually, there will be an assault,' Col. Yurii Bereza, head of the volunteer national guard regiment, told The Associated Press. Russian shelling killed five civilians and injured 14 others in the Donetsk region in the last day, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote Saturday on Telegram, saying two people were killed in Poprosny, and one each in Avdiivka, Soledar and Pervomaiskiy. On Thursday, Russia fired 60 rockets at Nikopol, damaging 50 residential buildings in the city of 107,000 and leaving residents without electricity. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been approached by one unnamed network and two unnamed cable channels to air his proposed debate against Twitter chairman Parag Agrawal, after Musk dropped his bid to buy Twitter, sources tell DailyMail.com. Musk tweeted at Agrawal on Saturday, challenging him to a public debate 'about the Twitter bot percentage.' Musk wrote in a now-deleted tweet he wants Agrawal to 'prove to the public that Twitter has <5% fake or spam daily users!' He also tweeted a Twitter poll just after the original tweet, asking users to vote on whether 'Less than 5% of Twitter daily users are fake/spam.' As of Saturday evening, 66.6% had voted no while 33.5% voted yes. The South African billionaire was sued by Twitter in July after backing out of the $44 billion deal, claiming the social media company never disclosed to him how many of their accounts were fake bot accounts. Musk was sued by Twitter in July after backing out of a $44 billion deal to buy Twitter after he said the company misrepresented how many spam bot accounts are active on the website Parag Agrawal, CEO of Twitter, has yet to engage with Musk in public, but Dailymail.com can confirm Musk has been approached to air a debate against Agrawal Musk sent out two tweets on Saturday seemingly goading Twitter chairman Parag Agrawal into engaging in a debate with him. Dailymail.com can reveal two cable channels and one network have approached him about airing the debate Elon Musk tweets a photo of himself with one of his sons early in August, captioning the picture 'Thanksgiving last year after watching one too many episodes of Vikings' The contention started after Musk signed an agreement to buy Twitter for $52.20 per share on April 25 - but the Tesla CEO abandoned the takeover on July 8 while blaming the company for breaching the agreement by misrepresenting the number of fake accounts on its platform. The Silicon Valley elite targeted in Twitter's latest subpoenas Chamath Palihapitiya: A prominent venture capitalist with an estimated net worth of $1.2 billion. His connection with the deal is unclear, but he attended the All-In Summit in May with Musk's other financial backers. David Sacks: Sacks is a member of the so-called PayPal mafia who helped found the payments startup with Musk in the late 1990s. He was said to be a key advisor in Musk's inner circle as the takeover bid unfolded this spring. Steve Jurvetson: Another member of Musk's reported 'brain trust' who counseled the billionaire. Jurvetson was an early investor in Tesla, where Musk is CEO. He once served on Tesla's board, and currently serves on the board of Musk's SpaceX. Marc Andreessen: A Silicon Valley titan worth an estimated $1.6b and co-founder of the VC firm Andreessen Horowitz, which agreed to invest $400 million in Musk's takeover deal. Jason Calacanis: Also previously reported as involved in funding the deal. Launched an investment pool known as a special purpose vehicle to raise money from smaller investors at a minimum buy-in of $250,000 Keith Rabois: Another early PayPal executive alongside Musk. His connection to the Twitter deal is unclear. Joe Lonsdale: A partner at 8VC, a San Francisco-based VC firm. 'I have nothing to do with this aside from a few snarky comments,' he said of Musk's Twitter takeover. Advertisement Twitter then sued Musk and claimed the fake account accusations were a distraction. The signed agreement allegedly required Musk to close the deal at the price agreed upon. The lawsuit, which was filed in July, is set to go to trial in Delaware on October 17. Musk countersued the company on July 29, reasserting his belief the company was bumping its numbers through spam bots. The 164-page document was not publicly released. The lawsuit by Musk was filed hours after Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick of the Delaware Court of Chancery ordered the five-day trial beginning in October to determine if Musk can walk away from the deal. Musk's filing indicates he believes that during the first week of July, spam bots accounted for 33% of visible accounts on the platform and about 10% of Twitter's monetizable daily active users, or mDAU. Musk has also requested records from Twitter advisers Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase about how the banks advised the social media platform on the $44 billion deal. Besides Musk's accusations of Twitter's 'false and misleading representations' of the number of fake accounts, lawyers also point to recent Twitter employee layoffs and hiring freezes, which they say are contrary to the company's obligation to continue operating normally. But Twitter has also requested information from Musk's adviser, Morgan Stanley. More subpoenas for the companies Tesla and SpaceX have also been requested to turn over information about the deal, along with conversational exchanges with their boss, according to Bloomberg. Bret Taylor, Twitter's chairman, tweeted the board was 'committed to closing the transaction' under the current terms of the deal and they were 'confident' they would win. In May, the crypto-currency exchange Binance put $500 million towards the Tesla CEO's $7.1 billion buyout of Twitter. Twitter further subpoenaed Binance to learn more about the investment, according to the report. Twitter has also requested information on investors Chamath Palihapitiya, David Sacks, Steve Jurvetson, Marc Andreessen, Jason Calacanis and Keith Rabois, among others. Investor Joe Lonsdale, an associate of Musk, said he received a subpoena from the social media firm. He called the subpoena a 'giant harassing fishing expedition.' Investor Joe Lonsdale announced on Twitter that he had received a subpoena from the platform. He said he was not associated with the deal aside from making 'a few snarky comments' and called the legal probe a 'giant harassing fishing expedition.' Those in the subpoenas may be called to testify in court. Analysts said that Twitter is likely trying to find evidence that Musk made statements privately that contradicted his public stance that the company's issues with fake accounts made the buyout untenable. For instance, if Musk hypothetically downplayed the bot issue as he sought financial backing for the deal, or revealed to confidantes that he had other reasons for backing out of the acquisition, it could bolster Twitter's case. Conservative peer Michelle Mone has settled a High Court claim for racial abuse after calling a man of Indian heritage a 'waste of a white man's skin'. The Mail on Sunday understands that the lingerie tycoon, who had founded the Ultimo brand which earned her the nickname Baroness Bra, has paid more than 50,000 in settling the claim brought by Monaco-based financial consultant Richard Lynton-Jones. Lawyers for the Glasgow-born baroness said that when she made the comment in a WhatsApp message in 2019 she believed that Mr Lynton-Jones was '100 per cent white and British' and that there was 'no trace whatsoever of non-white colouring or any features'. Conservative peer Michelle Mone (pictured) has settled a High Court claim for racial abuse after calling a man of Indian heritage a 'waste of a white man's skin' Lingerie tycoon Michelle Mone, who founded the Ultimo brand which earned her the nickname Baroness Bra, has paid more than 50,000 in settling the claim brought by Monaco-based financial consultant Richard Lynton-Jones Last year the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation and in January Mr Lynton-Jones sued her for libel. While the criminal investigation was dropped, Lady Mone has now settled the civil claim, which stems from a row over the death of a deckhand in 2019 while Lady Mone and Mr Lynton-Jones were staying on the French Riviera. Lady Mone was on her billionaire husband Doug Barrowman's super-yacht, Minx, while Mr Lynton-Jones was a guest on Vision, a super-yacht chartered by British internet gaming millionaire Richard Skelhorn. The two groups of passengers had sailed to the island of Ile Sainte-Marguerite for lunch, before rafting their yachts together, hopping on and off each other's boats. But on the journey home, Vision accidentally ploughed into Mr Barrowman's boat, striking and killing a British deckhand, 27-year-old Jake Feldwhere. In a highly emotive group chat between passengers three weeks later, Lady Mone, 50, unleashed her fury on Mr Lynton-Jones. She described him as a 'waste of a man's white skin' a phrase believed to have originated in South Africa in the 1940s. Lady Mone also aimed her ire at Mr Lynton-Jones's fiancee, calling her a 'mental loony' and 'nut case bird'. 'I've done nothing wrong apart from be a victim of racism. Racism has no place in this society, let alone for a member of the House of Lords. That's disgusting,' said Richard Lynton-Jones Mr Lynton-Jones, whose mother is believed to be of Indian heritage, demanded at least 200,000 in aggravated damages from Lady Mone. He said: 'I've done nothing wrong apart from be a victim of racism. Racism has no place in this society, let alone for a member of the House of Lords. That's disgusting.' Lady Mone's lawyers denied that she was racist. Her spokesman said: 'Both parties have settled their differences on a no fault or damages basis in relation to the alleged racist claim and the matter is now concluded.' Despite settling the case with Mr Lynton-Jones, Lady Mone remains under scrutiny. She and her husband are subject to an ongoing criminal investigation into their links to a company, PPE Medpro, which received 200 million to provide the NHS with personal protective equipment during the pandemic. Both deny any wrongdoing. The Civil Service is advertising work from home jobs paying salaries up to four times higher than the UK national average, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Despite Ministers telling public sector workers to get back to the office, the Ministry of Defence is looking for a 117,000-a-year Head of Platform Services Executive which the job listing says can be done by remote working (anywhere in the UK). Energy watchdog Ofgem is offering 82,820 for a Principal Regulatory Cyber Advisor which says the successful applicant will only have to work one day a week in the office. This is despite criticism for allowing the majority of its staff to work from home while energy prices soar. Meanwhile, crisis-hit HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), which has months-long delays in processing tax rebates, is advertising a 80,384 role for a Security Advisor who can work from home two days a week or more where the business agrees. Frustrated Ministers including PM contender Liz Truss have urged all civil servants to return to their desk. Despite Ministers telling public sector workers to get back to the office, Civil Service roles are being advertised as work from home (file image) But the newspaper found 93 home working jobs across government departments last week. Many offer wages far in excess of the UK average of 31,285. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is recruiting for a Lead Automation Tester with a potential 67,311 salary. Remarkably, the job advert says: Currently it is anticipated you will be required to attend your workplace for at least 4 days per year. Last night, former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: It is devastating for younger employees if the senior people they need to talk to are at home. How are they to learn what their job requires and the responsibilities that come with it? Two-dimensional Zoom calls are not a replacement for the office. But union bosses claimed staff are just as effective working remotely. Steven Littlewood, assistant general secretary of the FDA union that represents public sector managers, said: The pandemic showed us that many jobs across many sectors can be done just as well from home. The Civil Service delivered the furlough scheme, processed a sharp rise in Universal Credit claims and supported the vaccine rollout, all while its staff worked from kitchens, spare bedrooms and home offices. Increased flexible working opens up more jobs to people not based in London, which fits with the Governments priority of levelling up and moving jobs outside of the capital. It also greatly improves access for those with caring responsibilities. A Government spokesperson said: Only four per cent of currently advertised Civil Service jobs offer home working arrangements. Most roles that advertise a home-working pattern still require staff in the office. Official figures show the number of Government employees on special home-working contracts has almost tripled since the pandemic. There were 183 home workers across eight of the main Whitehall departments in 2019-20, rising to 309 the following year and 530 in 2021-22. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the Vice-President designate Jagdeep Dhankar during a meeting, in New Delhi. (PTI) New Delhi: BJP-led NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar, 71, on Saturday was elected as the 14th vice-president of the country. Mr Dhankhar, described as a "kisanputra" by the ruling BJP, defeated the joint Opposition candidate and former Union minister Margaret Alva. Congratulations started pouring in as soon as the returning officer for the vice-president polls, Lok Sabha secretary-general Utpal Kumar Singh, declared the results. Mr Dhankhar, who will also be the Rajya Sabha's chairman, will take the oath on August 11, a day after the incumbent M. Venkaiah Naidus term ends. Mr Dhankhar bagged 528 votes out of the 710 votes cast by the electoral college consisting of members of Parliament from both houses. Ms Alva got 182 votes. In all, 725 votes were cast, of which 15 were found invalid. Newly elected President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Mr Dhankhar, who was born in a remote village in Rajasthans Jhunjhunu district and belongs to the Jat community, on winning the election. Soon after the results were announced, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president J.P. Nadda went to personally congratulate Mr Dhankhar at Union parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi's residence. Congress leaders, including its interim president Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi also congratulated him. The outgoing V-P congratulated his successor while noting that the nation will "greatly benefit from your vast experience and legal expertise." Ms Alva's candidacy ended up revealing cracks in the Opposition camp, with its key member, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC abstaining from the polls as the leadership of Bengals ruling party, including the CM, were often engaged in a war of words with Mr Dhankhar over various issues. Though the ruling alliance had enough numbers to get Mr Dhankhar elected to the constitutional post, some non-NDA outfits, including the BJD, YSRCP, Shiv Sena, BSP, also voted for him. The TMCs decision to abstain from the V-P polls ended up raising many eyebrows in the Opposition camp. It not only made the contest easier for the NDA candidate but also put a question mark on the Opposition camps fight to take on Mr Modi-led BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Despite the TMC abstaining from the polls, two of its MPs Sisir Kumar Adhikari and Dibyendu Adhikari cast their ballots. Congratulating the V-P designate, his opponent Ms Alva hit at some of the non-NDA, non-UPA parties for derailing the "idea of a united Opposition" by "directly or indirectly" supporting the BJP. "This election was an opportunity for the Opposition to work together, to leave the past behind and build trust amongst each other. Unfortunately, some Opposition parties chose to directly or indirectly support the BJP, in an attempt to derail the idea of a united Opposition. It is my belief that by doing so these parties and their leaders have damaged their own credibility. This election is over. The battle for protecting our Constitution, strengthening our democracy and restoring the dignity of Parliament will continue. Jai Hind," tweeted Ms Alva. Congratulating Mr Dhankhar, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said his "long public life, wide experience and deep understanding of peoples issues will certainly benefit the nation." Noting his association with public life, Union home minister Amit Shah said he will prove to be an ideal guardian of the Constitution and the Upper House of Parliament will benefit from his experience." It was the devastating end to the most heart-breaking of public legal battles. At 12.15pm yesterday, Archie Battersbee passed away in hospital, surrounded by his family, after doctors finally withdrew his life support. Appearing outside the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, East London, yesterday afternoon, where the 12-year-old has been in intensive care since April, his mother Hollie Dance visibly distressed paid an emotional tribute to her beautiful little boy who fought right to the end. Announcing her sons death, she said: Im the proudest mum in the world. He was such a beautiful little boy and he fought right until the very end, and I am so proud to be his mum. The story of Archie, an aspiring Olympic gymnast, and of the family who fought so hard for his life, has captured the hearts of the nation. Hollie Dance paid tribute to her son, Archie Battersbee, 12, outside Royal London hospital in Whitechapel, east London, after doctors finally withdrew his life support on Saturday The youngster was found unconscious in his bedroom in April, following what his parents believe was a social media game gone tragically wrong The fit and active little boy was found unconscious in his bedroom in Southend, Essex, four months ago following what Ms Dance, 46, and Archies father, her former husband Paul Battersbee, 56, believe was a social media game gone tragically wrong. Starved of oxygen, he was left with a catastrophic brain injury. Since that day, they have remained by his side, unwilling to give up hope that he might recover. Even when doctors told them that Archie was overwhelmingly likely to be brain-dead, and recommended withdrawing his care, they continued to fight to give him a chance of survival. Their stoicism has been nothing short of remarkable. Ms Dance has described how she believed her son had held her hand, that his facial expressions changed, and that she knew, instinctively, that my son is in there. She has talked to her little boy, read to him and played him his favourite music. She has slept by his side, waking to check his machines every 40 minutes. They battled against Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, and took their fight to the High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the European Court of Human Rights in a bid to give him extra time on life support. 'Family's unconditional love': Archie pictured as a toddler with his older brother Tom Summers They have been publicly critical of the trust, claiming there has been no support, and that a letter handed to them described plans which amounted to a choreographed execution of Archie. Just last week, they fought to have him transferred to a hospice to live out his final moments in a more private setting. But that bid failed on Friday night. No further options remained. Mrs Justice Theis said in her ruling that the familys unconditional love and dedication to Archie is a golden thread that runs through this case. 'I hope now Archie can be afforded the opportunity for him to die in peaceful circumstances, with the family who meant so much to him as he clearly does to them. In an interview shortly afterwards, Ms Dance said: Its been really hard. Despite the hard strong face and appearance in front of the cameras up until now, Ive been pretty broken. This photograph of Archie, aged 10, was released by the family as they paid their tributes Asked if there was anything more she could do, she added: No. Ive done everything that I promised my little boy Id do. Ive done it. On Saturday morning, well-wishers began leaving floral tributes and lighting candles at the entrance to the hospital. Candles flickered in the shape of the letter A and also formed a love heart around a card with Archies name. Family friends and supporters of the familys campaign also gathered in solidarity. A spokesman for the family said the atmosphere inside the ward, as Archies last moments approached, had been highly charged. At 10am, the court order preventing the hospital from withdrawing Archies life support expired. Doctors stopped the medical treatment he was receiving and, two hours later, his ventilation was removed. He died shortly afterwards. Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, who have been supporting the familys case, said: We will continue to support the family as we have done throughout. It has been a privilege to stand alongside them. The events of the last few weeks raise many significant issues, including questions of how death is defined, how those decisions are made and the place of the family. We need to see an urgent review and reform of the system. Baroness Finlay, a palliative medicine professor and former president of the Royal Society of Medicine, has called for an independent inquiry into how such brain injury cases are handled. Archie's case will bring a renewed urgency for further debate around the rights of parents Adversarial conflict doesnt help anybody, she said. The cross-bench peer has supported the introduction of Charlies Law, a campaign by the parents of baby Charlie Gard to bring in new rules to allow parents to have more say in how their children are treated. Charlie died in 2017 after a protracted legal battle between his doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital and his parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard. Their proposal could allow parents to ask for mediation and independent experts if they disagree with what doctors decide. Baroness Finlay said: My worry is these cases are going to court too quickly and too early, and that we need an alternative way of managing communication between doctors and parents. When lawyers are involved, she added, that communication gets harder. There is no specific timetable for these proposed changes. But Archies case will bring a renewed urgency to the need for change. Perhaps, despite losing the little boy they so desperately loved, the familys battle will not have been entirely in vain. Albuquerque police said another Muslim man was murdered on Saturday following the murder of three others in New Mexico over the last year as the FBI investigates the possibility of a serial killer on the loose. Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said the murder of the latest victim, who was not yet identified, is believed to be related to the three fatal shooting that have taken place within a five-mile radius of each other in the last nine months. The newest murder of a Muslim man, which coincided with another shooting in the area, happened just after midnight in the east side of the city near Truman Street NE and Grand Avenue NE. 'Our city suffered another tragic loss overnight. Another young man who was part of the Muslim community was murdered,' Medina said during a news conference on Saturday. 'As with the previous three murders mentioned Thursday, there is reason to believe that this death is related to those shootings.' Albuquerque police said another Muslim man was murdered on Saturday following the shootings of three others in New Mexico over the last year as the FBI investigates the possibility of a serial killer on the loose Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina confirmed a fourth Muslim man was murdered as the FBI investigates the possibility of a serial killer following the killings of three other Muslim men within a five-mile radius of each other in New Mexico The local Muslim community has been left shaken as they held a funeral for two of the victims on Friday, both of whom attended the same mosque Describing the murders as 'disturbing,' Medina said he was been in constant contact with the FBI and leaders of the local Muslim community to investigate the shootings. Medina said officers are working overtime to patrol Muslim neighborhoods and keeping police present at all times while the investigation is on going. Ahmad Assed, the president of Islamic Center of New Mexico, also spoke at the conference to condemn the string of murders against Muslim men. 'Our community is devastated,' Assed said. 'We've never gone through anything like this before. 'We're in fear of the safety of our children, of our families... but the message of hope still resonates. We need to find and capture this perpetrator or perpetrators.' 'Evil will not win. Hate will not win. And we will defeat evil and hate by working together.' Altaf Hussein sprinkles dirt over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein, who was murdered on July 28 in the parking lot of his apartment complex Along with Hussein, the community mourned the loss of 27-year-old Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, a native of Pakistan who was an active member of the community Ahmad Assed, the president of Islamic Center of New Mexico, condemned the killings and said the community will do whatever it can to assist the FBI's probe The first murder was carried out on the evening of November 7. Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, was found outside the cafe he ran with his brother Sharief A. Hadi - Ariana Halal Market & Cafe. The Afghan-born brothers emigrated to the United States with their father in the early 1980s: first living in Pennsylvania, then moving to New Mexico after Hadi, making a living selling gemstones, came across the region and loved it. 'I had to travel all over, then I got to New Mexico,' Hadi told ABP News Online. 'I like it the weather and the people were so nice. And I chose to stay here because of my business.' Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, was killed on November 7 Hadi and his brother opened the market in 2008, with Ahmadi working as a cook, specializing in traditional Afghan dishes and often catering for groups at the nearby university. Hadi said he left Ahmadi at the shop to finish cooking, and suspects his brother had gone out to smoke a cigarette when he was shot around 6pm. 'I left at 5 o'clock and he had laid down in the back,' Hadi said. 'When I went home someone called me and said 'Sharief what's going on at your store?' When I came back the police were all over.' Hadi in January said he was baffled by the unsolved murder. 'I don't have anything to tell you,' he said. 'He is my brother. I loved him, he loved me.' Eight months later, a second Muslim man was murdered: 41-year-old Aftab Hussein, who moved to New Mexico in 2016. Working as a busser for a local cafe, Hussein rented a second-story apartment near the Mesa Verde Community Center with two roommates and told them he had recently got engaged to a woman back home in Pakistan. Aftab Hussein, 41, a busser at a local restaurant, was murdered on July 28 He was working to get his passport and other travel documents together so he could go to Pakistan and get married, his friend Iftikhar Amirjan told The Albuquerque Journal. 'He was very happy. He said 'I'll go to Pakistan and get married and bring my wife here' and he said 'I'll make my life,' you know,' Amirjan said. 'He said 'I'll buy a house later on and have children.'' Hussein was shot in the evening of July 26 in the parking lot of the complex where he lived. His roommates, frightened, have since moved out, while Hussein's brother has flown in from the United Kingdom. The third killing was on Monday, when well-known local community organizer and city planner Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was murdered outside his home. Born in Pakistan, he moved to the United States in 2017 to get a master's degree in community and regional planning at the University of New Mexico and served as president of the Graduate and Professional Student Association from 2019 to 2020. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was shot dead outside his home while his brother cooked dinner inside on Monday He worked with Representative Melanie Stansbury's campaign for Congress and then got a job as the planning and land use director for the city of Espanola, 90 miles north of Albuquerque. Hussein had been commuting for the past year but was shortly to move to Espanola. His older brother, Muhammad Imtiaz Hussain, a former prosecutor who moved to the U.S. in 2014 to continue studying law, had been staying with his sibling, and brought his two young children with him. Imtiaz Hussain told The Albuquerque Journal that Afzaal Hussain stepped outside around 9pm, likely to call friends or family in Pakistan, while he cooked dinner. Neighbors reported seeing a car pull up alongside his brother as someone inside opened fire, shooting once and then four to six more times. 'My brother he was such a decent, lively young man, an unmarried person involved with the community, all the time helping everyone,' Imtiaz Hussain said. 'So what is the motive. Why did they shoot him? If he's shot, how are we safe? 'I want a proactive, rigorous investigation, detailed and speedy trials so that those people who want to take life for another person for nothing. 'Maybe they were stealing his phone, I don't know, whatever. 'But this is life and many lives are connected to him.' Jordan Yutzy, the Espanola city manager, said the team was in shock. 'He is going to be truly missed by the city,' Yutzy said. 'He was very smart, very dedicated, and really cared about the community as a whole. His will be very big shoes for the city to fill.' Prayers are held for Hussein and Hussain on Friday in the Islamic Center of New Mexico The University of New Mexico said it was 'deeply saddened to hear about the tragic and sudden loss of a cherished alumni' who 'was a prominent student leader and vibrant human being.' 'Muhammad was an inspiring leader and a really special Lobo who touched so many lives,' UNM President Garnett Stokes said. 'It was my privilege to know and work with him.' Stansbury tweeted: 'As we grieve the unthinkable loss of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, law enforcement has released new information that his shooting may be linked with the deaths of Mohammad Admadi and Aftab Hussein in our community. 'We are working closely with federal, state, and local partners to protect our Muslim, immigrant, and Middle Eastern communities and bring those responsible to justice. Our communities will not tolerate hate in any form.' Martin Heinrich, senator for New Mexico, said: 'Muhammad Afzaal Hussain was a pillar in the UNM community and an incredible force for good. 'I'm very concerned by law enforcement reports that his murder may be linked to two other murders of Muslim men in Albuquerque. Racist, hate-fueled violence has no place in New Mexico.' Tim Keller, the mayor of Albuquerque, said the city will continue to 'stand by our Muslim neighbors'. 'While we do not have all the answers yet, what we do know is that violence against members of our community based on race or religion will not be tolerated in Albuquerque,' he said in a statement. On Friday, more than 1,000 people attended a joint funeral for Hussein and Hussain. Imam Mahmoud Eldenawi spoke of the community's shock, 6Park News reported. 'All of us, not just Muslims, all other communities, were shocked and saddened by this kind of death of innocent people, they did nothing,' Eldenawi said. 'But this evil guy who committed this crime, he doesn't have any kind of religion, he doesn't have any kind of sympathy, passion, mercy at all.' The Council on American-Islamic Relations is offering a $5,000 reward for information, and the Anti-Defamation League is urging a swift investigation. 'It is abhorrent for someone to be targeted simply for who they are, and we express our deep concern and support for the Muslim community in New Mexico,' said Regional Director Scott Levin. 'We thank members of law enforcement for investigating and taking the matter seriously, and strongly encourage prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges if evidence shows the killings were committed because of the Muslim identity of the victims.' Four in ten migrants crossing the Channel in small boats are from peaceful Albania where there has not been a war for 25 years, a secret military intelligence report leaked to The Mail on Sunday reveals. The explosive document marked 'Official Sensitive' shows that almost three times as many migrants arriving on the UK's shores from France come from the Balkans country compared with anywhere else. It is the first time that an official report has exposed how the largest proportion of those making illegal crossings appear to be economic migrants abusing Britain's generous asylum system. The report, exclusively revealed today by The Mail on Sunday, follows a surveillance operation by the Royal Navy and defence intelligence experts of nine criminal gangs believed to be masterminding the majority of crossings. It reveals: Made it: Channel migrants in Dover yesterday morning A total of 1,075 Albanians crossed the Channel in small boats organised by the gangs during a six-week period this summer almost 40 per cent of those identified as making the perilous crossing The gangs are buying huge inflatable boats online from Chinese factories and transporting them to northern France; Two of the gangs codenamed Dragon and Lotus are customising the boats by asking Chinese firms to make them bigger so more migrants can be squeezed on board; The military's intelligence-gathering operation 'is currently limited by a lack of resource' despite Boris Johnson making a crackdown on the smuggling gangs a priority; The French authorities failed to reveal when they are successfully stopping crossing attempts, hampering efforts to get a complete picture of what the gangs are doing. Migrants arrive in a Border Force Volunteer rescue boat, which has escorted 90 migrants picked up in the English Channel by Border Force (pictured) The leaked report reveals that of the 2,863 migrants transported by the nine gangs between June 1 and July 12 this year, 1,075 or 37.5 per cent were Albanian. Indeed, the total from Albania dwarfed other nationalities. Iranians made up the next highest total, with 373 migrants, or 13 per cent. There were 363 migrants from Afghanistan (12.7 per cent), 217 from Iraq (7.6 per cent), 162 from Syria (5.7 per cent) and 163 from Eritrea (5.7 per cent). The figures vindicate Home Secretary Priti Patel's view that the majority of those crossing the Channel are 'effectively economic migrants' and 'not genuine asylum seekers'. Although Albania has a high poverty rate, it is a peaceful country whose leaders are negotiating to join the EU. Migrants after disembarking a Border Force vessel which escorted 70 migrants after they were picked up in the English Channel (pictured) The document also undermines criticism from Left-wing critics, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, of plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. In a highly political intervention earlier this year, Mr Welby claimed that the Rwanda scheme raised 'serious ethical questions' and cannot stand the 'judgment of God'. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith last night said the report proved that people are arriving 'on an economic migration ticket' and abusing the asylum system. He added: 'This is proof positive that the threat we face is not an asylum issue, it's an economic migration issue, which is leading these traffickers to abuse the asylum system. This simply cannot be tolerated. 'This is absolutely clear evidence in the face of all those on the liberal Left who cry for us to let anyone in that this is an economic issue and, as such, it is desperate that we get on with the Rwanda programme.' Experts believe the crossings are being fuelled by social media, with brazen people-smugglers, who are charging up to 5,500 per person, posting videos on TikTok to advertise their services. In one extraordinary video, posted on July 14, a group of Albanian men are seen unfurling their country's red and black flag, which features a double-headed eagle, while they are crammed on a small boat crossing the Channel. Some 28,526 people crossed the Channel in small boats in 2021 but this total is on course to almost double this year. Last Monday 696 migrants arrived a record daily figure for this year. Another 250 are believed to have crossed the Channel yesterday in eight inflatable boats. Last Monday 696 migrants arrived a record daily figure for this year. Pictured: Migrants arrive at Dover Amid growing exasperation at the scale of the crisis, Downing Street put the military in charge of tackling the issue earlier this year. The leaked document reveals that analysts at Operation Isotrope the military's response to the crossings believe they have identified nine separate organised crime groups working along the French coast. They have each been given their own codename by intelligence analysts: Dragon, Lotus, Gorgon, Behemoth, Colossus, Titan, Tiamat, Hydra and Leviathan. Satellites and drones are believed to have been used to identify each gang's launch sites and track their crossings, while experts have examined their boats for further clues. The military has also analysed the nationality of those being carried by each boat. The number of Albanians crossing the Channel appears to have jumped dramatically this summer. A total of 757 Albanians crossed the Channel last year, according to Government figures. Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, who obtained the leaked report, said: 'An army of well-intentioned but misguided Left-wing politicians, lawyers and do-gooders have been spinning the line that the vast majority of people who make these dangerous journeys are desperately fleeing war, persecution and terror. 'If these people are not genuinely fleeing for their lives, then it is not up to the British taxpayer to support them.' A migrant after disembarking a Border Force vessel which escorted 70 migrants after they were picked up in the English Channel The people-smuggling gang codenamed Hydra transported 302 Albanians across the Channel during the six-week period, equivalent to 62 per cent of all its passengers. The gang uses shorter boats than its competitors and made 12 trips, with 40 migrants on each boat on average. The Dragon gang was the most prolific, making 18 separate trips and smuggling 887 migrants, including 278 Albanians. The epicentre of its operation is the Petit Fort Philippe beach in the town of Gravelines between Calais and Dunkirk. The gang's network is believed to have been severely disrupted by a major police operation that led to 39 arrests in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. Astonishingly, Dragon, along with Lotus, have bought especially customised boats from Chinese manufacturers. The boats are believed to have been lengthened and stripped of 'unnecessary features in order to lower the cost and speed up [the] manufacturing time', the report states. The MoS understands that an Albanian police liaison officer is set to be permanently based in Dover to help deal with the growing problem. Amid growing exasperation at the scale of the crisis, Downing Street put the military in charge of tackling the issue earlier this year. Pictured: Migrants arrive in a Border Force Volunteer rescue boat However, a Home Office source said there is a shortage of Albanian translators to help process the increased number of migrants. Alarmingly, the report reveals that intelligence gathering is being hampered because 'limited to no data on boats stopped or disrupted by the French is available'. This, the report explains, prevents the UK from gaining an accurate picture of the 'operating cycle' of the trafficking gangs. It adds that its fight against the gangs 'is currently limited by a lack of resource, co-ordination between stakeholders, and inconsistent data capture'. A Government spokesman said: 'The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable. People should always claim asylum in the first safe country they reach, rather than risk their lives and line the pockets of ruthless criminal gangs in order to cross the Channel. 'Under our new Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, we are continuing preparations to relocate those who are making dangerous, unnecessary and illegal journeys into the UK ultimately helping to save lives by deterring others.' Wearing bright orange life jackets, a long line of migrants, all young men in their 20s and 30s, strode up a gangway at Dover yesterday and possibly into a new life in Britain. They had just been rescued from an inflatable boat drifting in the English Channel one of at least eight vessels carrying around 250 asylum seekers that made the perilous 20-mile journey across the Strait of Dover. The men were the latest to reach the UK as part of a criminal enterprise in which people smuggling gangs cram migrants on to overloaded boats before launching them into the worlds busiest shipping lane. The scene unfolded as a secret military intelligence report, leaked to The Mail on Sunday, exposes in extraordinary detail how the gangs masterminding this trafficking are operating this summer and crucially the nationality of those paying up to 5,500 for a place on a boat. Using satellites and a fleet of drones, analysts based at an operations centre in Portsmouth tracked 70 boats that made the crossing over a six-week period in June and July and mapped the beaches where they were launched from. They revealed how the ruthless gangs are operating from a 90-mile stretch of the French coastline from Fort-Mahon-Plage near the town of Berck to Bray-Dunes near Dunkirk. A Royal Navy intelligence unit examined inflatable boats seized after landing on beaches on the English south coast or towed ashore by the Border Force for further clues about the criminal gangs. About 40 migrants carry an inflatable boat towards the water before they attempt to cross the Channel to Britain According to the astonishing dossier handed to The Mail on Sunday, defence chiefs now believe nine competing Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) are targeting Britain as part of a sophisticated international criminal web. The groups collectively smuggled 2,862 migrants across the Channel between June 1 and July 12, with many obtaining their inflatable boats from manufacturers in China. The file marked official sensitive reveals that the largest proportion of those making the illegal crossings appear to be economic migrants and not refugees. A total of 1,075 of those who made the crossing were from Albania an impoverished but peaceful country where there has been no war since 1997, when an economic crisis sparked an outbreak of violence. A World Bank report states that after strong GDP growth last year, the proportion of the population living in poverty in Albania dropped significantly from 31 per cent to 22 per cent in 2021. Unemployment, however, remains high in the north of the country, where many of those who arrive in the UK come from. If you go to a secondary school in northern Albania and children are asked to describe how they see their future, all the boys draw a lorry or a boat with an Albanian flag going to the UK, said Muhamed Veliu, a political correspondent with Top Channel TV in Albania. The town of Kukes, near the border with Kosovo, is known as Little London and its streets are full of cars bought in the UK. Nearly every family is believed to have links to Britain. Mr Veliu said: They know how well their relatives are doing they get employment in the UK and are settled. They think, Why should we waste our time in northern Albania not doing anything? Lets go to the UK, work and come back with a flashy car like others who went before us. This map shows sites on the French coast where boats have been launched by one of the gangs trafficking migrants The revelation about the number of Albanians crossing the Channel is a boost for Home Secretary Priti Patel, who has argued most people who travel to the UK in small boats are not genuine asylum seekers. After hearing about the leaked report, Natalie Elphicke, Tory MP for Dover, said last night: Everyone knows Albanians are not fleeing from war or persecution. This is plainly illegal economic migration organised by criminal people smuggling gangs. Each OCG has been assigned a codename many taken from Greek mythology. The most prolific group dubbed Dragon transported 887 migrants, including 278 from Albania, with an average of 52 people crammed on to each boat. The document reveals how two of the gangs Dragon and Lotus have boats made to order by factories in China with extra tube sections inserted to lengthen them and increase the number of people who can be loaded on board. The report says: It is likely that OCGs using Chinese inflatable boats have altered the stock models to leave off unnecessary features in order to lower the cost and speed up manufacturing time. It has now emerged that an international police operation on July 5 smashed one of the gangs under surveillance by the military team. Detectives seized 1,200 life jackets, 150 rubber boats, almost 50 engines, firearms, drugs and 33,753 in cash after raids against the Dragon network. A total of 39 people were arrested, including six in the UK. A statement by Europol after the raids highlighted the violent nature of the vile trade. It said: The competition for control of the lucrative migrant smuggling business and for launch sites for the boats regularly resulted in acts of serious violence inside the criminal network, including two attempted murders in France and Germany. The dossier also said gangs named Colossus and Behemoth operate the biggest inflatable boats and collectively smuggled 546 people over the six weeks. A huge sandy beach at the sleepy holiday resort of Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, is used as a launch site by five of the gangs, the report reveals. On July 11 a large group of almost exclusively male migrants was pictured carrying an inflatable boat through the waves and launching it off the beach. The leaked report indicates that the crossing was arranged by either the Lotus, Colossus or Hydra gangs. Hours later large numbers of migrants were brought ashore by the Border Force at Dover in Kent. Despite the beach being pinpointed as an epicentre of people smuggling, The Mail on Sunday did not see any patrols by French police when a reporter visited yesterday. Elia Carpentier, 20, who works in the Gravelines tourist office on the beachfront, told how she had seen a boat full of migrants leave the beach at 7pm on Friday. I was really surprised because normally they leave when the sun goes down or at dawn, she said. The boat waited for them at the edge of the water. Im not sure how many got on but there were men, women and children in the group. TikTok videos show dozens of Albanian migrants making the crossing, with this group unfurling the nation's flag on the boat Miss Carpentier added that she had seen more than 100 migrants walking through Gravelines on Friday at lunchtime as she made her way to work. It was probably the biggest group Ive seen, she said. They dont hide themselves. The police let them go. Before, they would arrest them to keep them safe, but now theres too many of them so they let them be. She added that it was an open secret where the migrants hid before boarding dinghies. They come from Dunkirk by bus because its free, she explained. When they arrive they walk through the centre of Gravelines down to the beach. You know them when you see them as they tend to stay in groups. At the far end of the beach there is a campsite and beyond that is a forest. They set up camp there for one or two nights before waiting for a boat. Until recent years the preferred method for smuggling people across the Channel was in the back of a lorry. But improved security at French and UK ports has increased the risk of detection and the price people smugglers charge. They are now believed to charge 22,000 to smuggle someone in a lorry, compared with 5,500 to make the crossing on an inflatable boat. Albanian gangsters often act as middlemen in the cross-Channel people smuggling operations and then force some of those they have helped traffic to work as slaves in their empires in the UK or recruit others as willing foot soldiers. After seizing control of almost the entire UK cocaine market, Albanian organised crime has now begun to dominate the illegal cultivation of cannabis in Britain. The criminals often flaunt their wealth on Facebook and TikTok posing with piles of cash and luxury cars in a bid to attract even more young people to leave Albania and attempt the Channel crossing. Human traffickers also advertise their services on TikTok, with dozens of videos showing Albanians making the crossing. In one video posted last month, a large group of Albanian men unfurled their national flag as their boat headed towards the English coastline. The Mail on Sunday understands that Gledis Nano, general director of the Albanian State Police, last month met police chiefs at the National Crime Agency in London to discuss people smuggling and how to crack down on Albanian organised crime. A UK Government spokesman said: The Nationality and Borders Act makes it a criminal offence to knowingly arrive in the UK illegally and we have introduced life sentences for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country. Since the introduction of the act, 26 people have been arrested. Nobody likes being taken for a fool but that is the way voters have been treated over migrant crossings. It is bad enough that Home Secretary Priti Patel has been unable to stop ever larger groups of individuals coming to the UK by this perilous and illegal route. Worse, we now know that we have been duped. All this time, an army of well-intentioned but misguided Left-wing politicians, lawyers and do-gooders have been spinning the line that the vast majority of people who make these dangerous journeys are desperately fleeing war, persecution and terror. Its a narrative that suits the Government, playing into the generosity and compassion of the British people who believe that this country should offer refuge to innocent foreign nationals fleeing bullets and bombs. Unfortunately, all too often its rubbish. The public have been 'duped' when it comes to migrants crossing the Channel, writes Richard Tice. Pictured: A group of migrants brought into Dover on a Border Force vessel on Thursday For the first time ever thanks to a leak voters can see exactly where passengers on these inflatable boats have come from. The uncomfortable truth? Almost 40 per cent hail from Albania. Yes, 13 per cent come from Afghanistan and six per cent from Syria. They may well be in genuine need of refuge. But they are a minority. Others come from stable regimes including Turkey, Egypt, Vietnam and even India. Why has the Government hidden this information? After all, it changes everything. If these people are not genuinely fleeing for their lives, then it is not up to the British taxpayer to support them. Both Tory leadership candidates are standing on platforms of trust and integrity. Both have pledged to tackle the illegal crossings. Dont get me wrong Albania is no land of luxury. Many live below the poverty line and corruption is rife. Nonetheless, it is a peaceful place with a rapidly growing economy. It is also a member of Nato and applying to join the EU. Albanians who make the long journey across Europe to the French coast are not therefore running for their lives. They have other agendas. Why dont they just apply for a 180-day visa to visit? Is it a coincidence that Albanian criminal gangs are now among the biggest and most notorious in the UK? Is it possible that many of these Albanians migrants are in fact foot soldiers for criminal gangs, replacing those who have been locked up? What if they are being trapped in modern-day slavery in black market businesses operated by Albanian gangs? Richard Tice (pictured), leader of the Reform Party, says: 'The country of origin of migrants should be published monthly so nobody is under any illusions' We deserve answers to these critical questions. The crisis costs British taxpayers billions of pounds every year at a time when Rishi Sunak says we cannot afford tax cuts to grow the economy and when millions are petrified about how to pay their food and heating bills. The Government knows within days which countries Channel migrants are from. The military know exactly where they are setting off from on the French coast. They even know who supplies the boats. So why are these individuals still staggering on to our beaches? It is now time for the Government to tell the real story. The country of origin of migrants should be published monthly so nobody is under any illusions. We must immediately share information about launch points with the French police and that data should also be published. Information is power. Thirdly, Border Force must stop accepting migrants from the French navy at the half-way point and instead implement a new pick-up-and-take-back policy for all migrants, returning them to France under the existing 1974 Safety of Life at Sea laws. This would stop this vile trade in its tracks and restore the confidence of the majority of British people that we have taken back control of our borders. Water companies have been accused of giving customers laughable advice to deal with the worst drought since 1976 including using oak barrels to collect non-existent rain and putting their feet up instead of cleaning the car. Other tips include going online to look at a list of pop songs that last for four minutes the maximum amount of time people are advised to have a shower. Critics have slammed the daft advice, which has been emailed or handed out to customers in the wake of hosepipe bans, introduced to cope with dwindling water supplies and the exceptional heatwave. Thames Water suggests people should wipe themselves down with a cloth instead of taking a shower to cool off, wash dogs in leftover paddling pool water and relax on the sofa instead of cleaning the car. Water companies have been slammed for 'daft' advice handed to customers in the wake of a hosepipe ban, including washing dogs with leftover paddling pool water (file pic) The firm, owned by a consortium of foreign interests, advises: From oak barrels to clay pots, theres something for everyone. Meanwhile, Southern Water, which has imposed a hosepipe ban in parts of Hampshire and Sussex, suggests customers challenge themselves to finish a shower in the time it takes to listen to a four-minute track from a list of songs. The hosepipe ban, which was introduced last week, comes as 3,113million litres of water are lost daily through holes in the nations 215,000 mile-long network of pipes and industry leaders are paid salaries running into the millions. Severn Trent Water whose boss Liv Garfield earned nearly 4million last year wastes 425million litres of water a day. The company is advising families not to fill paddling pools to the top to save water. Following analysis by The Mail on Sunday last weekend, which showed the biggest water companies have handed bosses 50million, Lib Dem MPs are calling on the Government to ban new bonuses until leaking infrastructure is fixed. Tim Farron, the partys rural affairs spokesman, said: Its outrageous that while millions suffer from hosepipe bans, water company execs reward themselves with bonuses despite not even bothering to fix leaks. Water companies have introduced the hosepipe ban as a reported 3,113million litres of water are lost daily through holes in the nations 215,000 mile-long network of pipes Cat Hobbs, of We Own It, which campaigns for water firms to be put into public ownership, said: Are the firms competing to offer the daftest advice? Who has an oak barrel, even if there was any chance of rain to fill it? Water firms hypocrisy is incredible. 'They say every drop is precious, but our privatised water firms lose billions of litres of water every single day due to leaks. This is because they are prioritising paying shareholders and CEOs rather than fixing leaks. The hosepipe bans have been brought in as high temperatures and low rainfall continues in the UK. Pictured: A woman walks through dried brown grass on Blackheath Common on Saturday The tips to beat the drought follow similarly risible advice offered by energy firms last winter. SSE Energy Services told customers to do star-jumps, cuddle pets and eat porridge to keep warm. A Thames Water spokesman said: We have no way of knowing how long this very dry weather will last so we need to plan carefully. Customers can really help us with this long-term planning by using water wisely. A spokesman for Water UK said: Water companies are committed to radically reducing leakage.' Ex-Towie star Lauren Goodger is in hiding after her boyfriend allegedly attacked her and left the glamour model with a 'fractured eye socket' only hours after her daughter's funeral. The 35-year-old star is reportedly staying with a friend for fear of running into boyfriend Charles Drury, 25, who was arrested and taken into custody following the attack in Upminster in the early hours of Thursday morning. Lauren had to go to hospital for serious facial injuries and was interviewed by police. She had just attended her daughter's funeral with her family and was attacked later that night. The couple's baby girl tragically died last month after she was born with her umbilical cord tied around her neck. Police were called at 00.37am on Thursday to reports of an altercation and Drury was arrested on suspicion of assault. He was released on bail in the early hours of Friday morning, according to police. Ex-Townie star Lauren Goodger is reportedly hiding with a friend for fear of running into boyfriend Charles Drury, 25, who was arrested and taken into custody following the attack in Upminster in the early hours of Thursday morning Charles Drury, 25, was arrested and taken into custody following the attack in Upminster in the early hours of Thursday morning. He is pictured holding their one-year-old daughter Larose Goodger posted an image on her Instagram after her daughter's birth in which she holds the newborn's hand Lauren was taken to hospital by her friend after the incident for medical check-ups. The Dancing on Ice and Big Brother star is currently waiting for X-Ray results. 'Lauren is absolutely terrified. This has shaken her badly,' a source told The Sun on Sunday. 'She suffered some nasty injuries and fears she has suffered a broken eye socket.' The source added: 'Lauren is now in hiding with a friend. Shes really stressed that Charlies bail conditions have not specified that hes kept out of the Essex area. 'She doesnt want him to be allowed to set foot in Essex. She is very shaken by this situation.' Charles denies attacking Lauren, telling the Sun: 'Theres a completely different side to stuff.' A Metropolitan Police spokesman said on Friday night: 'Police were called at 00.37 hrs on Thursday, August 4 to reports of an altercation. 'Officers attended. At the scene a woman, aged 30s, was found with facial injuries. 'A man was arrested on suspicion of assault. He was taken to an east London police station and subsequently bailed pending further inquiries. Inquiries continue.' Lauren's rep did not respond to MailOnline's request for comment before publication. Lauren and Charles met in October 2020 and announced they were expecting a child together three months after going public with their relationship. The Towie star had teased she was dating someone new before the identity of Charles, a builder and former lover of Katie Price, came to light. The couple have a one-year-old daughter Larose together. In January, she revealed she was expecting her second child. Lauren and Charles' romance first came to light in October 2020, they announced they were expecting their first child together just three months after going public The incident happened only hours after a private funeral for baby Lorena. Lauren is pictured with partner Charles Drury in an Instagram story The alleged assault happened just hours after Lauren attended the funeral of her baby daughter Lorena. Doctors tried in vain to save the 9lb baby but she was born with two knots in her umbilical cord which was tied around her neck. After she died, her traumatised mother spent hours saying goodbye to her. The heartbroken star also later revealed she still 'has a bit of a bump' which sometimes tricks her into thinking her baby girl was 'still there'. She said: 'It's weird. My body feels like it's unsettled, like it's missing a newborn.' Lauren posted an Instagram message telling how much she loved her daughter, who died minutes after being born on July 8, saying: 'I carried you, I felt you grow. Longed for the day we'd meet. Dreamed of your future. Not only did I know you, I fell in love with you.' Lauren Goodger's ex-boyfriend Jake McLean sadly died in a car accident in Turkey last month Lauren was already at 'rock bottom', as just five days before her child died on July 8, her ex-boyfriend Jake McLean, 33, died in a car accident in Bodrum, Turkey. Mclean, who she dated from 2012 until 2016 and reportedly secretly reconciled with until 2020, died last month when he 'lost control' of the vehicle in Turkey. After the accident she shared a heartbreaking series of lyrics to her Instagram Stories. Lauren's post featured a black backdrop while the song's lyrics gradually appeared on the screen. The lyrics were: 'Search your heart, search your soul. When you find me there, you'll search no more.' Influencers Elle Ferguson and Joel Patfull sensationally quit The Block Tree Change during filming for the upcoming season earlier this year. And now it can be revealed that Sydney-based couple Rachel Carr and her husband Ryan will be the couples' replacements. In photos exclusively obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Rachel, a successful hair and makeup artist, is seen ordering supplies from a Reece Plumbing store in Melbourne. Rachel Carr and her husband Ryan will replace The Block quitters Elle Ferguson and Joel Patfull in the upcoming season of the show - The Block Tree Change In photos exclusively obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Rachel, a successful hair and makeup artist, is seen ordering supplies from a Reece Plumbing store in Melbourne She wore a pink and navy hi-vis shirt as she carried her supplies before getting into a car printed with The Block logo. Rachel is starring on the series with her plumber husband Ryan. The couple own a home design and renovation company called The RR Design Co and have been renovating properties for over 15 years. She wore a pink and navy hi-vis shirt as she carried her supplies before getting into a car printed with The Block logo Rachel is starring on the series with her plumber husband Ryan. The couple own a home design and renovation company called The RR Design Co and have been renovating properties for over 15 years Rachel appeared in good spirits as she ran errands in between takes of the show It is understood Rachel and Ryan are Sydney based couple, with three children. Makeup artist Rachel has a celebrity clientele, including Amy Shark, Tones and I and Kate Ceberano. The couple are replacing fashion influencer Elle and her footy star fiance Joel, who pulled out of the competition just 48 hours into filming. The couple made the difficult decision to leave after Joel's mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home in Adelaide. Joel's mother reportedly broke her coccyx and fractured her wrist. Rachael and her husband own a home design and renovation company called The RR Design Co and have been renovating properties for over 15 years Fashion influencer Elle Ferguson and her footy star fiance Joel Patfull (pictured on September 4, 2019, in Sydney) pulled out of the competition just 48 hours into filming Following their exit, Elle, 36, shared a photo to Instagram of the pair's suitcases at Melbourne Airport, and captioned it: 'Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, family always comes first.' A Channel Nine spokesperson confirmed their departure to Daily Mail Australia, saying: 'Over the weekend, we were surprised to have one of our new contestant teams depart The Block a few days into filming for the upcoming season. 'We wish them all the best for the future and we're excited to cast two new Aussies for the opportunity of a lifetime on The Block. The Block Tree Change will air as scheduled later this year.' According to The Daily Telegraph, the couple made the difficult decision to leave after Joel's mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home in Adelaide Host Scott Cam has since accused the pair of fleeing The Block in the middle of the night and giving no explanation for their departure. He rubbished their excuse, telling News.com.au that while Joel's mother did injure herself before filming began, this wasn't the excuse the couple gave for throwing in the towel. In fact, he claims, they didn't give any excuse at all. 'They didn't give us a reason why they were leaving. They never mentioned anything to us about visiting their sick mother,' the long-time host said on Tuesday. 'We flew them to Adelaide before The Block started for a week, and put them up in a hotel so they could see [Joel's mother], and they came back and said everything's fine,' he added. 'They never spoke to us [about quitting]; they just left in the middle of the night.' Scott went on to claim the couple 'never mentioned' Joel's ailing mother 'in the 48 hours before they left, or after they left'. Speaking to TV Week on Monday, Scott also insisted The Block would have been prepared to temporarily shut down production to accommodate the couple's visit to see Joel's mother, if they had been made aware of the situation. 'Of course, family comes first on The Block - we've stopped production before when people have had family emergencies,' he said. Joel's mother reportedly broke her coccyx and fractured her wrist 'And of course, I wasn't referring to somebody going to visit their sick mother... It was because they'd given us no reason.' Scott previously said at the Logie Awards that Elle and Joel giving up so soon into the competition was 'unAustralian' and 'p**s poor'. He told TV Tonight: 'We had a 48-hour challenge to choose the house that you get and they scarpered after 48 hours. It's something that's never happened before.' 'Forty-five thousand people applied to be on The Block and win life-changing money. These guys got on and they just couldn't handle the pace after 48 hours,' he continued. 'Which to me is a bit unAustralian! Have a go! It's p**s poor.' Scott reportedly told the other contestants Elle and Joel left because the renovation show wasn't 'on brand' for them as Bondi influencers. He also said they had complained 'the toilet paper was too scratchy'. Netflix has announced that the reboot of the beloved Aussie series Heartbreak High will drop on the streaming giant's platform on September 14. And with a new series on the horizon, many fans of the original show are wondering what happened to some of its most memorable stars. Bogdan Drazic, played by actor Callan Mulvey, was arguably the biggest character to come from the show after it moved from Channel 10 to ABC in 1997. Where is he now? Callan Mulvey has come a long way since playing Drazic on Heartbreak High (pictured in 1998) While so many viewers will always remember Callan as the troubled bad boy he played on the '90s soap, the actor has gone on to have huge success in Hollywood. Before that he played another bad boy, Johnny Cooper, on Home and Away in 2007, and then appeared on four seasons of Channel 10's police drama Rush from 2008 to 2011. Callan then packed up and moved to Hollywood, where he landed roles in films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Avengers: Endgame. The 47-year-old has forged a successful career in Hollywood and appeared in multiple superhero movies (pictured in 2016) From there, he appeared in a string of superhero movies, including 2014's Captain America: The Winter Soldier and 2016's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. In 2019, he played double agent Jack Rollins in Avengers: Endgame. In May this year, Callan was seen on the set of Last King of the Cross, a TV mini series based on the life of Sydney underworld king John Ibrahim. Action hero: Callan then packed up and moved to Hollywood, where he landed roles in films like Zero Dark Thirty and 300: Rise of an Empire (pictured) In 2019, he played double agent Jack Rollins in Avengers: Endgame (pictured) Netflix announced that its Heartbreak High reboot would air on September 14. A flashy new trailer featuring a line-up of gay and non-binary characters gives fans a taste of the show's 21st century makeover. The show is the first major locally produced drama series from Netflix since the pandemic. In May this year, Callan was photographed on the set of Last King of the Cross, a TV mini series based on the life of Sydney underworld king John Ibrahim. Pictured left with Lincoln Younes In the preview, characters are seen partying, doing drag and being chased by police. They will navigate sex, romance and violence as they come of age. The trailer finishes with one character looking out into the schoolyard saying, 'honey we're home.' Netflix announced that its Heartbreak High reboot would air on September 14 (the original cast is pictured in 1994) Outside of his career, Callan has been happily married to musician Rachel Thomas since 2010. The couple met in 2002 when Callan relocated to Byron Bay to focus on his own budding music career. Rachel works as a music teacher and has a son, Charlie, from a previous relationship. A star of Australia's No.1 show has come out to reveal its secrets. Dr. David Craig, better known to millions of viewers as the Chief investigator on Channel 10's Hunted, claims that the reality TV thriller is 'as real as it can be'. Hunted follows 18 contestants going on the run as they try to avoid being captured by a team of former intelligence agents and police officers led by Craig. The star of Australia's No.1 show, ex-Australian Federal Police agent Dr. David Craig (pictured), has come out to reveal the secrets behind Hunted on the TV Reload Apple podcast The gripping series, in which contestants must evade capture while being pursued by a team of surveillance experts, averaged 1.09 million viewers nationally across its nine episodes. The veteran of the Australian Federal Police has defended the show, after viewers claimed it was 'fake,' on the TV Reload Apple podcast on Tuesday. After taking part in pursuit simulations of the highest professional standards all over the world, he congratulated the Hunted production team on their efforts. 'It's the most realistic experience that can be created that's not actually real,' he said. The 58-year-old, hero of such high profile cases as the 2005 Bali bombings, addressed sceptics who claimed that a camera crew following the fugitives ruined the shows premise. Craig congratulated the Hunted production team on their efforts: 'It's the most realistic experience that can be created that's not actually real' 'That's a legitimate question,' Craig said candidly. 'The way its done in production is that there are not two fugitives on the run, there's three, and one is carrying a camera.' He said that the camera people following the fugitives endured the same hard-ships as the contestants who were on the run. Craig revealed that 'there are not two fugitives on the run in the show - there's three, and one has a camera.' Viewers had criticised the show saying a camera crew following the contestants would make them too much of an easy target. Picture: A scene from Hunted Australia Elsewhere in the chat, Craig addressed other criticisms of the show, including why there seem to be so many coincidences. Why were the Hunters were always one step ahead of their targets? 'We chased down every lead,' Craig explained. 'It would be very boring TV if they showed all our false leads.' The 58-year-old, is a hero of such high profile cases as the 2005 Bali bombings. In 2017, Craig published a best-selling book about the case (pictured) Hunted Australia has been the breakout television hit of the year and Channel 10 has already commissioned a second season. Craig said fans can look forward to the fugitives having a lot more tools at their disposal. Earlier this week, the show stirred controversy when the Andrews Government has slammed Hunted for 'failing to apply for a permit' before filming inside Victoria's Metro rail network. Hunted, which was filmed in Victoria earlier this year, included several scenes filmed at Flinders Street Station and inside public train carriages. Rob and Stathi won Hunted Australia during Tuesday's finale. In the nail-biting closing moments, the men were whisked away in a helicopter on a beach in Inverloch after the hunters failed to catch them. The manner in which the Narendra Modi government has been gunning for Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, it has everyone wondering about the real purpose of this relentless exercise which might just generate sympathy for them. Is it just political vendetta or is there a larger game plan afoot? One explanation is that the Bharatiya Janata Party wants to make sure that the Gandhis are not marginalised and remain politically relevant. This is particularly so in the case of Rahul Gandhi as it suits the BJP if the Nehru-Gandhi scion heads the Congress and is projected as its prime ministerial candidate. Having lampooned Rahul Gandhi successfully and discredited him as a leader of little calibre, the BJP does not want Rahul Gandhi to disappear from the public eye because his presence further strengthens Prime Minister Modis case if the two are pitted against each other. Though Mr Modi is way ahead of his rivals, the BJP would not want any other Opposition leader to take political centrestage ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls as it may prove difficult to destroy his or her credibility. When Congress president Sonia Gandhi was called in for questioning by the Enforcement directorate in connection with the National Herald case, party members predictably took to the streets to protest against her interrogation. Interestingly, Manish Tewari was among the leaders who courted arrest while Ghulam Nabi Azad and Anand Sharma were called in to take on the Modi government for indulging in political vendetta. These three leaders were the leading lights of the G-23 leaders who had shot off a letter to Sonia Gandhi calling for effective leadership and an organisational overhaul. More importantly, these three leaders were conspicuous by their absence when similar protests were staged by Congress members on the days Rahul Gandhi was grilled by the Enforcement Directorate. The message was loud and clear. Mr Azad, Mr Sharma and Mr Tewari from the G-23, dubbed as dissenters, wanted to make it known that they are loyal to Sonia Gandhi but have a problem accepting Rahul Gandhis leadership. To that extent, it was best interpreted as a vote of no-confidence against the Nehru-Gandhi scion. Heres more on the firebrand Trinamul Congress MP Mahua Moitra. She was last in the firing line of the Bharatiya Janata Party over her remarks on Goddess Kali and lately, the social media has been poking fun at her for trying to hide her expensive designer bag from view during the Lok Sabha debate on price rise. It is perhaps Ms Moitras penchant for running into unnecessary controversies which prompted the Trinamul Congress not to field her in the price rise debate. Ms Moitras fiery oratory has won her many fans, especially in the media, following her maiden speech when she launched a no-holds barred attack against the Modi government. Since then it is expected that Ms Moitra would be fielded by the Trinamul Congress for every important debate. However, this time it was not to be as the party felt she should lie low after the remarks on Goddess Kali kicked up a row. Needless to say, there were many in her party who were not displeased with the decision as Ms Moitra managed to steal the limelight in every session while others struggled to be noticed. Will Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami meet the same fate as his former counterpart from Tripura Biplab Deb? This is currently the subject of ongoing discussion in private conversations of BJP leaders in the hill state. The state unit, especially the partys legislators, is constrained from going public with their grievances since the chief minister is backed by the BJP Central leadership but they have not reconciled to Mr Dhamis return to the top job even though he failed to win his seat in the assembly polls. On his part, Mr Dhami does not have the stature or the experience to be an effective team leader. As a result, Mr Dhamis ministers take independent decisions while the chief minister is also happy working solo. Given the uneasy relationship between Mr Dhami and the other party leaders, it is speculated that as in the case of Tripura, the rumblings in the state unit have the potential of developing into a serious leadership crisis. Party insiders maintain it is not a question of if but when the situation will explode. Though it was known for some time now that former Haryana Congress leader Kuldeep Bishnoi was gravitating towards the BJP, his formal entry into the party was delayed due to various reasons. The BJP leadership did not wish to rush matters as they did not want to alienate the partys key ally, the Jannayak Janata Party, headed by Dushyant Singh Chautala, who is also the deputy chief minister of Haryana. The BJP government in Haryana is dependent on the 10-member JJP. The party obviously did not wish to upset the applecart by bringing in Mr Bishnoi whose familys rivalry with the Chautalas is well-known as both families have their stronghold in Hisar. According to the political grapevine, a compromise formula has been worked out wherein Mr Bishnoi will focus on Lok Sabha polls while his son Bhavya will contest the state Assembly election. Adam Sandler was pictured working on the Toronto set of You Are SO Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah! on Wednesday. The 55-year-old performer appeared to be enjoying his time on the set of the forthcoming feature, during which he was joined by his costar Idina Menzel. The upcoming comedy feature is currently set to make its debut on Netflix. Doing his thing: Adam Sandler was pictured working on the Toronto set of You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah! on Wednesday Sandler kept it classy in a beige suit and a matching pair of pants during his time on set. The Punch-Drunk Love star also rocked a lavender tie, as well as a white shirt and a matching yarmulke while he worked on the movie. Menzel who previously played Sandler's wife in his acclaimed thriller Uncut Gems opted to wear a light blue pinstripe pantsuit and a stark white button-up shirt. The Tony-winning actress, 51, cut her beautiful brunette hair short and styled it closely to her head. Good company: The 55-year-old performer appeared to be enjoying his time in the production area of the forthcoming feature, during which he was joined by his costar Idina Menzel Development on You Are SO Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah! was previously revealed last month. The movie is based on Fiona Rosenbloom's novel of the same name, which was originally published in 2007. The film will be centered on a young girl whose plans for her bat mitzvah go comically awry. In addition to Sandler, the movie will star Luis Guzman and Sarah Sherman. Recent arrival: Development on You Are SO Not Invited To My Bat Mitzvah! was previously revealed to the public last month The Hotel Transylvania franchise lead is also set to serve as one of the movie's producers. His daughters Sadie and Sunny, 16 and 13, respectively as well as his wife Jennifer, are all set to appear in the movie. Physical production on the forthcoming feature previously commenced earlier in the summer. You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah! currently does not have a scheduled release date. Family man: His daughters Sadie and Sunny, 16 and 13, respectively, as well as his wife Jennifer, are all set to appear in the movie; he is seen in June The movie will also serve as the latest installment in a multi-picture deal Sandler previously inked with Netflix. The actor's production company, Happy Madison, previously worked out an agreement with the streaming giant in 2014. Under the deal, the performer has since produced features such as Hubie Halloween, The Ridiculous Six and Hustle. Erika Jayne wore a muted ensemble while out for a walk in Los Angeles on Friday. The 51-year-old reality star donned a black button-down shirt which she paired with a pair of black leggings. She walked in black sandals, her platinum blonde hair tied tightly behind her head. All black: Erika Jayne wore a muted ensemble while out for a walk in Los Angeles on Friday Her fingernails were painted a fiery red, and she kept her head held high as she walked through the Los Angeles neighborhood. The star carried a black leather handbag with her and, later, stepped out of the car with her Chick-fil-A order. While she ran errands like it was any other day, the star has been dealing with a prodigious legal issue in recent weeks. Casual chic: The 51-year-old reality star donned a black button-down shirt which she paired with a pair of black leggings Legal trouble: While she ran errands like it was any other day, the star has been dealing with a prodigious legal issue in recent weeks Jayne was delivered legal papers by a process server on July 22 at Los Angeles International Airport, as she returned from a Hawaiian vacation. Jayne, in the suit filed by Edelson PC, is accused of conspiracy to racketeering, conspiracy and unlawful business practice among nine charges, in connection with her estranged husband Tom Girardi's ongoing legal issues with his firm Girardi Keese. In the legal docs, Girardi and Jayne are accused of misappropriating 'client settlement money to project an image of wealth and to prop up a lifestyle made for reality TV.' Edelson PC said that the EJ Global company Jayne ran had been 'created for the purpose of funneling money from Girardi Keese to benefit' her. Lawsuit: Jayne was delivered legal papers by a process server on July 22 at Los Angeles International Airport, as she returned from a Hawaiian vacation Inappropriate use of funds: In the legal docs, Girardi and Jayne are accused of misappropriating 'client settlement money to project an image of wealth and to prop up a lifestyle made for reality TV' Jayne was knowledgeable of Girardis embezzlement 'scheme' toward settlement funds earmarked for victims of the 2018 Lion Air Flight 610 crash, in which all 189 people onboard died, Edelson PC said in the suit. In court docs, Edelson PC said Jayne was a 'frontwoman' for Girardi Keese, 'selling to the world' the notion that it 'was successful.' Jayne was named in a prior racketeering suit filed in April that attorney Jay Edelson told Page Six in an email was 'more limited, in terms of who we sued, what we were suing about, and the legal theories we are pursuing.' The suit Jayne was served with is aimed at 'prosecuting the claims of the clients (the widows and orphans)' involved in the crash settlement, Edelson said. Edelson said he's confident his firm can 'can prove to a jury that the Girardi firm was, and has long been, a criminal enterprise.' Jayne has spoken about her legal troubles on the popular reality show, denying all claims of wrongdoing while saying she felt 'terrible' about the course of events. The firm Edelson PC said the law firm run by Tom Girardi, 83, was 'a criminal enterprise.' He was snapped in LA in 2018 Jayne filed for divorce from Girardi in November of 2020 after a 21-year marriage. The former couple was seen on RHOBH She said on the show's season 11 reunion episode last fall, 'This is not who I am and I hope this is not who he is,' referring to Girardi, 83, of whom she said, 'I hope that he has not done what is alleged here.' On an episode of the Bravo series earlier this month, Jayne went into detail about her marital status with Girardi, who she filed for divorce from in November of 2020 after a 21-year marriage. Jayne said it wasn't sensible to 'get a divorce right now' from Girardi with the ongoing litigation and financial issues, noting 'theres so much legal s*** going on.' She said, 'It's ironic, but if I was divorced from Tom, I'd have to pay him alimony... I'll stay married, thanks.' Girardi has been living in a nursing home after he was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. His license to practice law was revoked in March of 2021, and in July of that year, he was placed into a conservatorship by his brother Robert. Jayne said on the show that her 'life has moved on and everything is separate' as she's 'legally separated,' adding, 'its a weird time and Im really ready for it to be over.' It appears Bella Hadid was feeling sporty when she stepped out for her busy day decked out in an athleisure ensemble. The top model was spotted making her way along the bustling streets of New York City during an afternoon stroll on Friday in skintight black leggings and a red sweatshirt. Her day also included taking on the promotional role for the RTD drink brand Kin Euphorics and posting a series of snaps of herself on her Instagram page. Sporty: Bella Hadid, 25, was the picture of athleisure when she stepped out for a casual stroll along the bustling streets of New York City on Friday Looking like an advert for athleisure, Hadid, 25, flashed a calm and confident look towards the camera as she weaved around parked cars during her casual stroll. For an added touch of style, the 5ft9in beauty wore long white tube socks over her leggings about a foot up both legs, much like style from the 1970s and early 80s. She also donned a pair of orange, red and black running sneakers, carried a cute black purse over her right shoulder, and accessorized with supercool dark sunglasses. Rounding out her overall look, the fashionista styled her dark tresses long and flowing to about the middle of her back, with bangs and a center part. On the go: The supermodel weaved around parked cars dressed in skin-tight black leggings, a red sweatshirt and orange, red and black sneakers Later in the afternoon, Hadid slipped into promo mode for Kin Euphorics by posting a series of snaps of herself striking various poses while holding a can of the alcohol-free spirits from the RTD brand. For the social media avert, she showed off her fab figure in an off-white, one-shoulder minidress white sitting or standing on a couch. With a hair roller wrapped up in her bangs and back part of her tresses in a high ponytail, Hadid stood and seductively lifted her left leg up, in a classic model move, for the cover photo. There were three more images of her standing while striking similar poses in the post. The catwalk queen would also kneel down on her knees and take a sip of the drink for the other four pictures in the set. Promo mode: Later in the afternoon, Hadid slipped into promo mode for her non-alcoholic spirits drink, Kin Euphorics, by posting a series of snaps of herself striking various poses Fashionista: The top model showed off her fab figure in a off-white, one-shoulder minidress Inviting: The model kneeled down on a couch for half of the photos as she sipped on the drink The supermodel announced she was the new 'co-founder, partner and COO of @KinEuphorics', alongside CEO Jen Batchelor, in an announcement on her Instagram page in September 2021. The nonalcoholic adaptogenic drink brand promises to de-stress and boost moods on its website. 'The reason why I am coming on with Kin is not only to consistently give you new formulas, creatives, and products, but to also teach you about brain health and how we can help with the social, personal, physical, and mental pressures we face on a regular basis,' Hadid wrote on her Instagram page at the time. She went on to call Kin Euphorics 'the first braincare beverage & the first drink to sit boldly at the intersection of feeling good & living well. science + magic.' Hadid continued, 'Whether you are sober, trying to cut down, or just want something to mix with, Kin will be the first to bring brain care to the bar.' Stylish: The one-shoulder design included extra hanging fabric on the left side Unique blend: The nonalcoholic adaptogenic drink brand promises to de-stress and boost moods Tasty: The brand was launched in 2018 by its CEO Jen Batchelor, Hadid first got word of the non-alcoholic spirit about a year later Entrepreneurial spirit: The supermodel announced she was the new 'co-founder, partner and COO of @KinEuphorics', alongside CEO Jen Batchelor, in an announcement on her Instagram page in September 2021 Pop music fans can now hear two queens of the genre on the same track. Beyonce, 40, released a collaboration with pop icon Madonna, 63, on Friday, her latest in a string of remixes. She had already performed remixes of the song Break My Soul with Will.I.Am, Terry Hunter, Honey Dijon and Nita Aviance. Remix: Beyonce, 40, released a collaboration with pop icon Madonna, 63, on Friday, her latest in a string of remixes (pictured 2021) While it is technically a new song, Variety reported that Madonna didn't seem to record anything new for the remix. She may have added a few new spoken words to the song, but much of her singing was apparently pulled from her hit track Vogue. The song, titled Break My Soul (The Queens Remix), can be purchased via Beyonce's website for $1.29. Old soundbites: While it is technically a new song, Variety reported that Madonna didn't seem to record anything new for the remix (pictured 2021) Sold: The song, titled Break My Soul (The Queens Remix), can be purchased via Beyonce's website for $1.29 (L to R: Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Madonna and Beyonce in 2015) Streaming? There is no news yet on whether or not the song will ultimately be available via streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music While fans can buy it on the website and have it emailed directly, it is not currently streaming on any of the popular streamers. There is no news yet on whether or not the song will ultimately be available via streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music. According to Variety, Beyonce emulates a well-known spoken word portion of Madonna's song Vogue. Emulation: According to Variety, Beyonce emulates a well-known spoken word portion of Madonna's song Vogue (pictured 2018) Name dropping: In that part of the song, the Houston native name drops a number of famous women in music (pictured 2018) In that part of the song, the Houston native name drops a number of famous women in music. 'Queen Mother Madonna, Aaliyah, Rosetta Tharpe, Santigold, Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, Betty Davis, Solange Knowles,' she says. 'Lauryn Hill, Roberta Flack, Toni, Janet, Tierra Whack. Missy, Diana, Grace Jones, Aretha, Anita, Grace Jones.' Beyonce released Renaissance on July 29. It is her seventh studio album, her first since her hit 2016 album Lemonade. It is also the first of a trilogy series of albums. Renaissance is receiving rave reviews. It has a 93% on Metascore on review aggregator Metacritic after 20 reviews of the album. She is no stranger to a daring, flesh-flashing look. And Jessica Alves ensured all eyes were on her during her birthday night out, as she wore two risque ensembles as she celebrated with pals in London on Friday. The TV personality, who turned 39 last week, certainly turned heads as she stepped out in a red cut-out number and a plunging black velvet midi dress. Glamour puss! Jessica Alves ensured all eyes were on her during her birthday night out, as she wore two risque ensembles as she celebrated with pals in London on Friday Jessica was first seen wearing a crushed velvet panel and structured bust, with a mesh, diamante encrusted material on each side. She paired the dress with pointed toe high heels, adding a thin blazer on top as she made her way from a taxi and into upmarket French-Mediterranean eatery Bagatelle. Jessica held onto a black padded Lady Dior handbag, accessorising with a collection of silver jewellery. Her lengthy platinum tresses were styled straight as they freely fell to her waist, parted slightly to the side. Glam: Her plunging dress featured a crushed velvet panel and structures bust, with a mesh, diamante encrusted material on each side Sizzling: She later slipped into a tight-fitting red semi-sheer dress which was covered in gem stones and highlighted her famous curves Extras: Jessica held onto a black padded Lady Dior handbag, accessorising with a collection of silver jewellery Donning lashings of makeup, the former Celebrity Big Brother contestant opted for a dramatic smokey eye and red lip. And she took a moment to share selfies to Instagram Stories while heading into the restaurant. She later slipped into a tight-fitting red semi-sheer dress which was covered in gem stones and highlighted her famous curves. Jessica was joined by pals Amanda Lima and Eduarda Camargo, who also amped up the glamour for the celebration. What a look! Jessica also switched her classic black stilettos for a dazzling silver pair For days: Her lengthy platinum tresses were styled straight as they freely fell to her waist, parted slightly to the side Full face: Donning lashings of makeup, the former Celebrity Big Brother contestant opted for a dramatic smokey eye and red lip Sharing updates via her Instagram Stories to her 6.4M followers. Jessica shared a snap as she was graced with a dessert plate which read 'Happy Birthday' in chocolate sauce. But before the dessert, the group feasted on chicken with tarragon in salt crust - as she filmed their waiter carving the meat, which costs 99 to order, around the table. And the celebration appeared to pick up into full swing later on, with the birthday girl sharing a slew of snaps from the evening. Pals: Jessica was joined by pals Amanda Lima and Eduarda Camargo, who also amped up the glamour for the celebration Strike a pose: She shared a slew of updates via her Instagram Stories to her 6.4M followers throughout the evening The star was unable to celebrate on her actual July 30 birthday, as she recovered from a recent facelift. She headed to Azerbaijan last week to get 'Bella Hadid eyes' from a surgery - which she gifted to herself as a birthday present. And as Jessica returned to the UK with bruises under her eyes during recovery, she held off on the celebrations. Fun-filled: Jessica appeared in high spirits as she enjoyed the evening with pals Dessert: Eating at upmarket restaurant Bagatelle, she was graced with a dessert plate which read 'Happy Birthday' in chocolate sauce He's built a career playing tough as nails characters, but veteran Aussie actor Bryan Brown revealed on Saturday a recent mini-series production triggered his anxiety. The Two Hands star opened up about how filming Acorn TV mini-series Darby and Joan in Queensland last year, with co-star Greta Scacchi, over 18-weeks took a toll on his mental wellbeing. He told The Daily Telegraph a combination of the extended shoot and being away from his family for so long saw him struggle with insomnia. Veteran Aussie actor Bryan Brown (pictured) revealed on Saturday working on the Darby and Joan mini-series triggered his anxiety He said: 'I think the days of playing a character are fine it's when you wake up in the middle of the night and the pressure's on you and you can't sleep. 'And then you start thinking, ''Holy Christ. I'm being picked up at 5am. I'd better get back to sleep.'' The 75-year-old added the ongoing Covid pandemic affected the overall mood of the production. The Two Hands star opened up about how filming Acorn TV mini-series Darby and Joan in Queensland last year, with co-star Greta Scacchi (pictured), over 18-weeks took a toll on him 'It's kind of hard to put your finger on why it does, it just does,' he said. Bryan married his wife Rachel Ward in 1983, meaning the pair will celebrate their 40-year wedding anniversary next year. The pair met while on the set of the TV miniseries The Thorn Birds in 1982, where Bryan wooed his co-star with a palm reading. He said a combination of the extended shoot and being away from his family for so long saw him struggle with insomnia 'So we were sitting around waiting for a take one day and I said, ''give us a look at your hand''... She gave me her hand and there were three lines and I said ''you're gonna have three kids,'' he told A Current Affair last year. Bryan and Rachel went on to have three children together: Rosie, 38, Matilda and Joe, 30. The star is still heavily involved in his acting career, and recently starred in the Australian sci-fi series Bloom. If you or anyone you know is struggling, contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco attended a fan screening of Day Shift at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Dallas on Friday. The 54-year-old actor and his 37-year-old costar appeared to be enjoying their time at the event, during which they addressed the fans in the audience. The pair later also switched outfits to pay a visit to Despierta America at Univision Studios in Doral, Florida, the same day. Up front and center: Jamie Foxx and Dave Franco attended a fan screening of Day Shift at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Dallas on Friday Foxx opted to wear a black button-up shirt with several star graphics on its front portion during the event. The Miami Vice actor also sported a pair of pants that matched the color of his top. The Academy Awardwinning performer accessorized with several articles of jewelry, as well as a pair of tinted sunglasses. Franco opted for a floral-printed T-shirt that was tucked into a slim-fitting pair of jet-black pants. Standing out: Foxx opted to wear a black button-up shirt with several star graphics on its front portion during the event. The Miami Vice actor also sported a pair of pants that matched the color of his top Flashy: Franco opted for a floral-printed T-shirt that was tucked into a slim-fitting pair of jet-black pants The costars were also joined by Day Shift's director, J.J. Perry, during the fan screening. Development on Day Shift was previously revealed to the public in October of 2020. The movie is centered on a pool cleaner who becomes involved with a group of vampire hunters. In addition to starring in the movie, Foxx serves as one of its executive producers. Looking back: Development on Day Shift was previously revealed to the public in October of 2020 Storyline: The movie is centered on a pool cleaner who becomes involved with a group of vampire hunters Double duty: In addition to starring in the movie, Foxx serves as one of its executive producers Other performers who will be featured in the film include Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Karla Souza and Snoop Dogg. The feature entered the production in April and continued for several months. Day Shift is currently scheduled to be released on Netflix on August 12. Foxx and Franco later switched into different outfits while promoting the movie on Despierta America, during which they were joined by Souza. Coming soon: Day Shift is currently scheduled to be released on the Netflix streaming service on August 12 Party of three: Foxx and Franco later switched into different outfits while promoting the movie on Despierta America, during which they were joined by Souza The Django Unchained star opted for a graphic-printed button-up shirt that was contrasted with a set of jet-black pants. The performer also rocked a matching pair of sneakers and kept his sunglasses on during the appearance. Franco tucked a floral-printed button-up shirt into a set of slim-fitting pants. Souza showed off her toned legs while wearing a beautifully patterned and multicolored dress. TV stars Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Sally Obermeder have revealed the bond they shared while battling breast cancer. Kerri-Anne told The Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday that she first had a deep connection with Sally in 2013 after she checked into North Sydney's Mater Hospital for treatment. At the time, Sally, now 48, had just undergone surgery in the same hospital for breast cancer too. Kerri-Anne Kennerley and Sally Obermeyer have revealed the bond they shared while battling cancer. Kerri-Anne pictured at the Mercedes-Benz launch in Sydney on Thursday The stars soon became fast friends, Kerri-Anne recalled. 'Something in me made me seek her out,' the Dancing with the Stars favourite revealed. Kerri-Anne, 68, said that at the time she knew of Sally's struggles. Sally had been diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in 2011, at age 38, while undergoing a routine check-up when pregnant with her daughter Annabelle. Sally was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in 2011, at age 38, while undergoing a routine check-up when pregnant with her daughter Annabelle. Pictured this week 'Before I had been diagnosed, I had followed her story,' Kerri-Anne said. 'And I thought she was incredibly inspiring.' After Kerri-Anne sought out Sally to 'say hi,' while still in the hospital, the stars bonded over their shared battle with the disease. The pals were recently reunited at a launch party for Mercedes-Benz in Sydney this week. 'Before I had been diagnosed I had followed her story,' Kerri-Anne said of Sally (pictured) In 2015, during an appearance on Seven's The Daily Edition, Kerri-Anne tearfully recalled her first meeting with Sally. 'You were the one who gave me the strength,' she told her during the live interview. 'Nobody really knows, the day I went into surgery, I'd heard all about you, but never really met you,' she continued. Kerri-Anne continued: 'I knew you were in the same day for surgery, in the same hospital, can you believe? 'I walked into your room, you gave me the most extraordinary support and what you were going through was so much worse.' Sally was declared cancer-free in 2012, after undergoing chemotherapy, two mastectomies and reconstructive surgery. Georgia Love feels like a million bucks in her conservative floral swimwear and she won't be told otherwise. The former Bachelorette, 33, was body-shamed on Friday when a man said she needed 'a more flattering bathing suit' as she shared a photo of herself in a yellow swimsuit. The troll replied to one of her posts, writing: 'Omg, get some nice bathing suits. You look like my 94-year-old grandmother.' Georgia Love, 33, (pictured) fired back at an online troll who said that her floral swimwear made her look like a 'grandmother' 'You need a more flattering bathing suit,' he added. Not one to have her confidence rattled, Georgia shared the vile message with her Instagram followers and fired back: 'Imagine getting trolled for wearing one pieces. 'Also, remind me when I'm 94 if I still look like this, I'm f**king killing it.' It comes as the reality television star enjoys a holiday in Italy with her husband Lee Elliot. The troll replied to one of Georgia's posts, writing: 'Omg, get some nice bathing suits. You look like my 94-year-old grandmother!' Not one to have her confidence rattled, Georgia shared the vile message with her Instagram followers and fired back: 'Imagine getting trolled for wearing one pieces. Pictured with husband Lee Elliott The lovebirds packed on the PDA for their adoring followers on Thursday, sharing a photo of themselves shamelessly canoodling in front of a breath-taking sunset. Lee, 40, also shared a snap showing the lovebirds leaning into one another as they sat down to share a drink with their wedding rings on display. The couple, who tied the knot early last year, began their honeymoon in Spain two weeks ago and have been documenting the trip on their social media ever since. Georgia publicly blasted the troll with a sassy response after being told to get some more 'flattering' swimwear Recently, Georgia revealed to The Daily Telegraph she was thankful for the exposure the Bachelorette brought her as it helped launch her Georgia Elliott Sleepwear brand, which she founded in 2020. 'Having a large audience on social media was a huge help in getting Georgia Elliott kickstarted. I had that platform to immediately take it to a lot of eyes from day one,' she said. She further explained the decision to launch her own sleepwear brand was an easy one as 'the favourite thing I have always loved is pyjamas'. It comes as the reality television star enjoys her long-awaited honeymoon in Italy with her husband Lee Elliot. Pictured together Georgia added her love for pyjamas is so strong that she puts them on the 'second' she gets home from work. 'Home is where I can be myself, relax and wear my pyjamas full time,' she explained. Georgia rose to fame on The Bachelorette Australia in 2016, where she found love with Lee. The two have since gone on to marry and purchased their first home together this year. Love Island star Davide Sanclimenti was seen hitting the town with a group of pals as they welcomed him back to Manchester after winning the show. The Italian stallion, 27, flew home this week after spending two months away in the villa, where he was crowned champion alongside girlfriend Ekin-Su Culculoglu. After spending time with Ekin in the UK and attending the Love Island reunion show, Davide was keen to spend time with his pals as they enjoyed a night out on Friday. Night out: Love Island star Davide Sanclimenti was seen hitting the town with a group of pals as they welcomed him back to Manchester after winning the show Davide headed back to Manchester without Ekin-Su, who stayed in London to enjoy her own time with family and friends following the show. The Shisha-bar chain owner was welcomed back with open arms by his friends who threw him a 'welcome home' party in his luxurious city centre apartment. In a snap shared to his Instagram account, Davide posed with his Love Island suitcase that boasted his name in pink letters with the skyline as his backdrop. He's back! The Shisha-bar chain owner was welcomed back with open arms by his friends who threw him a 'welcome home' party in his luxurious city centre apartment The series winner also opted for a yellow polo top and blue chino-style shorts for the occasion. He then paired the ensemble with some white trainers and dark shades to complete his going-home look. He smiled as he stood in front of a 'welcome home' sign alongside a collection of gold balloons in his luxurious apartment. He also tagged his location and offered fans a glimpse of his Manchester apartment that boasted fantastic views of the city. Winners: The party comes after Davide and Ekin-Su headed on out for their first romantic evening together in London to celebrate their win (pictured) Following the gathering, Davide headed out wearing a slightly unbuttoned yellow shirt with spray on blue skinny jeans and white trainers. Davide's return to Manchester comes after Davide and Ekin-Su shared their first romantic evening together since leaving the villa. Thanks to their time on the show, the couple have soared to fame, so they decided to head out for a romantic evening together to celebrate their win. And during their date night, they looked happier than ever as they held hands and adorned huge grins on their faces. Painting the town... yellow! After spending time with Ekin in the UK and attending the Love Island reunion show, Davide was keen to spend time with his pals as they enjoyed a night out Lads night out: Following the gathering, Davide headed out wearing a slightly unbuttoned yellow shirt with spray on blue skinny jeans and white trainers Whilst posing for a variety of sweet snaps, Ekin-Su wore a glamorous black dress that featured a scoop neckline and a corset bustier. The pair recently filmed an explosive Love Island reunion show, which is set to air on Sunday. But rather than attending the after party held at fellow contestant Antigoni Buxton's house, they instead chose to have an intimate dinner at Mayfair's Hakkasan. Party time! The group arrived at Uncencored Event at Impossible Nightclub Stylish: Davide was joined by a group of hunky pals Actor Ranveer Singhs recent bold photo shoot for Paper magazine has led to FIRs being registered against him. One Lalit Tekchandani, who runs an NGO called Shyam Manoranjan Foundation in Mumbai, has complained that these photos have hurt the sentiments of women in general and insulted their modesty. The FIR adds that India has a good culture and such photos harm it. A Mumbai lawyer, Vedika Chaubey, has filed a similar FIR. Since two Hindus have filed the complaints, it would be pertinent to ask: Is Hindu culture really so prudish? Hinduism must be one of the most pragmatic and balanced religions of the world. In the Hindu world-view, the four highest purusharthas or goals of life are dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Collectively, they emphasise a balanced view of life, based not on arbitrary or unrealistic exclusion, but of inclusion in proportion, so that ultimately an individual could attain, after living a full life, peace and happiness, which is moksha. The inclusion of kama among the four highest purusharthas is hardly indicative of Hindus being squeamish about sensuality. Kama, the god of love, akin to the Greek Eros, or the Roman Cupid, has been exalted in a hymn of the Atharva Veda as a supreme god and creator: Kama was born the first. Him neither gods, nor fathers nor men have equalled. The Rig Veda pays similar homage: May Kama, having well directed the arrow, which is winged with pain, barbed with longing, and has desire for its shaft, pierce thee in the heart. According to the Taittiriya Brahmana, Kama is the son of Dharma, the god of justice, and Shraddha, the goddess of faith. By another account he sprang from the heart of Brahma, and there are other texts which assert that he is atmabhu or self-existent. The Harivamsha states that Kama is the son of Vishnu and Lakshmi, and this appears to be the more accepted view. According to the Puranas, Kama was asked by Brahma himself to distract Shiva from his deep meditation by arousing in him amorous thoughts for Parvati. This was necessary because the great demon Taraka could only be destroyed by a son of Shiva, and Shiva could not have a son until he broke his meditation. The Saurava Purana says that when Brahma asked Kama to perform the deed, the latter declared: There is no hero, no proud woman, no learned man too powerful for me. I pervade the whole universe, moving and still, beginning with Brahma the Creator. In Tulsidas Ramcharitmanas, there is a description of the powerful impact of Kama as he made his way to Shiva. Restraint, fortitude, knowledge, renunciation, devotion and wisdom ran helter-skelter as Kama approached; the scriptures hid in the mountains; all creation awakened to his touch; rivers swelled to reach the ocean; rivulets, ponds, creeks sought to merge with each other, trees bent towards each other; even the sanyasis and yogis could not resist his influence. The story goes that Shiva, angered by the disruption in his meditation, burnt Kama to ashes. He then requested Parvati to ask for a boon, and she answered: Now that Kama has been killed, what will I do with your boon? For, without Kama there can be no emotion between man and woman which is like ten million suns. When emotion is destroyed how can happiness be attained? Parvati asked that Kama be brought to life again, and so Kama was reborn, this time, according to the Bhagwata Purana, as Pradhyumna, son of Krishna and Rukmini. Another version is that Shiva said that he could not revive him in the same form as he was before. He agreed, however, to revive him in spirit, formless but still ubiquitous in his influence. The cosmological acceptance of Kamadeva led to the emotions he personified love, desire, sensuality to be given a place among the four highest purusharthas of human life. That is why, all the major gods in the Hindu faith have got consorts, and neither the gods nor the goddesses are described as celibate recluses. That is why too, there is a scintillating sensuality in the arts Kalidasa (fourth century CE), one of the greatest playwrights of Indian literature, had a great deal of sensuality in his works. The verses of Bhartrihari, the philosopher poet of the fifth century CE, were uninhibitedly erotic, as were those of Bilhana, 12th century CE. The love lore of Krishna, and his ethereal and passionate romance with Radha, inspired decidedly carnal devotional outpourings, triggered by Jayadevas Gita Govinda in the 12th century CE, and enthusiastically followed by a whole range of bhakti poets, like Chandidasa, Vidyapati and Bihari. The same interface between spirituality and sensuality is seen in many Hindu temples, most famously in Khajuraho and Konarak, where there is a profusion of erotic images. The fact that these images are displayed on the walls of a temple is proof that desire was considered in the Hindu world view as a part of the immense canvas of divinity. But this was not a prescription for uncontrolled licentiousness. The sage Vatsyayana, in his book, The Kamasutra, has an imaginary interlocutor ask him: Why do we need this book? His summarised reply is that if dharma, artha and kama are pursued in proportion, and none in exclusion, they automatically lead to the fourth, moksha. The essential point is that there was a philosophical acceptance of desire, with eroticism as its natural attribute, even as there was no bar on those who wished to overcome desire, with asceticism as it deviational attribute. It is ironical that the influence of Islamic conservatism, and British Victorian morality of the colonial period, has made the marauding Hindutva moral police totally oblivious to their own tradition of the balanced but enthusiastic celebration of desire. They harass young couples in parks to protect their good culture without knowing what that remarkable culture is. And, they feel that women are emotionless commodities whose modesty they must protect if Ranveer displays his body. Former Kings Cross nightclub owner John Ibrahim and his fiancee Sarah Budge appeared sombre on Friday as they went for lunch at Sake in Sydney's Double Bay. The pair matched all in black with John, 54, sporting a black long-sleeved shirt and jeans against the chilly weather along with a black coat thrown over his arm. He accessorised with black and white sneakers and dark designer sunglasses, which contrasted with his stylishly dishevelled grey hair. Kings Cross personality John Ibrahim, 54, (pictured) and his fiancee Sarah Budge appeared somber on Friday as they headed out to lunch at Sake in Sydney's Double Bay Meanwhile, his glamorous partner Sarah, 31, wore a black shirt tucked into matching slacks and a fluffy black coat. Her short dark hair fell over her face which she covered with black designer shades while donning black and white sneakers and carrying a canvas bag. Sarah and John have been dating since 2015 after meeting when John bought the Potts Point building where she ran a restaurant. The pair matched all in black with John sporting a black long-sleeved shirt and jeans against the chilly weather along with a black coat thrown over his arm He accessorised with black and white sneakers and dark designer sunglasses which contrasted with his stylishly dishevelled grey hair In June, sources confirmed to Daily Mail Australia that the couple recently got engaged. A friend of the couple confirmed the birth of their son Elvis in early September 2021, and it's understood the baby arrived on August 31, 2021. John has two other children from past relationships, including a grown-up son, Daniel, 31. John's glamorous partner Sarah, 31, (pictured) wore a black shirt tucked into matching slacks and a fluffy black coat Her short dark hair fell over her face which she covered with black designer shades while donning black and white sneakers and carrying a canvas bag He also has an eight-year-old child who he shares with his long-time friend. The day out comes after photos recently surfaced from the set of upcoming crime drama Last King of the Cross. They showed a red light district come to life, with strip clubs and adult stores. Sarah and John have been dating since 2015 after meeting when John bought the Potts Point building where she ran a restaurant A restaurant and coffee lounge called the Cosmopolitan is also pictured, but the most iconic set piece is arguably the legendary Porky's strip club. The club was previously featured in the TV series Underbelly: The Golden Mile and officially closed its doors for good in 2018, after 30 years. The 10-part series will tell the story of brothers John and Sam Ibrahim, who were prominent figures in the Kings Cross nightclub district. It may also explore key events in John's life, including surviving a near fatal stabbing and other attempts on his life, with Lincoln Younes playing his role. Sources close to the production say he was 'very particular' about the actor playing him but was impressed with Lincoln's, 30, acting ability and his similarly dark complexion and light eyes. Australia became Hollywood Down Under during the years of the pandemic, with blockbuster film productions generating billions of dollars for the local economy. Big stars like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Zac Efron, Chris Hemsworth and Colin Farrell have all made movies in Australia since 2021. And now there are fears the new Albanese government may be paving the way for Hollywood to swallow up the local industry altogether, reports The Sydney Morning Herald. There are fears that the new Albanese government may be paving the way for Hollywood to swallow up the local industry altogether reports The Sydney Morning Herald. Pictured: A scene from Elvis starring Austin Butler and filmed in Queensland Triggering the concern amongst local filmmakers is research for a new cultural policy. Calling for submissions, the government appears to no longer be prioritising Australian stories. It asks filmmakers to consider, 'the centrality of the artist: supporting the artist as a worker and celebrating their role as the creators of culture'. Calling for submissions to support the development of a new cultural policy the government appears to no longer be prioritising Australian stories Picture: Chris Hemsworth in Spiderhead In 2013 the national cultural policy set a goal to 'support excellence and the special role of artists...as the source of original work and ideas, including telling Australian stories'. A Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts spokesman said in the The Sydney Morning Herald report that the call-out for submissions was a way of creating a debate about cultural policy. Local filmmaker Leonie Marsh told the publication that the government needed to clearly define 'Australianess and Australian stories.' Filmmaker George Miller: his Mad Max films are the only Hollywood backed blockbusters made here with any strong cultural connection to Australia 'Otherwise it will be others, like Hollywood, that will do it for us, with potentially vested interests that don't represent our cultural values as a nation,' she said. Sydney producer Emile Sherman, who won an Oscar for The King's Speech, is part of 15-member panel that will advise the government of the new national cultural policy. The news comes after a large slate of Hollywood backed projects - many made under generous tax incentives - have been completed in Australia since 2020. A scene from Thirteen Lives - Directed by famed American filmmaker Ron Howard and filmed in Queensland, the AU$79million deals with the dramatic Tham Luang cave rescue of 2018 The productions provided thousands of jobs to local cast and crew. These include the Amazon Prime Video drama Thirteen Lives starring Joel Edgerton and Viggo Mortensen. Directed by famed American filmmaker Ron Howard and filmed in Queensland, the AU$79million deals with the dramatic Tham Luang cave rescue of 2018. Superstar Chris Hemsworth completed two blockbusters Down Under since 2021: Thor: Blood and Thunder, made in Sydney and the Netflix thriller, Spiderhead, filmed in Queensland Superstar Chris Hemsworth completed two blockbusters Down Under since 2021: Thor: Blood and Thunder, made in Sydney and the Netflix thriller, Spiderhead, filmed in Queensland. In 2021 George Clooney and Julia Roberts filmed Ticket to Paradise with $6.4million from the Australian government as part of a location incentive program. Meanwhile, Baz Luhrmann proudly re-created US locations in Queensland in the last two years, including Memphis and Las Vegas, for his Hollywood produced Elvis bio pic. The only Hollywood backed blockbusters of recent years with any Australian content are George Miller's Mad Max films: Fury Road (2015), which was made in Africa and Sydney; and its prequel Furiosa, now filming in Broken Hill, NSW. Both are set in a post-Apocalyptic Australia. The Federal Government in 2020 injected $400 million into the Location Incentive Grant to lure filmmakers to Australia at the height of the pandemic. She flew back to the UK this week after spending almost two months inside the villa. And Ekin-Su Culculoglu has finally arrived back in her home town of Essex and was seen stepping out on Saturday in a sporty ensemble by Aytee7. The Love Island winner, 27, showed off her toned physique in a blue sports bra and matching leggings as she headed to the gym. Looking good: Ekin-Su Culculoglu has finally arrived back in her home town of Essex and was seen stepping out on Saturday in a sporty ensemble by Aytee7 The star flashed a glimpse of her toned abs and ample assets in the skimpy outfit as she got ready to work up a sweat. She completed her look with comfy white trainers and carried a black quilted Chanel bag over her shoulders while strutting her stuff through the carpark. The stunner wore her long honey tresses in loose waves over her shoulders and opted for a typically bronzed make-up look. Beauty: The Love Island winner, 27, showed off her toned physique in a blue sports bra and matching leggings as she headed to the gym Fit: The star flashed a glimpse of her toned abs and ample assets in the skimpy outfit as she got ready to work up a sweat While she is seeing her friends and family in Essex, Ekin-Su admitted to missing 'my man' Davide Sanclimenti. The beauty took to her Instagram Stories on Friday to reveal she had returned home at last after winning the show alongside boyfriend Davide. Looking stunning in a full face of makeup, and pink corduroy jacket, she said: 'So I'm back in Essex guys, and it's freezing in the UK. Home again: While she is seeing her friends and family in Essex Ekin-Su admitted to missing 'my man' Davide in a video on her Story on Friday night 'Still need to get used to this weather, but obviously it's really good seeing the family, the neighbours, and obviously seeing my close friends tomorrow. She added: 'Missing my man but I know I'll see him soon. Love the support, I love you all!' It comes after Davide was seen hitting the town with a group of pals as they welcomed him back to Manchester after winning the show. Update: The beauty took to her social media to reveal she had returned home at last after winning the show alongside boyfriend Davide After spending time with Ekin in the UK and attending the Love Island reunion show, the Italian stallion, 27, was keen to spend time with his pals as they enjoyed a night out on Friday. Davide headed back to Manchester without Ekin-Su, who stayed in London to enjoy her own time with family and friends following the show. The Shisha-bar chain owner was welcomed back with open arms by his friends who threw him a 'welcome home' party in his luxurious city centre apartment. In a snap shared to his Instagram account, Davide posed with his Love Island suitcase that boasted his name in pink letters with the skyline as his backdrop. He's back! The Shisha-bar chain owner was welcomed back with open arms by his friends who threw him a 'welcome home' party in his luxurious city centre apartment The series winner also opted for a yellow polo top and blue chino-style shorts for the occasion. He then paired the ensemble with some white trainers and dark shades to complete his going-home look. He smiled as he stood in front of a 'welcome home' sign alongside a collection of gold balloons in his luxurious apartment. He also tagged his location and offered fans a glimpse of his Manchester apartment that boasted fantastic views of the city. Winners: The party comes after Davide and Ekin-Su headed on out for their first romantic evening together in London to celebrate their win (pictured) Following the gathering, Davide headed out wearing a slightly unbuttoned yellow shirt with spray on blue skinny jeans and white trainers. Davide's return to Manchester comes after Davide and Ekin-Su shared their first romantic evening together since leaving the villa. Thanks to their time on the show, the couple have soared to fame, so they decided to head out for a romantic evening together to celebrate their win. And during their date night, they looked happier than ever as they held hands and adorned huge grins on their faces. Whilst posing for a variety of sweet snaps, Ekin-Su wore a glamorous black dress that featured a scoop neckline and a corset bustier. The pair recently filmed an explosive Love Island reunion show, which is set to air on Sunday. But rather than attending the after party held at fellow contestant Antigoni Buxton's house, they instead chose to have an intimate dinner at Mayfair's Hakkasan. Advertisement Love Island's Coco Lodge and Summer Botwe risked a very awkward meeting as they led the stars at We Are FSTVL in Upminster, Essex on Saturday. The PrettyLittleThing sponsored event came just days after the two former Islanders were caught in a heated row and had to be forced apart during filming for the Love Island reunion show. Despite the potential meeting, both women appeared in high spirits and Summer looked nothing short of incredible as she flashed her chiselled abs in a black cut-out crop top. Awkward: Love Island's Coco Lodge and Summer Botwe risked a very awkward meeting as they led the stars at We Are FSTVL in Upminster, Essex on Saturday She teamed the top with a pair of black shorts that showed off her toned legs and grey trainers. Summer sported a black bucket hat and toted her essentials in a green handbag, while her raven tresses were styled in stunning curls. Meanwhile, Coco looked sensational in pink floral co-ord, made up of a corsetted crop top and matching miniskirt. She wore it with white trainers and a black handbag, and added a pair of sunglasses perched on top of her head. Incredible: She teamed the top with a pair of black shorts that showed off her toned legs and grey trainers Stunning: She sported a black bucket hat and toted her essentials in a green handbag, while her raven tresses were styled in stunning curls It comes after the pair reportedly got into a 'very heated exchange' during filming for the reunion show - which is set to be full of drama. The reunion, which will air on Sunday night, was pre-recorded on Thursday evening with most of the 2022 cast in attendance. And one audience member shared her experience on social media, claiming that producers had to 'step in' as the Casa Amor bombshells had an explosive row, which fans are convinced is over Josh Le Grove. Heated: The fan explained on Twitter how the evening unfolded, with Coco storming off and audience members encouraging her to return The fan wrote on Twitter: 'Just been at the #LoveIslan reunion episode filming, very heated exchange between coco and summer production had to step in and close it down Summer made a comment about friends not being real friends on the outside, and Coco was trying to defend herself by saying It was all banter, kept going back and forth over the boys (Josh & Billy) for a fair few minutes, production obvs had no idea of context from podcast ep. The ITV viewers then revealed Coco stormed off, with audience members encouraging her to return: 'Coco left after that exchange and we had to cheer her to come back in... 'Luca ran over to Jay, Charlie and antigonis table to get the gossip as the reaction on the sofa was a bit mad.' Things recently turned frosty between the girls as they unfollowed each other after leaving the villa. Fans believe the former friends are feuding after Coco made it known she had rejected Josh's sexual advance - while he was thought to be dating Summer. Coco appeared on the Saving Grace podcast, where she described Josh as 'so fit' and implied the pair of them nearly slept together after being dumped from the villa. She revealed to host Grace Barry that after she and Josh were dumped they were placed in a nearby villa with two chaperones. Grace immediately cut in to ask: 'Did you sh*g him?' Coco replied: 'No and I'm actually annoyed because I feel like I could have now. Talking to him now after I'm like I feel like it could have happened. Tense: Coco appeared on the Saving Grace podcast, where she described Josh as 'so fit' and implied the pair of them nearly slept together after being dumped from the villa 'He was like 'Oh I'm horny' and I was like right I'm gonna take myself to bed. But I don't know why I did that because sorry he's so fit'. She went on: 'But we are really close now, like we spend like every day, like all day together and I'm like just let me try once. I even say to him: "Just let me try once please Josh!"' This surprised fans who were under the impression that Coco was friends with Summer after being in Casa Amor with her. Dating: Fans believe the former friends are feuding after Coco made it known she had rejected Josh's sexual advance - while he was thought to be dating Summer Summer and Josh had appeared to confirm their relationship last week, when they stepped out hand-in-hand to The Prey gala screening on Tuesday. The former Love Island stars hinted there was a spark between them when they were interviewed on Aftersun on Sunday by host Laura Whitmore, with the pair enjoying a date live on the show. And after Josh declared he couldn't 'wait to see' what happened between the pair during his Aftersun appearance, the pair put on a cosy display as they stepped out in the UK capital just 48 hours later. MailOnline contacted Summer and Josh for further comment. Romance: The former Love Island stars hinted there was a spark between them when they were interviewed on Aftersun on Sunday by host Laura Whitmore , with the pair enjoying a date live on the show Meanwhile, also in attendance at the event was Chyna Mills who sent pulses racing in a pink co-ord. She flashed plenty of underboob in a halter-neck top with strings wrapped around her svelte waist. Nathalia Campos posed alongside Coco, wearing a pair of white cowboy boots and toting a black handbag. Phwoar! Meanwhile, also in attendance at the event was Chyna Mills who sent pulses racing in a pink co-ord Pretty in pink: She flashed plenty of underboob in a halter-neck top with strings wrapped around her svelte waist She wore a beige dress that clung to her lithe figure and shielded her eyes behind a pair of black sunglasses. Samira Mighty stunned in a khaki dress that boasted cutouts on the waist to flash an extra peek of skin. Her ample assets were on full display in the busty number, and her hair was braided into two very long plaits. Strike a pose! Nathalia Campos posed alongside Coco, wearing a pair of white cowboy boots and toting a black handbag Leggy: Samira Mighty stunned in a khaki dress that boasted cutouts on the waist to flash an extra peek of skin Busty number: Her ample assets were on full display in the busty number, and her hair was braided into two very long plaits Edgy: She added a touch of edginess to her look with a pair of black lace-up boots, and a wrapped a delicate gold chain around her waist Shady lady: Samira shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun behind a pair of brown rectangular sunglasses She added a touch of edginess to her look with a pair of black lace-up boots, and a wrapped a delicate gold chain around her waist. Samira shielded her eyes from the glare of the sun behind a pair of brown rectangular sunglasses. She was joined by Jay Younger, who cut a handsome figure in a white shirt and black shorts, with a pair of white trainers. Dashing: She was joined by Jay Younger, who cut a handsome figure in a white shirt and black shorts, with a pair of white trainers Bulging: He undid his shirt to show off his impressively sculptured stomach and washboard abs as he posed for pictures in the sunshine He undid his shirt to show off his impressively sculptured stomach and washboard abs as he posed for pictures in the sunshine. Also in attendance was Billy Brown who looked like he was having a blast, white sporting a brown and black floral co-ord. He wore a jacket and a pair of coordinating shorts decorated in leaves, which he wore with nothing underneath to show off his toned abs. Excited: Also in attendance was Billy Brown who looked like he was having a blast, white sporting a brown and black floral co-ord Muscly: He wore a jacket and a pair of coordinating shorts decorated in leaves, which he wore with nothing underneath to show off his toned abs Demi Jones threw up a peace sign as she put on a leggy display in a white figure-hugging playsuit that clung to her curves. She layered up with a plaid shirt over the top, and toted her essential belongings in a bright metallic gold handbag. Joanna Chimonides showed off her sculpted stomach in a white corset that showed off her ample assets, and a pair of green cargo pants. Peace out: Demi Jones threw up a peace sign as she put on a leggy display in a white figure-hugging playsuit that clung to her curves Looking good: She layered up with a plaid shirt over the top, and toted her essential belongings in a bright metallic gold handbag She added a splash of colour to her ensemble with an orange handbag, and added a pair of white trainers as she posed for photos. She stood for one snap alongside Kiana Portman who complemented her by also wearing a white corset top. She paired hers with beige trousers, while hiding her eyes behind a pair of black sunglasses and toting a matching black handbag. Toned: Joanna Chimonides showed off her sculpted stomach in a white corset that showed off her ample assets, and a pair of green cargo pants Turning heads: She added a splash of colour to her ensemble with an orange handbag, and added a pair of white trainers as she posed for photos Matching: She stood for one snap alongside Kiana Portman who complemented her by also wearing a white corset top Standing out: She paired hers with beige trousers, while hiding her eyes behind a pair of black sunglasses and toting a matching black handbag Topless: Kris Boyson went shirtless in a pair of black Adidas shorts with a white stripe up the side, which he teamed with white trainers Style: Katie Price's ex buckled a brown bag across his chest and flashed a huge grin at the star-studded event Style: Love Island star Mollie Salmon was also in attendance at the event Molly-Mae Hague wore a brown corset that cinched her in and which she paired with a pair of beige trousers and a coordinating jacket. She toted her essential belongings in a tiny deisgner handbag, and shielded her eyes from the sun in a pair of black fashion forward sunglasses. Her blonde locks were styled in neat waves and she sported a full face of glamorous makeup to accentuate her pretty features. Vision: Molly-Mae Hague wore a brown corset that cinched her in and which she paired with a pair of beige trousers and a coordinating jacket Trendy: She toted her essential belongings in a tiny designer handbag, and shielded her eyes from the sun in a pair of black fashion forward sunglasses Teresa Guidice and Luis Ruelas are scheduled to walk down the aisle Saturday, but some behind the scenes drama has already overshadowed the big day. Joe Giudice, 50, the ex-husband of the bride-to-be, also 50, said he wishes the duo well, before cracking a joke about his former in-laws, Joe and Melissa Gorga, to TMZ. 'I dealt with that thorn in my side for 20 years.' he quipped. 'Unfortunately, they always come around.' Well wishes: Teresa Guidice and Luis Ruelas are scheduled to walk down the aisle Saturday, but some behind the scenes drama has already overshadowed the big day; seen in June 2022 Joe and Louie reportedly met last year when they all traveled to the Bahamas for a family vacation. It's unclear if the topic of the in-laws ever came up, but according to a source, Joe did give his blessing to the union. 'Teresa and Joe are doing an amazing job of co-parenting and supporting one another and supporting their daughters. Teresa is very grateful that Joe and Louie have also grown close and that Joe has offered them his blessings. Joe is and has always been an amazing father.' Teresa and her sister-in-law and The Real Housewives of New Jersey co-star, 43,have not always gotten along. Melissa is married to Teresa's brother, Joe, 42. Thorn: Joe Giudice was married to Teresa for 20 years and they have four daughters together. Of his in-laws, Joe and Melissa Gorga, Joe said, 'I dealt with that thorn in my side for 20 years. Unfortunately, they always come around' Meeting: Joe and Louie reportedly met when they all traveled to the Bahamas for a family vacation with the Giudice kids Time served: Both Teresa and Joe Giudice were convicted on wire fraud and other charges. She served 15 month, Joe did 41 months before being deported to Italy. They divorced in 2020 As for their reaction to their former brother-in-law's statement, the Gorgas have no comment, saying through a representative 'he ain't worth it.' It appears the Gorgas will not be present to watch Teresa and Louie take their vows at the Park Chateau Estate in East Brunswick, New Jersey, even though they were invited. Page Six quoted a source who asserts part of it stems from Melissa not being invited to be a bridesmaid and Joe Gorga felt it was a sign of disrespect. Speaking on his wife's Melissa Gorga on Display podcast in May, the entrepreneur said, 'Regardless if she liked my wife or she didnt like my wife, shes basically smacking me in the face, and shes giving me no respect, and shes making it hard on me.' Popped the question: Louie popped the question in October 2021. In addition to Teresa's four daughters, he has two sons from his former marriage The source also said 'There was a very tense Housewives finale filmed earlier this week.' Teresa hasn't commented on the snub, but a second insider said the blowout was caused by Teresa allegedly pushing a rumor that would cause drama within Melissa and Joes marriage. Both of the Gorgas were notably absent from photos posted from Teresa's and Louie's joint bachelor and bachelorette parties. The In-laws: Joe Gorga, 42 is Teresa's brother. Melissa Gorga is her sister-in-law and The Real Housewives of New Jersey castmate. Regarding their former brother-in-law's comments, the couple's rep said, 'he ain't worth it' Disrespect: Melissa was not asked to be a bridesmaid in the wedding and on her Melissa Gorga on Display podcast in May, her husband said, 'Regardless if she liked my wife or she didnt like my wife, shes basically smacking me in the face' The wedding is being taped as part of a RHONJ special to be seen at a later time. Joe and Teresa Guidice were married for 20 years and had four daughters together, Gia, 21, Gabriella, 17, Milania, 16, and Audriana, 12. Things started to go south for the couple when both were convicted on charges of mail, wire, and bankruptcy fraud. No show: The Gorgas will reportedly be skipping Teresa's wedding. Besides the bridesmaid snub, a source said Teresa has allegedly been spreading a rumor that could 'cause drama' in the Gorgas marriage Teresa spent 15 months in jail while Joe spent 41 months behind bars for the 2014 conviction. Joe was deported to his native Italy after he was released and the couple divorced in 2020. Teresa and Luis 'Louie' Ruelas got engaged in October 2021. He is the father of two sons, David and Nicholas, with ex-wife Marisa DiMartino. She welcomed her baby boy nearly three months ago with husband Alex. And Olivia Bowen shared candid snaps breastfeeding her son Abel on Saturday as she openly discussed her journey since becoming a mother. The Love island star, 28, revealed she wasn't sure if she'd be able to breastfeed when she first got pregnant as she 'isn't a maternal person' - as well as highlighting that sometimes there are 'difficult days' with the process. New mum: Olivia Bowen shared candid snaps breastfeeding her son Abel on Saturday as she openly discussed her journey since becoming a mother She shared two snaps - one looking glamorous as she cuddled her little one in her arms and another more 'real' shot as she looked teary-eyed and tired while breastfeeding. She penned in a lengthy caption: 'I never thought I would breastfeed. I think where I felt like I was not a maternal person whatsoever before Abel was born, I had serious doubts it would work for me & I also didn't even feel comfortable with the thought of it! 'I would go as far as to say it freaked me out a bit. You all know I wasn't sure on having kids & it's mainly because I felt like I would be so rubbish as a Mum, not a maternal bone in my body pre Abel. Honest: The Love island star, 28, revealed she wasn't sure if she'd be able to breastfeed when she first got pregnant as she 'isn't a maternal person' 'Fast forward to when Abel was born & he first latched in the hospital it couldn't of felt more natural. The bond & connection I feel with him when feeding I will be forever grateful for. 'Now 2 months on & still breastfeeding & watching him grow on something my body produced specifically for him is just incredibly rewarding. I never expected to breastfeed, I didn't put pressure on myself to do so either, but I'm so glad we've been able to .' She continued: 'It's not always easy, those first few weeks the emotions are no joke. I had a couple of days where he wouldn't latch properly & I felt like a complete failure, I felt like I was failing myself & failing him - even though I told myself before I wasn't bothered about breastfeeding. Candid: She penned in a lengthy caption: 'I never thought I would breastfeed. I think where I felt like I was not a maternal person whatsoever before Abel was born, I had serious doubts it would work for me' 'The first week I was squeezing my engorged boobs over the bath, I woke up with wet sheets from leaking & I constantly worried about how much he was getting & was it good enough?! 'I was convinced I would stop breast feeding after a month, then told myself 3 months & now I'm saying 6! There is no feeling like it. When his little eyes look up at me & when he goes all sleepy & content. So close to you who am I!!!! I would never have imagined to be writing this. 'There are hard days, but there are so many amazing days & they make the hard ones feel like a million miles away. I can't even explain how amazing it feels to see my baby thriving from my body after growing him from that same body for 9 months. Doting mother: It comes after last month Olivia shared this snap as she proudly nursed her baby boy as she returned to work for the first time - five weeks after giving birth She signed off by saying: 'It's taught me to just trust the process, trust myself & have faith that I'm doing everything I can. 'I feel extremely lucky that we've got this far, however long this feeding journey lasts, whether it's months more or weeks more or even days more - I'm grateful I had this amount of time at all!' It comes after last month Olivia was glowing as she shared a radiant video to Instagram of her breastfeeding Abel, as she returned to work for a photoshoot in London. She was beaming as she nursed her the newborn and gently rocked him from side to side as she proudly said she 'kicked her anxieties a**.' Olivia stunned as her blonde hair caught the breeze and she sported a glamorous face of makeup for the shoot. Alongside the incredible video she penned: Back & I'm better. Back to work today on a fabulous shoot around London with an incredible brand & my baby AJ in tow. 'I am so tired now, like I said on my stories I was so nervous but wanted to do this for me and to kick anxieties a**!' She continued: 'I feel SO accomplished; doing what I love, being unapologetically me AND being Mum at the same time. Don't lose yourself Mamas, you deserve to be YOU too. 'Couldn't do it without my team @ab_bowen @charhilditch @annalingis.' Olivia welcomed Abel earlier this summer with her husband Alex, formerly a sales executive and scaffolder respectively. They soared to fame in 2016 where she was an original star and he, a late and extremely popular entrant. After leaving the villa their romance soon when from strength to strength and Alex popped the question in New York in 2016. Loved-up couple Olivia and Alex tied the knot in a luxurious Essex ceremony two years after meeting on Love Island during series two. For Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, the money-spinning September issue of the magazine is the main event in the calendar. Often running to hundreds of pages, it showcases autumn fashions and brings in tons of ad revenue. There was even a documentary about how the issue is put together. But Im told that this year its success is being threatened as Anna, who is also global chief content officer at Conde Nast, is facing a potential revolt over pay, contracts and union recognition. Vogues sister magazine, Wired, nearly lost millions last month when workers threatened to shut down advertising links on the magazines website that generate income. Anna Wintour (pictured), the editor-in-chief at Vogue magazine, is facing a potential revolt over pay, contracts and union recognition More than 100 New Yorker and other Conde Nast employees protested outside Anna Wintour's $12.5 Greenwich Village townhouse in April We stand firm in the belief that all Conde Nast employees deserve the rights and protections of a union and a fair contract, they said. Within hours, the bosses caved to their demands, awarding pay rises and contracts. Now Conde Nast insiders tell me the protest, which was dubbed No contract, no clicks, could reach Vogue next, just in time for the all-important issue. Staff across the titles have learned how to hit Conde where it hurts, a source tells me. Theres a lot more people displaying their Conde Union badges on their work emails and [workplace messaging service] Slack chat profiles now. This could be the first digital protest in Annas 34-year history of running the magazine, though she has weathered one real-life picket line. In April the notoriously formidable 72-year-old fashion high-priestess endured chants from 400 protesters outside her New York townhouse holding placards which read You cant eat prestige and The boss wears Prada, the workers get nada. Anna has tried hard to preserve her legacy in recent years by making Conde Nast more woke, and in one editorial meeting is rumoured to have asked: Why are there so many white people in the room? But sources say any pay dispute will be difficult for her to avoid as everyone answers to Anna. Damons very big house... for bats He lives in a house, a very big house in the country, so the Blur No 1 goes. And now frontman Damon Albarns very own country house in Devon is about to become even bigger. The musician has been granted permission for a makeover of his rural retreat, which he bought in the mid-nineties when Blur were at the height of their fame. Damon Albarn has been given permission to make changes to his country home, on the condition he builds a home for bats too But, in return, he has been ordered to build a state-of-the-art bat barn, after the creatures were found to be roosting there. Damon is believed to have come up with the plans after being holed up at the retreat during lockdown. Good thinking, bat man! Dane Cook's fiancee Kelsi Taylor looked every inch the blushing bride-to-be as she excitedly flashed her engagement ring while arriving to Craig's in West Hollywood. While rocking a strapless white minidress and a pair of nude pumps, the 23-year-old actress was beaming from ear to ear before enjoying a romantic meal on Friday. For the occasion, she sported her raven locks in an elegant updo with a few wispy pieces left out, a delicate diamond and beige handbag. Newly-engaged: Dane Cook's fiancee Kelsi Taylor looked every inch the blushing bride-to-be as she excitedly flashed her engagement ring while arriving to Craig's in West Hollywood Her man, 50, cut a casual figure in a black long sleeve, charcoal grey pants, a silver watch and black shoes. The happy couple entered the celebrity hotspot together, walking side by side, as they continued to celebrate their recent engagement. The comic revealed the proposal to People and the couple also took to social media to share the news of their betrothal on Tuesday. Happy couple: Her man, 50, cut a casual figure in a black long sleeve, charcoal grey pants, a silver watch and black shoes Kelsi's new ring was on full display in video Dane posted announcing the engagement. 'She said yes!' he captioned the clip. Dane previously faced bitter backlash over the age-gap romance after it was revealed that he had started dating Kelsi when she was just 18 years old. In 2018, he joked about their 27-year-age gap, quipping: 'The only thing you have to do is plan that your deaths will be somewhat far apart.' Bling bling: The actor popped the question to his 23-year-old girlfriend on July 13, five years after they started dating, during a trip to Maine, People confirmed on Tuesday Opening up about his decision to propose, the actor told People: 'I was so ready to ask her. I was completely zen about it. 'The evening of the proposal was incredibly beautiful, the weather was perfect, sunset was spectacular, and I was just quite simply very happy.' Dane has also reportedly dated Jessica Simpson, 42, and Nicole Scherzinger, 44. Soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Cook: Cook became engaged over two weeks ago on July 13. The actor popped the question to his 23-year-old girlfriend Kelsi Taylor after five years together, People confirmed on Tuesday. Seen in 2019 He also called Kelsi his 'best friend' and 'the woman who I've shared some of the greatest times of my life with.' And he said he was happy to 'start the next chapter our of lives together. I was also thinking of how absolutely stunning she looked.' Cook shared it was the 'best feeling ever,' to propose to his lady love. Planner: Cook started mapping out the proposal months ago. He wanted to get down on one knee while at York Beach in Maine, which holds a 'special place in our hearts,' he told People Taylor also talked to the site as she said, 'The second he began to reach for his back pocket, my stomach flipped. I couldn't have asked for the moment to have been more perfect. 'All that was going through my brain was, "Wait, is this actually happening right now? Is he proposing?" 'I was also just really focused on what he was saying to me because I was trying desperately to etch the words into my brain,' she added. 'They were so beautiful, I really wanted to soak it in.' After her asked for her hand in marriage they sat together on the deck, shared laughs, held hands and 'watched that giant moon sparkle across the ocean.' TLF: He also called Kelsi his 'best friend' and 'the woman who I've shared some of the greatest times of my life with.' And he said he was happy to 'start the next chapter our of lives together. I was also thinking of how absolutely stunning she looked.' Seen in 2019 Is age just a number? Dane previously faced bitter backlash over the age-gap romance after it was revealed that he had started dating Kelsi when she was just 18 years old Cook started mapping out the proposal months ago. He wanted to get down on one knee while at York Beach in Maine, which holds a 'special place in our hearts,' he told People. 'When we started dating, we went there on our first trip together so to return five years later was meaningful to us,' he shared. 'It's a place I spent much time in growing up so I have such fond memories there. After my mother passed away, she asked me and my siblings to release her at her favorite spot, the breathtaking location, at the tip of Cape Neddick Point, Nubble Lighthouse, where our vacation cottage is located. It felt like the right place.' In June this year, a TikTok user slammed Dane for dating Kelsi - as she was allegedly 18 when the romance began - and his bio on the video-sharing platform read: 'coming of age against my will.' TikTok user Natanial (@nathanielrosenberg) ranted: Has anyone else noticed that since he started dating a teenager, Dane Cook has been trying to pretend hes a teenager too? Look at that. Growing up against my will. What do you mean by growing up, you are 50 years old! Your girlfriend is the one growing up against your will, His ex: He used to date his Employee Of The Month co-star Jessica Simpson ` Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Echevarria and her husband Todd Nepola made a fun stop ahead of Teresa Giudice's wedding to fiance Luis 'Louie' Ruelas. The 55-year-old television personality and the Current Capital Group president were spotted heading into a carnival in New Jersey on Saturday morning. Later on Saturday, the pair are set to attend the Real Housewives of New Jersey OG and her husband-to-be's nuptials at the lavish Grand Chateau hotel on the Park Chateau Estate in East Brunswick, New Jersey. Weekend fun: Real Housewives of Miami star Alexia Echevarria and her husband Todd Nepola made a fun stop ahead of Teresa Giudice's wedding to fiance Luis 'Louie' Ruelas Alexia showcased her ample cleavage and taut midriff in a colorful bra top with straps that tied at the shoulders and matching high-waisted loose-fitting pants. The Cuba native sported white sneakers and shielded her eyes from the sun with oval-shaped white shades. The Bravo star accessorized with large diamond stud earrings, a gold necklace that had a green stone pendant and a white watch. Good times: The 55-year-old television personality and the Current Capital Group president were spotted heading into a carnival in New Jersey on Saturday morning The blonde beauty wore her long locks down in loose waves and carried a white braided handbag. Todd was casually clad in white t-shirt with black shorts, a silver watch and neon-colored sneakers. The two flashed bright smiles and held hands as they walked down the street into the fairgrounds. The Venue Magazine editor and Todd tied the knot during an intimate ceremony in St. Bart's last December. They first announced their engagement in 2019 after two years of dating. Couple: The Venue Magazine editor and Todd tied the knot during an intimate ceremony in St. Bart's last December. Seen in 2019 Alexia was previously married to business Herman Echevarria from 2004 until his death in 2016. She also shares sons Frankie and Peter with her former husband Pedro Rosello, whom she divorced in 1996. Despite appearing on different Housewives franchises, Alexia and Teresa, 50, appear to have struck up a warm friendship. Double date: Last month, Teresa and Alexia enjoyed a double date in Miami with their partners. Both later took to Instagram to share the same photo from their night out, in which they were seen beaming as they posed side by side at Carbone in Miami Last month, the ladies enjoyed a double date in Miami with their partners. Both later took to Instagram to share the same photo from their night out, in which they were seen beaming as they posed side by side at Carbone in Miami. 'Its the beautiful friends we meet along the way that help us appreciate the journey even more,' Teresa wrote in the caption of her post. Alexia captioned the glamorous shot: 'Life has many giftsOne of my favorites is the magic of a new friendship.' Bond: Despite appearing on different Housewives franchises, Alexia and Teresa, 50, appear to have struck up a warm friendship. Teresa and Alexia seen with Housewives Karen Huger, Garcelle Beauvais, Gizelle Bryant, Kyle Richards and Kenya Moore #Jerseybound: Alexia appeared to be looking forward to her pal's wedding festivities in New Jersey And Alexia appeared to be looking forward to her pal's wedding festivities in New Jersey. On Friday, she shared a cozy snap of herself and Todd to her Instagram Story, writing, 'Weekend starts now. #jerseybound.' Yesterday, Teresa and Louie, 46, arrived at their wedding venue for a run-through of the closely guarded ceremony that is set to become a multi-episode special for Bravo. Between 150 and 200 guests are expected to join them to celebrate their marriage with the after-party expected to last into Sunday morning. Wedding bells: Yesterday, Teresa and Louie, 46, arrived at their wedding venue for a run-through of the closely guarded ceremony that is set to become a multi-episode special for Bravo Celebration: Between 150 and 200 guests are expected to join them to celebrate their marriage with the after-party expected to last into Sunday morning Hugh Jackman revealed his dog Dali passed away just one month shy of his 12th birthday. The 53-year-old actor posted a pair of photos with his beautiful French bulldog to Instagram on Friday. The cute pup kissed and licked at her owner's neck and face while he sat at a table looking at his computer. Sad news: Hugh Jackman revealed his dog Dali passed away just one month shy of his 12th birthday 'It's a very sad day for our family,' he wrote in the caption. 'Dali, our beloved Frenchie, passed away last night. He would've been 12 next month which I'm told is a long life for this breed. I always, always called him the ROCKSTAR. 'Because he was! He marched to the beat of his own drum, was beloved by the whole world, and boy did he have a good life. We will miss him but know he's howling in heaven, ruling the roost and enjoying the all you can eat buffet. RIP Dali Rockstar Jackman. We love you!' Jackman and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, adopted Dali back in 2010. They also have another dog named Allegra. Beautiful Frenchie: The 53-year-old actor posted a pair of photos with his beautiful French bulldog to Instagram on Friday The Broadway star regularly shares pup updates with his 30 million followers on Instagram and previously joked that his canine companions were 'way more famous' than him. Hepreviously joked: 'My dogs are way more famous than me! If I post anything about my dogs, it blows up. I just did a play and fans were coming to the theatre - but it wasn't for me! I was taking the puppy into the theatre and the fans would say 'When's the dog coming?' They came to see the puppy.' 'They didn't care about me! And I get it, they're way more interesting than me!' the star quipped. Years together: Jackman and his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, adopted Dali back in 2010. They also have another dog named Allegra Jackman and Furness have two children together: 22-year-old Oscar and 17-year-old Ava. On top of this recent difficulty in his personal life, the X-Men actor has remained quite busy professionally as well. Jackman is currently starring as Professor Harold Hill in the Broadway revival of The Music Man. The show was nominated for six Tonys but received none at the June ceremony. Happy family: Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness have two children together: 22-year-old Oscar and 17-year-old Ava (L to R: Oscar, Deborra-Lee, Ava, Hugh pictured 2012) Broadway stars: On top of this recent difficulty in his personal life, the X-Men actor has remained quite busy professionally as well (pictured June 2022) Jackman has several projects on the way including The Son, a family drama co-starring Anthony Hopkins and Laura Dern. He is currently filming his part in the television show Koala Man which is set for release in 2023. His movies The Good Spy and Apostle Paul are both in pre-production with no release dates reportedly set. Social_media featured Concentration camp liberator dies at 96 Daily Sentinel file photo World War II veteran James Wilburn Wilson, who participated in the liberation of a series of more than 100 Nazi concentration camps, died July 30. He was 96. Daily Sentinel file photo Daily Sentinel file photo Daily Sentinel file photo James Wilburn Wilson holds up a photo fellow World War II soldiers in this 2019 file photo. James Wilburn Wilson, who aided in liberating tens of thousands of prisoners from a series of Nazi concentration camps and kept memories of those days alive through his extensive collection of war memorabilia, died Tuesday. He was 96. He died in a rehabilitation facility from a stroke after a fall at his home in Appleby, his daughter, Brenda Wilson Borens, said. In May 1945, Wilson and other members of the 26th Infantry Division liberated a series of more than 100 concentration camps known as the Mauthausen-Gusen Complex in Austria. The series of camps contained around 85,000 Jews, Catholics, ethnic Poles, Soviets and other prisoners of war. Thats sickening to see people in the shape they were in. I gave them everything I had to eat. Some of them were so weak they couldnt get around, Wilson told The Daily Sentinel in 2019. It was sickening. That made me hate the Germans more. I didnt mind shooting them after that. Wilson assisted in the liberation of two of the camps and helped pass out thousands of copies of a pamphlet titled KZ the Nazi code for concentration camps to German citizens. He kept a copy of the pamphlet until his death. It is one of only a handful known to still exist. They claimed they didnt know about it. Everybody knew better. General Patton made them take a copy of this. Every one of them. He passed out thousands of those things, Wilson said. Wilson delighted in sharing stories about his military service and his role as a liberator, his daughter said. He was very proud and loved to talk about World War II, she said. He had many stories. The pamphlet is part of an extensive collection of war trophies and memorabilia weaponry, Nazi flags, uniforms, photographs, etc. that Wilson kept in his home. He was interviewed by the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum in 2019. Borens and Wilson had planned to visit the museum, but never had the chance because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He wanted to see it and we kept talking about it but all of he sudden he got worse. Then 2020 hit and he refused to go anywhere, she said. Borens is considering donating some of her fathers war relics to the museum, but the majority will stay in the family. Wilson was born March 28, 1926, in the Shady Grove community of Nacogdoches County and lived on his familys farm until he was drafted into the Army at 18. Wilson trained with the 35th Division at Camp Robinson in Arkansas and would have likely stormed the beaches of Normandy with that unit on D-Day if he hadnt become severely seasick on the way to England. They took me up to the hospital. They had put me on guard duty; I could much less stand up than go on guard duty, he said. He was later able to join up with the 26th Infantry after a tussle with a private at headquarters. After the war, Wilson worked at NIBCO for more than 25 years and later worked for Foretravel. In his free time, he was a champion auto racer, marksman and archer. Everything that he did, he was good at, his daughter said. Wilsons funeral is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, 5400 North St. Police officials along with villagers rescuing Yakesh who was stranded in the floodwater at Paleru vagu in Danthalapally mandal of Mahbubabad district on Saturday. DC WARANGAL: Four farmers and a youth who were stuck in floodwater were rescued in Jangaon and Mahbubabad of erstwhile Warangal district on Saturday. In Jangaon, four farmers who were identified as Anthati Yakaiah, Choudaveni Yadagiri, Anthati Somaiah and Bonagiri Peddulu went to their fields to carry out agriculture operations in their respective fields on the other side of the Peddamaduruwagu in Derupulla mandal on Friday. When they crossed the Peddamaduruwagu, the water flow was normal in the stream. But, heavy rains that lashed on Friday afternoon in the district resulted in overflow of floodwater from Peddamaduruwagu. Unaware of that, when the four members tried to cross the stream, they were washed away in the floodwater and got stuck in the bushes. Having learnt about the farmers getting stuck in the bushes, villagers and their family members informed the local police. Responding immediately, police officials, along with rescue teams, rushed to the spot and with the help of villagers carried out a rescue operation that lasted for more than five hours and with the help of torch lights and mobile phone lights, they rescued the farmers. Meanwhile, in Mahabubabad district, two youths identified as Gagulothu Suresh and Yakesh went to catch fish in Paleruwagu on the outskirts of Ramavaram village in Danthalapally mandal. But with heavy inflow of floodwater into the Paleruwagu, both were stuck in the waters. Suresh somehow managed to escape from the floodwater while Yakesh was stuck in his attempt to escape. Receiving information from Suresh, sub inspector Jagadish, with the help of the villagers, rescued Yakesh using a rope. HYDERABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday severely criticised Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao for boycotting the Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting on Sunday, and said the real reason for the boycott was that the Chief Minister is unable to face Prime Minister Narendra Modi anymore. In a statement, Sanjay said if the Chief Minister really had a problem with the way the Niti Aayog was functioning, then he could have done so at the meeting. The real problem of the Chief Minister is that the Centre is now practicing direct benefit transfer to beneficiaries of various Central programmes cutting out the states interference and robs the state of opportunities to divert the funds, or skim off commissions, Sanjay said. He said for Chandrashekar Rao, the Niti Aayog was a good organisation if it provided funds as sought by him and if it did not, then it turned into a villain. NITI Aayog has been giving strategic and technical advice to the Centre and the states on various policy issues to make India a strong economy. It doesnt work exclusively for Chandrashekar Rao or Telangana, he said. Sanjay said the Telangana Chief Minister might be boycotting the meetings convened by the Centre, but he should remember that the day was not far when the people of Telangana would boycott him. Three people, including the state general secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha, were cheated by a conman who pretended to be an under-secretary in the Raj Bhavan and promised to make them senate members in state universities. The impersonator, Sadrullah Khan, created a fake letterhead of the Governor's office and issued orders appointing senate members to the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS). He was arrested by the Central Crime Branch (CCB), a senior police officer said. A Raj Bhavan official said this is the first time someone had "misused" the name of the Raj Bhavan to defraud gullible people aspiring for a membership in the senate. Dr Mallikarjun Balikai, one of the two general secretaries in the BJP state Yuva Morcha, was contacted by Khan and offered senate membership. Dr Balikai, who hails from Hubballi, initially ignored Khan's phone calls. But he had to take him seriously after "a senior leader from the party" intervened. The "senior leader" asked Dr Balikai to share his details with Khan. Dr Balikai shared the details and immediately paid Khan Rs 96,000 towards university funds. Of this, he paid Rs 85,360 by bank transfer and the rest by Google Pay. Khan promised to issue the appointment letter within two to three days but didn't keep his word. Dr Balikai then contacted the "senior leader" who said Khan was a fraud and asked him to stay away from him. Asked why he paid the money and fell for the scam, Dr Balikai told DH: "I trusted him because our senior leader said so." Dr Balikai then contacted Raj Bhavan. On Thursday, the CCB called him to its office in Bengaluru and took his statement. Khan was in the CCB custody, he added. Khan cheated two more people Santosh S and Geetha Shashikumar according to the police complaint filed by R Prabhu Shankar, Special Commissioner to Governor. Prabhu Shankar claimed that it was the first time a conman had "misused" the Raj Bhavan's name to cheat prospective senate members. "We have nothing to do with it. The list of all officials in the Governor's secretariat is available online," he told DH. Senate membership is coveted by many because of the powers and influence it brings. Under the Karnataka Universities Act, the Governor, who is the chancellor of all universities in Karnataka, can nominate two members "from among eminent educationists, or persons from commerce, banking, industry or other professions". In the case of the RGUHS, the Governor can nominate six people from among people having special interest in health sciences. Karan Kumar, a syndicate member at the Bengaluru City University, said, "It's an honorary position but some syndicate members take money from colleges that apply for affiliation or renewal of affiliation. For pecuniary gains, syndicate members are ready to compromise with the quality of education," he said. By Peter Lee for The Conversation The recent killing of Al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri by CIA drone strike was the latest US response to 9/11. Politically, it amplified existing distrust between US leaders and the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The killing also exposed compromises in the 2020 Doha peace agreement between the US and the Taliban. But another story is emerging with wider implications: the speed and nature of international weapons development. Take the weapon reportedly used to kill al-Zawahiri: the Hellfire R9X Ninja missile. The Hellfire missile was originally conceived in the 1970s and 80s to destroy Soviet tanks. Rapid improvements from the 1990s onwards have resulted in multiple variations with different capabilities. They can be launched from helicopters or Reaper drones. Their different explosive payloads can be set off in different ways: on impact or before impact. Then there is the Hellfire R9X Ninja. It is not new, though it has remained largely in the shadows for five years. It was reportedly used in 2017 in Syria to kill the deputy Al-Qaida leader, Abu Khayr al-Masri. Also Read | Taiwan spots two Chinese missiles launched in drill The Ninja missile does not rely on an explosive warhead to destroy or kill its target. It uses the speed, accuracy and kinetic energy of a 100-pound missile fired from up to 20,000 feet, armed with six blades which deploy in the last moments before impact. Super weapons The Ninja missile is the ultimate attempt so far to accurately target and kill a single person. No explosion, no widespread destruction, and no deaths of bystanders. But other weapon developments will also affect the way we live and how wars are fought or deterred. Russia has invested heavily in these so-called super-weapons, building on older technologies. They aim to reduce or eliminate technological advantages enjoyed by the United States or NATO. Rusias hypersonic missile development aims are highly ambitious. The Avangard missile, for example, wont need to fly outside the earths atmosphere. It will remain within the upper atmosphere instead, giving it the ability to manoeuvre. Also Read | US, South Korea fire 8 missiles to sea, matching North's launches Such manoeuvrability will make it harder to detect or intercept. Chinas DF-17 hypersonic ballistic missile is similarly intended to evade US missile defences. The autonomous era At a smaller scale, robot dogs with mounted machine guns are emerging on the weapons market. The weapon development company Sword International took a Ghost Robotics quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicle or dog robot and mounted an assault rifle on it. It was one of three robot dogs on display at a US army trade show. Turkey, meanwhile, is claiming it has developed four types of autonomous drones, which can identify and kill people, all without input from a human operator, or GPS guidance. According to a UN report from March 2021, such an autonomous weapon system has been used already in Libya against a logistics convoy affiliated with the Khalifa Haftar armed group. Autonomous weapons that dont need GPS guidance are particularly significant. In a future war between major powers, the satellites which provide GPS navigation can expect to be shot down. So any military system or aircraft which relies on GPS signals for navigation or targeting would be rendered ineffective. China, Russia, India and the USA have developed weapons to destroy satellites which provide global positioning for car sat-nav systems and civilian aircraft guidance. The real nightmare scenario is combining these, and many more, weapon systems with artificial intelligence. New rules of war Are new laws or treaties needed to limit these futuristic weapons? In short, yes but they dont look likely. The US has called for a global agreement to stop anti-satellite missile testing but there has been no uptake. The closest to an agreement is the signing of NASAs Artemis Accords. These are principles to promotes peaceful use of space exploration. But they only apply to civil space activities conducted by the civil space agencies of the signatory countries. In other words, the agreement does not extend to military space activities or terrestrial battlefields. In contrast, the US has withdrawn from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. This is part of a long-term pattern of withdrawal from global agreements by US administrations. Lethal autonomous weapon systems are a special class of emerging weapon system. They incorporate machine learning and other types of AI so that they can make their own decisions and act without direct human input. In 2014 the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) brought experts together to identify issues raised by autonomous weapon systems. In 2020 the ICRC and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute went further, bringing together international experts to identify what controls on autonomous weapon systems would be needed. In 2022, discussions are ongoing between countries the UN first brought together in 2017. This group of governmental experts continues to debate the development and use of lethal autonomous weapon systems. However, there has still been no international agreement on a new law or treaty to limit their use. New rules for autonomous weapon systems The campaign group, 'Stop the Killer Robots', has called throughout this period for an international ban on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Not only has that not happened, there is an undeclared stalemate in the UNs discussions on autonomous weapons in Geneva. Australia, Israel, Russia, South Korea and the US have opposed a new treaty or political declaration. Opposing them at the same talks, 125 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement are calling for legally binding restrictions on lethal autonomous weapon systems. With Russia, China, US, UK and France all having a UN Security Council veto, they can prevent such a binding law on autonomous weapons. Outside these international talks and campaigning organisations, independent experts are proposing alternatives. For example, in 2019 Australia-based US ethicist, Deane-Peter Baker brought together the Canberra Group of independent international. The group produced a report, Guiding Principles for the Development and Use of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems. These principles dont solve the political impasse between superpowers. But if autonomous weapons are here to stay then it is an early attempt to understand what new rules will be needed. When Pandoras mythical box was opened, untold horrors were unleashed on the world. Emerging weapon systems are all too real. Like Pandora, all we are left with is hope. (Peter LeeUniversity of Portsmouth) Sri Lanka has finally buckled under pressure from India and requested China to defer the visit of its recon ship Yuan Wang 5 to the Hambantota Port of the island nation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sri Lankan Government has written to the Embassy of Peoples Republic of China in Colombo, requesting that the arrival date of the vessel Yuan Wang 5 in the Hambantota Port should be deferred until further consultations between the two governments on the matter, according to the sources in New Delhi. New Delhi could prod President Ranil Wickremesinghes government in Colombo into action and made it address its security concerns over the visit of Chinese PLAs reconnaissance ship in Hambantota even as the communist country reached out to two other neighbours of India Bangladesh and Nepal. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Dhaka on Saturday. He will host Nepalese Foreign Minister Narayan Khadka in Beijing next week. Also Read | India reaches out to SL military officials near Hambantota ahead of arrival of Chinas recon ship The Yuan Wang 5 is one of the four of its class used by the Strategic Support Force of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) to track satellites and intercontinental ballistic missiles. It of late sailed from a port in China and was scheduled to arrive at the Hambantota Port of Sri Lanka on August 11 next. China earlier used its debt-trap diplomacy to force Sri Lanka to lease out the Hambantota Port to one of the state-owned companies of the communist country. Beijing has since long been known for using its research ships not only for collecting hydrographic data, but also for maritime surveillance and gathering intelligence, be it in South China Sea or East China Sea or in other locations in the Indo-Pacific. New Delhi is particularly concerned over Chinas bid to build strategic maritime assets around India and its Peoples Liberation Army Navys repeated forays in the Indian Ocean region. The Embassy of India in Colombo over the past few days took up the issue with the office of the president of Sri Lanka. The Ministry of Defence of the Sri Lankan government, however, sought to allay New Delhis concerns, stating that Yuan Wang would dock at Hambantota Port only for refuelling and replenishing its stock of food and other essentials. India, however, continued to convey its concerns to the Sri Lankan government, which finally conveyed to the Chinese Government that the arrival of the ship should be deferred. New Delhi was worried over the ships foray in the Indian Ocean region amid Chinas growing belligerence across Taiwan Strait in the wake of the recent visit of the United States House of Representative, Nancy Pelosi, to Taipei. The government carefully monitors any developments having a bearing on India's security and economic interests, and takes all necessary measures to safeguard them, Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, had said in New Delhi last week, adding: I think that should be a clear message. The then Sri Lankan government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa as President had in 2014 allowed a nuclear submarine of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy dock at the Colombo Port for days, raising hackles in New Delhi. Bihar JD(U) president Umesh Kushwaha on Saturday served a show cause notice to party leader R C P Singh for "discrepancies in immovable properties registered from 2013 to 2022 in his name and that of his family" and sought to know the source of income to purchase that land. The notice was served to him following a complaint lodged by two party members in Nalanda who levelled serious corruption charges against R C P Singh, before the party's top leadership. The party has asked R C P Singh to clarify how the registries of 58 plots have been done in the names of himself, his daughters - Saharsa S P Lipi Singh and Lata Singh, and family members. Also Read | After its Bihar unit dared JD(U), here's why BJP mollified Nitish The party has mentioned that R C P Singh was associated with Nitish Kumar as a bureaucrat and has served as two time Rajya Sabha MP, party's national president, organisational secretary of the party as well as union minister in the Central government. "As our leader Nitish Kumar works on zero tolerance for corruption policy and he never compromises on it and has not purchased properties despite his long public life, the party is also expecting the same from you. Hence, you have been asked to reply point wise," Kushwaha said in the notice to R C P Singh. As per the details, 12 plots were registered in Saifabad Moja under Islampur block, 12 plots in Kewali block. These two lands were registered in the names of Lipi Singh and Lata Singh in 2013 and 2016 respectively. As per the letter of JD(U), 33 plots in Sherpur Malti Mauja and one in Mohhamadpur were registered in the names of the family members of R C P Singh. As per the documents of the party, Naresh Prasad Singh, a native of Neemchak Bathani in Nalanda had donated land to a person named Dharmendra Kumar on April 28, 2014. The same land was donated further by Dharmendra Kumar to Lipi Singh and Lata Singh. Also Read | Hooch claims 11 lives in dry Bihar; five arrested, SHO suspended The letter further said that a person named Bindeshwari Saw purchased two plots on September 4 and 15 and sold them to Lipi Singh and Lata Singh. One of the land was sold within 6 days after the registry and another was sold after 8 months. After resigning from the union cabinet, R C P Singh held public meetings in several parts of Bihar. During the meeting, some of his supporters projected him as future chief minister of Bihar which made the top leadership of the party uncomfortable. NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar on Saturday trounced joint Opposition nominee Margaret Alva to become the next Vice President of India in a more or less one-sided battle that saw all Trinamool Congress MPs barring two abstaining from the voting over differences with the Opposition camp. Dhankhar (71), the 14th Vice President who was earlier associated with Congress and Janata Dal before joining BJP in 2008, will succeed M Venkaiah Naidu, who will be retiring on August 10. Dhankhar, who will also act as Rajya Sabha Chairman, will be sworn in as the new Vice President on August 11. Soon after the announcement of the result, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Dhankhar and congratulated him. Former West Bengal Governor Dhankhar, a lawyer by profession who was a Minister in the short-lived Chandrasekhar government in 1990, got 528 first preference votes out of 725 votes polled between 10 AM and 5 PM during the day while Alva, a former Union Minister, garnered the support of 182. Fifteen MPs votes were invalid. Of the 780 MPs in the electoral college, 92.94% voted and Dhankhar, whom the BJP projected as Kisan Putra while announcing his candidature, won by 346 votes. His candidature was also seen as BJPs attempts to reach out to Jats in poll-bound Rajasthan and Haryana. One of the major challenges for Dhankhar will be to run the Rajya Sabha where the Opposition is seeking to corner the Modi government. The decibel levels are likely to rise in the next couple of years, as the Lok Sabha election is scheduled in the first half of 2024. Dhankhar's election was a foregone conclusion as the ruling NDA had an overwhelming majority in the electoral college, which consists of the elected and nominated MPs in Parliament. Dhankhar was to get 539 votes, going by pledged support including by non-NDA parties like BJD, YSR Congress, TDP and BSP, while Alva was to get 205, if all the 780 eligible MPs voted. Alva, who pitched the election as a referendum on the functioning of Parliament, congratulated Dhankhar soon after the results were out but minced no words about the chinks in the Opposition camp when she said some Opposition parties unfortunately chose to directly or indirectly support the BJP, in an attempt to derail the idea of a united opposition. To her, the election was an opportunity for the opposition to work together, to leave the past behind and build trust amongst each other. It is my belief that by doing so, these parties and their leaders have damaged their own credibility. This election is over. The battle for protecting our Constitution, strengthening our democracy and restoring the dignity of Parliament, will continue," she said. Alva did not name any party but it appeared that her aim was Trinamool Congress particularly as the Mamata Banerjee-led party had abstained from voting, accusing Congress and others of not holding proper consultations while naming the candidate. Trinamools action brought down Alvas number much below 200 mark. Interestingly, two out of 36 Trinamool MPs Sishir Adhikari and Dibyendu Adhikari who are unofficially aligned with the BJP came to vote ignoring letters written to them by Trinamool Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandhyopadhyay. However, BJP MP Arjun Singh, who has cosied up to the Trinamool, did not turn up for voting. Returning Officer Utpal Kumar Singh, who is also Lok Sabha Secretary General, said the quota necessary for being elected to the office of the Vice President was determined to be 356 as the total number of first preference votes got by the two candidates were 710. "As the first preference votes secured by Jagdeep Dhankhar was greater than the requisite quote, I, as Returning Officer, declare Jagdeep Dhankhar duly elected to the office of the Vice President of India," Singh told a press conference. The BJP was left red faced in Uttar Pradesh after Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Rakesh Sachan was on Saturday held guilty of ballast theft by a district court in Kanpur. The minister, who was present in the court, suddenly left the court a few minutes before the judgement and was said to be untraceable, according to sources. The court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate (ACMM) has reserved its judgement on the quantum of punishment. Unconfirmed reports said that he left the court in a huff immediately after the verdict. According to sources, the case of ballast theft had been registered against Sachan about 35 years ago, when he was a contractor with the Railways in Kanpur. The stolen ballast was later recovered. Sachan, an influential Kurmi leader, had joined the BJP after quitting Congress days before the recently-concluded Assembly polls in UP. He was later fielded by the saffron party from Bhognipur Assembly seat in Kanpur Dehat district. He was later inducted into the ministry in an apparent bid to placate the electorally-influential Kurmi community. While the state BJP leaders here refrained from commenting on the matter, saying that they had no knowledge of the court verdict, the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) sought to know from UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath if he would raze the house of the guilty BJP lawmaker. "Cabinet minister in BJP government Rakesh Sachan held guilty in ballast theft....fled from court after hearing the verdict....Yogiji should now say when he will get the house of the ministry demolished by bulldozer," said the SP in a tweet. Police sources here said that the police officials in Kanpur were trying to ascertain the facts in the matter. "We have seen the reports in this regard and are trying to ascertain the facts," said a senior police official in Kanpur After a revolt in the Shiv Sena, party president Uddhav Thackeray was ready to align with the BJP in Maharashtra if the dissidents dumped rebel leader Eknath Shinde, a proposal that was unacceptable to rebel MLAs and the national saffron outfit, legislator Deepak Kesarkar claimed on Friday. Kesarkar, a spokesperson of the rebel faction of Shiv Sena MLAs led by CM Shinde, also revealed that Thackeray was planning to step down as Maharashtra Chief Minister last year after talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kesarkar said for Thackeray, who resigned as CM on June 29 following the revolt in the Shiv Sena, that his relations with Modi were far more important than holding on to the top post. Also Read | Uddhav Thackeray back as editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece Saamana The Thackeray camp of the Sena sought to make light of Kesarkar's comments, saying he has been making self-contradictory statements after being appointed a spokesperson and sounds "confused". Kesarkar said after the rebellion broke out in the party with 39 MLAs (the number now stands at 40) siding with Shinde, the rebel leader who is now the chief minister, he again approached Thackeray through someone who was involved in talks between the BJP and the Shiv Sena. However, Thackeray said he was ready to align with the BJP provided the rebels leave Shinde and come back to the party-fold, a proposal which was not acceptable to the dissident MLAs and the BJP, he claimed. He claimed when even Thackeray was ready to align with the BJP, why were Sena leaders, particularly Aaditya Thackeray, provoking party workers against the rebel MLAs. "When I left for Assam (Guwahati after the June 21 revolt), I contacted one of those involved in these talks (between Thackeray and BJP). I sent him to meet Uddhav saheb. He was told that let's forget what has happened and time is to come together. Also Read | 'Real' Shiv Sena: Relief for Uddhav Thackeray camp as SC asks EC not to decide on Eknath Shinde's plea for now "Even at that time, Uddhav saheb said 'you (the BJP) dump Shinde and we are ready for an alliance'. This was not acceptable to the BJP or the MLAs. Because it would have been inappropriate. The rest is history," Kesarkar said. Ten days after raising the banner of revolt in the Shiv Sena, Shinde took oath as CM on June 30 with the BJP's support. Kesarkar said a lot of Shiv Sena leaders were "pained" at attempts to "malign" the image of then-Cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray, son of Uddhav Thackeray, by BJP MP and Union minister Narayan Rane by dragging him in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case. The rebel camp spokesperson said he established contact with Modi and started a line of communication. "After Uddhav ji met Modi ji, it was decided he will quit (as CM) in the next 15 days because for him his relations (with PM) were more important (than holding post). But it was realised that he needed more time to convince his party workers," he said, adding Thackeray's wife Rashmi, Sena leaders Anil Desai, Subhash Desai, Milind Narvekar and Shinde were aware of this development. Thackeray had met with Modi in June last year along with then-Deputy Chief minister Ajit Pawar and Congress minister Ashok Chavan. In the past, Modi had termed Thackeray as his "younger brother". The Thackeray-PM meeting in New Delhi was followed by the suspension of a dozen BJP MLAs from the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for a year in July 2021 over unruly behaviour, a move which further strained ties between former allies Shiv Sena and the BJP which was then in the opposition. Later, the talks halted after Rane, a bete noire of Thackeray, was inducted into the Union Cabinet which upset the Sena president, Kesarkar said. The talks did not go further because of "ego" issues, Kesarkar later said. All through the talks, he kept Shinde, then a member of the Thackeray cabinet, updated about developments, Kesarkar said. The spokesperson of the rebel Sena camp said Shinde met Thackeray multiple times to convince him to revive ties with the BJP. Reacting to Kesarkar's claims, Sena spokesperson Manisha Kayande, a member of the Thackeray camp, said "He is revealing something new every day. He has been making self-contradictory statements and sounds confused." It is difficult to say how the story of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan last week will end for the three countries directly involved the US, China and Taiwan (yes, I dont have to follow the One China policy) -- and for the world at large. Or, perhaps, there will not be an end, rather it is the beginning of a new, more intense phase of US-China rivalry. The Biden administration sought to downplay Pelosis visit by saying that there was no change in the US stand on One China, but it has also played along with Pelosi. It sent in the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan close to Taiwan to ensure that China would not take any action that could endanger Pelosi herself, while calling the deployment routine. Read | India shouldn't cheer on Taiwan knife fight China started to take punitive military and economic actions against Taiwan hours after Pelosi left that country, and it is now feared that Beijing might seek to establish a naval blockade of Taiwan in the guise of carrying out military exercises all around Taiwan. Pelosi has given it a good excuse to do so, if ever it needed one. For the US, Pelosis visit served as a powerful signal to China and the rest of the world that the Superpower can and still intends to stand by allies like Taiwan. It is doubtful whether it will actually rush to defend Taiwan against a full-scale Chinese invasion, but post-Ukraine, it did need to send out a message to its allies that it would. In the bargain, it has established a new level of ambiguity over its commitment to One China. Beijings uncertainty over whether the US will or will not come to Taipeis defence has only heightened. Xi Jinping has to act to show his strong disapproval of Pelosis visit to Taipei, or else face humiliation at the hands of political rivals and disgruntled elements, especially during the all-important Communist Party conclave in November, where Xi will seek a third term as President, or perhaps even to become President for life. Chinas economy is in no great shape currently, thanks partly to Xis own zero Covid policies, which have slowed down economic activity. If the US and EU were to join hands to implement even limited sanctions against China, it could send its economy into a tailspin. Besides, any Chinese military action in Taiwan will be met with fierce resistance by the island-nation that has armed itself to the teeth for precisely such an eventuality. Worse, even if Beijing succeeds in subduing Taiwan, it will have done so at the cost of crippling Taiwans manufacturing facilities, which are key to Chinas white goods industry. That will be a self-goal. Taiwan contributes to nearly 80% of Chinese white goods production and controls the supply chain. The biggest importer of Taiwans electronic wares is China, which then uses these components to maintain its position as the worlds largest producer of electronics and electrical items China exported $899 billion of these items in 2021. Beijing could punish Taiwan for Pelosis visit, for instance through a naval blockade, and cause a huge strain on its economy. But greater the pain that it inflicts on Taiwan, greater will be the cost to its own economy. Taiwans importance lies in its semiconductor industry, not just as a supplier but also in helping the US maintain its technological edge over China. Answering a question at a hearing of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on whether the Biden administration would help Taiwan in a conflict with China, Secretary of State Antony Blinken responded that the US had a significant advantage over China in the ability to produce the highest-end semiconductors, quickly adding that the US is determined to make sure that Taiwan has all necessary means to defend itself against any potential aggression, including unilateral action by China to disrupt the status quo (on Taiwan status). Meanwhile, New Delhi should also take note of the White House statement issued in January 2022 highlighting President Bidens efforts to bring back to the US about 70% of semiconductor manufacturing. If that is the agenda, then would the US have an incentive to protect Taiwan and its industry in the long run? India should strategise for the future but act now for it. Given the belligerent attitude of China, the PLAs misadventures in Indias northern border, its untenable claims on Arunachal Pradesh, its continued denial to accept J&K as an integral part of India, its outrageous CPEC projects in POK, New Delhi has every reason to discontinue the One China policy. In the immediate, it should join efforts to defuse the situation around Taiwan and safeguard the island-nation. But more importantly, India has a golden opportunity now to build itself into an economic powerhouse, by stepping up on electronics manufacturing. The Union government has made a beginning by announcing a comprehensive programme for the development of a sustainable semiconductor and display ecosystem, earmarking $10 billion in incentives to promote this industry. But without a practical technology transfer policy, liberal production policies and facilitation, and removing all speed-breakers, the industry will not take off. Delhi should upgrade trade relations with Taiwan to a high level so as to ensure that Indias fledgling semiconductor fabs begin life at sub-5 nanometre technology. There should be a special fast-tracking cell in the PMO, with representatives from lead ministries, to accord seriousness to the emerging geopolitical and geoeconomics opportunities and challenges. India is doing better than many other economies amidst the global headwinds. It is time for Delhi to convert whats now a temporary advantage into a durable one. A strengthening economy and a stable Centre will be key factors in achieving leadership in the emerging new world order. Google began rolling out Meet-Duo for Android and iOS users only a few days ago. A new feature in the works will enable users to share applications like YouTube, UNO!, Kahoot, Heads Up!, and Spotify while the company is trying to rebrand Duo to Meet later this year. Another item on the list is GQuees - Task Manager for Teams, a productivity tool. Each application gets its symbol in Google Meet, which is a nice touch. Rather than putting Google Meet into its own app, 9to5Google found that the internet giant opted to outsource it to a third-party app. GQueues a process manager for teams is also included in the list of tools. For some reason, each application seems to have an icon inside of Google Meet. In the wake of a 9to5Google APK breakdown, the tech giant decided to move Google Meet to a third-party app instead of incorporating them into its own. This implies that the feature will only be available on Android and not on iOS or the Internet version. Like games like UNO!, it's quite likely that Google Meet will automatically generate a new room and allow others to join with a single tap. Essentially, this indicates that the functionality may only be accessible on Android and not on iOS or the online version of the app. The topic of board games like UNO comes up often here! Using Google Meet, a new lobby will most likely be created immediately, allowing others to join with a single click. Though streaming applications like Spotify and YouTube, it's still unclear how Google would synchronize all participants. It's unexpected to see updates to Meet (the original), which will be phased away after completing the Meet-Duo integration. In the meanwhile, Google Meet may be combined with Google Duo, Google's video chatting tool, for users on Android and iOS, as previously discussed. In a blog post, Google says it plans to integrate Duo and Google Meet before the end of the year. However, the replacement is being rolled out in a staggered manner, so don't expect it right now. The smartphone can be purchased for a total of $199, equivalent to around Rs 15,700. This makes it the least expensive OnePlus product available anywhere in the globe. OnePlus Nord 20 SE, The OnePlus company, has yet to release its most affordable smartphone, and here is all you need to know about it. This past week, OnePlus had an event in New York City to unveil its latest flagship device, the OnePlus 10T 5G. A short time after the OnePlus 10T 5G launch, the OnePlus Nord 20 SE, the company's most budget-friendly smartphone, was secretly made available for purchase by the company that makes OnePlus devices. It would seem that the OnePlus Nord 20 SE has only been made available in the United States (US). The smartphone is priced at $199, making it the least expensive OnePlus device sold anywhere around the globe (approximately Rs 15,700). The smartphone may be purchased on AliExpress in the United States right now, and it will be ready for purchase there on August 12. OnePlus Nord 20 SE specifications and features One of the critical characteristics of the OnePlus Nord 20 SE is that it has a 6.56-inch HD+ LCD screen with a notch in the shape of a water drop. The smartphone's processing unit is a MediaTek Helio G35, with 64GB and 4GB of RAM available storage capacity. The OnePlus Nord 20 SE was released with a fast charging capability of 33W and a battery capacity of 5,000mAh. At launch, the OnePlus Nord 20 SE will include a dual rear camera arrangement with a primary lens that has a resolution of 50 megapixels and a depth sensor that has a resolution of 2 megapixels. The new OnePlus Nord smartphone has a front-facing camera that boasts an 8-megapixel resolution. The United States seems to be the only market where the OnePlus Nord 20 SE has been made available. The smartphone is identical in terms of its technical specifications to the Oppo A77 4G, which can be purchased in India for Rs 15,499. The software interface of the OnePlus phone and its unusual alert slider, on the other hand, was regarded by most customers as the device's most impressive qualities. The alert slider, a toggle switch placed above the power button, allows you to select between the vibrating, silent, and ring modes of the notification. Because of how useful it is, people are starting to demand that it be implemented by other phone makers as well. On the other hand, OnePlus has been going in the opposite direction. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Toxic dumpsites off coast of U.S. Southern California may be times worse 10:26, August 06, 2022 By Julia Pierrepont III ( Xinhua LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The federal investigation into the historic toxic waste dumpsites off the coast of Los Angeles and Catalina, an island southwest of the second largest U.S. city, exposed a far more extensive spread of DDT and other toxic chemicals than anyone had previously estimated. According to a report released Friday by Phys.org, one of the most updated science websites in the United States, a recently disclosed internal memo in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed that federal regulators are discovering that the amount of contamination looks to have been grossly underestimated. The sites had been believed to contain about 27,000 barrels of DDT on the ocean floor, but the EPA now estimates that historic dumping operations covering 14 sites may include up to half a million tonnes of DDT and other toxic chemicals that were poured directly into the open sea from tanks on barges, as well as radioactive waste, toxic chemicals, petroleum waste, and military explosives. Regulators also were quoted as saying that although shipping records noted the number of discarded barrels but the word "barrel" in these documents appeared to refer to a unit of volume, rather than a physical barrel. "That's pretty jaw-dropping in terms of the volumes and quantities of various contaminants that were dispersed in the ocean," said a concerned John Chesnutt, leader of the EPA investigation's tech team. "There's still so much we don't know." The findings are based on detailed research by state and federal government agencies, University of California Santa Barbara and University of California San Diego's Scripps Institution of Oceanography into archived records, shipping bills of lading, corporate invoices and memos and on-site mapping of the ocean floor itself. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, or DDT, a deadly toxin first believed to be a "miracle" insecticide that prevented the spread of malaria and protected crops from insect depredation, is now known to be toxic to humans, marine life and wildlife. It is readily absorbed into human and animal cell tissue and takes generations to break down to harmless chemicals. Through the process of biomagnification, the toxin becomes increasingly concentrated in each animal that feeds on contaminated prey from lower on the food chain, starting with one-celled phytoplankton algae, through shellfish, fish, then wildlife, all the way to mankind. DDT was first developed in 1874 but didn't come into commercial use until 1940, then it began to be used widely in agribusiness and the military until banned in the country in 1972. But not before Montrose Chemical Corp and other polluters had dumped tens of thousands of tonnes of it off California's coast near Los Angeles and Catalina. Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator from California, has described the DDT dumping as "one of the biggest environmental threats on the West Coast." Widespread commercial use of DDT caused intense ecosystem disruption and serious public health hazards, including investigations into the detrimental effects on women and pregnancy and the near extinction of falcons and bald eagles by making their shells to thin and brittle to survive until hatching. Now the concerns have shifted to the long-term health and environmental effects of the toxic dumping off the coast of California, especially on marine life, California's critically-endangered condors, dolphins, sea lions and bird populations as well as public health and safety concerns for local residents. These disturbing revelations have given rise to strident public outcries and calls for action. Led by Feinstein, the U.S. Congress has approved a superfund of 5.6 million U.S. dollars to investigate the offshore dumping problem, and California Governor Gavin Newsom has approved a matching amount, bringing the total superfund to 11 million dollars. Mark Gold, Newsom's Deputy Secretary for Coastal and Ocean Policy, said to the press, "The fact that here we are, more than 50 years later, and we don't even know what's in the 14 dumpsites other than a summary from a report in 1973 from the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project? That's just not acceptable," "It really makes you question: OK, how big of a problem is deep-water ocean dumping ... along not just the California coast, but nationwide?" he asked. While the EPA and various state and federal agencies, as well as scientists and university departments have been collaborating on the plans for further investigation and chemical sampling, no one has yet been able to pose a suggestion as to what can actually be done about this vast ticking time bomb slowly decaying on California' ocean floor. "There's not an environmental program, particularly at the federal level, that was designed to address the challenges, the circumstances that these disposal sites pose," said John Lyons, acting deputy director of the EPA's Region 9 Superfund Division. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) ROSE emerged from the kitchen, and placing the blackboard up over the fireplace, started writing the specials of the day on it. How are you, Rosie, any scraps for Tiny today? Pat enquired from his corner. Dont I always, Pat, just dont you forget them when youre leaving. Nobody had seen Tiny, Pats little Jack Russell, in years. They suspected that he had died some time ago. In fact, by their calculations, Tiny would be around 25 if he was still alive. Yet, Rose still threw a bag of food together for the dog, every day his master visited. Mick always added a few slices of the roast of the day in case Tiny would like a bite in the evening, and Pat never refused, on the grounds that for a small dog, Tiny has a great appetite. Friends and family of the deputy principal from the local primary school were gathering in Mollys later that day to celebrate his retirement, after 45 years of service. Rose busied herself with the preparations. Jesus Christ, I thought he was dead, mumbled Pat from his stool, shur, hed be my own go. Rose, wiping down tables, setting them with cutlery and glassware, threw her eyes heavenwards. Dont be talking nonsense, Pat, and you with one foot in the grave yourself, youve at least a decade on him, maybe even two. Well, if thats what educating youngsters does to you, thank God I never went teaching, Pat replied. And Id have worried for the future generations of Kilroche, if Id ever seen you in the vicinity of a school, Rose said, folding napkins and placing them neatly beside each setting. Horses for courses, Pat, horses for courses. ****** OConnors Drapery store was on an incline at the top of the village. Shop to the front, living accommodation to the back, the whole building was as impeccable as its well-heeled inhabitants. Mick approached the front of the building slowly, and lifting the brass knocker, hesitated momentarily before rapping gently on the front door. Gosh, it felt strange standing here all these years later. The silence within suggested that nobody was home. Just as he was about to leave, the door swung open and Maura stood there, pale-faced and dishevelled looking. She eyed Mick warily. Hello Maura, how are you? Mick asked quietly. I just heard the news about poor Hannah a short while ago. Im very sorry. Im in complete shock. Were all wondering how the surgery went? How is poor Hannah? Poor Hannah? Maura interrupted, well let me see now, Michael, your question is roughly 20 years too late! So save your insincere platitudes and take yourself back to your bar. With that, the door slammed and Mick was left standing there red-faced, as mass-goers drove slowly past, en route to the church on the opposite side of the street. ****** A loud rumpus towards the back of the pub caught Roses attention. Someone singing, if that was the word for it. This wouldnt be wholly unusual in Molloys, except for the fact that it was a Sunday morning. As the newcomer emerged from the dark back hallway, it turned out to be none other than Din Rua, swaying from side to side. Rose nodded in his direction. Holding his arm aloft, he asked if she would like to hear a secret. She shook her head discouragingly. Ssh, so, and Ill tell you, he said loudly, jabbing his chubby index finger roughly against her lips. Rose recoiled, pushing him away. Oh, for Gods sake, take yourself home and get some sleep. Youre a disgrace to that uniform youre wearing. Ah, stop that Rosie, and throw me up a drop of Paddy will you. And remember these words: Kilroche has a killer in its midst. What killer are you on about? Nobody is dead. Itd be more in your line to head away home, have a shower, and sober up, Rose said, a revolted look on her face. Well, maybe she didnt kill this time, but shes well capable of it. And trust me, I know. A MIDDLE-AGED Romanian man came to the attention of gardai twice during a visit to Cork and now he has come to court showing his plane ticket to fly back to Bucharest. In one incident, Sergeant Pat Lyons said that it was reported that Georgel Vasile was hassling a group of women at South Mall. When gardai arrived at the scene, they found the accused urinating on the street. More recently, on June 21, the same man was seen begging aggressively in Cork city centre. Sgt Lyons said the accused was seen begging in Cork city by aggressively stopping people on the street and begging for coins. Defence solicitor Diarmuid Kelleher commenced his submission in mitigation, stating: The good news is that Mr Vasile is flying back to Romania. He has a Ryanair ticket to Bucharest. He was here three months but it did not work out and he was homeless for the period he was here. Judge Olann Kelleher imposed a 100 fine on the accused for begging and another 100 fine for being drunk and a danger on the occasion where he was hassling women on the street and later urinating on the street. THE Lord Mayor of Cork has welcomed the planning approval for major developments in the citys South Docks, which she believes will create a showcase for Cork once they are completed. Last December, OCallaghan Properties (OCP), through Leeside Quays Ltd, lodged a planning application with Cork City Council for a significant mixed-use development including new homes, office space, cafes, retail, and a cinema, and a separate planning application for a proposed rehabilitation hospital all within the citys South Docks. Cork City Council has now approved both applications, subject to a number of conditions. OCP also confirmed they intend to seek planning permission for the development of 1,300 apartments on the adjoining Gouldings site in South Docks, under the Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) process. Speaking to The Echo, Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde commended the ambition and vision of OCP. Corks growth is between 50 and 60% over the next 20 years, she said. Thats a lot of boots to fill and a lot of jobs and a lot of houses are needed, and this is the kickstarting of it, and I congratulate OCallaghan Properties on their vision. The redevelopment of the South Docks, in conjunction with the city councils plans for the new Marina Park which, when completed, will be six times larger than Fitzgeralds Park, will be transformative for Cork, Ms Forde said. Its going to be a showcase for Cork and one that will bring life into the city. It will be transformative, and this is only the start of it. We want more for Cork. Artist impression of Cork South Docks proposal. When I go out to talk to anyone in Dublin, I say Cork is the second city, we want it to be the absolute best it can be and we want to drive forward because the more success we have in the [city] centre, that will permeate out and it will provide good jobs, [and] revenue for the city to do more for the public spaces. In her maiden speech as Lord Mayor after she was officially elected on June 24, the Douglas-based Fine Gael councillor said ensuring the city centre revitalisation plan takes centre stage is a key priority. The city centre is the beating heart of Cork, and the beating heart of Cork belongs to the people I really, truly believe that. I want Cork city centre to be a joy to come into, a pleasure to access, to walk around, to cycle, to socialise and to allow the businesses to prosper from the very small to the larger, Ms Forde said. The recent publication of the city councils arts and culture strategy the first such statement of purpose for the development of the arts in the city in 10 years is another important element in working to create a more vibrant and enjoyable city, Ms Forde said. I believe art and culture lift the city and we have so much talent in Cork, she said, adding that she looks forward to the realisation of the goals in the plan. The Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Deirdre Forde at the City Hall, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan Speaking about security in the city, the Lord Mayor said she would like to see a short, medium, and long term vision for how we want to tackle any issues that come in the city, developed in conjunction with the gardai, Cork City Council, the Department of Justice, the HSE and other agencies. A safe city is a welcoming city, not alone for Cork people but for visitors alike. We want to preserve that reputation. I think the gardai do a phenomenal job; I take my hat off to them. Theyre doing wonderfully, but there are issues that we need to be addressing. I believe that the [Garda] Commissioner is coming to Cork. It possibly could be September. Welcome We will be welcoming him with open arms. I would like to have a more serious conversation with a broader spectrum of agencies to see what we could do to tackle any drug-taking or any issues that are affecting the public domain. We cant just sweep it under the carpet, we have to tackle it in a very humane way. Ms Forde said she believes there is a need for more gardai in Cork and that she would be raising this with Oireachtas members. Furthering female participation in politics through Cork City Councils Womens Caucus is another key focus for the Lord Mayor. First elected to Cork County Council in 1999, and to the city council in 2019 following the boundary extension, Ms Forde said while she personally has not found it difficult being a woman in politics, others may not feel the same, and that the Womens Caucus is important in that regard to explore barriers and challenges to political participation. I have never felt myself to be any different, I just consider myself a politician. Im lucky myself that I was reared by an independent woman, and I think that has stood to me. I dont make any distinction, but Im also aware that some women would find it difficult and thats where the Womens Caucus comes in, in terms of assisting and tackling issues. Its very important, as the Womens Caucus has highlighted, that we have diversity and inclusivity, she said. On the evening of her election, Ms Forde also pledged to be a listening Lord Mayor. Several weeks into her term, she stressed that her ears, and her door, are very much open. Every brick, every light, every bit of carpet, every part of this building belongs to the people of Cork, and I want them to contact me. I particularly want the entrepreneurs to come in if they have ideas, she said. A CORK charity that supports hundreds of children with autism every week has agreed with a Minister of State that disabilities is the Cinderella of the health sector in terms of funding and support. The Rainbow Club, which was established in 2015, provides support to hundreds of children with autism and their families from the charitys base in Mahon each week. The charitys CEO Karen OMahony highlighted the need for disability services to be taken on by the Department of Children and Equality to allow for increased support for services like the Rainbow Club. Ms OMahony was speaking after Minister of State for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte, revealed that she felt her job was being made more difficult by the fact that her portfolio currently resides with the Department of Health. Government policy states that it intends to transfer the disabilities portfolio to the Department of Children and Equality. However, it has come to light that the Department of Public Expenditure (DPER) is blocking the move amid concerns over financial reporting. Minister Rabbitte revealed she is anxious to get the portfolio out of the Department of Health, as she feels she could do her current job better in another department. Minister Rabbitte described disabilities as the Cinderella of the Department of Health, as it receives a budget of just 2.3 billion annually - a tenth of the Departments total expenditure on health. Ms OMahony said the Rainbow Club fully supports Minister Rabbittes view that disability services should fall under the remit of the Department of Children and Equality. 'BEST ADVOCATE' She is the best advocate we have had in a very long time, said Ms OMahony. Her vision is clear and there is no reason that she should be blocked from doing her job. It is disrespectful to any Minister to not be allowed to carry out their duties, especially when disability services have been non-existent for so long. We need her to be given what she needs to make changes that are vital to peoples lives, added Ms OMahony. A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: Retaining the services in the HSE will ensure that the transfer will not affect access to and delivery of specialist disability services on the ground. However, the assignment of policy and funding responsibility for disability services will enable a particular Ministerial focus on this area, in the context of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for which the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth co-ordinates the national response. Specialist community-based disability services include the services provided by, or on behalf of, the HSE to children and adults with physical, sensory, intellectual disability and/or autism. The Department of Health is committed to commencing the transfer as soon as possible, the spokesperson added. QUESTIONS were raised in the House of Commons in London regarding the use of the Irish language by the Provisional Government, the Echo reported 100 years ago today, on August 5, 1922. Sir Charles Oman asked Mr Winston Churchill whether he has protested against the recent attempt of the Irish Government to force compulsory Irish into all official correspondence. Mr. Churchill said that if it is true, he still would not feel called upon to protest against usage by Irish Government offices of Irish equivalents for the formal beginnings and endings of letters. He did not anticipate that Irish Ministers would willingly incur the very great confusion that would inevitably result from the use of Irish for the material parts of their correspondence. Artillery near Kilmallock Passengers who travelled on last nights train from Charleville said that the big guns had been in action in the Kilmallock district during the day. Charleville itself was perfectly quiet. No prisoners arrived by the train. A report that the Limerick Junction premises of the G.S. & W.R. has been destroyed has proved unfounded. Meanwhile, our Cobh correspondent says that neither the Cunard nor the White Star liners intend abandoning the east-bound calls at Cork Harbour despite rumours to the contrary. Stolen timber case Henry Sutton, of Old Youghal Road, appeared in the Cork Central Court charged with having stolen, taken and carried away a quantity of shutters, skirting boards and materials, the property of the IRA. Mrs Towner, also of Old Youghal Road, was summoned with having received a quantity of timber knowing same to have been stolen from Government House, Sidney Place. Mrs Towner said her daughter brought the materials away and she saw no harm in it when others were doing the same. Mr Fitzgerald, prosecuting, said the house was vested in the 1st Cork Brigade, IRA on being handed over at the same time as the Military Barracks. Mr OConnor, defending, asked were the IRA in possession when the materials were taken? Mr Fitzgerald conceded they were not but that the Commandant was responsible for it. The whole house is being taken away by the people, he said. Mr OConnor asked was there an intention at any time to burn it down? The people believed so, he said, thus making the removal of materials a non-indictable offence. Mr Fitzgerald said there was no evidence of this and a carved oak mantelpiece, fire grates, mirrors and chairs, etc, had been removed. Mr OConnor pointed out that in a case of larceny, it must be shown that there was felonious intent. Two or three hundred people had gathered to see the building blaze. Some said the guard at the building told them it was going to happen. It was earlier that the fine items mentioned by Mr Fitzgerald were taken and now the court was prosecuting poor people who took a bit of timber. The court asked for statements and the case was adjourned to Friday next. There was a good deal of commotion and talking amongst several women at the back of the court when the case had concluded and two were put in the dock for contempt. A policeman said they had used improper expressions towards the Bench. One said her child was only 10 years old and had not stolen anything. Fitzgerald Park Committee Present at the Fitzgerald Park Committee meeting were J. Good (presiding), D. Barry. M. ORiordan and J. Fitzpatrick. Four tenders were received for a supply of lattice wire. That from Eustace & Co. at 8s. 8d. for 50 yards of two-inch mesh was accepted. Mr Barry asked what the wire was for. Mr. Good said it was for keeping in the goose. Mr Barry inquired if anything had happened to the goose? Mr Good replied that the existing wire around its place was not good and it was in the habit of getting out. Mr Fitzpatrick asked, was it lost? Mr. Good replied in the negative; the goose did get out but it was picked up again. On the motion of Mr Fitzpatrick, it was decided to recommend the city Centre Ward Committee to allocate sufficient money to continue the ferrumite footpath at the eastern end of the Mardyke. Kilbrin vs. Kanturk An exciting road bowling match for large sums of money took place last Sunday between players from Kanturk and Kilbrin. Kanturk was represented by Kelleher and Hallihan and Kilbrin by Nugent and Ring. The sport began at 2.30pm, taking the back road, which is a rather tricky one and requires a lot of lofting. Play was even for 1 miles after which Kanturk took the lead by a bowl of odds. Kilbrin, however, knocked back quickly and the contest remained very exciting till the village of Kilbrin was reached, with Kanturk the eventual winners. Their bowlers will meet players from Nadd on August 13 along the Roskeen to Kanturk for 20 a side. Prospects of Poisoned Gas The great American inventor, Mr Thomas Edison, has said: There is no means in existence of preventing an aeroplane flotilla from flying over London to-morrow and spreading over millions of Londoners a gas which would asphyxiate them all in a relatively short time. From 20 to 50 aeroplanes would be amply sufficient for this purpose. This startling statement is extracted from an interview with Mr Edison which appears in Excelsior magazine. Loss of Life in China A Reuters message from Hong Kong, via New York, reports a heavy typhoon over Swatow province. Immense damage has been caused and there has been great loss of life. Tesla uses advertising language on its website for its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving products that's untrue and misleading to customers, the California DMV said. According to The Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal, the agency has filed complaints with the California Office of Administrative Hearings, accusing the automaker of making statements "not based on facts" that make it seem like its vehicles are capable of full autonomous driving. The DMV pointed to the name of the products themselves in the complaints, as well as to other misleading language on Tesla's website. One example the DMV noted in its complaints is language Tesla used for its Full Self-Driving product, which says: "All you will need to do is get in and tell your car where to go. If you dont say anything, your car will look at your calendar and take you there as the assumed destination. Your Tesla will figure out the optimal route, navigating urban streets, complex intersections and freeways." Tesla vehicles come with the hardware needed to activate Full Self-Driving, which customers can unlock for a payment of $12,000. The automaker's active Autopilot features include the ability to automatically change lanes and do parallel or perpendicular parking for the driver. There's also a smart summon feature that will have the vehicle navigating complex parking lots to find its owner. And those who pay for FSD, which is currently in beta, have access to a feature that identifies stop signs and traffic lights. The technology will then automatically slow their car down on approach. Neither technology, however, can drive a car without the need for a person behind the wheel. Tesla chief Elon Musk recently said that FSD would have that capability next year, but the executive is known for his aggressively optimistic timelines. While Tesla already warns drivers not to take their hands off the wheel even while they're using Autopilot or FSD, the DMV says that disclaimer isn't enough. The worst result the company could get is for its licenses in the state to be suspended or revoked, but a DMV spokesperson told the publications that the agency isn't seeking to put the company out of business in California. It will merely ask Tesla to "better educate Tesla drivers about the capabilities of its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving features, including cautionary warnings regarding the limitations of the features, and for other actions as appropriate given the violations." Back in 2016, Tesla also got in trouble with Germany's Federal Motor Authority, which told the automaker to stop using the term "autopilot" in its advertising out of concerns that people would misinterpret its capabilities. Last year, Senators Ed Markey and Richard Blumenthal asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the company over its "misleading advertising and marketing" of the Autopilot and Full Self-Driving technologies, as well. The National Achievement Survey has unveiled the picture of the current school education system. The survey was conducted to evaluate students progress and learning competencies as an indicator of the efficiency of the education system. Held in over 720 districts of India, rural and urban, the survey findings are concerning as a constant decrease was found in the average performance of students in subjects under study. There is a need to review the pedagogical approach to rectify the situation. An inclusive approach and the participation of parents and community stakeholders can help create a conducive environment. Education is fundamental for achieving full human potential, developing an equitable and just society, and promoting national development. This is specified in the National Education Policy, 2020 and it helps us understand the perceived significance of education in India. Several initiatives and provisions (that is, the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan 2001, fellowship programmes, etc) introduced over time have provided to attain the desired educational goals. Access to education, retaining students in schools, and ensuring quality education (NEP 1986) remained the primary goal of the school education system. With the changing socioeconomic context, several challenges emerged to realise the preset objectives. The world has achieved progress that is not equally shared (Delors 1996). Adding to it, the current COVID-19 pandemic made the situation even more complex. The COVID-19 pandemic brought learning to a screeching halt worldwide, creating the most severe global education disruption in history (UNESCO 2021). The national lockdown and quarantine measures required students and teachers to stay at home and continue their education through the online mode. It hampered their daily schedulestudents lost contact with their peers and friends, faced the loss of foundational abilities, and absence of curricular learning for more than an academic year. The unplanned online educational shift added more difficulties for female students mainly due to the stereotypical and gendered behaviours in household chores. The widespread phenomenon of forgetting what students learned from the previous class was witnessed (Azim Premji Foundation 2021). The post-pandemic phase left incessant impressions that require revisiting the school curriculum and pedagogy. The focus must be shifted from a teacher-centric to a student-centric approach. A teacher must be seen as the facilitator of students learning instead of a mere distributor of information. There is a need to adopt a participative learning approach to facilitate experiential learning for students. It is critical to developing a system where students are seen as partners in the learning process, not merely as passive participants. Findings of the Report The recent National Achievement Survey (NAS) report released by the Ministry of Education (2020), Government of India on 25 May 2022 provides evidence of a significant learning gap reported among students in the country. The studys findings provide insights into the learning competencies of students and the learning gap. As proceeding to the higher levels from Class 3 to 5 and from Class 8 to 10, the average performance of students in subjects (language, mathematics, environmental studies [EVS], sciences, social sciences and English) was found to decrease. Also, compared with NAS 2017, a slight dip has been noticed in NAS 2021. The primary reason for this regression is the COVID-19 pandemic. Closure of schools and shifting education from offline to online mode have affected students learning levels. Considering the perception of students under study, most (78%) found learning at home during the pandemic burdensome with many assignments. Fifty per cent reported no difference and said it was the same as in a school, while 45% found learning from home enjoyable. On the other hand, 80% of students confessed they learn better in school with peer help, and 96% of students prefer going to school. This reveals the students preference to attend school and socialise with peers. Adopting participative and activity-based teaching practices with students provide avenues for better learning. Brainstorming, role play, fun games, etc, are some life skills education (LSE) methods that help students learn and grow with peers (World Health Organization 1997). It further helps develop individual skills and provides confidence to work and learn in groups. Understanding the teachers profile, only 52% have participated in professional development programmes conducted by District Institutes of Education and Training/Central Board of Secondary Education/National Council of Educational Research and Training. This is a matter of concern for providing quality education to students. Improved student learning outcomes cannot be achieved unless trained teachers are there. Sixty-five percent of teachers were overloaded with work, whereas 97% reported job satisfaction. These findings require rethinking the parameters of job satisfaction for the teachers in the country. A continuous decrease in the performance level of students raises questions about the teachers job satisfaction. Corrective measures must be adopted to check teachers commitment and efficiency in maintaining dialogue with students. Effective communication between teachers and students must be established to facilitate the teachinglearning process. On assessment practices used by teachers in the classes, the least utilised practice was portfolio assessment, which was operated by 89% of teachers. Involving students in individual answering (98%), in discussion (98%), practising reading individually (98%), display of students work (98%), and students asking questions during class (98%) were among the most frequently used practices by the teachers. These findings reflect the contradiction between practices utilised for assessment by teachers and the performance score of students. To assess a critical aspect of parents involvement in the learning process, NAS findings revealed that 87% of schools guide how parents can support students in their learning. Fifteen percent of schools informed parents about the school activity and 25% of schools lack parental support in students learning. A gender-wise performance assessment revealed that girls outdid boys in most subjects, that is, languages, EVS, sciences, social sciences and English. The average achievement score of girls is significantly above that of the average score of boys in the same state/union territory under study. Only the scores for the subject of mathematics were found to fluctuate. As students progress from Class 3 to Classes 5 and 8, the average achievement score of girls is significantly higher than boys. Whereas in Class 10, the average achievement score of girls is found to be significantly below that of the average score of boys compared to all states/union territories under study. While comparing the scores on location-wise performance, the average achievement scores of schools in rural areas were found to be significantly higher than that of the average score of schools in the urban area in all Class 3 subjects (that is, languages, mathematics, and EVS). As the student progresses to higher classes from Class 3 to 5 and from Class 8 to 10, the average achievement score of schools in rural areas was significantly below than that of schools in the urban areas in the same state/union territory. There is a need to understand the specific learning needs of rural students and frame their curricula accordingly. The current education system is more urban-centric and does not help poor rural students. The report has talked about some significant aspects of the education system in India. Taking inferences from these findings, it is evident that the whole education system needs to be revisited. A Way Forward The present scenario requires reflecting on and updating current practices in the education system. Deriving inferences from the NAS findings, specific solutions are suggested. Promoting life skills education: A need to adopt experiential learning measures for students to fulfil the learning gap is required. A promising prospect in this regard can be provided in the form of LSE. LSE allows students to involve themselves in a dynamic teaching and learning process. It further focuses on developing students competencies to help them deal with daily life challenges. Delors (1996) pointedly focused on the four pillars of education, that is, learning to know, learning to do, learning to live, and learning to be. Adopting a learning strategy that helps students internalise life values and be able to apply them to their daily contexts is the need of the hour. The 21st century skillscommunication skills, including language and presentation of ideas, collaborative skills, individual learning approaches, individual autonomy, and information and communications technology (ICT) and digital literacyneed to be focused upon (Joynes et al 2019). LSE provides a scope to simultaneously achieve the overall learning goals and individual well-being. Activity-based learning and the involvement of stakeholders in school activities also help in the holistic development of the students. A holistic approach could be helpful where students, teachers, parents, and other community stakeholders can be connected through LSE-based interventions. In this way, delivering for the demand of developing skills and competency among students, LSE must be part of the school curriculum through educational reforms. Gender equality and inclusion: It is high time for schools to emerge as gender-neutral spaces. Devising small measures at the individual level can bring change. Say, teachers with their students must utilise gender-neutral language. The curriculum books are needed to be revisited and checked for gender-biased commentary. Differential treatment (based on gender identity) should be rectified for girls and boys in the schools. Equitable opportunities and challenges are required to be introduced to all students. More girls should be motivated to study science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. Students engagement in main study subjects and other extracurricular activities should be promoted equally without gender-based discrimination. Parents involvement: The school system must also develop measures to ensure parents/guardians involvement in their wards progress. COVID-19 has left society with many psychosocial and economic challenges that impact childrens development directly or indirectly. Though there exist parentteacher associations (PTAs) or school management committees (SMCs), there is a need to go beyond the ritual of tokenism. They must work independently to provide a safe and healthy space for students learning. Considering individual childrens needs in the present time, PTAs must be strengthened more than ever before. As a unit of the social system, the family is influenced by social structures and norms. To control extraneous factors in the environment, community-based interventions and awareness programmes can also be helpful. School social work: It can be taken as a professional approach to addressing emerging school education-related challenges. Making provisions for the appointment of an expert can aid in the teachinglearning process. A school social worker is trained to help students deal with various school-related issues and problems. They adopt different methods to work with students at individual capacity as well as working in groups. After assessing the students individual or group needs, a school social worker makes a plan of action and intervenes. A professional approach can help resolve student-related concerns systematically. A school social work professional acts as a counsellor and career guide for students as well as works to bridge the communication gap between teachers and students. They take up the role of a resource mobiliser and facilitate interface with the community through PTA/SMC. Inclusive education: India hosts 7.8 million children with disability. The education of children with disabilities is still insufficiently addressed by schooling systems around the world (UNESCO 2019). The recent NAS report too missed the mention of education for children with special needs. Though the policies are being framed with time to deal with the same, there is a need to ensure proper implementation on the ground. An institutionalised approach is required to deal with the special needs of children. It required a team of well-qualified and expert teachers, informed parents, support professionals (school social worker/counsellor) and community commitment to streamline inclusive education. Foster care and sponsorship: Talking about inclusion and overall educational development, there is a need to accommodate vulnerable children having single parents/no parents/children on the street/living with extended families/children in conflict with the law and others. One crucial phenomenon observed post COVID-19 is children losing their parents to the pandemic. An increase in the number of orphaned children has been reported in the last two years. This requires attention to the safety and education needs of the children affected by the pandemic. There comes the need to institutionalise foster care and develop measures at the policy level. Pandemic-induced loss of income opportunities and economic burden on several households also affected childrens education. Making provisions for sponsorships for such students will help retain students in schools and ensure their enhanced learning. Conclusions The education system in India requires an immediate overhaul. Strategic planning must be assisted with collective efforts to achieve the desired performance of schools. The NAS 2021 provides evidence for a need to revisit the current system. Humanitarian crises are inevitable but our collective action can help resolve the problems accruing from such crises. The suggestions outlined in this article can better the education system while improving the students performance with collaborative efforts from teachers, parents, and the community. References Azim Premji Foundation (2021): Loss of Learning during the Pandemic: Field Studies in Education, viewed on 5 June 2022, https://azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/field-studies-in-education/loss-of-learning-during-the-pandemic. Delors, J (1996): Learning: The Treasure WithinReport to UNESCO of the International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century, Paris, France: UNESCO Publishing, viewed on 30 June 2022, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000109590. Joynes, C, S Rossignoli and E Fenyiwa Amonoo-Kuofi (2019): 21st Century Skills: Evidence of Issues in Definition, Demand and Delivery for Development Contexts (K4D Helpdesk Report), Brighton, UK: Institute of Development Studies. Ministry of Education (2020): National Education Policy 2020, viewed on 4 June 2022, https://www.education.gov.in/sites/upload_files/mhrd/files/NEP_Final_English_0.pdf. UNESCO (2019): N for Nose: State of the Education Report for India 2019Children with Disabilities, https://en.unesco.org/news/n-nose-state-education-report-india-2019-children-disabilities. (2021): One Year into COVID-19 Education Disruption: Where Do We Stand? viewed on 5 June 2022, https://en.unesco.org/news/one-year-covid-19-education-disruption-where-do-we-stand. World Health Organization (1997): Life Skills Education for Children and Adolescents in Schools: Introduction and Guidelines to Facilitate the Development and Implementation of Life Skills Programmes, http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/63552/WHO_MNH_PSF_93.7A_Rev.2.pdf?sequence=1. . In the context of the elections that were held to choose the 15th President for India, one often hears the following expression, we are the first political party that has made it possible for a person from the deprived social groups to be elected to the highest office of the country. From such an expression, what would follow, at least for some, is the following: (i) such a claim would obliquely suggest that a party or a group of parties with an obligation to stay politically correct occupy the special and perhaps superior moral position to give meaning to inclusive democracy by supporting, in the present case, an Adivasi who hitherto has been excluded from occupying the highest public office; and (ii) some of the politics of symbolic presence is likely to argue that producing the election outcome in favour of an Adivasi or a Dalit is proof that the political party stands for the principle of justice. For such political observers may further claim that these do have the strength and will power to rotate the chakra or the wheel of justice so as to get the most deprived into the coveted constitutional office. One could also notice the subtext of such a claim inasmuch as it indirectly suggests that other parties, which did put up an opposition candidate, do lack the foresight to look for the inclusion of a person whose public presence was not considered worthy of attention, particularly by the opposition. The editorial in the current issue of the EPW does bring out the complicity of the idea of political presence. One would not expect parties that brandish their virtue of social generosity to use other more comprehensive criterion, except social background, as an adequate ground for defending the choice of the candidate from the marginalised social group. Choosing a candidate from the most neglected sections only shows the limits of such an egalitarian choice because there are likely to be many on the list of the most neglected. For example, one would not expect such parties to defend their claim by electing the candidate from the margins on the grounds that elevation through election is the compensation, for example, for tribal displacement caused by the processes of development. Or it is a compensation for the humiliation of Dalits. Without this frankness and objectivity, their claim that they are committed to the principle of justice looks weak at its best and hypocritical at its worst. The redressal of the perennially worsening condition of the marginalsthe Adivasis and the Dalitsmakes the top-down claim of justice to the margins more of a symbolic value rather than bearing any substantive significance. In this context, it is interesting, if not intriguing, to observe that the elevation of the marginal either through election or nomination has been considered powerful, particularly by the self-styled well-wishers of the Dalits, Adivasis, and the Bahujans. Thus, affirmative applauding, which, albeit, has been treated as powerful only by its face value, does not dampen the zeal for egalitarianism. Arguably, the significance of certain public positions such as the post of the President, even in a symbolic sense, does add to the legitimation of egalitarian principles, especially when such a position is occupied by a person from the deprived sections. But the real essence of egalitarianism lies in an incumbentsin the current context, the President electscapacity to convert what is treated as a symbolic into a substantive position. This value conversion depends on the conviction to speak and act in favour of those whose social capital forms the basis of their public success. The celebration of the public success of the marginalised, however, contains a zeal only for the subsidised satisfaction which is unconditional in the sense that in its appreciation and social assessment of the elevation of the marginalised, they project such an elevation only symbolically as an event or a spectacle that necessarily entertains the idea of symbolic redressal of historical forms of discrimination and deprivation of the excluded social groups. It is in this sense that the liberal egalitarian principle scratches only the surface of the deeper questions that have a bearing on the social life with dignity for the embattled humanity. This is not to suggest that public positions are less important just because they are considered as lacking in effective executive power or they derive their power practically from the rituals of constitutional protocol. This reading of the power of the President cannot be sustained on the grounds that there are notable examples who, during their tenure as the President, have lived up to the constitutional reputation of the coveted post. Thus, converting the symbolic into the substantive depends on the persons capacity for autonomy that is necessary to convert an opportunity into an assetan asset not just for the Dalits, the Adivasis, or women but for the entire country. This paper attempts to document the changing attitude of sections of bhadralok in colonial Bengal towards middle-class womens paid work. From the 1920s onwards, a number of journal editors and contributors, overcoming their earlier inhibitions, began to propagate middle-class womens/widows economic independence. However, the nature and limits of the proposed economic independence of the new icon, the earning bhadramahila, were clearly defined by the new discourse on women and work. The same journals publicised a range of other issues including anxieties about the declining number as well as the declining fortune of Bengali Hindus. The historiography of womens work in Bengal has long been dominated by the marginalisation thesis. Historians have drawn our attention to the proverbially low work participation rate of women in colonial Bengal. They show how women who traditionally engaged in a number of gainful occupations were gradually pushed out by the partial modernisation of the colonial economy (Mukherjee 1995; Banerjee 1989). That women found only very limited entry into this modern economy and men became the principal bread earners were, according to some historians, largely due to a growing social attitude towards womens paid work outside the home. It was the emergence of the ideology of the separate spheres and the growing cult of domesticity in the late 19th century (Sen 1999). However, there was some modification in this attitude later. Especially from the mid-1920s, a number of journal editors and contributors (both women and men), overcoming their earlier inhibitions, began to propagate middle-class Hindu womens and widows economic self-reliance with unprecedented enthusiasm. A number of authors championed the cause of independent earning for those young women whose prospect of marriage, they thought, was becoming uncertain. The same periodicals publicised with equal zeal a range of other issues. These expressed their anxieties about the decreasing number of Hindus and the increasing number of Muslims on the one hand and that of trailing behind men from outside Bengal in the competition over jobs and business on the other. Frequently discussed topics covered were the need to encourage widow remarriage, concerns and fear of abduction of Hindu women by Muslim men, middle-class male unemployment, overcrowding of the job market, decreasing prospect of marriage of girls, caste taboo on marriage, and other evils of casteism. The present article suggests that the advocacy of womens economic self-reliance and anxieties about shrinking number as well as shrinking share in the economy were perhaps closely interconnected. It attempts to explore the missing links between these broad issues. The hapless Hindu widows remained the focus of concern throughout the second half of the 19th century. Possibilities of training widows in self-help were sometimes considered. The leading periodical on womens issues in Bangla during this period, the Bamabodhini Patrika, published a few articles proposing womens independent livelihood and training centres. Dagmar Engels points (1999) out that it was the growing economic distress that led sections of middle-class women and men turn their attention to lower middle-class widows in particular. Inspired by the spirit of swadeshi and self-help, they tried to make education and skill development accessible to widows. Self-sufficient widows, it was argued, would ease the economic burden on the lower middle-class family budget. However, as mentioned before, there was a marked increase in this preoccupation of sections of the intelligentsia, from the mid-1920s, much after the swadeshi spirit of self-help had waned. This was a period of continuing economic crisis and a changing sociopolitical climate. In the later period, some leading menreformers, intellectuals, and journal editorscame forward to preach womens economic independence. The deprived Hindu widows and the proposals of how to make them economically self-sufficient occupied more space in contemporary press till the late 1930s. Emphasis on womens economic role was, however, not in contradiction with the belief in the justification of separate spheres of work for men and women. The widows, the deserted, and the spinster were targeted to be trained to teach in primary schools, serve as midwives and nurses, or produce and sell handicrafts. Training in self-help was publicised to be of utmost importance in a period perceived as one of unprecedented social and cultural crises. The above-mentioned advocates of womens employment at the same time seem to have suffered from another anxiety of competition between the sexes in the workforce. In a situation of severe middle-class male unemployment, they were faced with the challenge of how to ensure womens entry into paid work without pushing out some men from the job market. Married women were not encouraged to take up paid jobs. Young, educated unmarried women, if they needed to pursue a career, were advised to choose strictly appropriate areas of work in order to avoid competition with men. The present article discusses the debates on womens remunerated work in Bengal during the 1920s and 1930s as published in some selected contemporary periodicals. The paper draws upon the evidence of three contemporary popular periodicals: Prabasi, Bangasri, and Bangalakshmi. Besides these three, it refers to some other contemporary periodicals as well as those belonging to the previous decades. It is important to note that in spite of the different political and ideological inclinations of the editors all of them engaged in some specific social issues. It is possible to find out a broad consensus among the contributors to these periodicals on some popular issues. Articles were often reprinted in more than one periodical within a short span of time. Supplementing Male Income, Saving the Dying Race During the first two decades of the 20th century, the advocates and critics of womens independent earning wrote in magazines like Bamabodhini Patrika, Bharat Mahila, Mahila, Bharati, Saugat, and Prabasi. There was a lot of debate on the purpose of womens education and whether women should pursue a career other than social service. While large sections of the intelligentsia rejected outright any proposal of womens work for pay, some like Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1903) argued even in favour of equal economic opportunities. Most advocates in favour of womens economic self-reliance were, however, guided by the exigencies of economic impoverishment and the breakdown of the Hindu joint family. World War I and its impact on the western society inspired some to pursue the case for womens responsibility in running the household, which it was believed would release men to perform other duties (Sen 1921). Since the 1920s and especially since the middle of that decade, the Prabasi took the lead in the campaign for womens economic self-reliance. Throughout most of its long span of life, Ramananda Chattopadhyay was the editor. In his editorials, he raised womens issues with remarkable regularity. One gets a rare opportunity to observe and compare the changes with time in the periodicals editorial stand on what constituted womens well-being. From the mid-1920s, there is a sudden increase of editorials and articles in Prabasi that argued in favour of some sections of Hindu womens special need to become self-sufficient. Other contemporary periodicals and special issues joined hands with Prabasi in advocating single womens and widows entry into the world of independent earning with renewed vigour. The editor of Prabasi (1922), while commenting on a report of torture by a husband on his minor wife, observed that such incidents would only come to an end when women would have enough education to earn their living. Abala Bose, the well-known Brahmo social reformer and wife of scientist Jagadish Chandra Bose, in her 1922 talk on Vidyasagar Bani Bhavan argued in favour of teaching women, especially the dependent Bengali Hindu widows to earn their living, which she believed would secure their place in the family. Citing instances of economically independent European women after the war, she hoped that Bengali Hindu males would not be forced to stick to whatever job they got if women at least temporarily supplemented family income. From 1924 onwards, the discourse on the Hindu widows plight took a different turn. The monthly issues of Prabasi reported a rise in the number of alleged cases of abduction of Hindu widows. Statistics on instances of remarriage of Hindu widows of different castes in different parts of Bengal as well as in India were also published. Pradip Kumar Datta (1999) has drawn our attention to the perusal of Hindu communal agenda by popular dailies like the Amrita Bazar Patrika during the 1920s. He has shown how frequent news of alleged abduction of Hindu women by Muslim goons carried by the daily led to communalisation of the common Hindu mind during the period. Such news of abduction informed by the census enumeration of the decreasing number of Hindus in Bengal created a paranoia about the need to protect the Hindu womanthe would-be mother of the dying race. According to Datta, the issue of abduction and that of the Hindus being outnumbered by the Muslims served to connect two apparently separate concernsgender and communalismin 1920s Bengal. In her study on the United Provinces, Charu Gupta (2001) has explored how, especially from the 1920s, gender and communal politics were intertwined in the campaigns by the Hindu publicists who deployed the womans body to sharpen communal boundaries in more aggressive ways than before. Discourse of Fear This paper argues that the heightened concern for womens economic self-reliance in mid-1920s Bengal was largely inspired by reports of abduction and the anxiety about the declining Hindus during the period under discussion. However, the relationship between the arguments in favour of the widows independent earning and the Hindu middle-class anxieties about their alleged loss to the Muslims was not always quite direct. When sections of the Hindu middle-class intelligentsia argued in favour of widow remarriage, there was a direct link between the alleged declining number of Hindus and the possible solution to arrest the process by aiding the birth of more Hindus. In contrast, only one or two pieces of writings in contemporary periodicals linked the two apparently distant issues of womens earning and communal threat perception. Therefore, the argument is mostly a conjecture based on circumstantial evidence. The target readership of Prabasi were mainly the elitesthe upper-caste Hindus and a section of educated Muslims. Leading intellectuals of the day, namely Rabindranath Tagore, P C Ray Jagadish Chandra Bose, Jadunath Sarkar, and Kaji Abdul Odud contributed to the journal; some of them frequently. Quite expectedly, Prabasi tried to follow a balanced editorial policy on communal issues for a considerable period and developed a complicated cultural argument on womens upliftment, intertwining a range of issues, including gender, caste, ethnicity, community, nationalism, and the economy. A step-by-step argument linked the statistics on the declining Hindus, the rising population of Muslims, alleged greater physical strength and sexuality of Muslims, abductions of Hindu widows/women, ill-treatment of women inside the Hindu homes, and practices of casteism leading to conversions with the urgent need to popularise either remarriage or engagement of Hindu widows in remunerated work. The same set of arguments was presented in long articles, short editorials, and comments on news reports. Ray, the nationalist scientist, in his keynote address at the provincial conference of the Hindu Sabha in Faridpur (former East Bengal, now Bangladesh) skilfully linked the issues of the increasing number of Muslims, the declining number of Hindus, and casteism. Passages from the address were published in the Prabasi (1925) with detailed comments by the editor. Referring to the 1921 Census, Ray held that his friend, Upendranath Mukhopadhyay, had correctly described the Hindus to be a dying race 20 years back. Ray identified a number of reasons behind the decrease in the population of the Hindus in comparison with the Muslims in Bengal. According to him, due to the extensive caste taboo on marriages, many Hindu parents found it difficult to get suitable match for their daughters. This led to the extinction of some typical castes. Then Ray immediately moved on to identify Hindus with Bengalis and say that the manual labourers from other provinces had migrated to Bengal to fill up the void created by the extinction of some Bengali castes that traditionally performed some typical services. The second reason behind the HinduMuslim population gap, according to Ray, was the reluctance of Hindus to remarry their widows, while Muslims had no such taboo. To argue that Muslims were growing faster than Hindus because they practised widow remarriage, Ray depended on statistics provided by the census. He, however, either overlooked or did not care to explain the fact that, according to the same source of data, some regions of Bengal enumerated a higher rate of widows among both Hindus and Muslims, while other regions showed a lower rate of widows among both the communities. The rate of widowhood among the Hindus was higher than the Muslims in all regions though (Census 1911, 1921). In any case, Ray identified two impediments to the development of the Bengali Hindu manthe Muslims as well as those Hindus from outside Bengal. Many others followed in his footsteps. The decline of Hindus was attributed to their ill-health, which was in turn linked with the reports of abduction. Several editorials in Prabasi (1924) on the activities of the Nari Raksha Samiti (Womens Protection League) argued that the reluctance of the Hindus to take back abducted women into the family led such women either to become prostitutes or marry the abductor. In such cases when a mature Hindu woman married her abductor and bore his children, those children were bound to be physically stronger than the offspring of child mothers. And according to the editorials, as the abductors were mostly Muslims and the abducted mostly Hindu widows, the Hindus were the losers, while the Muslims were the gainers in both countsin number as well as in physical strength. In order to stop the abuse of the Hindu womb, remarriage of widows was strongly recommended. The issue of remarriage was no longer important from the point of view of the deprived widow. However, at the same time, the advocates of widow remarriage knew that people were not going to pay much heed to them. They had to chalk out some alternative strategy. Independent earning was thought to be such an alternative; an antidote to Hindu widows elopement with Muslim men. In a long interview published in a popular economic monthly Arthik Unnati, Abala Bose (1926) tried to bring home the issue. In an interview on the economic condition of Bengali women, she argued that destitute widows in the rural areas of Bengal were being converted to Islam in large numbers. According to her, it was sheer economic desperation that led the destitute widow, with dependent children, to marry a Muslim suitor of a Muslim suitor who was often a sympathetic neighbour. It is important to remember that Bose was the founder of Vidyasagar Bani Bhavan, one of the premier organisations that offered shelter and vocational training to needy widows and deserted women. This is not to argue that Bose and other social reformers like her were solely motivated by the anxiety about the elopement and marriage of Hindu widows with Muslim men. They were surely concerned about the generally vulnerable condition of the Hindu widow who had only limited entitlement to her deceased husbands property and severely restricted access to gainful economic employment. In the same interview Bose pointed out that all the 22 inmates at the widows home run by her had come to seek shelter after being deserted both by their in-laws as well as their natal family. When asked why the family had abandoned such widows, Bose repeated the popular argument of the recent impoverishment of the lower middle class, which according to the propagandists of the theory, had shaken the basis of the traditional joint family. The interview was reprinted in Prabasi (1926). She pointed out that most inmates of her widows shelter and training centre had come from traditional Hindu families outside Calcutta. Brahmo women were not admitted into the shelter because, according to Bose, they already had some basic training in earning ones living. She did not give any clue as to the caste composition of the shelter-seekers. Bose as well as many of her contemporaries were concerned about the condition of the not-so-well-off sections of the middle class in the small towns and villages, including sections of the intermediary and lower castes aspiring upward social mobility. Chances of elopement and remarriage outside the community were apprehended among these social sections as the incidence of widowhood was high and the rate of participation of women in wage work was low among these communities (Census 1911, 1921). Long before the modern social scientists, it was Ray who had observed the trend of an upward mobility and consequent imposition of restrictions on women among certain castes in the early 20th-century Bengal (Prabasi 1925). He lamented that the Namasudras in East Bengal had stopped remarrying their widows. It is important to note that the Prabasi (1927a, 1927b) took special care to mention the number of Namasudra couples in its regular reports on the remarriage of widows in different districts of Bengal. Sekhar Bandyopadhyay (2004) has shown how the Bengali upper-caste intelligentsia tried to ensure the support of the lower castes and Dalits in their attempts to build a Hindu nationa process in which the issues of gender and caste became entwined. The new generation of propagandists and supporters of widow remarriage realised that their efforts had not borne much fruit and therefore tried to popularise an alternative strategy of training the widows to earn their living so that they did not fall prey to their suitors or abductors. But most of them abstained from clearly stating so. An editorial in Prabasi (1924) argued that the large number of cases of assault on women in Bengal was directly related to the numerical majority of the Muslims in the province. The remedy suggested was the participation of women in gainful social and economic role in the model of the English women who had assumed the responsibility of reconstructing a nation devastated by the war. Three years later, another editorial (Prabasi 1927c) solely focused on the relationship between the abduction of women in Bengal and the absence of womens participation in public role. The unsigned author argued that womens independent earning ensured lesser chances of being violated. In an attempt to generalise the issue, the editorial pointed out that the incidents of assault on women and their abduction whether by a lone goon or a gang were hardly known in Europe as women enjoyed the access to education and opportunities of skill development. In Europe, women were no longer perceived as objects of lust but known by their professional identities. The issue of Prabasi that published this article carried at least a couple of reports and commentaries on the alleged abduction of Hindu women by Muslim goons. This study suggests that the unsigned author and many others could not be more explicit on the relationship between Hindu womens earning abilities and their lesser chances of being abducted because that would demand a recognition of the fact that at least some Hindu women/widows were voluntarily leaving home with their Muslim suitors. Bose stated in no uncertain terms the relationship between the Hindu widows economic insecurity and her willingness to turn to her Muslim suitor, especially when the man was her acquaintance. But many of her contemporaries must have found such explanations based on hard reality not suitable for cooking up incidents of abduction. In an appendix to the census report on Bengal (1901) incidents and the causes of conversion to Islam in the province were described. Hindu women from a range of castes were reported to have left home, married to their Muslim suitors and converted. Although some families registered complaints of enticement, most cases were described as acts of falling in love followed by elopement. Hardly anybody made much hue and cry about such reports during the time. But in the changed atmosphere of communal tension two decades later, almost all cases of Hindu womens conversion to Islam were reported in the Hindu media as an outcome of coercion following abduction. The Prabasi played a particularly leading role in reporting the cases of alleged abduction. But there were other contemporary popular periodicals too. In an article published in Bangasri, Jatindramohun Datta (1934), argued that those found guilty in abduction cases could not be taken to task because of two reasons. He blamed that the jury members (mainly Hindus) in abduction cases took it for granted that the abducted women had actually eloped and hence were ready to let the accused go free on the condition of marriage with the abducted woman. Datta also argued that there had been a recent decline in the quality of the police force as a result of the policy of more recruitment of Muslim officers in charge. He wrote that as most abductors were Muslims, they could not be booked due to the reluctance of the police. Should Women Replace Men? Chattopadhyay and his comrades were more explicit in linking womens need to join paid work with their decreasing chances of getting married than they were in the case of widows. On 5 February 1936, four unmarried daughters of a middle-class Hindu Bengali family in Calcutta were reported to have attempted mass suicide to save their parents from the disgrace of not being able to provide for their dowry. One of them died on the way to the hospital, while two others succumbed later. The girls were 24, 22, 20, and 18 years of age, respectively, and the fact that they were still unmarried was an evidence of the high demand for dowry. Reporting the incident, the Prabasi (1936) editor reminded the need to enable women to become economically self-sufficient as chances of marriage were decreasing. Earlier, the noted anthropologist Ramaprasad Chanda (1934) expressed his worries in Prabasi that many Hindu middle-class parents in Bengal would not find suitable matches for their daughters because of severe unemployment problem. He felt, as a result, the Hindu middle class will gradually become extinct. A year later, Chanda (1935) wrote that the Hindu Bengali bhadralok was facing unemployment because political leadership as well as prominent role in the economy had been taken over by people from outside Bengal. A decade earlier Ray warned against the implications of competition with the migrants in the job market. Another writer, Lalgopal Mukhopadhyay (1934), shared the same worries that many middle-class girls would have to remain single in the coming future. As a remedy Chanda had suggested inter-caste marriages as well as training of girls to earn for themselves in the eventuality of being unmarried. Mukhopadhyay recommended proper education and skill-based training for girls with more enthusiasm. Thus, a second group of girls whose parents would not be able to marry them off were added to the group of the widows and the deserted that according to the advocates of womens economic independence, needed special training. But what would be the curricula of the training programme? Chattopadhyay knew that for most of the colonised women, the dream of choosing a profession would never come true; such efforts would at most lead to undesirable competition between the sexes. But women needed to earn. Therefore, a separate sphere of economic activities for women was to be drawn up that included developing some typical feminine skills such as embroidery, teaching girl students in primary schools, and assisting in childbirth. Chattopadhyays daughter and a renowned writer, Shanta Debi, in a long essay in Prabasi (1923) on the possible vocations of women, warned against undesirable competition with men. She argued that women should try to earn only when there was economic distress, and competition over jobs between the sexes should be strictly avoided. Politics of Advocacy We find an extremely illuminating debate on the question among three well-known literary figures in three subsequent issues of Bangalakshmi. It was the mouthpiece of the Saroj Nalini Datta Memorial Association, a leading centre for the training of women in self-help. Indira Debi Chowdhurani initiated the debate in 1931 that the purpose and therefore the curricula of education for boys and girls should be different. She argued that the man would become the bread earner and the woman, a good housewife or a good mother. She, however, felt like many of her contemporaries that teaching girls some lessons in self-reliance would help them save their lives, their children, and protect their honour in the eventuality of a misfortune. Debi Radhacharan Chakravarty (1931) joined the debate in support of Indira Debi and strongly discouraged women to enter into competition with men. Parimal Goswami (1931) argued in the same year that the ideal of education should never be compromised, and if any woman wished to dedicate her life to learning and work, she should not be forced to become a mother. However, for average men and women, Goswami (1931) too subscribed to the theory of separate spheres of work: If there are any lessons that should be taught to women only, those are: stitching, cooking, midwifery and nursing ... similarly there are some areas of work such as engineering and the armed forces which are appropriate for men. In an article titled Jagrihi (Awake) in Bangalakshmi author Ila Debi (1931) argued that the scope of womens work should include everything under the sun, including the medical profession, law, acting, agriculture, peacekeeping as well as engineering. She was keenly aware about the possible outcome of her scheme: increased competition for decreasing number of jobs and the consequent fall in the wage rate. She hoped that these hurdles would be overcome in the long run with the progress of the country and the increase in job opportunities. Another contemporary author advocated womens (including married) need to engage in gainful economic occupations, addressed the issue of competition between the sexes. In an article published in 1934 in the Antahpur (inner domain of the household) section of the Bangasri, Sushil Kumar Basu (1934) wrote: it is true that if women were free and joined the labour force, many men would remain unemployed. But the present financial condition of our families (which is the outcome of the joint efforts by employed men and unemployed women) would not change on an average if some men lose their jobs and are being replaced by the same number of women. But was it a matter of numbers only? Basu assured that it was not. However revolutionary his concept of gender equality was, Basu seems to have shared the anxiety of his contemporaries about the alleged overcrowding of the job market by migrants. It is likely that Basu found women competitors preferable to men Bengal. Justifying womens participation in the workforce he wrote: women have not come from outside. They are from our country, our society and our own family (1934: 508). Or perhaps he was trying to pacify the paranoia created over the issue of middle-class unemployment in contemporary Bengal. He knew that his proposals to include women in the workforce in equal numbers with men would face the most hostile opposition from the middle-class Bengali Hindu men lamenting their loss of jobs to such men who were outsiders to their country, their own society and their own family. In the same issue of Bangasri, Debendranath Ghosh (1934) wrote on the unemployment problem of Bengal. He argued as many, including Ray, had before him that one of the main reasons behind the unemployment of the Bengali middle class was the stiff competition they had to face from migrants outside Bengal. The same issue carried, as noted before, an article on the role of the jury and the police in cases of abduction. It is important to note that Bangasri, much like Prabasi, published articles and reports on a range of issues of common concern of the day, which I argue were interlinked. Moreover, the frequent and immediate reprint of an article in several contemporary periodicals suggests that such writings formed part of a single cultural or social agenda shared by several editors, contributors, and readers. During the late 1930s, the issue of womens economic self-reliance surfaced prominently on the agenda of the Hindu communal organisations. In the 1939 session in Khulna (former East Bengal, now Bangladesh), the Bengal Hindu Conference (Bongiya Hindu Sammelan) called for unity among the various castes (jatis) and branches (shakhas) of Hinduism, describing the effort as a desperate question of life and death. As a step towards Hindu unity, the conference, presided over by V D Savarkar, the later ideologue of the extreme rightists, called for inter-caste marriages, granting lower castes the right to enter such temples where they were hitherto not allowed to enter, encourage remarriage of willing widows, restrict child marriage, and attempt to eradicate the dowry system. A set of special proposals for the upliftment of Hindu women included attempt to end the practice of purdah (seclusion) to help them acquire physical strength by pursuing fitness programme, to enable them to carry arms for self-defense, and, last but not least, to educate women in a way that they were able to earn. In a single list of programmes, almost every issue of concern to contemporary Hindu intellectualstheir threat perception, casteism, widow remarriage, the evils of male unemployment, dowry system, education and employment of womenwere brought together, making their interconnection quite obvious. The report of the conference along with editorial comments was published in the Prabasi (1939) at length. Proposals for womens economic and physical empowerment earned special compliments from the journal editor who frequently attended and presided over the Hindu Sabha conferences during this time. He felt that the implementation of the programmes adopted by the conference would lead to the empowerment not only of Hindu women but also of the Hindu nation. Tanika Sarkars (2001) study shows how the domesticated Hindu wife was imagined to assist in the making of the Hindu nation during the closing years of the 19th century. At the end of colonial rule, the image of the earning woman replaced the earlier model with the same objective. As the earning widow or spinster were imagined to serve in the interest of nation-making, their limits of economic freedom were carefully designed. Concluding Remarks Beyond the periodicals focused in the present study, there were a number of others that shared the same concerns. Particularly interesting are the instances of the two periodicals Jayasri and Mandira, started by revolutionary nationalist and feminist women who at times leaned towards the left. Scholars have shown that though these magazines primarily concerned themselves with the political rights of the middle-class women, they focused on their economic rights (Datta Gupta 2010). However, both endorsed popular views, particularly in their initial years. Jayasri published pieces that typically identified abducted women, as Hindus and abductors as Muslims, described the conversion of Hindu women to Islam in the Bengal countryside to be a grave problem (Jayasri 1930) and traced the deterioration of Indian womens condition from the beginning of Islamic rule (Jayasri 1934). That womens role was primarily homemaking and mothering was emphasised (Debi 1934). Revolutionary women editors did not always reject the idea of separate spheres of work for women and men. Even as late as 1943, Supriti Sanyal in an article in Mandira on married womens right to enter the workforce (an issue not much discussed previously) argued in favour of only limited choices based on gender. Commenting on the success of the Vidyasagar Bani Bhavan in arranging vocational training, Bose wrote in Jayasri (1939) that at least four lakh dependent Hindu women in Bengal, in the age group of 1530 years, were living a life of misery and Vidyasagar Bani Bhavan was training some of them to earn by working as primary schoolteachers, nurses, and handicraft producers (Bose 1932). The special mention of the age group of 1530 years (the reproductive age) underlines the fact that it was the sexuality of the widow, more than her misery, that most concerned the Hindu literati. As late as 193940, while arguing in favour of protection of the rights of women primary schoolteachers, Hazra Begam (193940) lamented that after all said and done, women could be found engaged only two in areas: teaching and the medical service. However, it was only after partition and independence that middle-class women actually made their presence felt in the labour market. By then the Communist Party of India was busy organising men and women, primary schoolteachers, factory workers, plantation labourers, and peasants. Communist activist women wrote extensively on issues like equal wage for equal work, maternity benefits, necessity of childcare facilities for working mothers, and restricting hours of work, in the late 1950s and the 1960s in Ghare-Baire and Swadhinata (Datta Gupta 2010). But this was a different time. The focus of the debate on women and work had shifted from right to work to rights at work; from the middle-class woman to the toiling masses. 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Thompson, W H (1923): Census of India, 1921, Vol V: Bengal, Part 1: Report, Calcutta: Bengal Secretariat Book Depot. Critical issues in the stagnation of the family planning programme in India are highlighted and the tangible barriers are identified to suggest few possible strategies to enhance its use and effectiveness in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals relating to sexual and reproductive health. Findings from the National Family Health Survey-4 (201516) indicate a strong need to reposition the FPP to meet the unmet need of contraceptives by improving the quality of care and promoting the spacing methods of contraception by minimising the 12-month contraceptive discontinuation rate in India. Family planning is a prerequisite for the universal access to sexual and reproductive health components of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an essential indicator for tracking progress on improving maternal health (Dockalova et al 2016). In developing countries, about 818 million sexually active women of reproductive age (1549 years) want to avoid pregnancy or delay childbearing for at least two years or want to stop pregnancy and limit their family size. About 140 million (17%) of these women are not using any method of family planning, while 75 million (9%) are using less effective traditional methods (Darroch et al 2011). In Southern, Central, and Southeast Asia, the use of modern contraceptives are less than the global average with only 47% of married women, aged 1549 years, using modern contraceptives, although higher proportions want to prevent pregnancy (Najafi-Sharjabad et al 2013; United Nations Population Fund 2009). That is why SDG target 3.7 focuses on ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, including family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes by 2030 (Dockalova et al 2016). The estimates of contraceptive prevalence among currently married women, aged 1549 years, in 201516 revealed that 48% women in India were using some modern method of contraception. This has reduced from 49% in 200506. Unmet need of contraception (National Family and Health Survey [NFHS-4]) was reported by 13%, marginally reduced from 14% of women who reported the same a decade back. This stagnation in family planning in India has been followed by two episodes of slowdown. First, in 1977, in the post-Emergency recoil and recovery of the programme in the country. Second, after the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) 1994, when the Government of India was one of the signatories of the ICPD Programme of Action (PoA). Hence, it promptly adopted the reproductive and child health (RCH) approach, where acceptor-based family planning targets were abolished in April 1995. Against this backdrop, this paper aims to highlight the changing scenario of the family planning programmes (FPP) in India, and issues and strategies emerging from the evidence generated from the recently conducted NFHS-4, which may be vital for the repositioning of the FPPs in India. Data and Methods This paper is based upon two rounds of the NFHS conducted in 200506 (third round) and 201516 (fourth round). The primary objective of the NFHS was to provide essential data to policymakers on health and family welfare, and on emerging issues at the national, state, and, from 2015 onwards, district levels. The sampling design of the NFHS-4 was developed considering the need to provide estimates of population, health, and family welfare indicators at district, state/union territory, and national levels with a reasonable level of precision. A stratified two-stage sampling design was adopted in rural and urban areas of the 640 districts (as on 31 March 2014). Within each rural stratum, villages were selected from the sampling frame using probability proportional to size (PPS) with explicit stratification based on the percentage of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) population and female literacy. The NFHS-4 covers about 6,01,509 households with 6,99,686 eligible women aged 1549 years and eligible men aged 1554 years from a subsample of primary sampling units (PSUs)/households in 28,583 PSUs, comprising villages in rural areas and census enumeration blocks (CEBs) in urban areas. The selection of households is based on the sampling frame prepared from mapping and listing households in all PSUs identified across 640 districts. NFHS-4 uses four survey schedules: household, womans, mans, and biomarkercanvassed in local languages using computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI). The study uses univariate and bivariate analysis followed by logistic regression to draw inferences from the data and discuss evidence for strategies to reposition the FPP in India. Situation Analysis of the Use of FPP in India The situation analysis of progress in the FPP in India, after independence, reveals a number of complexities hampering the effectiveness of the programme. India launched a nationwide the FPP in 1952, a first of its kind among the developing countries with the objective of reducing the birth rate to the extent necessary to stabilise the population at a level consistent with the requirement of the national economy (Planning Commission 1997). Even after 70 years of the FPP, India still has a substantial proportion of couples (13%) with unmet needs. According to the recent round of the NFHS (201516), a considerable percentage of women still have distanced themselves from any method of contraception during their reproductive period (NFHS-4). However, the situation of fertility and family planning varies significantly across different states. In India, southern states and states like Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, West Bengal, and Odisha, have experienced a low level of fertility. However, bigger states, such as Uttar Pradesh (UP), Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh (MP), and Jharkhand need to reduce their fertility level, which is still higher than the replacement level. Further, because of their larger population base, these states drive the high population growth rate of the country. The 2011 Census results showed that India continued to have one of the most rapidly growing populations in the world, by adding 181 million people in the decade preceding the census. Between 2001 and 2011, the decadal growth rate of the population was estimated at 17.6%, which was lesser by 3.9% points from the growth rate of 19912001 (21.5%) (Census of India 2011). The FPPs of countries like China, Malaysia, and Thailand, though launched later than India, have been far more instrumental in reducing the infant and maternal mortality rates, as well as achieving lower fertility rates in a substantially shorter span of time. A notable difference in the programmes adopted by other countries and India in the context of family planning was the emphasis on birth spacing methods in the initial stages of the programme and limiting methods, that is, sterilisation, further along the way for the countries like China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc. On the contrary, India stressed on adoption of limiting methods early on after the launch of the FPP. In contrast, spacing methods like condoms, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and oral contraceptive pills initially found few takers (Srinivasan 2017). Two decelerated phases characterise the Indian FPP in the achievement of its stipulated targets. The 1971 Census demonstrated the annual population growth rate to be the highest during 196171. This indicated a deficient outcome of the population stabilisation programme during this period. Thus, the government experienced a need for launching a camp-based family planning approach in the 1970s. The first instance of the slackened pace in the programme was experienced by the country after the Emergency, 197577. Predominantly due to coercion from the governments side, to adopt sterilisation and birth control on a mass scale, which was met with widespread resistance, there emerged a general disdain towards family planning as a whole, and an eventual change in the ruling party in India. The forceful implementation of the FPP scathed the public to such an extent that the next political party that came into power had to rechristen the FPP into an all-encompassing and more holistic-sounding one. This took all the issues related to maternal and child health, nutrition and mortality under its purview, putting them into sharp perspective along with the ominous issue of family planning. The second instance of the slackened pace in the programme came after the conclusion of the ICPD held at Cairo in September 1994. It was decided that concrete steps regarding the unmet need of couples for spacing and limiting methods will be undertaken. The East Asian countries carried out an assertive programme. They brought down their fertility rates close to the replacement level in a short period, ignoring individual choices and womens rights in the process. As a result, the ICPD conference specifically focused on these facets of the course of action to be adopted, namely womens rights, reproductive health, poverty alleviation and even sustainable development. These would all play monumental roles in the decline of the unmet need of contraception in these countries. The holistic approach adopted then saw more programmes finding themselves merged with the FPP in India, intending to improve all the aspects of a womans life by the concept of integration and decentralisation. A set of 13 programmes were merged with the FPP with the vision of maternal and child health services utilisation affecting and strengthening the family planning services. Though, in this process, child survival and safe motherhood took precedence, and the FPP took a backseat after 1995. This resulted in the second wave of the slackened pace of the FPP in India. The impact of these policy changes is evident until now in the persistent stagnant proportion of couples using modern contraceptives in India since the last decade. On the other hand, 48 million couples in the country, describing the unmet need scenario in the country, demand reorganisation and repositioning of the FPP in India. The issues raised in India and other developing countries likewise provided substantial cues to initiate a new programme called Family Planning (FP2020), where a group of 70 countries expressed their shared concern and strategised the repositioning of their respective the FPPs. In the London Summit on Family Planning in 2012, 70 developing countries, including India, adopted FP2020. The objective of this is to address the unmet need for contraception, spacing births as well as limiting births by 2020. For India, the vision is not only limited to providing contraceptive services to the new 48 million couples, but also extending to avoiding 23.9 million births, 1 million infant deaths, and over 42,000 maternal deaths by 2020. Under FP2020, an array of the programme has been integrated. It focuses on the improvement of the quality of care as well as provides the luxury of choice for the adoption of various family planning methods and services to its users. In this regard, spacing methods like IUDs, oral pills, and condoms are garnering more attention as compared to sterilisation (MoHFW 2014). Results and Discussion Despite putting sufficient effort into enhancing the alternative methods for family planning, the share of female sterilisation among all other methods is still very high. It is evident from Table 1 that female sterilisation has a two-thirds share in both the rounds of NFHS at 66% in 200506 and 67% in 201516. The share of condoms and pills have marginally increased from 200506 to 201516. However, the percentage of IUD/postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices (PPIUD) in the contraceptive method mix has reduced during the same period. Female sterilisation was the most popular method among illiterate and less educated women in both the rounds of the survey. In the NFHS-4, the share of female sterilisation was 79% among women who never attended school, whereas it was only 45% for women who had 12 or more years of schooling. Similarly, the share of female sterilisation was higher among women belonging to Christian (79%), Buddhist (77%), and Hindu (70%) religions. On the contrary, this share was the lowest among Muslims (46%) and Sikhs (52%). The percentage of condom and IUD/PPIUD use showed an increasing trend with increasing years of schooling. It was also higher among women who were not employed and belonged to Sikh and Jain religions in both rounds of the survey. Further, the share of condom use and IUD/PPIUD methods for family planning were found more among the women who belonged to other castes (15% and 3.5%) and the highest wealth quintile (20% and 5%). Overall, the share of pills in the family planning method has increased from 3% to 8% from NFHS-3 to NFHS-4. The highest percentage of use of pills has been found among women who belonged to other religions (40%) and Muslims (18%), other caste groups (12%) and those who were among poor (11%) and poorest (11%) wealth quintiles. This share was the lowest among women who never went to school (4.8%), belonging to Jain (2.4%) and Sikh (3.5%) religions, among Other Backward Classes (OBC) and among those women who belonged to the highest wealth quintile (4.4%). Figures 13 (p 53) show the changes from 200516 in the share of three primary modern methods of contraception among currently married women, aged 1549 years, India. It is evident that 14 states are showing a declining trend in the share of female sterilisation (Figure 1). Between 200506 and 201516, the maximum reduction in sterilisation took place in Mizoram (22 percentage points), followed by Arunachal Pradesh (17 percentage points), and Odisha (16 percentage points). Few states in the northern (Delhi and Punjab), central (Chhattisgarh and MP), eastern (Bihar and Jharkhand), and north-eastern (Mizoram and Sikkim) regions showed an increasing trend of female sterilisation. While the share of female sterilisation has increased in all the western and southern states, Kerala is the only state among all the southern states to show a sub-ninety percent (86%) share of female sterilisation in 201516. Andhra Pradesh had the highest percentage of 98%. The southern states were the first in achieving below-replacement-level fertility and their total fertility rate (TFR) now stands at 1.8 and below. This shows the impact of sterilisation and past target-based programmes on fertility. In most of the northern, eastern, and north-eastern states, the share of female sterilisation was less than 60%. In UP, the share of female sterilisation was 38% in 201516, which has reduced from 200506. Whereas, in Bihar, the share of female sterilisation was 86% during NFHS-4, which is 16 percentage points higher in comparison to NFHS-3. The use of oral pills as a choice of family planning method is more prevalent in the north-eastern and eastern states in comparison to other parts of the country. It was the highest in Meghalaya with a share of 49%, followed by Assam (42.2%) and Tripura (41%). Oral pills share was less than 1% in almost all the southern states (Figure 2). In Bihar, where TFR is the highest among all the states, the share of oral pills showed a declining trend from NFHS-3 to NFHS-4. From Figure 3, it is evident that the use of condoms is maximum in the northern region compared to the other parts of the country. All the states of this region show an increasing trend of using condoms as a spacing method of family planning. The share of condoms was 37% in Delhi and 30% in Uttarakhand, which is the highest among all the states. The southern states show a declining pattern for condoms as a choice of family planning method. Overall, the recent findings of NFHS-4 show that the dominance of female sterilisation is still high in all the states. Spacing methods, especially oral pills and IUD/PPIUD, are not getting much preference. Table 2 (p 53) presents the changes in unmet needs of family planning and demand for contraception satisfied among currently married women aged 1549 years by some selected background characteristics. Overall, from 200506 to 201516, there is negligible change in unmet need (12.9%) in India. The age-wise distribution shows that unmet need among women belonging to 1519 year age group has reduced from 27% to 22% in the last decade. Whereas, unmet need among women belonging to 2024 year and 2529 year age groups was 21% and 16% in 200506. This has increased to 22% for 2024 year age groups and 19% for 2529 year age groups in the last one decade. Results of logistic regression also show a strong association between age and unmet need. The unmet need of women belonging to 2024 and 2529 year age groups was more than seven times higher in comparison to women belonging to the 1519 year age group. The level of demand satisfaction has reduced among all the ages from NFHS-3 to NFHS-4, except for women of 1519 year age group. The demand for the family planning method is very high among younger generations. Educated women were less likely to have an unmet need in comparison to illiterate women in both the rounds. Unmet need was found to be the highest among others (18.3%), followed by Muslim (16.4%) women, and it was the lowest among Sikhs (6.4%) in 201516. Results indicate that Hindu women are more likely to have an unmet need than women of other religions. Across all groups, it can be seen that the programme has not been able to address the need for family planning. This unmet need is also contributing to population growth in the form of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. Investing in the adolescent is the most effective way to achieve population stabilisation in the nick of time. Therefore, there is a strong need to focus on newly married couples. In the last six decades, the FPP in India has witnessed several changes. Although it has brought the TFR down below the replacement level in 17 states, in 11 states, which are mostly the bigger states of central and northern part of India, the TFR is still above the replacement level (Table 3). As a result, there is a wide variation among states in the form of achieving the targets. Even in those states where the TFR is less than 2.1, unmet need is high and demand satisfaction is less. Most of the northern states achieved the replacement level of fertility after the southern states. Higher use of the spacing method of family planning is an essential factor in achieving this target. Besides, the unmet need is very high in all the states, including those which have achieved replacement-level fertility. Therefore, spacing methods like oral pills, IUD/PPIUD, and condoms will be more effective. Thus, there is a need to reposition the FPP to meet the unmet need, stabilise the population, and ensure the reproductive and sexual rights of young women. Limiting methods of family planning will not contribute enough to the reduction of unmet needs in these states. Using linear regression between TFR and contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) obtained in NFHS-4, it is observed that a 1% increase in CPR will affect TFR by 0.026. Six major states, namely Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, Rajasthan, and UP constitute more than two-fifths of the total population of the country. Differential efforts in the contraceptive promotion are required to achieve the replacement level of fertility. For example, Bihar is having a TFR of 3.4, and the percentage of currently married women aged 1549 years using the modern methods of contraceptive is 23%. It needs to increase it to 73% to achieve the replacement level of fertility. Similarly, Chhattisgarh needs to increase the percentage of currently married women using modern methods of contraceptive from 55% to 58%, and from 38% to 53% for Jharkhand. The increase should be from 50% to 53% for MP, 38% to 58% for Rajasthan, and 32% to 55% for UP. The estimation is based on the premise that the other proximate determinants of fertility like the index of post-partum infecundability, index of marriage, and index of induced abortion, which are deep-rooted in social and cultural factors prevailing in these Hindi heartland, remains unchanged. Table 4 presents the percent of contraceptive use episodes discontinued within 12 months in the five years preceding the survey among women aged between 15 and 49 years. Among the three commonly used modern spacing methods, the contraceptive use episodes discontinued within the 12 months among 1549 year women was the highest for condom (47%), followed by pills (42%) and IUD/PPIUD (26%). Most common reasons for discontinuing the modern spacing methods were: women wanted to get pregnant (11.3%), side effects/health concerns (11.2%), with a northsouth divide reflecting at the differential quality of family planning services by the front-line workers. Prevalence of episodes of contraceptive-use discontinuation in the 12 months of use was the lowest in Andhra Pradesh (4%), where almost all the contraceptive users were using sterilisation. It was the highest in Punjab (47%). The contraceptive discontinuation rates were different in northern and southern states included in this analysis. Consequently, the reasons for switching over to the terminal methods in the southern states and side effects/health concerns in the northern states were also different. Thus, the role of service providers becomes vital in the process of contraceptive use dynamics and demands for the repositioning of the FPPs in the country. Conclusions and Recommendations The findings of the study provide crucial strategies as a way forward in repositioning the FPP in India. The process of repositioning can be done using seven prone strategies: First, there is a strong need to strengthen the capacity-building of health functionaries and staff. Emphasis on increased accountability with transparent support and a conducive environment is equally important. Contraceptive discontinuation rates in these states are still very high because of reasons such as: method failure, side effects, health concerns, etc. Improvement in the quality of care is quite essential for the success of new methods of family planning. Increasing the reach of family planning services and better quality is vital to reduce unmet needs and levels of fertility. It includes the availability of various methods, information, and effective communication from health workers as well as better counselling. Health workers such as accredited social health activists (ASHA) and auxiliary nurse midwifery are a crucial part of family planning services. Although these service providers are playing an essential role in providing services and motivating people to use contraceptives, they need better training and knowledge about modern contraceptives so that they can offer better advice to the target population, multiplying the effects of these services. The use of the contemporary spacing method is shallow in the country (Figures 13). Episodes of contraceptive use discontinuation are also very high (Table 4). Trained health workers can solve method failure, side effects, and other issues. Along with that, they may be able to provide advice related to new and effective alternative methods. Further, maintaining a relationship with communities is also very important to propel the acceptance and use of modern methods. ASHA workers must be trained to convince and develop a good relationship with the beneficiaries. Door-to-door visits by health workers is the best way to provide these services and help people with issues related to the use of contraceptives. Second, extending the concept of digital India to digitise the functioning of front-line workers with the concept of supportive supervision would be an essential strategy. In the era of digital India, with the use of modern technology, service providers and seekers can be easily connected. Providing mobile phones to health workers will help them communicate and follow the progress. It will also be beneficial to connect and solve the problems of newly married couples as well as those who are seeking information on the different methods of contraception available. Further, videos and information related to family planning can be imparted effectively to the ASHA workers as well as the clients. Such an innovative strategy would be effective. In the third stage, opening the clinics at the block level, under publicprivate partnerships, becomes important. Initially, it can be done for the empowered action group (EAG) states with active support from various corporate houses under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitments. These will be devoted to fulfilling the needs of the people for family planning, such as providing an excellent quality of contraceptive as well as making them well informed about the basket of choices available to them. The availability of safe abortion and post-abortion facilities would also be an essential service provided in these centres. Services available at these clinics should be free of cost for the poor and minimal for people who can afford it. In states with low fertility, these services can be provided at its actual price. However, in states with high fertility, there is a strong need to provide these services at a subsidised rate. In the fourth stage, to improve the reach of the programme, partnerships with NGOs will be beneficial. For example, Janani is running Surya clinic in Bihar and Rajasthan. Similarly, Parivar Seva Sanstha is running Marie Stops clinic in different parts of the country. Population Services International is successfully running the Pehel project in UP, Rajasthan, and Delhi. It aims at providing affordable family planning services and knowledge about IUDs and abortions to people. These NGOs are effectively providing high-quality services for family planning. Several corporates are contributing to the health sectors through their CSR initiatives. However, only a few of them are focusing on family planning. They can play an essential role in imparting knowledge and improving the facilities, especially in high-focused pockets of the country where the reach of public services is minimal. Further, removal of sterilisation incentives for service providers at different levels, especially for those states that have already achieved replacement-level fertility, is important. The use of this amount for providing incentives for PPIUD will also be helpful. In addition to that, stopping incentive-based sterilisation where fertility is already below the replacement level, like in the southern states and states like Punjab, West Bengal, and Maharashtra will help in cost-cutting. The budget saved by curtailing the incentives can be used to improve quality of services in the same states or other states that are struggling to reach the replacement level of fertility and in highly focused states and districts, where Mission Parivar Vikas is currently being implemented. Ensuring an uninterrupted supply of various contraceptives to family planning centres and from these centres to users is very important to ensure sustained use of spacing methods. Tracking progress through intensified monitoring is equally essential for the success of any programme. Regular follow-ups and generation of data related to the use of family planning would be further helpful in making services better. Lastly, the existing gap between knowledge and behaviour can be addressed by adopting and intensifying social marketing of contraceptives. Adopting the concept of brand promotion and product positioning through self-help groups among women will help in filling up the gaps in contraceptive development, especially in remote rural areas of the EAG states. References Darroch, Jacqueline E, Gilda Sedgh and Haley Ball (2011): Contraceptive Technologies: Responding to Womens Needs, New York: Guttmacher Institute. Dockalova, B, K Lau, H Barclay and A Marshall (2016): Sustainable Development Goals and Family Planning 2020, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), United Kingdom, pp 112. Guttmacher Institute (2010): Facts on Investing in Family Planning and Maternal and Newborn Health, In Brief Update, http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/FB-AIU-summary.pdf. IIPS (2017): National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) 201516: India, International Institute for Population Sciences, http://rchiips.org/nfhs/NFHS-4Reports/India.pdf. MoHFW (2014): Indias Vision FP 2020, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, Https://advancefamilyplanning.org/sites/default/files/resources/FP2020-Vision-Document%20India.pdf . Najafi-Sharjabad, F, S Z S Yahya, H A Rahman, M Hanafiah and R A Manaf (2013): Barriers of Modern Contraceptive Practices among Asian Women: A Mini Literature Review, Global Journal of Health Science, Vol 5, No 5, p 181. Planning Commission (1997): Ninth Five Year Plan 19972002 Volume II Thematic Issues and Sectoral Programmemes. Srinivasan, K (2017): Population Concerns in India: Shifting Trends, Policies, and Programmes, SAGE Publishing India. UNFPA (2009): South Central and Southeast Asia, Facts on Investing in Family Planning and Maternal and Newborn Health, United Nations Population Fund, Guttmacher Institute. Two new indices, the index of representation in longevity and the index of socio-economic inequality in longevity, are presented for examining socio-economic inequality in longevity in India. The India Human Development Survey data from the 200405 and 201112 rounds are used to investigate socio-economic inequality based on caste, occupation, economic classes, and geographic regions. The findings suggest that India suffers from substantial socio-economic inequality in longevity with the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Muslims being worst off. Groups such as agricultural and non-agricultural labourers, petty traders, and lower economic classes were substantially under-represented in longevity. Regionally, the south and west have over-representation, whereas the central, east, and north-east have under-representation in longevity. Creating the possibility for people of all sections to live longer lives is a basic and foremost challenge for any society. Given the importance of longer lives and socio-economic parity therein, specific initiatives have been taken in many countries around the globe in measuring life span as well as socio-economic inequalities in the life spans of people. For example, Healthy People 2000, launched in 1990 by the United States (US) Department of Health and Human Services, seeks, as one of its broad health goals for the nation, to increase life expectancy among Americans of all ages (Singh and Siahpush 2006). Similarly, the Longevity Science Advisory Panel was established in the United Kingdom (UK) to bring actuarial science and epidemiology closer together to provide a better chance of understanding the past and the present as well as better forecasting of improvements in life expectancy (Wanless et al 2012). That said, the concept that is generally used when it comes to measuring the length of individual lives in any society is longevity. Though it is often used as a synonym for life expectancy at a given age, it is also used to refer only to the long-lived members of a population. If increasing longevity is a desirable objective of any society, then achieving socio-economic equality in it is another one. However, the first step towards striving for equality in longevity in any society is to measure the existing socio-economic inequalities associated with it. Further, when inequality in longevity is high, the decrease in life expectancy among those of a lower socio-economic status can outweigh the increase in life expectancy among those of a higher socio-economic status. This can lead to life expectancy below a level that is likely to be seen in a country with the same average level of social indicators (National Research Council and Committee on Population 2011: 118). Given the above, it is important to mention that the scholarship on socio-economic inequalities in health, in general, across different countries is far and wide. But the scholarship on socio-economic inequalities in longevity is relatively recent and to some extent limited. As interest in the subject has been increasing across the globe, the scholarship too is growing, resulting in the publication of a few studies. For example, Qin et al (2017) investigated the spatio-temporal variation of longevity clusters in China. Neumayer and Plumper (2016) analysed the determinants of longevity inequality in 28 predominantly Western countries. The UKs Office of National Statistics (2015) provided the trends in life expectancy by socio-economic position for England and Wales. Auger et al (2013) evaluated the life expectancy gaps between economically advantaged and disadvantaged Francophones and Anglophones in Canada. Wanless et al (2012) estimated the past and future variations in life expectancy by socio-economic groups in England and Wales. Brnnum-Hansen and Baadsgaard (2012) and Clarke and Leigh (2011) estimated the trends in social inequality in life expectancy in Denmark and Australia, respectively. Magnolfi et al (2007) evaluated the characteristics of the ageing process in the Italian population using two indices, namely longevity and centenarity. Singh and Siahpush (2006) examined the changes in the extent of inequalities in life expectancy in the US between 1980 and 2000. The studies on socio-economic inequalities in longevity are relatively few when it comes to developing countries in general, and India in particular. The association between the indicators of socio-economic status, such as income and education, and mortality implies that the distribution of socio-economic status within a country could affect mortality (and therefore, longevity). In particular, two countries with the same average income or education could have differences in health and mortality (and longevity) outcomes/indicators, if income or education were differentially distributed (National Research Council and Committee on Population 2011). Therefore, the trends in inequality in longevity in Western countries cannot be extrapolated to describe the possible scenario of socio-economic inequality in longevity in developing countries, such as India. The Indian Context There is a dearth of scholarship on socio-economic inequalities in longevity in India. India has substantial diversity, in terms of caste, religion, region, rural/urban sector, and economic classes, with different groups being at different levels of economic and health conditions (Bhat and Zavier 1999; Singh 2012). Hence, there is always a possibility that the individuals of particular socio-economic groups, on an average, live longer compared to some others. Therefore, it is expected that the socio-economic inequalities in longevity in India will be substantial. To the best of our search, there is no study that has comprehensively examined such inequalities in longevity (and changes therein) over time in India. Before proceeding further, it is important to take a look at Sauvaget et al (2011), who estimated the impact of the socio-economic levels on life expectancy in individuals living in Kerala. A cohort of 1,67,331 individuals, aged 34 years and above, was used in the analysis and it was found that at 40 years, men and women were expected to live another 34 and 37 years, respectively, with life expectancy varying across the participants different socio-economic categories. The above study has only presented life expectancies for various socio-economic groups rather than estimating socio-economic inequalities in longevity or life expectancies itself. Moreover, examining longevity using life expectancy at birth for different socio-economic groups is important. But it is quite different from say analysing the disparity in longevity in terms of disparity in the proportion of individuals in different groups actually living beyond a particularly old age, such as 65 years at a given time. The knowledge of the proportion of the population of different socio-economic groups living beyond a certain old age can help in developing targeted health programmes for their welfare. Therefore, in this study, we not only investigate socio-economic inequality in longevity (using old age population proportions, 65 years and above) in India at the national and regional levels but also examine the changes therein in India between 2004 and 2012. We have used data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) for the analysis. We have also taken a comprehensive list of socio-economic characteristics, including caste, religion, rural/urban, geographic regions, and economic and occupational classes, for analysing the socio-economic inequalities in longevity. The data has been taken from the 200405 and 201112 rounds of the IHDS, a nationally representative survey conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research in collaboration with the University of Maryland (Desai et al 2010; Desai et al 2015). The IHDS-I was conducted in all the states and union territories of India except the Andaman and Nicobar, and the Lakshadweep islands during 200405, covering a total of 382 districts. It is a multi-topic survey of households conducted in 1,503 villages and 971 urban neighbourhoods across India. A two-stage stratified sampling design was followed to draw a sample consisting of 27,010 rural households (1,43,374 individuals) and 13,126 urban households (72,380 individuals). The IHDS is exclusive in its measurement of different dimensions of human development, including health, education, employment, economic status, marriage, fertility, gender relations, and social capital (Desai et al 2010). The IHDS-II was conducted in 201112. This survey is also a nationally representative, multi-topic survey of 42,152 households across India. Out of the total households, 27,579 belong to rural areas whereas 14,573 belong to urban areas. These households were spread across 33 states and union territories, 384 districts, 1,420 villages and 1,042 urban blocks located in 276 towns and cities. Two one-hour interviews in each household sought to cover health, education, employment, economic status, marriage, fertility, gender relations, and social capital (Desai et al 2015). Analysis and Measures For estimating the socio-economic inequality in longevity in India, we have focused on the individuals above 65 years of age during the 200405 and 201112 surveys, respectively. The intention behind this is to consider those individuals who are above 65 years of age as individuals living a long life. The reference point of 65 years is informed by the fact that it is the retirement age in most central government jobs in India. After identifying the age of individuals, we categorised them into socio-economic groups based on different characteristics, such as caste, religion, occupation, economic classes, and geographic regions. Caste was categorised as Other Caste (OC), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Caste (SC), and Schedules Tribe (ST).1 Religion was categorised into Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, and Other.2 Occupations (based on the main source of income of the household) were categorised into cultivation, agricultural labour, non-agricultural labour, petty trade, business, salaried, pension/rent, and others. Economic classes have been captured in terms of deciles based on the per capita consumption expenditure of the household to which the individual belongs. Finally, geographic regions were categorised into north, central, east, west, south, and north-east.3 We have developed and estimated two indices for capturing socio-economic inequality in longevity in India. We have named them the Index of Representation in Longevity (IRL) and the Index of Socio-economic Inequality in Longevity (ISIL), respectively. The IRL is a representational measure similar to the Distributional Fairness Index proposed by Villemez and Rowe (1975) and Group-specific Index of Relative Disadvantage proposed by Jayaraj and Subramanian (2006). Whereas the ISIL, particularly well-suited for dichotomous outcomes, is a form of dissimilarity index based on the measure of the inequality of opportunities advanced by Barros et al (2009) (see also, for an application in the Indian context, Singh et al 2013, 2014). The indices have been estimated separately for rural and urban areas. Index of Representation in Longevity: In simple terms, in the IRL, we are comparing the proportion of the 65 years plus (henceforth referred to as 65+) population of a socio-economic group in the overall 65+ population of the country to the overall proportion of population of the same socio-economic group in the overall population of the country. Intuitively, any group-specific measure of inequality in longevity must be some function of how large the groups share in total longevity (65+) is in relation to the groups share in total population. This index could be defined as: IRL (i) = SL (i)/a (i) ... (1) where, IRL (i) is the index of representation in longevity for group i, where the groups (mutually exclusive and totally exhaustive) have been formed based on the basis of socio-economic characteristics (caste, religion, occupation, economic class and geographic region) described earlier; SL (i) is the share of group i in longevity (number of 65+ individuals in group i/total number of 65+ individuals in the population) and; (i) is the share of population of group i in the total population. The above index has been estimated for each of the groups based on each of the characteristics. If IRL (i) for the group i is x, it means that group is share/representation in longevity (65+ population) is x times group is share in the total population. The IRL has a lower bound of zero (when share of a group in longevity is zero) but it does not have any upper limit. If IRL (i) for a group is more than one, it could be inferred that the group under consideration has excess or over-representation in longevity. If IRL (i) for a group is less than one, it could be inferred that the relevant group has under-representation in longevity. An IRL (i) of one indicates that the representation of group i in longevity is the same as its share in total population. The change in the values of IRL (i) over time indicates the extent of gains or losses experienced by each socio-economic group in longevity over time. One could also rank the groups by the values of the index, and examine what has happened to the initially most deprived sections (in terms of longevity) of the population between 200405 and 201112. Index of Socio-economic Inequality in Longevity: As in the case of the previous index, if an individuals age is more than 65 years then they will be considered as a long living individual. Once the information on the age of individuals and the socio-economic group to which they belong is obtained, the ISIL has been estimated for groups based on each characteristic (for example, groups based on caste, groups based on religion, etc). The ISIL is a form of dissimilarity index to estimate socio-economic inequalities in longevity and has been estimated at two time points: 200405 and 201112. The dissimilarity-based ISIL is given by: ; j = 1, 2,, m ... (2) where, m is the total number of socio-economic groups in the population. For example, if we take caste, then the number of groups is four: SC, ST, OBC, and OC. p is the average longevity in the population (proportion of the individuals in the population aged more than 65 years). p j is the average longevity in the jth group (proportion of individuals within group j aged more than 65 years). j is the proportion of the jth group in the population. The paper calculates ISIL separately for groups formed by caste, religion, occupation, economic classes, and geographic regions. The ISIL is a simple summary and representational measure of group disparities, which is expressed as a normalised, weighted sum of the absolute deviations of group-specific average longevity from the overall (whole population) average longevity. The measure varies from zero (perfect intergroup equality in longevity) to unity (which is the upper bound on the index, and to which its value tends when the entire longevity is accounted for, in a polar extreme of concentration, by a single group of arbitrarily small size). The ISIL can be interpreted as the amount of longevity opportunities that need to be rearranged (as a proportion of the number of individuals who already have it) from the better-off groups (in which average longevity is higher than the population average) to the worse-off groups (in which average longevity is lower than the population average) to have equal average longevity in all groups.4 Results Socio-economic characteristics in sample (65+ years): Table 1 (p 60) presents the distribution of socio-economic characteristics among the elderly (65+) in rural and urban areas of India for 2004 and 2012. The table shows that in 2004, in rural areas, 19%, 7%, 43%, and 31% of elderly population belonged to the SC, ST, OBC, and OC, respectively. The corresponding figures for urban areas were 14%, 2%, 38%, and 46%, respectively. In 2012, there was some increase in the percentage of SCs and some decrease in the percentage of OCs in rural areas. In terms of religion, the percentages of Hindu and Muslim elders have almost remained unchanged in rural as well as urban areas during the study period. There has been some mild decrease in the proportion of elderly Christians in rural areas during the same period. If we talk in terms of occupation in rural areas, there was a decrease in the proportion of elderly among cultivators, agricultural labourers, businesspersons, and salaried individuals during 2004 to 2012. There was an increase in the proportion of elderly among the non-agricultural labourers, petty traders, and pensioners during the same period. In urban areas, a decrease was observed in the proportion of elders involved in agricultural labour, self-employed in business, and salaried jobs during the study period, whereas an increase was observed in the proportion of elders involved in non-agricultural labour, petty trade, and pension (and rent) during the same period. The findings indicate that there seems to be some shift from involvement in agriculture-related activities to non-agriculture-related activities, self-employed in business to petty trade, and salaried to non-salaried during the study period. In rural as well as urban areas, the percentage of elderly population was highest in the southern region and lowest in the north-eastern region. The highest proportion of elders in the southern region is in line with the fact that the southern region comprises of states that are among the most developed as far as economic and demographic indicators are concerned (Bhat and Zavier 1999; Bose 1991; Singh 2012). Group-specific proportion of elderly (65+ years): Table 2 reveals the proportion of the elderly within their socio-economic groups. The figures indicate that among the caste groups, the OCs have the highest proportion of elderly amongst themselves throughout, be it India, rural or urban areas or the years 2004 and 2012. It is not surprising that longevity was relatively more in the OCs because they comprise of the socially and economically most advanced castes of India (Deshpande 2011). On the other hand, the STs lay at the other end of the spectrum, which is also not surprising given that they are among the most disadvantaged as far as social and economic development is concerned (Deshpande 2011). Talking about religion, it was the Muslims (the majority in minority), which were the most disadvantaged, which is again not surprising as their social, demographic and economic development is at the level of the SCs and the STs in India (Government of India 2006). Among the occupation categories, the proportion of elderly was highest among the pensioners, which is understandable. The proportion of the elderly increased among all the occupation-based groups during the study period. Coming to economic classes, the proportion of elderly was relatively higher among the richer classes. Further, talking about regions, it was the southern and western regions where the proportion of elderly or longevity was more. Once again, longevity increased during 2004 to 2012 in all occupation categories, in all economic classes and all geographic regions. Index of Representation in Longevity: The results, based on IRL (Table 3), if observed in the light of caste groups, show that the OCs are over-represented in both 2004 and 2012 in rural as well as urban areas. The OBCs are marginally over-represented and slightly under-represented in rural and urban areas, respectively, in 2004 as well as 2012. The SCs and the STs are severely under-represented (with the STs the worst off) in almost all cases (be it rural or urban) with the representation of the STs decreasing from 0.75 in 2004 to 0.69 in 2012 (at the all-India level), which is the least among all the caste categories. Turning to religion, it was found that the maximum representation in longevity is of the Christians at the all-India level. Although over-represented, their representation observed a decrease from 1.40 in 2004 to 1.18 in 2012. The other over-represented groups were the Sikhs and Hindus. It is the Muslims that are seriously under-represented (0.71) in longevity in both the years. Looking at the ruralurban pattern, the representation of the Christians was found to be the highest in rural areas (1.53 in 2004 and 1.24 in 2012). The representation of the Hindus was found to be the same in rural areas as it was at the all-India level in both the years. Not surprisingly, the Muslims were under-represented in rural areas as well. In urban areas, in both the years, the highest over-representation was of the Sikhs. The (under) representation of Muslims remained the same in both the years (0.77). In terms of occupation, pensioners, cultivators and other occupation categories had an over-representation in longevity in both years and areas, whereas, it was the agricultural and non-agricultural labourers and petty traders who were under-represented throughout. The lowest under-representation is seen in the case of non-agricultural labourers. Also, looking by economic classes, the poorer classes (barring a few exceptions) were generally under-represented, whereas the richer classes were generally over-represented. Figure 1 (p 62) shows the representation of longevity among the elderly across different geographic regions of India during 2004. It can be seen that the over-representation of longevity was highest in the south followed by the west and the north; whereas, there was an under-representation in the case of the central, east, and north-east, with the north-east being most severely under-represented. It may be noted that the central, eastern, and north-eastern regions comprise of states, which are among the poorest as far as economic, social, and demographic indicators are concerned (Bhat and Zavier 1999; Bose 1991; Singh 2012). Similar results are found in Figure 2, which is for 2012. The representation in longevity across the six geographic regions by rural and urban areas have been presented in Figure 3 (2004) and Figure 4 (2012) (p 63), respectively. Figure 3 indicates that the representation of longevity in rural parts is quite similar to that of Figure 1 (all-India level, 2004), but in the case of urban areas, the picture is slightly changed where the eastern region also had an over-representation in longevity. In 2012 (Figure 4), a similar pattern has been found in the representation in longevity as is the case in 2004. In rural areas, the northern, western and southern regions have an over-representation, whereas, in the urban areas, the eastern region (in place of the northern region) along with the western and southern regions have an over-representation in longevity. ISIL: Table 4 reports the socio-economic inequality (as per the ISIL) based on different socio-economic characteristics for the all-India as well as rural and urban areas for 200405 and 201112. The maximum socio-economic inequality in longevity is observed when the groups are constructed on the basis of occupation, be it 2004 or 2012. In 2012, about 15% longevity opportunities need to be shifted from the better-off groups (where average longevity is higher than the average longevity for the whole population) to the worse-off groups such as non-agricultural labour, etc (where average longevity is lower than the average longevity for the whole population) to bring equality in longevity in society at the all-India level. The corresponding figure for 2004 is 14%. Followed by occupation, the second and third highest socio-economic inequalities in longevity in both 2004 and 2012 were observed in the case of geographic regions and caste, respectively. The results are similar in terms of patterns in the case of rural and urban areas. Further, the lowest socio-economic inequality in longevity was observed in the case of economic classes based on per capita consumption. This was surprising because it is expected that if people are divided into groups based on income (or consumption) then longevity should be much higher in the richer groups compared to the poorer groups. That is, variation in longevity across groups should be relatively higher when the groups are formed based on income (or consumption expenditure) compared to variation when the groups are formed based on other factors like caste, religion, etc. In other words, it can be said that the caste-based or religion-based or occupation-based variation in longevity is relatively higher than economic class-based variation. Further, barring the case of economic class and geographic regions, the socio-economic inequality in longevity, based on all other characteristics, was higher in urban areas compared to that of rural areas. It is also important to note that the socio-economic inequality in longevity based on occupation increased during the study period, but based on caste and geographic region decreased at the all-India level during the same period. However, it increased during 2004 to 2012 in the urban areas. Discussion Given the scarce nature of scholarship on socio-economic inqualities in longevity in India, we have used data from the IHDSI and II, and have critically and comprehensively examined the socio-economic inequality in longevity in India and its various geographic regions. We have included caste, religion, occupation, economic classes, and geographic regions to investigate the socio-economic inequalities in longevity. We have also developed and estimated two indices for the examination, namely the IRL and ISIL. Our findings support the general conclusions of earlier studies (for example, Dreze and Sen 2013). First, though India has shown impressive economic growth in the last two decades, it has not converted into desirable improvement in the health conditions of the population in the country; and second, India suffers from serious socio-economic inequalities in economic, demographic, and health outcomes with different socio-economic groups being at different levels of economic, demographic and health conditions. That said, we find that India suffers from substantial socio-economic inequalities in longevity. The result that among the caste groups, the OCs have an over-representation in longevity, whereas the SCs and STs have a severe under-representation in longevity, is in line with the existing narrative on caste-based disparity (with the OCs in an advantageous and the SCs as well as STs in a disadvantageous position) in various economic, demographic and social indicators of welfare in India (Deshpande 2011). Among the religious groups, the Muslims severe under-representation in longevity is again in line with the existing discourse on the economic, demographic and social conditions of Muslims in India on the one hand and the rampant religion-based inequalities in economic, demographic and social indicators in India on the other (Dreze and Sen 2013; Government of India 2006). We also find that groups such as agricultural and non-agricultural labourers, petty traders, lower economic classes, etc, were substantially under-represented in longevity. This again fits with the existing literature (for example, see Motiram and Singh 2012) on the demographic, social, and economic conditions of these groups in India. One of the most glaring socio-economic inequalities in longevity is observed in the case of geographic regions, where the demographically, economically, and socially advanced regions of the south and the west have an over-representation in longevity, whereas the demographically, economically and socially disadvantaged regions of the central, east and northeast have an under-representation in longevity. The above finding is also in line with the existing scholarship on the increasing nature of region-based inequality in health, social, and economic outcomes in India (Singh 2011). Our results, based on the summary indicator ISIL, further support the finding that India suffers from substantial socio-economic inequality in longevity, which was maximum when the groups were formed based on occupational categories. About 15% longevity opportunities (in 2012) need to be shifted from the better-off groups (where average longevity is higher than the average longevity for the whole population) to the worse-off groups (where average longevity is lower than the average longevity for the whole population) to bring equality in longevity in the Indian society. Further, the socio-economic inequality based on the above index has increased over time. Followed by occupation, the second and third highest socio-economic inequalities in longevity were observed in the case of geographic regions and caste, respectively; these findings once again are in line with existing studies (Pathak and Singh 2009; Sauvaget et al 2011) and complement as well as build on their evidence base. Our study has some strengths and a few limitations. It is perhaps the first attempt to comprehensively examine the socio-economic inequality in longevity in India and its various geographic regions. We have also analysed the trends over time. Further, we have used a comprehensive list of socio-economic characteristics to examine the inequalities in longevity. Moreover, we have developed and estimated two new indices suitable for examining the socio-economic inequalities in longevity. Some of the limitations of our study include the use of the cut-off age of 65 years to identify longevity. The results might vary if a different threshold is chosen but the variation is not expected to be significant. Because whatever the threshold or cutoff chosen, it will have to be applied uniformly across all socio-economic groups. Further, as the duration of time between the two surveys (200405 and 201112) is not very large, it limits the predictive power in the trends presented in the paper. An important aspect that can be taken up for future research is to examine why there are such enormous differences in longevity by factors, like caste, etc, which are factors beyond the control of an individual and get assigned automatically at birth. Lastly, our findings have some important policy implications. We have found that there is substantial inequality in longevity in India and it has generally increased over the study period. For any ideal society, how long a person lives, should not depend on factors such as caste and religion. The government should pay attention to the idea of longevity (and inequality in longevity) itself and bring it to the forefront of the public health debate in India. Policymakers need to take a cue from projects like the USs national health initiative, Healthy People 2000, which seeks to increase longevity among Americans of all ages (Singh and Siahpush 2006), and the UKs Longevity Science Advisory Panel to provide a better chance of understanding the past and the present, for better forecasting in improvements in longevity. Finally, policymakers should also address the rampant socio-economic inequalities in the healthcare services in India which (among others) lead to different mortality rates across different groups in India, which, in turn, might lead to substantial socio-economic inequalities in longevity in India. Notes 1 Individuals belonging to the SC/ST community have suffered severe social exclusion and discrimination since historic times and lag behind the non-scheduled groups in different indicators of welfare (Deshpande 2011). 2 Muslims (the largest minority religious group) in India lag behind their Hindu (the majority) counterparts, to a large extent, in access to various governmental and non-governmental services, including education, income and employment (Government of India 2006). 3 The northern region comprises Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana (and the union territory of Chandigarh), Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh come under the central region. The eastern region comprises Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Sikkim. The north-eastern region includes Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Nagaland. The western region includes Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, and the two union territories of Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Finally, the southern region comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and the union territories of Pondicherry and Lakshadweep. The categorisation of states into regions is similar to Singh (2011, 2012). 4 See Barros et al (2009) for a formal proof and other properties, especially the range (01) of ISIL and the insensitivity of ISIL to a balanced increase in the outcome analysed. A balanced increase is a situation in which new longevity opportunities are assigned to the socio-economic groups in the same way as the pre-existing ones were in the past. References Auger, Nathalie, Sam Harper and Amadou D Barry (2013): Diverging Socio-economic Inequality in Life Expectancy of Francophones and Anglophones in Montreal, Quebec: Tobacco to Blame? Journal of Public Health, Vol 21, No 4, pp 31724. 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Singh, G K and M Siahpush (2006): Widening Socioeconomic Inequalities in US Life Expectancy 19802000, International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol 35, No 4, pp 96979. Villemez, Wayne J and Alan R Rowe (1975): Black Economic Gains in the Sixties: A Methodological Critique and Reassessment, Social Forces, Vol 54, No 1, pp 18193. Languages that learners bring to school indicate their cognitive potential. Their languages can constitute a space for introducing them to the methods of scientific enquiry. Several other advantages accrue in the process. Assuming that at least two (in some cases three) languages are taught in Indian schools (likely to be true of many other countries), even a conservative estimate would suggest that about 80 to 100 hours per year are spent on the teaching of grammar in different language classes (estimates based on a school working for 190 days and one class of 40 minutes duration). One can imagine the enormity of time invested in this enterprise of notional and prescriptive grammar teaching if one multiplies these hours by eight as grammar teaching starts as early as Class 3 and, in some form or another, goes on till Class 10 at least. This is not only a colossal waste of time of students and teachers, but it also perpetuates wrong and ill-informed grammatical concepts, without bringing about any awareness regarding the nature and structure of language among students. And since all teachers go through such schooling, it ends up being a vicious cycle. Such a situation calls for a comprehensive evaluation of grammar teaching in our schools, particularly when we notice that explicit and prescriptive grammar teaching of this kind hardly plays any role in enhancing the language proficiency levels of learners or their general understanding of the nature and structure of language per se. It should be possible to eliminate all grammar classes from the school timetable and replace them with one Language Period per day. Language will then constitute a space for its creative and innovative use and for engaging students in the processes of scientific enquiry. In fact, we now have evidence that a sensitive focus on language awareness among students leads not only to higher levels of proficiency in language but also enriches cognitive abilities and sociocultural tolerance. What is being proposed here is not a well-informed explicit teaching of the formal aspects of a language but a focus on all the languages available in the classroom to build a space for respect for all languages and to introduce students to the fundamentals of scientific enquiry. Several other advantages accrue in the process. Languages of the Learners We generally treat students as if they are empty baskets in which we need to pour knowledge. We try to organise activity- and play-based learning hoping that students will learn to read with understanding and write creatively with a sense of joy. There is overwhelming evidence to show that this does not happen; students hate schooling and generally end up learning very little. In fact, if we continue insulting the cognitive potential of students, there is very little hope of things improving. These students have cracked the highly complex systems of different languages before they come to school. Instead of building on the cognitive potential of students and engaging them in rational enquiry, we inculcate disinterest for knowledge in them with repetitive exercises of memorising alphabets and numbers and writing decontextualised words and sentences in textual and grammar exercises. Most of our school textbooks are filled with such exercises that prohibit any reflective and critical thinking. As Chomsky (1986, 2001, 2016) has argued, we are biologically programmed to acquire languages. Language acquisition (of one or several languages) depends on two crucial factors: genetically transmitted innate language faculty of human beings and the availability of input that triggers the language faculty. Children are equipped to acquire any languages; they in fact have to unlearn the ones that are not required by their environment. Given the complexity of language, it should be obvious that language is neither teachable nor learnable. One can only trigger and facilitate its acquisition and, with some effort, an appreciation of its nature and structure, and at the same time introduce students to the fundamentals of scientific enquiry. Children arrive in schools with a full-blown linguistic competence that may often consist of several varieties and languages. We need to conceptualise a curriculum and pedagogy that would provide space for the voice of each student. Complex System of Language The grammatical system of language is extremely complex at the levels of sounds, words, sentences, and discourse. Unless we accept the innate language faculty hypothesis, it will be difficult to account for the acquisition of the complexity of language that operates simultaneously in a multidimensional space. At the level of sounds, for example, what distinguishes words like papa, baba, and mama is not that they represent three different people, as most people argue. These people are also called father, grandfather, and uncle; they could equally well be called, say, tandu, utandu, and itandu. The three words papa, baba, and mama are different words only because p, b, and m are different sounds. In fact, these words are different in spite of the fact that they all share the a sound and the sounds p, b, and m are all bilabial (m is also simultaneously nasal); these similarities simply make the acquisition of p, b, and m more challenging and yet all children acquire them effortlessly before the age of three or so. Notice that what is really acquired by children are syllables pa and ba and words papa, baba, etc, as consonants on their own that are not pronounceable; and yet we insist on teaching C for cat and in Hindi k for kabutar, etc. Consider making plurals in the case of nouns in English. In fact, the rule for making plurals in English is simply X O Xz and native speakers of English pick it up effortlessly before coming to school even though the application of this rule is singularly complex. The plural z is realised as s when the word in singular ends with the sounds p, t, and k (cf cup, cat, book, etc); it is realised as iz when the word in singular ends with ch, j, s, and sh (cf church, judge, bus, bush); elsewhere it is realised as z (cf foe, tree, cub, dog, bed, etc; this is indeed a large set and validates the Xz rule). As opposed to the two forms of nouns in English, Hindi has sixthree singular and three plural forms (Agnihotri 2007a: 5055). All Hindi-speakers acquire these forms before coming to school. Both the teachers and students, for example, know that a word like laRke boy(s) can be both singular and plural; it is singular in us laRke ne seb khaayaa (that boy ate an apple) but plural in ve laRke seb khaa rahe hain (those boys are eating apples). But discussion on such issues is not a part of the grammar teaching that takes place in our schools. Children acquiring English as their first language do not have to be taught that the verb which appears with the third-person singular subject in the present tense will be marked by -s as in he eats an apple every day; no such marking is required in the case of I, we, you (singular or plural), and they. In Hindi, on the contrary, the person, number, and gender of the subject have to be normally copied on to the verb; so, laRke khaanaa khaate hain (boys eat food) but laRkiyaan khaanaa khaatin hain (girls eat food). Thus, corresponding to three persons, two genders, and two numbers, there are 12 verbal forms that have to be acquired in each tense in Hindi. Children also figure out that this rule of copying the person, number, and gender of the subject on to the verb will not work in the case of past perfect tense, for example, laRke ne seb khaayaa (the boy ate an apple) where the agreement is with the object seb; even if we change laRke (boy) to laRkii (girl), there will be no change in the sentence. These intricate details are acquired by all children without any explicit teaching by parents or teachers. In fact, such teaching is impossible as this kind of knowledge is subconscious. Let us take another example from English. What is the complexity of grammatical knowledge that informs the making of simple yes/no questions in English? For a sentence such as John is writing a letter, the answer may be simple, that is, switch the first two words to get Is John writing a letter? But one gets stuck when one runs into a sentence like that tall boy is writing a letter because switching the first two words will produce the ungrammatical sentence tall that boy is writing a letter? One will run into more trouble with a sentence such as the boy who is sitting next to you and is wearing a red shirt is making noise. But an English-speaking child knows that it is the auxiliary of the main clause (the last is in this case), which is brought to the front in a yes/no question in English; and this auxiliary jumps over not just a word but whole constituents. Children intuitively know that languages work in terms of constituents and not words; how can we activate this intuitive awareness for awakening inherent linguistic structures (Bhattacharya 2022) and introduce methods of scientific enquiry? Children have the potential to reconstruct this knowledge subconsciously using the rather impoverished input available to them. The input is impoverished because it is often fragmented and irrelevant and is rarely if ever directed towards the language acquisition of children. The lesson for language teachers in schools should be loud and clear: languages are learnt best when the focus is not on language (Prabhu 2019). The focus should instead be on tasks that engage learners comprehensively and where the exposure is rich, challenging, and interesting, thus matching the cognitive capacities of learners (Krashen 1982, 1985); ideally learners select their own texts. Traditional Grammar Teaching Ignoring the intelligence and language potential of learners, we inflict boring and ill-informed grammar teaching on them. For example, in trying to teach English as a second or third language, teachers spend an enormous amount of time on plural formations saying that one makes plurals by adding s, -es, or -ies to nouns. This may be partially true of the plurals as expressed in the letters of the writing system that is learnt only in schools. However, people who never go to school still make plurals all the time; children (native English or those living in urban environments where English is a second language) make accurate plurals before coming to school. Teachers and students (thanks to our education system, no fault of theirs indeed) do not even realise that the -s added to cat sounds very different from the -s added to dog, for example. Or that adding -ies (after deleting the letter y, as in, say, baby) is only a convention of spellings; in actual speech, you simply add z to baby (pronounced bebi). Learners will acquire it on their own once adequate exposure and challenging tasks are ensured. The kind of prescriptive and notional grammar teaching schools engage in fails to clarify any grammatical concepts, and it is no wonder that after 12 years of schooling students leave schools without any clarity about grammatical categories or language structure. For example, when students are taught, say, about noun and verb in one class and sangyaa and kriyaa in another, it is not appreciated that they are addressing the same concepts. Consider, for example, the notional definition of noun taught in English classes (and this is repeated year after year): A noun is used to name a person, place, animal, or thing. Almost the same definition would be repeated in the Hindi and Sanskrit classes (in fact, in any other language being taught in school). Students are told that X (say noun) is used to denote something, but it is not explained to them what after all X is. Abstract nouns such as anxiety, honesty, nausea, etc, do not fit this definition; they are treated separately. Nouns are actually divided into separate categories such as proper, common, collective. There may generally be a section on the gender of nouns in English suggesting that nouns in English have four genders: masculine (boy), feminine (girl), common (teacher), and neuter (chair). All this tells students nothing about the grammatical properties of nouns; in fact, all this teaching is highly misleading. The notional definition is inadequate and insufficient. English actually does not have grammatical gender. It makes no difference to the predicate of an English sentence whether the subject is masculine, feminine, common, or neuter; on the contrary, Hindi does have grammatical gender as the verb does change depending on the gender of the subject except in some special cases. After learning about nouns and verbs for several years, students may not be able to identify them in a given text. There are hundreds of words in English that can function as both nouns and verbs. These, for example, include table, chair, copy, phone, insult, nail, dance, bargain, favour, attack, and cook among others. Chair is a noun when one says I like this chair, but it is a verb when one says she chaired the meeting today. Similarly, when one says It was a beautiful dance, dance is a noun, but when one says she dances beautifully, it is a verb. Nouns are nouns because they can be modified by articles, demonstratives, quantifiers, and adjectives; they can be turned into plurals and because they can be modified by clauses. One can notice some of these properties, for example, in: Those five shining wooden tables that we saw in Kirti Nagar, etc. The essence of language as a biological property of humans (Chomsky 2016: 6) is not only communication, as most people think, but also innovation, reflection, thought, and creativity. If one does not reflect and think, there will hardly be anything to communicate. We do sometimes engage in communication, but more often than not, we use language to reflect and evaluate what we are thinking. Language is typically innovative without bounds, appropriate to circumstances but not caused by them (Chomsky 2016: 8, emphasis added). It is unfortunate that all language teachinglearning takes place in the language for communication model rather than language for innovation and creativity model. If the focus is maintained on creativity, one would engage students in analytical, rational, and reflective exercises. Linguistics in the Classroom In a video,1 K P Mohanan talks about the three ideas that Ken Hale of Massachusetts Institute of Technology introduced his students to: (i) students do not need to wait to come to the university to be introduced to linguistics, that is, the science of language; (ii) they do not need to be taught the content of linguistics; and (iii) linguistics can instead be used to introduce them to the methods of scientific enquiry. The ideas of Hale were quickly picked up by a large number of scholars (Honda et al 2007; Honda and ONeil 2008, 2017) who created problem sets in different languages including English, Mandarin, Spanish, and Navajo and used them to expose a large number of students to the methods of scientific enquiry and also appreciate the systematic and complex nature of language. Note that the methods of scientific enquiry are needed across disciplines, be it mathematics, science, or social sciences. Language is the most potent site to introduce these methods to students at an early stage as they carry all the rich data and the cognitive tools of analysis in their heads. Any class has a multiplicity of languages and language varieties represented in it. We need to capitalise on the linguistic and literary resources that students bring with them. Teachers (after they have received some training in linguistic sensitivity and analysis) only need to introduce a topic with some guidelines and the fundamentals of scientific enquiry will gradually follow as students interact with each other in small groups. They will collect data, classify, and categorise it; they will make observations and build increasingly sophisticated hypotheses that would explain their data; they will learn to evaluate each others claim and seek justifications; this will eventually lead to a process of rational enquiry and self-correction; they will begin to question authority and doubt everything they come across (Mohanan 2013). Examining the multiplicity of languages available in the classroom, students may themselves discover the linguistic similarities and differences represented in the classroom and may soon realise that languages can only differ in a limited number of ways. They will also realise that every language works with a finite set of rules that licence infinite number of sentences. They may, for example, discover that the verb in the languages available in the classroom can either be in the final position (as in Hindi and all Indian languages except Khasi) or in the medial position (as in English); they may also discover on their own that irrespective of the place of the verb, the negative element always gravitates to the verbal complex. Getting acquainted with the methods of scientific enquiry is not the only advantage of privileging the languages of learners in the classroom. A pedagogy rooted in multilinguality (Achmat 1992; Agnihotri 1995, 1997, 2007b, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2021; Garcia 2009; Heugh 2010; Stroud and Heugh 2011) provides a voice to those languages that may otherwise remain silenced in education, encourages social tolerance and respect for other languages, and enriches cognitive abilities of critical analysis and synthesis. In the senior school, focus on critical language analysis may also constitute a subversive space for challenging the unjust use of power (Fairclough 1989, 1992). The state-of-the-art article by Agneta (2007) argues for a cognitive, affective, and social engagement with language; the issue of language awareness becomes particularly significant in cross-cultural and multilingual situations. Agneta (2007: 302) says: Work on cross-cultural language awareness is particularly concerned with the engagement of minority and dominant groups with each others languages and cultures. Regarding language teachers, there seems to be a consensus that to use language awareness effectively, they need both a high level of language awareness and first-hand learner experience of a language awareness approach, for example, from their teacher education courses. As Long and Robinson (1998) argue that the idea is not to focus on discrete forms and memorise rules but on forms in general. Similar proposals may be seen in Nassaji (1999), Bolitho and Tomilson (1995), Bourke (1996), and VanPatten (2002). This work has shown the significance of consciousness-raising activities in language acquisition. Rules are not memorised as was often the case in the grammar translation method; they are logically explained with examples and illustrated. Zareena (2019) quotes several studies to show the significance of consciousness-raising tasks in language learning. What we are suggesting is significantly different from the kind of language awareness proposals outlined in this article; it is also different from the kind of methodology generally followed by Wayne ONeill and his colleagues. For focusing on awareness about language, there is, in fact, no need to teach formal rules explicitly, nor is there any need to approach the classroom with a repository of already prepared problem sets. Trained teachers will work with a rather loosely defined curriculum that would evolve afresh every time they work with a new set of students. It is eminently possible to design tasks for students in which they will themselves discover the grammatical properties of different parts of speech and rules of language structure (Achmat 1992; Agnihotri 2007b, 2010; Bhattacharya 2022). In fact, they could do it in as many languages as are represented in the classroom. Working in peer groups and with minimal help from teachers, students will themselves list the properties of nouns or verbs. The search for formal rules will be located in a series of activities that are located in multilinguality. What is being suggested here is that schools abandon all grammar teaching classes and have one language period every day. The so-called language work done in the literature classes should also be undertaken in this class. This class over a period of time will focus on the nature and structure of language on all levels from sounds to discourse as manifested in different languages available in the classroom. In such a class, the diversity of languages will be considered as a resource rather than as an obstacle. An immediate advantage of this approach would be that students will notice their languages and literature being respected in the class; the hitherto high levels of silence in the class would disappear. Imagine when students themselves approach the teacher to suggest that nouns in English really have no grammatical gender, whereas in Hindi, person, number, and gender of the subject are of a central consequence to the verb. They may discover on their own that in English, in the past tense, it may not matter at all what the person, number, or gender of the subject is I/we/you (sing)/you (pl)/he/she/it/they went there. There is no change in went irrespective of the changes in the subject. In Hindi, in contrast, every time you make a change in the subject, there would be some change in the verb too. A central issue that gets addressed by using languages as a space for scientific enquiry is one of the ultimate objectives of education. Do we wish to continue with the banking (Freire 1971) concept of education where, year after year, students are treated as empty receptacles and unexamined fossilised information is poured into them? Or do we wish to begin to train students to question all strains of authority irrespective of whether they come from teachers, textbooks, parents, or the society itself? The languages of the underprivileged students in particular find no space in the classroom since the whole classroom discourse is in alien dominant languages of the elite. We need to work towards a culture of schooling that supports the empowerment of culturally marginalised and economically disenfranchised students. By so doing, this pedagogical perspective seeks to help transform classroom structures and practices that perpetuate undemocratic life. (Darder et al 2009: 9) Spaces of Scientific Enquiry Can multilinguality create spaces for scientific enquiry and subversion that would help democratic processes? Sohit and Taneja (2016) have been working with highly underprivileged communities of Bhopal in their organisation called Muskaan for a long time. Their classrooms are always characterised by a diversity of languages. They report the results of their work with 25 students in the age group of six to nine years. These students speak languages as diverse as Gondi, Pardhi, Marathi, Urdu, and Hindi; since they live in a major city, their verbal repertoire will have many lexical items from English as well. As proposed here, Sohit and Taneja work with the dialogues produced by the students themselves. With some help, students could identify nouns and their number and gender in different languages; they could also figure out how different languages marked tense (location of an event in time). The linguistic, cognitive, emotional, and social advantages of this exercise were enormous: students found space to articulate their own experiences; they engaged in dialogue with others and tried to defend their claims rationally; no language was considered better or worse than the other and all students wanted to introduce dialogue and stories in their languages; the desire for search and analysis was at work; studying like this was not a burden for the students; and finally privileging multilinguality ensured democratic processes in the classroom. Let us take an example from Rajasthan. A typical classroom in the Mewar region of Rajasthan would at least have speakers of Hindi, Mewari, Marwari, and Gujarati. There may also be some speakers of Bagri and other languages; students will also have some knowledge of English, which is the second/third language in all Indian schools. Let us say that we are in Class 6. The teacher can start by introducing the list of words under English in Table 1 helping students focus on the sounds (and not the spelling) as they make the plurals of these words. After they have finished the exercise over two to three days, they would be able to write these words in the Roman or Devanagari scripts based on how they are spoken. The Mewari and Marwari columns will be filled in by the students themselves. There will indeed be some back and forth initially in the process of transcription but it soon gets settled (Achmat 1992). It does not take students long to understand that the retroflex sounds such as/T, Th, D, Dh, N/are represented by capital letters. It is in this kind of Roman script that the students will learn to write any language. This itself is a great learning for teachers and students: freedom from the bondage of script is a great experience that students enjoy. It is so empowering to feel that one can now write any language in any script with minor modifications. What is achieved in the Roman script can also be done in the Devanagari script. Underprivileged students feel empowered when they realise that their unwritten languages can easily be written in different scripts. It is amazing to note that students on their own figure out the English rule for making plurals and begin to realise the emptiness of the regularly taught -s, -es, and -ies spelling rule. Except for the set of some listed words like child, ox, man, mouse, etc, most nouns will follow the plural rule. When students discover that childchildren is a solitary pair and that what is happening in oxoxen is very different, they get an insight into irregular plurals that is full of joy. It will not be difficult for the students to enlarge the Mewari and Marwari data sets as they begin to formulate hypotheses to describe the data in Table 1. To begin with, they could look for other words like pen that do not change their shape in the plural. They will notice the lexical differences in Mewari and Marwari, leading to a lot of discussion in the class. Notice that all this space belongs to students and the teacher instead is a learner. Then there is a set of words that make their plural by the addition of -aa; notice that it is not the simple addition of -aa, the final short vowel of the singular word needs to be deleted before adding -aa as in TebulTeblaa. Still another strategy is to add the nasalised -aan to the singular. Once again it is not a straightforward case of addition. It is simple in the case of basbasaan, but if the word ends in a long vowel, it has to be shortened before the -aan addition as in mankiimankiyaan. Students will provide additional examples that may support or alter the tentative hypothesis. This is the process of rational enquiry and this works across disciplines. However, no other discipline than language provides a space for an early introduction to the methods to scientific enquiry. Both data and the ability to formulate hypotheses are available in the minds of students. One does not need a lab nor does one need to organise visits outside the classroom to collect objects like stones or leaves to inculcate scientific curiosity. Consider the area of syntax, that is, the art and science of constructing sentences. Sentences from English, Mewari, and Marwari in exhibits (i) to (v) can be analysed here. Once again, the teacher could start by writing the five English sentences on the board, making sure that students understand these. The class now belongs to the students. The focus is here on information-seeking Wh-questions. Once students provide all the data on the board, the teacher could provide some hints like where is the verb in each language? Where is the Wh-word? What changes happen as Wh-questions are formed? Where is the answer located? All the answers are in the sentence itself. (i) English: Mohan eats an apple in the morning in his room. Mewari: Mohan parvaate aapre ovraa men sev khairiyo hai. Marwari: Mohan jhanjhaarke aapre oraa men sev khaariyo hai. (ii) English: Who eats an apple in the morning in his room? Mewari: Parvaate aapre ovraa men kuN sev khairiyo hai? Marwari: Jhanjhaarke aapre oraa men kuN sev khaariyo hai? (iii) English: What does Mohan eat in the morning in his room? Mewari: Mohan parvaate aapre ovraa men kaii khairiyo hai? Marwari: mohan jhanjhaarke aapre oraa men kaii khaariyo hai? (iv) English: Where does Mohan eat an apple in the morning? Mewari: Mohan parvaate kaTe sev khairiyo hai? Marwari: Mohan jhanjhaarke kaTe sev khaariyo hai? (v) English: When does Mohan eat an apple in his room? Mewari: Mohan aapre ovraa men sev kadii khairiyo hai? Marwari: Mohan aapre oraa men sev kad khaariyo hai? Students will soon figure out that English is a verb-medial language, while both Mewari and Marwari are verb-final. They can try this observation against other Indian languages that they may come across such as Hindi, Haryanvi, Malvi, Bundeli, Nimadi, Bhili, and Mewati. Imagine the amount of their joy and surprise when they figure out that almost all Indian languages are verb-final (except Khasi). They will also figure out that in English the Wh-word always appears at the beginning, whereas in Mewari and Marwari, it appears where generally the answer is. Conclusions Most classrooms are by default multilingual. It is possible to treat this diversity as a resource. We also need to respect the linguistic and cognitive potential learners bring to the school. Using the languages of learners, it is eminently possible to introduce them to the methods of scientific enquiry. Respect for different languages, cognitive enrichment, and social tolerance follow as added advantages. Note 1 mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?hl=en_GB#search/mohanan.kp%2540gmail.com/KtbxL. References Achmat, Zackie (1992): Yo Dude, Cosa Wena Kyk A? The Multilingual Classroom, Video/Film, Salt River, South Africa, National Language Project, http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=l74ULxuBM3EAgniho. Agneta ML, Svalberg (2007): Language Awareness and Language Learning, Language Teaching, Vol 40, No 4, pp 287308. Agnihotri, Rama Kant (1995): Multilingualism As A Classroom Resource, Multilingual Education for South Africa, Kathleen Heugh, A Sieruhn and P Pluddemann (eds), Johannesburg, Germany: Heinmann, pp 37. (1997): Multilingualism, Colonialism and Translation, Translation and Multilingualism: Post-colonial Contexts, S Ramakrishna (ed), Delhi: Pencraft International, pp 3446. 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Stroud, C and K Heugh (2011): Language Education, Cambridge Handbook of Sociolinguistics, Rajend Mesthrie (ed), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp 41329. VanPatten, Bill (2002): Processing Instruction: An Update, Language Learning, Vol 52, No 4, pp 755803. Zareena, J M (2019): Effect of Consciousness-raising Tasks on Grammatical Knowledge: A Study of Undergraduate ESL Learners, PhD thesis, English and Foreign Language University, Hyderabad. Reports of Anas Mallick going missing began circulating Thursday night, a day after he had reached Afghanistan. WIONs Pakistan based journalist Anas Mallick, who was in Afghanistan to cover the first anniversary of the Taliban's takeover of the country, was abducted and physically assaulted by the Taliban. However, later Pakistan's ambassador to the neighbouring country Mansoor Ahmad Khan on Friday confirmed that he is safe. Reports of Anas Mallick going missing began circulating Thursday night, a day after he had reached Afghanistan. His fellow journalist was one of the first persons to share the news of Anas Mallick's disappearance Thursday night, in a tweet. He was reported missing the next day after filing a story about the safehouse where the al-Qaeda chief was killed in a drone strike. Anas Mallick had recently interviewed Pakistan Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Council(SCO) meeting in Tashkent. Read more news about (internet advertising India, internet advertising, advertising India, digital advertising India, media advertising India) A new report that the number of ransomware attacks has dropped this year does not mean companies and organizations should lower their guard against these threats. While some experts don't think companies should ever pay ransomware demands, others say it is not such a clear-cut issue. Whether they pay or not, these cyberattacks can create crisis situations for business leaders. 'An Enormous Mistake' "It's an enormous mistake to think that paying ransomware demands will solve anything. The initial payment is only for the start of things," Etay Maor, adjunct professor at Boston College in cybersecurity and senor director of security strategy at Cato Networks said via email. Business leaders "should deprive criminals of any possible economic incentives that would allow them to run future attacks," David Lindner, chief information security officer at Contrast Security, counseled via email. "Moreover, there is no honor among thievespaying a ransom does not guarantee that data will be returned safely and only increases the likelihood of repeat attacks on an organization. The bad actors now know that your system is insecure and that you will pay a ransom," he advised. When Ransom Payments Are Necessary Or Advisable Despite the risks associated with paying ransomware demands, there are some who do not automatically rule it out. "There may be scenarios where payment is necessary or advisable. Organizationsusually critical infrastructureproviding essential services may not have time to restore operations or services, and the impacts may necessitate payment," according to Matthew Baker, a partner at Baker Botts in San Francisco. He focuses on data privacy, cybersecurity, crisis management, and incident response for various industries. "In addition, threat actors may have accessed and stolen business-critical IP or other sensitive proprietary information, the release of which may be extremely damaging. That may necessitate payment to prevent disclosure," he said via email. "Finally, savvy threat intelligence negotiators may arrange for an exchange of vulnerability information in addition to the decryption keys for payment. This can help organizations better understand the contours of an attack to prevent future recurrences. Though a more narrow scenario, this may likewise weigh in favor of payment," Baker observed. 'There Is No Simple Answer' "There is no simple answer to whether an organization should pay the ransomware demand," attorney William J. Roberts co-chair of Day Pitney LLP's Cybersecurity and Data Protection Practice Group said via email. "An organization must carefully consider various factors with its advisors before making a decision." Roberts said those factors include the following: Availability Of Backups "Organizations that have fully or nearly-complete backup copies of the data affected by the ransomware generally don't need to pay a ransomware demand." Operations "A ransomware incident's harm may extend beyond data and may also affect organization operations." Verification Of Data Access "Unless there is clear evidence that your data has been exfiltrated, an organization should consider if the threat actor even has a copy of your data. If they say that they do, ask and verify first." Risk from Release "Even if you have backups of your data, but you confirm that the threat actor in fact has obtained a copy of it, consider the implications of the threat actor releasing the data if a demand is not paid." The Reputation Of The Threat Actor "Much of the above rests upon the belief that a threat actor will in fact release your systems, destroy your data, or not release your data. And all of this requires you to have a certain level of trust that the threat actor won't just take your money and run or won't ask for even more additional payments." Insurance Coverage: "Do you have cyber liability insurance and if so, what does it pay for? Responding to a ransomware incident can be expensive and worth seeing if your coverage will reimburse you for the path you take." Law Enforcement Request "The FBI does not recommend paying a ransomware demand. This is because it doesn't guarantee you will get your systems back online or your data back and it incentivizes threat actors to continue to target companies. And your organization may even become known as an easy mark," Roberts concluded. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. KRUGERSDORP, South Africa (AP) Protesters in the South African city of Krugersdorp beat suspected illegal miners with sticks and set fire to their camps Thursday following the arrests of more than 80 men, some thought to be miners, in connection with the gang rapes of eight women last week. Residents of Krugersdorp's Kagiso township also barricaded roads with rocks and burning tires during a protest against the presence of the miners. They said they were frustrated with high levels of crime that they blame on the illegal miners and the alleged failure of police to deal with them. Some suspected illegal miners were stripped of their clothes and whipped by residents, who also chased others out of their camps and beat and kicked them before handing them over to police. Police responded by firing rubber bullets and stun grenades to disperse the protesters, who also clashed with police officers. In some cases, officers rescued the people being attacked. We want support from the police because the illegal miners are terrorizing us. We cannot simply walk around the neighborhood at night because they rape us," said Nhlanhla Felatsi, who was part of the protest. We recently had an incident where two female security officers were raped by the same people. The police are not protecting us. Police said eight women were raped on July 28 when a television crew filming a music video at a mine dump in the nearby township of West Village was attacked by heavily-armed men, some suspected of being illegal miners. Police said they were investigating 32 counts of rape. The attack was a shocking incident, even for a country used to high levels of violent crime like South Africa. More than 80 men accused of being involved in the gang rapes appeared in court on Monday. Illegal mining is rife in South Africa, with miners known as zama-zamas searching for gold at the many disused and abandoned mines in and around the Johannesburg region. Krugersdorp is a mining city on the western edges of Johannesburg. Illegal mining gangs are considered dangerous by the police, are usually armed and are known to fight violent turf battles with rival groups. The trade is believed to be dominated by immigrants who enter illegally from neighboring countries Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and police said that some of the men suspected of raping the eight women were foreign nationals. That has aggravated the situation and comes at a time when South Africa is seeing an upsurge in xenophobic attacks sparked by locals blaming foreigners for crime in their areas. What upsets me is that we live as though we are not South Africans. How can someone from nowhere come and control us in our community?" said Kagiso resident Thoko Setlhabi. "The people from Lesotho and Zimbabwe are coming into our houses and rape us. You must make sure you and your family are indoors by 6 p.m. When will our children be allowed to be free? Police say they are still analyzing DNA evidence in order to link some of the suspects to the rapes. But residents have criticized the local police force for doing nothing despite warnings from locals that illegal miners were operating in the area as part of larger crime syndicates. We are not fighting only against the zama-zamas (illegal miners), but we are fighting against the entire crime. Our police must stand up, our police must pull up their socks, said Kabelo Matlou, a local government official. Clearly something is wrong here. If somebody takes out gold here, where are they taking it? Our political leaders must come together and sort this out, he said. A bookkeeper who embezzled $291,000 from Centro San Antonio expressed remorse for her criminal conduct at her sentencing Friday, but that didnt spare her federal prison time. Alicia Henderson, 60, who now goes by Alicia Padilla, pleaded guilty in 2020 to charges of wire fraud and making a false statement on an income tax return and received concurrent 33-month sentences on each charge. She also must serve three years of supervised release and pay about $356,000 in restitution. I take full responsibility and realize my actions were inexcusable, she said to U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez before he delivered the sentence. I am sorry, judge. Do not give up on me. Rodriguez said he would have been very sympathetic had this been her first run-in with the criminal justice system. She pleaded guilty to felony bank fraud in 1997 and was charged twice with theft by check more than 30 years ago. I dont know how you were even hired by Centro, the judge said. Padilla came to Centro from a temp agency and was hired without a background check, an organization official said previously. The embezzlement sparked financial turmoil at Centro, a public-private nonprofit created to help beautify downtown, and threatened to cripple its operations. It led to the resignation of its CEO and president. It also raised questions about whether the organizations leaders and city officials should have uncovered the misconduct sooner. William Luther, Staff Photographer / Staff photographer She controlled the books almost completely, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Blackwell told the judge. Understand, Centro management was wholly negligent in the running of this operation. They turned over almost the entire finances to Ms. Henderson with almost no oversight. Blackwell urged the judge to sentence her within the sentencing guideline range of 33 to 41 months, while her attorney asked for probation. Attorney David Christian said his client accepted responsibility for her wrongdoing when she was caught and spilled the beans to Centros lawyers and auditors to make everything easier for everyone. He attributed her actions to mental health issues. Why does somebody do this? Christian said. I dont know why other than mental health is really what I come back to. Padilla, who changed her surname after a 2018 divorce, has been seeing a psychiatrist weekly and is on medication. She served as Centros staff accountant and officer manager, responsible for paying paying the organization's bills. That included preparing the bills Centro submitted to the city every month for expenses ranging from sidewalk cleaning to downtown research to employee salaries. Blackwell said the thefts began almost immediately after she was hired in mid-July 2014 and continued until November 2017, when she was caught. She wrote 118 checks to herself on Centros bank account at Jefferson Bank over that period. She forged Centro executives signatures and deposited the checks into her own bank account. She disguised the payments to herself as payments to various vendors in Centros internal accounting systems, her plea agreement said. She used the money to pay personal expenses. S.A. VOTES Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas runoff election A breakdown of key state and local races and candidates in the May 24 primary runoff. This was long-standing, significant criminal conduct of a sophisticated means, Blackwell said. Rodriguez ordered Padilla to continue receiving mental health treatment. She cannot hold any type of job that involves the handling of money or financial transactions without first getting approval from the probation office. She has until early January to turn herself in to begin serving the sentence. Centros board members blamed former former CEO Pat DiGiovanni and Chief Financial Officer Tony Piazzi for mismanaging the nonprofit and failing to follow adequate internal controls. DiGiovanni resigned after the fraud was discovered and Piazzi left the organization in 2018. I would like to take this time to sincerely apologize to Centro, Padilla said, trying to compose herself. I especially want to apologize to Pat DiGiovanni and Tony Piazzi. I can never take back the damage I caused and that I am sorry for. Centro acts as an advocate for the downtown community, including business owners and real estate developers. It also has a multimillion-dollar contract with the city to manage the downtown public improvement district, or PID, which collects property taxes to perform extra services such as street sweeping and graffiti removal. pdanner@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JOHANNESBURG (AP) Violence against illegal miners in South Africa spread Friday despite calls for restraint from the country's president, following the arrests of more than 80 men, some thought to be miners, over the gang rapes of eight women last week. Miners' camps were torched and roads around the townships of Munsieville and Bekkersdal outside the town of Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg, were barricaded with rocks and burning tires as residents protested against the presence of illegal miners. Many of the miners are migrants from other African countries, and the violence has raised concerns over xenophobia. Police said eight women were raped on July 28 when a television crew filming a music video at a mine dump in the township of West Village near Krugersdorp was attacked by heavily-armed men, some thought to be illegal miners. Police said they were investigating 32 counts of rape. Local residents enraged at the incident torched illegal miners' camps in the neighboring Kagiso township on Thursday, and attacked miners whom they stripped naked and beat before handing them over to the police. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday condemned the violence in Kagiso. We need to distinguish between legitimate protest and criminality, addressing the concerns and grievances of communities while acting to prevent loss of life and destruction of property," he said. We can all understand the public outrage in Kagiso sparked by the gang rape of eight young women last week and we all deeply and sincerely share in the pain of the victims, their families and the neighboring communities, Ramaphosa added. Kopanang Africa, an advocacy group against xenophobia in South Africa, has warned that the recent events in Krugersdorp were dangerously fueling anti-migrant sentiment. Unfortunately, because some of ... the illegal miners would be undocumented migrants, this has created an element of xenophobic politics where people say all illegal immigrants must go and all foreigners must leave the country, said Kopanang Africa spokesman Dale McKinley. He said some people were taking advantage of the legitimate concerns of the community to further their own agendas. When the protests started, we started seeing political formations that have clear xenophobic policies taking advantage and making irresponsible and immature statements for their own purposes," he said. Researcher and analyst Ziyanda Stuurman told The Associated Press that communities frustration at the deterioration of policing and their living conditions contributed to their anger. South Africa suffers from rising poverty levels, 35% unemployment, an electricity crisis and stagnant economic growth. People are living in incredibly tough economic conditions and they feel desperately unsafe, and an issue like this sparks those emotions that have been there for a very long time, Stuurman said. She likened the situation to the social unrest and riots in South Africa in July last year, where more than 400 people in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces died. South Africas national police commissioner and other senior government officials are expected to hold large community meetings in Kagiso and Krugersdorp over the weekend to discuss illegal mining and crime in the area. Occidental Petroleum is planning a series of massive industrial projects in Texas to pull tens of millions of tons of carbon dioxide out of the air, and the company is seeking substantial state tax breaks to help finance the operations. The projects would be the first commercial-scale operation of a long-shot technology that is gaining increased attention from governments and corporations for its potential to help curb climate change. In recent months, Occidental has applied to school districts in the Odessa area and near Corpus Christi for property tax abatements that could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars if the company completes the projects. The applications include new details about the scale of the companys planned investments in carbon removal potentially tens of billions of dollars over the next decade and fresh insight into how Occidental is trying to finance these plans by assembling a package of federal and state tax breaks, climate incentives, a burgeoning corporate market for carbon offsets and even the sale of oil. On ExpressNews.com: Huge corporations are saving $10 billion on Texas taxes, and youre paying for it Some policy experts and scientists say technologies that remove carbon dioxide from the air could one day play a small but important role in helping the world achieve the Paris Agreements ambitious targets of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. These efforts remain prohibitively expensive, however, a fact underscored by Occidentals applications, which say the projects cannot move forward without taxpayer support. Carbon removal has also generated controversy within the environmental community. Some activists are concerned the technologies could be used as an excuse to weaken efforts to cut emissions from fossil fuels. Many also say that the technologies, which use considerable energy, could have their own damaging environmental impacts. Making lots of money Commission Shift, a Texas advocacy group, has raised concerns about the Texas Railroad Commissions oversight of oil and gas wells and, potentially, of underground injection of carbon dioxide. I think its kind of absurd, Virginia Palacios, the organizations executive director, said of the possibility that Occidental could receive the state tax abatements. Its supposed to be a public benefit, but ultimately, its a private company thats going to be making lots of money. Because Texas has no income tax, the state depends on property taxes to fund schools and other services. The tax abatements in question, known as Chapter 313 agreements, allow a company to pay school taxes on only a fraction of its true property value for a decade. The program was meant to help draw investment to the state, but academic analysis and an investigation by Hearst Newspapers found that it has rewarded companies with billions of dollars in benefits for projects that likely would have been built anyway. In response to criticism of the program, state lawmakers let it expire this year, leading to a wave of applications that could be grandfathered in for projects that might not be built until the 2040s, in some cases. I think its just important to have some scrutiny over these applications to determine whether theyre actually incentivizing a company to set up shop or not, Palacios said. Occidental has applied for other state tax benefits, and it has already been awarded at least one other 10-year property tax abatement for one of the projects by Odessa College, a public junior college. Under state law, local school districts and colleges approve the property tax abatements. It is unclear how much the abatement from Odessa College could be worth, but Gary Johnson, the chair of the colleges board of trustees, said any loss of revenue would be justified if the tax break generates investment and jobs. Right now, theres nothing there at all, Johnson said of the property, adding that the college would eventually collect full tax revenue from the project after the abatement expires. Occidental said it had submitted tax limitation applications through its subsidiary, 1PointFive. Spokesman Eric Moses said the subsidiary was formed to help curb global temperature rise to advance the Paris Climate Agreement goals by developing and commercializing technologies that provide practical decarbonization solutions on an industrial scale. He said each direct air capture plant will reflect a significant investment in the communities where they are built. There are reasons to doubt that Occidental can achieve the scale described in the applications. Carbon removal technologies remain nascent; the largest operation is a project in Iceland that captures 4,000 tons per year, and there are no truly commercial-scale operations. Occidental is under no obligation to build the projects, even if the applications are approved. You have to be careful how seriously you take these, said Nathan Jensen, a professor of government at the University of Texas at Austin who has studied the tax abatements. Its almost like an options contract. Still, the last year has brought a wave of interest and investment from governments and corporations that could help nudge the concepts into reality. The infrastructure bill passed by Congress last year directed $3.5 billion to help build direct air capture hubs around the country, and the CHIPS Act recently signed by President Joe Biden added an additional $1 billion for research and development. Microsoft, Alphabet, Stripe, United Airlines and other major corporations have pledged billions more in investment, with United investing directly in Occidentals efforts. Occidental is positioning itself to be the first large corporation to bring the technology to commercial scale. It announced plans in 2020 to build a direct air capture plant in the Permian Basin area of Texas and New Mexico, and has said it would initially be able to capture 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The tax abatement filings show that the Ector County Independent School District in Odessa already has approved Occidentals application for the initial project, granting tax breaks under Chapter 313 that could be worth $50 million over a decade if the project is completed. The company has said it will begin construction this year. Occidental also has applied for a Chapter 313 tax abatement from the Riviera Independent School District, along the Gulf Coast southwest of Corpus Christi. In March, the company announced plans to build up to 70 direct air capture plants globally by 2035. But the tax abatement applications provide the first details about the timing, location and cost of those projects. The filings describe plans to build a series of 14 direct air capture projects over the next 15 years at two sites, one outside Odessa and the other in Riviera. If all are completed, the applications say, they would eventually be capable of capturing 56 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The total investment would reach into the tens of billions of dollars. In 2025, the applications say, Occidental plans to invest about $2 billion in three projects at the two sites. The companys entire capital budget for this year, most of which will go to oil, gas and chemical production, is expected to be about $4 billion. The Odessa operations would sprawl over 1,600 acres on a site known as Shoe Bar Ranch, which was historically a cow-calf operation covered with native pasture, mesquite and greasewood. The ranch is close to many oil wells operated by Occidental. Essentially a public good For decades, oil companies have been using carbon dioxide to help squeeze oil out of depleted reservoirs, generally using carbon dioxide that has been mined from underground deposits. With nearby deposits drying up, Occidental wants to start using carbon dioxide captured from the atmosphere or from smokestacks to extract the oil. Because most of the carbon dioxide remains in the reservoir after extraction, the company and some independent experts say it is possible to store as much or more of the gas than the carbon dioxide emitted when the oil is eventually burned. This potential has prompted Occidental to begin marketing a new product it calls net-zero oil, describing any crude it produces using captured carbon dioxide. It signed an agreement with a South Korean refiner to sell its first batch. S.A. VOTES Voter Guide: What to know for the Texas runoff election A breakdown of key state and local races and candidates in the May 24 primary runoff. Long term, Occidental has said that it will use carbon dioxide to pump oil and produce chemicals or other products, and it will store carbon dioxide underground for customers who want to buy credits to offset their own emissions. It has announced one of these offset deals with Airbus, the European aerospace giant. Federal tax credits provide another revenue stream. Under current law, Occidental would eventually be eligible to deduct $35 from its taxes for every metric ton of carbon dioxide it captures and uses to produce oil, or $50 for every metric ton that it stores permanently. But if the tax and climate bill championed by Senate Democrats becomes law, those figures would leap to $130 or $180 per metric ton. Under these higher credit values, Occidental could be eligible to receive $65 million a year for 12 years for the first project, even if it used the carbon dioxide to pump more oil. Subsequent direct air capture operations could be far larger, potentially generating more than $1 billion annually. Occidental is also seeking approval from regulators in California to sell carbon credits in that states low-carbon fuels market, which is intended to lower the emissions of the states transportation sector. If it is successful, refiners in California would be able to avoid selling lower-carbon fuels by buying credits from Occidental for pumping carbon dioxide underground in Texas. These arrangements have drawn harsh criticism from many environmentalists, particularly environmental justice organizations, who say they could perpetuate the production and use of oil. But some environmental groups say all this government support is critical to help launch what could be an important tool for limiting warming. Overall, carbon removal is essentially a public good, said Katie Lebling, an associate in the climate program at the World Resources Institute. Theres no market for it, theres no need for people to purchase it, so I think there has to be a role for government in supporting that, especially in the beginning. Lebling and other supporters of carbon removal technologies say these projects need to be deployed rapidly to provide meaningful contributions to limiting warming. But it is that same speed that concerns other environmental advocates, who say too little is known about the potential impacts of the technologies. Assess those risks The tax abatement applications provide the first concrete timelines showing that construction could proceed rapidly. I think its concerning that its moving so fast, Palacios said. The public doesnt really know a lot about this. It is unclear what types of state or federal environmental permits Occidentals direct air capture plants might require. The company declined to say whether any will be necessary. Occidental has said its direct air capture operations would be powered by a combination of renewably generated electricity and natural gas, and that it would capture the carbon dioxide emitted by burning the gas. It is unclear exactly where those supplies would come from, but it could require drilling new gas wells and constructing new wind or solar farms. The company has not yet applied to the federal Environmental Protection Agency to store carbon dioxide underground in Texas, meaning that the only current option for injecting the gas would be into old oil and gas wells to help increase fossil fuel production. I think we just need to be cautious about jumping into some of these new technologies where we know there are risks, Palacios said, and we havent really taken the time to assess those risks. This story is published in partnership with InsideClimate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Frances Hall, the Helotes woman convicted of murder in 2016 for knocking her husbands motorcycle off Loop 1604 as she chased his lover in another vehicle, has been indicted on an insurance fraud charge, accused of underpaying more than $9 million in premiums. Hall, 59, was indicted June 30 by a Travis County grand jury, accused of participating in a scheme that started years before she killed her husband and continued until her prison sentence removed her from control of Bill Hall Jr. Trucking. Between 2009 and 2016, Hall provided false payroll information to Texas Mutual Insurance Company and concealed payroll reports to get lower premiums for the San Antonio gravel hauling business the couple built together, the Texas Department of Insurance said Thursday, citing an investigation by its Workers Compensation Division. A warrant for her arrest was issued July 8, according to court records. Hall faces a charge of securing execution of a document over $200,000, a first-degree felony. She turned herself in to Bexar County authorities this week and was released after posting a $20,000 bond. Bill Hall Jr. died of his injuries in the 2013 chase. The jury at Frances Halls 2016 trial didnt buy her story that it was an accident but gave her the lowest possible prison sentence. Related: Frances Hall, convicted of killing husband 2 years ago, heads back to San Antonio Frances denies the allegations in the indictment and looks forward to her day in court so she can exonerate herself, said her attorney, Leigh Cutter of San Antonio, who was part of the defense team at the murder trial. In the meantime shell continue to be the best she can for her family and grandbabies. Cutter added that Hall has received an unprecedented outpouring of support from many people. Shes a good woman, Cutter said. Officials said the ongoing insurance scheme allowed the company and its owners to avoid more than $9 million in premium payments, according to a statement released Thursday by the state agency. It quoted Travis County prosecutor Jessica Bergeman saying that workers comp fraud is far from a victimless crime. The Texas workers compensation system is funded through premiums that employers pay, she said. The system relies on the integrity of all who participate to ensure that workers compensation is viable and able to protect injured workers. Frances Hall was on South Loop 1604 on Oct. 10, 2013, in her Cadillac Escalade SUV when she saw the Range Rover she owned with her husband being driven by Bonnie Contreras, his lover of three years. Bill Hall Jr. was driving his motorcycle and following Contreras when the womens eyes met as they drove in opposite directions, according to testimony at the murder trial, which became a local courthouse spectacle and eventually drew national tabloid TV attention. When Frances Hall saw them, she turned around, caught up with the Range Rover and rammed it, Contreras told the jury, and the trio embarked on a highway chase that ended when the Escalade and motorcycle collided. Bill Hall was thrown from his bike and died later that day at a local hospital. Frances Hall who continued to follow Contreras but finally drove back to the scene of the crash was later arrested. A Bexar County jury convicted her after a three-week trial before a packed courtroom that featured numerous experts and other witnesses, including both of the women with whom the victim was involved. Frances Hall sobbed throughout her testimony, telling the jury that she never meant to kill her husband of 32 years and the love of her life. More local crime: Jury finds man who ran over ex-wife in San Antonio guilty of murder Frances Hall faced five to 99 years or life in prison, but State District Judge Jefferson Moore allowed the jury to consider that Hall acted under sudden passion when deciding punishment. The jury decided that she had, and it lowered the first-degree felony punishment to that of a second-degree felony, with a possible sentence ranging from two to 20 years. The jury assessed two years on the murder charge, and two years on an aggravated assault against Contreras. The sentences were served at the same time and Hall was released from prison in 2018. If Hall is convicted in the fraud case, she faces up to life in prison and fines up to $10,000. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Seventeen families, many emotional and a few in tears, celebrated the realization of a long-sought goal of becoming first-time homebuyers, despite the effects of the pandemic. Angelica Gonzalez said her daughter cant wait to paint her bedroom something not allowed in the place shes been renting. Thank you for making my daughters dream come true to own a home, Gonzalez said to more than 100 people at a Habitat for Humanity house dedication ceremony Friday in the Rancho Carlota subdivision on the Southwest Side. On ExpressNews.com: Habitat for Humanity starts fall campaign In spite of a shortage of building materials that has driven up costs, along with rising land prices and a decline in volunteer labor, Habitat for Humanity met its goal of building 51 houses in Bexar County per year in 2020 and 2021. Its on track to build 56 houses this year, including three in Guadalupe County. But with spiraling home values, the number of people applying to Habitat for zero-interest mortgages and willing to commit 300 hours of sweat equity at a construction site has exploded. Last year, the chapter received 4,300 applications, up 37 percent from 2020. The community has really come together. But we need that going forward because now the need is just so much greater, said Stephanie Wiese, vice president of Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio & Guadalupe Valley. The need for home ownership is really unbelievable. As the global economy wrestled with COVID-19, the cost of a standard 2-by-4 board jumped from $1.75 to $8, then fell to $5. A plywood roofing sheet similarly climbed from $7 to $55, then leveled off at $23. Habitat for Humanity, an ecumenical Christian nonprofit, used its 100,000 square feet of warehouse space to manage those material costs by purchasing in bulk items for storage when prices fell or were discounted. But skilled labor costs have risen. Related: Nothing like a home to call your own Two years ago, when we started building this subdivision in 2020, our houses were costing $95,000 apiece. Now theyre costing about $115,000, Wiese said. The local chapter, created in 1976, shortly after the international Habitat program was launched to address a global shortage of affordable housing, normally has about 14,000 volunteers annually. But it saw a 75 percent drop in volunteers in 2020. The number of volunteers has rebounded, but this summers triple-digit temperatures have forced many to work shorter shifts. Amid the challenges, celebrations like the one Friday are all the more joyous for the first-time homebuyers. Wiese said the San Antonio Housing Trust, private foundations, individual donors and the city and county, which provide street and infrastructure funding, have given critical support. This is everything for the families, who have endured a yearlong process, including attendance at 17 homeowner readiness classes, Wiese said. Veronica Canisalez was among the new homeowners who thanked Habitat and its volunteers from Valero, St. Luke Catholic Church and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for making their dreams a reality. Canisalez, who moved in with her daughter about 10 days earlier, also praised her mother for helping her meet the required volunteer work hours. On ExpressNews.com: Property appraisal protests set record for Bexar County Were really excited about getting to know our neighbors and getting ready for a new school year, Canisalez said. After 20 years of renting, Tiffney Taylor said shell drop to her knees to pray for thanks when she gets the keys to her home later this month. Im so grateful. Im so happy, said Taylor, who will move into a house with her mother, after the ceremony. It means Im not going to have to work so hard because my mortgage is going to be reasonable. Taylor, a 40-year-old medication aide at a nursing home, thanked volunteers from St. Francis and St. Luke who built me a beautiful home. Some of them, I think, are going to become longtime friends, she said. City Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia provided backpacks for the children and recognized a dozen high school and college interns who toiled in the heat this summer for Habitat in its tenth year of providing paid opportunities for students to gain hands-on skills and experience. The students not only invested in their futures, but they selflessly invested in this wonderful community and the futures of the families that we celebrate today, Garcia said. shuddleston@express-news.net Enjoyed your article (last Sunday on the Red Carpet club and restaurant). Those were the days! When I arrived (in San Antonio) from Baylor Law School in 1968, we didnt want to wait on jury verdicts in the depressing halls of the courthouse. So we would tell the bailiff to call us when the jury came back. No cellphones then, of course. We didn't really need to tell the bailiff where to call, because he knew we would be at the Carpet. When our firm was awaiting the jury verdict on the suit over the damages for the negligence of the company that was lifting the HemisFair 68 Tower of the Americas restaurant and caused the damages when the lifting cables broke, we Sol Casseb, Dayton Wiley, Dick Keene, Franklin Houser, Peter Plumb, Roy Brock, Joe Segrato, John Hohman and others were at the Red Carpet, where there was always a man who was holding open the front door when you drove or walked up. The Carpet also organized events such as busing us and our insurance-adjustor friends and clients to the offsite showing of the Ali/Frazier fights in the mid-1970s. Maybe you could tell us about the history of the Old San Francisco Steakhouse next. The girl on the swing and the blocks of cheese at every table are locked in my memory bank. Robert Allen Catch up on last weeks column: From club days to restaurant era, San Antonios Red Carpet served up style Whoa, Tower of the Americas lifting cables broke and a suit for damages? Yes, sure, we can look at the Old San Francisco Steakhouse, but first what happened to the Tower, and whose fault was it? For a building that has become a symbol not only of the 1968 Worlds Fair but a skyline-defining icon of San Antonios visual identity not unlike the Eiffel Tower for the 1889 Worlds Fair in Paris the theme structure of HemisFair 68 had some troubled beginnings. The cable-snapping incident was minor, compared with the prolonged haggling over its funding and contract negotiations over the cost of its construction. The design by revered local architect ONeil Ford was criticized for looking too much like the Space Needle built for Seattles 1962 Worlds Fair, which it did a stockier version of its tower concept, both with revolving concessions and an observation deck near the top. (Ours had a height advantage, 750 feet to their 605 feet.) Named through a public contest, HemisFairs tower dodged a bullet when runners-up such as Astroshaft were passed over in favor of the popular choice, Tower of the Americas, submitted by 68 people as a good match for the fairs bumpy but good-hearted theme, The Confluence of Civilizations in the Americas. (Compare with the snappy futurism of New York 1939, The World of Tomorrow; Chicago 1933, Century of Progress, or Seattles Living in the Space Age.) More from Paula Allen: Club Abrazo was HemisFair '68's VIP room Once construction of the tower was underway, the project had a tight deadline. The start date was Aug. 9, 1966, and the fairs opening date was April 6, 1968. The complicated project that included a 622-foot concrete shaft, elevators, a revolving tophouse and finish-out for all the public areas, including a fancy restaurant, was one of only a few structures built for the fair that were expected to be permanent, and it had less than two years to soar safely above the fairgrounds. The HemisFair construction period was a nail-biting numbers game. Reports were released regularly on how far behind or ahead of schedule various structures or areas were in relation to the hard opening day, which had been announced worldwide years before ground was broken. Days-ahead and days-behind goals bobbed up and down like stock prices as opening day ticked closer. A tower had been chosen for the fairs theme structure because it was supposed to pay for itself, not just during the fair but with ongoing tourism. Long after the international pavilions were empty, visitors were expected to add a swoopy elevator ride to enjoy its panoramic views to their downtown sightseeing route, just behind visits to the Alamo and the River Walk. But there would never be so many visitors at once as there would be during the six months of the fair. More from Paula Allen: Celebrity cow-milking contest held at top of Tower of Americas during HemisFair 68 Lifting rods had broken due to high winds from Hurricane Beulah in September 1967 and had been replaced by comparable ones. The Tower was about 30 days behind when the doughnut-shape tophouse took a slight tumble during the night of Oct. 30-31, 1967. The next morning, workers found the tophouse tilted and discovered that three lifting rods or cables out of the 24 used for lifting it had given way overnight. No one was hurt, and damages were estimated at $20,000, probably mostly the cost of replacing the rods, as reported in the San Antonio Light, Oct. 31, 1967. Work halted for a few weeks as the contractors, Darragh & Lyda, searched for a solution. A tension study commissioned from Southwest Research Institute determined that replacements needed to double in weight; new rods 12 instead of the original 24 were ordered from a Pennsylvania supplier who would purchase top-quality oil-well drill-stem rods. Once these arrived, in mid-November 1967, delays were compounded by the need to remove all the old rods and to replace them with the new ones, which were attached to hydraulic jacks. Then the tophouse could be hoisted another 14 feet so that work on its bottom levels could continue. These next stages were projected to take about three weeks. Construction supervisor Elmer Joiner, for co-contractor Darragh & Lyda the hometown firm working with Houstons H.A. Lott told the Light, Nov. 15, 1967, that it should be possible to finish the tower on time, although we didnt have enough time to build it to begin with. More from Paula Allen: Confluence Theater at HemisFair Windy conditions were a further drag on the process of taking out and putting in the new rods, and the contractor started working through the weekends. Only once the replacement work was completed could the crew return to work on the tophouse, which was to have ventilation ducts and sprinkler equipment installed, before pulling it farther up the concrete shaft. By mid-December 1967, Murphys Law Anything that can go wrong will go wrong appeared to have well and truly kicked in when the contractors ran into a shortage of the skilled workers needed to put the aluminum cover on top of the tophouse and had to send for reinforcements from out of town. The cover was the layer that would hold the windows in and form the base of its roof. Then, during the first week of January 1968, four months from HemisFairs opening, the crane at the top that lifted the tophouse anywhere from 15-25 feet a day blew a fuse and burned out an electric coil. A replacement part couldnt be found locally, and work paused again. Whenever possible, by mid-January, work was continuing through the night, unless it was so cold men and machines couldnt function. Despite power failures, high winds and thunderstorms, the construction crews gritted it out, and the tophouse was raised but not ready to open on April 6, 1968, along with the rest of HemisFair. When the Tower opened for its vertical tours, April 11, 1968, the tophouse still was not quite ready for visitors. The first meal wasnt served in its restaurant until April 16, 1968. More from Paula Allen: Fiesta carnival in shadow of Tower The lawsuit filed April 13, 1968, by the general contractors, Darragh & Lyda and H.A. Lott, against local subcontractor Texstar Construction Co., which bought the steel rods and bolts, and Pennsylvania-based Stressteel, which sold them, took longer to resolve than it did to build the tower. Lyda-Lott, as the tower construction partners were by then known, said that the other two firms either sold them the wrong rods (Texstar) or had designed them poorly (Stressteel) and were thus negligent and liable for $700,000 in damages ($273,685 actual, $500,000 exemplary or punitive), in compensation for the contractors costly scramble to make up for lost time. First Stressteel, incorporated in Delaware, contended that Texas district courts didnt have jurisdiction, since it technically didnt do business in Texas. But that didnt stop the suit. Lyda-Lott tried for a summary judgment, a decision by a judge without a trial, but it was denied Sept. 30, 1969. The resulting trial in 45th District Court finally got started Nov. 2, 1970. More from Paula Allen: HemisFair construction erased neighborhood Jurors heard 26 days of testimony about the twice-snakebit rods. It was the second-longest trial ever heard by Judge Robert R. Murray, as observed by the Light, Dec. 2, 1970. The trial concluded Dec. 31, 1970, with a take-nothing judgment in favor of Lyda-Lott, owing to the jurys findings in favor of the general contractors, while the judge ruled that they were not entitled to damages. Of the other permanent HemisFair structures, the U.S. Pavilion and Confluence Theater/John H. Wood Jr. Federal Courthouse has been replaced by a new federal courthouse, and there is ongoing discussion of a move for the Texas Pavilion/Institute of Texan Cultures. While the city-owned Tower of the Americas is funded for improvements to preserve its concrete shaft, its still going strong, despite its early ups and downs. historycolumn@yahoo.com | Twitter: @sahistorycolumn | Facebook: SanAntoniohistorycolumn WASHINGTON D.C.- After a battle in the Senate, The Senate moved to expand health care benefits for veterans affected by toxic burn pits. U.S. Senator Jon Tester, who is the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee has been a fierce advocate for the passage of the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act of 2022. The final vote was 86-11. Senator Tester delivered an emotional speech on the Senate floor last week when the bill failed, on the phone with our Bradley Warren he said hes happy that the senate finally got it right. I feel a lot better today than I did last week, Tester said immediately following the passage. Look, the emotions are different, Tester said, Im very proud of the Senate for doing the right thing for making sure were doing the right thing for the men and women who serve this country. The senator now says the real work begins. We have to make sure the VA executed this bill in the way that Congress intended, and I have confidence in Secretary McDonough that he will get that done, Tester said, its going to require a lot of work and its going to require people working together. The senator attributes the victory to the people who took an active role in democracy. We asked Senator Tester how he felt about his colleague Senator Steve Daines voting against the legislation last week. Via email Senator Daines said: I was glad to vote for the PACT Act to deliver disability and health benefits earned by Montana veterans suffering from toxic exposure that occurred during their military service, Daines said. In recent days, I worked to ensure the VA is held accountable for meeting the needs of these veterans while also preventing big spenders in Washington from funding unrelated programs. While Im disappointed these improvements did not pass, the PACT Act passed with my full support. I look forward to it becoming law in the very near future. Tester said he feels Daines made a mistake last week and was happy that he was given the proper information for the vote this week. Comedian Jon Stewart was an adamant supporter of the legislation and joined forces with Senator Tester. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 5, 2022) - J4 Ventures Inc. (TSXV: JJJJ.P) (the "Company") announces that its Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Poirier, entered into a Settlement Agreement with the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC"). Mr. Poirier was formerly the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Bearing Lithium Corp. ("Bearing"). Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, Bearing (then known as Bearing Resources Ltd.) admits that it retained Stock Social Inc. ("SSI"), a marketing company, to conduct investor relations and that SSI disseminated advertorials and social media posts about Bearing (collectively, the "Promotional Materials") during the period of January 2017 to February 2017 and failed to ensure such Promotional Materials disclosed they were issued on behalf of Bearing, which is a contravention of section 52(2) of the Securities Act (British Columbia) (the "Act"). Mr. Poirier, who was the Chief Executive Officer and a director of Bearing at such time, admits that he authorized, permitted or acquiesced in Bearing's contravention of section 52(2) of the Act and therefore contravened the same provision. Bearing has paid the BCSC $25,000 in settlement of the matter and Mr. Poirier has paid the BCSC $10,000 in settlement of the matter. The Settlement Agreement will be available on the BCSC's website (www.bcsc.bc.ca) by typing in 2022 BCSECCOM 293 in the search box. On behalf of the board of directors of the Company: Jeremy Poirier Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 604-722-9842 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133035 DGAP Post-admission Duties announcement: Adtran Holdings, Inc. / Third country release according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] Adtran Holdings, Inc.: Release according to Article 50 of the WpHG [the German Securities Trading Act] with the objective of Europe-wide distribution 06.08.2022 / 13:14 Dissemination of a Post-admission Duties announcement according to Article 50 Para. 1, No. 2 WpHG transmitted by DGAP - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 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. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - August 6, 2022) - A Decentralized Finance (DeFi) token on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC), Saudi Shiba Inu, has launched its token on the Ethereum network to attract investors on the Ethereum Chain. This development comes two weeks after the project was launched on the BSC network. Saudi Shiba Inu To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8939/132990_3d7b887cf4f08a62_001full.jpg Saudi Shiba Inu, simply known as SAUDISHIB, was created on the 21st of July 2022 on the BSC network and already has a good number of holders with an earlier All-Time-High of $300,000 Market Capitalization on the BSC network. However, the Saudishib Ethereum launched on the 29th of July 2022 to create an opportunity for crypto investors on the Ethereum Chain to trade Saudi Shiba Inu just like the investors on the BSC network.The Developer of Saudi Shiba Inu simply identified as Sir Doggidoge alongside other members of his team from Europe and America said they aim to bridge the gap between token and Coin by introducing some utilities. Sir Doggidoge in a press statement, said the launch of the Ethereum Chain will be beneficial to all Saudi Shiba Inu holders because the team will bridge the two networks together, thus strengthening the foundation of the project overall. Sir Doggidoge said the Saudi Shiba Inu underwent an Audit and KYC (Know Your Customer) in a bid to display some level of transparency and avert possible panic from crypto traders. The Developer noted that Saudi Shiba Inu is listed on CMC and CG, making it easy for the project to be tracked. According to him, Saudi Shiba Inu aims to have several utilities ranging from Staking Pools, Saudi Shiba Inu Wallet, a DEX Swap, development of a meme coin exchange and Special NFT Platform and matervese integration. The statement which highlighted the tokenomics said that 2% of every transaction is distributed to holders via automatic reflections whilst 6% buy and 8% sell are automatically sent to the token's Liquidity Pool. The token has One Quadrillion ( 1,000,000,000,000,000) total supply. The Saudi Shiba Inu's team on the 31st of July, 2022 added a PASSIVE BURN feature to the Tokenomic, a few days after the Ethereum launch. With the recently added feature, a certain percentage of reflection in every transaction will automatically be sent to Saudi Shiba Inu's dead wallet and this was geared towards decreasing the supply. Telegram: https://t.me/SAUDISHIBAINU Website: https://saudishibatoken.com/ ------------------------------------ Media Contact - Company Name: Saudi Shiba Inu E.mail: contact@saudishibainu.com Website: https://saudishibatoken.com/ Name: Stephen Bronk Country: Germany To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/132990 Galveston, TX (77553) Today A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 83F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 83F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. SANTA ANA, Calif., Aug. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Optimum Employer Solutions is very pleased to receive its designation as a Certified* Professional Employer Organization (CPEO) by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This designation affirms that the company responsibly manages federal payroll administration and tax reporting and payments for their clients. The rigorous application and vetting process to receive IRS approval validates Optimum's credibility as a knowledgeable and trusted Human Resources services company, named one of the Best Places to Work in Orange County every year since 2016. "I want to acknowledge our team for their hard work and diligence in achieving this CPEO designation," says Optimum's President and Founder Kevin Gramian. "It's validating to know that our expertise, systems, and processes meet rigorous IRS standards, and to give our clients peace of mind that we stand with and behind their payroll and tax filing." About Certified PEOs Companies voluntarily apply for the PEO certification process and must meet and maintain stringent regulatory and legislative requirements that include their viability as a company, bonding and key employee background checks, tax compliance history and quarterly CPA attestations, and annual independent audits. Benefit to Clients As a CPEO, Optimum takes care of the detailed work and responsibility of an HR administration department, for their clients - and offer greater legal and financial protection. This includes managing all aspects of benefits, payroll, tax filing and reporting, and compliance with ever-changing laws and regulations. This co-employer partnership means clients can focus on managing and growing their company and employees, day-to-day, with the reassurance that Optimum meets the IRS' strict criteria for knowledge, security, and professionalism. About Optimum Employer Solutions Optimum Employer Solutions was founded with the goal of helping small businesses survive, thrive, and compete for the best talent by giving them access to resources and benefits typically only found at very large companies. As a single, knowledgeable partner, we help our clients to focus on their core business and save time and money by handling all their HR, benefits, and payroll needs. Optimum Employer Solutions appeared on OCBJs Best Places to Work list from 2016 to 2022; and on Inc. Magazine's Fastest Growing Private Companies list from 2011 to 2018. *Certification by the IRS does not imply endorsement of one company over another. We Care About Your Humans www.optimumhr.net Media Contact: Jenafer Elin 949.208.9216 jenafere@optimumhr.net Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Washington, Aug. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman , head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) a nd the voice for America's 33 million small businesses in President Biden's cabinet, issued the following statement on today's signing of the Paycheck Protection Program and Bank Fraud Enforcement Harmonization Act and the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Fraud Statute of Limitations Act . "America's 33 million small businesses are giants in our economy and vital for communities across America. Thanks to the President's leadership, America's small business economy is open and growing. In this Administration's first year alone, 5.4 million Americans applied to start new businesses, 20 percent more than any other year on record. And their success is powering our nation's economic recovery, supporting strong job creation and historic unemployment. "Millions of small business owners will tell you that PPP , COVID EIDL , and other critical relief programs at the SBA were vital to their ability to reopen, rebuild and grow. President Biden was committed to getting funds into the hands of the businesses that it intended to serve. The SBA course-corrected on critical relief programs plagued with challenges and scaled our systems to manage risk, reduce fraud and abuse, and ensure good stewardship of taxpayer resources across our programs. "We reinstated basic controls stripped under the previous Administration and leveraged technology to raise the bar on security while always putting customer experience with speed and certainty first. As a result, the SBA has been able to crack down on abuses and clear application backlogs while ensuring legitimate businesses and the smallest of small businesses still had a clear path to access the emergency financial lifelines. "Despite our great progress, we know some of the loans approved under the previous Administration were not legitimate. I have personally worked closely with Inspector General Hannibal Ware and our dedicated teams to ensure transparency and track down the people who abused these relief programs so they can be held accountable. This legislation extends the runway for those investigations and the prosecutions they support. "I want to thank the bipartisan leadership in the House and Senate, including House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velazquez and Ranking Member Blaine Luetkemeyer, for getting this legislation passed, and I am so pleased to stand with President Biden as he signs it into law." ### About the U.S. Small Business Administration Data from the Phase 3 SPIRIT program showed MYFEMBREE reduced menstrual pain and non-menstrual pelvic pain in premenopausal women with endometriosis, and a loss of mean bone mineral density of less than 1% from baseline through one year of treatment Myovant and Pfizer will continue to jointly commercialize MYFEMBREE, with product available immediately Myovant to host conference call and webcast on Monday, August 8, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time / 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time BASEL, Switzerland and NEW YORK, Aug. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved MYFEMBREE (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) as a one-pill, once-a-day therapy for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis in pre-menopausal women, with a treatment duration of up to 24 months. The approval is supported by one-year efficacy and safety data, including 24-week data from the Phase 3 SPIRIT 1 and SPIRIT 2 trials, which were published in The Lancet, and the first 28 weeks of an open-label extension study for eligible women who completed either SPIRIT 1 or SPIRIT 2. MYFEMBREE also is approved for heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in pre-menopausal women. Myovant and Pfizer will continue to jointly commercialize MYFEMBREE in the U.S. and product is available immediately. Endometriosis is a painful, chronic disease with limited therapies to manage symptoms, said Juan Camilo Arjona Ferreira, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Myovant Sciences, Inc. The new MYFEMBREE indication helps advance our mission to redefine care for women by helping address a disease with high unmet need, giving women and physicians a new meaningful treatment option to manage moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. This approval is an important milestone reflecting Pfizer and Myovants commitment to womens health in areas of significant unmet need, said James Rusnak, M.D., Ph.D., Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer, Internal Medicine and Hospital, Global Product Development at Pfizer. We look forward to making MYFEMBREE available to women with endometriosis and broadening their options in managing this complex disorder. MYFEMBREE offers an effective, once-daily treatment option for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, with a treatment duration of up to 24 months. Endometriosis is a serious chronic condition that requires long-term interventions. Optimization of medical therapies is the recommended treatment paradigm.1,2,3 MYFEMBREE introduces an option for up to two years of pharmacological management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis in pre-menopausal women. The data from the SPIRIT studies showed the clinical benefit that relugolix combination therapy can have on moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis and how it can impact patients, said Linda Giudice, M.D., Ph.D., Distinguished Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Chair, SPIRIT Program Steering Committee. This newly approved option for patients with pain from endometriosis offers the convenience of one pill taken once daily with a mean change in bone mineral density of <1% that did not appear to worsen at 12 months of treatment; however, monitoring is recommended. This approval is supported by one-year data from the Phase 3 SPIRIT program, which included two 24-week multi-national clinical studies (SPIRIT 1 and SPIRIT 2) in more than 1,200 women with pain associated with endometriosis, as well as the first 28 weeks of an open-label extension study to assess its longer-term use. Overall, these studies showed MYFEMBREE reduced menstrual pain and non-menstrual pelvic pain with a loss of mean bone mineral density of less than 1% from baseline through one year of treatment.4 SPIRIT 1 and 2 each met their co-primary endpoints with 75% of women in the MYFEMBREE group in both studies achieving a clinically meaningful reduction in dysmenorrhea compared with 27% and 30% of women in the placebo groups at Week 24, respectively (both p <0.0001). For non-menstrual pelvic pain, treatment with MYFEMBREE demonstrated a clinically meaningful reduction in pain in 59% and 66% of women, compared with 40% and 43% of women in the placebo groups (p < 0.0001). Adverse reactions occurring in at least 3% of women treated with MYFEMBREE and greater than placebo were: headache, vasomotor symptoms, mood disorders, abnormal uterine bleeding, nausea, toothache, back pain, decreased sexual desire and arousal, arthralgia, fatigue, and dizziness. The open-label extension study for eligible women who completed either SPIRIT 1 or SPIRIT 2 showed mean bone mineral density loss of less than 1% from baseline through one year of treatment; some patients (19.7%) had losses >3%. Annual bone density measurement is recommended while treating women for endometriosis. MYFEMBREE is available immediately to patients with moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis with a prescription from their healthcare provider. Myovant and Pfizer also are committed to supporting women in the U.S. who are prescribed MYFEMBREE throughout their treatment journeys. The MYFEMBREE Support Program provides access support services, including insurance benefits checks, prior authorization support, co-pay support for commercially insured patients, and patient assistance for qualifying uninsured patients. Program terms and conditions apply. For more information and additional resources, please contact 833-MYFEMBREE (833-693-3627), 8 a.m. 8 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday Friday. Myovant Conference Call Myovant will hold a conference call on Monday, August 8, 2022, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time / 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time to discuss the FDA approval of MYFEMBREE for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis. Investors and the general public may access the live webcast here. The live webcast can also be accessed by visiting the companys investor relations page of Myovants website at: https://investors.myovant.com/. About Endometriosis Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining is found outside of the uterine cavity, which often causes disruptive symptoms like painful periods, fatigue, pain in the lower back and abdomen, heavy menstrual bleeding, and even painful or difficult sexual intercourse. For endometriosis-associated pain, current treatment options include prescription and over-the-counter pain medications, combined oral contraceptives, progestins, danazol, GnRH agonists and antagonists, and surgical interventions. Endometriosis can also impact general physical, mental, and social well-being, requiring a multi-disciplinary approach to care. Approximately 190 million women suffer from symptoms of endometriosis globally.5 In the U.S., there are approximately 7.5 million premenopausal women with endometriosis and approximately 75-80 percent of them are symptomatic.6,7,8,9 Many women with pain associated with endometriosis are not able to manage their pain symptoms with current treatment options, underscoring the high unmet need for this disease.10 It can take between four and eleven years to get an endometriosis diagnosis11,12,13 and for some women, current treatment options do not provide relief.14 About MYFEMBREE MYFEMBREE (relugolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate) is a once-daily oral treatment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, with a treatment duration of up to 24 months. It is also currently available in the U.S. for the management of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids in premenopausal women, with a treatment duration of up to 24 months. MYFEMBREE contains relugolix, which reduces the amount of estrogen (and other hormones) produced by ovaries, estradiol (an estrogen) which may reduce the risk of bone loss, and norethindrone acetate (a progestin) which is necessary when women with a uterus (womb) take estrogen. For full prescribing information including Boxed Warning and patient information, please click here. Indications and Usage MYFEMBREE is indicated in premenopausal women for the management of: Heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine leiomyomas (fibroids) Moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis Limitations of Use : Use of MYFEMBREE should be limited to 24 months due to the risk of continued bone loss which may not be reversible. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION BOXED WARNING: THROMBOEMBOLIC DISORDERS AND VASCULAR EVENTS Estrogen and progestin combination products, including MYFEMBREE, increase the risk of thrombotic or thromboembolic disorders including pulmonary embolism, deep vein thrombosis, stroke and myocardial infarction, especially in women at increased risk for these events. MYFEMBREE is contraindicated in women with current or a history of thrombotic or thromboembolic disorders and in women at increased risk for these events, including women over 35 years of age who smoke or women with uncontrolled hypertension. CONTRAINDICATIONS MYFEMBREE is contraindicated in women with any of the following: high risk of arterial, venous thrombotic, or thromboembolic disorder; pregnancy; known osteoporosis; current or history of breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive malignancies; known hepatic impairment or disease; undiagnosed abnormal uterine bleeding; known hypersensitivity to components of MYFEMBREE. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Thromboembolic Disorders: Discontinue immediately if an arterial or venous thrombotic, cardiovascular, or cerebrovascular event occurs or is suspected. Discontinue at least 4 to 6 weeks before surgery associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, or during periods of prolonged immobilization, if feasible. Discontinue immediately if there is sudden unexplained partial or complete loss of vision, proptosis, diplopia, papilledema, or retinal vascular lesions and evaluate for retinal vein thrombosis as these have been reported with estrogens and progestins. Bone Loss: MYFEMBREE may cause a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD) in some patients, which may be greater with increasing duration of use and may not be completely reversible after stopping treatment. Consider the benefits and risks in patients with a history of low trauma fracture or risk factors for osteoporosis or bone loss, including medications that may decrease BMD. Assessment of BMD by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is recommended at baseline in all women. During treatment, periodic DXA is recommended for women with heavy menstrual bleeding due to uterine fibroids; in those with moderate to severe endometriosis pain, annual DXA is recommended. Consider discontinuing MYFEMBREE if the risk of bone loss exceeds the potential benefit. Hormone-Sensitive Malignancies: Discontinue MYFEMBREE if a hormone-sensitive malignancy is diagnosed. Surveillance measures in accordance with standard of care, such as breast examinations and mammography are recommended. Use of estrogen alone or estrogen plus progestin has resulted in abnormal mammograms requiring further evaluation. Suicidal Ideation and Mood Disorders (Including Depression): Evaluate patients with a history of suicidal ideation, depression, and mood disorders prior to initiating treatment. Monitor patients for mood changes and depressive symptoms including shortly after initiating treatment, to determine whether the risks of continuing therapy with MYFEMBREE outweigh the benefits. Patients with new or worsening depression, anxiety, or other mood changes should be referred to a mental health professional, as appropriate. Advise patients to seek immediate medical attention for suicidal ideation and behavior and reevaluate the benefits and risks of continuing MYFEMBREE. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor antagonists, including MYFEMBREE, have been associated with mood disorders (including depression) and suicidal ideation. Hepatic Impairment and Transaminase Elevations: Steroid hormones may be poorly metabolized in these patients. Instruct women to promptly seek medical attention for symptoms or signs that may reflect liver injury, such as jaundice or right upper abdominal pain. Acute liver test abnormalities may necessitate the discontinuation of MYFEMBREE use until the liver tests return to normal and MYFEMBREE causation has been excluded. Gallbladder Disease or History of Cholestatic Jaundice: Discontinue MYFEMBREE if signs or symptoms of gallbladder disease or jaundice occur. For women with a history of cholestatic jaundice associated with past estrogen use or with pregnancy, assess the risk-benefit of continuing therapy. Studies among estrogen users suggest a small increased relative risk of developing gallbladder disease. Elevated Blood Pressure: For women with well-controlled hypertension, monitor blood pressure and stop MYFEMBREE if blood pressure rises significantly. Change in Menstrual Bleeding Pattern and Reduced Ability to Recognize Pregnancy: Advise women to use non-hormonal contraception during treatment and for one week after discontinuing MYFEMBREE. Avoid concomitant use of hormonal contraceptives. MYFEMBREE may delay the ability to recognize pregnancy because it alters menstrual bleeding. Perform testing if pregnancy is suspected and discontinue MYFEMBREE if pregnancy is confirmed. Risk of Early Pregnancy Loss: MYFEMBREE can cause early pregnancy loss. Exclude pregnancy before initiating and advise women to use effective non-hormonal contraception. Uterine Fibroid Prolapse or Expulsion: Advise women with known or suspected submucosal uterine fibroids about the possibility of uterine fibroid prolapse or expulsion and instruct them to contact their physician if severe bleeding and/or cramping occurs. Alopecia: Alopecia, hair loss, and hair thinning were reported in phase 3 trials with MYFEMBREE. Consider discontinuing MYFEMBREE if hair loss becomes a concern. Whether the hair loss is reversible is unknown. Effects on Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism: More frequent monitoring in MYFEMBREE-treated women with prediabetes and diabetes may be necessary. MYFEMBREE may decrease glucose tolerance and result in increased blood glucose concentrations. Monitor lipid levels and consider discontinuing if hypercholesterolemia or hypertriglyceridemia worsens. In women with pre-existing hypertriglyceridemia, estrogen therapy may be associated with elevations in triglycerides levels leading to pancreatitis. Use of MYFEMBREE is associated with increases in total cholesterol and LDL-C. Effect on Other Laboratory Results: Patients with hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism may require higher doses of thyroid hormone or cortisol replacement therapy. Use of estrogen and progestin combinations may raise serum concentrations of binding proteins (e.g., thyroid-binding globulin, corticosteroid-binding globulin), which may reduce free thyroid or corticosteroid hormone levels. Use of estrogen and progestin may also affect the levels of sex hormone-binding globulin, and coagulation factors. Hypersensitivity Reactions: Immediately discontinue MYFEMBREE if a hypersensitivity reaction occurs. ADVERSE REACTIONS: Most common adverse reactions for MYFEMBREE (incidence 3% and greater than placebo) were: Heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids : vasomotor symptoms, abnormal uterine bleeding, alopecia, and decreased libido. : vasomotor symptoms, abnormal uterine bleeding, alopecia, and decreased libido. Moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis: headache, vasomotor symptoms, mood disorders, abnormal uterine bleeding, nausea, toothache, back pain, decreased sexual desire and arousal, arthralgia, fatigue, and dizziness. These are not all the possible side effects of MYFEMBREE. DRUG INTERACTIONS: P-gp Inhibitors: Avoid use of MYFEMBREE with oral P-gp inhibitors. If use is unavoidable, take MYFEMBREE first, separate dosing by at least 6 hours, and monitor patients for adverse reactions. Combined P-gp and Strong CYP3A Inducers: Avoid use of MYFEMBREE with combined P-gp and strong CYP3A inducers. LACTATION: Advise women not to breastfeed while taking MYFEMBREE. About Myovant Sciences Myovant Sciences aspires to redefine care for women and for men through purpose-driven science, empowering medicines, and transformative advocacy. Founded in 2016, Myovant has executed five successful Phase 3 clinical trials across oncology and womens health leading to three regulatory approvals by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for men with advanced prostate cancer, women with heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids, and pre-menopausal women with moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis, respectively. Myovant also has received regulatory approvals by the European Commission (EC) and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids and for men with advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Myovant has a supplemental New Drug Application under review with the FDA for updates to the United States Prescribing Information (USPI) based on safety and efficacy data from the Phase 3 LIBERTY randomized withdrawal study (RWS) of MYFEMBREE in premenopausal women with heavy menstrual bleeding due to uterine fibroids for up to two years. Myovant also is conducting a Phase 3 study to evaluate the prevention of pregnancy in women with uterine fibroids or endometriosis. Myovant also is developing MVT-602, an investigational oligopeptide kisspeptin-1 receptor agonist, which has completed a Phase 2a study for female infertility as part of assisted reproduction. Sumitovant Biopharma, Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., is Myovants majority shareholder. For more information, please visit www.myovant.com. Follow @Myovant on Twitter and LinkedIn. About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients Lives At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @PfizerNews, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer. Myovant Sciences Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this press release, forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, all statements reflecting Myovant Sciences expectations, including: statements regarding Myovants aspiration to redefine care for women and for men; the expectations regarding the continued commercialization of MYFEMBREE by Myovant and Pfizer jointly in the U.S. and the timeline of product availability; the expectations that MYFEMBREEs indication helps advance Myovants mission to redefine care for women by helping address a disease with high unmet need, giving women and physicians a new meaningful treatment option to manage moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis in Dr. Arjona Ferreiras quote; the expectation of making MYFEMBREE available to women with endometriosis and broadening their options in managing this complex disorder in Dr. Rusnaks quote; and the expectations of the MYFEMBREE Support Program for patients and the features of such program. Myovant Sciences forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors known and unknown that could cause actual results and the timing of certain events to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including unforeseen circumstances or other disruptions to normal business operations arising from or related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. Myovant Sciences cannot assure you that the events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could materially affect Myovant Sciences operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties listed in Myovant Sciences filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including under the heading Risk Factors in Myovant Sciences Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on July 27, 2022, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented, or superseded from time to time. These risks are not exhaustive. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Myovant Sciences management to predict all risk factors, nor can Myovant Sciences assess the impact of all factors on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on the forward- looking statements in this press release, which speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, Myovant Sciences undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements. Pfizer Disclosure Notice The information contained in this release is as of August 5, 2022. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments. This release contains forward-looking information about MYFEMBREE (relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg), a new indication in the U.S. for the management of moderate to severe pain associated with endometriosis in pre-menopausal women, and a collaboration between Pfizer and Myovant Sciences to develop and commercialize relugolix in advanced prostate cancer and womens health, including their potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among other things, uncertainties regarding the commercial success of MYFEMBREE; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical endpoints, commencement and/or completion dates for clinical trials, regulatory submission dates, regulatory approval dates and/or launch dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable new clinical data and further analyses of existing clinical data; the risk that clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations and assessments by regulatory authorities; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from the clinical studies; whether and when applications may be filed for any other potential indications for MYFEMBREE; whether and when regulatory authorities may approve any such applications for MYFEMBREE that may be pending or filed, which will depend on myriad factors, including making a determination as to whether the products benefits outweigh its known risks and determination of the products efficacy and, if approved, whether MYFEMBREE will be commercially successful; decisions by regulatory authorities impacting labeling, manufacturing processes, safety and/or other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of MYFEMBREE; whether our collaboration with Myovant Sciences will be successful; uncertainties regarding the impact of COVID-19 on Pfizers business, operations and financial results; and competitive developments. A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com. Myovant Sciences Contacts Investor Contact: Uneek Mehra Chief Financial and Business Officer Myovant Sciences, Inc. investors@myovant.com Media Contact: Noelle Cloud Dugan Vice President, Corporate Communications Myovant Sciences, Inc. media@myovant.com Pfizer Contacts: Media Relations PfizerMediaRelations@Pfizer.com +1 (212) 733-1226 Investor Relations IR@Pfizer.com +1 (212) 733-4848 1 American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), Treatment of pelvic pain associated with endometriosis: a committee opinion. Fertil Steril. 2014;101(4):927-35. 2 Becker CM et al. ESHRE guideline: endometriosis, Human Reproduction Open. 2022 Feb 26;2022(2): hoac009. 3 Taylor HS et al. Endometriosis is a chronic systemic disease: clinical challenges and novel innovations. Lancet 2021;397(10276):839-52 4 Giudice LC, et al. Lancet. 2022 Jun; 399(10343): 2267-2279. 5 Adamson, G. et al. Journal Endometriosis. 2010; 2:3-6 6 US census 2019 (table 1; approx. 75 million women in the US ages 15-49). Available online at https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=United%20States&t=Age%20and%20Sex 7 Shafrir. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2018 Aug; 51:1-15 8 Fuldeore Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2017;82:453-461 9 Bulletti J Asist Reprod Genet 2010 10 Becker CM, et al. Fertil Steril. 2017 Jul;108(1):125-136. 11 Zondervan KT, et al. NEJM. 2020;382(13):12441256 12 Nnoaham KE et al. Fertil Steril. 2011;96(2):366.e8373.e8 13 Ballard K et al. Fertil Steril. 2006;86:1296301 14 Soliman et al. J Womens Health. 2017. 26(7): 788-797 NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Aug. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bangladeshi businesses in New York City have enjoyed a wave of popularity. The prominence of the community and culture is solidified in a newly approved bill renaming MacDonald to Church in Brooklyn, Little Bangladesh. Photo: US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries with Bangladeshi Community Leader and former Bangladesh Foreign Advisor Zahid F. Sarder Saddi. Bangladeshi Activist Zahid F. Sarder Saddi publicly voiced appreciation for Representatives Gregory Meeks, Hakeem Jeffries, Yvette Clarke, and Grace Meng for their support and passion in providing care for the Bangladeshi Community. On Thursday, July 14th the New York City Council approved the bill, renaming MacDonald to Church in Brooklyn, Little Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi community has been instrumental in shaping New York City as a whole, and the rename is an effort to reflect that. Support of New York House Representatives from the 5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th districts has proven indisposable in the drive needed to accomplish the win. US House Representative Gregory Meeks of New Yorks 5th Congressional District upholds consistent support of Bangladeshi people both domestically and overseas. As Chairman of the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Meeks has shown strong support of human rights for the community worldwide. Rep. Meeks has also shown consistent support for the Bangladeshi community in New York City, even attending many community events such as the Bangladeshi Independence Day celebrations. Photo: US Congressman Jeffries Rejoices with Bangladeshi People Amidst Community Win. Representative of New Yorks 8th Congressional District, Hakeem Jeffries, also has spoken about the Bangladeshi communitys important role in New York City, and has attended community events for many holiday celebrations. Rep. Jeffries says that he is proud to represent the Bangladeshi-American community of New York City. Rep. Yvette Clark has similarly been a strong advocate for the Bangladeshi people in her work representing New Yorks 9th Congressional District. Rep. Clark has advocated for offering greater human rights and humanitarian support, specifically when a historic cyclone hit Bangladesh and India in 2017. Photo: Bangladeshi Community Leader and former Bangladesh Foreign Advisor Zahid F. Sarder Saddi with US Congresswoman Yvette Clark. Representative of New Yorks 6th Congressional District, Grace Meng, has a track record of supporting the Bangladeshi community both in the United States and overseas, advocating for the minority Hindu community of Bangladesh as well as Bangladeshi people at large. According to a recent study, 40% of New York City taxi drivers hail from South Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Prior to the pandemic, Asians in New York City owned 23% of all businesses. Bangladeshi New Yorkers by these accounts make a significant contribution to the city economically. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi also thanks US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY), Mayor Eric Adams, and the New York City Council for their unflinching support of the Bangladeshi community. This initiative is a celebration of the many contributions made by the Bangladeshi community in New York City, says Bangladeshi Community Leader Zahid F. Sarder Saddi, Foreign Advisor to the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo: Bangladeshi-American Community Supporters Rejoice as Little Bangladesh is Declared in NYC. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi has been involved in the Bangladeshi-American Community for over 25 years. He is an influential civil society leader that receives consistent praise for his efforts in playing a major role in drumming up support and facilitating action to carry the voice of Bangladeshi-Americans to lawmakers. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi has taken action on the behalf of Bangladeshi community members worldwide. He has done work during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the Bangladeshi community in its efforts to open numerous vaccine clinics to guarantee access for many people who may have otherwise not received vaccines. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi has spoken out against human rights abuses when he addressed the UN earlier this year, as well as speaking with US congress, and other governmental bodies. Working closely with smaller bodies as well, such as New York City Council and the mayors office, to ensure the well-being of the Bangladeshi-American community. Photo: Bangladeshi Community Leader and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F. Sarder Saddi. On the importance of culture to the Bangladeshi community of New York City, Zahid F. Sarder Saddi says, As a society, were dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Bangladesh for people who have emigrated from Bangladesh, but still wish to keep the history, traditions, and culture of their home country alive. From providing taxi services to newsstands, from small businesses to doctors, the Bangladeshi community makes crucial contributions to New York Citys economy and culture. At every corner of NYC business, the medical sector, and even occupying a third of the NYPDs traffic division, this community provides essential support to its city. Community leaders like Zahid F. Sarder Saddi continue their work to ensure the voices of the growing community of Bangladeshis living in the United States are heard. About: Zahid F. Sarder Saddi is an influential civil society leader, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He helps Bangladeshi expatriates assimilate into life in the United States while also preserving their own values and traditions. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi works with several organizations, and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world. To learn more about Zahid F. Sarder Saddi, please visit www.ZahidFSarderSaddi.com or reach out to Zahid F. Sarder Saddi at info@zahidfsardersaddi.com HINGHAM, Mass., Aug. 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carl Iberger is proud to announce the creation of a new award for students studying human resources. The $1,000 award will be given to one student each year who demonstrates excellence in the field of human resources. Mr. Iberger created the award in order to help promote innovation and change in the workplace. He believes that HR teams are essential to finding and retaining talent, and he wants to encourage students to focus on improving the employee experience. Mr. Iberger is an experienced CFO that has been in the field for over 35 years. In his many years, he has had a hand in finance, accounting, and management in different companies. He was even one of the four founders that helped turn a start-up company into a multimillion-dollar diagnostic company. That is why, he can not stress enough the importance of good education and knowledge in changing workplace dynamics saying, "If we want our businesses to succeed, we need to invest in the people who will make that happen." He believes that a companys human capital is its most important asset. Human resources teams are responsible for finding and retaining the talent a business needs to achieve its objectives. From talent acquisition to labor relations, HR teams play a vital role in ensuring that a company has the people it needs to succeed. He encourages the employees to come forward with unique ideas that can influence the entire industry of business management and HR as he knows firsthand that creative problem solving and out-of-the-box thinking are essential to success in business. The Carl Iberger Scholarship of $1,000 is a recognition of the important role that HR teams play in businesses of all sizes. It is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of HR professionals everywhere. This award is just one way of showing how much he values the contribution that HR teams make to businesses and society. He further adds a few lines emphasizing the importance of education that the employees must possess in order to grow as a team and an individual saying "It is essential that we invest in the education of our workforce. By doing so, we ensure that our businesses have the talent they need to succeed." Mr. Ibergers commitment to promoting excellence in the field of human resources is evident in his creation of this award. He believes that by supporting HR students, we can help create a more innovative and effective workforce. He concludes by saying, "The workplace is changing rapidly and the role of HR is evolving along with it. I believe that education can play a vital role in helping people understand and adapt to these changes. With the right knowledge and skills, we can all make a positive impact on the world of work." About: Carl Iberger is a veteran in the field of accounting and finance, with over 35 years of experience in the industry. He has held many high-level positions throughout his career, including CFO and partner at a diagnostic company. He is known for his ability to forge strong partnerships with CEOs. China-built modern railway helps unleash Kenya's economic potential 10:29, August 06, 2022 By Bai Lin and Naftali Mwaura ( Xinhua NAIROBI, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Gloria Chahonyo was in her element as she recounted how the China-built 480 km Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has enlivened the catering business where she has worked for two decades. Chahonyo, now operations manager at Bamburi Beach Hotel, located on the pristine northern fringes of Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, noted that since its launch five years ago, the modern railway has boosted tourist arrivals at the voguish getaway. "The SGR is a great idea, it opened up the coastal tourism circuit. We are receiving many local and foreign tourists now that the SGR has made traveling to Mombasa faster and affordable," Chahonyo told Xinhua in a recent interview. Pointing at crowds of mostly local tourists relishing an evening walk at the scenic beachfront, Chahonyo believed that the seamless mobility is largely underpinned by the China-built commuter train service. INJECTING ECONOMIC VITALITY Launched on May 31, 2017, the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR, financed mainly by China and constructed by China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), has injected fresh vitality into Kenya's economic pillars, including tourism, manufacturing and agriculture, through enhanced mobility of passengers, goods and services. James Macharia, Kenya's cabinet secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, praised the SGR, saying: "It is an extremely good experience in the last few years, it is the only railway that broke even within about five years of operation, actually about six months ago." "We can expect a lot more profitable operations going forward," he said. Philip Mainga, the managing director of state-owned Kenya Railways Corporation, noted that the SGR has become a dominant player in Kenya's pursuit of inclusive growth. Mainga believed the modern railway has revolutionized transportation of passengers and bulk cargoes along its corridor, stimulated commerce and investments besides fostering skills transfer and job creation for local youth. "When you look at what the SGR has done in the last five years, it has contributed to growth of GDP and per capita income in the country," said Mainga. As a signature project of China-Kenya bilateral cooperation and a critical component of the Belt and Road Initiative, the Mombasa-Nairobi SGR is projected to contribute 2 to 3 percent to the country's GDP, according to Mainga. The modern railway has transported 20 million tons of cargo and about 8 million passengers in the last five years, elevating Kenya's status as a regional manufacturing, trade and logistics hub, said Mainga. He added that as a strategic infrastructure project, the SGR is aiding the realization of Kenya's two flagship socio-economic transformation blueprints -- the Vision 2030 and the Big Four Agenda. Cosmas Makewa, the station master at the Mombasa SGR terminus, noted that its positive impact on the local economy has been phenomenal. "The SGR has been a game changer to our economy. It has reduced the cost of importing goods and transporting them to inland container depots, to the benefit of manufacturers and consumers." Beatrice Mbiku, a female cashier at a nearby restaurant, said that a large influx of travelers has made her business thrive and create additional jobs for local youth. BOOSTING REGIONAL INTEGRATION The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR and the additional 120-km Nairobi-Naivasha SGR that was launched in October 2019 have revolutionized the hauling of bulk cargoes to the hinterlands, says Edward Opiyo, the terminal manager at Nairobi Freight Terminals Limited, a logistics firm. Opiyo said that it takes eight hours to transport bulk cargoes like raw materials from the Mombasa port to an inland container depot in Nairobi using the SGR freight service, as opposed to around two days using the century-old Meter Gauge Railway constructed by the British colonialists. "The SGR is an important part of the Northern Corridor which connects the port of Mombasa to hinterland destinations including in neighboring countries. It provides the most practical means of moving goods in large volumes," said Opiyo. He added that thanks to the modern railway, logistics firms have built a cordial relationship with major clients like importers, since they are able to transport bulk cargoes in a speedy, cheaper, efficient and environmentally-friendly manner. Besides easing congestion at the Mombasa port, the Mombasa-Nairobi-Naivasha SGR has reduced transit hours and the cost of hauling bulk cargoes to neighboring landlocked countries, injecting fresh vitality into regional supply chains, said Opiyo. According to Mainga, the SGR is offering an economic lifeline to East African Community member states through speedy ferrying of bulk cargoes. The SGR has been linked with the meter gauge railway to facilitate the hauling of bulk cargoes from Naivasha Inland Container Depot to Malaba town, which borders Uganda, for onward ferrying to the wider east and central African region. ENHANCING LOCALIZATION Harrison Kinyanjui, a 26-year-old economics major, has benefited from rigorous training provided by Afristar Railway Operation Company, the SGR operator, since he was recruited by the firm in February 2017. Thanks to the much-needed training on railway operation and management from Chinese tutors, Kinyanjui progressed quickly to become the first Kenyan to work at the SGR Dispatch Center in Nairobi. "Our work is to organize train operations using a centralized traffic control system in the Dispatch Center, which is the brain and heart for all SGR train operations," said Kinyanjui, who is currently the assistant superintendent of the dispatch center. "The Chinese experts have taught us very well. They now have the confidence to leave us to work independently and we are very, very proud that we came here not knowing anything about train dispatching but we are now very competent," he added. Kinyanjui said that besides receiving professional training, he has also gained critical life inspirations from the Chinese colleagues. John Pius, a 32-year-old mechanical engineering major, also benefited from the skills transfer. He joined the first cohort of independent Kenyan locomotive drivers in February. During its five years of safe operation, the modern railway has provided a platform for Kenyans to hone their skills, grow their careers and earn a decent income. "Now our people are able to run the operations, to drive their locomotives, to carry on with signal work, to repair and maintain our wagons," Mainga said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Siemens Energy should prove that the German turbine concerned said a Russian energy provider is not covered by sanctions against Moscow. The German firm had accused Gazprom of insincerity by making up excuses not to get the crucial pipeline component. This comes as the capacity of Nord Stream 1 is down to 20% of its natural gas capacity, with supplies dangerously low as well. Sanctions Limit Gas Supply for the Bloc The Kremlin called the claims of Siemens Energy alleging state-owned firm Gazprom is making up excuses to justify not getting the turbine component. Nord Stream 1 needs it to normalize gas flow, reported RT. On Thursday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned that Gazprom is interested in getting the turbine but the status of anti-Russian sanctions is confusing. More legal documents are needed to clear up how involved these sanctions are before the part can be picked up and installed where it's needed. Discussions about whether the turbine is not covered by sanctions are answered by Siemens which has repaired the pipeline turbine. German officials say the paperwork is okay and it is ready for pickup by Gazprom. But the Russian firm is not sure about the response of the Germans, after repeated sanctions on natural gas deliveries they are not of Berlin's ambiguity, noted CSM Times. Russian energy provider has been called out for allegedly offering varying reasons why they are not able to pick up the turbines with Siemens Energy On Wednesday, Gazprom placed fault in the sanctions allowed by the EU that led to Berlin's gas turbine woes. If they were not imposed more gas supplies can flow instead of 20% only. Read also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth? According to the Moscow energy firm, sanctions imposed by Canada, the EU, and the United Kingdom have harmed their contracts. It has hampered the delivery of the 073 engine to the Portovaya compressor station, according to Tele Sur. In late July, Gazprom said it got the documents for the pipeline component. However, if sanctions are imposed and delivery to Germany is deemed a breach of contract, it will be canceled, and the turbine is still in Germany too. Moscow, Berlin Blame Game Over the Delay On Wednesday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz blamed Russia for the delays in the delivery of a crucial component of pipeline equipment and the consequent reduction in gas supply. He was checking a turbine that sparked an energy impasse between Moscow and the EU. Siemens in Canada fixed the turbine, which should have been sent to Russia. even though Western sanctions have caused the component to be left in Germany. Scholz, on the other hand, stated the technology works and questioned Moscow why it hadn't been picked up, even though natural gas supplies were running low and risking a disaster. Berlin suspected Moscow of deliberately delaying the turbine's return as a plot to reduce gas supplies. The Chancellor said that all the necessary clearances had been obtained to allow its return to Gazprom. The Russian company was required to provide the necessary paperwork for the shipment to proceed. One remark is that sanctions hamper the return of the equipment. It is on Siemens Energy to prove the German turbine is not affected by sanctions so the Russian energy provider can pick it up; as German officials seethe that it's an intentional delay. Related article: EU Energy Crunch: Russia To Reduce Gas Supplies to the Bloc Via Nord Stream 1 Pipeline @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. US officials stated the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group CSG will be remain in the Taiwan strait since the visit of Nancy Pelosi. The White House boasted the US Navy will not be stopped in the Indo-Pacific despite the intense Chinese military drills. US To Monitor Taiwan Strait The Biden administration is going to deploy US Navy ships and planes to transit Taiwan Strait in the next two weeks, as revealed last Thursday, reported RT. Pentagon has ordered the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and her escorts to stay close to Taiwan, according to National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby. The USS Ronald Reagan and her carrier strike group, based in Japan was sent to the East China Sea recently, prior to the trip of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taipei, noted Politico. China claims her actions have broken the One China Policy that has always been upheld until now, which has prompted Beijing to fire missiles and conduct drills across the island. Tensions going off the charts have prompted the departure of the USS Ronald Reagan CSG to hang around the strait, said Kirby. He condemned the Chinese weapons tests as uncalled for and said they do not foster peace in the Indo-Pacific region. Kirby emphasized that the US will continue to operate in the Western Pacific's waters and skies following international law, as it has for decades, supporting Taiwan and protecting a free and open Indo-Pacific. To match the PLA's reaction in the Strait, the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group will be in the Taiwan strait and its ships will transit in the following two weeks. White House had confirmed previously reported delays in the launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile by the US Air Force (ICBM). Read Also: Xi Jinping: 5 Things To Know About China's President Kirby asserted that the test would happen shortly and that the US nuclear deterrence was safe, secure, and effective. Pelosi's Visit to Taiwan Caused Provocation According to sources, the Pentagon called off a Minuteman ICBM launch due to China's drills near Taiwan. The Pelosi visit had a more significant effect, as Beijing was enraged by her decision to disregard the One China Policy. More warheads are being fired off by PLA forces as a show of force is being put on, which prompted Washington to abandon its plan to test a nuclear weapon last Thursday. Wall Street Journal initially reported the delay, citing anonymous Department of Defense sources. Air Force Brigadier-General Patrick Ryder, the newly chosen Pentagon spokesman, will not take office until later this month. General Ryder stated that the missile launch was halted to avoid any misconceptions in light of the PRC's actions in Taiwan. He said the Chinese People's Liberation Army, PLA Eastern Theater Command began intensive military drills in six zones around the island, including the use of a dozen hypersonic missiles. The Chinese government is enraged by the US state visit, which it describes as extremely provocative. Additionally, the US government's reckless actions have shattered the One China Policy. Lately, the US has a habit of not launching its supposed advanced weapons each time it angers either Russia or China. One example is the Kremlin that freely launched its Sarmat 2 missile because NATO and the US spoke in warlike tones. The status of the Minuteman nuclear ICBM is still not confirmed till now. The presence of the USS Ronald Reagan CSG in the Taiwan Strait is a force projection of the Biden administration that has stemmed from its uncalled-for provocation. Related Article: China Brandishes 'Hypersonic Aircraft Carrier Killer' as Indo-Pacific Seethes Over Pelosi Trip @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A prospective expedition by researchers will soon be conducted to look for an unknown non-terrestrial object that came from interstellar space. It crashed into the earth's ocean in 2014 and impact off the Coast of Papua New Guinea, it might be the third object to come into close contact in recent times. The significance is that it could be evidence of something else out in interstellar space that is inaccessible for now; the other two are 'Oumuamua and Borisov. Earth Struck by Object From Space Called CNEOS 2014-01-08, the candidate interstellar object is supposed to measure about a half-meter wide, with interstellar origins that were first recognized by then graduate student Amir Siraj and Harvard professor Avi Loeb, reported Sciencealert. An undersea expedition to discover it would be a long shot, but the scientific payoff could be enormous. Examining the data of the unknown trajectory, both Siraj and Loeb think it could be from deeper space, with its extra-speedy velocity. Such speeds could only be propelled by extra gravitational forces in cosmic distances, noted Phys. Org. Data used to calculate the object's impact on Earth, on the other hand, came from a US Department of Defense spy satellite designed to monitor Earthly military activities. Due to exact details being missing, the scientific community understandably remains unwilling to officially classify CNEOS 2014-01-08 as an interstellar object. As a result, Siraj and Loeb's paper remains unpublished about the unknown non-terrestrial object and has not yet been peer-reviewed. The claim was given validity in 2022, after the Chief Scientist of the US Space Force's Space Operations Command, Joel Mozer, analyzed the confidential material in question. Read also: Cave Sealed Off for 5 Million Years Contains 33 Blind Creatures, Surviving Without Oxygen He confirmed that the velocity estimate supplied to NASA is accurate enough to indicate an interstellar course. Suspected Interstellar Object While the official scientific categorization of CNEOS 2014-01-08 appears to be doomed, for the time being, the declaration by the US Space Force was sufficient to convince Siraj and Loeb of its galactic origin. To find out more if the object can be analyzed, they are proposing a way to learn more. When the object enters the earth's atmosphere, it burns up in the process. There is a good chance that fragments are lying in the ocean depths. A longshot exists using the satellite data of its trajectory. With wind and data when it fell from the sky, a square of 10km by 10km was worked out. Scientists hope that magnetic fragments will be drawn from the sea floor by a trawling magnet, which explores the ocean floor for valuable shards by the expedition. To make it happen, the two scientists are collaborating with an ocean technology consulting firm. They spoke to Universe Today last year, and Loeb stated that looking for the fragments will allow them to find the objects' remains. To determine if it originated naturally or artificially. Loeb argues that CNEOS 2014-01-08, Oumuamua, and Borisov are not natural and were created by intelligent life. He is the leader of the Galileo Project, which is looking for signs of intelligent life in the universe. He has ideas that are controversial and willing to see if they are natural or not, finding it will verify his assumptions. An expedition whose aim is to find bits of an unknown non-terrestrial object could verify the origin of CNEOS 2014-01-08. Related article: Astrophysicists Propose More Insights About Life Stages of Supermassive Black Holes Based on Study @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As worries grew that the Communist government's hostile response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Taiwan visit could signal a long-lasting, more aggressive approach toward its US rival and the self-ruled island, China cut off contacts with the United States on crucial issues on Friday, including military matters and crucial climate cooperation. As a result of Pelosi's visit and China's response with military drills off Taiwan, which included firing missiles that crashed down in nearby seas, ties between the two countries deteriorated further. China Halts Military, Climate Talk with US White House spokesman John Kirby criticized the decision to cease crucial conversation with the United States on Friday after the White House summoned China's ambassador, Qin Gang, late Thursday to express opposition to the military drills. Kirby called the action "irresponsible." Since Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which China asserts is a part of its territory, the White House spokesperson has criticized China for its "provocative" acts. However, Kirby pointed out that some lines of contact between the militaries of the two nations are still open. He reaffirmed every day that the US's stance regarding the Communist mainland and the autonomous island had not altered, as per AP News. Taiwan's military has been placed on notice, and civil defense drills have been held, although generally conditions were quiet on Friday. In order to avoid the Chinese drills, flights have been postponed or diverted, and fishermen have stayed in port. In response to a controversy over US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan, China stated on Friday that it was suspending talks with the US in a number of areas, including between military commanders at the theater level and on climate change. Read Also: UN Speculates North Korea's Nearing Nuclear Weapons Test as Hermit Kingdom Expands Testing Facilities White House Defends Nancy Pelosi Over Taiwan Visit China's foreign ministry announced that it was also halting communications with the United States for combating transnational crime and drug trafficking, actions that Washington referred to as "irresponsible." Angered that Pelosi was the highest-ranking American visitor to the autonomous island that Beijing claims as its own in 25 years, China began military exercises in the air and seas surrounding Taiwan on Thursday. The largest live-fire exercises China has ever held in the Taiwan Strait are expected to go until midday on Sunday, according to Reuters. Per Daily Mail, even with the backlash that has followed Beijing's escalating actions, including military drills surrounding the island, the White House on Friday defended House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's right to visit Taiwan. Even as White House officials criticized Beijing for its "bellicose rhetoric" amid regional concerns, the argument was made. The White House has always maintained Pelosi's and other legislators' travel rights. But before, it had done so after hearing about the potential trip through a leak - but China hadn't yet responded in a significant way. Even though Beijing equated its treatment to that of George Floyd, declared it would stop cooperating on climate topics, and even halted defense talks with American counterparts, the position was maintained. Related Article: Russian Official Guarantees Vladimir Putin's Participation If China Starts War Over Taiwan Issue @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. GREENWICH After more than a dozen violations were found earlier this year, the Nathaniel Witherell earned a one-star rating in a new survey from Medicare, with problems cited in patient care, including falls and alleged mistreatment, at the town-owned nursing center. Larry Simon, chair of the Witherells Board of Directors, said this week that he and Witherell Executive Director John Mastronardi were working to address and correct the issues. This is not something we are taking lightly, Simon said, calling it a lot of violations. Clearly from my point of view, the report is both disappointing and disturbing, he said. We need to continue to reinforce the training and practices among the staff. The staff has to be part of the effort and they have to be motivated to give better care. But Simon said he was optimistic that the issues would be resolved. Medicare, which provides federal insurance coverage for seniors, keeps a ranking of nursing facilities nationwide. The listing for the town-owned long-term care and short-term rehabilitation center on the www.medicare.gov website include the overall one-star rating, notes that it is much below average and includes a raised red hand. According to the website, the Witherell was also assessed a fine of $11,911 over the violations. A Medicare survey completed on March 9 found 16 violations resulting from an inspection and complaints over the last 12 months. The average number of citations for its facilities in Connecticut is only 7.3 and 8.3 nationally. The survey cited four investigations into allegations of mistreatment of residents, including instances in which residents were injured in falls but their care plans were not revised to address the issue. One incident involved a resident who fell out of a sling, which was the improper size, while it was in use to lift them, the report said. The patient sustained a head injury that needed eight staples to close the wound. Additionally, the survey found that Witherell, while investigating an allegation of mistreatment against a nurses aide on staff, failed to ensure the resident was treated in a manner that maintained the residents dignity and respect. A fellow employee provided a written statement saying that the nurses aide was not speaking respectfully to some of the residents, especially ones that the aide thought were hard to take care of. The employees statement claimed that the aide in question behaved very nasty toward (the patients) and the family members would ask the nurse to remove (the aide) from caring for their loved one. That nurses aide resigned their position, the report notes. Some people involved in these violations are no longer there, theyve left, Simon said, adding that the employee involved in the incident with the sling was still on staff. Other citations were given at the Witherell after a patients family and doctor were not notified about a patients weight loss; over the condition of bathroom doors in several rooms; for damage and stains on bedroom ceiling tiles in one room; a damaged bedroom wall in two rooms; and issues with kitchen maintenance. Improper patient care and supervision were also cited, including a medication cart left unlocked and improper vaccination records for patients. All of the citations were marked as minimal harm or potential for actual harm in the level of harm classification. Everyone in management and the nursing office is going to be focused on improving training, improving documentation and improving every aspect of the care we give, Simon said. That is our primary focus. Witherells rating from Medicare last year had fallen from five stars to three stars and now to one star this year. Witherell received four out of five stars from Medicare for staffing and quality measures, which the government said is considered to be above average. Quality measures looks at performance in areas of care such as getting flu shots for patients, monitoring patients weights and checking if they are in pain. The quality measures rating includes a five-star rating for long-term care residents at the facility. First Selectman Fred Camillo said he was very concerned and extremely disappointed in the report. You cant ignore a report like that. We will be focusing on it and why these violations occurred, Camillo said. There may be some easy answers for some, but there were far too many for my liking and for many others. Witherells management team that came in after Mastronardi was hired in 2020 has been highly praised, and both Simon and Camillo said Mastronardi still has their backing. John has been terrific there for the two years, Camillo said. Simon agreed, saying John has the faith of the board, but it doesnt mean that everyone else does. Mastronardi did not return a call for comment. The one-star ranking came after a period of good news for the facility, which Simon said showed a profit for the 2021-22 fiscal year, which ended June 30. This was the first time Witherell had shown a profit after debt service since 2011. Much of the credit was given to the new management team for a better deployment of staffing, less overtime and new vendor contracts. Also, the facility was commended late last year as a Best Nursing Home by U.S. News and World Report. The town has also been examining its continued ownership of the facility, which is the last municipally owned and operated one in Connecticut. It is exploring whether a transfer of ownership should be done, but no decisions have been made. I have said from day one that we absolutely have to look at the possibilities, Camillo said. This (report) just brings it even more to the fore. For more information on the survey, visit www.medicare.gov/care-compare/. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com Under questioning from Republican senators on Thursday, FBI Director Christopher Wray was forced to admit that allegations that biased FBI agents protected the first son of the country, Hunter Biden, from criminal investigations are "deeply troubling." He then cut the Q&A short by saying he had to catch a flight. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the committee's top Republican, pointed out that Wray wasn't taking a commercial flight and begged the FBI director in vain to delay the departure of his government plane. Wray Says FBI Will Protect Whistleblowers in Hunter Biden Probe Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) questioned Wray on whistleblower claims made against Brian Auten, the FBI's supervisory intelligence analyst, and Tim Thibault, the assistant special agent in charge of the DC field office. Kennedy brought up the accusations against the two FBI agents that Grassley had made public last month. Kennedy also pointed out to Wray a number of Thibault's attacks on Republicans on social media, which mirrored those made on Republicans by FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page as the agency was looking into potential Russian interference in Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. Per NY Post, Auten and Thibault were reportedly participating in "a conspiracy" to "undermine unfavorable material associated to Hunter Biden by falsely alleging it was misinformation," according to Grassley's letter to Wray from July. In addition, the whistleblowers said that there was a "pattern of active public partisanship" inside the agencies about inquiries into the Trump campaign and the obfuscation of evidence regarding the Hunter Biden investigation. The whistleblowers claimed Assistant Special Agent in Charge Timothy Thibault and others engaged in a "practice of aggressive public partisanship." Thibault's "partisanship likely influenced investigations presented to, and authorized by, top Justice Department and FBI officials," according to Grassley's letter to Wray and Garland last week. Whistleblowers claim that Thibault violated DOJ and FBI standards by opening an inquiry without adhering to severe requirements for strong factual predication. Wray vowed to protect the whistleblowers at the hearing, Fox News reported. Wray also demoted Thibault from his position of authority. However, Sen. Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, is urging more steps to address partisanship within the FBI. Johnson was alluding to the politicization of the FBI's inquiry into possible collusion between President Trump's first campaign and Russia in order to affect the 2016 presidential election. Read Also: Dick Cheney Slams Donald Trump Over January 6 Attack, Calls Ex-POTUS a Great Threat to Republic Sens.Johnson, Grisly Vow To Investigate Hunter Biden Scandal Around the same time that the DOJ apparently dismissed Hunter Biden's laptop as false information, the majority of the major media outlets reportedly chose to ignore it. At the time, intelligence professionals regarded the hard drive as "Russian disinformation." When the Washington Post verified its contents earlier this year, it entered the news cycle of the major media. Hunter Biden's foreign business deals were discovered to be the subject of a federal tax probe this year as well, though there haven't been any developments or news coverage of that issue since June. Hunter Biden "cashed in" on his family name while his father served as vice president, according to a separate 2020 investigation by Senators Grassley and Johnson. The investigation even raised some red flags within the State Department regarding the 52-year-old recovering drug addict's lucrative position on the board of an energy company in Ukraine. The investigation into the case, meanwhile, found no misconduct on President Joe Biden's part. In the event that Republicans win control of Congress in November, Grassley and Johnson have both said they will investigate the situation further, as per Daily Mail. Related Article: Hunter Biden Probe: Whistleblower Reveals DOJ, FBI's Suspicious Effort of Labeling Evidence Against US President's Son as Disinformation @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MANILA, Philippines (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that China should not hold hostage talks on important global matters such as the climate crisis, after Beijing cut off contacts with Washington in retaliation for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this week. Blinken spoke in an online news conference with his Philippine counterpart in Manila after meeting newly elected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other top officials, as relations between Washington and Beijing plummeted to their worst level in years. Pelosis trip to the self-governed island outraged China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. China on Thursday launched military exercises off Taiwans coasts and on Friday cut off contacts with the U.S. on vital issues, including military matters and crucial climate cooperation, as punishments against Pelosis visit. We should not hold hostage cooperation on matters of global concern because of differences between our two countries, Blinken said. Others are rightly expecting us to continue to work on issues that matter to the lives and livelihood of their people as well as our own. He cited cooperation on climate change as a key area where China shut down contact that doesn't punish the United States it punishes the world. The worlds largest carbon emitter is now refusing to engage on combatting the climate crisis, Blinken said, adding that China's firing of ballistic missiles that landed in waters surrounding Taiwan was a dangerous and destabilizing action. What happens to the Taiwan Strait affects the entire region. In many ways it affects the entire world because the Strait, like the South China Sea, is a critical waterway, he said, noting that nearly half the global container fleet and nearly 90% of the worlds largest ships transited through the waterway this year. China shut military-to-military channels, which are vital for avoiding miscommunication and avoiding crisis, but also cooperation on transnational crimes and counter-narcotics, which help keep people in the United States, China and beyond, safe, he said. Despite China's actions, Blinken said he told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday in Cambodia, where they attended an annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, that the U.S. did not want to escalate the situation. We seek to deescalate those tensions and we think dialogues are a very important element of that, he said, adding the U.S. would keep our channels of communication with China open with the intent of avoiding escalation to the misunderstanding or miscommunication. Blinken is the highest ranking American official to visit the Philippines since Marcos Jr. took office on June 30 following a landslide election victory. In his brief meeting with Blinken, Marcos Jr. mentioned he was surprised by the turn of events related to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan this week. "It just demonstrated it how the intensity of that conflict has been, Marcos Jr. said based on a transcript released by the presidential palace. This just demonstrates how volatile the international diplomatic scene is not only in the region, he added. Marcos Jr. praised the vital relationship between Manila and Washington, which are treaty allies, and U.S. assistance to the Philippines over the years. Blinken reiterated Washingtons commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines and to working with you on shared challenges. Blinken told journalists he also discussed with Marcos Jr. strengthening democracy and U.S. commitment to work with the Philippines to defend the rule of law, protect human rights, freedom of expression and safeguard civil society groups, which are critical to our alliance." Describing the Philippines as an irreplaceable friend," he said he reiterated to the president that an armed attack on Filipino forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea will invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments. Blinken arrived Friday night in Manila after attending the ASEAN meetings in Cambodia, where he was joined by his Chinese and Russian counterparts. ASEAN foreign ministers called for maximum restraint as China mounted war drills around Taiwan and moved against the U.S., fearing the situation could destabilize the region and eventually could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers. In Manila, Blinken visited a vaccination clinic, met with groups helping fight coronavirus outbreaks and went to a clean energy fair. He also met U.S. Embassy staff before flying out Saturday night. Shortly before Pelosis visit to Taiwan, as speculation rose that her aircraft might stop over briefly at the former U.S. Clark Air Force base north of Manila for refueling, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said in a TV interview he hoped the Philippine side will strictly abide by the one-China principle and handle all Taiwan-related issues with prudence to ensure sound and steady development of China-Philippines relations. Huangs remarks drew a sharp rebuke from opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who said the ambassador shouldnt pontificate on such policies, especially considering that his country stubbornly and steadfastly refuses to recognize a decision rendered by an international arbitral court and ignores and flouts international law in the West Philippine Sea when it suits her interest. Hontiveros was referring to a 2016 arbitration ruling on a Philippine complaint that invalidated Chinas vast territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. She used the Philippine name for the disputed waters. China has dismissed that ruling, which was welcomed by the U.S. and Western allies, as a sham and continues to defy it. ___ Associated Press journalists Andrew Harnik and Kiko Rosario in Manila, Philippines contributed to this report. You might have heard about Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, and her visit to Taiwan. It's been all over the news lately. But how is that relevant to the iPhone 14 release, you might ask? Well, as most of you know, Apple is TSMC's top customer and the company ships chips to Pegatron in China where iPhones are assembled. And Pelosi's visit to Taiwan has put an even bigger strain on the China-Taiwan relationship. As a result, the CCP has come up with new regulations forbidding any mention of "Taiwan" or "Republic of China" in the shipping documents. This in turn means that some, if not all, of the hardware could be returned back to Taiwan and delay the iPhone 14 production as a result. To make matters worse, Pegatron's Vice Chairman and top executives from TSMC were seen with Pelosi during the visit, so this could just be a beginning of a more fierce trade war between the CCP and Taiwan in which Apple and other US-based companies are caught in the middle. Apple is already in talks with its Taiwanese partners and has requested that all labeling with "Made in Taiwan" or "Republic of China" be removed or replaced. It's also no surprise that Ming-Chi Kuo's sources claim that somne 6.1-inch iPhone 14 units will come out of Foxconn's Indian factory. For the first time ever Apple is strongly diversifying its production. The news comes at the worst possible time since the iPhone 14 is just around the corner and there are rumors going around that there are some quality production issues with the displays and the camera lenses of the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Via 1 | Via 2 PUBLIC SCHOOLS Daniel L. Perez Elementary School Summer school 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday to Friday. Call 671-635-2177/0404. Orientation at 10 a.m. at the cafeteria: Aug. 2: Kindergarten students. Aug. 3: Second- and third-grade students. Aug. 4: Fourth- and fifth-grade students. V.S.A. Benavente Middle School Entrance gate will open at 7:30 a.m. starting Aug. 10 for drop off. PRIVATE SCHOOLS Academy of Our Lady of Guam Monday: Faculty report to work 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Wednesday: AOLG closed 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. for training. Aug. 19: Freshman parent orientation 6 p.m. Aug. 20: TeacherEase workshop for parents. Aug. 29: Senior parent orientation 6 p.m. CHARTER SCHOOLS Guahan Academy Charter School August schedule: Monday: Professional development for all teachers and staff at 8 a.m. at the cafeteria. Tuesday: Parent-student orientation at the cafeteria from 8:30-9:30 a.m. for elementary school students; from 9:30-10:30 a.m. for middle school students; from 10:30-11:30 a.m. for high school students. Wednesday: School begins from 7:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Uniform top and khaki bottom must be worn every day. Uniforms can be found at Royal Bics. Uniform vouchers are available for those who qualify, for more information contact the attendance and safety officer Mr. Mori. Breakfast and lunch will be available for purchase. Free and reduced meals are available for students who qualify. SCHOLARSHIPS GCC Foundation LGBTQ Leadership scholarship Guam Community College students who self-identify as part of the LGBTQ community can apply for the LGBTQ Leadership scholarship. Must be a resident of Guam who is a full-time new or continuing student with a GPA of 2.5 or higher at GCC. Two awardees will receive $500 for the fall 2022 semester. Deadline to apply is Aug. 31. For more information contact the Financial Aid Office at 671-735-5543/5544 or email financialaid@guamcc.edu. Atilana Rambayon scholarship Guam Community Colleges Atilana Rambayon scholarship is open to full-time or part-time new or continuing students who are a single parent pursuing a GCC associate degree program. Must have a 3.0 GPA or higher, be a graduate of the GCC GED or Adult Education program, and be a resident of Guam. The awardee will receive $500 for the fall 2022 semester. Deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Aug. 31. For more information contact the Financial Aid office at 671-735-5543/5544. The Society of Emeritus Professors and Retired Scholars scholarship Full-time undergraduate or graduate students attending the University of Guam with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA can apply for the Society of Emeritus Professors and Retired Scholars scholarship. The awardee will receive up to $1,000 for the academic year with $500 given per semester and be invited to attend an award ceremony. Deadline to apply is 3:00 p.m. Aug. 26. For more information, contact finaid@triton.uog.edu. The Filipino Ladies Association of Guam scholarship Guam residents or U.S. citizens who are full-time undergraduate students at the University of Guam with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA can apply for the Filipino Ladies of Association of Guam scholarship. Additionally, applicants cannot be a recipient of any other private scholarship and not have a criminal record. Two awardees will be given $500. Deadline is 5 p.m. Aug. 22. For more information, contact finaid@triton.uog.edu. Dave J. Santos scholarship The Guam Chamber of Commerces Dave J. Santos scholarship is open to full-time juniors or seniors at the UOG School of Business and Public Administration. Must have a 3.0 GPA, be a graduate of a Guam high school or resident of Guam for at least two years, and have a genuine interest in promoting entrepreneurship. Awardee gets $1,000 per semester and a paid internship with the chamber. Apply until Aug. 12. Contact the UOG Financial Aid office at 671-735-2288 or Guam Chamber at 671-472-6311/8001 or email info@GuamChamber.com.gu. COLLEGES University of Guam Applications for Fanuchanan semester are accepted until Monday. Classes begin Aug. 17; most classes are in person. Residents ages 50 and older are eligible for the tuition waiver program. Call the Office of Admissions and Records at 671-735-2210/1 by Aug. 12. For more information, contact the Office of Admissions and Records at 671-735-2202 or email admitme@trition.uog.edu. Guam Community College Apply for fall semester until Aug. 12. Classes begin Aug. 17. Register in person or online at www.guamcc.edu/apply. Call 671-735-5531 or email gcc.registrar@guamcc.edu. Students are encouraged to complete and submit a Free Application for Student Aid form. Call 671-735-5543/5544 or email financialaid@guamcc.edu. The GCC Fall College Fair is from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 7 at the Micronesia Mall center court for those who are registering for GCC and for those looking for employment opportunities. Registration services and various GCC departments will be there. The Medical Assisting and Nursing program will perform free vital checks, the Cosmetology program will display their hairstyles on mannequins and the Culinary and Baking program will give out baked good samples. Additionally, Macys will host a Back to School fashion show from 1-3 p.m. featuring GCC students, staff, friends and family. Two former Guam residents are making history as part of Elon Musks SpaceX team thats building Starship, reportedly the biggest and strongest spacecraft in history. Our goal is to show everyone on the big stage that the most talented and hardworking people can come from an island as small and unheard of as Guam, said Daelan Alviz, a 23-year-old former Agana Heights resident and John F. Kennedy graduate. He and Jonte Camacho, a former Barrigada resident, work together on the same team as integration test technicians at the Brownsville, Texas, location of SpaceX. The objective of the Starship program is to get us to Mars and to make the human species interplanetary, said Camacho, a 25-year-old alumnus of George Washington High School. Its a really big deal and becomes more motivating, especially when youre actually building the rocket and get hands-on. The pair integrate the rocket and its components from the engines to the flaps to the prop lines. Aside from testing the rocket before flight, they are also involved in welding, drilling and working with sheet metal on the rocket. It is definitely the most physically demanding job that I have ever worked, Alviz said. We work on night shift from 6 p.m.-6 a.m., and its just continuous hard work. Thats where a lot of former employees fall out from. Camacho agrees with Alviz, but both are still very appreciative of their time at SpaceX. The experience that you get from SpaceX is second to none, Camacho said. I never thought Id go work for a company like this. Were making history by building rockets to get to Mars, he added. At least we get to say we put an imprint on that. I never thought that I was going to end up here, Alviz said. It just kind of happened, and its been a blessing so far. Meeting in the Marine Corps Alviz and Camacho have known each other for over four years after meeting in Japan, where they were stationed together. They both started their careers after high school in the Marine Corps, where they worked on F/A-18 aircraft as mechanics. When I got to Japan, Jonte had been there for almost a year, and when the guys found out I was from Guam, theyre like, Theres also another guy from Guam here named Camacho, said Alviz, who served in the Marines from 2017 to 2020. Camacho served from 2016 to 2021. We ended up linking and forming a small group of us from Guam that were also stationed in Japan, he added. We would always hang out every weekend for barbecues that brought us closer with one another. It was in the Marine Corps that Alviz found his passion for aircraft. I knew I always wanted to be a mechanic, but I just didnt know what kind, Alviz said. I always thought I was just probably going to work on cars, but that changed when Jonte and I worked on the same aircraft. Although I found my interest there though, it was not an easy feat being in the Marine Corps, he added. That took a lot out of us, but it also gave us the experience that we needed to have to be where we are today. Meeting again at SpaceX Ready to move on, Alviz left his job in the Marine Corps in 2020 and underwent a rigorous recruitment process for SpaceX. It was actually really tough because I was in the interview stage for around seven months and went through six interviews, Alviz said. It was also during COVID, so it kind of made everything a little bit more difficult. Camacho followed shortly after leaving the Marine Corps in 2021. He was also hired by SpaceX and was assigned to the same team as Alviz. I was fortunate Daelan was already in the company, so he helped get me in by referring me, Camacho said. It was a lot quicker, and it took around two months. Guam values While working both at the Marine Corps and SpaceX, Camacho and Alviz always made sure they stay culturally rooted. People down here at SpaceX never really met anybody from Guam. Their first impression of people from Guam is usually when they meet us, Alviz said. So, Jonte and I always do our best to show that we are hardworking. We also bring the Guam hospitality and the island vibes at work by being sociable, Camacho said. I think the coolest thing is sharing our culture and where were from. Recently, Camacho and Alviz invited several co-workers to a beach cookout in Texas where they barbecued Guam style. Theyve also served kelaguen and red rice at previous get-togethers. Being from Guam made me so prideful with everything that I do, Alviz said. Everything that I do, I carry my island on my back, so I always give 100 percent of everything as I think about my (family and friends) back home. By doing well at work and sharing our island culture, we are proving ourselves out here that Guam people can also excel in this field, Camacho said. Residents eagerly attended the grand opening of the second Jack in the Box location Saturday in Tamuning. Located on Marine Corps Drive and the intersection of Gov. Carlos G. Camacho Road, the restaurant officially began serving the community with a soft opening on Aug. 4. Festivities Canopies set up outside the main entrance shielded customers from the hot sun as they excitedly participated in free face painting and balloon art provided by employees. Live music from a DJ was also on site. Various Jack in the Box merchandise was given away such as keychains, cups and tote bags, as well as a free raffle ticket for the chance to win $100 in Jack cash. Convenience Residents like Bob Navarro, of Mangilao, said the new location is more convenient for him than the Dededo location. Every time I passed by the construction I thought this was the best spot, said Navarro. He said hes nostalgic when he remembers seeing the Jack in the Box mascot antenna balls on the cars of military service members before the chain built a location on the island. Its nice to see this kind of establishment because in the old days we never heard of Jack in the Box so its nice to have them, he said. Navarro got a raffle ticket in the hopes of winning the cash prize. He did receive a free voucher for two tacos. Other members of the community from the central and southern parts of Guam appreciate having a Jack in the Box closer to them. My first thoughts were, Yes a Jack in the Box is finally moving further towards the central area instead of always having to drive up to Dededo, said Dawn Perez, of Chalan Pago. Perez said her children have tried Jack in the Box the few times they went to Dededo and they liked everything they tried. With a closer location, she said the family can take advantage of ordering a variety of items on the menu more often. Bright floral arrangements congratulating the Jack in the Box team for the second location decorated the restaurant. The arrangements were from Triple J, First Hawaiian Bank and Toves Flower Shop. To share in the sorrow of experiences and memory of the Korean Air Flight 801 plane crash an anniversary ceremony was held Saturday at the memorial monument on Nimitz Hill in Asan. Dozens of relatives of the victims, first responders and government officials gathered to pay their respects to the 228 lives claimed on the early morning of Aug. 6, 1997. We have been living a heartbroken life. Our hearts were torn, and we have been living with the pain for 25 years, said Chang Ho Lee, chairman of the Bereaved Family Korean Air Flight 801 organization, as tears and emotional pauses to grieve were present. Wreaths were laid at the monument by family members of the dead, first responders, the Office of the Governor of Guam, the 36th Guam Legislature, the Judiciary of Guam, Korean Airlines and Kim In Kook, head of mission for the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Hagatna. Emotional Everybody that was on that flight that was trying to come to Guam was coming to experience joy and happiness, to reunite with their family and move forward and celebrate. Unfortunately, we have this calamity, said Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio. Opening prayer was led by Pastor Rob Paulino of The Redeemed Christian Church of God and a closing prayer was led by Castle Zion Church Pastor John Oh. This anniversary is very emotional for me, said Ina Lee, who lost her younger brother Kwi Young Cho, 28, in the crash. I have been living on Guam for 40 years and feel this is my second home, so this memorial service is very important to me and my family because we did not recover his body, said Lee. For the victims The 36th Guam Legislature announced Resolution 404 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the crash and recognize the lives lost, survivors and families of the victims. The painful legacy of that dark day is also felt by survivors like Barry Small from New Zealand, who was unable to attend the ceremony but sent a letter that was read by spokeswoman for the governors office Krystal Paco San Agustin. After the crash was a dark time for me. The feeling of survivors guilt overshadowed my broken bones and burns. I was overwhelmed knowing children, parents and others had perished and I did not, said Small in his letter. He said that in time he started to see things from a different perspective and told himself that in every sad situation there is some good if you look hard enough. For Small, it is the comfort of knowing that his efforts to make the aviation industry aware of the tragedy and address safety hazards have made flying safer a quarter of a century after the crash. I decided I owed it to the passengers that did not survive. I had to do something for them that would make their passing not totally in vain, he said in his letter. A video of the anniversary ceremony is available on the governors Facebook page for those who could not attend. Although the contract for the homeless shelter at Tamuning Plaza Hotel will expire next month, the facility will continue to operate with no set end date planned, according to Katherine Taitano, chief planner for the Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority. The shelter Lihend Sinafo, which means safe haven or safe shelter in CHamoru opened in October 2021 and is operated by Catholic Social Service. It was originally meant to be a temporary emergency shelter during the COVID-19 pandemic. The contract between GHURA, the government agency funding the project, Catholic Social Service and Manelu, which provides case management for homeless clients, will expire on Sept. 30. However, Taitano said, We will initiate an amendment to extend our agreement with the two service providers. The details of the duration of the extension are still being worked on as GHURA reviews sources of funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and costs for providing services, said Taitano. Full capacity The shelter has remained at full capacity since opening, with 39 rooms housing 54 people, said Diana Calvo, Catholic Social Service executive director. New clients are admitted to the shelter when a family or couple finds housing and is discharged, she said. The nonprofit still requires temperature screening and hand sanitizing when entering, use of face masks at all times in common spaces and a quarantine period after being admitted to the shelter. Case management for the clients at the shelter is slowly progressing, said Jacqueline Thinom-Pong, coordinator for Project Akudi, the name for Manelus program at the shelter. Documents A challenge, she said, is the process of gathering documents required for services when the clients have lost everything and are starting with no documents at all. This is the case with the majority of the clients in the shelter, she said. Thinom-Pong said a memorandum of understanding between the Guam Homeless Coalition and the Department of Revenue and Taxation has been very helpful in assisting clients in receiving temporary Guam IDs. The Social Security office opened up again in April, which also helped to speed up the application process. Once clients have all their required documents, we are able to refer them to housing programs. From there, we follow up with the programs on a regular basis until the clients application is approved, denied or referred to a different program, she said. Part of case management is to assist in the job search for unemployed clients who are able to work. In the past few months, as the island has started to open up, more clients have been able to secure employment, said Thinom-Pong. She also refers clients to other Manelu projects, such as the Employment Empowerment Initiative, to assist them in gaining employment. A ballot box and empty voting booths await primary election ballot from early voters during the first day of early voting with the Guam Election Commission at the Westin Resort Guam in Tumon July 28, 2022. Early voting for the 2022 primary election continues from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday until Aug. 19. Indiana officials have passed and the governor signed a near-total ban on abortion on Friday, making the state the first in the country to do so following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The decision overcame division among Republican lawmakers and protests from Democrats to approve sweeping new limits on the procedure with limited exceptions. The passage of the law came just three days after Kansas voters, another conservative Midwestern state, overwhelmingly rejected an amendment. Indiana's Near-Total Abortion Ban The amendment would have stripped abortion rights within the state's Constitution, which is a result typically seen as a sign of unease with abortion bans. Indiana's new law also comes despite some Republican lawmakers opposing the measure for going too far and others voting no because of its exceptions. The decision to end Roe was the culmination of decades of work by conservatives, which opened the door for states to severely restrict abortion or ban it entirely. Some regions have already prepared in advance with abortion bans that were triggered by the fall of Roe, as per the New York Times. Furthermore, some lawmakers in other conservative states said that they are considering more restrictions on the procedure. However, in the first weeks since the Supreme Court's decision, Republicans have moved slowly and struggled to speak with a unified voice on what would come next. Read Also: Joe Biden Pushes Directive To Help Women Access Abortion: "I told you I wouldn't back down" South Carolina and West Virginia lawmakers have weighed but taken no final action on proposed bans on abortion. On the other hand, officials from Iowa, Florida, Nebraska, and other conservative states have so far not taken legislative action. According to the Washington Post, Indiana's new abortion bill will go into effect on Sept. 15 and would only allow abortion in cases of rape, incest, lethal fetal abnormality, or when the procedure is necessary to prevent severe health risks or death to the mother. Support and Opposition to the Procedure Shortly after the signing of the bill, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said in a statement that he had "stated clearly" following the fall of Roe that he would be willing to support anti-abortion legislation. Furthermore, he highlighted the "carefully negotiated" exceptions in the law, which he said would address "some of the unthinkable circumstances a woman or unborn child might face." Immediately after the reveal of the law's passage, abortion rights organizations rebuked it, with the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Alexis McGill Johnson, arguing the vote "was cruel and will prove devastating for pregnant people and their families in Indiana and across the whole region." The vote on Friday in the state House followed an emotional and sometimes contentious debate during which protesters' cheers and jeers could be heard amid lawmakers' speeches. GOP House Rep. John Jacob of Indianapolis, who is a supporter of a total ban on abortion, said he would not vote for the bill because it "regulates abortion which is baby murder." On the other hand, Democratic Rep. Renee Pack later fired back and spoke of her own abortion in 1990 when she served in the U.S. military. She said that it took her getting to the statehouse for her colleagues to call her a murderer, CNN reported. Related Article: Kansas Voters Reject Lawmakers' Efforts To Eliminate State Abortion Protections @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Haiti - FLASH : Results of 9th AF exams (2022) for 7 departments (by school and by subject) The Ministry of National Education has made available the results of the 9th fundamental year exams 2022 https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36927-icihaiti-education-203-440-candidates-are-preparing-to-undergo-the-state-exams.html for 7 departments : Grand'Anse, Nippes, North-East, Center, South, North-West, and Artibonite. According to figures provided by the National Bureau of State Examinations (BUNEXE), the success rates (listed in descending order) are: Artibonite: Success rate 83.49% (up) previous year 77%; GrandeAnse: Success rate 79% (slightly down) the previous year 79.28%; North-East: Success rate 78.33% (up) previous year 72%; North West: Success rate 77.31% (up) previous year 72%; Center: Success rate 75.29% (up) previous year 72%; South: Success rate 71.51% (down) previous year 82.45%; Nippes: Success rate 65.54% (down) previous year 78.68%. As announced by the Minister of National Education, the results are published by school and by subject and by department in order to allow each parent to better appreciate the quality of the educational services provided in the schools where they decide to entrust their children. Download the results by department, by school and by subject : GrandAnse : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/9af-Grand-Anse-2022.PDF Nippes : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/9af-Nippes-2022.PDF North-East : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/9af-Nord-Est-2022.PDF Center : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/9af-Centre-2022.PDF South : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/9af-Sud-2022.PDF North-West : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/9af-Nord-Ouest-2022.PDF Artibonite : https://www.haitilibre.com/docs/9af-Artibonite-2022.PDF School officials are encouraged to withdraw their institution's rankings in the school district of their respective zone. According to the Ministry, the results of the other departments will be published gradually, as soon as the data processing is finalized. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37322-haiti-flash-results-of-9th-af-exams-2022-for-5-departments-by-school-and-by-subject.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37314-haiti-flash-results-of-9th-af-exams-2022-for-4-departments-by-school-and-by-subject.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37298-haiti-flash-results-of-the-9th-af-2022-exams-for-3-departments-by-school-and-by-subject.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37283-haiti-flash-results-of-the-9th-fundamental-year-exams-2022-for-2-departments.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36927-icihaiti-education-203-440-candidates-are-preparing-to-undergo-the-state-exams.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-11781-haiti-education-exam-results-disappointing-the-minister-manigat-announced-a-package-of-measures.html HL/ HaitiLibre Israel killed at least 10 in Palestine, including a senior militant, after launching airstrikes on the region over an "immediate threat" by Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) after one of its members was arrested early this week. The group was believed to have fired more than 100 rockets into Israel "in an initial response" to the recent attack. Many of the attacks were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense shield as sirens could be heard in a number of Israeli cities. At Least 10 Killed in Israeli Airstrikes In a statement, the Israel Defense Force (IDF) said that it later resumed airstrikes late on Friday, with a focus on militant positions. Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid appeared in a televised address where he said "Israel carried out a precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat." The IDF noted that it targeted sites that were linked to the PIJ and including the high-rise Palestine Tower in Gaza City which was hit by a loud explosion that left smoke pouring from the building. Among those killed included four PIJ militants, including Tayseer al Jabari, and a five-year-old girl, as per BBC. Local health officials in Palestine also said that another 55 people were injured as a result of the airstrikes. In a statement, an Israeli military spokesman said that the IDF was "assuming about 15" militants had been killed by the attacks. Read Also: Brittney Griner Update: Will There Be a Prisoner Swap with Russia After WNBA Star Is Convicted? Israel's Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked also said that they did not know how the situation would play out in the future, noting that it could take time and arguing that it would be a lengthy conflict and a difficult one. According to CNN, al Jabari, who was among the militants killed by the airstrikes, was a commander in the Quds Brigade, the armed wing of Islamic Jihad, and a member of its Military Council said the group. Gaza vs Israel In a statement, the Palestinian health ministry said that a 23-year-old woman was also injured by the attacks. Medics in Gaza were seen carrying two bodies out of the Palestine Tower in the attack that an Israeli army statement called "Breaking Dawn." The Israeli army said that the purpose of the airstrikes was to conduct a preemptive attack on al Jabari and strikes on two anti-tank squads which were en route to carrying out an attack on Israeli forces. On Friday night, an Israeli army spokesman said that the two squads had been tracked for several days before the Air Force carried out its attacks. They added that Israel had been facing an imminent threat for several days as the two militant units moved very close to the fence separating Gaza from Israel. Lapid said that the goal of the operation was to eliminate a concrete threat against the citizens of Israel and the civilians living adjacent to the Gaza Strip. He added that they were intended to target terrorists and their sponsors. The prime minister noted that the Israeli government has a zero-tolerance policy for any attempted attacks, of any kind, from Gaza toward Israeli territory. He noted that the country will not sit idly by when there are those who are trying to harm its civilians, the Associated Press reported. Related Article: China Is Giving the US Cold Shoulders After Nancy Pelosi Taiwan Visit @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Haiti - Pedernales : Strong tension at the border, a Haitian killed, several injured Friday, August 5, 2022 around 10:00 a.m., an incident left 1 dead and 3 injured Haitians at the Pedernales / Anse-a-Pitre border post. Originally, a Haitian known as "Tiremon" (35 years old) who wanted to transport a generator bought in Pedernales for his business in Anse-a-Pitres would have refused to show the donaier Domingo Rafaelo Perez, the invoice for the generator for his pay taxes. The tone quickly rose and the situation degenerated into a fight, a Dominican guard intervened and fellow Haitians as reinforcements attacked him to seize his weapon, a 12-gauge rifle. was fired, killing a Haitian. The Directorate General of Customs in a statement confirmed that one of the security guards was involved in a violent incident in which a Haitian lost his life. Customs say that in the struggle between the guard and the Haitians, a gunshot was fired, killing one of the Haitians and causing the others to flee with the guard's weapon Following this unfortunate incident, a group of Haitian and Dominican Motorcycle Taxis faced each other with stones, several gunshots were reported. During the clashes 3 Haitians were injured and were allowed to enter Dominican territory for treatment at the municipal hospital Elio Fiallo. The Haitian authorities were also authorized to bring the body of the slain Haitian citizen back to Haiti. In response, the population of Anse-a-Pitres, angry with the Dominican security guards, held hostage two Dominican nationals working for the town hall of Anse-a-Pitres. For several hours... After this incident, the security protocol was activated, the Dominican border was closed to safeguard the integrity of Dominicans and employees of the General Directorate of Customs in the face of any threat. For its part, the Ministry of Defense ordered the immediate reinforcement of the border post of Pedernales with members of the Dominican Army and the Specialized Land Borders Security Corps (CESFRONT), to prevent the escalation of tensions. SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Technology : All the details on the construction of the largest solar power plant in the country On July 21 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33563-haiti-technology-a-french-firm-will-design-install-and-operate-12-mw-of-solar-energy-in-caracol.html took place the signing ceremony of the construction contract for the largest solar power plant in Haiti at the Caracol Industrial Park (PIC) of 12 MW (Megawatts) in total This contract was signed by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Wineco-Siemens Living Energy Group for a total amount of just over 17 million dollars (17,199,049.65 USD) It should be noted that this work is financed by the resources of the program "Improvement of Access to Electricity in Haiti" (AMACEH) which includes a total envelope of 38 million dollars financed by the Inter-American Bank (IDB) up to 31.5 million USD and by the American Development Agency (USAID) up to 6.5 million USD. These 16-month works are implemented by the Technical Execution Unit of the Ministry of Finance, which benefits from the technical support of the Energy Unit of the Ministry of Public Works and the National Authority for Regulation of Energy Sector (ANARSE). These are 2 solar power plants totaling 12 MW which will be built of 8 and 4 MW respectively. These 2 power plants will have a battery storage system for frequency regulation and transformation into alternative electricity. The 8 MW plant will be connected to the internal grid of the PIC providing electricity based on renewable energies. This major change will allow the UTE to move forward in its strategy of making the PIC more environmentally friendly and will contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of the Park thanks to a significant reduction in the cost of the kilowatt/hour. The 4 MW plant will supply electricity to neighboring communities outside the Park through the private concessionaire of TEP. The photovoltaic power produced by the 8 MW plant and not consumed by the PIC will be purchased by the thermal plant in order to save fuel, thus reducing operating costs. The main beneficiaries of the project will therefore be the customers of the Caracol Industrial Park, to whom electricity will be offered at a lower cost, and the neighboring communities. This project will also make it possible to engage a little more in a socially and environmentally responsible approach. The production of electricity by a photovoltaic module does not cause any pollution. See alos : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33563-haiti-technology-a-french-firm-will-design-install-and-operate-12-mw-of-solar-energy-in-caracol.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-33000-haiti-usa-$65mm-for-the-construction-of-a-new-solar-power-plant-in-caracol.html HL/ HaitiLibre South Korea has launched its first orbiter to the moon, named Danuri, with the help of SpaceX, marking the Asian country's first venture to the lunar surface with more planned for the future. The launch on Thursday will aim to seek out future landing spots on the moon for subsequent lunar missions. SpaceX's satellite is taking a long, roundabout path to preserve fuel and will arrive on the moon's surface in December. South Korea's Lunar Mission If successful, Danuri will join spacecraft from the United States and India that are already operating around the moon and a Chinese rover exploring the moon's far side. India, Japan, and Russia have new moon missions launching later this year or next year, as do a slew of private companies in the U.S. and elsewhere. Furthermore, NASA is expected to be up next with the debut of its mega moon rocket in late August. South Korea's lunar mission, which costs roughly $180 million, is the country's first step in lunar exploration and features a boxy, solar-powered satellite that was designed to skim just 62 miles above the moon's surface, as per the Associated Press. Scientists also expect to collect geologic and other data for at least a year from this low polar orbit. The launch of the Danuri lunar orbiter marks South Korea's second attempt at space in the last six weeks. Read Also: James Webb Telescope Captures Image of Stunning Cartwheel Galaxy 500 Million Light-Years Away In June, the nation was successfully able to launch a package of satellites into orbit around Earth for the first time using its own rocket. This comes as the first try last fall fizzled, with the test satellite failing to reach orbit. According to TechCrunch, Danuri was previously called the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) and is managed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The new name is a play on the Korean words for "moon" and "enjoy." Danuri Lunar Orbiter The primary goal of the spacecraft is to test South Korea's lunar spacecraft technology before it attempts to land on the moon's surface tentatively in 2030 if everything goes as planned. Danuri launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 7:08 p.m. on Aug. 4, with the rocket's booster landing successfully on the drone ship just a few minutes after liftoff. Now, the spacecraft will first fly toward the sun before looping back toward its destination and will take advantage of a gravity assist by the sun. When the spacecraft arrives at the moon, it will perform research using its six scientific instruments. These include a magnetometer, a gamma-ray spectrometer, an experimental communications system, and three cameras, including one that NASA designed that is sensitive enough to see inside the moon's permanently shadowed craters. The director-general of space and nuclear energy at South Korea's Ministry of Science, Kwon Hyun-Joon, said in a written response that they were also considering using the moon as an outpost for space exploration. He added that while they hope to explore the moon itself they also recognize its potential to act as a base for further deep space exploration such as Mars and beyond, the New York Times reported. Related Article: Astronomers Discover Oldest Distribution of Dark Matter Around Galaxies 12 Billion Years Ago @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to a TransUnion report, the number of attempts at digital fraud in the U.S. increased by 25.07% in January-April 2021 compared to the final four months of 2020. While it is a business' obligation to make sure customers are protected against fraud, Melissa Gaddis, senior director of customer success and a part of the global fraud solutions team at TransUnion, asserts that customers should also be responsible with their data's security. That includes participating in and adopting security measures like two-factor authentication, which often requires users to authenticate their identity by entering a code texted or sent to them in addition to inputting a password, as per the news story of CNBC. However, is two-factor authentication really effective? What if the user did not enable such a setting? There Is an Increasing Number of Scammers in WhatsApp The popularity of WhatsApp makes it one of the top targets for scammers looking to get illicit access to your account. However, the company made sure to offer its users security options, like two-step verification, so they could protect themselves. But here's the catch: only a few users actually turn it on for their accounts, according to Android Police. Additionally, users occasionally share their 6-digit two-factor passcode with scammers without meaning to, giving them access to their accounts. The good news is that as an additional security measure, the Meta-owned platform is now implementing login approval prompts. Read More: How to Recover Deleted and Archived Messages on WhatsApp WhatsApp Plans to Add More Security to its Platform In the future, the security feature will display a login prompt on your current device when you transfer your WhatsApp account to a new device. The device transfer procedure cannot begin unless you appear to have approved the request. You can thus refuse similar requests if a scammer tries to enter into your WhatsApp account from a new device. Other essential information, such as the time and device information from which the request was submitted, will apparently also be displayed in the login prompt window. Even the current SMS-based login protocol for WhatsApp may soon be replaced by the device login approval window. Android Police also said that this security feature might be integrated with WhatsApp's upcoming companion mode, which will allow you to use your account on a second phone or tablet. This Safety Feature Is Still in Beta The device login approval feature is reportedly still in development, and it's unclear when it will be made available to the general public, according to WABetaInfo. It should first be accessible to beta testers on WhatsApp's Play Store channel before going live for everyone else. Other WhatsApp Upcoming Features Apart from device login approval, Android Police also noted that WhatsApp is developing a ton of additional new features for its platform to enhance user experience all around. A means to catalog users who leave a group chat, the option to export your Google Drive backups, the ability to restore deleted chats, are just some of the upcoming features we might expect from the messaging platform. Related Article: [RUMOR] WhatsApp May Soon Add Multi-Phone and Tablet Chatting According to Virgin Galactic, the mothership refurbishment work would delay the launch of its commercial space travel service until 2023. Virgin Galactic's Mothership Repairs Will Delay Its Commercial Space Flight Virgin Galactic has stated that its commercial space travel service would now not launch until the second quarter of 2023, yet another delay. The corporation explained the delay in its profits report as being "caused by the prolonged completion dates within the mothership upgrade program." The VSS Unity spacecraft is transported to 50,000 feet by the mothership VMS Eve before being launched to the edge of space. The July 7th commencement of the upgrade program aimed to increase flying frequency as well as "reliability, predictability, and durability." Virgin Galactic said that Boeing's Aurora Flight Sciences would develop and produce its next-generation motherships, which are anticipated to go into service in 2025, at the same time that it disclosed the improvements. The VSS Imagine, a new spacecraft developed by the corporation, will conduct its first test flight in the first quarter of 2023. Due to a potential problem with the flight control system, Virgin Galactic has already postponed its first commercial flights from Q3 to Q4 2022. Three Italian Air Force personnel were scheduled to be sent into space on the subsequent voyage to investigate the impact of switching from Earth gravity to microgravity on people and the environment. The business also announced a $111 million quarterly loss yesterday compared to a net revenue loss of $94 million during the second quarter of 2021 and intends to raise $300 million via a stock sale. As of the 30th of June in 2022, the cash position is still quite good, with a total of $1.1 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities. Read Also: Nancy Pelosi's Flight to Taiwan Becomes Most Tracked Flight on Flightradar24 Virgin Galactic Will Build its Next-Generation Orbital Maneuvers in Mesa The aerospace sector in Arizona is receiving a significant boost as of late. Virgin Galactic, a company that provides suborbital space tourism, announced on Thursday (July 14) that it would construct its next-generation Delta class space jets in a manufacturing facility in Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix. The business, which just announced a deal to build new Delta spaceship carrier planes, said the newly leased facility could produce up to six spaceships annually and bring hundreds of jobs to the area. The business said the plant would create hundreds of jobs. Construction on the facility at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport has begun, and Virgin Galactic expects it to be ready in 2023. The release did not provide the lease terms, leasing manager, or facility square footage. Virgin Galactic wants to fly up to 400 suborbital journeys annually using two new motherships and its increasing Delta fleet. Virgin Galactic said "commercial payload flights" will begin in 2025. The Delta-class spacecraft should start carrying paying passengers in 2026. Its first fully crewed spaceflight commemorated its year anniversary on July 11, 2021. Richard Branson piloted Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity ship, which was launched by VMS Eve. But since then, Virgin Galactic hasn't launched a mission. Unity and Eve, the only operating spacecraft and carrier aircraft in Virgin Galactic's fleet are undergoing upgrades and maintenance by the business. Related Article: Richard Branson Net Worth 2021: How Rich Is the Virgin Galactic Founder Who Just Went to Space? to bolster Cambodia-South Korea economic cooperation: Cambodian FM Xinhua) 11:12, August 06, 2022 PHNOM PENH, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said here on Friday that the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement will be a booster for trade and investment relations between Cambodia and South Korea. Sokhonn, who is also a deputy prime minister, made the remarks during a meeting with South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on the sidelines of the 55th ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting and related meetings in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, according to Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman Chum Sounry. "Prak Sokhonn also noted that the ROK (Republic of Korea) was ranked second in foreign direct investment in Cambodia and the implementation of RCEP will serve as a framework to bolster economic cooperation between the two countries," the spokesman said in a news release. Entering into force on Jan. 1, 2022, RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. During their meeting, the two ministers also expressed satisfaction over the continued growth of the amicable bilateral relations, which features frequent exchanges at all levels and commitment to advancing existing cooperation, Sounry said. They also noted with satisfaction the resilient economic cooperation between Cambodia and South Korea, underpinned by high bilateral trade volume despite the COVID-19 pandemic, he added. According to the spokesman, Sokhonn is optimistic that bilateral trade activities will also be significantly boosted once the Cambodia-South Korea free trade agreement enters into force. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) The Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced on Thursday that it had won a "self-dealing" arbitration against Netflix, which will result in the receipt of an additional $42 million in unpaid residuals by hundreds of writers on more than 100 Netflix theatrical films. Brief Background on the Issue According to a Deadline news story, the guilds informed their members that they won due to an arbitration about Netflix's underpayment of the writer's residuals for the theatrical release of "Bird Box." Netflix suggested that the WGA should accept a subpar formula that the company established with the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) (SAG-AFTRA). However, an arbitrator made a contrary decision following a hearing, concluding that the license price ought to have exceeded the movie's gross budget. Hence, the arbitrator ordered Netflix to give the writer $1.2 million in residuals and interest. The WGA said that 216 writers on 139 extra Netflix theatrical films will now receive an additional $42 million in outstanding residuals as a direct result of this decision. Netflix owes writers around $13.5 million in interest as a result of these residual payments, which the guild is currently seeking, as per Deadline. Read More: Netflix Issues Extra Charges for Password Sharing Beyond Household Why Does Netflix Need to Pay Residuals? According to the WGA, residuals for sales made in other markets that a theatrical has been licensed for or distributed in must be paid. A writer who receives credit receives an average residual of 1.2% of the production company's license fee for the right to exhibit the movie. However, Deadline noted that Netflix negotiated new agreements with the DGA and SAG-AFTRA that enable the streaming giant to pay residuals on a lot less than the cost of the movie, rejecting the standard minimum basic agreement (MBA) definition for related party transactions. The WGA was then pressured into accepting this similar arrangement by Netflix. The Guild decided to pursue arbitration because it was obvious that the new formula agreed upon by the other Guilds undervalued these imputed license fees. The WGA claimed that Netflix attempted to use the old AMPTP tactic in the Bird Box arbitration, which involved obtaining subpar deals with other unions before attempting to impose the "pattern" on writers. In this lawsuit, Netflix failed because the WGA refused to accept the DGA/SAG-AFTRA pattern and fought for the compensation that writers were entitled to under the MBA, according to Deadline. "As the studios increasingly engage in self-dealing on their own streaming platforms, we must ensure that writers are paid properly," the WGA said. Netflix Allegedly Do Not Want To Pay Other Residuals Engadget mentioned that the WGA wasn't afraid to criticize Netflix, calling it one of the "worst violators" of the guild's basic residuals agreements. The WGA regarded the arbitration as a response to media companies' attempts to "depress" compensation through streaming services. Netflix is currently refusing to pay interest on the late residuals for films other than Bird Box, the WGA said, therefore the Guild is seeking in arbitration the $13.5 million in interest still owed to these screenwriters. The first theatrical motion pictures created by guild members were produced and released by Netflix in 2016. Related Article: Netflix vs. Password Sharing: New Plan Charges Additional Homes in Latin America A spokesperson for Comcast refuted rumors that the company was shaping or restricting BitTorrent's transmissions. Comcast's Debunks the Assertions by BitTorrent On Tuesday (August 2), Comcast shot against claims that it was throttling BitTorrent traffic on its network. BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol for sharing essential data files, such as videos. The protocol has been commonly used to disseminate pirated movies online. The film industry has also targeted websites that follow the protocol to halt the unauthorized dissemination of copyrighted content. Broadband firms are less thrilled about BitTorrent since the peer-to-peer technology may clog networks with huge files. TorrentFreak claims that ISPs have been throttling BitTorrent bandwidth for two years. The site also accused Comcast of restricting BitTorrent last week. According to the site, some Comcast users experienced interrupted BitTorrent transfers and slowed downloads. These claims have been posted for days. As a response, Comcast's Spokesman Charlie Douglas denied shaping or filtering network traffic. He stated the company doesn't evaluate software or material downloaded across the network. Douglas didn't give specific numbers but presented examples that may cause problems. Comcast may send a letter or call to someone who sends more than 13 million e-mails monthly, or 430,000 a day or 18,000 an hour. Sending 250,000 photographs or downloading 30,000 music monthly may raise the firm's eyebrows. He also said the company contacts consumers to address problems while enforcing its policy and does not censor or delay traffic. The year-long Net Neutrality debate is about filtering traffic or banning applications. To ensure a certain level of service, broadband providers say they must be able to recognize traffic and set the quality of service. Consumer activists say a neutral network and unfettered bandwidth are needed to make all applications accessible. Read Also: Tesla Cybertruck's Price Will Exceed Initial Projections Comcast and Charter Struggle with Internet Growth The two biggest cable providers in the US, Comcast, and Charter are struggling with internet expansion. Over the previous ten years, as tens of millions of Americans dropped their cable TV service, the cable industry concentrated on the more lucrative sale of broadband internet. As a result of both providers reporting residential broadband decreases in the second quarter, the number of American homes paying Comcast and Charter for high-speed internet is declining for the first time. Comcast said losing 10,000 residential subscribers and another 30,000 in July. Charter lost 42,000 customers. The chief executives of Comcast, Brian Roberts, and Charter, Tom Rutledge, attributed the losses primarily to macroeconomic factors and higher-than-average gains during the epidemic. Comcast expressly cited fewer individuals relocating as the primary cause of decreasing connections. During Comcast's earnings conference call last month, Roberts said that "moves throughout our footprint have dramatically slowed down." He observed that the firm gained roughly 50% more clients in the first year of the epidemic than it had in the previous year. Comcast and Charter investors are now trading at two-year lows and are very concerned about the sudden halt to the broadband growth run. Comcast's stock has lost around 25% of its value this year, 2022, while Charter has lost nearly 33%. Roberts noted in the results conference that increased competition was a factor in the broadband decline, even if pandemic and macroeconomic trends could decrease over time. Related Article: Apple, Comcast: Apple TV+ Now Available on Xfinity! North Korea on Saturday condemned U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. In a statement, Jo Yong-sam, director general of the foreign ministry's press and information department, also criticized Pelosi for talking about "strong and expanded deterrent" against threats from North Korea during her trip to South Korea earlier this week. She made a two-day visit here from Wednesday following a trip to Taiwan. She had talks with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and a phone call with President Yoon Suk-yeol. She then visited the Joint Security Area of Panmunjom inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It demonstrates the "hostile policy of the current U.S. administration towards the DPRK," the North's official said in the English-language statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency. Pelosi, who is "the worst destroyer of international peace and stability had incited the atmosphere of confrontation with Russia during her visit to Ukraine in April, and incurred the wrath of the Chinese people for her recent junket to Taiwan," Jo said. He warned that it "would be a fatal mistake for her to think that she can go scot-free in the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. will have to pay dearly for all the sources of trouble spawned by her wherever she went." (Yonhap) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate On Cherry Vine Road in Fulshears Jordan Ranch subdivision, a house is under construction. The frame is ready, and the pipes and wires are installed. However, this isn't an ordinary suburban home. Words have been jotted on its plywood panels and gray drywall primer but these arent measurements or instructions. Theyre messages of love and gratitude. Army Strong. You are loved Thank you for your service. May your walls hold joy; every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility. This is the brand-new residence of Purple Heart recipient Fernando Del Pozo Jr. On Friday afternoon, Fernando and Adreena Del Pozo and their three young children Trey, Ari and Lio toured their soon-to-be complete house. The young family walked from beam to beam, reading the messages scribbled on the walls by grateful neighbors and volunteers. Last month, the Del Pozo family received an extraordinary surprise they had been selected to receive a mortgage-free, custom-built home by national nonprofit Operation Finally Home. OPFH joined forces with Texas homebuilder Highland Homes to design the 2,500 square foot house. OPFH provides homes with modifications for wounded, ill and injured military veterans and their families. Like most OPFH homes it has one story and is wheelchair friendly. Del Pozo does not use a wheelchair, but uses a cane sometimes, after sustaining multiple injuries while serving in Afghanistan. I have had a lot of falls, my knees are just horrible, he said. Ill be able to move around freely without any obstacles. The Del Pozos house is the 213th specially modified home OPFH has custom built for a veteran. Almost all of our combat veterans have to take some kind of medication to sleep, said Lee Kirgan, vice president of construction at OPFH. I can't tell you how many times I've had a veteran tell me after they've been in one of these homes for a while that, when they're having a bad night, and they just cannot get to sleep, they think about the notes, all the love that is surrounding them in the home. It calms them and allows them to sleep. The four-bedroom, three-and-half bath home is expected to be ready by November. There is also and private study and game room. OPFH and Highland Homes were aided in their efforts by Johnson Development, Houston Texans, USAA, and the Greater Houston Builders Association. We've done a few things to make the house a home that (Fernando) can live in for the rest of his life, that is suitable to his needs in the future as well, said Jarod Mouton, area manager for Highland Homes. Del Pozo grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He joined the army at 23 in 2009, and was stationed in Tacoma, Washington during his six-year military career, which included a one-year combat deployment to Afghanistan from 2011 to 2012. Del Pozo served as a lead gunner during his deployment. His convoy was attacked twice within a six-month period. In 2011 I got an IED attackit wasnt too bad, but I did get some hearing loss and bruised ribs, Del Pozo said. Then there was another IED attack, but that one I didnt walk away from. It flipped my vehicle. Del Pozo was temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. The IED explosion left him with a traumatic brain injury, chronic back pain, which restricts movement, arthritis throughout his body, combat-related PTSD and anxiety. So, there was a lot of physical therapy. Some days I have my cane or knee brace, some days I dont. Del Pozo said he chose to move to Houston mainly for the warm weather, which has an alleviating effect on his injuries. I need the sunshine and heat to survive, like Superman, he said. I also have family in Texas. Houston has a huge veteran community. Im also part of the Wounded Veteran Alumni. The Del Pozos currently live in Hockley near Houston, however, the family is looking forward to celebrating Thanksgiving in their new home. Its nothing but love, he said, looking around. This is phenomenal. juhi.varma@hcnonline.com Alex Jones is facing a hefty price tag for his lies about the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre $49.3 million in damages, and counting, for claiming the nations deadliest school shooting was a hoax a punishing salvo in a fledgling war on harmful misinformation. But what does this weeks verdict, the first of three Sandy Hook-related cases against Jones to be decided, mean for the larger misinformation ecosystem, a social media-fueled world of election denial, COVID-19 skepticism and other dubious claims that the Infowars conspiracy theorist helped build? I think a lot of people are thinking of this as sort of a blow against fake news, and its important to realize that libel law deals with a very particular kind of fake news, said Eugene Volokh, a First Amendment professor at the UCLA School of Law. U.S. courts have long held that defamatory statements falsehoods damaging the reputation of a person or a business aren't protected as free speech, but lies about other subjects, like science, history or the government, are. For example, saying COVID-19 isn't real is not defamatory, but spreading lies about a doctor treating coronavirus patients is. That distinction is why Jones, who attacked the parents of Sandy Hook victims and claimed the 2012 shooting was staged with actors to increase gun control, is being forced to pay up while Holocaust deniers, flat-earthers and vaccine skeptics are free to post their theories without much fear of a multimillion-dollar court judgment. Alex Jones was attacking individuals, said Stephen D. Solomon, a law professor and founding editor of New York Universitys First Amendment Watch. And thats important. A lot of disinformation does not attack individuals. Lawyers for the plaintiffs, the parents of one of 20 first graders killed at the Connecticut school in 2012, said they hoped a big-money verdict against Jones would serve as a deterrent to him and others who peddle misinformation for profit. I am asking you to take the bullhorn away from Alex Jones and all of the others who believe they can profit off of fear and misinformation, Wesley Ball said in his closing argument Friday. The gold rush of fear and misinformation must end, and it must end today." Jones, who has since acknowledged that the shooting was real, has claimed his statements about Sandy Hook were protected by the First Amendment. He even showed up to court with Save the 1st scrawled on a piece of tape over his mouth. But despite the public theatrics, Jones never got to make that argument in court. After Jones failed to comply with orders to hand over critical evidence, a judge entered a default judgment for the plaintiffs and skipped right to the punishment phase. Jones lawyer Andino Reynal told the jury during closing arguments that a large judgment would have a chilling effect on people seeking to hold governments accountable. Youve already sent a message. A message for the first time to a talk show host, to all talk show hosts, that their standard of care has to change, Reynal told jurors. Free speech experts say any chilling effect should be limited to people who wantonly disseminate false information, not journalists or other citizens making good-faith efforts to get at the truth of a matter. You have to look at this particular case and ask yourself, what exactly are you chilling? Solomon said. The kind of speech that defames parents who have lost their children in a massacre is maybe the kind of speech you do want to deter. You do want to chill that speech, Solomon said. Thats the message that potentially the jury wanted to send here, that this is unacceptable in a civilized society. As for Jones, Reynal said he isn't going away any time soon. He'll remain on the air while they appeal the verdict, one of the largest and highest-profile decisions in a defamation case in recent years. Among others: a gadfly ordered in February to pay $50 million to a South Carolina mayor after accusing her in emails of committing a crime and being unfit for office; a former tenant ordered in 2016 to pay $38.3 million for posting a website accusing a real estate investor of running a Ponzi scheme; and a New Hampshire mortgage provider ordered in 2017 to pay $274 million to three businessmen after he posted billboards accusing them of drug dealing and extortion. These kinds of damages and verdicts do have a chilling effect, Volokh said. Theyre intended to have a chilling effect on lies that damage peoples reputations. ___ Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak ___ Find APs full coverage of the Alex Jones trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/alex-jones A man died after crashing into a cement pillar in north Houston early Saturday morning, according to police. The man was driving at a high rate of speed northbound on Jensen Drive when he went through an intersection and crashed his vehicle into a cement pillar, Houston Police told On Scene Media. The car caught on fire. CRIME: Pearland, Houston crime spree leaves 3 dead When police arrived on scene at the 3900 block of Saunders Road shortly before 1 a.m., a police officer pulled the victim from the fire but the man was deceased, said Lt.R. Willkens in an interview with On Scene Media. There were no other occupants in the vehicle and an investigation is ongoing. The victims identity was not released. gettyimagesbank Women in their 20s, 30s vulnerable to depression, new book finds By Lee Yeon-woo Self-employed people are depicted in the media as a group of people who were among the hardest hit by COVID-19 as they were forced to shut down their business under stringent social distancing regulations that were firmly in place for well over a year after the pandemic outbreak. But there is another demographic who are easily overlooked whose troubles are not properly addressed in the policymaking process: women in their 20s and 30s. A lack of proper attention to these vulnerable women has led to an increase in suicides. Depression may strike women who are under pressure for any number of reasons, but especially from increased housework and chores, caring for their children and concerns over their children's health and safety with no way out in sight. Women struggling with signs of depression since the start of the pandemic can be correlated with an increase in the suicide rate among young women, according to an expert. Kim Hyun-soo, director of the Seoul Suicide Prevention Center, said suicide is not just the result of individual choice. Rather it is something the entire society is responsible for when these women are put in a position to consider death over life. A generational gap is one of the elements forcing the younger women to feel that they are not understood, he said, noting what's worse is the older generation doesn't even try to understand their stressed-out younger fellow humans. "Times have changed. But the older generation only tries to understand younger people from their own perspective," he told The Korea Times. "The past was a battle with hunger and survival, but now young people are struggling with loneliness, and questions on the meaning of life. They experience struggle too. That's why the old generation is furious when young people say it's harsher nowadays to survive than in the past. Instead of trying to listen to them, they criticize youth for making little effort to change the circumstances surrounding them." The pandemic has created a stressful environment for many women in their 20s and 30s. Unmarried women are grappling with the worsening labor market as the pandemic has exacerbated job insecurity. Those who are employed have suffered wage cuts, or being laid off as the pandemic has continued, while unemployed people also find it tougher to find jobs. Married women are no exception. They face more housework as their husbands work from home and children attend online classes. "The Loneliest Choice" Courtesy of BookHouse Publication Korea has the highest suicide rate among nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Behind this, there are some unsettling facts. In 2020, half of those who died in their 20s died by suicide, according to Statistics Korea. What's more surprising is that one in five people rushed to emergency rooms after attempted suicide are women in their 20s, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. This number has increased by 33.5 percent from 2019. As a co-author, Kim shared his 20 years of experience working in the fields of mental health and juvenile protection through a newly published book, titled "The Loneliest Choice," Kim and five other experts share their views about youth suicide and the issues that drive some to it. Lee Hyeon-jung, a professor of the Department of Anthropology at Seoul National University and one of the co-authors, shares what she heard from some of her interviewees to help her readers understand what's on the minds of the young women who considered suicide. "I met scores of random young women for my research. Surprisingly, more than half of the interviewees said they are feeling depressed or suffered depression at least once in their lifetime," Lee said. She realized COVID-19 and its impact played a part in making them feel depressed. The number of women in their 20s and 30s who turned to counseling services has increased by 40 percent after the pandemic, according to the Seoul Suicide Prevention Center. gettyimagesbank Prosecutors are trying to recuse a Harris County judge who declared a mistrial in a murder case on the off-chance the 12 jurors heard pro-victim remarks at a state-authorized event celebrating their civic duty. Judge Teiva Bell in the 339th District Court declared the mistrial in June with the concern that the jurors in the murder trial of Itani Milleni may have heard speakers during Jury Appreciation Week an event that the Harris County District Clerks Office hosted who spoke more favorably toward crime victims and their families, rather than showing no preference at all. By that point, the trial had gone on for more than a week with one witness left to testify, according to court records. In the weeks that followed, the Harris County District Attorneys Office sent investigators to discuss the mistrial with the jurors, according to a source with knowledge of the case and a juror who served on the trial. Prosecutors in that office are now attempting to recuse Bell, on the assertion that the judge is a material witness because the 339th District Court jurist based her decision on information that she received in some unknown manner videos on her cellphone. The case is expected to go to trial again in September in Bell's court. The videos that the judge reviewed of the speakers in the hours prior to the mistrial were not uploaded in their entirety to Twitter, according to court transcripts from the June 22 hearing. The prosecutor behind the motion, Shawna Reagin, doubled down on her offices contention that Bell should have asked each of the jurors who heard what and from whom before declaring a mistrial. The judge argued at the time that she did not want to draw their attention to anything and possibly encourage them to investigate what transpired, the transcript reads. As both parties went back-and-forth on what to do next, Judge Bell complained in court that she had only a portion of the videos at question, which showed two TV reporters KTRK-TV reporter Ted Oberg and KPRC-TV reporter Re'Chelle Turner speaking to the jurors. When she tried to watch more her cellphone died, according to the transcript. After a break to read prior cases involving mistrials, Bell noted that a tweet from the district clerks office with Turners remarks had been deleted. I dont know whether to interpret that as good conscience or tampering with evidence, Millenis defense attorney, Sean Buckley, told the judge. Bell ultimately decided to declare a mistrial. I cant, in good conscience, say it didnt taint the jury, Bell said, adding that had she known about the week-long event at the time she would have given the jurors instructions on how to handle what they may have heard. Buckley, in a response Friday to the prosecution's motion, said the recusal attempt is "unwarranted and unmerited." "Trial judges have wide discretion to take judicial notice of facts and law as long as parties are given an opportunity to be heard," Buckley wrote, continuing in his response that the judge gave both sides "an opportunity to research the law and be heard prior to ruling." The purported evidence she reviewed on her phone ultimately "aired ... throughout the public domain and in the media," he continued. Reagin attached in her motion a Jury Appreciation Week agenda for the morning of June 14 when the 12 jurors were selected to serve on Millenis trial and on that day, prospective jurors would have heard from Turner, not Oberg, according to court documents. In her remarks, Turner referenced the recent jury verdict that landed Andre Jackson a life sentence in the death of 11-year-old Josue Flores. "This family would not have been given justice that they deserve without you guys, without your help, without your service," Turner said. "While the verdict might not bring their loved ones back, it gives the families the justice that they have prayed and wished for several, several years." A juror on the Milleni trial, who asked not to be identified, told the Chronicle that Turners remarks appeared to be inappropriate but that her speech was quickly forgotten amid the trial. The juror went on to say that an investigator with the district attorneys office went to their home in the weeks that followed to discuss the mistrial. Reagins motion goes on to ask that Bell either recuse herself voluntarily or refer the matter to the Eleventh Administration Judicial Region of Texas to decide. She references a 2021 mistrial in which Bell was removed from the case after basing her decision on information the jury told her without the prosecutors or defense attorney in the room. In that case, prosecutors also deemed Bell a material witness. Amanda Peters, a professor at South Texas College of Law Houston, recently reviewed the mistrial transcript and videos of each speaker who spoke during the week-long district clerk event. While she characterized Turners remarks as the most problematic of all the speakers the event alone is an issue, she said. All of the law-trained people were incredibly neutral because they understood the legal system, Peters said. The people who didnt, talked in sensationalist ways and gave jurors this idea that theyre here to protect the city. I think thats where the danger lies. The practice of a district clerk's office paying tribute to prospective jurors stems from Senate Bill 565, authored by a Dallas lawmaker, to honor jury members for participating in the judicial system and Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law in 2015. Peters also noted the uniqueness of the mistrial circumstances. None of the case law that both parties referenced to back up their arguments to the judge was applicable, she believed. I think the judge had no other option shes really pained over it all, said Peters, after reading the court transcript. She took efforts to watch the videos that were available at the time, she let them argue, talked to a lawyer for the county and was very troubled. nicole.hensley@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A man died in a shooting at a taco restaurant south of Houston early Saturday, according to Stafford Police Department. Officers arrived around 2:40 a.m. at the scene of a shooting at Brenda's Taqueria on the 12400 block of Highway 59 Feeder Road Soutbound in Stafford about 18 miles southwest of downtown Houston. CRIME: Child killed in east Harris County Witnesses told police that an altercation ensued between two groups, and at one point someone pulled out a gun and shot an unknown number of times, striking the victim, according to Metro Video Services. Several people fled from the scene. Police reported finding a deceased man about 100 yards north of the business, according to a press release from the Stafford Police Department. The victim's identity has not yet been released. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 J. Scott Applewhite, STF / Associated Press Show More Show Less 2 of 3 EMIL LIPPE, STR / NYT Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Christian Petersen, Staff / Getty Images Show More Show Less Thumbs Down: Plenty of Texans dream of giving U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz the boot. But the hard-line Republican beat us to the punch this week during a Senate hearing in which he slammed his own cowboy-style boot on the desk in what surely must have been a spontaneous gesture of authentic incredulity. As if. Lamenting the increasing politicization of the FBI, Cruz lit into Director Christopher Wray for not doing more to address it. In questioning Wray, Cruz took issue with certain co-opted symbols that the FBI apparently considers suggestive of militia violent extremism, including the so-called Betsy Ross flag and (gasp!) Texas own Gonzales battle flag. The Canadian-born senator bounded to the defense of the beloved Lone Star symbol: Well, I will self-report right now that every day in the Senate, I wear my boots that have the Gonzales battle flag on the back of them, he said, leveling his boot emblazoned with the iconic cannon and the words Come and Take It. Cruz presented a supposedly leaked FBI document obtained by the conservative group Project Veritas that listed the symbols. Wray, who said he didnt recognize the document, said that symbols alone arent considered proof of extremist affiliations. Maybe not but Cruzs display was certainly proof of something else that we just wish somebody would come and take: his craven presidential ambitions. Thumbs Down: In some circles, Nazi-ish rhetoric will get you excommunicated. It got Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban in deep trouble, costing him one of his closest associates, who resigned in protest of Orbans disparagement of mixed race societies. But in Texas? It got him center stage and a standing ovation at the CPAC convention in Dallas. To be fair, Orban probably didnt get the warm welcome specifically for his racist rant but it came with the package. We understand what todays Trump-pining GOP might see in an autocratic strongman who flings anti-immigrant rhetoric like a T-shirt toss and counters criticism with that familiar refrain fake news. Pure nostalgia. Were just not sure what Orban, who just weeks ago crowed that Hungarians are not a mixed race and that countries where Europeans and non-Europeans mingle were no longer nations would see in us. This is America, after all, the Mutt Capital of the World. Ethnic purity even if it were a thing wouldnt be found here in this gumbo pot of humanity. By latest Census count, more than 10 percent of the population identifies as mixed race. The American experiment, at least ideally, is based on ideas, not blood, on merit, not inheritance which, we guess, is why some people who have neither find it so threatening. Regarding Editorial: Abbotts Operation Lone Star looks like a payday to cartels, (Aug. 3): Are you suggesting that the alternative to preventing people from all over the world to illegally enter Texas is to just allow them to enter and stay so that the cartels do not profit from multiple re-entry attempts by people who are sent back through Gov. Abbotts enforcement of Operation Lone Star? What Abbott is doing has nothing to do with immigration reform, which the U.S. Congress has failed to address for decades. It merely has to do with our governor and attorney generals attempts to protect Texas citizens and their property from people who pay cartels thousands of dollars to help them enter, simply because the Biden administration refuses to do its constitutional job. Blaming Abbott for the Biden administrations lack of action on the southern border to protect U.S. citizens and their property is disingenuous and political, at best, and an outright lie at worst. And thats just the unauthorized entry issue; theres also the issue of human trafficking, as well as preventing drugs and terrorists from illegally entering. Your editorials citing the plight of millions of poor very vulnerable people just trying to make a better life for themselves completely ignores the fact that what they are doing is against the law in virtually every country in the world and that they have chosen to take that action. Frankly, your editorial insults the intelligence of every U.S. citizen, not just Texans, who whether they admit it or not know better. Hayden Black, Spring You guys amaze me! What about President Biden? What has he done? Our situation at the border is so much worse since he took office. I doubt I'll be seeing any editorial about him and how much he has done wrong any time soon. Scott Aulds, Richmond Guns Regarding Massive turnout for gun buyback event in Third Ward surprises city officials, (July 30): Daveon Jones, a 16-year-old with a promising life ahead of him, was gunned down less than a block from his home. Around the same time, two teenage boys were also gunned down at a party and two others were killed in a shootout at a Pasadena apartment complex. As of late July, 33 children under age 17 have died from gun violence in Harris County this year. All but four of them were Black or Hispanic. The most promising gun violence reduction effort in memory, one that pays people to turn in their guns, took place about a month after these horrific shootings. Spearheaded by Mayor Sylvester Turner and Commissioner Rodney Ellis, the first day was reportedly wildly successful. Yet in a surprise letter dated July 28 and sent to law enforcement officials Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, Constable May Walker and Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner all leaders of color District Attorney Kim Ogg inexplicably criticized the program on policy grounds. Raising objections without seeking to assist in the effort adds to the growing suspicion that the district attorney seeks political benefit from Republican voters while giving the lie to her repeated claims of being interested only in public safety. David Jones, Houston Regarding Opinion: Gun violence? No, its human violence., (Aug. 4): So a letter writer thinks that gun violence should be called human violence? If a violent human being points a finger at someone and says BANG it will not have nearly the effect it would have were he holding an AK-47. It takes two to tango. Emily Murphy, Kingwood The COVID-19 virus has been bad enough. It comes from the hands of nature. But the equally tenacious viruses of guns and greed, bad as they are, come from the hands of human beings. And they are worse because much of the population gives them god-like obeisance. This worship of guns and wealth hides the dangers and sickness involved. The love of guns has allowed, if not tacitly supported, the use of military weapons, resulting too often in the horror and tragedy of mass shootings. The love of money has led to an insane inequality where a fraction of people control 90 percent of the wealth and where hunger exists next to multi-million dollar yachts. You and I can address both viruses, guns and the gun industrys greed, by demanding a federal ban on all military assault weapons and making this a litmus test for every congressional candidate in the coming election. Let us not leave this to someone else. Let us not be complicit in propagating these viruses. Rev. Martin Deppe, Chicago, Il. Disrespect The cartoon in the Opinion page (A11) on Thursday, Aug. 4 is disrespectful to the man who actually stood in front of the parade of tanks on Tiananmen Square so long ago. It was the bravest thing I had ever seen in my life. Chris Greene, Houston Should you worry about renting that renovated house on the east side of Houston? The refineries are miles away, after all. Is it better to go with the house on the west side, far from the toxins you hear about near rail yards? Neither question, it turns out, can be answered fully with the information available because many former industrial facilities that buried their hazardous waste on-site were never documented by government agencies. And, many of those sites show no trace of their past. Industrial ghosts in the form of contaminated soils may still be present under a new home, behind the corner cafe or in a field of grass. Worse, the risks they pose are compounded by extreme flooding made more frequent by climate change. This is the case in cities across the country, but especially Houston, where the next big storm threatens to displace not only people and housing but the land-based pollution left behind by earlier industrial activities. In 2019, researchers at the U.S. Government Accountability Office investigated climate-related risks at the 1,571 most polluted properties in the country, also known as Superfund sites on the federal National Priorities List. They found an alarming 60 percent were in locations at risk of climate-related events, including wildfires and flooding. As troubling as those numbers sound, our research shows that thats just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. Many times that number of potentially contaminated sites of former industrial activity exist. Most were never documented by government agencies, which only began collecting data on industrially contaminated lands in the late 1980s and thereafter only for larger polluters. Today, many of these undocumented sites have been redeveloped for other uses such as homes, buildings or parks. For communities near these sites, the flooding of contaminated land is worrisome because it threatens to compromise common pollution containment methods, such as capping contaminated land with clean soil. It can also transport legacy contaminants into surrounding soils and waterways, putting the health and safety of urban ecosystems and residents at risk. We study urban pollution and environmental change. In a recent study, we conducted a comprehensive assessment by combining historical manufacturing directories, which locate the majority of former industrial facilities, with flood risk projections from the First Street Foundation. Those projections use climate models and historic data to assess future risk for each property. The results show that the GAOs 2019 report vastly underestimated the scale and scope of the risks many communities will face in the decades ahead. Our interactive map allows you to find how close you are to former industrial sites. While that wont answer all your questions, it is a first step. Pollution risks in 6 cities We started our study by collecting the location and flood risk for former industrial sites in six very different cities facing varying types of flood risk over the coming years. One was Houston; the other five were Minneapolis, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Portland, Oregon, and Providence, Rhode Island. These former industrial sites have been called ghosts of polluters past. While the smokestacks and factories of these relics may no longer be visible, much of their legacy pollution likely remains. In just these six cities, we found more than 6,000 sites at risk of flooding in the next 30 years - far more than recognized by the EPA. Using census data, we estimate that nearly 200,000 residents live on blocks with at least one flood-prone relic industrial site and any legacy contaminants it left behind. In Harris County, that number is nearly 78,000 residents. Without detailed records, we cant assess the extent of contamination at each relic site or how that contamination might spread during flooding. But the sheer number of flood-prone sites suggests the U.S. has a widespread problem it will need to solve. And soil studies conducted by scientists across the country are finding extensive contamination in the urban core of cities such as New Orleans, Indianapolis and Detroit, with lead and other toxic metals often the most common. The highest-risk areas nationally tend to cluster along waterways where industry and worker housing once thrived, areas that often became home to low-income communities. Legacy of the industrial Northeast In Providence, an example of an older industrial city, we found thousands of at-risk relic sites scattered along Narragansett Bay and the floodplains of the Providence and Woonasquatucket Rivers. Over the decades, as these factories manufactured textiles, machine tools, jewelry and other products, they released untold quantities of environmentally persistent contaminants, including heavy metals like lead and cadmium and volatile organic chemicals, into the surrounding soils and water. For example, the Rhode Island Department of Health recently reported widespread drinking water contamination from PFAS, often referred to as forever chemicals, which are used to create stain- and water-resistant products and can be toxic. The tendency for older factories to locate close to the water, where they would have easy access to power and transportation, puts these sites at risk today from extreme storms and sea-level rise. Many of these were small factories easily overlooked by regulators, even today. Chemicals, oil and gas Newer cities, like Houston, are also vulnerable. Houston faces especially high risks given the scale of nearby oil, gas and chemical manufacturing infrastructure and its lack of formal zoning regulations. And, of course, we flood, not just along a single shoreline or riverway but throughout a dense network of local bayous and tributaries. In August 2017, historic rains from Hurricane Harvey triggered more than 100 industrial spills in the greater Houston area, releasing more than a half-billion gallons of hazardous chemicals and wastewater into the local environment, including well-known carcinogens such as dioxin, ethylene and PCBs. Even that event doesnt reflect the full extent of the industrially polluted lands at growing risk of flooding throughout the city. We found nearly 2,000 relic industrial sites at an elevated risk of flooding in the Houston area; the GAO report raised concerns about only 15. Many of these properties are concentrated in or near communities of color. In all six cities in our study, we found that the strongest predictor of a neighborhood containing a flood-prone site of former hazardous industry is the proportion of nonwhite and non-English-speaking residents. This pattern is unjust and all too familiar. It is also only part of the story. Even a quick glance at the map shows that a broad range of Houston neighborhoods have industrial ghosts at elevated risk of future flooding. Keeping communities safe As temperatures rise, air can hold more moisture, leading to strong downpours. Those downpours can trigger flooding, particularly in paved urban areas with less open ground for the water to sink in. Climate change also contributes to sea-level rise, as coastal communities like Annapolis, Maryland, and Miami are discovering with increasing days of high-tide flooding. Keeping communities safe in a changing climate will mean cleaning up flood-prone industrial relic sites. In some cases, companies can be held financially responsible for the cleanup, but often they are ghosts, out of business. So, the costs fall to taxpayers. The infrastructure bill that Congress passed in 2021 includes $21 billion for environmental remediation. As a key element of new green infrastructure, some of that money could be channeled into flood-prone areas or invested in developing pollution remediation techniques that do not fail when flooded. Our findings suggest the entire process for prioritizing and cleaning up relic sites needs to be reconsidered to incorporate future flood risk. Flood and pollution risks are not separate problems. Dealing with them effectively requires deepening relationships with local residents who bear disproportionate risks. If communities are involved from the beginning, the benefits of green redevelopment and mitigation efforts can extend to a much larger population. One approach suggested by our work is to move beyond individual properties as the basis of environmental hazard and risk assessment and concentrate on affected ecosystems. For example, in Houston, the floodplains for each bayou Buffalo, White Oak, Brays, Halls, Greens and so on could each have specific plans. Focusing on individual sites misses the historical and geographical scale of industrial pollution. Concentrating remediation on meaningful ecological units, such as watersheds, can create healthier environments with fewer risks when the next floods come. James R. Elliott is a professor of sociology at Rice University. Thomas Marlow is a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Interacting Urban Networks at NYU Abu Dhabi, New York University. Scott Frickel is a professor of sociology and environment and society at Brown University. This article was originally published by the Conversation and adapted for the Houston Chronicle. This article was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Gov. Greg Abbott has appointed an indicted Austin police officer accused of using excessive force during 2020 protests to Texas regulatory law enforcement agency. Justin Berry was among 19 Austin police officers indicted earlier this year in the protests spurred by the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Berry is charged with two counts of aggravated assault by a public servant. He also ran as a Republican for Texas House District 19 but lost in the primary runoff election this year. Abbott had endorsed Berry in the race, saying his strong conservative values and experience stopping violent crime are exactly what we need in the Texas House. Now, at the governors hand, Berry will serve on the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, which sets minimum licensing and training standards for police. Abbott did not immediately respond to The Texas Tribune's request for comment, but in a press release announcing Berrys appointment Friday, he said the commission ensures that the people of Texas are served by highly trained and ethical law enforcement, corrections, and telecommunications personnel. Berry posted a statement to Twitter on Friday but did not respond to requests for comment. The demands and expectations of todays professional police officer have never been so great, Berry said about his appointment via Twitter. I look forward to ensuring Texas has the best police officers in the world. Ensuring those who answer the call to serve their respective communities have the training and resources necessary to be set up for success are a priority to not only keeping Texans safe but ensuring trust is earned and maintained by those very communities. Sara Mokuria, co-founder of Mothers Against Police Brutality, said Abbotts decision to appoint Berry to TCOLE is dangerous, not based in public safety and flies in the face of whats in the best interests of Texans. This is an indicted officer who is now part of the body licensing and regulating law enforcement agencies, Mokuria said. Its a move in the wrong direction, and it makes us unsafe. And, quite frankly, its a message that has been reiterated from the governors mansion over and over again, whether that be families in Uvalde who were not safe to send their kids to school, or all Texas residents during the winter storm. Our lives and our safety have consistently been put at risk because of this governor. Berrys exact role in the Floyd protests is unclear, but Austin officers grievously wounded several people after shooting them with less-lethal ammunition in the head. That included a 20-year-old Black man police said was not their intended target after a man nearby tossed a water bottle and backpack up toward steps where police were in formation. Video also showed a 16-year-old Hispanic boy collapsing to the ground after police fired a beanbag bullet at him while he was standing alone near the freeway. The violent police tactics during the protests against police violence were heavily criticized. Along with the indictments of 19 officers, the city of Austin agreed to a $10 million civil settlement with two men shot by police with beanbag rounds, including the 20-year-old. Chas Moore, executive director of the Austin Justice Coalition, said Abbott appointing Berry despite his indictment isnt surprising. Moore feels the governor said all of the politically correct things after Floyds murder but followed up with inaction. Hes never cared about making sure that everybody can be safe, the activist said. He doesnt care about the national conversation that happened in 2020, where every state had some form of protest for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, you know. Hes a diehard Texas Republican. Eleanor Klibanoff contributed to this story. If you attend The Texas Tribune Festival Sept. 22-24 in downtown Austin, youll hear from changemakers who are driving innovation, lawmakers who are taking charge with new policies, industry leaders who are pushing Texas forward and so many others. See the growing speaker list and buy tickets. The Texas Tribune is a member-supported, nonpartisan newsroom informing and engaging Texans on state politics and policy. Learn more at texastribune.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Migrants arrested on trespass charges under Gov. Greg Abbotts border crackdown are being prosecuted even after they're deported, raising concerns from attorneys that their due process rights are being violated. In more than 20 cases so far, state-appointed lawyers have argued that deportations are preventing their clients from preparing for state trials or appearing in person to confront witnesses. Deported migrants are also receiving orders from trial courts to appear in person for hearings, creating impossible choices between trying to reenter the country or collecting new charges for not showing, the attorneys argue. Some lower courts have allowed migrants to appear virtually for procedural hearings and other matters, which has created its own logistical hurdles. I have clients that appear from shacks in Honduras and walk to the next village in Mexico to get cell service, said Kristin Etter, an attorney with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, a nonprofit that is appealing the cases involving deported migrants. RELATED: As Abbott orders state police to return migrants to border, critics on the right say its not enough The prosecutions are part of Operation Lone Star, Abbotts plan to fight illegal border crossings by ordering state troopers and National Guard members to arrest migrant men on various state charges, often misdemeanors for allegedly trespassing on private property near the border. Since the arrests began last summer, several thousand migrants have been detained in state facilities to await trial. Those released on bond are turned over to federal immigration authorities, who typically remove them from the country before they can file an asylum claim, according to defense attorneys. While it's not unprecedented for migrants to be prosecuted after they're expelled from the country, it's unusual for the cases to proceed over such low-level offenses, and on such a broad scale, defense lawyers said. Etters nonprofit, which is handling indigent defense for some 1,500 Operation Lone Star cases, now has a team devoted solely to giving defendants Zoom tutorials and coordinating virtual court appearances, she said. Several cases appealed by RioGrande Legal Aid have already been halted under orders from a state appeals court that paused legal proceedings as it considers whether prosecutors can pursue charges while a defendant is in another country. The prolonged prosecutions were not as common in the early days of Operation Lone Star, last summer and into the fall, when most clients were able to stay in the country upon being released, Etter said. Now, she estimated, more than half are removed from the country upon their release from state custody. Amrutha Jindal, an attorney at the Lubbock Private Defenders Office, which coordinates indigent legal representation under the operation, said the court docket for Kinney County the site of most migrant trespassing arrests has become a regular procession of defendants Zooming in for virtual appearances from various countries. It's kind of remarkable to see, Jindal said. Its something thats relatively new, in the sense that, in September and October, we didn't have that. We were seeing, in many instances, cases be dismissed or we didn't even have very many court dates as counties were overloaded with a flood of arrests. Now, Jindal said, a significant majority of clients who are charged with trespass, who post bonds, are deported back to their home country. RioGrande Legal Aid is in the midst of appealing more cases and Etter said it plans to challenge each charge involving migrants who are deported before their cases are resolved. The challenges have so far ended up before Texas 4th Court of Appeals, after trial courts in some border counties rejected Etters legal arguments. In those proceedings, local prosecutors and judges argued migrants can still appear virtually for their trials or ask federal immigration authorities to be admitted back into the country on parole. In a court filing Friday, Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith the local misdemeanor prosecutor said he cant ensure migrants remain in the country, and he contended that if migrants are able to appear remotely via Zoom, they can also consult with their lawyers to prepare for trial. It seems Appellant voluntarily took advantage of making bail, and is now complaining that being released somehow deprived him of his Constitutional rights, Smith wrote in opposition to one of the appeals. He conceded that a deportation would likely serve as a viable defense for failing to appear before the court in person. Etter said the Biden administration has played a key role in helping deport migrants while their state cases remain pending. She said her clients are often removed under Title 42, a Trump-era public health order that allows federal authorities to expel migrants before they can apply for asylum. This whole operation could not happen without the cooperation of the federal government, Etter said. The state works hand in hand with the feds to ensure that our clients are removed while their cases are pending. President Biden continued Title 42 for more than a year after taking office, despite pressure from fellow Democrats to end it. He then announced in April that he would lift the rule, but a federal judge intervened, keeping it in place. Some border officials approve Immigration advocates and defense attorneys have repeatedly accused state officials of trampling on the constitutional rights of migrants arrested under Operation Lone Star, including in the early months of the border mission. In September, more than 200 migrants were released on cashless bonds from state-run lockups after local prosecutors, overwhelmed by an influx of detained migrants, failed to bring charges for weeks an apparent violation of state law. Since then, a number of migrants arrested in Kinney County a small border community near Del Rio that has served as the epicenter of Operation Lone Star arrests have remained in state custody for months as they await trial for their trespassing charge. Only one case, for Honduran migrant Lester Hidalgo Aguilar, has gone to trial since the border operation began, migrant attorneys said. Underscoring the delays, some of Etters most recent appeals involve migrants who were released on cashless bonds in the legal proceedings from last September only to be later deported as they await trials nearly a year after their arrest. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Despite the legal hurdles, Abbotts border operation has expanded, with trespass arrests starting last week in Webb County home to Laredo and the largest border county to participate so far and in Zapata County, according to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson. Officials in Texas largest border counties including Hidalgo and Cameron counties, located in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley have declined to participate, arguing the state arrests have done little to curb the uptick in border crossings. Abbott says the arrests are an effective deterrent, though federal officials have continued to report record levels of encounters at the border since Operation Lone Star began. "Because of President Bidens continued refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies, the State of Texas has had to take unprecedented action to keep our communities safe," Abbott said in a statement Friday. The border operation has cost the state $4 billion so far, with another $1.35 billion needed next fiscal year to keep National Guard troops stationed at the border at current levels, Texas Adjutant Gen. Thomas Suelzer told lawmakers last month. The state has devoted about $400 million to border security annually in recent years. Some local officials said they are grateful for the added presence of state troopers and National Guard members, explaining that their modest-sized sheriffs departments have been overwhelmed by the influx of migrants. If we can curb or lessen the impact of drugs and improve our security for our residents, I think that's enough of a reason to join the governor's initiative, said Zapata County Judge Joe Rathmell, a Democrat. jasper.scherer@chron.com Houston Congressman Al Green and a bipartisan group of legislators are ratcheting up pressure on President Joe Biden to assist in releasing a civil rights attorney arrested after representing slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Attorney Asim Ghafoor, who grew up in Houston and now resides in Virginia, was detained on July 14 at an airport the United Arab Emirates while en route to Istanbul, Reuters previously reported. U.A.E. officials claimed to have detained Ghafoor after convicting him in absentia of tax evasion and money laundering, the New York Times reported. Conviction in absentia means a court found him guilty without him physically being present in court or participating in the legal proceedings. The attorney was sentenced to three years in prison plus a fee of about $80,000, according to Emirates News Agency WAM. The U.A.E. officials said they investigated Ghafoor at the behest of the United States, but later a U.S. State Department official denied ever asking the Emiratis to detain him, according to media reports. Ghafoors supporters say hes being targeted because of his prior criticism of the Emirati government and his earlier work to assist Khashoggi, the journalist who was killed at a Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. We are deeply concerned that an American lawyer was plucked from the Dubai airport, tried in absentia, and put in jail for three years based on an absentia conviction. If this could happen to Mr. Ghafoor, without action by the United States, it could happen to others, Green wrote in a letter to Biden posted to Twitter on Friday. Even though Ghafoor now lives in Virginia, he remains a beloved member of the Houston Muslim community, as well as a respected civil rights lawyer who represented numerous Muslim charities and nonprofits targeted in the wake of 9/11, according to a statement Thursday from the Islamic Society of Greater Houston. It is our understanding that for the first fourteen days of his detainment, Asim had been denied bail, access to his lawyers, and access to his family, the society wrote. The group called on Congress to speak out against his detention and asked the Biden administration to ensure his immediate release on bail with unrestricted access to his attorney and family. Ghafoor was raised by his single mom in Houston, attending Olle Middle School and Alief Hastings High School, according to a website made by his supporters. He attended the University of Texas for his undergraduate degree and law school, and he later served as a staffer for former U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez in the San Antonio area. He moved to Washington, D.C., in the late 1990s to serve as Rodriguezs legislative aide and eventually his acting chief of staff, according to the website. At the time, he was one of few Muslims working on Capitol Hill. After 9/11, Ghafoor launched a civil rights practice with a focus on advocacy for Muslim Americans, according to his supporters. His work eventually extended to advocacy in the Middle East, where he defended Khashoggi. Prior to Khashoggis death, the journalist partnered with Ghafoor to launch a human rights organization called Democracy for the Arab World, (DAWN), which encouraged an end to American arms sales in the U.A.E. and shone a light on human rights abuses in the oil-rich nation. Other human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, say the country continues to commit serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detention, cruel and inhuman treatment of detainees, suppression of freedom of expression, and violation of the right to privacy. However, a state department spokesman in late July told reporters that there was no indication at this point that (Ghafoors) detention had anything to do with his association with Jamal Khashoggi, the New York Times reported. Nevertheless, supporters say Ghafoors efforts to protect human rights in the Middle East put a target on his back. The U.A.E.s decision to detain Mr. Ghafoor without notice or opportunity to seek legal counsel represents a gross violation of his due process rights, wrote Congressman Green. DETAINED AMERICAN: Will Brittney Griner serve her full prison term? Green sent the letter along with other Congress members Eddie Bernice Johnson, Lloyd Doggett, Henry Cuellar, Marc Veasey, Colin Allred, Lizzie Feltcher, Randy K. Weber, Sheila Jackson Lee, Joaquin Castro, Vicente Gonzalez, Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia. The letter comes as Biden has been trying curry favor with the U.A.E. to convince the oil-rich nation, as well as Saudi Arabia, to pump out more oil at a time of elevated energy prices. On July 16, Biden met with U.A.E. President Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan and invited him to visit the U.S. by the end of the year. And in early August, the State Department approved $5.3 billion worth of defensive missile sales to the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia, according to media reports. RELATED: Why are gas prices falling? Don't thank Biden Green pointed out that many Texas business leaders and lawyers use the Dubai airport because of the states ties to the energy industry. This situation must be addressed to ensure that members of our business and legal community can continue to safely travel through Dubai, Green wrote. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The hotel also served as a sanctuary for those who fell from grace in the Machiavellian world of Korean politics, including Yi Yong-ik, Yi Hak-gyun and Hyeon Sang-geon. Many famous and influential visitors stayed at the hotel while in Seoul. Many of them were businessmen and gold miners but there were also newspaper correspondents and writers including Jack London. However, despite the many claims, Sir Winston Churchill was not one of them. The Churchill Archives Center in Cambridge in a correspondence with Dr. Sylvia Braesel in 2015 confirmed Churchill had never visited Korea. Finally, in 1902, Sontag's hotel was open for business, but not for everyone. In a letter to one of his former subordinates, Allen complained, "[Sontag's] hotel is now her private house. She is very exclusive and even you would find it hard to get meals at her house now." in Jeong-dong. However, Sontag's hotel (which was declared to be an imperial hotel) was not constructed quickly and shoddily it was well-built and very expensive. According to Allen, the Korean emperor provided the money. . Mr. and Mrs. Emberely did quickly establish "a cheap one near the R.R. station" (aptly named Station Hotel) and, at about the same time, a "[Ms.] Sontag is about to build and run a fine first class hotel in Chong Dong (Jeong-dong). You know it will be good if she runs it, and we will at least take our Sunday dinners with her when she gets it started. [Kalitzky] and Mrs. Emberley and a Korean are also preparing little hotels, so Seoul will be supplied at last. You would hardly know the place now." In a letter to his sons in September 1900, Horace N. Allen, the American minister to Korea, described the recent developments in Seoul: One of the greatest obstacles for Westerners visiting Seoul prior to 1900 was a lack of accommodations. With no suitable hotels, visitors were forced to impose themselves upon friends or family or throw themselves upon the mercy of foreign residents of the city or even their legations and consulates. However, in 1900, things began to change. Politics were a part of Sontag Hotel and diplomats often dined at her table. According to Braesel: "[The hotel] became a culinary magnet and at the same time a business and political information exchange for various travelers, experts and diplomats. Ms. Sontag was kept informed about the predilections of the imperial family as well as the moods of powerful ministers, the continual court intrigues and cabals and thus was herself an important source if one attained her favor." As she "preferred social interaction with the world of men," it is not surprising that many of her guests were Russian, Belgian and French diplomats and attaches in Seoul. Braesel dismisses "the repeated speculation that Ms. Sontag worked as a Russian agent or perhaps even double agent." She insists there is "no corroboration for these speculations that [Sontag] was some kind of Mata Hari without the erotic exoticism." There may not be any solid proof but there is circumstantial evidence to suggest Sontag was more than just a casual observer. It is no stretch of the imagination to assume Colonel Leonid von Raaben (the Russian military attache) and his wife were frequent guests at Sontag's table. Raaben's role was not only to report on military matters but also to establish a spy network an effort to check Japanese intrigue on the Korean Peninsula. He apparently managed to persuade Adhemar Delcoigne (a Belgian adviser to the Korean government) in late 1903 to provide intelligence to the Russian government. Delcoigne seems to have been spying for everyone; according to Adrien Carbonnet, the Belgian adviser's "personal correspondence reveals that he was secretly commissioned by the Emperor Kojong to provide him with accurate information relating to the ongoing Russo-Japanese War [1904-1905]." Raaben also managed to recruit Korean spies in Wonsan, Busan, Incheon and in the Korean military including "the head of the cadet school" this may have been Yi Hak-gyun "(the only educated Korean general) and the Chief of the Royal War Chancellery." John Jordan, the British representative, did not seem to be too fond of Sontag and readily expressed his opinions of her intrigue. In a report to his government in October 1904, he wrote: "The paper [Daehan Ilbo which was extremely critical of Japanese activities in Korea], I have good reason to believe, is subsidised by the Emperor, who supplies the funds through a Miss Sontag, a woman who was formerly housekeeper in the Russian Legation and who now keeps a hotel here, which forms the headquarters of the Pro-Russian party in Seoul." It is little wonder that a Japanese official would later declare Sontag Hotel as being "a consultation centre for diplomatic conspiracies." Yun Chi-ho, a prominent Korean official, echoed Jordan's sentiment when he described the hotel as "a rendezvous for all pro-Russian persons in Seoul." Yun was very well-acquainted with Sontag and in his diary (Jan. 2, 1905) expressed his frustration that politics had dampened their friendship. "Went to see Miss Sontag. It amuses as well as hurts me to notice the efforts she makes to show me how indifferent she is to the struggle between Russia and Japan; that she has not heard any news from or of the Waebers; that to her the Japanese is the same as the Russian, etc. Does she suspect that I am a Japanese spy? or that I am pro-Japanese to the extent of hating everybody having the least sympathy with Russia? When I told her of the surrender of Port Arthur as I heard of it from General Hasegawa this afternoon Miss Sontag seemed to be sick. She quietly left the room and did not return. I fully understand her feeling and have sympathy for her mental sufferings." Yet, despite her apparent suspicions, when Sontag learned of the death of Yun's wife, she quietly reached out to him with sympathy and a rather strange proposition she wanted to adopt Yun's daughter, Laura. According to Yun's diary entry for June 2, 1905 (he writes as if he is communicating with his deceased wife): "I called on Miss Sontag in her room. Her words of sympathy were so tender that I could not help having a good, though suppressed, sobbing. She was in tears too. She kissed me on my forehead first and then on my cheek. She asked me to give her our Laura to be her adopted daughter. She said she would take the best care of Laura. 'I want someone to whom I may leave what I have,' she said. My Darling, show me what to do. I dread to marry our Laura into a Korean home. It means sure slavery. There is no school in Korea for her. If I were sure of the constant love and care of Miss Sontag, I would let her have our girl. But Miss Sontag being French, she may have said all that in a moment of impulsive kindness." Yun decided eventually against giving Laura up for adoption perhaps he felt rushed by Sontag's impending departure or perhaps he could not bear to be separated from his daughter. According to several sources, including Braesel, Sontag sold her hotel to J. Boher, a French hotelier, at the outbreak of, or during, the Russo-Japanese War and prepared to return to Europe. The official reasons she gave for her trip to Europe were "personal affairs and an inheritance" but Braesel implies politics were to blame. "Since Antoinette Sontag was considered an outspoken opponent of the Japanese influence in Korea, her withdrawal from the declining Korean imperial court would appear to have been based on a realistic insight into the political situation there" If politics drove her away in 1905, what brought her back the following year? I tend to believe "personal affairs and an inheritance" were the main reasons she left Seoul and the politics were secondary. There is also a question as to when she sold Sontag Hotel but that is the subject for our next article. I would like to thank Dr. Sylvia Braesel for her invaluable assistance and for her article: "Marie Antoinette Sontag (1838-1922) ' ,'" Transactions, Royal Asiatic Society Korea, Vol. 89, 2014. Dr. Braesel's book, "Photos of a diplomatic life between Europe and East Asia: Carl von Waeber (1841-1910)" is now being translated and should be published in Seoul within a couple of months. Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters. Music academy founder and director Richard Boulger and communications director Jane Forrestal outside BAAMS new home at Western Gateway Heritage State Park. It's located in the former community television studio. Berkshire Music Academy Works to Change Lives with Music NORTH ADAMS, Mass.The Berkshires' Academy for Advanced Musical Studies nonprofit will be having its 4th Berkshires' Summer Jazz Band Day Camp the week of Aug. 15. This week-long summer program guides students, between the ages of 12 and 18, along a path that not only influences them musically but also personally. Students will be able to learn and network with world-class performers as they compose, improvise, and express their experiences and emotions through sound. This year's faculty includes musical leaders who have earned multiple Grammy Awards and have toured and recorded with performers or bands including Miles Davis, Mick Jagger, the Saturday Night Live Band, and more. Some are faculty members of the Juilliard School and Berklee College of Music. The academy is welcoming students from the Berkshires, Southern Vermont, and eastern New York State. Learning music helps children build a better understanding of themselves, and their environment, improving every aspect of their life, said founder and Executive Director Richard Boulger this week at the academy's new home in Western Gateway Heritage State Park. "We have found that when a student learns how to hear directly, and how to think and focus and even feel emotions, and put this into their music, improvised solos, into original music, eventually, there's direct carryover into the rest of their lives," he said. Director of Communications & Development Jane Forrestal said it has been shown that children who learn music perform better in school and form deeper connections with their peers. "When you're learning music, you're using, obviously, both hemispheres of the brain. You're building, you're increasing your neuronal connections, which spills over into other areas of learning and cognitive growth and development," Forrestal said. "So students who play music typically perform better on school achievement, see improved test scores. They're great team members, because anybody, any kid who's worked in a band, learns how to listen and connect with other people and be aware of what's going on." Boulger said a big part of what makes BAAMS unique is the teaching system they use, which demonstrates that an instrument is a tool that amplifies what the student is hearing, thinking, and feeling. Other teaching academies often teach students using the instrument, a book, and a music stand from day one, he said, which builds the mindset that the source of the music is coming from something outside of them, rather than from themselves. "So that is something that our kids will learn during the week, playing and learning by ear, and understanding ideas and then they'll be able to really express that much more because the music is coming from within each of themselves," Boulger continued. "And to Janie's point, we are teaching kids to work as a unit, as a team. To get one sound, we will compose an original piece, which I have no idea what it's going to be." This teaching method has given the students the opportunity to understand and overcome the obstacles they face in life, he said. This was especially true during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, recent Drury High School graduate and BAAMS student Braden Collins collaborated with Boulger to create the song "These Four Walls," which portrayed the lonely experience of being in lockdown. They produced the song into a video that featured other students and faculty members and premiered it online at their 2021 winter solstice celebration. Boulger said they have seen great results with their teaching method in giving a student the opportunity to create original music and work with a team brings them out of their shell and creates a spark in them. "We have one student who first came into our jazz camp in 2018. And he walked in the room and he was, very, very reserved, and kind of pulled away from the group, and within a matter of 30 minutes, he met our drum instructor Victor Jones," Boulger said. "Victor showed him a few things and you could see, these lights are going on inside the student, quite remarkable. And now in 2022, that same student is if you saw him in this instance, he's a complete extrovert, very confident, and he's going to the music school of his choice. Berkshires' Summer Jazz Band Day Camp costs $400 for the week but there are scholarships for those who qualify. Families can register for the camp here Boulger said no child will be denied music education because of financial considerations. They want to provide this resource to anyone who is interested, which is why they offer scholarships to qualifying families, and tuition is already reduced to begin with. It is recommended that the student have at least some experience playing an instrument to get the most success out of the Jazz Camp. In the fall, however, BAAMS offers an After School Music Academy to all Berkshire County children ages 12 to 18, which has the same opportunities and does not require any music experience. Boulger said he and his colleagues are very passionate about providing this opportunity to anyone and changing their lives for the better. "I've worked in a lot of what are known as underserved communities such as Brownsville, Brooklyn, where you could clearly see that music had a pronounced change in kids' lives. You get kids out of gangs, you get them into playing music. And once they begin to learn musically, their whole being can change," Boulger said. "So now those kids, so many years later, have become accountants, [Certified Public Accountants,] they've become ministers, they've become educators themselves. It grows positive stories." Williamstown Planners Still Split on Upzoning Proposals WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. It took just two meetings of the newly constituted Planning Board for old fault lines to reemerge. About two hours into its July meeting, the board took up the question of how to address the numerous zoning bylaw amendments that were "referred to committee" by Junes annual town meeting. Several members of the five-person board indicated that some of the articles still merited consideration by the body and could return to town meeting in some form and with further explanation and analysis. Roger Lawrence was not having it. "I feel discouraged and got a sense of deja vu concerning this conversation," Lawrence said. "Were looking at the same article and hearing the same rationales for it I heard all last winter. I opposed them then and oppose them now. Theyve been sent back to us by the voters. "We have an obligation not to reformulate the same thing and send it back to the voters, maybe with the hope that theyre asleep next time." Peter Beck immediately pushed back at that assertion. "I dont think thats remotely fair to the voters or to us," Beck interjected as Lawrence continued his critique. "Its our responsibility to make changes to this and to respond to the objections our voters had to accepting these articles as presented," Lawrence said. "Voters were essentially saying these need more work, and I agree with our voters." Chair Stephanie Boyd cautioned that the board could interpret a 181-68 vote to refer to committee a number of different ways. "I think we have to be very careful in trying to interpret what the vote meant at town meeting," Boyd said. "I heard from people in my network a different reading of the vote than you heard, Roger. "That doesnt mean either is right." Another data point the Planning Board can consider is Mays election of Kenneth Kuttner to the one open seat on the body by a margin of 869-552. Kuttner made it clear in the campaign that he questioned the articles the Planning Board was sending to town meeting. And a month after his election to the board, Kuttner made the motion from the floor of the town meeting to send the articles back to committee rather than letting them face an up or down vote. At the July 26 meeting, Kuttner suggested that the board should start its reconsideration of the articles proposed changes by separating the idea of change in the towns General Residence zoning district from change in the Rural Residential zones. Former chair Chris Winters, who did not run for re-election in May, initially pitched the idea of making changes to all the towns residential zones cutting dimensional requirements like lot size and frontage proportionately so that all of the towns residential areas would be treated fairly in an effort to accomplish "upzoning." Upzoning is a term of art in the planning world that creates opportunities for more dense housing, often to address the impact of more exclusionary, large-lot zoning bylaws written like Williamstowns in the 1950s. Talking about one of the articles that was referred back, Article 40, Kuttner said that the proposal to allow three- and four-unit homes by right in General Residence was not adequately studied and explained by the Planning Board in its 2021-22 cycle. "Think about the scale, think about what it looks like, think about what that does to the streetscape," Kuttner said. "I can only think of maybe one fourplex in town. Maybe there are more. Visualizing what that looks like in the context of Williamstown was harder for people to do. Maybe we could have a better understanding of what that would look like in our architectural context. "We cant be asked to approve something where we dont know what that will look like on the ground." Lawrence said residents had already weighed in on the question of allowing four-unit residences. "Voters were essentially saying these [articles] need more work, and I agree with our voters," he said. "For example, I did not hear any discussion last winter, nor am I hearing discussion now [on the Planning Board] about the notion that four units, by right throughout the entire General Residence District might lead to extensive teardowns in Williamstown. "In principle, we can have four units on a given lot in some areas of Williamstown. I dont think we should have blanket zoning where we do it everywhere by right." Kutter suggested that the board could propose a bylaw that increases the number of units allowable in a single building in GR (currently two) to three and try to add a fourth in a subsequent year. When Beck Boyd said that the zoning bylaw amendment process is so arduous that he prefers not to take an incremental approach, Kuttner replied that incrementalism might help, "if you want to increase the likelihood that it passes." Kuttner proposed a similarly incremental approach to Article 45, which would have slashed the dimensional requirements (frontage, lot size and setbacks) in the General Residence district in an effort to allow for the creation of more buildable lots. "[Boyd] threw out a number at a meeting that suggested more bang for the buck in terms of addressing frontage as opposed to reducing lot size," Kuttner said. "If we want to think of something slightly more modest where were less likely to affect the look and feel of the town maybe decouple frontages from lot sizes." Kuttner said it is difficult to make changes in Williamstown (population 7,700) because its General Residence district encompasses many different neighborhood types. He contrasted that with Northampton (population 28,500), where zoning changes were more targeted. "The question is, do you want Thornliebank [on the west end of GR] looking like Mill Village," Kuttner said. "Maybe you do, maybe you dont. I dont know. But thats one thing you would have to anticipate." The last time the Planning Board attempted a comprehensive change to the zoning bylaw, in 2018, it attempted to break up GR into five different districts based on how different areas have been developed. Part of the criticism at the time was that the Mill Village neighborhood was being singled out for denser development. The Planning Board ultimately pulled its proposed warrant articles prior to the 2018 annual town meeting after receiving largely unfavorable feedback at a public hearing. After allowing all the board members to reassess the articles that were sent back to the panel, Boyd concluded that there was "some enthusiasm" for reconsidering the dimensional changes in GR and the three- and four-unit bylaw amendment proposals. "Lets say an openness to discussion," Kuttner added. Boyd also pointed out that the Planning Board has another large item on its plate in the 2022-23 cycle, the development of a new Comprehensive Plan to replace 2002s Master Plan. Boyd and Beck each serve on the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, and many of the residents who criticized the bylaw amendments proposed for the 2022 annual town meeting specifically said they felt major revisions to the bylaw should wait until after the Comprehensive Plan process plays out. That said, the Planning Board members spent much of the meeting talking about new initiatives they are working on, some of which could be ready to bring to town meeting as early as May 2023. Dante Birch is working on pulling together proposals for design elements that the board may want to suggest for 5G towers so the town can have a bylaw in place when providers start applying to build them. "Unlike other forms of technology, it has a great bandwidth but has a very short distance," Birch told his colleagues. "One of the things about it is you have to have more frequency of towers to bounce the signal along." Birch suggested that Williamstown can get ahead of the 5G industry by putting a bylaw on the books to guide the development. "It probably will be a little while before we see something like this in town," he said. "Were not exactly first on the list to get 5G." Beck is taking the point for the board on two potential bylaw changes both related to housing. The first is a concept of amending the bylaw to allow the erection of manufactured homes throughout the town. They currently are treated the same as mobile homes, which are not allowed in town outside of an overlay distinct that enables the Pines Lodge Mobile Home Park off Henderson Road. Beck noted the Williamstown bylaw disallowing mobile homes predates a 1980 change in federal law that subjects manufactured homes to strict safety certification standards. And he provided evidence showing how much more affordable manufactured homes can be compared to "stick built" housing. One Planning Board article that did pass overwhelmingly at Junes annual town meeting was Article 38, which amended the purpose of the zoning bylaw to include promoting, "a diverse and affordable mix of housing types." The second proposal that Beck is researching would see Williamstown join Great Barrington and North Adams in implementing local controls on short-term rentals. Among the options on the table are limits on the number of nights per year that a residence could be available on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo in order to keep potential year-round homes from becoming de facto hotels. Other options would include bylaws that limit the ability of non-full-time residents of the town to run short-term rentals, a step that would discourage "out of town investors" from gobbling up housing stock. Beck said that his research found there are 90 short-term rentals in Williamstown that are registered with the state but typically 100 to 150 active short-term rentals on the most popular sites. That discrepancy does not necessarily indicate high non-compliance with state statute; under Massachusetts law, only homes that rent for 12 nights or more per year need to register, and some residences may only be available for high-traffic events like Williams Colleges commencement or the Solid Sound festival at Mass MoCA. Beck said about 4 percent of the towns housing stock currently is available as short-term rentals. Two members of the Planning Board, Lawrence and Kuttner, are devoting their time this year to looking at innovative solutions to the lack of attainable housing in town that go beyond last years zoning bylaw amendment initiatives. At Julys meeting, they raised a number of potential steps the town could take, ranging from zoning changes like the creation of overlay districts and allowing manufactured homes to non-zoning solutions like town-funded workforce housing and property tax breaks for homes assessed at less than the median assessment in town. Beck suggested the Planning Board schedule a joint meeting with the Select Board to discuss some of the ideas, like tax breaks, that would address the housing question but fall outside the Planning Boards purview. Lee Seo-hyun/ Courtesy of Casey Lartigue By Lee Seo-hyun On March 22nd, I received an email from Columbia University. I logged on to check: had I been accepted? My heart was beating fast, and my hands were sweating. I clicked "view updates" and closed my eyes. The first word that I saw when I opened my eyes was: "Welcome to SIPA" (the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University). Yes, I was accepted into my dream graduate school. It was one of the most exciting and happy moments in my life. However, that happiness didn't last long. Because I began to face the reality of the expensive tuition. I never imagined that I would have this kind of opportunity in North Korea's "eternal enemy", the United States of America. Less than a decade ago, I was still brainwashed by the North Korean regime. I was born and raised in North Korea's capital of Pyongyang. I was loyal to the regime, even after I had begun to have some doubts about the system. However, my belief and hope in the Kim regime completely vanished when many friends and their families were executed and sent to political prison camps. I witnessed my best friend who was so loyal to the regime get dragged away. I will never forget receiving a text message from her saying "I don't think I can come back to school." Anger and resentment against the regime filled my body. I realized how desperately my country was in need of change. About a year later, I escaped to South Korea and after that moved to the United States. I began volunteering behind the scenes for various North Korean causes, especially in the area of human rights violations. Then, working with different entities and organizations, I began engaging in strategically disseminating information to North Koreans. In the last three years, I started speaking out publicly to raise awareness of North Korean human rights violations. Most recently, I spoke at TEDx UCLA. Through my last couple of years of activism, I learned the necessity of examining North Korea issues in a larger global context. When I first began my activism, the solution to the root of all the problems related to North Korea seemed to be simple: change the Kim regime. However, the more I experienced, the more I learned that it's much more complicated. Therefore, I decided to go to school in America to have a deeper knowledge of international relations in order to tackle the North Korea issues effectively. When I read the acceptance letter from Columbia University, I thought about how I have gone from helping behind the scenes, engaging in information dissemination and public speaking, and now having this opportunity to begin a new phase of activism for the freedom of North Koreans. I'm going to study International Affairs at Columbia (concentrating on International Security Policy and International Finance and Economic Policy.) I hope this formal education will equip me with a deeper knowledge of North Korea issues - all with the goal of one day freeing North Koreans from the grips of a dictator and bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula, and furthermore, the regional area. Only one month left until classes start, I am now frantically raising money from scholarships, grants, and other funding opportunities that were available (such as the Bush Foundation, Freedom Speakers International, LiNK, SIPA admissions and others). I have also set up a GoFundMe. I cannot continue my journey freeing North Koreans from the oppressive regime without your help. When the time comes, I will "pay it forward," and pass on the same love and support that you have shown me. Casey Lartigue, co-founder along with Lee Eun-koo of Freedom Speakers International and co-author with Han Song-mi of Greenlight to Freedom, edited this text for publication. Get ready as realme welcomes the month of August with the comeback of their annual Fan Festival! The most anticipated realme Fan Festival #DareToBeYou finally arrived with exciting activities as well as discounts and promos, lined up for fans to enjoy. Kick off the month with exclusive offers and surprising treats that await the realme Squad! The realme Fanfest is a celebration of the brand to stay connected with the Filipino community that continues to support the brand. Aside from the various treats throughout the month, fans can also expect an array of fun activities at the Music Festival happening on August 26. There will be games and raffles where they can get the chance to win awesome prizes. The fun doesnt end here! The Music Festival will end on a high note with a music-filled night. Exciting Promos and Treats Have Just Started After achieving yet another sales milestone with the C30 selling out in both Lazada and Shopee within the first 2 hours last Payday Sale, realme still has a load of discounts and promos to offer both online and offline. Starting off with the 8.8 Mega Sale, those who are on the lookout for new gadgets shouldnt miss out on great discounts they can get from Lazada and Shopee. From August 8 to 11 on Lazada, realme fans can get their hands on the newly released realme GT Neo 3 (Php25,999) and Buds Q2s (Php990) at a discounted price! Other realme products that can be scored on sale include realme C11 2021 (Php4,599) and realme C21-Y (Php5,890) for the C Series, realme 9 Pro 5G (Php14,490) and realme 9 4G (Php12,499) for the Number Series. The Lazada Mega 8.8 Sale is also an opportunity to elevate ones techlife as the realme Buds Classic (Php265), realme Book i3 (Php28,990), realme Book i5 (Php37,990), realme Pad Mini (Php7,990 for 3GB+32GB LTE), Book Prime (Php40,990), and Smart TV 50 (Php18,990) are set to be available with huge discounts as well. On the other hand, realme fans can also score exclusive deals on Shopee starting August 8 to 10. Get the realme C11 2021 (Php4,699), realme C25Y (Php6,890) and realme 9i (Php10,490) at a discounted price. Catch even more amazing offers for the stylish realme Buds Classic (Php265), realme Buds Q2s (Php990), and realme Pad Mini 3+32 LTE (Php8,190) too. As classes are resuming soon, realme aims to help students be equipped with quality tech products through the Back-to-School Pad Series Bundles happening until September 30. Students can snatch exclusive bundles from selected realme stores and participating dealers nationwide. For every purchase of any realme Pad, customers will get a free pair of DIZO GoPods D. Meanwhile, customers can score a free DIZO Wireless Power when availing any variant of the realme Pad. Best part is, the realme Book Prime (Php43,990), realme Book i3 (Php29,990 for 8GB+256GB), and realme Book i5 (Php39,990 for 8GB+512GB) have all gotten a permanent price drop! For the overall AIoT experience, students can choose to pair their realme Pad and realme Book with following wearables: realme Watch 2 (Php2,990), realme Watch 2 PRO (Php4,490), realme Band 2 (Php2,490), realme Buds Air 3 (Php3,990), and realme Buds Q2 (Php1,290). Treat Yourself from realme Partner Brands On top of the great discounts and musical performances, the realme Fanfest still has more exclusive offers with partner stores that fans can enjoy. realme joins the fun in SM Supermalls Cyber Month where customers can find the realme booth located at the SM MOA Main Mall Atrium from August 1 to 10 and pick a prize when buying any realme phone. There are also bundles that are up for grabs only at the booth! Get a free realme Game Trigger for every purchase of the realme Pad Mini or score a free realme M1 Toothbrush when availing the realme Pad. realme fans can answer to their FoodPanda cravings guilt-free with the PandaPro Rewards. Running until September 30, customers can now unlock exclusive deals on their PandaPro Rewards through the realme e-Store. Score a free realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker for every purchase of a realme smartphone (excluding any C Series smartphones) and get a free Buds Air 2 for every purchase of the realme laptop. Flex your Top Fan badge and Win realme Products As a way to give back to the Filipino fans, realme is also hosting the Ultimate Top Fan Giveaway. All the participants have to do is to follow realmes Official Facebook pages (realme and realme Philippines Community Official) and share the giveaway announcement post on their personal pages. The realme fans need to get a Top Fan badge by interacting with the page as much as possible (reacting, commenting or sharing) and use this frame for more chances of winning: bit.ly/realmeFanFest2022Frame To seal the giveaway entry, the realme fans are to create a dedicated post explaining why they think they are an ultimate Top Fan of the brand using the hashtags #DareToBeYou #realmeFanfest2022 Participants can get the chance to win weekly consolation prizes or a grand prize of any realme device that they have been eyeing on. The cherry on top? The winner gets VIP tickets, plus backstage access with meet and greet to the realme Music Fest! These are just some of the treats that realme has instored for the fans this coming August. More surprises and announcements will be unlocked in the next coming days. This is indeed a wonderful way to start the month! To learn more about the festivities realme has lined up for August and get updated on the latest discounts and other deals, be sure to check out the realme Official Store on Lazada and Shopee, follow the official realme PH Promos page on Facebook or visit the official realme website. For four years, a woman who called herself Anna Delvey and claimed to be a German heiress lived in luxury hotels in New York City, dining in some of the city's best restaurants, partying in its best night clubs, and bilking both friends and institutions for a total of $275,000. She announced that she planned to open a combined artist's center/exclusive club in a historic Park Avenue building, and came close to securing a $22 million loan for that project. She was eventually arrested after ducking one hotel bill too many, leaving behind an impressive trail of unpaid loans and fantastical excuses. Her story is a cautionary tale for everyone about who we choose to believe--and why--both in business and in life. Delvey (whose real name is Anna Sorokin) has been a source of intense fascination ever since her story was first reported. She's the subject of a major feature in New York Magazine, a Vanity Fair confessional by one of her duped friends, at least three books, and most recently a nine-part Netflix series created by Shonda Rhimes, of Scandal and Grey's Anatomy fame. Delvey's story raises some tantalizing questions. How did a 23-year-old manage to create this fictional alternate reality and make it seem so real? Where did she get the $100 bills that she famously tipped with in luxury hotels? And especially, how did she keep the charade going, constantly borrowing from new sources to pay off old ones, for four years? Some would ask the question that my husband posed as I sat binge-watching the Netflix series: "Why does anybody believe someone like that?" That's the only one of these questions I can readily answer, not because I've ever met Anna Delvey or traveled in the stratosphere of wealthy New York society, but from my own experience. Years ago, I got sucked in by someone who also claimed to come from a wealthy family--Peruvian, in his case. And though I didn't lend him large sums of money or hand over my credit card, I did something equally disastrous--I married him. What Anna Delvey has in common with my ex-husband. I know why suckers like me buy the improbable tales told by people like Anna Delvey or my ex-husband. We believe them because we want to believe them. We really, really want to live in the world they seem to be promising. We want to see how the really rich live, we want their attention and their friendship, and sometimes their love. Despite their supposed wealth, they often come across as lonely or sad, and we feel envy and compassion in equal measure. It can be a powerful mix. Ultimately, we don't just get deceived by these charismatic liars. We also deceive ourselves by believing what we wish were true. This explains why, after more than a month of increasingly improbable excuses, Vanity Fair photo editor Rachel DeLoache Williams continued hoping that Delvey would refund the $62,000 charged to her credit card for a luxury trip to Morocco that the supposedly rich Delvey had said would be her treat. This is why, for way too long, I believed that my ex-husband came from a wealthy family even though I was never allowed to see where he lived. It's not that we're fools, or at least not only that. It's that we're up against our own brains. Multiple studies show that humans are biased to believe things we want to be true, and to expect things to happen the way we want them to. The more we want something to be true, the more willing we are to believe it, even when there's plenty of evidence that it isn't. The danger of this bias becomes obvious when people like Williams and me get taken in by people like Delvey or my ex-husband. But there's an even bigger, though less obvious, danger when wishful thinking bias leads people to believe that climate change isn't real, or that real estate prices will never fall. Or, that a new company, new product, or new investment is sure to succeed even if the numbers suggest otherwise. How to fight cognitive bias. How do we overcome this brain bias? There's only one way, and it isn't fun. For every time you decide to believe a sales rep's promise, or a lover's declaration of fidelity, or an employee's assurance that a problem is under control, ask yourself this simple question: How much do I want this to be true? Be very, very honest with your answer. If you truly don't care, or don't care very much, you're in much less danger of being deceived. But if, as is often the case, you have a very strong desire for something to be true, then you need to explore further. Ask yourself what evidence you have that it is true, and what evidence you have that it isn't. Most important, ask yourself this: What if it weren't true? What would you do? What changes would you make? This is what led me to stop finally taking my ex's statements at face value and start fact-checking some of what he told me. It's also what finally led Williams to reach out to law enforcement and report what Delvey had done. Advertisements NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Women and girls who seek to advance their STEM education have long faced incredible challenges in a field traditionally dominated by men. At the same time, recent events have highlighted the soaring population of 89.3 million refugees, displaced and stateless people around the world - almost 27% of whom are women and girls under 18. International education, and especially virtual exchange, is rarely used to address such issues, even though it can be a powerful way to broaden opportunities for marginalized groups. Helping Young Women Enter the World of STEM & Sustainability AFS Intercultural Programs, a global non-profit renowned for its intercultural exchanges has run programs funded by bp since 2011 for young people in STEM. In 2021, the two organizations launched an ambitious 5-year initiative aimed at giving 5,000 young people scholarships, with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion, and a particular focus on supporting young women. The AFS Global STEM Accelerator program, which launched in June 2022, is a full-scholarship, virtual exchange program designed to provide 180 young women worldwide with access to education in sustainability, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and positive social impact. Giving Refugees Equal Access to Education The refugee crisis affects more than 89.3 million people globally, including the millions of displaced people from Syria, Venezuela, Sudan, and Myanmar. Since February 2022, the world has seen millions of Ukrainians being forced to flee their homes. The immediate public response to refugee crises is often focused on meeting urgent humanitarian needs. However, education is a basic human right that is often denied to refugee youth. This is especially true of young refugee women. It's also, according to the UNHCR, a critical part of any international refugee response. With this in mind, AFS, with support from bp, increased the number of scholarships to ensure that young refugee women were included in the AFS Global STEM Accelerator Program. Recognizing the need to execute outreach thoughtfully, AFS partnered with SPARK, an international non-governmental development organization active in 14 regions throughout the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa. For over 28 years, SPARK has created pathways for young people to rebuild their futures, and provide opportunities for youth, particularly women and refugees, to study, work and grow their own businesses in fragile communities. "Global citizenship education has to be accessible to everyone. We are so excited that we could work with bp and SPARK to make this program accessible to young people that are often excluded from these opportunities, but in reality need them the most," says Daniel Obst, AFS President and CEO. Over 1,000 applicants from 71 Countries The AFS Global STEM Accelerators program received 1,083 applications from 71 countries worldwide, including applicants from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Nigeria, and Syrian refugees in Turkey. Applications were open to young women (ages 15-17.5) globally, with a keen interest in becoming changemakers in their communities. AFS allocated 20% of scholarships specifically for refugees and girls from displaced populations, whether from war, violence, or natural disaster. The 180 scholarships awarded to young women from 61 countries reflect the diversity and inclusion the program seeks to achieve: * 20% of recipients identify as refugees or from displaced communities * 82% of recipients identify as People of Color * 51% of recipients come from low-income households * 10% will be the first in their families on track to graduate from high school AFS and bp recognize that access to technology and internet connectivity is inequitable globally and are prepared to support these needs. "It is exciting to see such strong interest from these brilliant young women," says Kerry Dryburgh, EVP people & culture, bp. "With their passion to make a difference and the skills they will learn, they are future changemakers, leaders and innovators we wish them the very best for their journey." The words of the scholarship recipients further support the claim that virtual exchange is a powerful tool for expanding access to educational opportunities. "I am from a traditional Pashtun society, where in my province girls don't even have the right to go to school. In each corner of my country, gender inequality is vivid. All these challenges give me the strength to create my own identity and to be different from my surroundings. Participating in this program will be my first step toward achieving my goal to explore the world and become someone influential in improving sustainable societies." - Harira, from Afghanistan What's Next for These Young Women The AFS Global STEM Accelerators program culminates with scholars developing social impact capstone projects and presentations that offer potential solutions to real-world challenges, with an emphasis on sustainability. Participants receive the Advanced Certificate on Global Competence for Social Impact, awarded by AFS and the University of Pennsylvania, along with official validation on their capstone projects from the University of Pennsylvania Center for Social Impact Strategy. Students' learning and capstone development is guided by a diverse facilitation team representing twelve qualified facilitators (all women) from nine countries. Upon program completion, scholars will be invited to join the alumni community offering diverse mentoring opportunities, skills development sessions, panel discussions and further development opportunities. Scholars will also be invited to participate in the AFS Youth Assembly, a global gathering of young people actively tackling the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1809272/AFS_Logo.jpg Zahid F. Sarder Saddi, an influential civil society leader and community activist advocating for the people of Bangladesh, thanked US House Representatives of New York Meeks, Jeffries, Clark, and Meng for their support to the Bangladeshi community, culminating in renaming the streets from MacDonald and Church in Brooklyn, New York, Little Bangladesh." NEW YORK, NEW YORK, Aug. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bangladeshi businesses in New York City have enjoyed a wave of popularity. The prominence of the community and culture is solidified in a newly approved bill renaming MacDonald to Church in Brooklyn, Little Bangladesh. Photo: US Congressman Hakeem Jeffries with Bangladeshi Community Leader and former Bangladesh Foreign Advisor Zahid F. Sarder Saddi. Bangladeshi Activist Zahid F. Sarder Saddi publicly voiced appreciation for Representatives Gregory Meeks, Hakeem Jeffries, Yvette Clarke, and Grace Meng for their support and passion in providing care for the Bangladeshi Community. On Thursday, July 14th the New York City Council approved the bill, renaming MacDonald to Church in Brooklyn, Little Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi community has been instrumental in shaping New York City as a whole, and the rename is an effort to reflect that. Support of New York House Representatives from the 5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th districts has proven indisposable in the drive needed to accomplish the win. US House Representative Gregory Meeks of New Yorks 5th Congressional District upholds consistent support of Bangladeshi people both domestically and overseas. As Chairman of the Congressional Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Meeks has shown strong support of human rights for the community worldwide. Rep. Meeks has also shown consistent support for the Bangladeshi community in New York City, even attending many community events such as the Bangladeshi Independence Day celebrations. Photo: US Congressman Jeffries Rejoices with Bangladeshi People Amidst Community Win. Representative of New Yorks 8th Congressional District, Hakeem Jeffries, also has spoken about the Bangladeshi communitys important role in New York City, and has attended community events for many holiday celebrations. Rep. Jeffries says that he is proud to represent the Bangladeshi-American community of New York City. Rep. Yvette Clark has similarly been a strong advocate for the Bangladeshi people in her work representing New Yorks 9th Congressional District. Rep. Clark has advocated for offering greater human rights and humanitarian support, specifically when a historic cyclone hit Bangladesh and India in 2017. Photo: Bangladeshi Community Leader and former Bangladesh Foreign Advisor Zahid F. Sarder Saddi with US Congresswoman Yvette Clark. Representative of New Yorks 6th Congressional District, Grace Meng, has a track record of supporting the Bangladeshi community both in the United States and overseas, advocating for the minority Hindu community of Bangladesh as well as Bangladeshi people at large. According to a recent study, 40% of New York City taxi drivers hail from South Asia, including Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Prior to the pandemic, Asians in New York City owned 23% of all businesses. Bangladeshi New Yorkers by these accounts make a significant contribution to the city economically. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi also thanks US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (NY), Mayor Eric Adams, and the New York City Council for their unflinching support of the Bangladeshi community. This initiative is a celebration of the many contributions made by the Bangladeshi community in New York City, says Bangladeshi Community Leader Zahid F. Sarder Saddi, Foreign Advisor to the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Begum Khaleda Zia. Photo: Bangladeshi-American Community Supporters Rejoice as Little Bangladesh is Declared in NYC. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi has been involved in the Bangladeshi-American Community for over 25 years. He is an influential civil society leader that receives consistent praise for his efforts in playing a major role in drumming up support and facilitating action to carry the voice of Bangladeshi-Americans to lawmakers. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi has taken action on the behalf of Bangladeshi community members worldwide. He has done work during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the Bangladeshi community in its efforts to open numerous vaccine clinics to guarantee access for many people who may have otherwise not received vaccines. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi has spoken out against human rights abuses when he addressed the UN earlier this year, as well as speaking with US congress, and other governmental bodies. Working closely with smaller bodies as well, such as New York City Council and the mayors office, to ensure the well-being of the Bangladeshi-American community. Photo: Bangladeshi Community Leader and Bangladesh former Foreign Advisor Zahid F. Sarder Saddi. On the importance of culture to the Bangladeshi community of New York City, Zahid F. Sarder Saddi says, As a society, were dedicated to preserving the history and culture of Bangladesh for people who have emigrated from Bangladesh, but still wish to keep the history, traditions, and culture of their home country alive. From providing taxi services to newsstands, from small businesses to doctors, the Bangladeshi community makes crucial contributions to New York Citys economy and culture. At every corner of NYC business, the medical sector, and even occupying a third of the NYPDs traffic division, this community provides essential support to its city. Community leaders like Zahid F. Sarder Saddi continue their work to ensure the voices of the growing community of Bangladeshis living in the United States are heard. About: Zahid F. Sarder Saddi is an influential civil society leader, humanitarian, and advocate for Bangladesh and its people. He helps Bangladeshi expatriates assimilate into life in the United States while also preserving their own values and traditions. Zahid F. Sarder Saddi works with several organizations, and holds a special passion for helping the Bangladeshi community in the United States and around the world. To learn more about Zahid F. Sarder Saddi, please visit www.ZahidFSarderSaddi.com or reach out to Zahid F. Sarder Saddi at info@zahidfsardersaddi.com CONTACT: Zahid F. Sarder Saddi info@zahidfsardersaddi.com Advertisements Via GlobeNewswire RSS Feed https://ift.tt/ePwc4VT An old video of three brave children fighting off a huge snake that wrapped itself around their pet dog has resurfaced online. The video shows the dog whimpering as the snake wrapped itself around its lower body and hind legs. Screengrab/YouTube Three boys fight off snake to save their pet dog An older boy can be seen trying to pin the huge snake's head to the grass as the two younger boys attempt to loosen its grip on their dog. The boys hurled leaves at the snake as the older boy used what appeared to be a metal table leg to gain control of its head. The little pooch seems to be rather confused by the incident. As difficult as this task seems the three boys showed great courage in helping the dog out of the situation. The three young and exceptionally brave boys managed to grab the serpent from both ends pulling it in opposite directions, forcing it to relinquish its hold. Thanks to them, the dog was unharmed. It is still unclear what happened to the snake or where the video was filmed. Man kills snake that attacked and bit pet dog In another similar incident, a man in North Carolina, US, killed a copperhead snake at his home after it attacked and bit the family's pet dog. Brian Lewis, who had never seen a copperhead at his familys house, was working from home when the attack happened. I heard Winnie (the dog) barking and suddenly I heard silence, Lewis said. And that is kinda weird. I go outside and my little dog is in the garage and she has her paw up and she is looking pathetic. Representational Image/iStock A copperhead snake had bitten his dog Winnie in one of her paws. Lewis picked up Winnie and took her inside and then rushed her to a vet. Veterinarians at the animal hospital treated Winnie and told Lewis they were seeing a lot of dogs being bitten by snakes particularly copperheads. When Lewis got home, he looked in his backyard for the snake. Soon, he found the copperhead and killed it. For more trending stories, follow us on Telegram. Microsoft has officially launched the .NET Community Toolkit, providing developers with a collection of helpers and APIs for .NET developers, agnostic of any UI platform. Microsoft said an updated release of the MVVM (model-view view-model) Toolkit is the biggest new feature in the toolkit. A spinoff of the Windows Community Toolkit, .NET Community Toolkit 8.0.0 was announced August 4, following a preview phase that began in January. Included with the MVVM Toolkit are new source generators intended to greatly reduce boilerplate code for setting up an application leveraging MVVM. These generators have been rewritten to run faster than before. Writing observable properties has been simplified, C# development enhanced, and messenger APIs have been improved for MVVM applications as well. The .NET Community Toolkit 8.0.0 also brings improvements to the diagnostics package. The toolkit can be accessed from GitHub. Although tagged as version 8.0.0, this is actually the first release of .NET Community Toolkit. The reason for this version naming is all the libraries in the toolkit originally were part of Windows Community Toolkit, a collection of helpers, extensions, and controls to simplify development of Universal Windows Platform (UWP) and .NET applications for Windows 10 and Windows 11. Due to the growing need for APIs targeting .NET without Windows-specific dependencies, Microsoft decided to split these APIs off into a separate project. The last version of Windows Community Toolkit prior to the branching out was 7.1.x; Microsoft decided to follow the same versioning. Indiana Senator Susan Glick, author of Senate Bill 1, debates Senator Greg Taylor shortly before the vote to accept Senate Bill 1, which was passed by the House earlier in the day, making the Indiana legislature the first in the U.S. to restrict abortions, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. Aug. 5. Reuters-Yonhap Indiana has become the first state in the U.S. to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in June that overturned Roe v. Wade. The Indiana Legislature on Friday approved the near-total abortion ban with some exceptions, including in cases of rape, incest, and to protect the life and physical health of the mother. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb immediately signed the bill. Indiana was among the first Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws after the Supreme Court ruling that removed constitutional protections for the procedure. Indiana's Legislature became the first in the U.S. Friday to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The measure now goes to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has not indicated whether he will sign it. The ban includes limited exceptions, including in cases of rape and incest, and to protect the life and physical health of the mother. The exceptions for rape and incest are limited to 10 weeks post-fertilization, meaning victims could not get an abortion in Indiana after that. Victims would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack. Indiana was among the earliest Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws after the Supreme Court ruling in June that removed constitutional protections for the procedure. It is the first state to pass a ban through both chambers, after West Virginia lawmakers on July 29 passed up the chance to be that state. The debates come amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face some party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost. The Indiana Senate approved the near-total ban 28-19, hours after House members advanced it 62-38. Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville, who sponsored the bill, told reporters after the House vote that the legislation ''makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation.'' Outside the House chamber, abortion-rights activists often chanted over lawmakers' remarks, carrying signs like ''Roe roe roe your vote'' and ''Build this wall'' between church and state. Some House Democrats wore blazers over pink ''Bans Off Our Bodies'' T-shirts. The House added exceptions for protecting the health and life of the mother after repeated requests from doctors and others. It also allows abortions if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. \Abortion rights demonstrators protest outside the Senate chambers shortly before the vote to accept Senate Bill 1 which was passed by the house earlier in the day, making the Indiana legislature the first in the U.S. to restrict abortions, in I Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. Aug. 5. Reuters-Yonhap Indiana lawmakers listened to hours of testimony over the past two weeks in which residents on all sides of the issue rarely, if ever, supported the legislation. Abortion-rights supporters said the bill goes too far, while anti-abortion activists expressed it doesn't go far enough. The House also rejected, largely on party lines, a Democratic proposal to place a non-binding question on the statewide November election ballot: ''Shall abortion remain legal in Indiana?'' The proposal came after Kansas voters resoundingly rejected a measure that would have allowed the state's Republican-controlled Legislature to tighten abortion in the first test of voters' feelings about the issue since Roe was overturned. Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston told reporters that if residents are unhappy, they can vote for new lawmakers. ''Ultimately it's up to the Senate,'' he said. ''Voters have an opportunity to vote, and if they're displeased, they'll have an opportunity both in November and in future years.'' Indiana's proposed ban also came after the political firestorm over a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to the state from neighboring Ohio to end her pregnancy. The case gained attention when an Indianapolis doctor said the child came to Indiana because of Ohio's ''fetal heartbeat'' ban. Democratic Rep. Maureen Bauer spoke tearfully before Friday's vote about people in her South Bend district who oppose the bill the husbands standing behind their wives, the fathers supporting their daughters as well as the women ''who are demanding that we are seen as equal.'' Bauer's comments were followed by raucous cheers from protesters in the hallway and subdued applause from fellow Democrats. ''You may not have thought that these women would show up,'' Bauer said. ''Maybe you thought we wouldn't be paying attention.'' Abortion-rights protesters fill Indiana Statehouse corridors and cheer outside legislative chambers, Aug. 5, as lawmakers vote to concur on a near-total abortion ban, in Indianapolis. AP-Yonhap A report by VOAs Moki Edwin Kindzeka about allegations of police abuse against disabled citizens in Cameroon has garnered an unusual acknowledgement from Cameroons National Human Rights Commission, which is now calling for local police forces to stop the maltreatment of the blind and members of the disabled community. A weeklong protest by hundreds of blind people in Cameroon, which included demands for an end to job discrimination, ended on July 1, 2022, when police abused and forcibly removed them, in some cases as far as 30 kilometers outside the capital city of Yaounde. Kindeza reports, police destroyed their white canes, tore dresses, and arrested and detained blind persons for up to six hours bundled them in buses, dumped blind persons outside of the capital Yaounde, and told the sightless people to find their way back home. After Kindezas story was published, Cameroons Police Chief Martin Mbarga Nguelle ordered his force to be kind towards blind persons and to pay special attention when sightless persons ask for help. In addition, Cameroons Minister of Social Affairs Pauline Irene Nguene announced special economic assistance measures for blind persons. Cameroon is one of Africas most dangerous countries for journalists, explained Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lopez. When we see VOAs work triggering a significant policy change in the country, its a reaffirmation that our reporting has impact. Despite the risk to our journalists in Cameroon, our work matters. The Government will have a window of between just 10 days and two weeks to rehouse 3,500 Ukrainian refugees at the end of this month. A source called the end of August a "pinch point" when student accommodation, which is currently housing refugees, is needed to once again house students. This will mean finding alternative accommodation for those in student accommodation in a narrow window. However, sources are hopeful that with the tourist season coming to a close and an intensification of the pledged accommodation system, the number of rooms and homes available will balance out when the third-level accommodation is no longer available. There had been 4,250 student accommodation places in use across the country for Ukrainians arriving here, but some of those contracts ended last month and while some have been extended by a week, the vast majority will end by the last week in August. On pledged accommodation, a senior source said that numbers of homes being used had grown rapidly in the last fortnight, from 2,200 to 3,000. Volunteers and NGOs are currently on site at many student accommodation centres to assist Ukrainians in moving to pledged accommodation, but some are said to be reluctant to leave. They've never been to Ireland, and in the student accommodation there's a small Ukrainian community, so some are reluctant to leave that, even if the pledged home is bigger and more secure," said the source. Around 50 Ukrainians who were at the Gormanston camp were due to leave for alternative accommodation on Friday, while just fewer than 200 were at Citywest. The Irish Examiner understands that a call for suitable buildings across Government departments had not yielded accommodation "in any great numbers", but all buildings are being examined. 'Difficult time' Colin Regan. Picture: Dan Linehan While recent weeks have seen the Aviva Stadium used to house refugees, the GAA has said that its membership will likely not be able to offer facilities until winter. GAA community and health manager Colin Regan told RTE Radio that the call for accommodation came "at a difficult time" for the organisation. Unfortunately, the latest call coincides with the commencement of the club championship season, which places extensive demand on all GAA facilities at both club and county level," he said. A spokesperson for the Department of Children said that as of the start of this week, 43,520 Ukrainians had arrived in Ireland, with around 33,220 having sought State-provided accommodation. Of the arrivals from Ukraine to date, approximately two-thirds are female, and one third are male. Approximately one-third of the arrivals are minors under the age of 18. The spokesperson said: "Currently contracted accommodation capacity at present comes to approximately 29,000 beds in hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, hostels, self-catering accommodation, and certain other repurposed settings with additional capacity also being pursued through accommodation pledged by the general public, State-owned or private properties which may be suitable for short-term accommodation, accommodation belonging to voluntary bodies, religious order properties and local authority facilities. "This 29,000 includes approximately 4,250 student accommodation places. "The department continues to investigate other options such as student accommodation for the summer period, and holiday homes. Contingency options are being put in place should the numbers arriving exceed accommodation available. These include the use of arenas and conference centres, as well as the use of tented accommodation in the Gormanston camp." Meanwhile, three ships bearing Ukrainian grain left via the Black Sea on Friday after Turkey and the UN brokered a deal to shift the country's grain stockpiles to foreign markets. One of the ships, the Navistar, will dock in Ireland. When Carole Bradley laid down tiles on the basement floor of her parents' former home, she had no idea they would be of any significance years later. But as she stared down at them recently, the penny dropped. They are blue and yellow - the same colour as the national flag of Ukrainians due to move into the Georgian terrace house on Kingston College square, just outside Mitchelstowns town centre. The historic square where Caroles parents used to live will soon welcome six families who have fled the war and are in need of temporary accommodation. They will be moving into what is a small community living in a cluster of 18th century terraced houses - once used to house former tenants of the Fourth Lord Baron Kingston - on either side of the Kingston College Chapel. The 30 houses are administered by the Kingston Charity Trust, mostly for the benefit of older or retired people from Ireland and abroad who have fallen on hard times or suffered some form of hardship. Warden Carole Bradley, spending a few moments in the basement of her mother's former home at Kingston College, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, before it is gutted and restored for Ukrainian refugees. Picture: Neil Michael A number of them have been boarded up and laid empty since the property crash in 2008. As people either died or moved out, there wasnt enough money in the trust to do them up. But inspired by the suddenly unfolding events in Ukraine from February 24, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, Diocesan Secretary, Billy Skuse and Cobh lawyer Charlie Daly set up an appeal for funds to do up some of the houses. Within just eight days they had raised 200,000 from members of the public - enough to help pay for the materials and some of the labour needed to do up six houses. Not long after the appeal was launched, the team behind RTEs DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland got involved. The popular show sees teams of builders and designers - mostly volunteers - rebuilding the homes of people in need of help. Dr Paul Colton and Baz Ashmawy at the start of restoration work at Kingston College, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Picture: Neil Michael The second and latest series, presented by Baz Ashmawy, features Irish families based in New Ross, Meath, Santry and Waterford city. Motive TVs Anne McLaughlin read about the Kingston College project in a newspaper and approached the bishop to offer to help with six of the houses. Experts including Brandon Duarte, whose work with Cork firm MMD Construction has seen the Macroom man involved in a variety of high-profile building projects around Munster, and a team of volunteers - made up, in part, from tradespeople in and around Mitchelstown - was assembled and work began in early July. One of the Ukrainian refugees turning up on the first day to watch proceedings start was Darina Gruzdieva, along with her mother, Viktoria Gruzdieva. They are currently staying in student accommodation in Cork city, which they have to leave in mid-August. Hive of activity: Kingston College square from the air, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Picture: Neil Michael Previously, they had stayed with a host family near Fermoy, where Darina volunteered with a local charity. Before leaving Ukraine, the 30-year-old lived in Kyiv, and her mother lived in Bucha, in the Kyiv Oblast about 30km away. Shortly after she went to visit her mother, Russian soldiers broke into her apartment and ransacked it at a time of intensive fighting in and around the outskirts of the capital city. With her 14-year-old half-sister Liza already living with her own mother in Spain, Darina and her mother moved to Ireland on March 7. Darina would love to have her half-sister live with her, along with her mother under one roof and Viktoria is also keen for her own mother - Darinas grandmother Ludmila - to come to Ireland. It would be better for all of us if we were all under one roof, she said. Ukrainian refugee families arriving at the start of restoration work at Kingston College, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Picture: Neil Michael Myself and my mother are very excited to be coming to live in Kingston College any day now. We have been made to feel very welcome in this country right from the word go. First we stayed with a host family near Fermoy but then they had relatives coming to stay and we had to find somewhere else." They're currently in student accommodation in Cork city. We have to leave there on August 19, so it is great to finally have somewhere that we can call home for as long as we are in Ireland. As long as we have a war, we will be here. It is very hard not knowing how long before the war will be over, or when we can actually move back to your homes in Ukraine and what conditions they will be in. A volunteer passes a doorway on Kingston College square, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, adorned with Ukrainian flower garlands. Picture: Neil Michael Another benefit for Darina of living in the Mitchelstown community will be that she will be able to get a bus into Cork city, where she has found work in a recruitment agency. I feel in Mitchelstown that we finally have a home and feel a bit of peace for now, she added. We would like to try and lead normal lives and being welcomed into Mitchelstown makes that possible, and we are so very thankful. Carole Bradley knows only too well how she feels. Just over 26 years ago, she arrived at Limerick Junction at 3am with her three children and her entire life in a suitcase, and two backpacks. At the time, her youngest son Jonathan was just three, her daughter Catherine was eight and her other son Christopher, who has since died, was aged 11. Diarmuid Gavin being filmed at the start of restoration work at Kingston College, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Picture: Neil Michael Carole had lived in the UK with their father but after their relationship ended, she found herself homeless, and while looking for somewhere to live, was told that her late stepfathers house in Kingston College had been empty for years. So, she found herself living in the same house that her mother Elizabeth 'Dorrie' Dorothy Frazer had lived in, at Number 15. Known as the Chaplains House, she had lived there with her second husband - Caroles step-father - the late Archdeacon of Glendalough Albert 'Bertie' Frazer. He became chaplain at Kingston College Chapel after he retired there in 1985 from his senior ecclesiastical role within what is now the Anglican Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough. The couple moved out of No 15 in the early 1990s and moved, instead, to a smaller house, Number 17 and they lived there until their deaths. Dorrie died aged 77 in October 2011, and the house had lain empty ever since. A section of Kingston College square, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Picture: Neil Michael Carole still lives in No 15 and never forgets the kindness and warm welcomes shown to her when she left the UK. The residents in the other houses came to the square after various crises of their own, coming from all parts of the globe. Some come from France, Holland, England and a number, including pensioner Geoff Wood, came to the square from Zimbabwe. The 90-year-old, who is Caroles next-door neighbour, arrived in Mitchelstown from Harare, Zimbabwe 17 years ago, with his late wife Maggie. As well as it being a time when, under Robert Mugabes presidency, white farmers' lands were being taken off them, Maggie had health issues. The situation was getting very difficult for everybody, he said. Geoff Wood, a longtime resident of Kingston College, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, at the entrance to his home there. Picture: Neil Michael I had never had any racial problems or anything like that, but it was just a situation that was going wrong. My wife and I had been there for over 40 years, our three children were born there, and our five grandchildren were also born there. One day we just decided to get the family together and tell them that it was time to leave before it was too late. His daughter Alice heard about Kingston College, and thought it would suit him and Maggie. They duly applied to join the waiting list and when they had got onto it, they left Zimbabwe and moved to Kilkenny to live with their daughter and they were eventually given a home at Kingston College. I know only too well how the Ukrainians who move here will feel when they do come, he said. Volunteer Eamonn McCluskey, from Co Meath, embraces old friend DIY SOS Safety Advisor, Helena Ryan at the start of resoration work at Kingston College, in Mitchelstown, Co Cork. Picture: Neil Michael Youve no idea of the absolute relief I felt when I stood in the house at first and looked around and just thought, thank goodness its all over, we finally have a place we can call home. On the welcome he and his Maggie, who died six years ago in a local nursing home, received when they arrived, he added: People really made us feel very welcome. They werent just our immediate neighbours but they were also the people in the town, and it helped that I worked in the local Sue Ryder charity shop, and I got to know people. He added: I am looking forward to welcoming the Ukrainians and showing them the warm welcome I was shown when I arrived. By all accounts, except his own, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Watching Mohammed bin Salman smirk and fistbump and backslap his way around various world leaders these past weeks has been grotesque. The UN Human Rights Council investigated and concluded that there is no indication under international law that this crime could be qualified under any other way but as a state killing. Since then, the prince laid low and waited for the furore over the killing to dissipate. Thanks to the worlds economies slavish reliance on oil, an addiction that takes precedence over pretty much everything else, that didnt take long. US presidents historically talk tough on Saudi Arabia but always end up back in the Kingdoms arms. It was still jarring to see Joe Biden who swore bin Salman would be a pariah trot along and visit the prince at home, complete with a cute greeting out front of the palace. What does it mean when a state murders a journalist, and other states accept this and move along with the business of the day? European leaders were no better when it came down to it. Greek lawmakers positively romanced the murderous prince, taking him on a private nighttime tour of the Acropolis and catering to his every whim. Yellow tape marks bullet holes on a tree and a portrait and flowers create a makeshift memorial at the site where Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed in Jenin in May. In an interview with Arab News, the development minister Adonis Georgiadis practically fell over himself, saying: We are deeply honoured that his Royal Highness Mohammed bin Salman decided to visit Greece as his first trip to an EU country since 2018. Hmmm, what was it that happened in 2018 again that may have paused his gallivanting? Oh yes, that murder he ordered. I understand the desperation felt by these politicians because of the impending energy crisis, but this is a dangerous path. Putins increasingly repressive regime was excused for many years because Europe needed his fossil fuels, and now look where we are. But the collective embrace of Mohammed bin Salman from the top down signifies new depths of complicity in state-sanctioned murders of journalists. Unfortunately, Saudi Arabia is not alone in killing journalists with impunity. On May 11, Israeli soldiers shot and killed Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh while she was covering one of their army operations in Jenin, in the West Bank. The beloved Palestinian-American journalist was wearing a vest and helmet marked press when she was killed, and so far, nobody has been arrested or charged. The Israelis falsely accused Palestinians of firing the shots that killed her, a claim that has been roundly disproven. We find that the shots that killed Abu Aqleh came from Israeli security forces, the UN human rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani said. It is deeply disturbing that Israeli authorities have not conducted a criminal investigation. It is doubtful that they ever will, particularly when their powerful US allies are fine to stand by. This is shameful but telling. Throughout her career, Abu Aqleh covered the regions conflict and politics but always focused on Palestinian lives and Palestinian stories. In her own words, she said: I chose journalism to be close to the people. It might not be easy to change the reality, but at least I could bring their voice to the world. Her work consistently threatened the powerful in Israel, where Palestinian voices are routinely silenced. In a statement, the Al Jazeera Media Network, where she worked since 1997, called Abu Aklehs killing a blatant murder and accused Israeli forces of targeting the veteran journalist with live fire and assassinating her in cold blood. The Israeli army denies she was a target. In an op-ed for the Washington Post, appealing for the American government to do better, Abu Aqlehs niece Lina Abu Akleh was frank. We are not naive; we know that the United States has failed to conduct its own investigations into previous killings of American citizens by Israeli soldiers and that the US government has helped Israel avoid accountability for decades of grave, systematic human rights abuses and violations of international law. Jamal Khashoggi was also a respected and prolific journalist. For decades, he lived and worked in Saudi Arabia, also acting as an adviser to the royal family there. Their relationship soured and fearing arrest in bin Salmans burgeoning crackdown on dissenters, Khashoggi went into self-imposed exile in the US in 2017. People hold posters of Jamal Khashoggi, near the Saudi Arabia consulate in Istanbul, on the anniversary of his death. Picture: AP There, he regularly criticised Mohammed Bin Salman in the Washington Post, comparing him to Vladimir Putin for his repressive tactics. He called out other Saudi leaders for their greed and corruption, all the while fully understanding the risk, writing in his monthly column: I have left my home, my family, and my job, and I am raising my voice. To do otherwise would betray those who languish in prison. I can speak when so many cannot. Khashoggi can no longer speak, but we still have his words. Khashoggis final column for the paper was devastating in its prescience. He was writing specifically about the Arab world when he said: A state-run narrative dominates the public psyche, and while many do not believe it, a large majority of the population falls victim to this false narrative. Sadly, this situation is unlikely to change. He was right on all counts. Despite this, American and European leaders embrace the very people who killed him for saying so. When heads of state go to such great lengths to silence those who would tell the truth, and the rest of us accept this quietly, we need to ask why that is. Why did Jamal Khashoggi and Shireen Abu Akleh represent such a threat to Saudi Arabia and Israel, respectively? Why are Europeans and Americans still happy to cater to Saudi Arabia and to Israel? The answers lie in the dead journalists work and that work is still here, still bearing witness, still telling the truth. A volunteer firefighter who responded to a blaze in Pennsylvania has said he fears all 10 victims are members of his family. Nescopeck firefighter Harold Baker told a local newspaper that the victims expected to be found in the house included his son, daughter, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, three grandchildren and two other relatives. The fire in Nescopeck was reported at around 2.30am. One person was found dead inside the single-family home shortly after emergency responders arrived while two other victims were found later in the morning. A criminal investigation has been launched. The dead children were aged five, six and seven while the oldest victim was 70. Ten people are feared to have died (Jimmy May/Bloomsburg Press Enterprise/AP) Mr Baker said that the address initially given for the call was a neighbouring home but that he realised it was his familys house as the fire engine approached. When we turned the corner up here on Dewey (Street) I knew right away what house it was just by looking down the street, Mr Baker told the Citizens Voice. I was on the first engine, and when we pulled up, the whole place was fully involved. We tried to get in to them. Neighbours reported hearing a loud popping sound or explosion before seeing the front porch of the home rapidly consumed by flames. Some also reported hearing a young man screaming in front of the home: Theyre all dead. Mr Baker, who was relieved of his firefighting duties because of his relationship to the victims, said 14 people were living in the home. One of them was out delivering newspapers and three others escaped, he said. Its a complex criminal investigation with multiple fatalities, Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Derek Felsman said. Troopers were interviewing survivors, he said. Burma ASEAN condemns lack of Myanmar peace progress Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn speaks during a press conference at the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh on August 6, 2022. / AFP PHNOM PENHSoutheast Asian ministers Friday condemned the lack of progress on a crisis resolution plan for coup-hit Myanmar, demanding the junta take action before a regional summit later this year. Myanmar has been in chaos since a putsch in February last year, and the death toll from the militarys brutal crackdown on dissent has passed 2,100, according to a local monitoring group. Anger is growing among some Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members at the generals stonewalling, particularly after the execution last month of four political prisoners including two prominent pro-democracy figures. The 10-member bloc spearheading so far fruitless efforts to resolve the turmoil issued a joint statement after foreign minister talks in Phnom Penh. The ministers said they were deeply disappointed by the limited progress in and lack of commitment of the Naypyidaw authorities to the timely and complete implementation of the five point consensus. In a veiled warning to Myanmars junta, the statement referencing Article 20 of the ASEAN charter noted the leaders meeting later this year could still take action over non-compliance. ASEAN decisions are usually taken by consensus, but Article 20 allows a summit to override this principle. Late Friday, the juntas foreign ministry said it rejects the blocs statement on the lack of progress on the crisis resolution plan reached with ASEAN last April. Myanmar believes ASEAN can maintain its unity and centrality in the long term only if all ASEAN member states respect sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of members, it added. The juntas top diplomat, Wunna Maung Lwin, was not invited to Phnom Penh and was also left out of a foreign ministers retreat in February, while junta leader Min Aung Hlaing was snubbed at a leaders summit last year. The foreign ministers also condemned last months executions of Jo Phyo Zeya Thaw, a rapper-turned-lawmaker from ousted civilian leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) party, and veteran political activist Ko Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy. Earlier in the week, Malaysia which has led calls for tougher action indicated that Myanmar could face suspension from the bloc, should members not see concrete progress ahead of the leaders summit. ASEAN has long been derided by critics as a toothless talking shop, but in addition to Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore have pushed for a firmer line on Myanmar. Fridays statement said ASEANs special envoy to Myanmar must be allowed to meet with all relevant stakeholders alluding to the military juntas decision to block access to the detained Suu Kyi. The Nobel laureate and democracy icon faces a raft of charges that could see her jailed for more than 150 years. The difficulty of reaching an ASEAN consensus was acknowledged by visiting EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who was in town for the regional talks. But he emphasised the Myanmar situation requires bolder, stronger actions. It is clear that the junta is not listening, he said, labelling the recent executions a clear provocation. Junta Watch Junta Watch: Coup Leader Suffers Economic Delusions, Rebuffs Peace Plan, and More Min Aung Hlaing during his private trip to Russia in July Living in an alternate economic reality In his speech to mark 18 months since the military takeover, junta boss Min Aung Hlaing offered a prediction that Myanmars shattered economy will pick up in the next six monthsa forecast totally at odds with the countrys economic reality. The quick wins he foresees are in farming of crops and livestock. His prediction for economic recovery comes at a time when millions of people in Myanmar are living with the harsh realities of unemployment, a surge in the cost of livingwith increased prices of basic foods, medicines, fuel and other consumer goodsand a paralyzed banking system. Many foreign firms have withdrawn their investments from Myanmar, and tens of thousands of Myanmar citizens have left the country to find jobs overseas. Meanwhile, Myanmars currency, the kyat, has slumped against the US dollar. Making matters worse, locals have not been able to farm in central Myanmar, the countrys agricultural heartland, as the regime is torching villages there daily. While the World Bank predicts 3 percent growth for the fiscal year ending in September, it warns that the outlook remains weak and subject to substantial risks. Domestic prices of food, fuel and other imported inputs are likely to remain elevated over the short to medium term, constraining both production and consumption, it said. Actually, Russia trip was a goodwill visit When Min Aung Hlaing visited Russia in July, he described the trip as a private visit. But in his speech on Monday to mark 18 months since the military takeover, the junta boss falsely claimed the trip was a goodwill visit. He described it that way even after junta media reported on July 13 that the visit was made to consecrate a pagoda in Moscow. In an effort to bolster the image of their boss, junta media repeatedly referred to Tatarstan chief Rustam Minnikhanov as president in their reports and newscasts. Tatarstan is an autonomous region in Russia with less than 4 million people. After Russian President Vladimir Putin barred the Tatar chief from using the title president, junta newspapers had to refer to him as regional chief in their reports. Min Aung Hlaing is desperate to achieve international recognition as the leader of Myanmar. But even in Russiathe only country he has been able to visit since the coup, making two tripsthe fact that Putin has not received him, the confusion over the capacity in which he made his most recent trip, and the controversy over the status of the person he was received by shows that his struggle for recognition has failed. Backing for Beijings fury over Pelosi visit to Taiwan Following Chinas strong opposition to the visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, the Myanmar military regime sucked up to Beijing, saying it supports the One China Policy and reaffirming that Taiwan is an integral part of the Peoples Republic of China. Since the putsch last year, China, together with Russia, has extended diplomatic protection to the Myanmar regime at the United Nations Security Councilthough its primary motive is clearly to protect its strategic and economic interests in the Southeast Asian nation. China even said it was ready to work with Myanmar no matter how the situation changes to achieve the goal of building a China-Myanmar community with a shared future. In July, however, Chinas top diplomat, Wang Yi, failed to pay a courtesy call on junta chief Min Aung Hlaing while in Myanmar for three days attending a regional meeting. The Chinese governments mouthpiece Global Times said Wangs trip was for the sole purpose of attending the meeting, and did not hint at China recognizing the current administration. Another speech, more disdain for ASEAN Min Aung Hlaing blamed the COVID-19 pandemic and instability for stalling efforts to implement a peace plan agreed with fellow Southeast Asian countries, in Mondays speech marking 18 months since the military takeover. In April last year, the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed a Five-Point Consensus on ending the violence and resolving the crisis in Myanmar. More than one year after the agreement was reached, Min Aung Hlaing has implemented none of its provisions, and only worsened the hostilities. Min Aung Hlaing ignored ASEANs appeal to reconsider his decision to execute four detained political prisoners, including two prominent pro-democracy activists, last month. Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan wrote in a Facebook post that the executions reflected the Myanmar military authorities clear disrespect for ASEAN. The annual meeting of the ASEAN foreign ministers, which began on Wednesday without a delegation from Myanmar, decided to impose a deadline on the regime, agreeing to evaluate Myanmars implementation of the five-point peace plan at an upcoming meeting in November. The Malaysian foreign minister proposed engaging with the parallel National Unity Government and the National Unity Consultative Council and to continue barring junta representatives from upcoming ASEAN ministerial meetings. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who currently holds ASEANs rotating chairman position, warned that the regional bloc would be forced to rethink peace plans made with Myanmar if the countrys military rulers conduct more executions of prisoners. Min Aung Hlaing, however, continues to display his arrogance, saying in his speech that he will not allow anything to harm the sovereignty of the country or interfere with its internal affairs. There have also been reports that Min Aung Hlaing plans to execute more political prisoners soon. With the primaries just over two weeks away, Democratic gubernatorial candidates U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried have stepped into the battle ring, taking aggressive shots at their opponents in new political ads and campaign messaging. As the current Democratic underdog in the race, based on current polls, Fried has been questioning the character of Charlie Crist and the authenticity of his Democratic policies, often reminding her audience of his previous actions as a Republican governor. Crist has largely kept his focus on unseating Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. (Keep in mind that Crist also has been a GOP Attorney General and Education Commissioner in the past.) But now, with the release of new campaign ads, the gloves are off as the Aug. 23 primaries loom. The ads are a significant tone-shift from just Tuesday, when the two candidates had separate conversations with a panel of journalists Fried matter-of-factly criticized Crist, and Crist didnt mention Fried at all. Frieds new ad reflects on Crists time as a Republican governor, when he appointed Charles Canady to the Florida Supreme Court. Frieds ad calls the justice an anti-choice extremist. The video ends with the sentiment that Floridians just cant trust Charlie Crist. Not as a Republican. Not as a Democrat. Not at all. And on Twitter, Fried tweeted an audio recording from Crists previous bid for governor, saying that Crist is proud of (his) pro-life record and promising to support a Constitutional amendment to protect traditional marriage which is a stand-in for saying that he would oppose same-sex marriage equality. But just the day before, on Aug. 4, Crists campaign team released their own attack ad on Fried, also calling into question her own relationship to the Republican Party. The ad highlights Fried previously donating to Ashley Moody, who was running as a Republican for the Attorney General position. Division of Elections contributions show $2,000 from Fried to Moody for the 2018 campaign. Moody has served as the legal arm of enforcement for some of DeSantis right-wing political efforts. The Crist video also questions her allyship with U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz. The ad claims that Fried and Gaetz are close friends and allies. Gaetz is a Republican and vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump. Gaetz is under investigation for possibly having sex with a 17-year-old and then paying for her to travel over state lines, according to Orlando Weekly. Gaetz was a state lawmaker between 2010 and 2016, and Politico reported this week that Fried became friends with Gaetz at that time during discussion over medical marijuana. Fried was a lobbyist for much of that time, according to Florida lobbyist registration data. Fried is no longer friends with Gaetz, according to Politico. Fried is not new to calling out her primary opponent. For example, on June 27 she tweeted: Democrats, Charlie Crist couldnt even beat Rick Scott, the most unpopular governor in modern Florida history. Ive actually won Florida as a Democrat, the only one since 2012. Its time to make a choice. This is a reference to the 2014 race for governor, when Crist, then a Democrat, lost to Scott. Until recently, Crist largely ignored Frieds messaging, even to a point where he refused a reporters question about Frieds criticism of Crists spotty record on abortion rights, replying that I dont respond to her. In addition to her role as Agriculture Commissioner, Fried is a statewide elected Cabinet member, an attorney, a former public defender and a former lobbyist on cannabis issues. But that tone started to shift, specifically during their only one-on-one debate for the primaries, when he referred to her participation in the debate as the voice of desperation. Frieds campaign team took note of Crists attack, and in a memo said that hes gone negative in his battle against Fried. We knew it would happen; we just didnt know the exact date. Now we do. On June 23, 2022, Charlie Crist realized he will likely lose this primary and so hes gone negative, in the most inappropriate of ways. Primary election day is Aug. 23 and mail-in ballot voting has already begun. This article appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee. Today A mix of clouds and sun. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 109F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight Some passing clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 85F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Mostly sunny skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 108F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. U.S. guarantees necessary to revive nuclear deal: Iranian lawmaker Xinhua) 11:14, August 06, 2022 TEHRAN, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Guarantees from the United States to secure Iran's interests is the requirement to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal, a senior Iranian lawmaker said on Friday. Pointing to recently-resumed negotiations between Iran and the world powers, with Washington indirectly involved, Behrooz Mohebbi Najmabadi said that the strategy of the United States in the negotiations has always been "blackmailing" in order to get maximum points in negotiations, according to official IRNA news agency. However, Iran will not back down in its economic and national interests in the negotiations and will not give up on its rightful demands, said Najmabadi, a member of the Planning and Budget Commission of the Iranian parliament. He argued that "Iran is not in any position of weakness and has not committed any deviation in its nuclear program, and in the meantime, its actions are completely legal and within the framework of the Nuclear Weapons Non-Proliferation Treaty. The United States and the West should respect Iran as an independent country, and that "Iran decides for its own nuclear industry," he said. Iran's approach in the ongoing talks is to remove and neutralize U.S. sanctions, he stressed. Iran signed the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions on the country. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Tehran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact. The talks on reviving the JCPOA began in April 2021 in the Austrian capital of Vienna but were suspended in March this year because of political differences between Tehran and Washington. A new round of talks on the revival of the JCPOA began in Vienna on Thursday. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Le gouvernement a donne son accord pour la signature dun protocole daccord entre le Mauritius Research and Innovation Council et le Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre of the United Arab Emirates, afin de mettre en place un cadre de cooperation dans le domaine de lutilisation pacifique de lespace. Cabinet has agreed to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Memorandum of Understanding aims at establishing a framework for the cooperation in the field of peaceful use of outer space which would be beneficial to both parties and would include, inter alia: (a) expert advice for the development of Space Roadmap/Space Strategy and Space Policy; (b) technical guidance to develop satellite structure, subsystems and payload which would be useful for both parties; and (c) facilitation of establishment of new start-ups in the field of Satellite/Space Technology which would be beneficial to both parties. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires In its 30 years of multi-party rule, Kenya's elections have frequently set off waves of deadly violence and produced contested results, with rival candidates accusing each other of fraud and vote-rigging. As the East African country prepares for its next presidential and parliamentary election on Tuesday, we take a look at the past crises: - 1992: First multi-party election turns deadly - Daniel arap Moi is elected president in Kenya's first multi-party poll on December 29, 1992, benefitting from deep divisions among opposition figures. Moi had been in power since 1978 when he took over after the death of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first leader after independence from Britain. The 1992 vote is marred by violence between Moi's Kalenjin tribe and the Kikuyu tribe to which Kenyatta and much of the Kenyan elite belong. Hundreds of people are killed. - 2007-2008: Inter-ethnic bloodshed - Outgoing president Mwai Kibaki is proclaimed winner for a second term on December 27, 2007 but his challenger Raila Odinga says the vote was rigged. Clashes in the weeks that follow kill more than 1,100 people and force 600,000 from their homes in a country generally seen as a beacon of stability in Africa. The epicentre of the violence is the Rift Valley, where members of the ethnic Kalenjin and Luo communities, who mainly back Odinga, clash with members of the Kikuyu community, to which Kibaki belongs. On February 28, 2008, an internationally-brokered power-sharing agreement is signed under which Kibaki keeps his job and Odinga becomes prime minister. In 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) opens a probe for crimes against humanity over the 2007-2008 violence. Two years later its judges confirm charges against Uhuru Kenyatta, son of Jomo Kenyatta, and William Ruto, members of opposing parties at the time, for their alleged role in the violence On March 4, 2013, Kenyatta wins the election and a year later he becomes the first sitting president to appear before the ICC. But the cases against both Kenyatta and Ruto later collapse, with former ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda saying a relentless campaign of victim and witness intimidation made a trial impossible. - 2017: Election annulled - Kenyatta beats longtime rival Odinga in the August 2017 presidential election but Odinga rejects the results and claims hackers broke into the electoral commission database. The announcement of Kenyatta's win sparks days of violent protests in Odinga strongholds. Odinga takes his complaints to the Supreme Court and, in a shock announcement on September 1, judges declare the results of the poll "invalid, null and void" and order a re-run within 60 days. The annulment is a first for Africa. Kenyatta is re-elected in October in a vote boycotted by the opposition which is marked by low voter turnout. Dozens of people die in protests that follow, mainly in clashes with police. But the two men stun the country in 2018 by shaking hands and declaring a truce, leaving Deputy President Ruto out in the cold. Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara announced Saturday that he had pardoned his predecessor, Laurent Gbagbo, who still faced a 20-year jail term for a 2018 conviction over political unrest. "In the interests of reinforcing social cohesion, I have signed a decree granting a presidential pardon," Ouattara said in a speech to mark the 62nd anniversary of the country's independence. He had also asked that Gbagbo's bank accounts be unfrozen and that his life annuity be paid, he added. And he had signed a decree for the release two of Gbagbo's closest associates, former navy chief Vagba Faussignaux and a former commander of a key gendarmerie unit, Jean-Noel Abehi, both convicted for their role in the post-election unrest. Gbagbo was acquitted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes committed during the 2011 civil conflict that broke out after he refused to recognise Ouattara's victory in presidential elections a year earlier. But in 2018, an Ivorian court handed Gbagbo a 20-year term in absentia over the looting of the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) during the country's post-election crisis. After his acquittal by the ICC, Gbagbo returned from exile in 2021, and the 77-year-old political veteran has kept a low profile since. Aydin Coban is shown in this handout photo from the time of his arrest by Dutch police, entered into an exhibit at his trial in British Columbia Supreme Court in New Westminster. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-DUTCH POLICE **MANDATORY CREDIT** Global hospitality group The Lux Collective and Jumbo Group in China have signed a hotel management agreement in July 2022 to build the first LUX* urban resort in Guangzhou, China LUX* Guangzhou. This latest signing marks The Lux Collectives first foray into one of the top three first-tier cities in China and will boost its brand presence in a highly important strategic source market. The new hotel is expected to open in June 2024. We are honoured to partner with the Jumbo Group in China to manage and operate this exciting new luxury hotel in Guangzhou, creating a refreshing urban oasis. Our strategic entry in Guangzhou reinforces our presence in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. We are confident that this partnership will elevate our flagship luxury brand LUX* as we continue to expand and shine in China, said Mr Paul Jones, Chief Executive Officer of The Lux Collective. We are pleased to be the first strategic partner of The Lux Collective in Guangzhou. LUX* Guangzhou is the very first hotel project of our Group. We have joined hands with LUX* to develop a luxurious urban resort in the Huangpu area, where the beauty of art, the charming historic heritage and the essence of nature inspire travel and enrich the body, mind and soul. said Mr Liu Yi, Chairman of Jumbo Group. LUX* Guangzhou is located in Huangpu District, Guangzhou City. It has been the gateway to South China since ancient times, with a rich cultural heritage and history, and is also one of the birthplaces of the ancient Maritime Silk Road. This new project is a luxurious complex comprising a 109-room hotel which includes 36 ultra luxurious residences, an art gallery and a modern office building,. All rooms and suites provide elegant comfort along with the personalised service that is a hallmark of LUX*. Ideal for business, leisure and wellbeing getaways, it will feature a spacious banquet hall, restaurants with world-class cuisine, spa, fitness centre, a swimming pool connecting indoors and outdoors, a childrens playground and other modern facilities and amenities. The hotel is about a 1-hour drive from Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, and a 3-hour drive from Macau and Hong Kong. LUX* Guangzhou is the first LUX* hotel in Guangzhou City, and it is also the third LUX* hotel in Guangdong Province to be managed by The Lux Collective following LUX* Hengqin, Zhuhai and LUX* Doumen, Zhuhai. Growing its global presence, The Lux Collective currently manages 15 operating resorts and hotels in China, Maldives, Mauritius and Ile de la Reunion, and with a total of 13 hotels in its current development pipeline in China, Europe, Middle East and Southeast Asia. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires On the morning of Dec. 10, 2021, as students were being dropped off at school, 35-year-old Maximmillion Moore was shot to death in his pickup truck at his home, in the area of 26th Street and 23rd Avenue. Moore was the 14th and final homicide/non-negligent manslaughter victim of 2021, the capstone to what was the citys deadliest year in decades. With a referendum to add 10 new police officers to the Kenosha Police Department on Tuesday primary ballot and five candidates currently vying to become Kenosha County Sheriff, policing and public safety are in the spotlight. Mayor John Antaramian and Interim Kenosha Police Chief Eric Larsen recently sat down with the Kenosha News and weighed in on the causes of the spike in violent crime seen in recent years, what to expect in the future and their plan to help address and reduce violent crimes. The years 2020 and 2021 saw an uptick in some types of violent crimes compared to the previous two-year period. Robberies increased by more than 60% between 2019 and 2020, assaults by a more moderate 34%, and homicides/non-negligent manslaughter by just 16%, a single additional death. In 2021, while the number of robberies plummeted, dropping by 66%, and aggravated assaults went down slightly while remaining higher than in the past, homicides/non-negligent manslaughters doubled. Larsen said some of that could be explained by the pandemic, when lockdowns and layoffs upended peoples lives. People need structure in their lives, and if you take those structures out and have a lot of free time, you can run into issues, he said. Larsen expected a decrease across the board for 2022 as peoples lives return to normal. So far, for homicides at least, that has held true, with just three homicides as of early August, although Larsen warned even a single incident could bring those numbers up quickly. Antaramian also expected the jump in deaths and aggravated assaults to be an outlier going forward, but he said that gun violence was increasingly becoming a greater threat in the city. The problem is, were in a society right now that is facing a lot more gun violence than ever before, Antaramian said. Law enforcement is doing a lot of aggressive things to try and stop that, but they cant do it all by themselves. Larsen said that more cases of aggravated assaults have begun to involve guns. People used to settle things with their hands and fists, but have increasingly turned to guns as they become more available. Addressing violent crime To Antaramian, reducing violent crimes in the city requires both a short-term and long-term approach. In the short-term, he argued, the 10 additional police officers requested in Tuesdays referendum would help get more officers on the streets responding to and investigating crimes. Ten new officers would be a roughly 5% increase in the police force, which currently has about 211 sworn members. Larsen said that beyond the growing personnel needs of the department over the years, more police officers mean more time for positive interactions with the public. One of the best ways to build relations is just to get out and talk to people, Larsen said. Those little interactions can create great relationships. After the unrest in 2020 following the police shooting of Jacob Blake, Larsen said hes worked to build those relationships between the department and community leaders. To this day, Larsen said he still talks directly with community advocates about their concerns. One of the things we sought to do is create relationships where we didnt have them before, Larsen said. What we started doing was reaching out to different groups that we normally didnt do. A broader approach But both said long-term reductions in violent crimes would not come simply from increased policing or officers. It requires a holistic approach. The police do certain things: we investigate crimes, we make arrests, Larsen said. But what led this person to commit crimes? What brought them to that point that they could commit crimes? Antaramian said the city has been working with various organizations to provide summer programming and work with youths to help get them to college and careers. At the former Chrysler lot, the city joined with the school district and the Kenosha Area Business Alliance to bring a STEM high school. Things like that are definitely trying to get young people at an early age, Antaramian said. Were trying to create a situation for people to succeed. When you crack open a cold beer, you can be pretty confident whats in it. Its regulated. There are nutritional facts on the side of the case; you know that fentanyl will not be in there. Alcohol is dangerous. Prescription drugs are dangerous. Having guns around is dangerous. Marijuana is dangerous too. But three of those things are pretty much completely legal in the United States. One of them isnt in most states and remains criminalized in Wisconsin, even though the majority of Wisconsinites think it should be legal 61%, according to a February poll from Marquette Law School. And this November, both Kenosha and Racine residents will have a chance to weigh in on the issue with an advisory referendum question that will be on the ballot. Until recently, all marijuana users some of whom are using THC to address pain, PTSD and other ailments that regulated medicines have failed to treat have had to purchase through the black market in the Badger State. Since December 2019 and January 2020, respectively, Wisconsin residents could go across the border to Michigan or Illinois to buy marijuana legally, even if bringing it back home is a crime. After Prohibition became law under the 18th Amendment initiated in 1920, per capita alcohol consumption in the U.S. only fell by around 10-30%. Legality didnt have a massive effect on usage, and thus it didnt have much of an effect on safety. Instead, keeping marijuana illegal in Wisconsin is affecting safety. In Illinois or Michigan or any of the 19 states with legal recreational marijuana and 37 states with legal medicinal marijuana the supply lines of the drug can be tightly controlled by health departments to make sure the product isnt being tainted with something actually deadly. In Racine County this summer, officials have reported a spike in local drug overdoses and in Racine, the police department reported in June it had recovered marijuana that tested positive for the presence of fentanyl. People are not dying from marijuana alone. But they could die from marijuana laced with fentanyl. Your 17-year-old nephew could be trying to have a relaxing night in with friends and end up on a morgue slab. Your 83-year-old great-aunt battling debilitating multiple sclerosis could die sooner than she should just because she wants the pain to stop, but theres nothing doctors can do for her besides prescribe highly addictive opioids. A 58-year-old combat veteran with intense anxiety every day seeking relief cant get it quickly without severe side effects because she lives in Wisconsin and doesnt want to leave her home state for a place where she can use the drug she believes can work. If marijuana is legalized, lives could and would be saved and a lot fewer people would end up behind bars for what are minor offenses compared to violent crimes. Pulled over with a small amount of weed in your car? As long as you arent actively high, the cop wont care in states where weed is legal. That could lead to fewer dangerous police chases too. Like with alcohol, youths should still be prevented from using marijuana until they reach adulthood. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Early exposure to cannabinoids in adolescent rodents decreases the reactivity of brain dopamine reward centers later in adulthood. To the extent that these findings generalize to humans, this could help explain the increased vulnerability for addiction to other substances of misuse later in life that most epidemiological studies have reported for people who begin marijuana use early in life. The minimum age to purchase weed should be the same as alcohol, and there should be restrictions on advertising similar to how there are limits on advertising booze and cigarettes. In addition to making marijuana safer, it can also be a revenue generator for the state to pay for things like more school funding or cracking down on more serious drugs. When other states were just starting to sell legal marijuana it made sense for Wisconsin to wait and see what happened. Its been a few years now and the sky is not falling. People are doing marijuana, Wisconsin might as well regulate it to make it safer and get the revenue from it. Even by his own admission Kilkenny manager Brian Dowling seemed to flirt with the idea of resigning from his post after his side was defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final at the hands of Cork last August. After watching Galway subsequently beat the Rebels in the final a couple of weeks later, the OLoughlin Gaels man got the motivation to go at it again and hes happy with his sides progress in 2022. Kilkenny have always been consistent in getting to finals and obviously last year was very disappointing in losing out in the semi-final, he said. I was in Croke Park watching the Kilkenny Intermediates in their final last year. I stayed on for the senior decider, but I found it very hard to watch as it made you feel like you wanted to be there. It still gave me motivation to do whatever I could to help the girls get over the line and Im delighted to see them get to a final. It looked like it could be a troublesome season for Kilkenny after the likes of Colette Dormer and Davina Tobin announced their retirement and Meighan Farrell went travelling. Add in a cruciate ligament injury to the sisterly duo of Aoife and Kellyanne Doyle and things looked very difficult. Credit to Brian and his management team though as theyve help nourish a new crop of Kilkenny players. If you told me at the start of the year that wed be missing the players that we are and wed still be in an All-Ireland Final I probably wouldnt have believed you to be honest, he said. Weve lost a huge amount of experience in the dressing room over the last eight or nine months and youve to add the injuries of Aoife and Kellyanne Doyle to that. I suppose thats the way it goes for every team and new players step up and thats definitely been the case for us. The likes of Steffi and Tiffany Fitzgerald have taken their chance and theyre playing brilliantly at the moment. Laura Murphy and Niamh Deely are others that have been knocking around the squad for the last few years and now they are starting on the team. Its great that these new girls have stepped up this year and its great for the experienced players to see these players come along. As big a challenge as Sundays final may prove to be, it pales into insignificance when compared to what has happened off the field this year. Dowling and fellow selector Tommy Shefflin lost their uncle and brother respectively in tragic accidents so the outlet of camogie has helped in recent months. It was a really tough period and at the time you try to put it to the back of your head and it was obviously great to have camogie as a distraction. There was a lot going on at the time and a couple of players lost grandparents too and everything seemed to be happening at the one time. We all got through it together and thats the great thing about a team as everyone is in together, he added. Its great to have a distraction to help us get away from things and when your on the pitch for an hour and a half it helps you take your mind of other things and that was the main thing. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. This week has seen the opening of the 49th Kilkenny Arts Festival, with a feast of creative works and performances across the city and county. Kilkenny is deservedly considered by many to be the creative capital of Ireland and it is easy to see why. Alongside the KAF the Alternative AKA festival is also taking place and is showcasing the work of many of our local makers and artists as is the Thomastown Creative Arts Festival. So, take some time out to enjoy what is on offer and be enchanted and inspired by the magic and talent that is in our midst. Theres more to look forward to this weekend, with the All-Ireland Camogie final taking place. Best wishes to the Kilkenny senior camogie team as they head to Croke Park to take on Cork. The Cats put in a mightily impressive display in the semi-final to dethrone defending champions Galway, and now look to bring that same intensity to their old rivals. Inside this weeks paper, youll find a detailed camogie final feature looking ahead to the big match. Lets get behind the girls in black and amber this weekend as they look to top off a stellar year. Community rallies In our front page story this week, we hear from the Keneally family who in a matter of moments lost their home and possessions as a blaze broke out and gutted the house. Thanks to quick thinking and awareness of two young girls, fortunately, no one was killed. That said, it still remains a terrible tragedy. However, a ray of hope and positivity remains. The community has rallied around the family, with Mullinavat GAA and Camogie Clubs leading the way. They have set up a gofundme to help the Keneallys in their hour of need. There has already been a fantastic response, with over 70,000 raised toward the 300,000 goal. Well done to all who contributed no doubt, more will want to help out. We wish the family well in this time of great difficulty. Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk's legal team on August 5 made public its official response to Twitter's lawsuit attempting to force him to complete their $44 billion acquisition deal. Musk is pictured here in Washington in 2020. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds light and variable. EXO-L (EXO's fans) have always been misunderstood by others and was even named one of the worst fan clubs in the K-pop scene due to the rude behaviors of new and minor fans. But behind this bad reputation, EXO-Ls have proven themselves as one of the best K-pop fandoms numerous times in the past. Today (Aug. 5), EXO-L is celebrating their eighth anniversary. As our way to commemorate this special day, here are five reasons the fandom is one of the best out there. 'L-1485 FOR LIFE': 5 Reasons EXO-L Is One of the Best K-pop Fandoms 1. Charity Projects Since EXO made their debut, EXO-Ls worldwide have been making several charity projects under the boy group's name. Naturally, there are many to mention, so we'll include only a few. In 2014, after the Sewol ferry tragedy, EXO-Ls were one of the fandoms who sent relief goods to the victims. In 2015, EXO-L sent aid and support to victims of the Tianjin explosion in China. They distributed food and water, among other things. In the same year, KAISOONE donated to the people in Nepal who were affected by the deadly earthquake. In 2016, EXO-L USA donated to the victims of the Louisiana Flood under the boy group's name. Moreover, Egyptian EXO-Ls successfully collected more than 126 million won to donate to the cancer hospital in the country called 57357. 2. Birthday Projects Another reason EXO-L is one of the best K-pop fandoms because of the birthday projects they launch yearly. Some of the members' birthdays are celebrated through donations as well. One of the first birthday projects was when D.O celebrated his 22nd birthday back in 2013. The fans donated 2.2 million won to a children's center in Ilsan along with 1.12 million won and 2,200 briquettes to UNICEF. In Cambodia, BH_Blooming (Baekhyun's fansite) donated a well in commemoration of his birthday in 2016. In the same year, Sehun's fans celebrated his birthday by donating to the kids in Nangchen Qinghai, which was used to establish a kindergarten library. In the Philippines, EXO-Ls paid thousands to Mall of Asia to display Chanyeol's birthday ads and Suho's birthday ads on the mall's giant globe. Notably, EXO-Ls often gift the EXO members with billboards at New York's Time Square for their birthdays and special events. 3. Food Projects Over the years, EXO-L prepared foods for the fans attending EXO's concerts. It is also their way to show their support for the EXO members in their activities. In particular, the fandom sent food and drinks to Suho and Baekhyun when they were MCs for SBS's "Inkigayo" in 2014 multiple times. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: These 8 K-pop Idols Are Ambassadors of Most Valuable Luxury Brands in the World When Chanyeol was shooting for the "So I Married an Anti-Fan" film in 2015, the male idol's fan sites sent a food truck to the filming site. Baekhyun Fan Union also sent a food truck and food support to Baekhyun when recording "Scarlet Heart Ryeo." In 2016, EXO-L in Dubai sent a coffee and ice cream trucks for EXO-Ls who attended "EXOrDIUM" in Seoul. 4. Fan Chants/ Fan Projects For every concert and award ceremony performance, EXO-L always makes sure to give amazing and powerful fan chants, making it appear as if it was the group's solo concert. The fan club also does fan projects, including the ones on the first and second day of "EXOrDIUM [dot]" in Seoul (Day 1: NO XO, NO LIFE; Day 2: EXO <3 EXO-L). During "EXO'luXion" at Tokyo Dome, Japanese EXO-Ls prepared a fan project for the group, in which they surprised the group by singing "Promise." 5. EXO-L's Rainbow Ocean Undoubtedly, the silver and rainbow ocean that EXO-Ls make during concerts is one of the best K-pop oceans and one of the things unique about them. Happy eighth anniversary, EXO-L! Do you know other reasons EXO-L is one of the best K-pop fandoms? Feel free to leave a comment below! For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article Written by Maria Scott A therapist faces trial accused of using forged university degrees and professional qualifications to work as a clinical psychologist helping vulnerable children and adults in Dublin. Zimbabwe-born Nikiwe Dube (39) with an address at Colpe Drive, Drogheda, Co Louth, appeared at Dublin District Court on Friday. He is accused of forgery by making false instruments to obtain employment between 2019 and 2022. Garda Alan Cawley objected to bail, citing flight risk concerns. The offences are contrary to section 25 of the Theft and Fraud Act and can carry a maximum 10-year sentence. He told Judge Cephas Power that Mr Dube had worked with vulnerable children and adults but his educational documents used to apply for the post proved to be fraudulent. Gardai searched his home and allegedly recovered forged papers and a Garda stamp. Garda Cawley said the accused had no family ties to Ireland. During the contested bail hearing, the judge was told the accused claimed to have degrees from the University of Zimbabwe, but he never attended the university. In cross-examination, defence solicitor Conor McGreevy put it to the garda that it was a complex investigation and that the Director of Public Prosecutions had to issue directions. The officer replied that further charges could be brought. Pleading for bail, the solicitor told the court his client had come to Ireland in 2018 as a refugee fleeing persecution. Stressing that there was no suggestion he forged his identity or used an alias, the solicitor submitted that the court could impose bail terms. As a result of coming under the international protection process and being granted asylum, he had been given a travel document by the Department of Justice but he could not return to Zimbabwe. Mr McGreevy told the court his client had no prior convictions, had lived and worked in Ireland and was currently on social welfare. He also had health problems. The solicitor argued that there was no evidence his client was a flight risk and refusing bail would be disproportionate. Ruling on the application, the judge described the allegations as serious and noted they allegedly involved forged degrees from the University of Zimbabwe and membership of an Irish psychological body. He held the investigating officer had established a flight risk objection. However, he noted that the presumed innocent accused had been in the State for four years. In those circumstances, he held that he could grant bail with conditions. However, he set it in Mr Dubes bond of 20,000, of which he must lodge 10,000, and a 5,000 independent surety has to be approved before he can be released. Once the terms are met, he must reside at his current address, notify gardai of any change and sign on twice daily at his local Garda station. Mr Dube was held in custody on these terms and remanded to appear at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday. He has not yet indicated how he will plead. Irish Times RACINE A Racine woman allegedly had multiple guns in purse, two of which had fully automatic switches. Lakiya A. Gresham, 44, of the 1400 block of Thurston Avenue, was charged with two felony counts of sell, possess, use or transport machine gun, a felony count of possession of a firearm by outstate felon and three misdemeanor counts of bail jumping. According to a criminal complaint: On Tuesday, Racine Police Department officers, Kenosha Police Department officers and FBI Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force executed a search warrant at the 1400 block of Thurston Avenue. The warrant was the result of an investigation into a stolen vehicle and an armed carjacking. Contact was made with multiple residents including Gresham. Officers found a purse belonging to her that had: A Glock 22 .40 caliber with a loaded extended magazine A Glock 19 9mm with a loaded extended magazine A "ghost gun" 9mm with a loaded extended magazine The two Glocks had "switches" mounted on them that convert them from semi-automatic guns to fully automatic. Gresham admitted to owning the purse, but denied knowledge of the firearms. Gresham was given a $10,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Wednesday. A preliminary hearing is on Aug. 11 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, online court records show. Gresham has previously been convicted of felony possession of a controlled substance in 2005 and felony vehicle theft in 1996 out of Illinois. Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 6 (ANI/PNN): HYD7AM, one of the leading news portals in Telangana, will celebrate the 75th Independence Day (Azadi Ka Amrit Motsav) uniquely by hosting a writing competition for authors and journalists from around the state on a variety of issues. Popular among the Telugu community, HYD7AM.com has announced that writers across the entire Telangana state can submit their writings on a variety of topics to info@hyd7am.com. The best pieces will receive a cash reward of Rs 5,000 for their publication on the website. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Gang-Rape of 35-Year-Old Woman in Bhandara Sparks Outrage; CM Eknath Shinde Orders Immediate Probe. Jaya Prakash, the founder of HYD7AM.com, stated, "On the 75th Independence Day, we chose to celebrate the Azadi Ka Amrit Mohatsav in a unique way for our writers' community. We have solicited writings on a variety of topics from authors throughout the state for this purpose. The best pieces will receive a monetary award." HYD7AM, founded by Jaya Prakash in 2019, is one of the major contributors of 'Online News and infotainment' on the social media front for a while now. The portal dishes out to its viewers with the latest news from Tollywood and Bollywood, fashion news, travel and tourism, health, food, lifestyle, etc. Also Read | Mumbai: 16-Year-Old Girl Abducted in 2013 at Age of Seven Reunited With Family After 9 Years. "We are a team of ten people serving 100,000 visitors monthly," said Jaya Prakash, an electronic and communication engineering graduate with extensive experience in digital marketing. "In the coming months, we hope to reach 1 million unique visitors per month." HYD7AM is one of the leading news portals in Telugu states which provides you all the latest updates, the Latest Tollywood and Bollywood News, Fashion News, Health, Food, Tips for Lifestyle changes, Travel and Tourism News, etc. So, every morning with a cup of coffee - visit www.hyd7am.com and check your favourite section for the news and updates. Furthermore, being the most renowned news portal platform, we make sure to provide the latest news, updates, and tips and tricks on various concerned topics at your fingertips. At HYD7AM, you can also get to know the latest dressing styles, best shopping items, health and beauty tips, hairstyles, Tollywood and Bollywood updates, healthy foods, best restaurants, etc. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI/NewsVoir): Consumption of tobacco is taking a high toll on the health of Indians as more than 1.3 million people die annually due to tobacco-related diseases in the country. Considering this grave scenario, the People's Cultural Centre (PECUC), a leading voluntary organisation, together with Coalition for Tobacco Free Odisha, held a consultation with Members of Parliament (MPs) on protecting Indians, especially children and youth from tobacco-related diseases and cancer. Parliamentarians from various political parties came together to deliberate and pledge their commitment for stronger tobacco control polices and laws in India at Constitution Club of India, New Delhi. Muzibulla (Munna) Khan, MP; Rajya Sabha, Sujeet Kumar, MP, Rajya Sabha, Sulata Deo, MP, Rajya Sabha; Niranjan Bishi, MP, Rajya Sabha; Mamata Mohanta, MP, Rajya Sabha; Thakor Jugal Lokhandwala, MP, Rajya Sabha; Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Former Union Minister of state, MP, Lok Sabha. Also Read | Maharashtra Shocker: Gang-Rape of 35-Year-Old Woman in Bhandara Sparks Outrage; CM Eknath Shinde Orders Immediate Probe. Speaking passionately in favour of the proposed COTPA amendment bill, Muzibulla (Munna) Khan, MP, Rajya Sabha said, "Smoking not only harms the smokers but endangers non-smokers when exposed to secondhand smoke. Treatment of tobacco-related diseases costs much more than the revenue earned from tobacco. Strengthening COTPA is an urgent requirement to save the new generation from falling into the trap of tobacco addiction." The Government has initiated the process to strengthen the tobacco control law - Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) COTPA 2003 Amendment Bill, 2020 by addressing the existing gaps. Pratap Chandra Sarangi, Former Union Minister of State, MP, Lok Sabha said, "We need to strengthen the law for a healthy nation. A stringent law and its effective implementation are critical to reduce tobacco use in India. Although law prohibits smoking in public places it is yet continuing. Tobacco has an adverse impact on the environment too. We need to save our next generation." Also Read | Mumbai: 16-Year-Old Girl Abducted in 2013 at Age of Seven Reunited With Family After 9 Years. The parliamentarians participating in this session unanimously assured their full support in favour of this amendment bill. They shared their views on the urgent need of improving public health by working towards curbing tobacco usage, especially among children as well as youngsters. Sujeet Kumar, MP, Rajya Sabha said, "The proposed amendments in COTPA is a commendable move and we will try to get more MPs onboard in support of this national campaign. We will have to save our children from getting addicted to tobacco. As they mostly get hooked to the habit of tobacco at the school level we should take this campaign against the harmful substance on a war footing at the school level. We will have to also protect our children against secondhand smoke exposure." "The government took bold action by banning e-cigarettes in 2019 to address the danger to India's youth from aggressive marketing of these nicotine-laced addictive products. We are committed to protecting our youth from the menace of tobacco by stronger laws and policies," added Thakor Jugal Lokhandwala, MP, Rajya Sabha. Delivering the introductory remarks, Ranjan Kumar Mohanty, Secretary, PECUC said, "Considering the need of strengthening tobacco control laws, we are very encouraged to see the support from parliamentarians, who have come today to reiterate their support and commitment for a tobacco-free India." The proposed COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) Amendment Bill, 2020 has provisions such as establishing effective penalties and fines, disallowing retail sale of loose sticks of cigarettes, prohibiting sale of tobacco products to persons below 21 years, putting controls on in-shop advertising and banning designated smoking areas at hotels/restaurants as well as at airport lounge to create a completely smoke-free environment. More than 1.3 million people die annually in India due to tobacco-related diseases. Secondhand smoke exposure causes a tremendous economic burden of INR 567 billion in healthcare costs, annually, in addition to the staggering 1773.4 billion Indian rupees ($27.5 billion) in annual economic burden from tobacco use. People's Cultural Centre (PECUC) is a 32-year-old civil society organisation dedicated to the cause of children, women, youths, older people, and vulnerable communities. A non-profit voluntary organisation, PECUC was formed with the purpose to empower the weaker sections of society. Over the years PECUC worked with children, women, the aged, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other socio-economically backward and marginalised communities. The "Coalition for Tobacco Free Odisha" is a coalition of civil society organisations and concerned citizens coordinated by PECUC, working together to improve public health by reducing tobacco usage, especially among children as well as youngsters and pursuing the goal of a tobacco-free India. For more information, please visit www.pecuc.org. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, August 6: Two persons were apprehended for allegedly assaulting a head constable inside Anand Vihar police station in east Delhi, police said on Saturday. Police said they received information on July 30 at 11.27 pm that a woman was assaulted and her gold chain broken in Karkardooma village. The issue was between two persons, Ajay and Anchal Bakshi, both residents of Karkardooma village. Ajay, who was found to be in an inebriated condition, was apprehended from the spot and brought to the police station for further enquiry, a senior police officer said. Gujarat Shocker: Woman, Called for Questioning As Suspect in Assault Case, Hangs Self Inside Washroom of Police Station in Rajkot. Thereafter, Ajay's brother Satish Choudhary and others came to the police station and tried to provoke the police personnel on duty, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara) R Sathiyasundaram. Meanwhile, Head Constable Prakash came to the police station. He was surrounded, abused and assaulted by these people, the police said. Some of them also recorded a video of the incident and later circulated it among themselves, they said. In the video of the incident, which went viral on social media, some of the men are seen assaulting the head constable while the others are recording the incident. The medical examination of the injured policeman was conducted immediately. On his complaint, a case was registered and two people were apprehended in connection with the incident, the DCP said. Efforts are being made to identify and nab the others who were involved in the incident, the police said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): The Centre said on Saturday that the 'Village Engineers' programme will soon be rolled out in Gujarat, under which tribal youth will be trained in various skillsets in order to make them self-reliant. Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) Rajeev Chandrasekhar held discussions with Members of Parliament and Ministers from Gujarat on creating targeted skilling opportunities for the tribal youth in their local areas to reduce the pull for migration. Also Read | Vice Presidential Election Result 2022: Margaret Alva, Opposition Candidate Loses to NDA Nominee Jagdeep Dhankar; Heres All You Need To Know About Her. According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the deliberations, held under the "Skill Samwaad" series on Friday focused on the "Village Engineers" programme that will be rolled out in the state soon. Emphasizing on the need to make opportunities available locally, Chandrashekhar said under the programme, the tribal youth will get multiple skill training so that they can participate in the economic activities in their respective districts. Also Read | Gurugram Liquor Fraud: Retired IAS Officer Duped of Rs 2 Lakh Over Home Delivery of Liquor. The state government and the Centre must act in coordination to implement the programme, he added. According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, opportunities in the areas of electric vehicles (EVs), drone manufacturing, organic food manufacturing, mango processing, textile manufacturing and more were discussed. The meeting also deliberated on the suggestions for empowering women, especially in the handloom and handicraft sectors, enhancing livelihood prospects, using local resources and inculcating entrepreneurial skills. Recently, the village engineer programme was launched from Madhya Pradesh to train the tribal youth by providing them with a basket of skills together. The first batch of village engineers have also been conferred recognition in form of certification. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Delhi Police arrested four people after an employee of a spa-cum-massage centre in Delhi's Pitampura alleged she was molested and sexually assaulted by its manager and a client. A 22-year-old woman complained of sexual assault in a spa centre at Delhi's Pitampura on Thursday. Also Read | CBSE Recruitment 2022: Apply for 10 Joint Secretary and Other Posts at cbse.gov.in; Check Details Here. Officials from Maurya Enclave police station rushed to the spot and began the investigation. "On August 4 at 10 p.m., a PCR call was received at PS Maurya Enclave regarding a sexual assault with a woman at a Spa Centre, Pitampura Delhi. The police immediately reached the spot (the ocean spa centre) where a victim aged 22 years along with her husband were present outside the spa centre and complained regarding sexual assault on her by the manager of the spa centre and one more person," said police. Also Read | Punjab: Only 53% Babies Breastfed Within One Hour of Birth, Say Doctors. She was sent to the hospital for her medical examination. A counsellor from DCW visited her. "She stated that on June 30 she joined the spa on August 4 at about 6 p.m. one person came there along with manager Rahul and demanded sexual favours. The manager offered her a cold drink, after consuming it she felt dizzy and both raped her," said police. Accordingly, a case under Sections 354A/328/376 D of IPC was registered and both the accused persons were arrested. They have been identified as Rahul (21), who is the manager of the spa centre and Satish Kumar (48), the client. The owners have a licence from MCD, and the concerned civic agency has been intimated to cancel the license and seal the premises. A case under 188 IPC has been registered against the Ocean Spa Centre for violation of guidelines and the owners of the spa centre Brij Gopal (49) and Sandeep (48) have also been arrested. Further, preventive action under Sections 107/150 CRPC has been taken against them. Investigation of the case is in progress, added police. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dhanbad (Jharkhand) [India], August 6 (ANI): A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court of Dhanbad, on Saturday, sentenced two convicts in a case related to the killing of a Dhanbad judge to rigorous life imprisonment till death. Earlier on July 28, the court convicted the accused. Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Appears Before Court in Two-Year-Old Rioting Case. "The two accused had been convicted on July 28, and the quantum of sentence was delivered today. The judge did not term it a rarest of rare case and instead gave them life imprisonment till the end of life, " said Advocate Kumar Vimlendu. Uttam Anand an Additional District Judge posted in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand was allegedly murdered after being mowed down by an autorickshaw in July this year. Two people involved in the alleged killing were arrested by Jharkhand police, and the vehicle used for the crime was seized. (ANI) Also Read | Pakistan: Unrest in PoK in Stark Contrast to Development in India's Jammu and Kashmir. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Janjgir-Champa, Aug 6 (PTI) Five persons and 23 sheep were killed in separate incidents of the lightning strike in Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh on Saturday, police said. Also Read | Vice Presidential Election Result 2022: Margaret Alva, Opposition Candidate Loses to NDA Nominee Jagdeep Dhankar; Heres All You Need To Know About Her. Also Read | Gurugram Liquor Fraud: Retired IAS Officer Duped of Rs 2 Lakh Over Home Delivery of Liquor. Four persons were injured in these incidents which occurred in five villages in the district. In Kiari village, Shyam Kumari (18) died on the spot after she was struck by lightning while walking home with her sister, who was injured and shifted to Bilaspur for treatment, a senior officer said. Anil Yadav (30) of the same village was killed and another person injured in a similar incident. Mahesh Dongre (56), a resident of Madhuva village in the Akaltara area, was killed after a bolt from the sky struck him when he was working in a field amid rain. In Chorbhatti village, 50-year-old Dilip Yadav was killed in a lightning strike when he was returning home with his son. Vijay Rathore was killed in a similar incident in Seoni village near the Champa area, the official said, adding that two persons were injured. They were admitted to a hospital in Champa and later shifted to the district hospital due to their critical condition, he said. In Semariya village in the Pamgarh area, 23 sheep were killed in a lightning strike in the evening, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, Aug 6: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he has tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms and that his trip to New Delhi stands cancelled. He said he has isolated himself at home. Vice Presidential Election 2022 Live Updates: Opposition's Margaret Alva Takes On NDA's Jagdeep Dhankhar; Polling To Begin at 10 Am. "I have tested positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms and have isolated myself at home. Those who came in touch with me in the last few days, kindly isolate yourself and get yourself tested. My trip to Delhi stands cancelled," Bommai tweeted. Bommai was to travel to New Delhi today to take part in third meeting of the national committee of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' and NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening and August 7 morning respectively. He was also expected to meet BJP's national leadership and hold discussions regarding recent developments in the state and preparations for 2023 assembly polls. Bommai had attended a series of meetings and events throughout the day on Friday like- the State High-Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC), inaugural of annual Independence Day flower show at Lalbagh's glass house, Annual General Meeting of Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC), among others. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru, Aug 6 (PTI) Assuring that the government would encourage and extend support to Japanese companies investing in Karnataka, State's Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, who is in Tokyo, while pitching the State as an investment destination, said pacts on investments worth Rs 1 lakh crore have been signed in the last 3-4 months. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Mother Arrested for Killing Adopted Son in Bagalkot. A delegation led by the Minister is visiting Tokyo to invite Japanese investors to participate in the Global Investors Meet (GIM) scheduled from November 2 to 4 in Bengaluru. Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Appears Before Court in Two-Year-Old Rioting Case. He invited also the Tokyo-Kannada diaspora to participate in the GIM. Lauding the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in making India globally competitive and also Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's policies for Karnataka's progress, Nirani said the World Economic Forum Meet in Davos, Switzerland, proved fruitful for Karnataka as it has succeeded in drawing huge investments. "Under the able leadership of Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, agreements on investments worth Rs 1 lakh crore have been signed in the last 3-4 months," he said this only shows the faith reposed by major companies in Karnataka. Many more companies have expressed their keeness to invest in the State, he added. Karnataka and Japan have cordial industrial relations, Nirani said while referring to a Japanese Industrial Township that has been set up at Vasanthanarasapura in Tumakuru district, where around 519.55 acres of land have been earmarked and basic infrastructure provided. "We will encourage and extend all support to Japanese companies investing in Karnataka," he said, adding that Karnataka ranks first in the list of States that have attracted the most foreign direct investments. "Our State's share in the total foreign direct investment of the country is 38 per cent," he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Aug 6 (PTI) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has started seeing himself as a "Nizam" of his state who has no interest in solving its people's problems, the BJP alleged on Saturday, attacking the TRS leader for his boycott of a NITI Aayog meeting. Union minister Piyush Goyal termed as "unfortunate" Rao's decision not to attend the Sunday meeting and alleged that it had exposed his political thought of having no interest in the country's and the state's development agenda. Also Read | Tejas Fighter Aircraft in High Demand Worldwide, Malasiya Procures 18 Jets. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will chair the Aayog's governing council meeting, Rao said he will boycott the event in a strong protest against the Centre's "discrimination" towards states. The council, the apex body of NITI Aayog, includes all chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories and several Union ministers. The prime minister is its chairperson. Also Read | Vice Presidential Election Result 2022: Jagdeep Dhankar, NDA Nominee Defeats Opposition Candidate Margaret Alva; Heres All You Need To Know About Indias New Vice President-Elect. Hitting out at Rao, Goyal said he considers himself "so big" that he does not have any interest in such an important meeting related to Prime Minister Modi's agenda of making the country and states prosperous. The TRS leader, he noted, had also not attended a meeting of the prime minister with chief ministers on the COViD-19 situation and did not receive Modi during his visits to Telangana in breach of protocol. In a swipe at the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader, Goyal said Rao may have decided to skip the meeting, where other chief ministers will be present, because of embarrassment at his party's loss to the BJP in some important assembly bypolls. The BJP leader asked him to reconsider his decision and asserted that the government under Modi is committed towards the Centre and states working together for the country's development. He noted that the Telangana government failed to withdraw the amount allocated to it by the Jal Shakti ministry. The Niti Aayog has said Rs 3982 core was allocated to the state in the last four years under the Jal Jeevan Mission, but it chose to draw only Rs 200 crore. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thrissur, August 6: Amid the heavy rainfall battering various regions of the southern state of Kerala, three pregnant women who were stranded in a forest during the downpour were rescued by officials on Friday. The women were stranded in the middle of the forest during heavy rains and were later safely shifted to the colony with the help of the forest department and police. One out of the three women gave birth to a baby girl in the forest as she refused to go to the hospital. The new mother and the baby are safe. The other two expecting mothers are six and seven months pregnant. A team led by the District Medical officer convinced the trio and later shifted them to Chalakudy Taluk Hospital. Kerala Rains: Death Toll Mounts to 22, Red Alert in 14 Districts. The team rescued them using a flatboat and covered a two-kilometre adventure through the Peringalkuth Reservoir. Kerala Health minister Veena George took note of the incident and congratulated the team who rescued the pregnent women. Earlier, in view of heavy rainfall, the State Water Authority of Kerala on Friday opened four shutters of the Malampuzha dam and also issued a warning for those living close to the banks of the Mukkaipuzha, Kalpathipuzha, and Bharathapuzha rivers. As per the rule curve, the capacity of the dam is 112.99 meters. The situation is not alarming at present but the shutters were opened and raised up to 5 cm in view of the heavy rains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rains in Kerala from August 4 to 8 and warned that the state can expect isolated extremely heavy rainfall over its Ghat regions. Kerala Rains: 5 Flights From Middle East Bound for Calicut International Airport Diverted to Kochi. The water level in all major rivers across Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are rising fast and people are being evacuated to relief camps. Over 2,000 people are in relief camps across the State. Till now, six deaths have been reported in Kerala due to heavy rains. Earlier on August 4, the shutters of Sholayar and Peringalkuthu Dams were raised and the Chalakudy river is in spate. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged people living on the banks of the Chalakudy river to move out as the water flow is likely to increase by evening. He said that those living in the low-lying areas of Thrissur and Ernakulam districts to be cautious. Due to the rains, the Idukki district has declared a holiday on Friday for educational institutions.Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in areas in the state likely to be hit by landslides and floods and air and naval forces put on standby. Earlier in the month of July, the Kannur and Kasargod districts witnessed heavy showers with the rivers of Kasargod overflowing. Several houses in Kannur collapsed and got partially damaged due to the inundation of rainwater inside. One family had to be shifted from the Payannur municipality due to the overflow. The water levels of Kadalundi (Malapuram), Bharathapuzha (Palakkad), Shiriya (Kasargod), Karavannoor (Thrissur) and Gayathripuzha (Thrissur) rivers have reached the warning level. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday withdrew his interim bail plea filed on medical grounds. Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case on May 30. The special CBI court on Saturday noted that Satyendar Jain is getting discharged from the hospital today and wishes to withdraw the application for interim bail. Also Read | West Bengal: CISF Jawan Shoots & Injures Two Colleagues at Indian Museum in Kolkata. Special Judge Geetanjali Goel on Saturday after noting down the submission of Jain's lawyer, allowed him to withdraw the bail plea. Meanwhile, the court granted interim bail to Poonam Jain, wife of Satyendar Jain in the case and noted that she was not arrested during the investigation and a chargesheet has already been filed by the ED in the case. Also Read | New York Suicide: Massive Outrage After Indian-Origin Woman, Tortured for Not Bearing Son, Dies by Suicide. Recently, the court took cognisance of the Prosecution Complaint (Chargesheet) filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Satyendar Jain, his wife and eight others including 4 firms in connection to the money laundering case. On last date of hearing, the court also granted interim bail to two accused Ajeet Kumar Jain and Sunil Kumar Jain who were named as accused in the chargesheet, for a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and asked their counsels to file regular bail on the next date. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) naming the Delhi Minister and others in a money laundering case. The ED prosecution complaint has named Satyendar Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, Vaibhav Jain, Ankush Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain and Sunil Jain including four private firms as accused. The accused in the prosecution complaint are accused of violations under sections of the money laundering Act. The ED on June 6 had claimed to have seized Rs 2.85 crore of cash and 133 gold coins weighing 1.80 kg from Satyendra Jain's aides during its day-long raid conducted at various places across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The agency had also seized various incriminating documents and digital records during these raids. The ED then said that the total movable assets were seized from "an unexplained source" and were "found to be secreted" in the raided premises. The ED had initiated a money-laundering investigation on the basis of a First Information Report registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 24 August 2017 under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Satyendar Jain, Poonam Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain. The CBI filed a chargesheet on 3 December 2018 against Satyendar Kumar Jain, Poonam Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain. The chargesheet mentioned that Satyendar Jain, while holding the office as a Minister in the Government of Delhi, during the period from 14 February 2014 to 31 May 2017, had acquired assets which were disproportionate to his known sources of income. The CBI has accused Satyendar Kumar Jain and others of the commission of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Jain was arrested after the ED attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore, in April, owned by the private firms under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in connection with the disproportionate asset and money laundering case registered against Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, and others. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Aug 6 (PTI) A 27-year-old man was arrested for allegedly stealing bronze sculptures from a temple in Govandi in Mumbai, a police official said on Saturday. Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Shocker: Bodies of Two Minor Girls Found Inside Well in Khargone. A probe began on the complaint of the temple priest and it led to the nabbing of Akhtar Haider Ansari, the Shivaji Nagar police station official said. Also Read | Vice Presidential Election Result 2022: Margaret Alva, Opposition Candidate Loses to NDA Nominee Jagdeep Dhankar; Heres All You Need To Know About Her. "We could not find CCTV footage from the area. So we checked house breaking theft (HBT) records and caught Ansari. He has confessed to the crime," he said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Saturday. During his meeting with the Home Minister, the Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand is one of the pioneers in Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) computerization despite being a hilly state. The Chief Minister said that a total expenditure of Rs 18.76 crore has been made by 670 PACS in Uttarakhand. Also Read | Punjab: Only 53% Babies Breastfed Within One Hour of Birth, Say Doctors. Dhami said that more than 108 PACS of the state have gone live. The work of the remaining 502 committees is to be completed in the next 6 months, informed the Chief Minister's office. The Chief Minister also expressed his gratitude to Amit Shah for the decision to computerize all PACS. He said that this would certainly revolutionize the working of societies and would prove to be one of the most important reforms in the cooperative sector. Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and Finance Minister Harpal Cheema Appears in Court Over Rioting Case. Pushkar Singh Dhami is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and serving as the 10th and the current Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. He was elected as MLA in Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha from Khatima in 2012 and 2017. He was appointed Chief Minister for the first time in 2021. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, August 6: Ahead of the Raksha Bandhan festival, students of various schools in Delhi and Tamil Nadu on Saturday handed over self-made rakhis to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The students made the rakhi for the soldiers guarding the borders. The Defence Minister promised school students that he would send their handmade rakhis to soldiers defending the country. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "As the Defence Minister of the country, I assure you that I myself will provide these rakhis to the three service chiefs so that these can reach the jawans of all the three services." "I will provide these Rakhis to the three Chiefs of the Services, these will reach to the wrists of all the jawans," he said. Principal of Tamil Nadu Banergal School, Dr Rama Subramaniam said a total of 1.5 lakh handmade rakhis were made for brave soldiers. Bihar Political Crisis: Caste Census & Eye on 2024 Lead to Frictions Between JDU, BJP. "With lots of love and gratitude, we have brought 1.5 lakh handmade rakhis for brave soldiers of our country. 75,000 rakhis have Tirukkural printed on them and another 75,000 rakhis are handmade," Subramaniam said. On this occasion, a total of 21 students from Delhi were present along with their teachers. Poet and lyricist Manoj Muntashir and Dr Rama Subramaniam also marked their presence. At the request of the Defence Minister, Muntashir sang the song "Teri Mitti Mein Mil Jawa" written by him. Sai Public School student, Chahat Khanna said "Soldiers are our real heroes." "The school has taken a very good initiative, soldiers are our real heroes. Soldiers who can not go home, we all consider them as our brothers, they should be the first ones to tie rakhi," Khanna said. Another student of Modern Convent School, Aishwarya said, "Soldiers protect our country, they contribute to the country, they protect us, so we should also contribute by sending them rakhis made with our own hands." Meanwhile, Tarun Vijay, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said the message on rakhis were written 18 languages and about 25,000 of these in the Santhali language. "These rakhis are all handmade, prepared in Tamil Nadu and about 25,000 prepared in the Santhali language, which we understand is the language of our tribal brothers and sisters and the President comes from the Santhali community," Vijay said. Raksha Bandhan marks the bond of love between the siblings and will be celebrated on August 11. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon of the Savan month of the Hindu year. The month of Savan is considered an auspicious period among the Hindus and Lord Shiva is worshipped every Monday during this entire time. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 6 (ANI): Amid a crackdown on madrasas in Assam, the Chief of All India United Democratic Front, Badruddin Ajmal on Saturday said that he had no sympathy for bad elements in madrasas and that the authorities should impose detentions and shoot the "bad teachers". "We have no sympathy for them (bad elements in madrasas). Government should shoot them wherever they find them. If one or two bad teachers are found at madrasas, the government should impose detentions and pick them up once inquiry completes, do whatever they want," AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal told ANI. Also Read | ISRO To Launch Rs 50 Crores Worth 'SSLV Rocket' To Celebrate India's 75 Years of Independence. Badruddin Ajmal also said the jihadi mindset or terrorism should not be equated with the entire community. Ajmal said, "But if the entire Muslim community is called jihadi due to them...It is not jihad, it is terrorism. The government has to stop them, they should protect their borders and strengthen their intelligence," he added. Also Read | India's First-Ever Digital Lok Adalat To Be Held in Maharashtra, Rajasthan on August 13. The AIUDF chief's remarks came days after 11 persons, including a Madrasa teacher Mustafa alias Mufti Mustafa--who was a resident of Saharia Gaon in Morigaon and an important financial conduit of a Bangladesh-based terror outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT)-- were detained in a major crackdown in Assam on July 28 for their alleged links with the global terror outfits including AQIS and ABT. Mustafa used to run Jamiul Huda Madrasa in Moirabari area of Morigaon district in Assam, since 2018. The Morigaon administration in Assam had demolished the Madrasa and admitted the 43 students to different schools, there. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 4 urged parents in the state to keep a watch over subjects their children are being taught in the madrasas. "We have already abolished 800 government madrasas in Assam. But there are many Qawmi Madrasas in the state. The citizens, parents should keep a watch on these madrasas that what type of subjects are taught here," the CM said addressing a press conference on August 4. The Morigaon district police had arrested Mustafa for having links with ABT and Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS). The state CM had said that the Madrasa was demolished under Disaster Management Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and added that its students were admitted to different schools. "In Morigaon today (Thursday), Jamiul Huda Madrasa was demolished under Disaster Management Act and UAPA Act. 43 students were studying in this madrasa, who are now admitted to different schools," he said while further mentioning that Mustafa had obtained a doctorate in Islamic Law from Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal in 2017. On July 29, the police found eight people including Mustafa, who had links with ABT and AQIS, and produced them before the Barpeta Court, which sent them to the nine-day police custody. "The eight arrested persons having links with AQIS/ABT were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate court in Barpeta, Assam today. The court has sent them to 9-day Police custody," said Amitava Sinha, Superintendent of Police, Barpeta. The ABT is linked to Al Qaeda in Indian Sub-continent (AQIS). According to police, the activities of the Mustafa's madrasa were being funded through the proceeds of unlawful activities, hence the Jamiul Huda Madrasa was sealed by them. Besides Mustafa, the police had also arrested Afsaruddin Bhuyan (39) from Morigaon, Goalpara's Abbas Ali (22) who used to provide logistics and shelter to one of the absconding members namely Mehbubur Rehman. Mehbubur Rehman alias Mehbub is also a member of Ansarullah Bangla Team. He was wanted in the Jogighopa PS case. He was arrested by the Bongaigaon police team on July 26."We got information about a man named Mustafa who runs a madrasa in Moriabari associated with anti-national activities. He's linked with financing of the Ansarullah Bangla Team related to Al-Qaeda in the sub-continent. Case registered under various sections of UAPA," said Aparna N, SP, Morigaon. The other people arrested are Jubair Khan (25), Rafiqul Islam (27), Dewan Hamidul Islam (20), Moinul Haque (42), Kajibur Hussain (37), Muzibaur Rahman (50), Shahanur Aslam and Sahjahan Ali (34). "It's an outcome of a long surveillance operation of Assam police and central agencies," the Special DGP GP Singh said on July 28. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 6 (PTI) The Kerala Government has said it would distribute this month itself the compensation to pig farmers in Wayanad and Kannur districts, who had suffered loss due the outbreak of African swine fever. Also Read | Commonwealth Games | Hockey Update India to Play for Bronze Against New Zealand. The Latest Tweet by Prasar Bharati News Services. The government also made it clear it would pay the full amount without waiting for the central allocation in this connection. Pigs had been culled in these districts following the outbreak. Also Read | Vice Presidential Election 2022 Live Updates: Stage Set As Oppositions Margaret Alva Takes on NDA's Jagdeep Dhankhar. State Minister for Animal husbandry and Dairy Development, J Chinchurani said adequate amount for the preventive steps taken and for the compensation will be spent from the corpus fund of the Animal Disease Control Project of the department. A government order has been issued for the same, she said, adding that respective district animal welfare officers have been instructed to assess the losses incurred by the farmers. The state government had taken all precautionary measures following the reports of African Swine fever in north eastern states and in Bihar, but the infection was confirmed in Mananthavady, Thavinjal and Nenmeni in Wayanad district and Kanichar panchayat in Kannur, the minister detailed. Then, as per the central government's action plan, pigs in farms within one kilometer radius of the epicenter of the disease had to be culled. As many as 702 pigs in Wayanad and 247 pigs in Kannur have been culled so far, she said. Normally, the compensation amount is to be borne jointly by the state and the central governments. "However, here the Kerala government will pay the full amount immediately without waiting for the central allocation and will demand for the same later," Chinchurani said. The minister also said she would soon visit the affected districts and distribute compensation to the farmers who had lost their pigs. The members of the rapid action forces, formed under the department, would be felicitated for the effective preventive measures taken by them, she added. Kerala had in July tightened biosecurity measures following an alert from the Centre that African swine fever had been reported in Bihar and a few northeastern States. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), African swine fever is a highly contagious and fatal viral disease of domestic pigs. It was first detected in Kenya, East Africa, in 1921 as a disease that killed settlers' pigs. Contact with warthogs was proven to be an important factor in transmission of the virus. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi [India], August 6 (ANI): Officials from the Ministry of Education, University Grants Commission, All India Council for Technical Education, and NTA reviewed the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) arrangements at the test centres across the country together with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, said UGC Chairman Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar on Saturday. Speaking to ANI, Kumar said that the exams "went off well" in both shifts. Also Read | Vice Presidential Election Result 2022: Margaret Alva, Opposition Candidate Loses to NDA Nominee Jagdeep Dhankar; Heres All You Need To Know About Her. "Today in both morning and afternoon shifts in 347 test centres across India, CUET went off well with 96,074 candidates registered for the exam. All arrangements have been made for CUET on Aug 7. A total of 63,404 candidates have registered in 276 test centres across India," the Chairman said. "Taking cognisance of the inconvenience faced by the students in some of the centres of CUET, NTA reviewed the entire situation yesterday. It was found that some of the centres failed to comply with the laid down protocols. Any incidence of non-compliance/sabotage/ignorance will be viewed very seriously and strict action will be taken against those centres to ensure smooth conduct of examinations in future," said NTA. Also Read | Gurugram Liquor Fraud: Retired IAS Officer Duped of Rs 2 Lakh Over Home Delivery of Liquor. "The grievances of affected students can be addressed at email cuetgrievance@nta.ac.in. Candidates must mention their application number in the subject. NTA is committed to protecting the interests of the students," it added. Meanwhile, CUET-UG was postponed at a total of 50 examination centres on Friday. According to the National Testing Agency, while 20 have been postponed from the first shift, 30 have been postponed from the second. The development comes after some centres reported technical issues. "NTA took immediate note of reports of technical issues in some centres. Reports were asked from the observers /city coordinators on the ground. Based on their recommendations, the decision of postponement has been taken," said an official statement. "NTA is committed to ensuring smooth conduct of examinations in the best interests of the students," it added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kolkata, Aug 6 (PTI) Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari Saturday shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that the West Bengal government was misappropriating Central funds for the implementation of schemes, including housing and rural job programme. The letter was sent a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met the Prime Minister in the national capital and sought urgent release of central funds. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Mother Arrested for Killing Adopted Son in Bagalkot. "The people of West Bengal are sick and tired of siphoning of Central government funds and I on their behalf would like to convey to you that proper checks and balances should be in place accordingly and the amount that has been granted till now must be accounted for," the letter read. Banerjee met Modi on Friday and raised a host of issues concerning her state, including the release of GST dues and urgent release of funds due to the state on account of the implementation of the rural job scheme MGNREGA, PM Awas Yojana (PMAY), and the PM Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). Also Read | Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Appears Before Court in Two-Year-Old Rioting Case. The amount due to the state under these schemes stood at about Rs 17,996.32 crore, Banerjee had said. Adhikari said in the letter that every day numerous incidents of malpractices were being unearthed across West Bengal . "Very often news reports keep surfacing that novel kinds of means and ways are being adopted to carry out corrupt practices and swindle money granted through these schemes for public welfare," Adhikari said. Adhikari had quit the Trinamool Congress and joined the BJP in December 2020 ahead of the assembly election. Claiming that a new way has been found to siphon off crores, Adhikari mentioned that MGNREGA funds were being used for the plantation of saplings, including mangrove trees and other varieties of fruit-bearing plants. He alleged that though it was being claimed that thousands of hectares have been covered under the initiative, the reality is starkly different. "At the time of inspection, it is being claimed that the plants have been washed away in Cyclonic storms like Yaas and Amphan or other natural calamities. Even naturally grown plants are shown as planted through man-days created under MGNREGA," he said. Stating that Central teams are surveying works in some panchayats, in the state, the letter read, "many panchayat offices are functioning at the dark hours of the night, not for the welfare of people, but for moving and shifting documents that would incriminate them eventually, if those find their way to the central team members." (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Yavatmal, Aug 6 (PTI) A 35-year-old woman was killed and five others injured on Saturday when lightning struck them at a farm in Ghatanji village in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra, an official said. Also Read | Tiranga DP for WhatsApp and Tricolour HD Images for Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan; Know Steps To Change Profile Picture for Indian Independence Day Celebration. In a similar incident, 21 goats were killed in Mandvi village in the Yavatmal district in the evening, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Noida, Aug 6 (PTI) Noida police have arrested a constable and an IT professional in connection with the death of a 26-year-old woman, whose body was found inside a hotel here on August 2, officials said. The police constable worked as a computer operator at the Noida Sector 49 police station while the IT professional was the woman's colleague in a leading MNC, the officials said. Also Read | Bihar Hooch Tragedy: Eleven Die, 12 Fall Ill After Consuming Spurious Liquor in Saran; Five Held, SHO Suspended. The woman was found hanging from a ceiling fan inside the hotel room on August 2 in a suspected case of suicide under Phase 2 police station area. Her family later alleged foul play after which an FIR was lodged under Indian Penal Code Sections 376 (rape) and 302 (murder) and the matter investigated, a police official said. Also Read | Meghalaya Prostitution Racket: BJP Leader Bernard N Marak's Custody Extended by Six Days. "Both the police constable and the woman's colleague were arrested on Friday evening. The three were mutual friends and the role of the two men has come to light in the death of the woman and the matter is being further probed," the official said. Another colleague of the woman, who has also been named an accused in the FIR, is on the run and efforts are being made to arrest him, the official added. Meanwhile, the arrested police constable has been suspended from service with immediate effect and a departmental inquiry initiated against him, according to officials. On the family's claims of rape and murder, a senior official said the post-mortem report has ruled out rape and established that she died of "asphyxia as a result of antemortem hanging". Further investigation and legal proceedings in the case are being carried out, police added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Portsmouth (UK), Aug 6 (The Conversation) The recent killing of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri by CIA drone strike was the latest US response to 9/11. Politically, it amplified existing distrust between US leaders and the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The killing also exposed compromises in the 2020 Doha peace agreement between the US and the Taliban. But another story is emerging with wider implications: the speed and nature of international weapons development. Take the weapon reportedly used to kill al-Zawahiri: the Hellfire R9X Ninja missile. Also Read | Israel: 36-Year-Old Man Dies From Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba. The Hellfire missile was originally conceived in the 1970s and 80s to destroy Soviet tanks. Rapid improvements from the 1990s onwards have resulted in multiple variations with different capabilities. They can be launched from helicopters or Reaper drones. Their different explosive payloads can be set off in different ways: on impact or before impact. Then there is the Hellfire R9X Ninja. It is not new, though it has remained largely in the shadows for five years. It was reportedly used in 2017 in Syria to kill the deputy al-Qaida leader, Abu Khayr al-Masri. Also Read | Afghanistan: Eight Killed in Kabul During Shia Community Mourning Gathering. The Ninja missile does not rely on an explosive warhead to destroy or kill its target. It uses the speed, accuracy and kinetic energy of a 100-pound missile fired from up to 20,000 feet, armed with six blades which deploy in the last moments before impact. Super weapons' The Ninja missile is the ultimate attempt thus far to accurately target and kill a single person. No explosion, no widespread destruction, and no deaths of bystanders. But other weapon developments will also affect the way we live and how wars are fought or deterred. Russia has invested heavily in these so-called super-weapons, building on older technologies. They aim to reduce or eliminate technological advantages enjoyed by the United States or Nato. Rusia's hypersonic missile development aims are highly ambitious. The Avangard missile, for example, won't need to fly outside the earth's atmosphere. It will remain within the upper atmosphere instead, giving it the ability to manoeuvre. Such manoeuvrability will make it harder to detect or intercept. China's DF-17 hypersonic ballistic missile is similarly intended to evade US missile defences. The autonomous era At a smaller scale, robot dogs with mounted machine guns are emerging on the weapons market. The weapon development company Sword International took a Ghost Robotics quadrupedal unmanned ground vehicle or dog robot and mounted an assault rifle on it. It was one of three robot dogs on display at a US army trade show. Turkey, meanwhile, is claiming it has developed four types of autonomous drones, which can identify and kill people, all without input from a human operator, or GPS guidance. According to a UN report from March 2021, such an autonomous weapon system has been used already in Libya against a logistics convoy affiliated with the Khalifa Haftar armed group. Autonomous weapons that don't need GPS guidance are particularly significant. In a future war between major powers, the satellites which provide GPS navigation can expect to be shot down. So any military system or aircraft which relies on GPS signals for navigation or targeting would be rendered ineffective. China, Russia, India and the USA have developed weapons to destroy satellites which provide global positioning for car sat-nav systems and civilian aircraft guidance. The real nightmare scenario is combining these, and many more, weapon systems with artificial intelligence. New rules of war Are new laws or treaties needed to limit these futuristic weapons? In short, yes but they don't look likely. The US has called for a global agreement to stop anti-satellite missile testing but there has been no uptake. The closest to an agreement is the signing of NASA's Artemis Accords. These are principles to promotes peaceful use of space exploration. But they only apply to civil space activities conducted by the civil space agencies of the signatory countries. In other words, the agreement does not extend to military space activities or terrestrial battlefields. In contrast, the US has withdrawn from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty. This is part of a long-term pattern of withdrawal from global agreements by US administrations. Lethal autonomous weapon systems are a special class of emerging weapon system. They incorporate machine learning and other types of AI so that they can make their own decisions and act without direct human input. In 2014 the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) brought experts together to identify issues raised by autonomous weapon systems. In 2020 the ICRC and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute went further, bringing together international experts to identify what controls on autonomous weapon systems would be needed. In 2022, discussions are ongoing between countries the UN first brought together in 2017. This group of governmental experts continues to debate the development and use of lethal autonomous weapon systems. However, there has still been no international agreement on a new law or treaty to limit their use. New rules for autonomous weapon systems The campaign group, Stop the Killer Robots, has called throughout this period for an international ban on lethal autonomous weapon systems. Not only has that not happened, there is an undeclared stalemate in the UN's discussions on autonomous weapons in Geneva. Australia, Israel, Russia, South Korea and the US have opposed a new treaty or political declaration. Opposing them at the same talks, 125 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement are calling for legally binding restrictions on lethal autonomous weapon systems. With Russia, China, US, UK and France all having a UN Security Council veto, they can prevent such a binding law on autonomous weapons. Outside these international talks and campaigning organisations, independent experts are proposing alternatives. For example, in 2019 Australia-based US ethicist, Deane-Peter Baker brought together the Canberra Group of independent international. The group produced a report, Guiding Principles for the Development and Use of Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems. These principles don't solve the political impasse between superpowers. But if autonomous weapons are here to stay then it is an early attempt to understand what new rules will be needed. When Pandora's mythical box was opened, untold horrors were unleashed on the world. Emerging weapon systems are all too real. Like Pandora, all we are left with is hope. (The Conversation) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Taipei [Taiwan], August 6 (ANI): Multiple Chinese planes and ships were detected around Taiwan Strait, simulating an attack on its main island, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday adding that some of them have crossed the median line. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the armed forces responded to such a situation accordingly with surveillance systems, CAP aircraft, naval vessels and missile systems. Also Read | Israel: 36-Year-Old Man Dies From Rare Brain-Eating Amoeba. "Multiple PLA craft were detected around Taiwan Strait, some have crossed the median line. Possible simulated attack against HVA. #ROCArmedForces have utilized alert broadcast, aircraft in CAP, patrolling naval vessels, and land-based missile systems in response to this situation," Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence tweeted today. As the tensions in the Twan strait heightened soon with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China has been increasing its military activities. Also Read | Afghanistan: Eight Killed in Kabul During Shia Community Mourning Gathering. Yesterday, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said that 68 Chinese military planes and 13 warships crossed over the median line to participate in drills. "Multiple PLA aircraft and vessels were detected participating in drills around Taiwan Strait and have crossed the median line. #ROCArmedForces have utilized alert broadcast, aircraft in CAP, patrolling naval vessels, and land-based missile systems in response to this situation," Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence had tweeted. Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang blasted what he called "the evil neighbour" after China encircled the self-ruled island with a series of huge military drills that were condemned by the United States and other Western allies. Notably, Following US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent Taiwan visit, China has upped the ante against Taiwan.China is holding threatening military exercises in six zones off Taiwan's coasts that it says will run through Sunday. Missiles have also been fired over Taiwan, defence officials told state media. The speaker is the highest-ranking US politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years. China opposes the self-governing island having its own contacts with foreign governments, but its response to the Pelosi visit has been unusually vociferous. China said Friday that more than 100 warplanes and 10 warships have taken part in the live-fire military drills surrounding Taiwan over the past two days. The official Xinhua News Agency said Friday that fighters, bombers, destroyers and frigates were all used in what it called "joint blockage operations." The military's Eastern Theater Command also fired new versions of missiles it said hit unidentified targets in the Taiwan Strait "with precision." The Rocket Force also fired projectiles over Taiwan into the Pacific, military officers told state media, in a major ratcheting up of China's threats to attack and invade the island. The drills, which Xinhua described as being held on an "unprecedented scale," are China's most strident response to Pelosi's visit. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], August 6 (ANI): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday that Beijing's escalatory military manoeuvres are disproportionate to the "peaceful visit" of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. "The total disproportion between a peaceful visit on the one hand, and escalatory military manoeuvres on the other, I think it is very clear and very clear to countries throughout the region," Blinken was quoted as saying by Sputnik during a press conference in the Philippines. Also Read | United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres Extends Support to Sri Lanka Amid Crisis. The top US diplomat said China's disagreements with Taiwan must be resolved peacefully. On Tuesday, Pelosi visited Taipei while on an Asia tour despite warnings from China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes any direct official foreign contacts with the island. Also Read | China Performing Simulation of Attack on Taiwan, Says Defence Ministry in Taipei. She is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. The visit became a new point of tension in US-China relations in the Taiwan Strait. Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan's independence. The visit triggered a new round of tension in the Taiwan Strait. In addition to the launch of military exercises this week, Beijing has imposed sanctions against two Taiwanese foundations for separatist activities, suspended the export of natural sand to the island and the import of citrus fruits, as well as some types of fish products from Taiwan. The Chinese foreign ministry said that Washington and Taipei are yet to face all the negative consequences of the visit, which Beijing has opposed for several months. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kabul [Afghanistan], August 6 (ANI): Afghans who faced various hardships post the Taliban take over fled to Iran, however many of them were deported last week shared their experience of extreme hardship and mistreatment. Khaled and his sister Fatima and the rest of their family were forced to come to Afghanistan by Iranian forces. They illegally went to Iran through Nimroz, reported Tolo News. Also Read | Turkey, Russia Sign Roadmap for Economic Cooperation, Says President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "We were compelled to go to Iran, here there are no working opportunities. Everyone knows that illegal trips come with problems. There, you can find difficult work with low incomes," said Khalid. "When they arrested us, we were faced with immoral and hideous threats. Some of them are good people, but many of them think Afghans are not human," said Fatima. Also Read | New York Suicide: Massive Outrage After Indian-Origin Woman, Tortured for Not Bearing Son, Dies by Suicide. Afghanistan's citizens say they faced threats to reach Iran. As per them, unemployment and poverty are the main reasons behind the illegal travel of Afghan citizens to neighbouring countries, particularly to Iran, reported Tolo News. "Singles or married, everyone who is going to Iran is leaving due to poverty. They arrested us and treated us with cruelty," said Baridad, a deportee. Local officials in Nimroz province said they shared the accusations of mistreatment with the Taliban high officials in order to address the issue through diplomacy, reported Tolo News. "Some Afghans, mainly singles, complained about the treatment of Iranian forces across the border. They claimed mistreatment and torture by Iranian forces," said Mohammad Reza Khalili, a border official. "There are problems in the ways against refugees. They sometimes expel them from Iran," said Mallawi Sediqullah Nusrat, head of the Refugees and Repatriations Directorate of Nimroz. Hundreds of Afghans daily head to Iran to seek work opportunities, but Iranian officials deport those who illegally arrive. In April, an Afghan delegation led by the Taliban's acting minister of refugees and repatriations said that they are likely to visit Iran's capital Tehran to hold talks over refugee-related challenges and the border tension. "We are trying to visit Iran to talk about all the problems that Afghans are struggling with there; we hope we can talk and solve the problems," said Khalilurahman Haqqani, acting minister of refugee and repatriations, according to Tolo News. Pakistan remains the largest country of asylum for Afghans, with 1.5 million Afghans residing in Pakistan, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report. For the past five years, Afghanistan's situation has been a peculiar one in the region with a steady increase of forcibly displaced people every year. Last year, Afghanistan's situation deteriorated dramatically with a 12 per cent increase of forcibly displaced persons by the end of the year compared to end-2020. According to the report, neighbouring countries experienced influxes of Afghans fleeing the country. UNHCR in Iran, Pakistan and Tajikistan pre-screened/pre-registered Afghans who may be in need of international protection. By the end of 2021, the number of new arrivals who approached UNHCR and Partners were the following: in Pakistan (1,08,000), Tajikistan (2,700) and Iran (27,800) reached 1,38,500. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) China summons Japanese ambassador to lodge representations over G7 statement on Taiwan Xinhua) 11:15, August 06, 2022 BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li was on Thursday instructed to urgently summon the Japanese ambassador to China Tarumi Hideo to lodge solemn representations over the negative Taiwan-related statement issued by the G7 foreign ministers and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Deng noted that Japan joined other members of G7 and the EU in issuing the statement which confounds black and white and attempts to justify the U.S. connivance at Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region and infringement on China's sovereignty, made unwarranted accusations and smears against China, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, seriously violated basic norms governing international relations and the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan, and sent a seriously wrong signal to the international community. "China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this," Deng said. Reiterating China's position on the Taiwan question, Deng said that the Taiwan question concerns the political foundation of China-Japan relations and the basic trust between the two countries. Noting that Japan had colonized Taiwan for a long time and thus bears serious historic culpability, Deng said Japan should be more cautious in its words and deeds. "China strongly urges the Japanese side to abide by the principles of the four political documents between China and Japan and its political commitments on the Taiwan question, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, prudently and properly handle Taiwan-related issues, and refrain from going further down the wrong path," Deng said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Moscow [Russia], August 6 (ANI/Sputnik): Moscow is calling on all parties to the conflict in the Gaza Strip to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire regime, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Saturday. "Moscow is seriously concerned about the new wave of armed violence in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Israeli air force's airstrikes triggered another escalation on August 5, in response to which Palestinian armed militants launched a massive indiscriminate shelling of the Israeli territory," the ministry quoted Zakharova as saying. Also Read | Pakistan: Unrest in PoK in Stark Contrast to Development in India's Jammu and Kashmir. Russia expresses deep concerns about the situation, she said, adding that this "is fraught with the renewal of full-scale military confrontation and further deterioration of the already deplorable humanitarian situation in Gaza." "We are calling on all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint, prevent the escalation of hostilities, and immediately return to the sustainable ceasefire regime," Zakharova concluded. (ANI/Sputnik) Also Read | United Nations Chief Antonio Guterres Extends Support to Sri Lanka Amid Crisis. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Peshawar [Pakistan], August 6 (ANI): Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has summoned former National Assembly Speaker and senior leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Asad Qaiser in reference to the ongoing probe into PTI's prohibited funding case, local media reported on Saturday. Peshawar office of FIA summoned Qaiser on Thursday, August 11 at 2pm, Geo News reported. Also Read | New York Suicide: Massive Outrage After Indian-Origin Woman, Tortured for Not Bearing Son, Dies by Suicide. FIA sent a notice to the former speaker and it stated that as per the verdict on Akbar S Babar's case, Qaiser has two bank accounts and he is associated with the functioning of those two accounts; therefore he has been asked to appear before the inquiry team to answer questions regarding the details of the bank account. Earlier in the day, Pakistan's FIA constituted a six-member team to probe the case. Also Read | Pakistan: Unrest in PoK in Stark Contrast to Development in India's Jammu and Kashmir. This investigation came a few days after the three-member Election Commission of Pakistan bench in a unanimous verdict ruled that the PTI received prohibited funding in the case pending since 2014, Geo News reported. Director Amna Baig will be leading the investigation team and four employees that were nominated in the ECP report were included in the initial investigation, according to sources. The employees who recorded their initial testimonies to the FIA include Muhammad Rafique, Tahir Iqbal and Muhammad Arshad. Akbar S Babar, the man who blew the lid off the scam involving inflow of dubious foreign funds into Imran Khan's political outfit Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) formally approached the FIA to initiate a probe against the PTI on Wednesday. Babar told the FIA that the PTI's financial board in 2011 illegally authorised four employees of the party's central secretariat to collect donations in their personal accounts from within Pakistan and abroad. A sum of Rs 11.104 million was deposited in the accounts of the PTI employees which was beyond their known sources of income, Babar said in his letter. He wrote that the funds were received through the accounts of employees Tahir Iqbal, Muhammad Nauman Afzal, Muhammad Arshad, and Muhammad Rafiq. On August 4, the Pakistan government decided to file a disqualification reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after the verdict of the prohibited funding case and the federal cabinet accepted the recommendation. Pakistan's Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in her press conference that the PTI used overall 16 bank accounts that were not found on the records. She alleged that PTI used donations to the charity as party funds and an inquiry will be conducted into it. "For the first time in Pakistan, a political party is declared a foreign-funded party. The accounts of the PTI secretariat employees were used for foreign funding," she added. Aurangzeb said that PTI was declared a 'foreign-funded party' in light of the ECP verdict, according to ARY News. On August 2, The ECP in its unanimous verdict on the "prohibited funding" case, on Tuesday, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had received the prohibited funds and issued a show-cause notice to PTI. The Commission found that the donations were taken from 34 countries in fundraising. These included America, Australia, and the UAE, Geo News reported. The ECP also said that the PTI had taken funds from an American businessman. In its verdict, the ECP observed the 'unknown accounts' and said that hiding accounts are a "violation of the Constitution". Moreover, it found that PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I. The ECP decided to issue a show-cause notice to the PTI to explain why the commission should not seize the funds it received. Acting on Babar's letter and the ECP ruling on this case, the FIA is probing the utilisation of funds from 13 undeclared accounts and has issued notices to the account holders. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, August 6: To unlock the mysteries in the heart of the deep sea waters, India has undertook mega ocean mission 'Samudrayaan'. The country aims to send a team of experts into the deep sea to carry out various deep underwater studies. Samudrayaan Mission is aimed to develop a self-propelled manned submersible to carry three human beings to a water depth of 6,000 meters in the ocean with a suite of scientific sensors and tools for deep ocean exploration. It has an endurance of 12 hours of operational period and 96 hours in case of emergency. Ocean Child! Mother Gives Birth To Son in The Pacific Ocean; Internet Left Divided Over The Viral Video. The manned submersible will allow scientific personnel to observe and understand unexplored deep-sea areas by direct interventions. Further, it will enhance the capability for deep sea man rated vehicle development. The projected timeline is five years for the period 2020-2021 to 2025-2026. For India, there lies a unique maritime position, a 7517 km long coastline, which is home to nine coastal states and 1,382 islands. The Government of India's vision of 'New India' highlights the Blue Economy as one of the ten core dimensions of growth. National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai, an autonomous institute under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has developed 6000m depth rated Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and various other underwater instruments such as Autonomous Coring System (ACS), Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) and Deep Sea Mining System (DSM) for the exploration of deep sea. With the launch of the unique ocean mission 'Samudrayaan' in October 2021, India joined the elite club of nations such as the US, Russia, Japan, France, and China to have niche technology and vehicles to carry out subsea activities. While launching the sea exploration initiative, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh mentioned, "This niche technology shall facilitate Ministry of Earth Sciences, in carrying out deep ocean exploration of the non-living resources such as polymetallic manganese nodules, gas hydrates, hydro-thermal sulphides, and cobalt crusts, located at a depth between 1000 and 5500 meters." Oceans, which cover 70 percent of the globe, remain a key part of our life. About 95 percent of the Deep Ocean remains unexplored. For India, with its three sides surrounded by the oceans and around 30 percent of the nation's population living in coastal areas and coastal regions play a major economic factor. It supports fisheries and aquaculture, tourism, livelihoods, and blue trade. The preliminary design of the manned submersible 'MATSYA 6000' is completed and realization of the vehicle has been started along with various organizations including ISRO, IITM, and DRDO roped-in to support the initiative, the Union Minister added. Developed indigenously, MATSYA 6000 is a manned submersible vehicle. It will facilitate the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) in conducting deep ocean exploration. The underwater vehicles are essential for carrying out subsea activities such as high resolution bathymetry, biodiversity assessment, geo-scientific observation, search activities, salvage operation and engineering support. Even though unmanned underwater vehicles have improved manoeuvring and excellent vision systems resembling direct observation, manned submersible provides a feel of direct physical presence for researchers and has better intervention capability. With the advancing subsea technologies. The Indian government had approved the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM) to be implemented under the aegis of the Ministry of Earth Sciences at a total budget of Rs 4,077 crore for a period of five years. The estimated cost for the first phase for the 3 years (2021-2024) would be Rs 2,823.4 crore. Deep Ocean Mission will be a mission mode project to support the Blue Economy Initiatives of the Government of India. With an emphasis on the development of deep-sea technology, the Deep Ocean Mission consists of development of manned Submersible rated for 6,000 metre water depth along with technologies for deep-sea mining, exploration of deep-sea mineral resources, and marine biodiversity. Some of the critical subsystems of the manned submersibles are development of Ti Alloy Personnel Sphere, Human support and safety system in enclosed space, low density buoyancy modules, Ballast and Trim System. Pressure compensated batteries and propulsion system, control and communication systems and Launching and Recovery System. System design, concept of operation, subcomponents functionality and integrity, emergency rescue, failure mode analysis are reviewed and certified as per the rules of International Association of Classification and Certification Society for man-rated usage of manned submersible at a depth of 6000 meters. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Colombo, August 6: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has extended support to the Sri Lankan government and the people to meet their immediate and long-term needs. "The United Nations is ready to support the government and people of Sri Lanka in meeting their immediate and long-term needs and is looking forward to continuing the cooperation of the United Nations in building peace, sustainable development and promoting human rights for all Sri Lankans," according to the statement released by President Media Division. In the congratulatory message to the Sri Lankan President, the Secretary-General said that the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be crucial for building a favourable environment and stability to overcome the current challenges that the country is facing. Sri Lanka Economic Crisis: Lanka Supreme Court Extends Overseas Travel Ban on Rajapaksa Brothers Till August 4. Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged Wickremesinghe's commitment to forging a consensus among all political parties in formulating a national strategy to address these challenges. "He also encouraged dialogue among all stakeholders, including consultation with the public, while ensuring respect for the rule of law and basic human rights principles," the statement reads. "Furthermore, support has been expressed in recognizing Sri Lanka's efforts towards women's political participation and encouraging the President's leadership to accelerate progress," the statement added. With many Sri Lankans experiencing extreme shortages of essentials including food and fuel, peaceful protests began in March. The protests led then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign on May 9, and his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to flee the country on July 13 and resign the following day. China Performing Simulation of Attack on Taiwan, Says Defence Ministry in Taipei. Ranil Wickremesinghe became acting president, and parliament elected him as the new president on July 20 with the support of the Rajapaksas' political party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. He had previously described some protesters as "fascists" and declared a state of emergency on July 18. On July 21, Wickremesinghe issued an order to "call out with effect from July 22, 2022, all the members of the Armed Forces . . . for the maintenance of public order." Under emergency powers, the president can override, amend, or suspend a provision of any law, except the Constitution. Emergency powers can be used to detain people while bypassing the ordinary process of the courts and have repeatedly been used in the past to enable human rights violations. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kabul [Afghanistan], August 6 (ANI): The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has condemned Friday's attack in a Shia-majority of Kabul that killed eight people. At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured in Kabul on Friday during a Shia community mourning gathering following the holy month of Muharram. Also Read | Jones Lawyer Could Face Consequences for Phone-records Release Latest Tweet by Reuters. "UNAMA condemns yesterday's attack in a majority-Shia area of Kabul causing dozens of casualties. De facto authorities must prevent such indiscriminate attacks, launch thorough and transparent investigation. Our condolences to families of the killed and speedy recovery for the injured," UNAMA tweeted. A Taliban spokesperson said that the explosion took place in the Sarkariz area of the capital city, TOLO news reported. Also Read | Pakistan: Unrest in PoK in Stark Contrast to Development in India's Jammu and Kashmir. ISIS has claimed the responsibility for the bomb attack in Kabul, according to reports. The Shia community have been facing persecution in Afghanistan for many years. While condemning the attack in Hazara market, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett said perpetrators of crimes must be brought to justice. "Another dreadful attack on civilians in crowded Hazara market. Kabul, continuing pattern of crimes claimed by ISIS. My sincere condolences to victims. Taliban authorities are responsible for protecting all Afghans. Perpetrators of Int crimes must be brought to justice," Bennett tweeted. Earlier, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan prohibited dozens of Shia mosques from holding Eid prayers. Since the Taliban regime took control of Afghanistan, blasts and attacks have become a regular affair with unabated human rights violations involving ceaseless murder of civilians, destroying mosques and temples, assaulting women, and fueling terror in the region. Last month, a bomb exploded near Karte Parwan Gurudwara in Kabul, a month after the holy place was attacked by members of the Islamic State. Religious minorities in Afghanistan, including the Sikh community, have been targets of violence in Afghanistan. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's latest hearing in his sexual assault case was delayed when a flood caused a lockdown at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, the Los Angeles prison where he is currently behind bars. "Just a routine delay," one of Weinstein's attorneys, Mark Werksman, told members of the media who were sitting in the courtroom, reports Variety. She Said: The Hunt To Bring Down Harvey Weinstein Is On in Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazans Dramatic Adaptation of the Book. "My client, on the payphone, is still in his cell," Weinstein's attorney said at 9:29 a.m., asking for an update from the bailiff, who was on the phone with the prison, trying to arrange transportation for Weinstein to be escorted to the courthouse for the hearing. "It is my understanding," Judge Lisa B. Lench began, "That there was a flood at Twin Towers where Mr. Weinstein is housed. It is now 9:40.The hearing was originally scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. It was the latest court date, leading up to Weinstein's long-awaited Los Angeles sexual assault and rape trial. Judge Lench pushed the hearing to August 10 but first dealt with a few matters regarding the defense's subpoenas to witnesses. Hollywood Ex-Producer Harvey Weinstein Charged With Two Accounts of Indecent Assault. Earlier this week, in another hearing for the case, Judge Lench ruled to limit the amount of information that could be obtained by Weinstein's defense team for the upcoming trial, approving the prosecution's motion to quash subpoenas from four witnesses for their correspondence, including personal emails and texts dating as far back as 2004 with one of the alleged victims. At that hearing, however, the judge said she wouldn't prevent the defense from serving future subpoenas to victims and would not ask them to notify the prosecution in advance of their attempts to serve. On Friday morning, discussions got a bit heated with the prosecution objecting to Weinstein's attorney, Alan Jackson, who argued that the defense has the right to subpoena witnesses without giving advanced notice to the prosecution. "As much as Mr. Thompson would love us to hand him our playbook, that's not the law. We're entitled to an investigation," Jackson said, speaking of lead sex crimes prosecutor Paul Thompson, who argued the the defense's subpoenas have been "vastly over-broad." "It can have the effect of harassing witnesses and the victims," Thompson said, explaining his objection. The prosecution argued that Weinstein's attorneys have not made "any remote attempt to narrow the scope of what they're asking for in what is possibly relevant in this case,a so that if "something completely irrelevant" is asked of a witness of a victim, "we can't unring the bell. "I don't know whether they're over-broad," the judge told Jackson. "I have no idea because I don't know until I get documents. At some point in time, there has to be an opportunity for an objection to be made, if one is justified." Weinstein is scheduled to go on trial on October 10 in L.A. He faces 11 charges of rape and sexual assault from five women. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2022 04:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, Aug 6: The government had informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that Malaysia is procuring 18 Tejas fighter jets while the US, Argentina, Australia, Egypt, Indonesia and Philippines too have shown interest to procure the light combat aircraft (LCA). Last year, the Indian government had awarded a Rs 48,000 crore contract to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for manufacturing 83 Tejas jets to be delivered by 2023. The indigenous Tejas fighter jet was in the news recently after becoming Malaysia's first choice. This Indian aircraft competed with the developed aircraft of China, Russia and South Korea, and due to its features, it overshadowed all the aircraft. West Bengal: CISF Jawan Shoots & Injures Two Colleagues at Indian Museum in Kolkata. Defence expert Qamar Agha said that if compared to Sukhoi, Tejas is much lighter. "Tejas is fully capable of carrying a load of eight to nine tonnes. It can fly with as many weapons and missiles as Sukhoi, which weighs more. Its biggest advantage is its speed. Despite being light, its speed is unmatched. These aircraft can fly as fast as the speed of sound, i.e., Mach 1.6 to 1.8, up at an altitude of 52,000 feet," he said. Agha added: "The Tejas Mark-1A is also costlier than the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft because many latest equipment have been added to it. For example, it has radar developed in Israel. Apart from this, the aircraft also has an indigenously developed radar. It is very light and its fighter power is also better. It is a multifunctional fighter aircraft." Tejas is fitted with an active electronically-scanned radar for critical operation capability. It can refuel in the air and be ready for war again. It can target enemy aircraft from a distance. Not only this, it also has the ability to dodge the enemy's radar. "At a time when there is a shortage of fighter jets in the Indian Air Force fleet, Tejas should be welcomed," the defence expert said. Tejas made its first flight in January 2001. The aircraft was inducted into the squadron of the Indian Air Force in 2016. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2022 08:39 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Gurugram, August 6: A retired woman IAS officer was reportedly duped of around Rs 2 lakh on the pretext of online home delivery of liquor in Gurugram. Based on a complaint received through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), an FIR has been registered at the city's cybercrime police station (east), the police said. The complainant, Zohra Chatterji, a resident of Sushant Lok, told the police that on July 23 she placed an online order for liquor through the website jagdishwineshopgurgaon.com for a party at her place. Surat Woman Duped Of Rs 1.76 Lakh By Online Fraudsters While She Was Trying To Get Refund For Undelivered Book From E-Commerce Website. As she was busy in guest arrangements, she shared the credit card number and one time password (OTP) with the caller in a hurry. "Thereafter I got an SMS that Rs 630 was debited through my credit card, but soon after I found that Rs 1,92,477.50 was debited from my card," the woman stated in her complaint. Based on her complaint, an FIR has been registered against unknown fraudsters under Sections 419 (cheating by impersonation) and 420 (cheating) of IPC and Section 66-D of Information Technology Act at the cybercrime police station, the police said. "The matter is under investigation. We will take technical support to nab the criminals," said Bijender Kumar, SHO of cybercrime police station. Recently, the police had nabbed three members of a gang who duped a man of over Rs 1 lakh by promising to deliver liquor at his home. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2022 09:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). A villager was killed by Maoists on suspicion on being a police informer in the forest area of Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, police said on Saturday. A special CBI court of Dhanbad, today sentenced two convicted of killing a Dhanbad judge, to rigorous life imprisonment till death. It was on July 28 that the court had convicted them. ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2022 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) More children are growing up godless than at any other time in our nations history. They are the offspring of an expanding secular population that includes a relatively new and burgeoning category of Americans called the Nones, so nicknamed because they identified themselves as believing in nothing in particular in a 2012 study by the Pew Research Center. The number of American children raised without religion has grown significantly since the 1950s, when fewer than 4% of Americans reported growing up in a nonreligious household, according to several recent national studies. That figure entered the double digits when a 2012 study showed that 11% of people born after 1970 said they had been raised in secular homes. This may help explain why 23% of adults in the U.S. claim to have no religion, and more than 30% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 say the same. So how does the raising of upstanding, moral children work without prayers at mealtimes and morality lessons at Sunday school? Quite well, it seems. Far from being dysfunctional, nihilistic and rudderless without the security and rectitude of religion, secular households provide a sound and solid foundation for children, according to Vern Bengston, a USC professor of gerontology and sociology. ------------ Advertisement FOR THE RECORD The name of the USC sociologist and gerontologist who oversees the Longitudinal Study of Generations is Vern Bengtson not Bengston. ------------ For nearly 40 years, Bengston has overseen the Longitudinal Study of Generations, which has become the largest study of religion and family life conducted across several generational cohorts in the United States. When Bengston noticed the growth of nonreligious Americans becoming increasingly pronounced, he decided in 2013 to add secular families to his study in an attempt to understand how family life and intergenerational influences play out among the religionless. He was surprised by what he found: High levels of family solidarity and emotional closeness between parents and nonreligious youth, and strong ethical standards and moral values that had been clearly articulated as they were imparted to the next generation. Many nonreligious parents were more coherent and passionate about their ethical principles than some of the religious parents in our study, Bengston told me. The vast majority appeared to live goal-filled lives characterized by moral direction and sense of life having a purpose. My own ongoing research among secular Americans as well as that of a handful of other social scientists who have only recently turned their gaze on secular culture confirms that nonreligious family life is replete with its own sustaining moral values and enriching ethical precepts. Chief among those: rational problem solving, personal autonomy, independence of thought, avoidance of corporal punishment, a spirit of questioning everything and, far above all, empathy. For secular people, morality is predicated on one simple principle: empathetic reciprocity, widely known as the Golden Rule. Treating other people as you would like to be treated. It is an ancient, universal ethical imperative. And it requires no supernatural beliefs. As one atheist mom who wanted to be identified only as Debbie told me: The way we teach them what is right and what is wrong is by trying to instill a sense of empathy ... how other people feel. You know, just trying to give them that sense of what its like to be on the other end of their actions. And I dont see any need for God in that. ... If your morality is all tied in with God, she continued, what if you at some point start to question the existence of God? Does that mean your moral sense suddenly crumbles? The way we are teaching our children no matter what they choose to believe later in life, even if they become religious or whatever, they are still going to have that system. The results of such secular child-rearing are encouraging. Studies have found that secular teenagers are far less likely to care what the cool kids think, or express a need to fit in with them, than their religious peers. When these teens mature into godless adults, they exhibit less racism than their religious counterparts, according to a 2010 Duke University study. Many psychological studies show that secular grownups tend to be less vengeful, less nationalistic, less militaristic, less authoritarian and more tolerant, on average, than religious adults. Recent research also has shown that children raised without religion tend to remain irreligious as they grow older and are perhaps more accepting. Secular adults are more likely to understand and accept the science concerning global warming, and to support womens equality and gay rights. One telling fact from the criminology field: Atheists were almost absent from our prison population as of the late 1990s, comprising less than half of 1% of those behind bars, according to Federal Bureau of Prisons statistics. This echoes what the criminology field has documented for more than a century the unaffiliated and the nonreligious engage in far fewer crimes. Another meaningful related fact: Democratic countries with the lowest levels of religious faith and participation today such as Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Belgium and New Zealand have among the lowest violent crime rates in the world and enjoy remarkably high levels of societal well-being. If secular people couldnt raise well-functioning, moral children, then a preponderance of them in a given society would spell societal disaster. Yet quite the opposite is the case. Being a secular parent and something of an expert on secular culture, I know well the angst many secular Americans experience when they cant help but wonder: Could I possibly be making a mistake by raising my children without religion? The unequivocal answer is no. Children raised without religion have no shortage of positive traits and virtues, and they ought to be warmly welcomed as a growing American demographic. Phil Zuckerman is a professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College and author of Living the Secular Life: New Answers to Old Questions. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion MORE FROM OPINION: How not to say the wrong thing Will having kids soon be out of reach economically for many American families? Part none, part Jewish, all teenager -- and leery about anti-Semitism in Europe The first bus arrived in New York from Texas on Friday, with 50 migrants onbard. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has taken another step about migration, as he sent buses of migrants, this time, to New York. Abbott announced his move on Friday, claiming that New York City is now a drop-off location for the Lone Star State's ongoing busing strategy, per New York Post. Abbott explained that he implemented bussing migrants to New York to push "responsibility" for border crossers to Democratic Mayors and President Joe Biden, according to Reuters. "Because of President Biden's continued refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies, the State of Texas has had to take unprecedented action to keep our communities safe," Abbott underscored. The Texas governor also explained that New York City was chosen as another drop-off point for migrants, believing that the border crossers would benefit from the services and housing boasted by Mayor Eric Adams. Abbott then expressed his hope that Adams would follow with his promise of welcoming all migrants so that overwhelmed border towns in Texas can find relief. READ NEXT: Mexico Miners Remain Trapped in a Coahuila Flooded Mine Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Buses Migrants to New York City The first bus arrived in New York City on Friday at the city's Port Authority Bus Terminal. The said area is located in midtown Manhattan. Fifty migrants - from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, and Venezuela, were onboard the first bus. Volunteers reportedly responded on their arrival, steering those who do not have relatives in town, as well as those who have no resources. A group called Grannies Respond told Reuters that most of the migrants bused from Texas do not have anybody who can help them. One family of four from Colombia ended up staying at a homeless intake center in the Bronx. Byron and Leidy, both 28 years old, claimed that they are unsure whether they will stay at the center of the night. Leidy noted that they hoped someone they knew in New York City would help them, but their plan did not work out. It was not the first time that Texas Governor Greg Abbott have bused migrants out of the Lone Star State. It can be recalled that Abbott sent 6,000 immigrants to Washington D.C. in April. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey followed Abbott's lead, as he sent 1,000 migrants into Washington D.C. New City Mayor Eric Adams on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's Move New York City Mayor Eric Adams was reportedly 'furious' after Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent migrants to The Empire State on Friday. Adams' spokesperson Fabian Levy blasted Abbott, saying that his move on using the migrants as "political pawns" is "disgusting." Adams also called Abbott's actions "despicable" during an unrelated press appearance. Levy also said that the New York City mayor will welcome the asylum seekers with "open arms." However, they are asking for help in responding to the issue. Levy said that they need resources and assistance from the Washington D.C. in dealing with Texas Governor Greg Abbott's "cruel political games." READ NEXT: Texas School Shooting: Here's Why Termination Hearing for Uvalde School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo Was Postponed Again This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Texas Governor Sends Dozens of Migrants to New York City - From CBS New York Peruvian film, television, and stage actor Diego Bertie has tragically passed away. He died after falling from the 14th floor of his apartment building in the Miraflores district of the capital of Peru, Lima. He was 54. According to Infobae, his death just comes a few weeks after he revealed his sexual orientation and that he had a romantic relationship with writer, journalist, and TV presenter Jaime Bayly. Cuerpo General de Bomberos Commander Mario Casaretto confirmed that they have been alerted to an incident where a person fell from an apartment building. He also reported that Diego Bertie initially survived but was seriously injured and had multiple fractures and head injuries. He was immediately transferred to the Casimiro Ulloa hospital, but he was declared dead shortly after. Latin Celebrities React to His Death Bertie's manager, Carlos Sanchez, released a statement and said he was shocked and was immediately heading to the hospital. He called his former charge "a super noble soul, beautiful, an A1 artist." He was asked about the rumors if the artist took his life, and the manager just said that he had shared many moments with Diego Bertie and that he was a wonderful person, full of light. The Peruvian Minister of Culture, Alejandro Salas, said that the facilities inside Peru's National Museum is available to house the actor's body for the wake, and is offering it to his family. He said that the popular actor deserves it, Several Latin artists, including Ruddy Rodriguez, Sonia Oquendo, Paul Martin, Christian Meier, and many more, took to social media to offer condolences to his family. Venezuelan actress Ruddy Rodriguez stated that his passing left a great mark on her life. Sonia Oquendo, who treated Bertie as his "acting son," cried while staying in Spain when the news reached her. Meanwhile, Maricielo Effio spoke about the late actor's great legacy with tears in her eyes. Read Next: Peru Political Turmoil Continues as Prime Minister Anibal Torres Resigns Diego Bertie, Former Rock Star, Actor, and Performer Diego Bertie made his musical debut in 1986 while studying at the Universidad del Pacifico in Lima. There, he started a band with his classmates and called it Imagenes. He served as the vocalist of the band, together with Aurelio "Chifa" Garcia Miro (drums), Dante Albertini (bass) and Hernan Campos (guitar). In 1986, they released their first hit single "Los Buenos Tiempos." However, shortly after they became a hit together, the band dissolved in 1988, with Bertie attempting a solo career in 1989. However, it was in acting that Bertie found his eventual fame. According to HITC, he became known for his work in telenovelas. These include Vale Todo (2002), La Ex (2006), and De Vuelta Al Barrio (2017). He also appeared in theater works such as Bodas de Sangre and La Vida es Sueno. READ NEXT: Peru: Inca Mummies Making Peruvian Home's Construction Complicated This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Diego Bertie fue hospitalizado de emergencia tras caer desde lo alto de un edificio - RPP Noticias Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson have officially broken up after nine months of dating, sources close to the couple confirmed. The unlikely duo shocked everyone with their relationship last November. It even prompted Kanye West to launch tirades against Pete. However, the Kim and Davidson breakup confirmation came shortly after rumors about Kanye being on good terms with his ex-wife emerged. Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson Breakup Confirmed: Reason Revealed Sources close to the scene have confirmed to E! News that Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson have finally broken up and decided to "just be friends." According to the insiders, long-distance relationship and their demanding schedules are the reasons for the breakup. Despite having "a lot of love and respect for each other, the sources noted that being in two distant parts of the globe proved overwhelming for the two, which "made it really difficult to maintain a relationship. Pete Davidson has been spending his summer in Australia while working on the new A24 film with Orlando Bloom and Naomi Scott on "Wizards!" On the other hand, Kim Kardashian continued to be a mom of four for North, Psalm, Chicago, and Saint, while working on her various businesses. Last July, Kim was spotted flying down under to meet Pete while filming. It was reported that the breakup between the two happened sometime earlier this week. But before they breakup, rumors of Kanye West getting back together with Kim Kardashian emerged. READ NEXT: Amber Heard's Secret Sex Parties With Billionaires Like Elon Musk Revealed in New Report Kanye West Involved in Kim Kardashian, Pete Davidson Breakup? In a report from The Sun, Kanye West's recent Instagram behavior has sparked speculations from fans of the rapper and his estranged wife, Kim Kardashian. It has been apparent in the past months that Kanye's Instagram was an indicator of what's happening in his life. As of this writing, posts on his account were deleted, leaving only a black profile photo and a link to stem player. The rumors of reconciliation started first after Kim, North, and Chicago wore sunglasses from Kanye's fashion line, Yeezy. Eagle-eyed fans have also spotted "The Kardashians" star donning a white bikini with a T-shirt saying "The Incredibles." For "KUWTK" fanatics, the Disney movie "The Incredibles" has a soft spot for the Florida-born rapper. Sitting in the show's confessional, Kanye said he agreed to do the interview because it reminded him of the film. But despite this unconfirmed reconciliation, it seemed like the divorce would still be proceeding. Kanye West, Kim Kardashian Divorce Still Pushing Through Amid Pete Davidson Breakup With speculations about Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's reconciliation rising, sources have debunked the rumors of a Mr. and Mrs. West reunion. E! News, in a separate report, revealed that the divorce settlement between the two will be pushing through. Kanye's lawyer, Samantha Spector, has recently stepped down as his counsel after a judge officially granted the request. Attorney Deborah Hong will now represent the "Donda" rapper in the upcoming proceedings. Kim Kardashian has filed a divorce against her husband Kanye West in February 2021. READ MORE: Kim Kardashian's Boyfriend Pete Davidson and Her Ex Kanye West May Come Face-to-Face at 2022 Emmy Awards This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Ivan Korrs WATCH: Pete Davidson & Kim Kardashian Break Up - From US Weekly The San Luis Potosi State police in Mexico conducted an operation Thursday evening in the Vaqueros community in Rayon municipality. It led to a deadly shootout between the police and suspected gang members and resulted in the deaths of 13 people and the arrest of two others. According to the Associated Press, the 13 people killed were all suspected gang members. No San Luis Potosi State police were reported injured. The casualties included 10 men and three women. Authorities reported that tactical gear and vehicles were also seized following the operation. Operation in Mexico Was in Response To Killing of Agent and Relative The San Luis Potosi state prosecutor's office reported that the operation was a result of investigations following the death of a state police operative and a relative. The shootout happened the same day state police arrested four people burying the officer and the relative in the Vaqueros community in Rayon municipality. According to Crisis 24, security forces were looking for a high-ranking civil guard leader who was kidnapped last Wednesday, along with his wife. It led the police to a location in the Vaqueros community and arrested the four people attempting to bury their bodies. Drug trafficking organizations, including local gangs and big drug cartels, often target government security forces with their acts of violence. That is a common practice in San Luis Potosi state in north-central Mexico, where the shootout happened. Criminal activity has recently increased in the area, with bodies being dumped on roads near Tamasopo. The bodies usually have the slogans or initials of local gangs written into them as a warning to their enemies. Several cartels are currently vying for territory and smuggling routes in the state of San Luis Potosi. The two most prominent are the local Northeast Cartel and the deadly Jalisco New Generation Cartel, which had been invading the state as of late. READ NEXT: Rafael Caro Quintero: Infamous Drug Lord's 'Forgotten Victims' Demand Justice President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Tries Different Approach in Handling Mexico's Drug War The administration of Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is facing high rates of violent crimes, which have stubbornly remained high despite the drug war started by former Mexican President Felipe Calderon in 2006. Instead of meeting brute force with brute force, Lopez Obrador is trying a different approach. According to the Washington Post, he wanted to attack the violence brought about by these Mexican drug cartels with social programs. The president wanted to avoid a head-on confrontation against the powerful cartels, unlike many of his predecessors. In a statement last month, Lopez Obrador said he was "absolutely convinced" that one cannot confront violence with violence, as he believes coercive measures won't be enough. So far, Mexican drug cartels like Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco cartel have largely dominated Mexico and resisted efforts by local police to eradicate them. Many have grown in force, adapting heavy weapons and tactics often used by terrorist groups in the Middle East. READ MORE: Jalisco Cartel Leader 'El Senoron' Who Receives Orders From Boss 'El Mencho' Arrested in Mexico This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Guardia Nacional Abatio a 13 Presuntos Delincuentes en San Luis Potosi - From Milenio A day after losing his court battle against one of the families of the Sandy Hook massacre victims, conspiracy theorist and Infowars host Alex Jones was ordered to pay that family more after losing in the hearing on punitive damages in the defamation case. According to NPR, in addition to the $4.1 million he would have to pay for damages, he has to pay an even bigger $45.2 million in punitive damages to Scarlett Lewis and Neil Heslin, parents of 6-year-old Jesse, who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy. In total, the conspiracy broadcaster will be paying $49.3 million in damages. Alex Jones Fights to Reduce Punitive Damages However, CNN reported that because of a Texas statute, the $45.2 million in punitive damages may be reduced. Texas law caps punitive damages to $750,000 per plaintiff. That means that Jones may only have to pay $1.5 million in punitive damages to Jesse Lewis's parents, as pointed out by Jones' attorney Andino Reynal, who objected to the ruling. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble acknowledged the objection in court, but did not rule on it immediately. She pointed out the discrepancies in Texas law and told Reynal that she was sure that the "judgment will properly reflect those laws of Texas" and that he should not "worry about that." Reynal noted that their camp thinks that the verdict was "too high" and announced that they will appeal to the court to drastically reduce the verdict. The attorney added that Alex Jones will continue to go on air and "do his job." However, the statement comes as Jones faces more and more lawsuits regarding his conspiracy theories about Sandy Hook. The Associated Press reported that future jurors in those other cases can use the amount of money Jones will be ordered to pay as a benchmark for them to set their punishment for the embattled conspiracy theorist. READ NEXT: Alex Jones Loses Court Battle vs. Sandy Hook Parents, Must Pay $4 Million in Damages Alex Jones Has a Series of Shell Companies Which He Uses to Profit For 'Monetized Misinformation' Lewis and Heslin's attorney Wesley Todd Ball told the jury Friday that they must stop Alex Jones' monetization of misinformation and lies. He urged the jurors to deter Jones from "ever doing this awfulness again" to also stop others from doing the same. Jones' claimed that just $2 million would be enough to destroy him financially. However, economist Bernard Pettingill, Jr. testified before the Texas jury that Jones was far richer than it seemed. Pettingill told the court that Jones "monetized his shtick" by pairing his fear-mongering rants on Infowars with ads for his supplements, documentaries, and other products. The economist noted that Jones was a successful man who used misinformation and hate speech to earn his money. Pettingill examined Jones' records, as well as parent Free Speech Systems, for several years. He found that Jones used several shell companies to hide his money and used two large loans to make it seem he did not have any money and going broke. Previously, Jones testified that he was in dire financial straits after Facebook and Twitter banned his content. The Sandy Hook massacre was another case of violent school shootings in the United States and was one of the rallying cries for gun reform. A total of 26 people died, including 20 children aged six and seven. However, Alex Jones claimed on his platform, Infowars, that the tragedy was "staged" and was a "false flag operation" to pass gun control laws. He also accused the parents of being "crisis actors" and said the children who died were not real. Because of this misinformation, the parents of the Sandy Hook massacre victims, including Lewis and Heslin, were repeatedly harassed by Infowars listeners. These included death threats and vandalism of property. Jones is facing other lawsuits from other Sandy Hook parents. Alex Jones is also currently facing investigations regarding the events of the January 6 Capitol insurrection. READ MORE: January 6: Dominican Rebublic-born Immigrant Capitol Police Officer Dealing With Pain After Capitol Insurrection This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Alex Jones Ordered to Pay $45M in Punitive Damages - From NBC News A Texas dad is now in police custody after he allegedly shook and fatally beat up his own newborn son, who was found dead inside a motel in west Houston. Houston police said the suspect, who was identified as Jamal Edward Robertson, 33, started to shake his 1-month-old son Santana Robertson after he would not stop crying. It reportedly became violent after his wife, Alana, tried to intervene. The incident happened inside a Motel 6 located at 15101 Katy Freeway near Highway 6 in Houston, Texas. Police were called to the motel on Tuesday afternoon, and officers found the lifeless baby inside a room. Officers took the Texas dad into custody. Officials were still processing his case Friday morning and may be scheduled to appear in court on Monday, according to ABC13 Houston. Newborn Son of Texas Dad Was Taken to a Hospital but Was Declared Dead Police were called to the motel at around 3:30 p.m. and the officers found the infant to already be unresponsive. The cops immediately took the baby to the Texas Children's Hospital West Campus, but ABC13 reported that doctors pronounced the child dead. That same day, officers took in one person, who turned out to be Jamal Edward Robertson. The Texas dad was detained following a preliminary investigation of the injuries found on his baby boy. It was still unclear exactly how the baby died. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is still looking into his cause of death. According to Crime Online, the Texas dad was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and aggravated assault of a family member. He may also face additional charges after his son's autopsy report has been released. His bond has reportedly been set at more than $900,000. READ NEXT: Colorado Mom, Teen Daughter Killed by Ex-Husband, Who Shot Himself in the Chest After the Shooting Baby's Mom Alana Gabriel Says Texas Dad Was Jealous of His Son Getting the Attention Details on the incident were initially scarce. However, Santana Robertson's mom has talked about her baby's death. Alana Gabriel told ABC13 that the suspect hit and shook their son because he would not stop crying. She said she tried to intervene, but Jamal Edward Robertson became violent with her. She admitted that she was afraid of him. Gabriel then fell asleep and woke up to see her son dead. She told the Texas dad that he could have just walked away and he did not have to do that with his own child. The mother claimed that the suspect was jealous of the attention the baby was getting. "Santana did not ask to come into this world. He's just a little baby. He was a good baby... happy baby and this is what you do. You could have took it out on me, not him," Gabriel told the outlet. The case is similar to the one that happened in 2016 in New York, where a little girl was killed by her father because he was also jealous of her. The father, Ryan Lawrence, was arrested after jealously murdering his daughter who received a lot of attention after she survived a battle with cancer, according to Inside Edition. READ MORE: Brazilian Cop Shot Himself Dead After Killing 8 People, Including His Wife, 3 Kids, Mother and Brother in Southern Brazil This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Child Dead, 2 Detained at West Houston Motel, Police Say - From KHOU 11 Nicaragua is continuing its efforts to crack down on members of the opposition, independent media, or government critics in general, closing several radio stations owned by the Roman Catholic Church. On Friday, Nicaragua's police said they have started an investigation against Bishop Rolando Alvarez, head of the Matagalpa diocese. Alvarez is one of the leading Catholic figures in Nicaragua who has been an outspoken critic of the government of President Daniel Ortega. The bishop also ran some of the Church-owned radio stations that the Ortega government recently shut down. Bishop Rolando Alvarez Home in Nicaragua Under Siege, Forced to Celebrate Mass in His House According to the Associated Press, the Nicaraguan police announced that they were investigating the bishop for "organizing violent groups," and inciting them to carry out "acts of hate." Police noted that several others were also under investigation, and warned that they were not allowed to leave their homes while the probe was being carried out. Police have surrounded and cordoned off Alvarez's residence on Thursday. He prayed in the street and approached the police with a crucifix. On Friday, the police blocked his attempt to go to the cathedral. He was instead forced to celebrate Mass from inside his house. He had not been allowed to leave his home since. The police came to the bishop's home after the first lady and Vice President Rosario Murillo referenced and criticized Alvarez for "sins against spirituality" and "the exhibition of hate." Daniel Ortega's other allies within the Sandinista National Liberation Front party have also accused the bishop of trying to incite violence and disorder. Congressional leader for Sandinista party Wilfredo Navarro claimed that Alvarez tried leading a "failed coup attempt" in April 2018 and accused the Roman Catholic Church of stockpiling weapons. The police seemed to have used the accusations from Navarro and Murillo as the groundwork for their cases against Bishop Rolando Alvarez. READ NEXT: Nicaragua Police Have Taken Over 5 Opposition-Held Towns Ahead of Elections Nicaraguan Government Pressuring Catholic Church Since 2018 According to DW, Nicaragua has been putting the Catholic Church under pressure since 2018. It started when opposition protests in 2018 were met with violent repression that resulted in the deaths of 355 people. Since then, the Nicaraguan government has moved against several Church-led organizations. One of their most infamous acts was expelling nuns from Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity order. A report by one of the country's largest newspaper publications, La Prensa, also led to a crackdown by the government on the newspaper's staff. Several employees were arrested while other staff members, including journalists, editors, photographers, and other personnel were forced to flee the country and report from abroad. Ortega and his wife cruised to victory in last year's elections, mainly because he jailed every single person running against him. The United States and the European Union called his victory a sham. He also repressed local mayors belonging to opposition parties, deposed them, and replaced them with allies from his Sandinista party. According to France 24, at least 180 political prisoners have been detained by Nicaraguan authorities. READ MORE: Daniel Ortega Net Worth: The Life, Wealth, and Crime of Nicaragua's Dictator This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Bishop Rolando Alvarez Denounces Persecution by the Nicaraguan Police - From ACN Gardai have seized over 8 million worth of drugs that were flown into Longford in a light aircraft on Thursday. As a result of ongoing investigations targeting drug related organised crime activity under Operation Tara, personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau supported by other national units, intercepted two vehicles, shortly after 6pm, at 2 locations in the Lough Owel area of Co. Westmeath. In the course of this operation, 120 kilogrammes of cocaine with an estimated street value of 8.4 million (subject to analysis) was recovered along with several communications devices. Follow up searches were conducted at residential premises in Naas, Co Kildare and Waterford City, and at a commercial airfield in Co. Longford where a light aircraft has been seized. Two males, age 54 and 40 years, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and are currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996, at Ashbourne Garda Station, Dublin. Following the operation Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly, the Head of Organised and Serious Crime said " This operation has prevented a considerable quantity of dangerous drugs from making it onto our streets and causing significant harm to our communities. An Garda Siochana is committed, under Operation Tara, to disrupting and dismantling the organised criminal networks who profit from drug trafficking and impact so negatively on our society. One year since it was officially opened and deemed one of the most successful handovers of closed Garda Stations in the country, the McGahern Barracks in Cootehall is still attracting tourists and has more plans to keep people coming back. Cootehall barracks was a working Garda Station up to 2012; when it was closed. In 2013, the active Cootehall Community Development Group were handed the keys. It took a lot of hard slog, fundraising and reams of paperwork but renovations began in 2018 on the 208,000 transformation project. After its official opening in June last year, the centre attracted over 800 visitors from June to September, a remarkable feat! Tours are booked almost daily during the Summer and Chairman Maurice Gannon said these tours are led by a group of five volunteers who live locally. They are hoping to get funding to hire people full-time to make it more sustainable. The tour which is about one hour long looks at the history of rural policing, it also includes local social history and of course detailed information about famed Leitrim author John McGahern who lived in Cootehall Barracks as a child when his father Frank McGahern was Sergeant. It was here in Cootehall Barracks that McGahern developed his love of reading, and writing and most probably began to study places and people in more depth! There are plenty of new ideas being hatched by the committee, they plan to develop it upstairs into a working digital hub for people working from home and those who need occasional office space. There is also a seminar room. At the moment they are hosting a wonderful exhibition by Mohill documentary photographer Paul Butler. The photos come from the book he created visualising the world of John McGahern. The committee are hoping to display an exciting exhibition from renowned Martin Par shortly, the international photographer who lived in Boyle in the 1980s and took a number of photos in the region during that time. Mr Gannon said they hope that exhibition will open us up to even more visitors. The committee are also working on a new audio-visual playback which will include interviews with some older members of the community who remember John McGahern and his father during their time here. Look out also for upcoming webinars on John McGahern, the committee held two last year which they hope to repeat later this winter. Just last month, the Barracks held a Garda Centenary event with Dr Liam McNiffe giving a presentation that focused on the birth of the Garda Siochana following the war of independence. Maurice Gannon says they have received a lot of interest from retired Gardai and family members who remember living in the garda barrack - he said they hope to welcome more groups later this year. The Barracks adds to tourism locally and the majority of their visitors will go on to Arigna Mining, Strokestown Park, Lough Key Forest Park and into Leitrim. To book your tour visit www.mcgahernbarracks.ie or call (087) 9588734. A Texas jury on Friday ordered Infowars' Alex Jones to pay 49.3 million dollars in total damages to the parents of a first-grader killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, which the conspiracy theorist falsely called a hoax orchestrated by the government in order to tighten US gun laws. The amount is less than the 150 million dollars sought by Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis was among 19 children and six educators killed in the deadliest classroom shooting in US history. The trial is the first time Mr. Jones has been held financially liable for peddling lies about the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut. It could be awhile before the plaintiffs collect anything. Mr. Jones' lead attorney, Andino Reynal, told the judge he will appeal and ask the courts to drastically reduce the size of the verdict. 'I hope that inspires other people to do the same' After the verdict, Ms. Lewis said that Mr. Jones has been held accountable. She said when she took the stand and looked Mr. Jones in the eye, she thought of her son who was credited with saving lives by yelling "run" when the killer paused in his rampage. "He stood up to the bully Adam Lanza and saved nine of his classmates' lives," Ms. Lewis said. "I hope that I did that incredible courage justice when I was able to confront Alex Jones, who is also a bully. I hope that inspires other people to do the same." Read more Court orders conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $4 million to parents of Sandy Hook victim Jurors at first awarded Mr. Heslin and Ms. Lewis 4.1 million dollars in compensatory damages, which Mr. Jones called a major victory. But in the final phase of the two-week trial, the same Austin jury came back and tacked on an additional 45.2 million dollars in punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to punish defendants for particularly egregious conduct, beyond monetary compensation awarded to the individuals they hurt. A high punitive award is also seen as a chance for jurors to send a wider societal message and a way to deter others from the same abhorrent conduct in the future. 'Stop this man from ever doing it again' Attorneys for the family had urged jurors to hand down a financial punishment that would put Infowars out of business. "You have the ability to stop this man from ever doing it again," Wesley Ball, an attorney for the parents, told the jury. Barry Covert, a Buffalo, New York, First Amendment lawyer with no connection to the Jones case, said Friday's high punitive award added to Thursday's compensatory award amounts to "a stunning loss for Jones." "With 50 million dollars in all, the jury has sent a huge, loud message that this behavior will not be tolerated," Mr. Covert said. "Everyone with a show like this who knowingly tells lies juries will not tolerate it." Future jurors in other pending Sandy Hook trials could see the damages amounts in this case as a benchmark, Mr. Covert said. And if other juries do, he added, "it could very well put Jones out of business." Its unclear how much money Mr. Jones and Infowars' parent company, Free Speech Systems, have. An economist hired by the plaintiffs testified that Mr. Jones and the company are worth up to 270 million dollars, suggesting that Mr. Jones was still making money. But Mr. Jones testified that any award over 2 million dollars would "sink us." And Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy protection during the trial's first week. We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback Mr. Jones still faces two other defamation lawsuits from Sandy Hook families in Texas and Connecticut. Read more Republicans caught between denial and cult of guns after Texas shooting Le Monde with AP Investigation'The Legends of Chicago' (1/6). In a series, 'Le Monde' retraces the destiny of the Windy City, a link between the East and the West of the United States. The first installment focuses on how this unclassifiable metropolis was miraculously saved from the whims of Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. Don't mention Al Capone to the people of Chicago. You'll immediately get a sigh. Not that the famous gangster (1899-1947) who corrupted the mayor and the police during the Prohibition era should be forgotten. "Scarface," who was finally sent to prison for tax evasion, is part of the city's legendary past, but this figure alone cannot symbolize it. Because Chicago has so many other legends: The Great Fire of 1871, which, by reducing the city to ashes, allowed for the invention of the first skyscraper and the reconstruction of the city, soon to be the most elegant in the United States. The Black city, the city of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Barack Obama, remains one of the most segregated cities in the United States and is imprisoned by gang warfare on the South Side with 797 homicides in 2021. The revolutionary city (sometimes dubbed the "Paris of the Midwest") is the city of unions, originally populated by anarchists and Marxists fleeing the failed 1848 revolution in Europe and who fought the toughest battles in the country. Chicago is also the gateway to the West, with its grain markets and slaughterhouses that a billion cattle passed through and that were illustrated in 1931 by Herge in Tintin en Amerique (Tintin in America). It's the Windy City, and it's Lake Michigan an inland body of water as vast as Brittany and Normandy combined whose waves break on the edges of the city's parks. "Chicago's not the lake, which can be extremely hostile. It's the river, which provided a protected harbor and opened the doors to the West," said Dominic Pacyga, Chicago's leading historian. The first to understand the place's geographical advantage were two Frenchmen, the Jesuit Jacques Marquette (1637-1675) and the explorer Louis Jolliet (1645-1700), who were looking for a nonexistent sea passage to the Pacific. They came from Mississippi and, in 1673, the Native Americans showed them a way to reach Lake Michigan. All they had to do was carry their canoe a few dozen kilometers across a swampy, featureless land, marking the watershed between the Atlantic (the Great Lakes system) and the Mississippi. Read more Subscribers only Chicago's Ukrainian Village finds new purpose during war We are interested in your experience using the site. Send feedback A historic canal Back in Quebec City, the two explorers tried to tell Louis XIV about their idea of digging a canal between Lake Michigan and the great river, but the project remained untouched for two centuries. The Americans eventually inaugurated the project in 1848. It was 150 kilometers long and completed the Erie Canal, which had connected New York to the Great Lakes in 1825, going upstream from Niagara Falls. "These two canals changed the nature of development and settlement in the United States. They ensured New York's domination of the economy," said Mr. Pacyga, for whom "Chicago is the child of New York." These two northern metropolises rose and took power after the Civil War. You have 71.54% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. A NEW exhibition at the Hunt Museum in Limerick will connect people to one of the most important eras in Irish art. Lorcan Walshe's The Artefacts Project runs until September 11, giving visitors the chance to witness familiar objects from pre-colonial Ireland in a different light. The works were totally inspired by indigenous craft and early Irish religious treasures. Mr Walshe's engagement with artefacts of the pre-colonial past in his search for artistic and cultural roots has been likened to the approach taken by Frida Kahlo in her revival of the pre-colonial. The official opening of the exhibition was attended by Glen Power, The Script, artist John Shinnors, screenwriter Jeremy Massey and many more from the world of Irish Arts. Jill Cousins, Director at The Hunt Museum, said: "The Hunt Museum has fine examples of many of the objects that have inspired Lorcans work. "We hope that a re-airing of The Artefacts Project will spark a new appreciation of the incredible craftsmanship of Irelands indigenous culture. "Irish craftspeople produced some of the finest carved crosiers, missals and bronze handbells. Lorcans way of seeing and translating takes us into the richness, texture, and subtle colours that make walk-past museum objects come alive. "The Artefacts Project surprises and challenges as Walshe makes us question what we are seeing and things we think we know - a crucifixion space is replaced by a woman, a shrine is shaped to be St Patricks tooth or the Bell of Clonmacnoise appears to ring." A POPULAR shop in a Limerick town has celebrated their official reopening. Broderick's Spar in Croom held a special event on Thursday, July 28 to mark the reopening after an extensive refurbishment. The store underwent its most recent revamp last year and is now a 6,725-square-foot premises, having added to its size by moving into the old Ulster Bank building adjacent to the existing store. The shop has been in business for 40 years serving the local community from their premises on Main Street. Padraig Broderick, has ran the store for 20 years and has 47 members of staff. Last year the store was awarded the Retail Team of the Year award at the ShelfLife Grocery Management Awards. Speaking about winning the award at the time, Padraig said: "We were delighted, thrilled, over the moon. It is our second time in the last four years winning this award. "And its retail team of the year across the whole country. To be top of the tree two out of four is a phenomenal achievement!" Disney+ Hotstar has announced the new season of Criminal Justice , its legal thriller. The first season featured Vikrant Massey and Jackie Shroff while the second, titled Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors, features Pankaj Saraswat, Raaj Gopal Iyer, Pankaj Tripathi, Anupriya Goenka and Mita Vashisht reprising their roles from their first season, whereas Jisshu Sengupta and Kirti Kulhari joined. Disney+ Hotstar led the viewership of Hindi language OTT originals in India in the first half of 2022, according to a report by media consulting firm Ormax. The platform streamed five out of the top 10 most-watched original shows. Disney+Hotstars Ajay Devgn starrer Rudra: The Edge of Darkness (35.2 million views) is ranked number one show across platforms, followed by the third season of Aashram at 34.3 million views on MX Player and the second season of Panchayat with 29.6 million views on Amazon Prime Video. A Thursday (25.5 million) and Moon Knight (23.4 million), both on Hotstar, are the most watched original film and international series in the six-month period. However, Amazons Panchayat was the most liked show in the time frame considered followed by SonyLIVs Rocket Boys, said the report. Ormax is a tracking, testing and analytics-led consulting firm for television and streaming services, among others. Thrillers and human dramas such as The Great Indian Murder (23 million), Human (19.6 million), Masoom (16.4 million) and Escaype Live (16.1 million) are other Hotstar Hindi originals part of the top 10 list. Lock Upp, the reality show hosted by Kangana Ranaut, that streamed on MX Player and ALTBalaji, also finds a mention, with 21.2 million views. As far as direct-to-digital films go, Yami Gautams A Thursday (25.5 million) on Hotstar tops the list, followed by Karan Johars Gehraiyaan (22.3 million) on Amazon Prime Video. To put a break on the rising arms-related violence, Canada has imposed a temporary ban on the import of restricted handguns from 19 August, on Friday. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is currently on a vacation, took on Twitter to make the announcement. As of August 19th, the importation of handguns will be banned in Canada. The ban will remain in effect until the national handgun freeze" says his tweet. Update: As of August 19th, the importation of handguns will be banned in Canada. The ban will remain in effect until the national handgun freeze which will make it impossible to buy, sell, or transfer handguns anywhere in Canada comes into force. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 5, 2022 The move has come to support the gun control legislation that was proposed in May this year. The government had introduced the legislation, Bill C-21, that seeks to freeze the use, purchase, and sale of handguns in Canada. If passed, the new law will prevent individuals from bringing newly acquired handguns into Canada and from buying, selling, and transferring handguns within the country," according to a release from the prime ministers office at the time. The bill was introduced in response to the heart-wrenching case of shooting 19 children and two teachers at a school in Uvalde, Texas on 24 May. However, the bill could not be passed during that session making no major change in the firearm license scenario in Canada. On the contrary, the news of a bill to bring a national freeze on handguns had its repercussion. The nation witnessed a rise in the sale of arms as people began rushing into shops to buy guns before the implementation of the national freeze. Now, the bill is expected to pass by parliament in September after its Summer break. Therefore, the government temporarily banned the import of handguns to prevent gun sellers from raising their inventories. This will help in attaining the ultimate aim of the handgun freeze in Canada, which may come into effect soon. Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendicino has described the measure of a temporary import ban on the importation of restricted handguns" as the ultimate way to keep Canadians safe. He also informed that the restriction will remain in place till the national freeze comes into force. When we announced Bill C-21 and the national handgun freeze, we said wed use every tool in our box to keep Canadians safe. Today, were announcing a national ban on handgun importation, bringing the ultimate impact of the freeze into force sooner. https://t.co/CvYgxa0GrK Marco Mendicino (@marcomendicino) August 5, 2022 Todays announcement is further proof that we are using all tools at our disposal to fight gun crime in this country. It is a key pillar of our plan to address it, along with investments in prevention, action at our borders, a ban on assault-style weapons, and Bill C-21 - Canadas most significant action on gun violence in a generation," Mendicino said. It is worth noting, that firearms laws in Canada are way stricter than that in the USA, but Canada's gun homicide rate is far more than many other developed countries. A Canadian government's press release stated that law enforcement agencies are fully committed to bringing down the illegal arms trading on the border. The agency seized more than double the number of firearms at the border in 2021, compared to 2020. The number of seized arms was also the highest in recent years. Despite the government's crackdown on illegal trading, Canada's firearms import reached $26.4 million between January and June this year, which was a straight 52% hike compared to the same period in 2021. Inputs from HT desk Click here to read the full article. Hollywood actor Danny Trejo (Machete, Con Air, Heat) has been cast for the role of Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521, an upcoming historical epic that charts the pre-colonial era of the Philippines depicting the Battle of Mactan, Variety has learned. Produced by Filipino-American filmmaker Francis B. Lara Ho of Inspire Studios (Angel Warrior, Palawan: Last Man Out), 1521 is a U.S.-Philippines production that follows the journey of Magellan, who led the Spanish expedition and was one of the first Europeans to travel to Asia. He reached the archipelago that is known as Philippines today on March 16, 1521. The script of 1521 was penned by Mary Krell-Oishi. Principal photography is expected to start this month in Palawan. Joining Trejo in the cast is Michael Copon (One Tree Hill, Power Rangers, Scorpion King 2). He will play the role of Datu Lapu-lapu, an island ruler and leader of the warriors who fended off Magellans attempted colonization of the Philippine archipelago. Magellans forces were defeated and the Portuguese explorer killed in the Battle of Mactan on April 27, 1521. Complicating the historic encounter between Magellan and Copon is the forbidden romance between native Mactan princess Diwata, played by Filipino actress Bea Alonzo (Eerie, Unbreakable), and a Spanish soldier, as well as Magellans translator Enrique, played by Hector David Jr. (Power Rangers, East Los High). Filipino actress Maricel Laxa-Pangilinan will be playing Ahmani, the sister of Diwata. Alonso was previously named as a Talent to Watch by Variety and the Internationals Film Festival & Awards Macao in 2019. She is also due to star in WWII story, Angel Warrior as a woman whose near-death experience transforms her into a ferocious underground fighter, described as a she devil. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Many people, when faced with the old question of who theyd invite to their dream dinner party, dutifully reel off a list of historical titans, which tends to prompt further, usually unasked questions: Would these undoubtedly interesting and consequential individuals make for great company together? Would they have much to say to each each other? And would it make for a better evening than, say, a gathering of your regular, undistinguished drinking buddies? Ever-experimental Russian formalist Alexander Sokurov drolly hints at the answer in his eccentric new film Fairytale, though not exactly in a dinner party context: Most of us arent hungry to spend an evening clinking glasses with Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, after all. Still, this brief, dreamlike musing assembles them along with other daunting dead men of history, from Churchill to Mussolini to Jesus himself in a kind of misty purgatory where theyre at liberty to converse. That they talk and talk and talk and talk, while ultimately saying very little, is perhaps the driving joke of Fairytale, a film of considerable technical expertise and artistry that uses gauzy deepfake technology to reanimate these blustering ghosts of the past only to present them as vain, droning dullards, each hung up on petty personal fixations that torment them far more than their larger political actions. Sokurovs Hitler, for example, never speaks of the Holocaust, but does harp on his regret over neglecting to burn Paris to the ground; hes even more consumed by his failure ever to score with Richard Wagners niece. (Churchill assures him that Eva Braun was a better catch.) Just because you make history, Fairytale suggests, doesnt mean you learn anything from it. This is an amusing but rather thin thesis on which to hang an entire film, and even at just under 80 minutes, Fairytale too often appears to be running (or rather drifting) in place. The main competition at Locarno is an odd place to unveil this misfit curio, which feels less naturally suited to a cinema than to a gallery, perhaps across multiple screens, where viewers could determine their own path and pace through its disorienting, multilingual layers of nonsense conversation. That said, after seven years away from feature filmmaking he last hit the festival circuit with his densely inventive, Louvre-focused quasi-documentary Francofonia its a pleasure to see Sokurov back in such mischievous form. His name alone should secure the film limited theatrical play, though specialist streaming platforms may be more accommodating. The tone is set straight out the gate, as were introduced to Stalin lying in state, grumbling aloud that he hasnt died and never will. Across from him, nobly wounded on a plainer slab, is Jesus Christ: Get up, you idler, Stalin admonishes him, before setting out himself on a tour of this gray, charcoal-smeared netherworld, where ancient classical ruins give way to bare apocalyptic wastelands, and hordes of moaning civilian souls sometimes blur and coalesce into surging tidal waves of spiritual unrest. Jesus, wisely enough, doesnt follow: Stalin (voiced by Vakhtang Kuchava), Hitler (Lothar Deeg and Tim Ettelt), Mussolini (Fabio Mastrangelo) and an anxious, dithering Churchill (Alexander Sagabashi and Michael Gibson) are the primary quartet around whom this afterlife is built Napoleon puts in only a fleeting appearance and if their circular, unresolved sniping is any indication, none will find expiation any time soon. Together, they alternately trade juvenile insults (Stalin smells of sheep, complains Hitler), congratulate each other on jobs well done and plan for a future that has passed them by. Everything will return, all I need is to cross the Rubicon, insists Mussolini. Theres more than a hint of dementia to their murmurings: Churchill, who gets away with a gentler but more woebegone portrait than the dictators surrounding him, gets occasional passages of bluster (I offer nothing but tears, sweat and death, he says, in a defeated rewrite of his most famous speech) but frets rather more obsessively over his need to call the Queen. Sokurov offers little in the way of direct commentary on the lives and legacies he singles out, other than to render them absurd without power, leveled and disarmed by death. If much of Fairytale, then, is in defiantly bad taste, its irreverence is balanced out by the austere, elaborate monochrome beauty of its imagery and montage. Intricate CGI work gives supple life and movement to archival photos and footage of these endlessly represented men, all of whom here acquire a distinctive physical aura and gait. Their bodies blend seamlessly into a typically Sokurovian mise-en-scene of simultaneous serenity and chaos: a silvered, milky in-between realm, where the composite tracing-paper quality of the visuals is matched by a feverish soundtrack of overlapped dialogue, clashing languages and snatches of orchestral music heard from a world away. As visions of purgatory go, its an eerily beautiful one not that its occupants here can take their minds off themselves for one minute to consider the view. Reviewed at Locarno Film Festival (Competition), Aug. 5, 2022. Running time: 78 MIN. (Original title: Skazka) Running Time: Running time: 78 MIN. Production (Belgium-Russia) An Intonations production. Producer: Nikolay Yankin. Executive producer: Natalia Smagina. Crew Director, screenplay: Alexander Sokurov. Music: Murat Kabardokov. With Alexander Sagabashi, Vakhtang Kuchava, Fabio Mastrangelo, Lothar Deeg, Tim Ettelt, Pascal Slivansky. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Stoking the culture wars is nothing new for CPAC. But with dark, militant speeches and literal demonization of the MAGA movements political opponents the conservative convention in Dallas this week menaced America with what seemed to be thinly veiled calls for violence, all while seeking to whitewash the political mayhem of Jan. 6, casting Capitol Hill rioters as victims of a Democratic Gulag. From Hungarian authoritarian Victor Orban to former Trump adviser Steve Bannon to right-wing extremist Jack Posobiec, Conservative Political Action Committee speakers urged an us-versus-them confrontation, seemingly unbound from the constraints of electoral politics. Bannon, now the host of the War Room podcast, brought his bellicose message to CPAC, appearing as the headline speaker at the conventions Friday night ball. We are at war, Bannon told the MAGA faithful. We are in a political and ideological war. Repeating the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen from Donald Trump, Bannon insisted that Joe Biden is an illegitimate imposter. Calling on Republicans to send shock troops to Washington, Bannon promised the crowd they had an opportunity to shatter the Democratic party as a national political institution. He alleged that the party has been overrun by radical, cultural Marxists and groomers who want to destroy the Republic. Bannon insisted the GOP must pursue absolute victory over power-mad and lawless Democrats, asserting: There can be no half measures anymore. Orban the Hungarian strongman fond of Nazi-style rhetoric against race mixing received standing ovations for his stark address to the MAGA faithful on Thrusday. Orban described European parliament and the federal government in Washington as the two fronts in the battle being fought for Western civilization, warning, today, we hold neither of them, yet we need them both. Orban called on CPAC attendees and the far-right in Europe to forge a global movement. We should unite our forces, Orban said, to take back Washington and Brussels. On Friday, Sen. Ted Cruz, laying on a thick Texas accent for the home-state crowd, inveighed against what he called the power hungry, abusive totalitarian nitwits of the Biden administration and the Democratically controlled Congress. Cruz likened his service in the Senate to that of a gladiator: Its like the old Roman Colosseum where you slam on a breastplate and you grab a battle axe and you go fight the barbarians, he said of his Democrat colleagues. As they say in the military world, Cruz continued, it is a target-rich environment. Cruz then suggested that more than elections may be needed for conservatives to take back Washington from those he called cheese-eating surrender monkeys. Cruz told the crowd, Were on the cusp of something extraordinary in this country And each of you are the vanguard. You are the dangerous radicals. Like the men who signed the Declaration of Independence like those who died at the Alamo, you are the courageous heroes, he insisted, fighting for liberty in our country. While CPAC has banned a few overt white nationalists from its ranks (including the noxious, Hitler-praising livestreamer Nick Fuentes) it welcomed to its stage Jack Posobiec, the Pizzagate conspiracy theorist recently denounced as a hate extremist by the Southern Poverty Law Center for his ties to white nationalists, antigovernment extremists, members of the Proud Boys, and neo-Nazis. Posobiec took his turn in the spotlight to promote the New Right (effectively the latest rebranding of the hateful alt-right). And he, too, painted the coming conflicts of the culture war in militaristic terms: Are you ready for new ideas to actually take the fight to the front lines, he asked, because thats where we live and were not stopping. It could be tempting to dismiss such bombast from Cruz and Posobiec as empty rhetoric. But Kari Lake, the GOP nominee for governor in Arizona, directly threatened confrontation with the federal government over immigration at the Southern border should she win office in November. We have an invasion at the border, Lake insisted, referring to undocumented immigrants and refugees. Lake then vowed that, after being sworn in, she would mount a military response, even lacking approval from the Biden administration: As soon as my hand comes off the Bible, were going to send the Arizona National Guard troops to the border, Lake said. Insisting on the sovereignty of the states, she insisted: We will take the fight to the federal government. Were not going to be victims of what theyre doing to us. The rhetoric of revolution and frontline confrontation went hand-in-hand with other speakers and presenters who cast the American left as demonic, evil, and destructive in other words the kind of enemies who deserve to be dealt with harshly. In between speeches, CPAC promoted a documentary, hosted by chair Matt Schlapp, called The Culture Killers, which inveighs against a great desecration perpetrated by the left. Anything thats good, anything thats holy, anything thats truthful is being attacked, Schlapp insisted on video. The documentary describes America as under siege from an enemy within, with one voice insisting, over images of burning cars, There is no end. These people will never stop, until you stop em. Even ostensibly more-moderate politicians, like Florida Sen. Rick Scott, head of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, picked up these themes. Scott railed against Democrats as literally evil for pursuing an agenda he described as socialism. this is pre-genocide stuff pic.twitter.com/CKhGbmspaz Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 5, 2022 While damning the Democrats in terms that seemed to encourage political violence, CPAC speakers consistently minimized the actual political violence perpetrated by the MAGA movement on Jan. 6. Avowed Christian nationalist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), for example, slammed Liz Cheney chair of the committee investigating the Capitol insurrection for pushing a lie about Jan. 6. (Greene was not specific about the lie in question, but has long minimized the days violence.) CPAC then held a panel called Youre Next: The Rise of the Democratic Gulag, which presented Jan. 6 defendants not as alleged perpetrators of riot and insurrection, but as victims of a rigged judicial system. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) was the official spokesperson for this line of idiocy. He claimed that Jan 6. defendants have been the recipients of Soviet-style justice alleging without evidence that prosecutors, defense attorneys, and federal judges have been colluding to secure predetermined convictions. The congressman insisted that all of the institutions in the United States have been weaponized, not unlike the former Soviet Union to create an American Gulag. Driving home this down-is-up worldview of justice insisting that participants in an attempted coup directed by former President Trump are being mistreated by the justice system thats attempting to hold them to account the CPAC convention hall also presented a novel performance art installation. It featured a caged man in an orange jumpsuit meant to symbolize the Jan. 6 defendants weeping over the injustice of his incarceration while wearing a MAGA hat. Convention attendees could don headphones to listen to testimonials from actual alleged rioters. This already-surreal scene got turned up to 11 in the late afternoon, when Greene spotted the installation and entered the jail cell to comfort and pray with the actor portraying the weeping man. Some of the strangest political theater Ive ever seen pic.twitter.com/pC5CghJmUU Tess Owen (@misstessowen) August 5, 2022 CPAC has long been a political circus, a relatively harmless sideshow. But its latest incarnation has become manifestly dangerous more fascist than farce. It is holding up alleged perpetrators of political violence as martyrs. It is demonizing its domestic political opponents as diabolical enemies within. And it is giving MAGA supporters a militaristic frame for their charge to the front lines of Americas culture wars. In short it is playing with fire. But its the rest of us who may get burned. Click here to read the full article. At this point, its no secret that what TikTok creators possess is incredibly valuable. Thats why artist and celebrity teams throughout the entertainment industry are urging their clients to join in on the frenzy. Its also where theyre going to find talent, like Los Angeles rock duo Loveless. Multi-instrumentalist Dylan Tirapelli-Jamail and vocalist Julian Comeau have only been together just over two years and are already reaping the rewards of their social media success. Navigating the music industry can be a daunting task for any baby band, but not Loveless. Honestly, its been kind of easy because the industry kind of ignored us, says Comeau. They didnt really give a shit about us, so we just made a name for ourselves without them. We werent really navigating the industry, we were navigating social media, adds Tirapelli-Jamail. And they succeeded amassing 1.2 million followers on TikTok, Hank Green sang along with Comeau in a TikTok duet and their covers songs have millions of views. Namely: Lizzo lovingly put them in jail for their take on About Damn Time. With the original About Damn Time cover post garnering 7.4 million views plus the 4.2 million from Lizzos response, less than 60 seconds of content on an app got Loveless exposure to an entirely new fan base. Comeau was surprised Lizzo even saw the TikTok: My mom actually was like Do you think Lizzo will respond? and I was like No way. It was a major milestone for the band, especially for Tirapelli-Jamail, who originally hails from Lizzos hometown of Houston, TX. That wasnt the only cover Loveless posted to TikTok that got attention. After their take on Billie Eilishs Happier Than Ever went viral, they followed up by releasing a full-length version to DSPs, getting over 1 million streams on Spotify alone in just two weeks. Their cover of Elley Duhes Middle of the Night has 12.5 million views on their original TikTok post and 11 million for a version that intertwines clips from a music video they made for the song. Their full-length version currently has over 13 million streams on Spotify, it hit No. 1 on the iTunes rock chart and No. 2 on Billboards Hot Hard Rock Songs behind My Chemical Romances The Foundations of Decay. When I saw our name second below My Chemical Romance, my 13-year-old self shit my 30-year-old selfs pants, gleams Tirapelli-Jamail. Where theyre grateful for the success their covers have seen, Loveless is far from a cover band. Their goal with posting these covers to TikTok is to get eyes on the band and most importantly, on their original music. A strategy mirrored with the release of the more popular covers to DSPs. Even if like 1% of those people listen to an original song, Comeau sees it as a win. I wanted to hit 1 million monthly listeners by the end of the year, says Comeau, and we hit that goal in June. When managers finally started to take an interest, this particular objective was laughed off. We arent talking to those managers anymore, quips Comeau with a smirk worthy of a frontman. This wasnt the only time the industry has brushed off the duo. Quite frankly, they just look at us as less than because weve made covers. I love these songs that were covering, but I dont want to be perceived as less than an artist because I appreciate other peoples art. I think thats unfair. They also noted that it took months after they went viral for Spotify to give them editorial attention and no labels had been reaching out. In fact, we got turned down for [SiriusXMs] Octane repeatedly. They told us they couldnt play our songs because its not Active Rock, its not going to fit the mold, the listeners wouldnt like it, says Comeau. Soon enough, those tables turned. Labels, managers, and even SiriusXM have since reached out to Loveless. After the success of Middle of the Night, they proclaimed No more covers. So why follow up with a cover of Kate Bushs Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God) shortly after? Because Octane asked us to, laughed Tirapelli-Jamail. Caity Babs, on-air talent for Octane, reached out and asked them to cover the song for a Stranger Things special, but the song is still getting airplay on Octane. They both love seeing the success of their covers beyond TikTok, as well as their short-form content on the app, but say its not as rewarding as making an original song. Even though their original music on TikTok is growing in popularity, the apps algorithm tends to push content that isnt inherently theirs. Comeau explains, Im very grateful to TikTok and its algorithm for how its given us a lot of our success, but at the same time its not built for artists to succeed; its built for the platform to succeed. And ultimately, spreading new music and getting new people to experience our songs and become fans is not profitable to TikTok. This is why TikTok is simply a tool, not the end-all-be-all for artists, they suggest. Covering very serious topics with very catchy hooks, Loveless explores the darker, sadder parts of their psyches, but in a way thats fun to listen to, explains Comeau. And theyre just starting to scratch the surface. Guitars, pop punk, and metal will always be a core part of our foundation, but theres a lot more that we want to do. Growing up listening to everything from jazz and musical theater to punk, theres more to explore sonically, visually, and thematically. Their debut album was fully written by the time Comeau dumped his band and fully embraced a musical love affair with Tirapelli-Jamail. They know who they are as writers individually, but now theyre really discovering who they are as Loveless. This journey to discovery will be on full display with their forthcoming EP, End of an era, slated for release in early September. Even though a lot of the lyrics are dealing with dark things and kind of troubled, intrusive thoughts, I think theres an air of hopefulness and really trying to find the joy in pain, says Comeau. I live with a chronic mental illness. Its not like Im anxious about something going on in my life, Im always fucking anxious. Instead of being destroyed by that, I decided to find some hope in that. Our dreams for this project have grown significantly, says Comeau. Theyve signed to UTA and have started getting attention from several record labels. With a growing fanbase and live shows on the horizon for fall, theyre taking it all in. Ive played in a lot of different bands, and Ive had a lot of different roles in the industry. None of it felt like mine, says Tirapelli-Jamail. Having something thats part of me see any success is validating in a way. And to other new artists attempting to use TikTok as a tool for success, stop being your biggest critic and start being your biggest fan. Offers Comeau, You have to love what youre doing, otherwise, how is anybody else going to? Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Chinese sales agent Parallax Films has acquired international sales rights to Malaysian director Woo Ming Jings feature Stone Turtle, which world premieres in the Locarno Film Festivals international competition. A time-traveling movie, Stone Turtle is produced by Edmund Yeo and Woo at Malaysias Greenlight Pictures and co-produced by Cheng Thim Kian and Yulia Evina Bhara at KawanKawan Media in Indonesia. The story follows Zahara, a stateless refugee who lives on a small remote island in Malaysia, where she makes a living selling turtle eggs. One day, Samad, claiming to be a university researcher, visits the island, wanting to employ Zahara to show him around. As the day goes on, Zahara and Samad become entangled in a dangerous dance of duplicity and deception. Stone Turtle is a metaphorical journey of a woman seeking justice, both personal and social, amidst systemic oppression. Its also a preservation of my countrys long-forgotten folklores, director-producer Woo said. A leading voice of the Malaysian New Wave, Woos previous films have garnered strong international interest. He has become the first Malaysian director in history to represent the country at the Big Three European festivals. His feature debut, Monday Morning Glory (2005), was selected for Berlin. The second, Elephant and the Sea (2007), won the Special Jury Prize at the Torino Film Festival. Woos Woman on Fire Looks for Water (2009) became the second Malaysian movie selected for Venice Orizzonti section, while Tiger Factory (2010) was the third Malaysian film officially selected for Cannes. Parallax is the international film sales and distribution brand of Midnight Blur Films, specialized in the worldwide distribution of quality films and publicity at international film festivals. It has sales agents in Paris, New York, Beijing and Shanghai. Definitely looking forward to our collaboration here, having been an admirer of Parallax Films catalogue for the past few years, like last years New Old Play by Qiu JiongJiong. So we are, of course, happy to have Stone Turtle as part of their ever exciting lineup, producer Yeo told Variety. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The City of Laredo is asking its citizens to help conserve water. The city released a water irrigation schedule to the public this week asking citizens to only use water for their lawns three times per week. Additionally, citizens with an even numbered house number are asked to only water their lawns on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, while locals with an odd numbered house number are asked to water only on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. This plan would have no one watering their lawns on Sunday. "The City of Laredo and Utilities Department send a call to the community to start conserving water voluntarily," the city said in a statement. "Many nearby cities are already implementing programs to take care of our precious resource. "One way we can start helping is by practicing a voluntary irrigation schedule. Take a look at the image for a guide on when to water your lawns. "Call 956-721-2020 for any questions on Water Conservation Program." Some citizens expressed concern over businesses that wash cars using water throughout the day. The city stated that this has been addressed. "Businesses that wash cars and have drive-thru recycle water when they use it," the city said. "It's a new system. The car wash where the person has to wash the car, they spend water since they don't have the reuse system." The city further stated that it has been in communication with businesses and schools across the city to help join in for this conservation effort. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NESCOPECK, Pa. (AP) Fire tore quickly through a house in northeastern Pennsylvania early Friday morning, killing seven adults and three children and horrifying a volunteer firefighter who arrived to battle the blaze only to discover the victims were his own family, authorities said. The children who died were ages 5, 6 and 7, Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release, while the seven adults ranged from their late teens to a 79-year-old man. Autopsies were planned for this weekend. Harold Baker, a volunteer firefighter in the town of Nescopeck, said the 10 victims included his son, daughter, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, three grandchildren and two other relatives. He said his two children and the other young victims were visiting their aunt and uncle's home for swimming and other summertime fun. He said 13 dogs were also in the two-story home, but didnt say if he knew whether any survived. All I wanted to do was go in there and get to these people, my family. Thats all that I was thinking about, getting in to them, Baker said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. Baker grabbed a hose and air pack, and started pouring water on the fire, desperate to make his way inside and calling out to his son. His chief realized whose house it was, and fellow firefighters escorted Baker back to the firehouse. A preliminary investigation suggests the fire broke out on the front porch at around 2:30 a.m., Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said Friday evening. The information I have is that the fire started and progressed very quickly, making it very difficult to get out, he said. Three people were able to escape the blaze, Sanguedolce said. Four state police fire marshals are involved in the investigation, although it won't be classified as a criminal probe unless they determine the fire was intentionally set, he said. Nescopeck is a small town on the Susquehanna River, about 20 miles southwest of Wilkes-Barre. The house was on a residential street of largely owner-occupied, single family homes. Baker said the address initially given for the call was a neighboring house. He realized it was his family members' residence as the firetruck approached. He said his unit was the first on scene, and the house was already engulfed in flames. There wasn't nothing we could've done to get in there. We tried, but we couldn't get in, said Baker, 57, who's been a firefighter for 40 years. His son, 19-year-old Dale Baker, had followed both of his parents into the fire service, joining when he was 16. He said it all his life, he was just going to be like his dad, Harold Baker said. Heidi Knorr, the Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Company secretary, called Dale Baker such a fun-loving soul. He just loved life. The family was always willing to help lend a hand to anyone in need, Knorr said. Dale's mother was not among the dead listed by Harold Baker. Mike Swank, who lives two doors away across the street, said he happened to be awake early Friday and looked outside after hearing a sharp explosion. He saw the porch was really going and went outside, using another neighbors hose to keep the blaze from spreading to a garage. I seen two guys outside and they were in various states of hysteria, Swank told the AP by phone. One man was on a cellphone, and Im trying to ask him if everybodys out, he said. The other guy was out in the street and he was just running around in circles. Swank said he wasnt able to get information from them. A fence prevented him from getting to the back of the property. Baker said 14 people were living in the home. One was out delivering newspapers, and three others escaped. Swank said the family had moved in a few months ago under what he understood to be a rent-to-own agreement, and spent a lot of time on the cluttered front porch. It was so quick and so much smoke, you just knew nobody was going to make it out, Swank said. He saw cadaver dogs being used to search the scene until the bodies were located. ___ Scolforo and Brooke Schultz reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Schultz 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PRAGUE (AP) Hundreds of firefighters were battling wildfires in eastern Germany and neighboring Czechia on Tuesday as tourist regions and residential areas were being evacuated. A large wildfire was spreading quickly in the eastern German state of Brandenburg in a region with lots of bone-dry pine forests where firefighters have to be especially careful because of old World War II ammunition thats still buried there, German news agency dpa reported. The large fire in the Elbe-Elster district has already destroyed an area of about 850 hectares and continued to spread quickly because of gusty winds blowing from changing directions. Seven firefighters were injured, four of whom had to be treated in a hospital for smoke inhalation. No residents were injured, but a pig breeding farm burned down and several animals died. The states explosive ordnance disposal service has designated a small area near the village of Rehfeld as a site where old ammunition could be buried, deputy forest fire protection officer Philipp Haase told dpa. Two German military firefighting helicopters were on site trying to extinguish the flames from the air because firefighters were not allowed to access the area for fear that the ammunition could explode. Authorities said it was not clear when the fire could be brought under control. More than 350 firefighters were battling the flames and around 300 people from various villages had to be evacuated. The situation is still serious. We still have pockets of fire, local district fire chief Steffen Ludewig told dpa. Further southeast, firefighters from several countries have joined forces to battle a fire in a national park in northern Czech Republic that has spread to the state of Saxony in neighboring Germany. The fire in the Bohemian Switzerland park broke out on Sunday and was mostly contained before windy weather caused it to spread again on Monday afternoon and overnight. Despite their efforts, firefighters said the fire had spread from 30 hectares earlier Tuesday to 1,000 hectares. No injuries have been reported, but around 100 people had to be evacuated Tuesday evening from the Czech town of Vysoka Lipa. Earlier, some 80 people have been evacuated from the border town of Hrensko, and more from the village of Mezna, where the flames have destroyed or damaged several homes, firefighters' spokesman Lukas Marvan said. Dozens of German children were evacuated from a summer camp on the Czech side of the border and transported back to Germany. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Interior Minister Vit Rakusan were visiting the area on Tuesday. Rakusan said some 400 firefighters have been in action and the blaze was not under control by midday Tuesday. "The situation is very serious, Rakusan said adding that several neighboring countries had responded to the Czech Republic's call for help to extinguish the fire. Poland and Slovakia said they were sending helicopters while Italy offered special Canadair planes designed for firefighting. The German military announced it would send four helicopters to the border region to help fight the flames, dpa reported. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute said the smoke has spread 100 or more kilometers (60 miles or more) from the fire. ___ Kirsten Grieshaber reported from Berlin. ___ Follow APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment Midwest Sterilization Corporation released a statement Friday following the EPAs report indicating the companys Ethylene Oxide (EtO) emissions have led to an elevated cancer risk in the Laredo community. Midwest provides ethylene oxide sterilization services for the medical device industry including more than 40% of the nations surgical kits representing 2 out of 5 of the nations surgeries, the statement reads. Midwest takes its regulatory compliance seriously and expects to remain in compliance, including when the new rulemaking is adopted. EtO is an important tool in protecting patient health. In addition to the released statement, a spokesman for the company indicated they were surprised at the findings of the report, which revealed 23 companies in the United States whose air pollution was putting people at risk. They believed they were not going to be included in the report, as they have reported in recent years they have brought their EtO emissions below the legally allowable levels. In fact, they say they are well below that number. According to Midwest Sterilizations website, the company, has been providing quality contract EO sterilization services to the medical device manufacturing industry for over 30 years. The EPA adds, MSC provides commercial sterilization services using ethylene oxide as the sterilizing agent for medical equipment and supplies. With its two facilities (Jackson, MO and Laredo, TX), Midwest Sterilization Corporation is the largest privately owned contract ethylene oxide sterilizer in the United States. Midwest Sterilization is comprised of 24 pre-conditioning rooms, 10 sterilization chambers and 40 aeration rooms. Ethylene oxide usage is limited by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to a maximum daily rate of 7,007 pounds per day and a maximum annual rate of 2,557,555 pounds per year. According to the EPA, Midwests permit from TCEQ requires the facility to perform compliance stack sampling and/or other testing. These procedures establish the actual pattern and quantities of air contaminants being emitted into the atmosphere from the Acid Scrubber and Safe Cell control devices. TCEQs Executive Director has the discretion to require compliance testing at the facility as necessary, and TCEQs permit does contain ongoing compliance conditions that the facility must meet. The facilitys current permitted maximum allowable emissions of ethylene oxide are 6.31 tons per year. TCEQ has completed eight routine compliance investigations at this facility from 2016-2021. A recent report found the company to be emitting more than the legally allowable amount of EtO as recently as a few years ago. The company said it has been reducing emissions below the legal levels in recent years following guidance from the EPA indicating Ethylene Oxides carcinogenic qualities. However, when a report from ProPublica and The Texas Tribune was released indicating an elevated cancer risk for many of Laredos schools, the community has been critical of the emissions coming from the company. The company is located in the northern part of Laredo off of FM 1472 and Mines Road in District VII. Vanessa Perez is the councilmember for the district and has been speaking about the issue during city council meetings. Perez organized a town hall a few months ago informing the community of the issue alongside the Rio Grande International Study Center. The EPA announced earlier this week following the report it will be hosting another town hall as well on Sept. 15. Perez will participate in this event as well. Im proud to be part of the group working to coordinate the meeting with the EPA that will take place on Sept. 15, she said in a statement Thursday night. We really want the EPA to understand how Midwest Sterilizations EtO emissions are putting our community, and especially our children, at risk of cancer and other adverse health effects. I encourage our community to attend that meeting and stay informed on this important topic. You can follow the Clean Air Laredo Coalition, cleanairlaredo.org, for more information. Perez has said in the past she is not pleased with the situation, and she reiterated that stance in her statement. There are several whole neighborhoods, including an elementary school, in that blue increased risk area, she said. That is unacceptable. Midwest Sterilization says that it is doing what it can for safety purposes. Midwest is taking all steps necessary to ensure that patients across the nation and residents locally remain safe, the statement reads. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian forces began an assault Saturday on two key cities in the eastern Donetsk region and kept up rocket and shelling attacks on other Ukrainian cities, including one close to Europes largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine's military and local officials said. Both cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka have been considered key targets of Russias ongoing offensive across Ukraines east, with analysts saying Moscow needs to take Bakhmut if it is to advance on the regional hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. In the Donetsk direction, the enemy is conducting an offensive operation, concentrating its main efforts on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions. It uses ground attack and army aviation, the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook. The last Russian strike on Sloviansk was July 30, but Ukrainian forces are fortifying their positions around the city in expectation of new fighting. I think it wont be calm for long. Eventually, there will be an assault, Col. Yurii Bereza, head of the volunteer national guard regiment, told The Associated Press. Russian shelling killed five civilians and injured 14 others in the Donetsk region in the last day, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote Saturday on Telegram, saying two people were killed in Poprosny, and one each in Avdiivka, Soledar and Pervomaiskiy. The governor of the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region said three civilians were injured after Russian rockets fell on a residential neighborhood in Nikopol, a city across the Dnieper River from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. The nuclear plant has been under Russian control since Moscows troops seized it early in the war. After midnight, the Russian army struck the Nikopol area with (Soviet-era) Grad rockets, and the Kryvyi Rih area from barrel artillery, Valentyn Reznichenko wrote on Telegram. Another Russian missile attack overnight damaged unspecified infrastructure in the regional capital of Zaporizhzhia. On Thursday, Russia fired 60 rockets at Nikopol, damaging 50 residential buildings in the city of 107,000 and leaving residents without electricity. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned this week that the situation was becoming more perilous day by day at the Zaporizhzhia plant. Every principle of nuclear safety has been violated at the plant, he said. What is at stake is extremely serious." He expressed concern about the way the plant is being operated and the danger posed by the fighting going on around it. Experts at the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said Russia is shelling the area intentionally, putting Ukraine in a difficult position. The Ukrainian company operating the nuclear power station said Saturday that Russian troops are using the plants basement to hide from Ukrainian shelling and have barred its Ukrainian staff from going there. Ukrainian personnel do not yet have access to these premises, so in the event of new shelling, people have no shelter and are in danger, Enerhoatom, a Ukrainian state enterprise, said on its Telegram channel. Enerhoatom said Friday that Russian rockets had damaged the plant's facilities, including a nitrogen-oxygen unit and a high-voltage power line. Local Russian-appointed officials acknowledged the damage, but blamed it on the Ukrainians. In other developments: __ In Ukraines south, two civilians were seriously injured Saturday after Russian forces fired rockets on the Black Sea port of Mykolaiv before dawn, according to regional authorities. That followed a Friday afternoon attack on Mykolaiv that killed one person and wounded 21 others. __In the Kherson region south of Mykolaiv, the deputy mayor of the Russia-occupied city of Nova Kakhovka was in critical condition after an assassination attempt, the Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti said, citing the deputy head of the Kherson region, most of which is under Russian control. __The first of three more ships carrying thousands of tons of corn from Ukraine anchored north of Istanbul on Saturday awaiting inspection, the Turkish Defense Ministry said. The Panama-flagged Navi Star, which is carrying 33,000 tons of grain to Ireland, left Odesa on Friday. It is being followed by the Turkish-flagged Polarnet and the Maltese-flagged Rojen, carrying over 25,000 tons of corn between them from Chornomorsk. The joint inspection center was set up to get grain blocked in Ukraine by the war to the world. On Friday, the center inspected its first north-bound ship as it headed for Chornomorsk. __In the north, Ukraines second-largest city of Kharkiv and its surrounding area also came under Russian rocket fire again overnight, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. A 18-year-old in Chuhuiv, a town near Kharkiv, had to be hospitalized Saturday after he picked up an unexploded shell. Both Chuhuiv and Kharkiv are near the Russian border and have endured sustained Russian shelling in recent weeks. __The neighboring Sumy region, which also borders Russia, has also seen near-constant shelling and missile strikes. Its governor said Saturday the region was hit more than 60 times from Russian territory over the previous day, and one wounded civilian had to be hospitalized. __ On the ammunition front, Russia has begun using Iranian combat drones in the war, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said in a YouTube adding that Tehran had transferred 46 drones to the Russian army. ___ Joanna Kozlowska contributed from London. ___ Follow all AP stories on the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine. NEW YORK (AP) Tens of thousands of flyers had their travel plans upended Friday after airlines canceled about 1,400 U.S. flights as thunderstorms hit the East Coast. Another 6,300 flights had been delayed by early evening, according to tracking service FlightAware. It was the second straight day of major disruptions and the worst day for cancellations since mid-June. The three major airports in the New York City area and Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., recorded the most cancellations. American Airlines scrubbed about 250 flights, or 7% of its schedule. Republic Airways, which operates smaller planes for American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express, canceled a similar number, about 25% of its flights. Thunderstorms were stopping or delaying early-evening flights in New York, Boston, the Washington, D.C., area, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Denver, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. About 1,200 U.S. flights were canceled Thursday, 4.6% of all those scheduled. Travelers have been hit with widespread cancellations and delays this summer. Travel bounced back faster than expected to about 88% of pre-pandemic levels in July and airlines werent able to increase staffing fast enough. They have been cutting back on schedules in an attempt to make remaining flights more reliable. Airlines flying in the U.S. had a bad June, canceling more than 21,000 flights or 2.7%, up from 1.8% in June 2019, before airlines pushed workers to quit during the pandemic. The airlines did better in July, however, canceling about 14,000 flights, or 1.8%. Delays have been more persistent above 23% in both June and July. Space: It's not for amateurs. At least not in the International Space Station. If you want to visit the orbiting laboratory, NASA now says you must be escorted by a former NASA astronaut, someone who can guide you through the dizzying, disorienting wonders of weightlessness and make sure your presence at the station isn't a burden. The move comes as a number of private citizens are flying to space, changing the definition of what an astronaut is and who gets to be one. Private companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX have sent crews comprised entirely of private citizens to space. (Blue Origin is owned by Jeff Bezos, who also owns The Washington Post.) And NASA has sought to capitalize on the growth of the commercial space sector, announcing in 2019 that it would finally allow private citizens to visit, something Russia had been doing for years. The new rules come a few months after the first private astronaut mission to the ISS from the United States in a flight arranged by Axiom Space, a Houston-based company that is working to build a space station of its own. Three paying customers flew in a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with Michael Lopez-Alegria, a former NASA astronaut who now is an executive at the company. Axiom is planning another mission, which will also have a former NASA veteran onboard, Peggy Whitson. The company had been planning on future missions to fly crews without a guide. But in a notice this week, first reported by SpaceNews, the space agency said that "a former NASA astronaut provides experienced guidance for the private astronauts during preflight preparation through mission execution," as well as acting as a liaison between the private crew and the professionals onboard the station. Having a former NASA astronaut along "reduces risk to ISS operations," the space agency said. In an interview, Lopez-Alegria said he agrees with the changes. "It's a good idea," he said, adding that it was "a fundamentally sound policy." But he said he hopes that over time NASA will allow civilians to fly unaccompanied, as training improves and more people visit the station. "I do think that there is a possibility that should be considered - that at some point we can wean ourselves from this after we have enough experience," he said. "It's no secret that the more seats we sell, the more revenue we get. So it shouldn't surprise anybody that at some point we'd like to transition to a model where we don't have a previously flown astronaut." The mission pilot, Larry Connor, the founder and managing partner of the Connor Group, a real estate investment firm based in Ohio, agreed. Because the visitors spent a lot of time conducting research and were the first all-private crew to call on the station, "I think having a proven NASA commander like Mike L.A. was really key," he said. "We were the first ones. We had to get it right. We had to meet or exceed all of the appropriate NASA standards, which we did." During the Axiom flight, Lopez-Alegria was busy, he said, making sure the visitors got the most out of their experience. While they prepared diligently for the flight, training for hundreds of hours at SpaceX outside Los Angeles and NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, arriving in space still required a significant adjustment. Many astronauts get sick when in space, a condition known as space adaptation syndrome. Some find that with no up or down in a weightless environment, they get nauseous, like a heavy car sickness. Lopez-Alegria said the three he traveled with did not suffer any illness: "It was remarkable how well we all felt." Connor said that as soon as he floated into the space station, "I'm like, 'When do we eat?' By day two or three I was super comfortable in zero-G floating around sleeping. Like so many things it comes down to the individual." Still, learning how to move in a weightless environment can be jarring. Rookie astronauts bang their heads, crash into walls or instrumentation. They have difficulty finding toeholds to keep them in place. Anything not tethered down floats away. "The problem is when you get to the space station everything becomes more difficult," said Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut who helped prepare one of the crew members, Eytan Stibbe, for the flight. "Simple daily tasks like brushing your teeth become complicated. . . . Everything takes a lot longer than you anticipate, and I'm not even going to get into bathroom operations. That's the worst of all." The Axiom-1 crew included Connor, Stibbe, a businessman and former Israeli Air Force fighter pilot, and Mark Pathy, the chief executive of Mavrik Corp., a Canadian investment firm. Instead of going on a pure joyride, they conducted research and science experiments in space, and were a bit too ambitious with the amount of work they set out to accomplish, Lopez-Alegria said. "We got up there and, boy, we were overwhelmed," he said during a conference last week. "Getting used to zero gravity is not an overnight thing." For the next private astronaut flight, he said in the interview, "the timelines will be more relaxed. We will have more free time. And we will give ourselves ample time to acclimate to the zero-G environment." A defendant who pleaded guilty to stealing a slab of soft drinks avoided having a previous suspended sentence activated. Martin McDonagh (24) of 1 An Cussan, Lisbrack Road, Longford, faced a charge that on July 12, 2021 at Supervalu Hazelwood Shopping Centre, Lanesboro Road, Longford he stole property, groceries to the value of 26.08, the property of Davis Supervalu, Killashee Road, Longford. Sergeant Enda Daly told the court that on the date of the incident the defendant entered the supermarket and took a slab of Red Bull and passed all points of purchase without paying. McDonagh was arrested, but the items were not recovered. The defendant had compensation in court to give to the injured party. McDonagh has eight previous convictions, but none were for theft. The defendant's solicitor, Brid Mimnagh, acknowledged that the married father of three children was on a two month suspended sentence at the time having entered a bond to be of good behaviour following a public order incident in 2020. When canvases on the possibility of activating the suspended Sg Daly told the judge the defendant had not come to Garda attention up to a recent incident and the charge before the court related to a relatively minor sum. Noting the date of the offence for which McDonagh received the suspended sentence Judge Owens said a three year period was a long suspension for a public order conviction. The judge said she would not invoke the suspended sentence and convicted McDonagh fining him 100 with four month to pay. A charge from April 5, 22 where the defendant is accused of possession of a wooden stick to intimidate another person at Hanlons Gala Shop Dublin Rd was adjourned September 20. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A local business owner is making sure everyone has an equal opportunity to bond over a cup of coffee. Norma Psycher's Biggby Coffee shop located at 6615 Eastman Ave. is now the first in the restaurant chain to install an adult-sized changing table in a move to become more accessible. I'm a mom, Pyscher said. And when I had an infant and there wasn't a changing table, I would pull out a changing mat and change my baby on the floor. But then you don't think about past that stage, they roll over, they get bigger, they're anxious. An enlightening conversation with Iris Mehler, a disability activist, allowed the entrepreneur to see how she could better accommodate people visiting her store. More Accessibility Efforts In the future, Norma Psycher said her Biggby store on Eastman Avenue is looking into getting a grant that would allow them to switch to a height-adjustable table, allowing wheelchair users to slide on rather than have to get lifted onto the table. "If we were to be able to receive this grant and the full amount and get the height adjustable changing table, then we would be looking at donating the current changing table that we have to another local place that would want it," Psycher said. This would be another step in making the Midland community more inclusive by enabling all people to "go when they need to go". Iris Mehler is also involved in an effort to install accessible bathrooms in Grove Park, which would include an adult-sized changing table and a hoist to transfer from the wheelchair to the toilet. Mehler said she wants to see Midland have a Disability Pride Parade and Film Festival, and within the next five years, she hopes to see at least 10 adult-sized changing tables in the city. See More Collapse Mehler, whose daughter has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, said their day is often planned around finding an accessible bathroom. In an emergency without an adult-sized changing table, Mehler has to use the same last resort for her 14-year-old daughter that Psycher used with her baby: the floor. No parents should ever face this dilemma and think about how they should place their child on a dirty bathroom floor, Mehler said. At the Biggby on Eastman Avenue, they won't have to. After talking with Mehler, Psycher said her decision to add the changing table was a no-brainer once they knew they had enough money and space. Psycher owns two Biggby shops in Midland. At 1,000 square feet, her location on Eastman is bigger than most in the chain, which allowed for a full bathroom renovation to include ample space for wheelchair accessibility. When we fold the changing table down into the open position, you could still move a wheelchair around and be able to access everything without the barrier of space, Psycher said. They now offer two single-occupancy unisex bathrooms. Before the changing table was installed, Psycher said customers would often comment on the amount of space in the larger bathroom. They asked if I had a cot that I put in there at night to sleep here. It is really that big, Psycher said. It's the size of my bedroom growing up, so it's a little bit shocking for customers to walk into a bathroom that size. The new bathroom goes above and beyond the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which disability experts say are not adequate enough for many people with disabilities. For the city of Midland, the Biggby bathroom acknowledges those disparities and is a step toward building a more inclusive community. I've had a lot of people who said to me, This is going to be my number one place. Now, when we're out and about, at least we know we can stop here. So I'll be a customer for life, which is really exciting, Psycher said. The table cost about $3,500, and even after nine months on backorder, Psycher said it was absolutely worth it. Growing up, everything was centered around sharing coffee with people, Psycher said. The idea of not allowing someone that experience really broke my heart. Working beside her mother, Psycher said their favorite memories together were shared over a cup of coffee. The business owner also met her husband at a Biggby Coffee shop. Other Biggby locations have expressed interest in making similar efforts at their locations, through store layout options or employment opportunities. Stephanie Schlichter, vice president of operations at Biggby, said Psycher's efforts are a step in the right direction for the company. Biggby Coffee as an organization is always looking for ways to make the store design and layout more inclusive, Schlichter said. Mehler said community members like Psycher give her hope that Midland can improve to be more welcoming toward her daughter and others with disabilities. She did it all as a young women entrepreneur with a small budget without asking anyone for help, Mehler said. If she can do it, everybody else can. There is no more space and room for excuses. Psycher said that in changing the store, she wanted to stay true to the Biggby motto: We exist to love people. My encouragement to the community is always if you have a desire, speak it loud so that we can hear it; and we can't always do everything, but we're always looking to make progress," she said. If we can do it, we'll do it. RTHK: Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones ordered to pay US$45m A Texas jury ordered US conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Friday to pay US$45.2 million in punitive damages for falsely claiming that the deadly 2012 Sandy Hook elementary shooting was a "hoax." The verdict came a day after the same jury awarded a couple whose child died at Sandy Hook US$4.1 million in compensatory damages for the emotional stress caused by Jones broadcasting falsehoods for years on his InfoWars online and radio talk shows. The huge sum ordered from Jones, who for years gathered a sizeable following for his often outlandish conspiracy claims, vindicated the lawsuits against him by families of some of the 20 schoolchildren and six adults killed by a 20-year-old man in one of the country's deadliest school shootings. The US$49.3 million total judgement was awarded to the plaintiffs in the Texas case, Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, the parents of six-year-old son Jesse. Jones, a vocal supporter of former president Donald Trump, claimed for years on InfoWars that the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, was "staged" by gun control activists. He has since acknowledged it was "100 percent real," but the Sandy Hook families maintained that his denialism, coupled with his ability to influence the beliefs of thousands of followers, caused real emotional trauma. He also was accused of pulling in massive profits from harmful lies and disinformation. The judgment is not likely the end of legal woes for the 48-year-old Jones. He has been found liable in multiple defamation lawsuits brought by parents of the Sandy Hook victims, and the Texas case was the first to reach the damages phase. He is also under scrutiny for his participation in the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. During the hearing ahead of the decision Friday, Wesley Ball, attorney for the parents who brought the case, urged the jury to take a stand against misinformation. "You have the ability to send a message for everyone in this country and perhaps this world to hear," he said. "And that is stop Alex Jones. Stop the monetisation of misinformation and lies," he added. "Stopping Alex Jones stops the root of his message and the root of his message is fear and hate." The $45.2 million was close to the maximum allowed in relation to the original compensatory damages. InfoWars declared bankruptcy in April and another company owned by Jones, Free Speech Systems, filed for bankruptcy last week. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-08-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Commentary: China's reunification an unstoppable trend Xinhua) 11:15, August 06, 2022 BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China's Taiwan region recently, an act China firmly opposes and strongly condemns. The historical facts regarding the Taiwan question are clear as day, as is the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one and the same China. The three China-U.S. joint communiques constitute political commitments between the two sides, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relations. Although the mainland and Taiwan are yet to be reunified, the fact that both sides belong to one and the same China has not changed. There is only one China in the world, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. These are historical and legal facts, and the universal consensus of the international community. Taiwan has been part of China since ancient times. Ancestors of Taiwan residents today were mostly from the mainland. In the past, the successive governments of China established administrative organs in Taiwan to exercise their jurisdiction there. In 1885, the Qing Dynasty government officially designated Taiwan as a province. The emergence and evolution of the Taiwan question has, since China entered modern times, been inextricably interwoven with the history of the Chinese nation. Following the Opium War starting in 1840, China suffered invasion by Western powers. In 1894, Japan launched the First Sino-Japanese War to invade China. In the following year, the Qing Dynasty government was forced to cede Taiwan to Japan under the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki. In 1945, the Chinese people won the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. Taiwan was thus recovered and returned to the motherland. In December 1943, China, the United States and Britain issued the Cairo Declaration which explicitly states that all the territories Japan had stolen from China, including Taiwan and the Penghu Islands, shall be restored to China. On Oct. 25, 1945, the Chinese government announced that Taiwan and the Penghu Islands had been restored as parts of China's territory. Thus, Taiwan's legal status as a part of China was irrefutably confirmed. It was not long, however, before the two sides of the Taiwan Strait fell into a special state of protracted political confrontation due to civil war in China and the interference of foreign forces. In 1949, the Central People's Government of the PRC was established, replacing the Republic of China government as the sole legal government representing the whole of China. It is logical for the government of the PRC to exercise sovereignty over China, which includes Taiwan. At that time, the then U.S. government adopted a policy of isolation and containment against the PRC. After the outbreak of the Korean War, the U.S. government launched an armed intervention in cross-Strait relations, placing China's Taiwan Province under its "protection." The U.S. government's erroneous policy of interfering in China's internal affairs caused a long-standing tense confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, and the Taiwan question has since become a major dispute between China and the United States. In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority vote, restoring all rights of the PRC and recognizing the government of the PRC as the sole legitimate representative of China to the United Nations. The one-China principle is a widely recognized basic norm of international relations. A total of 181 countries have to date established diplomatic relations with China on the basis of their recognition of the one-China principle. However, the U.S. government has for some time made repeated and erroneous statements and taken improper actions regarding the Taiwan question, continuously raising the level of official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan, increasing military collusion, and selling arms to Taiwan to support its attempt of resisting reunification through force. Since 2016, Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have stubbornly adhered to the secessionist position of "Taiwan independence," willingly acted as a pawn for anti-China forces in the United States to contain China, and made reckless moves for "Taiwan independence." The DPP authorities' acts advocating "Taiwan independence" and their collusion with the United States to betray national interests will only push Taiwan toward the abyss of disaster and bring deep trouble to compatriots in Taiwan. The motherland must be reunified, and will surely be reunified. It is the tide of our times that cross-Strait situation will move toward peace and stability. This cannot be stopped by any force or anyone. And the historical trend toward a stronger China, national rejuvenation, and reunification cannot be stopped by any force or anyone either. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MIDDLETOWN The city recently earmarked $120,000 to finance a large coordinated effort to fix a catastrophic water main break downtown on a busy weekend evening in June. The 127-year-old pipe was breached after a side section broke around the dinner hour that Friday, a night that sees the most restaurant activity on Main Street. Water and Sewer Director Joseph Fazzino characterized the break as catastrophic in the days afterward. Although it was installed in 1895, the main had undergone cleaning and lining repairs about a decade ago, and new four-way valves were installed at the intersection, he said. It was an incredible day when the water gushed down almost to the Portland bridge, Majority Leader Gene Nocera said during last weeks Common Council meeting when the funding was approved. It was looking grim for a while, he said of the possibility that water would be out for a long period of time. Not only did they respond, but they worked around the clock and got the job done, Minority Leader Phil Pessina said, noting that it happened mere days before the car cruise on Main Street, which drew thousands of people. He called the feat, which could have been horrific to the business community, a phenomenal one. Businesses and restaurants south of the rainbow Pride crosswalk on Main Street and all the way to College Street were affected, while those north of the crossing had water restored earlier in the night. In all, only six businesses were directly affected, among them Fiore II, Typhoon, La Boca and Amici Italian Grill, and four had service restored within an hour, Downtown Business District Coordinator Sandra Russo Driska said at the time. Deputy Mayor Vincent Loffredo told fellow council members that he had gotten a lot of questions about what the city intends to do to prevent large-scale events such as these in the future, especially since this particular pipe was laid in 1895. Mayor Ben Florsheim said the water break was indeed a wake-up call. Weve had a number of those, and it has not been a secret that [there are] aging water and sewer infrastructure in our community and region, he explained, adding that already the city replaced the decommissioned water treatment plant on River Road and now ships its waste to the Mattabassett Sewer District in Cromwell. Over the last decade, the city also reconfigured its wastewater processing, the mayor added. That leaves us only in a better position to our peers, who are [less] prepared. Nocera said the break was unexpected and likely due to a change in water pressure in the area. All of the pipes along Main Street were relined 15 years ago, at a considerable cost, the majority leader told Florsheim. In fact, there may be a referendum question on the November ballot to approve funding for more such work on Main Street, Nocera added. In December, Middletown approved the use of $2.75 million in American Rescue Act funds to overhaul the water, sewer systems, something Loffredo said was part of the requirement of using the federal dispensation for all municipalities. Already, the water and sewer department has compiled a list of 20 priority water and sewer projects, Florsheim added. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli airstrikes flattened homes in Gaza on Saturday and Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel persisted for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict. Gazas health ministry said 24 people had been killed so far in the coastal strip, including six children. The fighting began with Israels killing of a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group in a wave of strikes Friday that Israel said were meant to prevent an imminent attack. So far, Hamas, the larger militant group that rules Gaza, appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained. Israel and Hamas fought a war barely a year ago, one of four major conflicts and several smaller battles over the last 15 years that exacted a staggering toll on the impoverished territorys 2 million Palestinian residents. Whether Hamas continues to stay out of the fight likely depends in part on how much punishment Israel inflicts in Gaza as rocket fire steadily continues. The Israeli military said an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants killed civilians late Saturday, including children, in the town of Jabaliya, in northern Gaza. The military said it investigated the incident and concluded without a doubt that it was caused by a misfire on the part of Islamic Jihad. There was no official Palestinian comment on the incident. A Palestinian medical worker, who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the blast killed at least six people, including three children. An airstrike in the southern city of Rafah destroyed a home and heavily damaged surrounding buildings. The Health Ministry said at least two people were killed and 32 wounded, including children. A teenage boy was recovered from the rubble, and the other slain individual was identified by his family as Ziad al-Mudalal, the son of an Islamic Jihad official. The military said it targeted Khaled Mansour, Islamic Jihad's commander for southern Gaza. Neither Israel nor the militant group said whether he was hit. The Civil Defense said responders were still sifting through the rubble and that a digger was being sent from Gaza City. Another strike Saturday hit a car, killing a 75-year-old woman and wounding six other people. In one of the strikes, fighter jets dropped two bombs on the house of an Islamic Jihad member after Israel warned people to evacuate the area. The blast flattened the two-story structure, leaving a large rubble-filled crater, and badly damaged surrounding homes. Women and children rushed out of the area. Warned us? They warned us with rockets and we fled without taking anything, said Huda Shamalakh, who lived next door. She said 15 people lived in the targeted home. Among the 24 Palestinians killed were six children and two women, as well as the senior Islamic Jihad commander. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 200 people have been wounded. It does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. The Israeli military said Friday that early estimates were that around 15 fighters were killed. The lone power plant in Gaza ground to a halt at noon Saturday for lack of fuel as Israel has kept its crossing points into Gaza closed since Tuesday. With the new disruption, Gazans can get only 4 hours of electricity a day, increasing their reliance on private generators and deepening the territorys chronic power crisis amid peak summer heat. Throughout the day, Gaza militants regularly launched rounds of rockets into Israel. The Israeli military said Saturday evening that nearly 450 rockets had been fired, 350 of which made it into Israel, but almost all were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome missile-defense system. Two people suffered minor shrapnel wounds. One rocket barrage was fired toward Tel Aviv, setting off sirens that sent residents to shelters, but the rockets were either intercepted or fell into the sea, the military said. Sunday could be a critical day in the flare-up, as Jews mark Tisha Bav, a somber day of fasting that commemorates the destruction of the biblical temples. Thousands are expected at Jerusalems Western Wall, and Israeli media reported that the Israeli leadership was expected to allow lawmakers to visit a key hilltop holy site in the city that is a flashpoint for violence between Israelis and Palestinians. The violence poses an early test for Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who assumed the role of caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in November, when he hopes to keep the position. Lapid, a centrist former TV host and author, has experience in diplomacy having served as foreign minister in the outgoing government, but has thin security credentials. A conflict with Gaza could burnish his standing and give him a boost as he faces off against former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a security hawk who led the country during three of its four wars with Hamas. Hamas also faces a dilemma in deciding whether to join a new battle barely a year after the last war caused widespread devastation. There has been almost no reconstruction since then, and the isolated coastal territory is mired in poverty, with unemployment hovering around 50%. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory since the Hamas takeover in 2007. Egypt on Saturday intensified efforts to prevent escalation, communicating with Israel, the Palestinians and the United States to keep Hamas from joining the fighting, an Egyptian intelligence official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The latest round of Israel-Gaza violence was rooted in the arrest earlier this week of a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the occupied West Bank, part of a monthslong Israeli military operation. Israel then closed roads around Gaza and sent reinforcements to the border, bracing for retaliation. On Friday, it killed Islamic Jihads commander for northern Gaza, Taiseer al-Jabari, in a strike on a Gaza City apartment building. An Israeli military spokesman said the strikes were in response to an imminent threat from two militant squads armed with anti-tank missiles. Hamas seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew from the coastal strip. Its most recent war with Israel was in May 2021. Tensions soared again earlier this year following a wave of attacks inside Israel, near-daily military operations in the West Bank and tensions at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. Iran-backed Islamic Jihad is smaller than Hamas but largely shares its ideology. Both groups oppose Israels existence and have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years. ___ Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Ontario contributed to this report. Since the military services hit their deadlines for troops to be inoculated against COVID-19, they have become increasingly entangled in legal woes and face a large roster of outright refusals -- mostly from the Army National Guard -- as courts block action. The resulting uncertainty surrounding whether thousands of service members are about to be booted from the military comes as the branches struggle with what some are calling the hardest recruiting environment in a generation. Leaders have been busy lowering expectations for how many Americans will fill the ranks in the near future. And many service members who have declined to get vaccinated, particularly in the Department of the Navy and Department of the Air Force, are being protected under pending lawsuits for religious exemptions. In response, those services are trying to offer alternative vaccines such as Novavax, which throws cold water on one of the main arguments given by deniers seeking religious exemptions. Read Next: F-35 Ejection Seat Problem Was Discovered 3 Months Ago, But Jets Kept Flying Guard soldiers were ordered to be vaccinated by July 1, far later than most other services. Yet roughly 40,000 of them blew off the Pentagon's directive. Troops in all branches have been required to be immunized against at least a dozen ailments including the flu and hepatitis for years, with the coronavirus vaccine a rare instance where vaccination has become a political hot potato. But unlike active-duty formations, there is no policy requiring Guardsmen who refuse vaccination to be separated from service, meaning that the passed deadline has left states uncertain about what steps to take next. "There is no definitive guidance; no one in the Army has told us how to [separate soldiers]," a senior Guard officer told Military.com on the condition of anonymity to avoid retaliation. "They don't want to kick that many people out. There's a lot of shenaniganry; there is no easy solution. These are leadership challenges." The Army's vague policies have created uncertainty, with a regular string of service leaders raising concerns with Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston about what to do with thousands of soldiers refusing immunization amid a rattled recruiting market. COVID-19 vaccines almost immediately became a political dividing line for lawmakers and pundits, with some GOP governors balking at the Defense Department's rules and arguing that Guardsmen fall under state leadership and should be shielded from orders from the Pentagon to get the shot. The staggering number of unvaccinated Guardsmen sets up an unprecedented situation in which the Pentagon has drawn a line in the sand, but Army officials and Guard leaders interviewed by Military.com all agreed that so many troops being forced out would undermine the force. Some are concerned whether unvaccinated troops pose any significant health risk worth a radical reduction in the size of the force. Many troops were vaccinated in January 2021, when the vaccine became available, but the small percentage of holdouts after the deadlines remains stubbornly steady. "This is the problem we foresaw from the beginning," the senior Guard official added. "It's a very challenging recruiting environment." While many Guardsmen have outright refused to get vaccinated, some service members have put off getting inoculated while protected by pending lawsuits. A lawsuit filed by 35 members of the Navy's special forces community in Texas in January made its way to the Supreme Court in late March. Around the same time, a federal judge in Florida ruled in a similar suit that the Navy could not do anything to remove a commander of a destroyer, despite testimony that he flouted the service's rules for COVID-19 mitigation while seeking a religious exemption from the vaccine mandate. The high court ruled that, while the Navy could not summarily discharge sailors who were appealing their religious exemption denials, it could reassign them. Days later, the judge in Texas made that case into a class-action lawsuit, prompting the halt of any discharges of sailors with filed religious exemptions. The destroyer commander, however, was reassigned. Since those court rulings, discharges of sailors and Marines have continued slowly. At the end of March, the Navy had discharged just over 650 active-duty and Reserve sailors over the vaccine mandate. The total had reached 1,466 sailors by early August. In June, the court in Texas noted that the Navy could still separate sailors who withdraw their exemption requests, voluntarily separate, or choose to retire after several sailors filed motions with the court noting their desire to simply move on with their lives instead of waiting for a legal resolution. The Marine Corps had discharged 3,069 Marines with the vaccine refusal discharge code as of the start of July. The Air Force, like the Navy, is in a similar legal holding pattern. A federal district court judge in Ohio certified a case out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as a class-wide complaint on July 27 that protected more than 9,000 active-duty, Active Reserve, Reserve and National Guard members of the Air Force and Space Force. That also included cadets, appointees and inductees who had asked for a religious exemption. The service members, represented by the New York-based Siri & Glimstad law firm, were all "found by a Chaplain in the Air Force to hold sincere religious belief substantially burdened by the order to be vaccinated," according to a press release. As of July 11, the most recent data reported, the Department of the Air Force has denied 6,803 religious exemption requests and more than 3,600 appeals. As of the most recent vaccination data for the Department of the Air Force, 97% of the total force -- active-duty, Reserve and Air National Guard -- had been inoculated against COVID-19. Since July 11, the Department of the Air Force has administratively separated 834 service members, and nearly 140 airmen and Guardians have received religious exemptions. The Air Force and Space Force are following the judge's July 27 ruling, according to a Department of the Air Force spokesperson. Refusers often state that the use of fetal cell lines in the creation of the vaccine is a point of contention for those with strict religious stances against abortion. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines do not need fetal cell lines for development or production but were tested on fetal cell lines replicated from an aborted fetus in the 1970s to ensure their efficacy. Only the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is made using fetal cell lines. In an attempt to convince some with those religious objections, last month, the Air Force announced that Novavax -- a COVID-19 vaccine developed without the use of human fetal-derived cell lines or tissue -- would be an option in the near future for airmen and Guardians. "Novavax may accommodate those with sincerely held beliefs who felt limited in their options with the previous vaccine offering," Maj. Gen. Sharon Bannister, medical operations director, Air Force Surgeon General, said in a statement last month. The Navy, in an email to Military.com, said that it also has Novavax doses available for sailors. The guidance is clear for active-duty troops: Get the vaccine or be separated from the force, even if courts are making that latter consequence less clear-cut. But for part-timers, there is no such clear course of action, creating a confusing situation for commanders. Right now, Guardsmen are simply told they cannot participate in their typical weekend duties, which are funded by the federal government. They also cannot attend most military schools or deploy on federal orders. Nonetheless, Guard planners have not issued any guidance on outright separating any members. Unvaccinated soldiers can still participate in state duty. Those orders are typically reserved for short-term emergencies such as snow removal. The pay for Guardsmen is often less on state orders than federal orders, and state duty lacks any benefits or health care, in most cases. Larger crises often get a presidential emergency declaration, which then makes those activations federal missions -- from which unvaccinated Guardsmen are now barred. While soldiers won't be paid and will have some of their benefits in limbo, they will still be taking up space on a unit's books, making it more difficult for soldiers under them to be promoted. The Pentagon relied heavily on the National Guard during the post-9/11 wars, making up a significant chunk of combat power in Afghanistan and Iraq. Guard troops continue to be deployed around the world, with some 20,000 troops overseas at any given time in Europe, Africa and other strategic locations. Since the pandemic, the Guard has taken up a major workload juggling domestic missions, and governors are increasingly relying on their formations to tackle natural disasters, which are expected to become more frequent and severe due to climate change. Guardsmen are even tackling missions not traditionally associated with the military, including filling in during teacher and bus driver shortages for public schools. "Readiness will be felt domestically and [problems] are going to be much more evident to the American people. It's going to be noticed," Nathalie Grogan, a researcher for the Center for a New American Security think tank, told Military.com. The bulk of the Guard is made up of part-time troops who work civilian jobs full time and are generally not under the purview of commanders except for one weekend a month. Refusing orders or being delinquent typically carries less weight than infractions on active duty. "The National Guard and Reserve have a lot less leverage over their service members than active duty because it's not their primary source of income," added Grogan, who studies National Guard issues. -- Steve Beynon can be reached at Steve.Beynon@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevenBeynon -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Army Cuts Off More Than 60K Unvaccinated Guard and Reserve Soldiers from Pay and Benefits How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. 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Summary of all keyboard shortcuts TODAY: It doesnt appear as though Greene will need surgery, according to multiple reporters (including Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer). The exact results of Greenes MRI arent known, nor his timetable for a possible return. AUGUST 5: The Reds announced theyve placed righty Hunter Greene on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to August 2, with a strain in his throwing shoulder. Reliever Ryan Hendrix has been recalled to take his place on the active roster. Greene, who turns 23 tomorrow, has spent the year in the rotation after breaking camp with the big league club. The former second overall pick has made his first 20 starts at the major league level, working to a 5.26 ERA across 102 2/3 innings. Only Josiah Gray has allowed more home runs than Greenes 23, but hes also flashed the promise that made him one of the sports top pitching prospects. Hes averaging an absurd 98.7 MPH on his four-seam fastball and eclipsing triple-digits with regularity. Unsurprisingly, Greene has missed bats on an above-average 13.5% of his offerings and is striking out an excellent 28.8% of opponents. Its not clear how long the Reds anticipate Greene being out, but the mention of a shoulder injury certainly isnt ideal. Cincinnati is looking ahead to 2023 as they sit near the bottom of the National League, so theres no reason not to proceed with caution for a player so vital to the franchises long-term future. Manager David Bell will have to patch things together on the mound. Along with Greenes absence, Cincinnati shipped off Luis Castillo and Tyler Mahle within the past week. Nick Lodolo, Mike Minor and Graham Ashcraft have established rotation roles, while the club brought up Robert Dugger as at least a spot starter for tonight. Theyll need to do the same on Sunday against the Brewers, when Greene had been slated to take the ball. The peace deal Senegal has signed with rebels from the country's south is "an important step" towards permanent peace in the home of one of Africa's oldest active rebellions, a mediator said Friday. Rebel leader Cesar Atoute Badiate, head of a unit of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance (MFDC), and an emissary of Senegalese President Macky Sall signed the peace deal in Guinea-Bissau on Thursday. The rebels pledged to lay down their arms in the nearly 40-year-old conflict in the Casamance region. "This is an important step towards definitive peace," mediator and former Senegalese cabinet minister Robert Sagna told private Senegalese radio station Iradio. "For nearly four years, the MFDC has said it would lay down its arms but had never signed it," the head of the Reflection Group for Peace in Casamance added. The agreement, the content of which was not disclosed, was reached following mediation by Guinea-Bissau's head of state, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who is also the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Rebel leader Badiate was in June sentenced in absentia in Ziguinchor, the main city in Casamance, to life in prison for murder and armed insurrection in connection with the January 2018 massacre of 14 men in the region. Senegal. By Jonathan WALTER (AFP) "It is to be hoped that the whole MFDC will be able to join" this agreement, Sagna said on Friday, referring to the group's various political and military branches. Senegalese President Sall -- who had made a "definitive peace" in the Casamance region one of the priorities of his second term -- said on Twitter that he welcomed the peace agreement and remained "committed to the consolidation of lasting peace in Casamance". Casamance, Senegal's southernmost region, is almost separated from the rest of the country by the tiny state of The Gambia. It has a distinct culture and language derived from its past as a former Portuguese colony. The MFDC has led a low-intensity separatist campaign since 1982 that has claimed several thousand lives. But the conflict was mostly dormant until Senegal launched a major offensive last year to drive out the rebels. In a clash on January 24, four Senegalese soldiers were killed and seven were captured alive and taken across the border to The Gambia. The rebels released the hostages the following month. In March, the army launched a new operation in which it claimed to have destroyed several rebel bases for the loss of one soldier and eight wounded. Presidents Emmanuel Macron of France and Vladimir Putin of Russia have not been in telephone contact for the past two months. A Kremlin spokesman said France is now considered an "unfriendly" country and discussions between the two leaders are "unnecessary". The last time the two men spoke was on 28 May. They were sharing the line with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and the problem was the fate of Ukrainian soldiers taken prisoner by Russian forces. Before that, Macron and Putin spoke on the phone in early May, in March, and five times in the course of February as tension mounted over a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine. Emmanuel Macron met Putin face-to-face in Moscow on 7 February, two weeks before Russian troops entered Ukraine Critics of the French president say Macron's high-profile diplomatic efforts failed to prevent war. Macron supporters say he is now one of the few outsiders with a view into Putin's mindset at this crucial time. The Russian declaration that France is an "unfriendly" country is a reaction to French participation in the organisation of international sanctions in reprisal for the Ukraininan invasion. France joins the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, as well as the other 26 member states of the European Union, in the category of unfriendly states. Meanwhile, in his efforts to strengthen ties with remaining allies, Vladimir Putin told Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday that he was hoping to sign an agreement to boost trade and economic ties. "I hope that today we will be able to sign a relevant memorandum on the development of our trade and economic ties," Putin said as the two leaders sat down for talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ofoase/Ayirebi constituency and Minister for Information, has extended a charitable hand to a brilliant but needy student. According to the Minister, Serwaa, age 21, obtained 4As and 4Bs in her West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) last year, 2021. Unfortunately, her poor family was unable to secure admission for her to attend her dream school, KNUST. I met 21-year-old Serwaa, a super brilliant SHS graduate who chalked 4As and 4Bs in her WASSCE last year. Unfortunately, she couldn't enter KNUST due to cost constraints and also missed my scholarship window, he revealed. The Minister continues in a Facebook post on Friday, August 5, monitored by Modernghana News that the Kotokuom-based lady has now been awarded a scholarship through his scholarship scheme to pursue 4-year education. The leadership of Kotokuom drew our attention to her situation and thankfully our Education Trust Fund has just underwritten her 4-year university education. I pray she excels and becomes a pillar to assist Kotokuom and Ofoase/Ayirebi in the very near future, he wrote. Check his full post as shown below: The most memorable part of my recess tours of Ofoase/Ayirebi occurred in Akim Kotokuom. I met 21-year-old Serwaa, a super brilliant SHS graduate who chalked 4As and 4Bs in her WASSCE last year. Unfortunately, she couldn't enter KNUST due to cost constraints and also missed my scholarship window. The leadership of Kotokuom drew our attention to her situation and thankfully our Education Trust Fund has just underwritten her 4-year university education. I pray she excels and becomes a pillar to assist Kotokuom and Ofoase/Ayirebi in the very near future. Go Girl!! Go Ofoase/Ayirebi!! Former Energy Minister and Presidential candidate hopeful of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Boakye Kyeremateng Agyarko has applauded the leadership style of Ex-President John Agyekum Kufour. According to Mr. Agyarko, the former President is now seen as the standard of leadership in their party. Speaking on 'The Platform' show aired on the Accra-based Peace FM and monitored by Modernghana News, he revealed that the current Akufo-Addo leadership has caused a lot of disappointments and anger across the NPP. Kufuor is seen as the standard in the party...party members refer to Kufuor a lot because they have had the chance to reevaluate his tenure... "The truth of the matter is that there's a lot of disappointment, anger with leadership, the President, all around..." he stated. Ex-President John AgyeKum Kufuor was the party's flagbearer on three occasions: in 1992 and 1996 against Jerry John Rawlings, where he lost both times. In 2000 against the late Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills, he won and became Ghana's president in January 2001. He was re-elected in 2004 and served until his term expired in January 2009, when he handed over power to the late Prof. Mills. This week on The Sound Kitchen you'll hear the answer to the question about the G7's PPII project. There's the Bonus Question, Listeners Corner, and Music from Erwan. All that, and the new quiz question, too. Just click on the Audio arrow above and enjoy! Hello everyone! Welcome to The Sound Kitchen weekly podcast, published every Saturday here on our website, or wherever you get your podcasts. You'll hear the winner's names announced and the week's quiz question, along with all the other ingredients you've grown accustomed to: your letters and essays, On This Day, quirky facts and news, interviews, and great music so be sure and listen every week. Erwan and I are busy cooking up special shows with your musical requests, so get them in! Send your musical requests to [email protected] Tell us why you like the piece of music, too it makes it more interesting for us all! Be sure you check out our wonderful podcasts! In addition to the breaking news articles on our site, with in-depth analysis of current affairs in France and across the globe, we have several podcasts which will leave you hungry for more. There's Paris Perspective, Africa Calling, Spotlight on France, and of course, The Sound Kitchen. We have an award-winning bilingual series - an old-time radio show, with actors (!) to help you learn French, called Les voisins du 12 bis. And there is the excellent International Report, too. As you see, sound is still quite present in the RFI English service. Keep checking our website for updates on the latest from our excellent staff of journalists. You never know what we'll surprise you with! To listen to our podcasts from your PC, go to our website and click on the three horizontal bars on the top right, choose Listen to RFI / Podcasts, and you've got 'em ! You can either listen directly or subscribe and receive them directly on your mobile phone. To listen to our podcasts from your mobile phone, slide through the tabs just under the lead article (the first tab is Headline News) until you see Podcasts, and choose your show. Teachers, take note! I save postcards and stamps from all over the world to send to you for your students. If you would like stamps and postcards for your students, just write and let me know. The address is [email protected] If you would like to donate stamps and postcards, feel free! Our address is listed below. Another idea for your students: My beloved music teacher from St Edward's University in Austin, Texas, Dr Gerald Muller, has been writing books for young adults in his retirement and they are free! There is a volume of biographies of painters and musicians called Gentle Giants, and an excellent biography of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr, too. They are also a good way to help you improve your English that's how I worked on my French, reading books which were meant for young readers and I guarantee you, it's a good method for improving your language skills. To get Dr. Gerald's free books, click here. Independent RFI English Clubs: Be sure to always include Audrey Iattoni ([email protected]) from our Listener Relations department in all your RFI Club correspondence. Remember to copy me ([email protected]) when you write to her so that I know what is going on, too. N.B.: You do not need to send her your quiz answers! Email overload! And don't forget, there is a Facebook page just for you, the independent RFI English Clubs. Only members of RFI English Clubs can belong to this group page, so when you apply to join, be sure you include the name of your RFI Club and your membership number. Everyone can look at it, but only members of the group can post on it. If you haven't yet asked to join the group, and you are a member of an independent, officially recognized RFI English club, go to the Facebook link above , and fill out the questionnaire !!!!! (if you do not answer the questions, I click decline). There's a Facebook page for members of the general RFI Listeners Club, too. Just click on the link above and fill out the questionnaire, and you can connect with your fellow Club members around the world. Be sure you include your RFI Listeners Club membership number (most of them begin with an A, followed by a number) in the questionnaire, or I will have to click Decline, which I don't like to do! This week's quiz: On 2 July, I asked you a question about the Group of 7 (G7) who met in Germany earlier that week. Attended by the heads of state of its members Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US as well as Ursula von der Leyen for the European Union - a proposed initiative from their last meeting came back to the table. Called the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, or the PPII, the seven want to fund infrastructure projects in middle and low-income countries, to counterbalance China's infrastructure projects in these same countries, known as Belt and Road. In our article, G7 aims to raise $600 billion to counter China's Belt and Road, we gave you a few examples of the projects the PPII plan to take on. I asked you to send me the names of the five examples of PPII projects we wrote about. The answer is: Flagship projects include a $2 billion solar farm project in Angola, a vaccine manufacturing facility at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar in Senegal, and a 1069-kilometre submarine telecommunications cable connecting Singapore to France via Egypt and the Horn of Africa. $320 million has been earmarked for hospital construction in Cote d'Ivoire, and $40 million for Southeast Asia's Smart Power Program to decarbonise and strengthen their power system. In addition to the quiz question, there was the Bonus Question: Where is your safest place in the world? The winners are: A. K. M. Nuruzzaman, the president of the RFI Amour Fan Club in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. A. K. M. Nuruzzaman is also the winner of the Bonus Question the village where he was born is his safest place. The other winners this week are RFI Listeners Club members Timothy Ofori from Kumasi, Ghana; Atikul Islam from Kishoreganj, Bangladesh Atikul is also the president of the Narshunda Radio Listeners Family - and Rachid Dahmani from M'sila, Algeria. Last but certainly not least, there's RFI English listener Pradip Basak from West Bengal, India. Congratulations winners! Here's the music you heard on this week's program: Vavavoum, written by Romane Rosenbaum and Stochelo and performed by the two composers with Marc-Michel Le Bevillon; Presto, quanto si possible by Antonio Scarlatti, arranged by Fred Hemke for the Chicago Saxophone Quartet; Rainy Days by Nicodrum, M. Bost, J. Dessus, and J. Zaccardelli and performed by Nicodrum and Friends; The Flight of the Bumblebee by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov; The Cakewalk from Children's Corner by Claude Debussy, performed by the composer, and Juegala by Cesar "Pupy" Pedroso, performed by Pupy y Los Que Son Son. Do you have a musical request? Send it to [email protected] This week's question ... You have to listen to the show to participate. After you've listened to the show, refer to Michael Fitzpatrick's article After angry debate, French parliament agrees spending power budget changes. You have until 12 September to enter this week's quiz; the winners will be announced on the 17 September podcast. When you enter, be sure you send your postal address with your answer, and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number. Send your answers to: [email protected] or Susan Owensby RFI The Sound Kitchen 80, rue Camille Desmoulins 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux France or By text You can also send your quiz answers to The Sound Kitchen mobile phone. Dial your country's international access code, or + , then 33 6 31 12 96 82. Don't forget to include your mailing address in your text and if you have one, your RFI Listeners Club membership number. To find out how you can win a special Sound Kitchen prize, click here. To find out how you can become a member of the RFI Listeners Club, or to form your own official RFI Club, click here. An administrative court in Paris has suspended a deportation order against a France-born Moroccan imam who the government had accused of promoting hate and posing a threat to society. The tribunal's ruling on Friday has essentially overturned an interior ministry expulsion order issued in July against the preacher, Hassan Iquioussen, for inciting hate, discrimination and violence, notably against the Jewish community. President Emmanuel Macron's government has toughened laws to tackle what it sees as broader signs of radicalisation often non-violent within Muslim communities. It has cited the refusal of some Muslim men to shake women's hands, young girls being told to wear full-face veils and a proliferation of Madrassa religious schools. The court ordered the interior minister to re-examine Iquioussen's case within three months and return his residency permit. Iquioussen, 58, was born in France and his immediate family lives in the country, though he does not have French nationality. In its ruling, the tribunal said deportation to Morocco would be a serious and manifestly disproportionate interference with his right to lead a normal private and family life as laid out by the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Imam's comments 'regrettable' but not hateful Iquioussen's lawyer Lucie Simon welcomed the outcome. In a statement, she said his past remarks had not been an explicit provocation to hatred, however regrettable. The accusations of stirring hate as well as anti-Semitism and sexism stem from comments in public addresses between 2003 and 2019. He developed a wide following for his preaching in mosques as well as online to 174,000 YouTube followers and 44,000 Facebook followers at a time France has suffered waves of Islamist militant attacks and become increasingly nervous about the perceived threat from Islamist separatism. Interior minister to appeal the ruling On Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights rejected a request to suspend the deportation. "This man has no place on our national soil," Darmanin told the CNews television ahead of Iquioussen's hearing. In a statement, Darmanin said he would appeal the decision at France's Conseil d'Etat, its highest administrative court. Two Police officers have landed in trouble in the Ashanti Region following the death of a suspect while in custody. The two officers include Sgt. Isaac Amponsah Broni [No.44908 G/Sgt.] and Const. Solomon Yeboah [No.55453 G/Const]. They have been interdicted to allow investigation into the circumstances that led to the death of a suspect who was under detention at the Abrafo-Kokoben Police Station in the Ashanti Region. Reports indicate that the deceased was arrested on August 4 after he was allegedly manhandled. He collapsed while in Police custody and was rushed to the hospital for medical care. Unfortunately, he passed on and his body was subsequently deposited at the Komfo Anolwe Teaching Hospital for preservation and autopsy. Amid tension in Abrafo-Kokoben after the incident, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander has led a delegation to visit the family of the deceased and urged them to remain calm as the investigation into the incident continues. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police has also spoken with the bereaved family and assured them of a thorough investigation into the matter. Residents of Abrafo-Kokoben and Tabre communities have also been urged to remain calm. A senior political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Prof. Ransford Gyampo has heaped praises on former President John Agyekum Kufuor. He said the ex-President whom he described as the greatest President in the 4th Republic, even embarked on a ministerial reshuffle. In a post on Facebook, the political science expert indicated that the current President, Nana Akufo-Addo, should learn from the former President and reshuffle his non-performing ministers. According to him, ex-President Kufuor removed Yaw Osafo Marfo (OM) from the Finance Ministry to the Education Ministry and later created a special post for him. Kufuor, the greatest President in Ghana's 4th Republic had the courage to reshuffle OM from Finance to Education & later demoted him by creating a Senior Minister position for him. He did same to NADAA and DB. He virtually fired KAA! Prof. Gyampo intimated. The calls for President Akufo-Addo to reshuffle his ministers have been heightened following Ghana's IMF move. Many Ghanaians, including well-known political and economic experts, urged the President to reshuffle his non-performing Ministers whose sectors have performed poorly. The calls are in response to recent economic hardships that have bedevilled Ghanaians and made life extremely difficult. The Catholic World News of July 22, 2022, showed the following headline, "In 2 months, 68 Christians are killed in Nigerias Benue State," notably by Fulani jihadist militia, which should worry all. The scale of slayings, displacement, and reckless destruction of property by these Fulani jihadist militia only bolsters Governor Samuel Ortom's official declaration of the Benue state's security outfit known as Community Volunteer Guards (CVG). This state security move to protect the Benue people and their property is happening following the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, statement to the press that due to the current failing ways of the Buhari regime to curb the nationwide violence and insecurity, "people are getting tired and are beginning to gravitate towards other means of self-help." Ortom has taken them up on that self-help. The worry of Ortom, who certainly is not focusing on Buhari on a personal level but worries that in a Fulani-led federal government by a president with peculiar characteristics of lack of vision, incompetence, a pusher of ethno-religious politics and divisions, apparent complacency, and complicity, the emotional distress of his people grows as the killings of Benue citizens rise with the lack of decisive actions against the terrorist Fulani headsmen by Buhari. As the Governor seeks democratic protection and security for his people from the alarming deaths and destruction by the militant Islamist Fulani herdsmen who go after people, he has opened a vigilante security outfit, the Community Volunteer Guards, for operations against the Islamic terrorists. But the Buhari regime must only see this as a move against terrorism in Benue and should not act in a complicit and cynical manner in order not to drive the country into civil war, beginning with Benue, a predominantly Christian state. The Biden administration and other powerful western allies should watch out for any extraordinary moves by the current Buhari-led government. Benue State is predominantly Christian, where on one night in April this year, according to the US-based International Christian Centre (ICC), militants killed 14 Christians, including women and children, at midnight in the Tarka Local Government Area, close to the state capital of Makurdi. In 2021, Nigeria earned the distinction of being the worst country for Christian persecution in the ICCs 2021 Persecutor of the Year Awards. Extremists and armed militants have killed tens of thousands of Christians and left more than 3 million displaced in a 20-year genocide against them. "Christian communities in the Middle Belt region of Nigeria have effectively suffered a 20-year genocide," stated ICC President Jeff King. "Where is any action? The Nigerian government gives these attacks lip service without any meaningful response. Where is the outcry? Where is effective action? In Nigeria, the military, the police, and the intelligence agencies are all controlled by Muslims." Psychologically and socially, the reality is that Nigeria's leadership is being controlled by predominantly Fulani Muslim security and law enforcement leaders. In the face of that imagery, the militants see themselves as also in strength, especially with them openly carrying AK47s and other dangerous weapons for killing purposes. While I am not sure if the Benue security forces are seeking weapons from the American government on humanitarian grounds, as in the case of Ukraine without direct military intervention, the Biden administration and the international community can also provide some form of security aid and assistance in the form of equipment such as tactical vehicles, counter-battery systems, multipurpose wheeled vehicles, body shields and helmets; solid and fast motorcycles, night light systems, bush surveillance sensors; coastal security systems; coastal and riverine patrol boats; secure communications systems; and optics. Medical supplies are needed, as is funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment. It is important to know that these Islamic militants like Boko Haram, which in the Hausa language means "Western education is sinful", and their sister terror groups are loosely modelled on the Taliban movement and ways in Afghanistan. These Islamic militants boldly operate in the daytime and generally at night. These terrorist groups have carried out daily attacks on civilians by way of kidnappings, assassinations, suicide bombings, and hit-and-run raids. As Nigeria has one of the highest rates of kidnapping-for-ransom in the world, even when paid, they sometimes still kill the victim and continue to engage in abduction and target expressways, railways, farms, churches, and villages. Not long ago, the priest of St. Pauls Catholic Church, Aye-Tuwar village, Agu Centre in Kastina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Ngugban, and three worshippers were reportedly killed by armed men suspected to be militia. The Vatican News recently reported that at least 68 Christians have been killed, with many more abducted or displaced in the last couple of months in Benue State. In what was termed a "black Tuesday", just like the black Tuesday of the Lekki massacre, in Gwer East local government area of Benue state, armed Fulani herdsmen vandalized the church, killing two priests and 17 worshipers. Amongst the victims were two Rev Fathers whose names were given as: Rev Fathers Joseph Gor and Felix Tyolaha; two primary school headmasters, Peter Dick and Ape Chia; also, a secondary school principal; and fourteen other worshipers. The victims had gone to morning mass at St. Ignatius Quasi Parish when their attackers, who had laid an ambush on the community, lunged on them very early in the morning. Not satisfied, the herdsmen militia continued their horror to other villagers, burning their houses, numbering about 100. It was gathered that the whole community was destroyed by invading bandits who had a field day unleashing terror on the sleepy community. These attacks, mostly by terrorist Fulani herdsmen/Jihadists, are occurring throughout the country, but Benue, for all intents and purposes, a predominantly Christian community, has been a target of the Jihadists who, according to history, have always wanted to conquer Benue and the Tiv people who have resisted their advance since 1804, for one main reason: they rejected Islam and chose to follow their own faith, particularly Christianity. Many people are asking the international community including the Biden administration to help over the massacre of Benue citizens, and one way to do this is assist the Benue people, with security capabilities, medical supplies, protective gear, and humanitarian aid. As it is, Russia could not stop the United States, the international and corporate organizations, and the UN from delivering much-needed humanitarian assistance as well as food, water, medicine, shelter, and other aid as well as security assistance support. Certainly, Buhari will not be able to stop the U.S. and U.N. from providing humanitarian aid to many displaced Benue indigenes and providing the Community Volunteer Guards (CVG) with security assistance support. On a voluntary basis, I am open to how to use police science, psychological science, and community support to guide state-level authorities, including Benue State, regarding vigilante security training and consultation with a focus on ethical and psychological readiness, first aid, human rights, and promoting harmony and security in lives. Prof. Oshodi wrote in via [email protected] 06.08.2022 LISTEN For those of us who respect and admire America's democratic system of government, from afar, Donald Trump's unsuitability, for occupying the office of President and Commander-in-Chief, of even the world's worst banana republic, let alone that of the United States of America, is so obvious. One therefore never ceases to be amazed that so many good and decent American conservatives, actually hero-worship Trump. Incredible. The tragedy of it all, is that soon after Trump's second-coming, as President, finally arrives, and his fascist-dictatorship consolidates its power, tens of millions of his most ardent MAGA adherents, will quickly become disillusioned - as his capricious tyranny starts repressing and terrorising ordinary people, after gobbling up Trump's most vociferous elite-enablers, who made his second bid for power a success. It is at that terrifying juncture, that most of Trump's acolytes will wake up to the harsh reality that they exchanged rule by politicians committed to the good governance principle of fidelity to the Constitution, for a precarious and frightening existence, in their own home country - because they made a fatal error of judgement, in opting to freely hero-worship a gross, capricious, narcissist and tyrannical fascist leader, who thinks he is above the law. It will be too late then, of course, for them to do anything about their situation, alas. That is why it is vital that the born-again-Christian demographic, across America, look instead, to the genuine and sincere politicians for whom an America whose politics is bedrocked on the constitutional principle, of separation of powers, is a patriotic duty and a moral obligation. They must all understand clearly, that far from being the saviour who will make America (a nation that is already the world's greatest ever power), great again, Donald Trump is rather a clear and present danger to American democracy, who must never be allowed to return to office, again, as America's next President, and Commander-in-Chief, of its powerful armed forces, after President Joe Biden's term ends, at all costs. America does not need Trump to lead it ever again - for it is already a great nation. Full stop. In the final analysis, the United States of America is in reality, the world's greatest nation ever. In that light, it is widely recognised by its many admirers, as a wealthy and prosperous country, which only needs to improve its system - in order to make it a more equitable and diverse society, able to harness the energies, gifts and talents, of a significant proportion of its total population, who currently face systemic-prejudice on account of their skin-hue: and thereby become an even greater nation, which is an unrivalled superpower, as well as an unequalled global economic-giant. Case closed. Cool. National Chairman of GMWU, Mensah Kwarko Gyakari 06.08.2022 LISTEN The National Chairman of the Ghana Mineworkers' Union (GMWU), Mr. Mensah Kwarko Gyakari has warned against what he believes is a timebomb in the mining sector that could explode at any time. Speaking at the National Executive Council meeting of the union held at New Abirem, in the Eastern, he stressed that the notion that because a mine is in a particular community, only indigenes should be employed to work there is flawed. According to him, that mentality if not rooted out will creep from the mining sector to other sectors such as education. There is something happening in the mining industry of which I know most of you may not be happy. That idea that because the mine is in Akyem and for that matter it is only Akyems who should work in the mines. The mine is in Obuasi and for that matter it is Adansi that should work in the mine. About a week ago, in Babiani there was demonstration all over place, where the people are saying they are the indigenes and so they should be employed to work in the mine there, and not outsiders. If we don't stop this behaviour, a time will come when the Ga people will also tell University of Ghana that this is their land and therefore they will not allow outsiders to lecture at the University, they should bring the Ga people to lecture. The Ashantis will also rise up to make such demand for KNUST. That will not augur well for us as Ghanaians, Mr. Mensah Kwarko Gyakari warned in his speech at the National Executive Council meeting of GMWU. The GMWU National Chairman insists that if for good reasons there is an opportunity for someone to get employed, that person should be employed on merit and not because the person is simply an indigene. We should not deny the local people, once they qualify. The idea that because I am a local guy and even though I don't have the skills to work l, but because the mine is in my town I should get employed, pose security challenge in the mining sector. We should be very careful not to do anything so that at the end of the day it will disturb the country, Mr. Mensah Kwarko Gyakari. Below is a copy of the speech read by Mr. Mensah Kwarko Gyakari: Opening remarks by Mr. Mensah Kwarko Gyakari, National Chairman of the GMWU, at the National Executive Council meeting of the union held at New Abirem, in the Eastern There is something happening in the mining industry of which I know most of you may not be happy. That idea that because the mine is in Akyem and for that matter it is only Akyems who should work in the mines. The mine is in Obuasi and for that matter it is Adansi that should work in the mine. About a week ago, in Babiani there was demonstration all over place, where the people are saying they are the indigenes and so they should be employed to work in the mine there, and not outsiders. If we don't stop this behaviour, a time will come when the Ga people will also tell University of Ghana that this is their land and therefore they will not allow outsiders to lecture at the University, they should bring the Ga people to lecture. The Ashantis will also rise up to make such demand for KNUST. That will not augur well for us as Ghanaians. If for good reasons we think that there is an opportunity for someone to get employed, we should allow them to get employed on merit. We should not deny the local people, once they qualify. The idea that because I am a local guy and even though I don't have the skills to work l, but because the mine is in my town I should get employed, pose security challenge in the mining sector. We should be very careful not to do anything so that at the end of the day it will disturb the country. If the mine is here and they have to be employed, it is fine if they have to train them to get them employed, they should train them and get them employed. But the idea that someone in a mining town just thinks that because he is a trotro driver, he can drive an excavator in the mine is something that we should be careful about. If we don't control this development showing its ugly head in the mining communities, as a country, it will create hug problems for us. Another issue of concern is how some of our chiefs have made themselves recruitment agents, because you need to have their signature and stamp by his(chiefs) office before you are employed. They take peoples money who are not from the community, get them employed then the whole town will start complaining. If we allow the companies on their own to do the right thing, for that I will praise the mining companies. No mining company will take money from you as a worker, if you qualify they will take you. The government has been charged to create an enabling environment for indigenous mining companies to thrive in the mining sector. The General Secretary of the Ghana Mineworkers Union (GMWU) of TUCG, Cde. Abdul-Moomin Gbana has said. Speaking at the Unions National Executive Council Meeting held at the Obaa Plaza Hotel, New Abriem, from August 2-3, 2022, he implored the government to also increase its stake in mining companies in the country. After over 100 years of mining, Ghanas mining industry continues to be dominated and controlled by foreign interest with over 99% of mining companies being foreign, owning 90% of the shares with the Government left with a paltry 10% carrying interest. The Government of Ghana has since 80s shied away from the mining sector instead of confronting this sorry narrative of the over-dependence and reliance on a foreign-dominated sector. The Ghana Mineworkers Union strongly believes that government can increase the countrys stake in the mining sector if more indigenous companies are supported to operate. The GMWU also proposes that the government should forcefully renegotiate existing contracts as well as future contracts in order to create and retain greater value for the citizens of this country. Considering the generous fiscal giveaways (including excessive repatriation of mining revenues by multinational businesses, signing of stability and development agreements, etc.) which continuous to deny Ghana its fair share of revenue under this so-called tax-royalty fiscal regime, we believe that the time has come for this narrative to change and ought to change quite swiftly. To change however would require a change in the ownership structure of mineral assets thereby shifting from our aged-long comfort zone of over dependence and reliance on a tax-royalty regime to active participation and control of production by negotiating/renegotiating a much greater stake in these mining companies in order to create and retain the needed value for the people of Ghana, GMWU General Secretary Cde. Abdul-Moomin Gbana said in his speech. Touching on several other things in his speech, Abdul-Moomin Gbana noted that the GMWU is determined to address the concerns of communities where mining takes place. Over the years, various communities have protested against the lack of development. According to him, the GMWU in the coming weeks will be working with a Coalition of identified groups, traditional leaders, and like-minded individuals to put forward a more forceful campaign aimed at changing the unfortunate narrative around mining community development. Below is a copy of the speech read by Abdul-Moomin Gbana: ADDRESS DELIVERED BY CDE ABDUL-MOOMIN GBANA, GENERAL SECRETARY, GHANA MINEWORKERS UNION OF TUCG, AT THE UNIONS NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD AT THE OBAA PLAZA HOTEL, NEW ABRIEM, FROM AUGUST 2-3, 2022 Comrade Chair, Secretary General of the TUC(Ghana), Vice President in charge of Human Resources, Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, Managing Director of Protea Coin Ghana Limited, Distinguished National Executive Council Members, Executives of our Business Wing, Colleagues from the Media Fraternity, Ladies and Gentlemen. It is an honour and a privilege to address this august gathering again on the occasion of the first-half National Executive Council meeting for the year 2022. On behalf of the Management Committee of our great Union and on my own behalf, let me take this opportunity to welcome Council members to the first-half meeting being held here in New Abriem. Let me also use this opportunity to say AYEKOO to all our gallant members across the industry and beyond through whose toils, sweat and ingenuity especially in these tough excruciating economic times the mining industry continues to thrive. Comrades, as we are all aware, our meeting here in New Abriem for today and tomorrow is in fulfilment of Article 8.3 of the Constitution of the Ghana Mineworkers Union. These two days of deliberations would therefore focus on reviewing the activities of the Union for the first half of the year 2022 and also afford us the opportunity to discuss very critical emerging issues of both industry, national and global importance. My address would therefore touch on a number of these critical issues and how they impact on trade unions(s) and society in general. General Industry Outlook Comrade Chair, unlike other sectors which have been heavily hit since the outbreak of the pandemic, the global gold industry and by extension the mining industry so far stands out as the utmost beneficiary of this global health crisis. Gold price since the beginning of this year has maintained relative stability at a little over $1800 per ounce. Indeed, the World Gold Council has posited that Gold has been on a generally positive trend for the past few years. However, the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic has made golds relevance as a hedge even more apparent and accelerated its price performance. Comrade Chair, given the unprecedented surge in gold price and the colossal gains most mining companies made last year, and what they are projecting to make this year, we expect that mining companies would take strategic advantage of the price boom and by extension increased margins from last year and this year, to invest in modern infrastructure and expand existing ones, increase production, intensify exploration activities, among others. This, we believe is a substantial step towards the creation of decent and sustainable jobs and a strategic approach to sustaining the industry in the long run. Increasing Spate of Insecurity in the Mining Industry of Ghana Comrade Chairperson, the security situation within mining communities and mining companies in particular continuous to be a major worry for the Union and many of our constituents as the race for the sanitization of the illegal mining space under the Government Operation Halt Programme rages on. This programme has however forced many of these displaced illegal miners into invading legally acquired mining concessions which often times, results in serious clashes with our valued members, thus, putting them in harms way. As you may recall, in my address to Council during the first-half NEC meeting last year, I chronicled very bitter and gory experiences some of our members have had to suffer in the hands of some criminal elements in the line of their duties as security personnel working on mining concessions. For the avoidance doubt, permit me to touch on a number of them to further highlight the state of insecurity in the mining sector in Ghana. Indeed, quite recently, two of our valued members in Protea Coin; Robert Coffie and Joshua Oppong were attacked and shot which led to Joshua losing one eye whilst Robert sustained multiple injuries on the Newmont Ahafo site. Similarly on the same Newmont Ahafo site, Daniel Owusu Sekyere and Mathew Nsoah both members of the Union, were attacked with guns and cutlasses which led to Daniel sustaining multiple fractures on one leg whilst Mathew sustained several cutlass wounds on the head. Sadly, Daniel for now has metals planted in his leg. 4Indeed, the list goes on and on Comrade Chair, rather shockingly, a few days ago specifically on July 27, 2022, we witnessed yet another horrendous incident on the concession of Newmont Ahafo Mine where two of our comrades from Protea Coin were picked up at gunpoint, manhandled and molested and abandoned somewhere in the bush with their hands tied to their backs. Fortunately, they were found alive without any major injuries. On the same, rather regrettably another comrade, who apparently left his duty post to attend to natures call in a bush nearby did not return until after 4 good days. The mystery behind his sudden disappearance and appearance is yet to be established. Similarly, Anglogold Ashanti Obuasi and other mining companies continue to come under constant attacks by criminal elements with our members not spared in most of these attacks. Comrade Chair, these sad developments have become a growing feature of the mining industry and therefore brings into sharp focus the state of insecurity and what our members go through on a daily basis. It is therefore urgently imperative that companies/employers in the sector review their security operations and invest in modern security infrastructure that responds to the increasing sophistication of these criminal elements in order to curb this menace and protect life and property. The Union also urges Government through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to take immediate steps to provide complementary security to these mining companies particularly Newmont Ahafo considering the rampant incidence of attacks on the Ahafo concession. Let me state for emphasis that, it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that all its citizens are safe whether at home or engaged in any lawful economic activity. Again, it is the responsibility of the employer in the employment relationship to ensure that employees are safe at the workplace at all times. We would therefore not countenance these preventable incidences anymore and would not hesitate to withdraw our services en bloc if these developments persist in the sector. Declining Decent Work Gains in the Mining Industry Comrade Chair, another issue of grave concern is the gradual decline in the decent work gains achieved over the years, in pursuit of super normal profit strategies or measures that continue to undermine our efforts. As have been established from a recent study conducted by the Ghana Mineworkers Union, it was revealed that for every increase in non-standard forms of employment, there is a corresponding decrease in standard employment or permanent employment in the sector. In fact, this phenomenon as at December 2021 when we reviewed the situation, has currently reached parity levels with standard employment apar with non-standard employment. The study further revealed that for every standard worker who exited the company from 2016, the same role is replaced with a non-standard worker. Sadly, workers in these non-standard forms of employment are required to perform the same task and in some cases additional task but are put on relatively inferior employment conditions including but not limited to reduced wages/salaries, reduced pensions. Without a doubt, this trend is fast undermining the decent work agenda and slipping our members into working poverty and ought to be checked without any further delay. Again, respect for fundamental principles and rights at work remains a key pillar and indeed, the fulcrum around which all the other pillars revolve. Whilst this pillar remains extremely crucial, the respect for workers rights especially the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining continues to come under serious attack by multinational conglomerates such as Gold Fields Ghana Limited who for the past five years have erected a Chinese wall around itself purposefully to deny workers the free expression of their rights; Asanko Golds recent unilateral decision to jettison agreements entered into with the Ghana Mineworkers Union by blatantly refusing to pay severance packages due redundant workers, among others. Comrade Chair, quite recently and rather astonishingly, companies like Newmont after embarking on a rather controversial labour restructuring exercise, is resorting to the promotion and in fact, the sponsorship of yellow dog unions at the workplace in total disrespect and disregard for workers rights especially the right to freedom of association and collective bargaining. These are actions that the law frowns on and in fact, are considered unfair labour practices. Paradoxically, these same multinational conglomerates have signed onto one international convention or protocol pledging to respect and promote workers rights. Furthermore, these multinational companies would dare not contemplate disrespecting the rights of workers in their home countries, not in South Africa or the USA. Rather shamelessly, we allow these multinationals to do what they would not even contemplate in their home countries, to violate and disrespect workers rights with impunity in Ghana. We find these developments extremely worrying and therefore call on the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations as well as the Ministry in charge of Lands and Natural Resources and their relevant departments and agencies to take keen interest by investigating these matters in order to ensure that the rights of Ghanaian workers are fully protected. Meanwhile, the Ghana Mineworkers Union and its members shall not hesitate to respond appropriately if these developments are left to fester on. Comrade Chair, two loopholes exist in Act 651 and Regulation 1833 that are immensely contributing to the precarious work not only in the mines but other industries mostly in the private sector and inhibiting our progress towards the attainment of the decent work agenda. The first is found in Section 66 (a) which grants exemptions to employers from paying redundancy/severance to workers engaged in contracts of a specified duration or for specific work. Given this lacuna, and in our view the greatest injustice ever perpetuated against workers, employers have capitalized on this and are engaging workers on all kinds of jobs under cutting throat precarious arrangement all in the bid to escape severance payment. Comrade Chair, the second is the interpretation Regulation 1833 has given to Private Employment Agency to include Services consisting of employing workers with a view to making them available to a third party who may be a natural or legal person referred to as a user enterprise which assigns their tasks and supervises the execution of these task without any authority regulating the contractual interlinkages between the agency and the user enterprise and its ramifications on the disguised employees most of whom are suffering a great deal of injustice that defeats every pillar of the decent work agenda. Today, the practice is widespread across the private sector including the dangerous mining work and coupled with lack of supervision and monitoring by non-existent Labour Inspectors, high rate of unemployment, employers are milking workers dry through wage theft, denial of workers rights and other forms of abuses most of which are often not reported. Comrade Chair, the foregoing therefore makes the review of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) critically imperative to fix the implementational gaps identified over the years and make it responsive to the changing needs of the actors in the industrial relations space. Consequently, we call on the National Tripartite Committee through Organized Labour led by TUC (Ghana) to prioritize the labour law review without further delay. We also call on the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations to cause the full enforcement of Part 16 (Labour Inspection) of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651) so that the actors within the industrial relations space can realize the full benefit of labour inspection in this country. Cut-throat Mining Contracts and Implications for Decent Work Comrade Chair, the mining job is hazardous and very energy sapping. Indeed, the ILO describes mining as the most hazardous occupation when the number of people exposed to risk is considered with the rates of death, injury and disease among the worlds mineworkers very high. Therefore, by the very nature of mining, workers are generally predisposed or susceptible to accidents/incidents. However, there are certain unhealthy arrangements that fuel and aggravate accidents/incidents and undermine the decent work agenda and one of them is the current cut-throat mining contracts multinational companies have virtually imposed on local entities in order to offload their inefficiencies and further their profiteering agenda under the guise of local content. Comrade Chair, the current phenomenon where aspects of the mining business/jobs are farmed out at the least opportunity under cut-throat contract prices simply on the back of profit maximization must stop since this arrangement continuous to threaten and undermine the decent work agenda and impoverish our members. Astonishingly, this continuous to happen at a time when the prevailing business environment is super favourable and should have reflected in the total wellbeing of the enterprise. Unfortunately, this is not the case because some of these business leaders running these multinational conglomerates would rather squeeze everybody especially the local entities and line their pockets with hefty bonuses rather than seek the total interest of all stakeholders. Comrade Chair, it is trite knowledge that there are certain aspects of the mining business that are considered ancillary or non-core and can generally be farmed out but certainly not the core business for which a company is registered to perform. Unfortunately, under the guise of local content, these exploitative strategies continuous to be pursued with impunity. As a trade union, we take an uncompromising opposition to the current arrangement of monkey dey work baboon dey chop and therefore reinforce our position that mining companies must be strictly responsible for the core business of mining including associated employees cost, and therefore should not be allowed to farm out the core business that they have a responsibility and obligation under the law to perform. Whilst we generally disagree with this emerging arrangement in the name of local content, it is important to highlight the ills perpetrated by this emerging arrangement and to call the attention of all actors within the mining space particularly Government to take a special interest as this has serious ramifications for the stability of the mining industry going forward. It is therefore not enough for Government to just intervene in the mining space by encouraging that mining and hauling be left for local entities as part of local content within the sector. In fact, it is equally important that Government takes keen interest in ensuring that the contracts these local entities enter with these large-scale multinational companies are not, exploitative, cut-throat and suffocating since that is the current situation on the ground. It is particularly important for Government to pay attention because of the capital-intensive nature of mining (i.e., acquisition of mining fleet, maintenance, labour, etc.) and challenges associated with access to, and the high cost of credit in Ghana for most of these local entities. The consequences of these cut-throat and suffocating contract rates are dire, as workers welfare in these local entities are relegated to the background and this is manifested in the excessive delays in payment of wages/salaries, non-payment of employees Provident Fund contributions and terminal gratuities, non-payment of statutory benefits such as pension contributions (1st and 2nd tiers), taxes and protracted negotiation of wages/salaries as well as conditions of service for our members. In fact, the current situation for most local entities operating within the mining space is very awful, to say the least, and ought to change without any further delay. We are therefore calling on all multinational mining companies engaged in this act and by extension the Chamber of Mines, to pay attention to this growing concern as this has the potential to threaten the stability of the industry in the not-too-distant future if nothing urgent and concrete is done about it. We also urge the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to take keen interest by intervening with favourable policies and programmes that would provide some respite to these local entities. Government Must Increase its stake in Mining Companies/Create Enabling Environment for the Active Participation of Indigenous Companies in the Mining Space Comrade Chair, as you are all aware, the current President, then Candidate Nana Addo have held the strong view that ye ti sika su nansu ekom diye. Indeed, he was right, he is right and will be right on any day. What the President however did not avert his mind to, and still doesnt appear to, is the obvious fact that almost all the productive sectors including the extractive industry of our economy are under the control of foreign interests operating under extremely charitable fiscal regimes. After over 100 years of mining, Ghanas mining industry continuous to be dominated and controlled by foreign interest with over 99% of mining companies being foreign, owning 90% of the shares with Government left with a paltry 10% carrying interest. Without a doubt, the Government of Ghana has since the 80s shied away from the mining sector instead of confronting this sorry narrative of our over dependence and reliance on a foreign dominated sector. This, we believe we can do, by running our own mines and/or increasing our stake in these mining companies by forcefully renegotiating existing contracts as well as future contracts in order to create and retain greater value for the citizens of this country. Sadly, we have for many years chosen the laziest man approach of over relying on a tax-royalty fiscal regime, where our only source of revenue depends on revenue generated from mining companies/activities in the country through taxes and royalties levied on revenue generated from production. In fact, on dividend payment, the least said about it the better as the so-called 10% Government carrying interests only exists on the books as many of these companies scarcely declared any dividends and in a few instances where some do, Governments share has been a minute fraction. Comrade Chair, considering the generous fiscal giveaways (including excessive repatriation of mining revenues by multinational businesses, signing of stability and development agreements, etc.) which continuous to deny Ghana its fair share of revenue under this so-called tax-royalty fiscal regime, we believe that the time has come for this narrative to change and ought to change quite swiftly. To change however would require a change in the ownership structure of mineral assets thereby shifting from our aged-long comfort zone of over dependence and reliance on a tax-royalty regime to active participation and control of production by negotiating/renegotiating a much greater stake in these mining companies in order to create and retain the needed value for the people of Ghana. Comrade Chair, furthermore, it is again common knowledge that todays mining industry is run predominantly by Ghanaian nationals. Without a shrewd of doubt, more than 95% of the mining industry workforce are Ghanaians. The question then is, why are we just focused on working for others and for how long are we going to do that?? In fact, as a Union we have advocated over the years for the full and active participation of indigenous Ghanaian businesses within the mining space with a clear plan to grow their capacities so that they can compete. We believe the intervening role of Government whether through its own direct participation in the sector or through the use of Ghanaian local businesses is a critical step towards changing this narrative from a tax-royalty regime to creating and retaining additional value through active participation and control of production within the sector. Comrades, as you may recall, in my address to this august Council in December last year, we lauded Government about its plans in its 2022 budget to increase the presence of wholly owned Ghanaian companies in the large-scale to mid-tier areas of the mining subsector. The Union did also commend Governments plan to introduce what it termed the Minerals Income Investment Fund Small Scale Mining Incubation Programme with an allocated budget of GH354 million to help transform wholly owned Ghanaian Small Scale Mining companies into mid-tier to large-scale companies over a period of 24 months beginning 1st February 2022, with up to 30% of the allocation earmarked for provision of equity capital to selected small scale mining companies. The question we ask is, where are we now and what have we done about these lofty ideas? Interestingly, our checks reveal that no such step has been taken. As usual, great plans, no action. As a key stakeholder in the mining industry, we want to call on Government to see to the realization of these lofty plans as we believe that is the way to go if we are indeed committed to seeing this nation transform. Comrade Chair, whilst advocating for greater participation for local entities operating in the mining space, it must be underscored that most local entities particularly in the industry are not attentive to the interest and wellbeing of workers as compared to their foreign counterparts. This is because, time and time again, these multinational businesses have shown more empathy and concern to people management issues. Aside their attentiveness to people management issues, they have a relatively robust system with well-established structures/standards (including corporate governance standards) that they rarely compromise and often would not hesitate to subject themselves freely to peer review and compliance with International Standards. The Union would therefore urge these local entities to be more attentive to workers wellbeing and welfare, and also institute high standards of accountability, comply with corporate governance rules and regulations, and respective international standards/best practices, in order to avert the unfortunate but avoidable situation we witnessed in the financial sector that almost led to its collapse. Increase the Share of Mineral Development Fund & Exempt it from the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act 2017 (Act 947) Comrade Chair, our campaigns continue to see results as many of the critical issues we have raised and campaigned about, continue to take centre stage in our public discourse. In fact, our vigorous campaigns on mining roads and improvement in general infrastructure in mining communities have begun to see some facelift across a few of our mining communities. I am also aware that our campaign on the need for the exemption of the MDF from Act 947 (Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act 2017) was also expected to have gone before Cabinet for a review and decision albeit that no feedback has come yet. Let us therefore renew our spirit of advocacy and campaign noting that nothing will work when a key voice such as ours decide to be silent and be determined to do even more. Comrade Chair, it is against this backdrop that the Union renews its call for the effective implementation of the Mineral Development Fund to respond to the age-long concerns of deprivation and underdevelopment in mining communities. The Union believes that the full realization of the MDF would be felt when the current lopsided sharing model of the MDF is changed, right amounts are disbursed at the right time to beneficiaries, and the capping of the Fund is exempted from the scope of the Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment Act 2017 (Act 947). Furthermore, given the lopsided sharing model of the countrys mineral royalties, there is no gainsaying that the infrastructural development efforts of mining communities can never be achieved if nothing drastic is done about the current arrangement. Consequently, we renew our call for the current 20 percent share of annual mineral royalties allocated to the Mineral Development Fund to be increased to atleast 50%. Additionally, we expect that at least 50% of the revised 50% allocation to the MDF would be directed into mining community development. In the coming weeks therefore, we will be working with a Coalition of identified groups, traditional leaders, and like-minded individuals to put forward a more forceful campaign aimed at changing this unfortunate narrative around mining community development. As I bring my address to an end, let me on behalf of the Management Committee thank all of you for your continuous support and cooperation. To our social partners present here, let me specially thank you for making the time to be here we are most grateful. Comrades, thanks for your audience and may God bless us all. Long Live the GMWU, Long Live the TUC, Long Live Ghana! 06.08.2022 LISTEN The first floor of a residential building was destroyed by fire on Saturday morning near Mascot hotel at North Kaneshie in Accra. The top floor of the building which houses three separate apartments was completely destroyed by the fire. Occupants of the house were not at home at the time the incident occurred. It took the Ghana National Fire Service one and half hours to extinguish the fire and prevent it from extending to other houses as well as an ECG substation. Speaking to Citi News, D.O1 Kofi Forson, Ag. Deputy Director of Operations at the Ghana National Fire Service indicated that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Initial reports however suggest that it started from the kitchen of one of the apartments. It took over an hour to bring the fire under control. Our men were able to confide the fire within the top floor and ensure that the fire would not spread to the adjoining building, the officer said, Just about 10 meters away, an ECG substation was there, so we needed to prevent the fire from getting to that area. Citi Newsroom Prof. Kwaku Asare, a US-based lawyer, has asked law students to boycott the Ghana School of Law exams amid reports of the undertaking they are being made to sign for the exam. Speaking on The Big Issue, he urged students to defend their LLB degrees. They can do so by boycotting this entrance examination, Prof. Asare said. They should say we want to go to our schools to be educated, or we want to educate ourselves and take the Bar exams. Prof. Asare also said the deans of law schools should also back their students by reinforcing the value of LLB degrees. He believes the LLB should qualify graduates to take the Bar exam without entrance assessments to the School of Law. The deans should defend their degrees and insist that the students are immediately eligible to sit for the Bar exams. Prof. Asare is generally against the monopoly for producing lawyers the Ghana School of Law has. Monopolies constrict output. Monopolies destroy value. Monopolies have no incentive to improve, he stressed. He maintains that the General Legal Council is denying the youth the opportunity to become lawyers to live their dream. The undertaking prepared by the General Legal Council is reported to have asked prospective students to sign an undertaking which bars them from requesting a re-mark of their papers or a review of their marks. It says: the decision of the General Legal Council in respect of the published results of the Entrance Examination shall be final. No request for re-marking of scripts, re-tallying of scores or review or marks shall be accepted. citinewsroom A clash between residential students of the Commonwealth Hall (Vandals) and Mensah Sarbah Hall (Vikings) of the University of Ghana (UG), has led to the setting ablaze of a car parked within the premises of the latter on campus. Some students have clashed in front of the Legon Hall Annex B Building at the @UnivofGh this evening. The reason why the clash occurred is not clear yet however the students were seen throwing stones and other materials at each other. #UniversNews @Ug_src pic.twitter.com/56OQq9lpHO Univers TV (@univers1057fm) August 5, 2022 pic.twitter.com/jordhv5Ugf Univers TV (@univers1057fm) August 6, 2022 The cause of the mayhem, which happened on Friday night (5 August 2022), is yet to be unravelled. Commonwealth-Mensah Sarbah Hall Clash update: The Registrar of the @UnivofGh is expected to release an official communique this afternoon on the incident and highlight measures that the university is taking to prevent a similar event from occurring. #UniversNews pic.twitter.com/x6EcXfARun Univers TV (@univers1057fm) August 6, 2022 It has been, however, established that students of Sarbah Hall celebrated Sarbahfest that day. Open investigation, arrest and prosecute. There must be an end to this. It is becoming a culture now. https://t.co/6BeJ3CbwA3 Selikem Korku Donkor (@SelikemDonkor) August 6, 2022 They went on a procession amidst singing, chanting and merrymaking. This was where the statue of John Mensah Sarbah used to be situated before it was allegedly destroyed and taken by some residents of the Commonwealth Hall during last nights clash. #UniversNews pic.twitter.com/oV4dftYDcb Univers TV (@univers1057fm) August 6, 2022 One of the Vikings, however, strayed into the hall of the Vandals and was beaten and his phone stolen. pic.twitter.com/MbWZxKE6TC Univers TV (@univers1057fm) August 6, 2022 In retaliation, a horde of angry Vikings stormed the Vandals premises to avenge their fellow Viking. This is the aftermath of the clash that happened between some residents of the Mensah Sarbah and Commonwealth Hall last night. #UniversNews pic.twitter.com/zfcJabZ1Go Univers TV (@univers1057fm) August 6, 2022 A free-for-all brawl ensued between the two halls leading to the destruction of property. UG: A vehicle at the Mensah Sarbah Hall car park has been set ablaze as a result of the clash between the Vandals and Vikings this evening. The reason for the clash is however still not clear yet. #UniversNews @Ug_src @UnivofGh pic.twitter.com/Iz5hbg13gv Univers TV (@univers1057fm) August 6, 2022 In the milieu, a car parked at Sarbah Hall was set ablaze and a statue was ransacked and taken away. Source: Classfmonline.com The Legon Police have arrested some students of the University of Ghana after a violent clash between rival halls Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah Halls. Radio Universe reported that a bust of John Mensah Sarbah, situated outside the Mensah Sarbah Hall, was stolen. The SRC Union Building sign board and newly renovated SRC notice board were also destroyed after last night's Commonwealth, Mensah Sarbah Hall clash. The two halls are known to have a bitter rivalry, which has resulted in numerous clashes over the years. It is not clear yet, what sparked the violent clash. Neither police nor the management of the University has made any statement on the development. The registrar of the University, is, however, expected to release an official communique this afternoon on the incident and highlight measures that the university is taking to prevent a similar event from occurring. By Citi Newsroom The Ga Central Municipal Assembly has demolished buildings blocking the construction of the Anyaa to Antie-Aku and Santa Maria roads. According to the assembly, the immediate demolition of the structures will help the contractor on the project to expedite work. Speaking to the media during the exercise, Municipal Chief Executive for Ga Central, Mohammed Bashiru Kamara stressed that the occupants of the buildings were given ample time to relocate. Mr. Kamara also said the demolition was long overdue. By the close of next week, the drain works will reach here, we will not allow the two buildings to be a hindrance to the progress and development to the progress of the community. Some tenants in the area, however, said their landlord did not give them enough notice to relocate from the area. They were going to demolish, and they didn't inform us? I was here all of last week, and they didnt to tell me anything. Today, how much of my property can I move, one woman said. By Citi Newsroom 06.08.2022 LISTEN The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in the Ashanti Region have intercepted a bus loaded with electricity prepaid meters that were allegedly being smuggled into the country. According to the officers, they intercepted the bus which was carrying passengers and goods from Kumasi to Aflao at Labour, one of the busy bus terminals in Kumasi on Friday. The officers said they found 117 prepaid meters hidden in the air-conditioning unit and other compartments of the bus. The officers later impounded the bus with all passengers onboard and conveyed it to the Ashanti Regional offices of the customs division. Sector Customs Commander, Assistant Commissioner Edmund Omari explained that the driver of the bus failed to stop when he was first stopped at the Customs barrier at Kubease near Ejisu. The officers have begun investigations into the incident. Meanwhile, officials of the Electricity Company of Ghana in the Ashanti Region have also begun inspecting the meters to ascertain their origination. If you need a meter, go to the ECG office if you use an illegal meter, we will catch you and when we catch you, we will fine you, Grace Garshon, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer of the ECG, said to Citi News. citinewsroom The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has dismissed 11 of its men for various infractions, including vacation of post and recruitment fraud. The dismissed officers included two senior and nine junior officers and were stationed actors in various regional and district commands. In a statement, the service assured of its commitment to uphold disciplinary standards and shall take appropriate action against recalcitrant officers. The service would like to assure the general public of its commitment to uphold the highest disciplinary standards and shall always take appropriate disciplinary action against recalcitrant officers. citinewsroom The University of Ghana (UG) has condemned the clash between students of Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah Halls on Saturday evening. In a statement, it said efforts to identify the perpetrators are ongoing, and those found culpable of breaking national laws or University regulations, will be appropriately sanctioned. Management assures the University community of its resolve to ensure that academic work and other activities proceed without hindrance, and of its commitment to safeguarding peace and stability on all campuses of the University, the statement added. Reports indicated that the Legon police have picked up some students in connection with the clash. A bust of John Mensah Sarbah, situated outside the Mensah Sarbah Hall, was stolen. The SRC Union Building sign board and newly renovated SRC notice board were also destroyed after last night's Commonwealth, Mensah Sarbah Hall clash. Find below the full statement NOTICE: CLASHES BETWEEN STUDENTS OF COMMONWEALTH AND MENSAH SARBAH HALLS Management of the University has noted with concern, yet another series of clashes between students of Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah Halls, which occurred late in the evening of Friday August 5th, and in the early morning hours of Saturday August 6th, 2022. Management condemns these needless acts of violence that have led to injuries and destruction of property, and calls on students of the two Halls to immediately halt any planned continuation of these acts. Efforts to identify the perpetrators are ongoing, and those found culpable of breaking national laws or University regulations, will be appropriately sanctioned. Management assures the University community of its resolve to ensure that academic work and other activities proceed without hindrance, and of its commitment to safeguarding peace and stability on all campuses of the University. Emelia Agyei-Mensah (Mrs.) Registrar citinewsroom August 06, 2022 China's Reaction To Pelosi's Visit Reveals Its Taiwan Conflict Plans China's response to Pelosi's visit of Taiwan continues: Taipei, Aug. 6 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on Saturday that multiple Chinese military aircraft and vessels had operated near Taiwan in the morning in what it believed to be a simulation of an attack on Taiwan's main island. In a brief press statement, the MND said multiple Chinese military aircraft and vessels conducted activities near Taiwan Saturday morning, with some of them crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait -- an unofficial buffer zone normally avoided by both Taiwanese and Chinese military aircraft and vessels. The MND added that the Chinese military was likely "simulating an attack on Taiwan's main island." The median line of the Taiwan Strait was drawn in 1955 by U.S. Airforce General Benjamin Davis. It no longer has any meaning. Marine traffic around Taiwan continues without much trouble. Taiwan's harbors are still accessible. Ships avoid the zones China had designated as target areas. bigger bigger Some people in Taiwan's news agency CNA now recognize what a real conflict with China would look like (machine translation): Experts pointed out that China's unprecedented large-scale military exercises around Taiwan now give a glimpse of how the Communist army will block off the island of Taiwan if it launches a war against Taiwan in the future, and also exposes the Chinese military. After Pelosi left Taiwan, the Communist Army issued another navigation warning, and live ammunition [will be] fired in the Yellow Sea for 10 consecutive days ... This is the first time that a Chinese military exercise has come so close to Taiwan, with some drills operating less than 20 kilometers from the coast of Taiwan. Also unprecedented is that the location of the exercise by the communist army includes the sea and airspace east of Taiwan. This is an area of strategic importance for Taiwanese troops to receive supplies and for possible U.S. reinforcements. The outside world has long speculated that one of China's preferred strategies for attacking Taiwan is a blockade. This encirclement action is to prevent any commercial and military ships and aircraft from entering or leaving Taiwan, as well as to prevent the advance of Taiwan by U.S. troops stationed in the region. Song Zhongping, an independent Chinese military analyst, said the Chinese army "obviously has all the military capabilities to enforce such a blockade". China indeed has the capability to completely blockade Taiwan. As the whole area is also under cover of China's land based ballistic missiles and in reach of its airforce a blockade is easy to establish and hard to breach. China's military is no longer the unprofessional lightly armed force that some still think it is: According to Xinhua News Agency, the Chinese military dispatched more than 100 military aircraft and more than 10 frigates and destroyers in the exercise, including the J-20 stealth fighter and the Type 055 destroyer, which are cutting-edge weapons of the Chinese Air Force and Navy, respectively. In addition, through the exercise, the PLA can test and strengthen the coordinated combat capabilities of participating troops of various services and arms, including ground, sea, air and rocket troops, as well as strategic support capabilities in charge of cyber warfare. In addition, the exercise also posed a major test to the Eastern Theater Command established by the Communist Party of China in 2016. This theater is responsible for military operations in China's entire eastern seas, and thus covers Taiwan. John Blaxland, a professor of international security at the Australian National University, told reporters that what China had displayed so far was a "great military." "They can't be dismissed as some sort of less experienced and underpowered army, they're clearly capable of coordinating land and sea operations, and capable of using missile systems and being effective," he said. Braxland said the Chinese military's exercises showed Taiwan, the United States and Japan that China "has the conditions to carry out the actions they have threatened to take." Barxland is not the only 'western' expert who is impressed by this well coordinated show of force. If one compares a potential war about Taiwan with the current NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine on can see the U.S. problems. The U.S. would likely want to avoid a direct conflict over Taiwan with a nuclear armed China, just like it avoids one with Russia in Ukraine. That is why Biden is at odds with lawmakers who want to implement some crazy Taiwan Policy Act that would commit the U.S. to the islands defense. The U.S. would rather want to help Taiwan by other means. But how? An air and sea blockade would hit Taiwan hard. Some 40% of its electricity is generated by natural gas all of which it has to import. Another large part is produced with coal which Taiwan also imports. The same goes for petroleum products. Before Pelosi landed in Taipei gas reserves on the island were enough for just 11 days. Coal and oil is easier to store but would still run out before a blockade could be lifted. Then there is food: In 2018, Taiwan's food self-sufficiency rate is only 35%. Additionally, the actual production of agricultural land in Taiwan is about 520,000 hectares, which is far from the 740,000 to 810,000 hectares target prescribed by the Ministry of Interior. As an island nation, food supply depends on international trade and is regarded as dangerous. A total blockade of Taiwan would likely bring it to its knees within a few weeks or months. Time that could be used to defeat its air force, air defenses and missiles and prevent attacks from Taiwan on China's continental assets. China does not have to invade the island. It just has to wait until it is invited to come in. In a response to a Chinese blockade of Taiwan the U.S. would likely declare a blockade of China from energy imports, i.e. oil and LPG. It could enforce this by hindering Chinese ships from passing through the Malacca Street and other maritime bottlenecks. (The second big gas pipeline that Russia is currently building to China is one of the counter moves to that threat.) In case of a blockade and counter-blockade the question becomes who could hold out longer. Here China has the advantage of greater reserves. The U.S. would also have only few allies in such a conflict. China would, like Russia is now, still be in good standing with the rest of the world. That would allow it to mitigate most consequences. Andrei Martyanov seems to think that the technologically superior U.S. submarine fleet could defeat the Chinese navy in the South China Sea. I doubt that it is still the case. It is also totally irrelevant. Submarines can not lift blockades that are enforced by land based missiles and an air force that flies under the protective air defense cover of continental China. In addition to the maneuvers China has taken political countermeasures against the U.S.: Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced the following countermeasures in response: 1. Canceling China-U.S. Theater Commanders Talk. 2. Canceling China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks (DPCT). 3. Canceling China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) meetings. 4. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on the repatriation of illegal immigrants. 5. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on legal assistance in criminal matters. 6. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation against transnational crimes. 7. Suspending China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation. 8. Suspending China-U.S. talks on climate change Calls by the Pentagon chiefs to China now go unanswered. The U.S. wants to further provoke China with another warship passage through the Taiwan Strait. But China's legal understanding is that an uninvited military passage through its economic zone is not allowed. The U.S. makes the same claim when it comes to its own economic zone. As China has broken off all military communication with the U.S. the risk of a passage is now much higher. One should not be astonished when China reacts to it. Posted by b on August 6, 2022 at 16:37 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page Excavation safety will be the focus on Excavation Safety Day, held every August 11. Midland Colleges Petroleum Professional Development Center is participating in a special event at the Ward County Event Center in Monahans beginning at 8 a.m. The event is presented by the Damage Prevention Council of Texas. Safety Day on August 11 annually coincides with the telephone number to call 811 before digging. Partnering with Texas811 for Excavation Safety Day is a great opportunity for the PPDC to extend our community outreach with the Damage Prevention Council of Texas and STEPS while bringing our safety and risk management classes to the public, Erin Van Evera-Welch, director of the Midland College PPDC, explained. Our classes are open to the Permian Basin community, and we provide continuing education for everyonenot just those who work directly in the petroleum industry. At the event, PPDC will present information about its Risk Management Institute safety courses, which last half a day or up to five days. Van Evera-Welch said safety topics include OSHA courses, CPR/AED/first aid for adults, children and infants, held in both English and Spanish. Courses are also offered in the SafeLand USA program, H2S Clear program and WellSharp Well Control from the International Association of Drilling Contractors and IADCs Basin United, which is held in both English and Spanish. Upcoming courses will be offered on forklift training and incident/accident investigation, which will debut in September. We are always seeking new subject matters of interest that we can provide instruction for, Van Evera-Welch told the Reporter-Telegram by email. We encourage industry companies to collaborate with us in order for us to be suiting the upskilling needs of their employees. We will be seeking Advisory Committee members in Fall 2022 and I encourage industry member companies to partner with the PPDC. At the Monahans event, the center will also be presenting information about the Permian Basin STEPS Service, Transportation, Exploration and Production Safety network. The group meets monthly in the Carrasco Room on Midland Colleges main campus., Texas811 is nonprofit and member-driven, including over 2,000 utility and municipal members. It serves all 254 counties in Texas by providing around-the-clock bilingual availability to notify member companies of planned excavation near underground utility lines. Staff with University Lands have had their hands full overseeing activity on 2.1 million acres that span 19 West Texas counties. It is a task that dates back to the Republic of Texas when 220,000 acres were set aside for the establishment and endowment of a university. By 1883 that grant had grown to 2.1 million acres that now benefits over 20 educational and health institutions across the University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems. It is one of the largest university endowments in the nation. It should be recognized as Texans are all beneficiaries of the educational medical innovations funded by the endowment, said Richard Brantley, senior vice president of operations at University Land, during the monthly Oilfield Strong webinar presented by OTA Environmental Solutions. He estimated 90 percent of revenues come from mineral leases for energy development. In fact, the first commercial well in the Permian Basin the legendary Santa Rita No. 1 was drilled on university acreage near Texon, he noted. The agency used to have twice-a-year lease sales that as the unconventional shale play began to take off, were bringing in upwards of $100 million. The sales were essentially halted, Brantley said, because acreage was essentially leased up. It became a land play, he said. All of a sudden, most of the prospective land was leased up and stayed that way awhile. Some tracts have been returned and University Lands plans a lease sale of 600 tracts on October 18. There are still 1.6 million acres still under lease, he noted, with thousands of leases and hundreds of operators at work on university-held lands. Brantley said the agency now has a deadline where operators are obligated to drill and complete wells within a certain timeline. He acknowledged the industry is facing issues with supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages that could hinder timely of wells. Everyone understands the dynamics of the business, its feast or famine, he said. We understand the dynamics and try to work with people, but again development policy is development policy. When it comes to the agencys surface rights, leasing has been done for a broad range of purposes, from construction of schools, hospitals and churches to ranching activity and even wineries. Renewable energy is a growing source of revenue thanks to wind and solar energy developments on university lands. The agency is also able to supply water to several West Texas municipalities from aquifers on its lands. Brantley noted there are a number of pipelines crossing university lands carrying Permian Basin production from the Delaware Basin to the Gulf Coast. Environmental issues have really increased, noted Grant Swartzwelder, president of OTA, and different universities are under pressure over how they handle ESG Environmental, Governance and Social issues and he suspected University of Texas and Texas A&M are no exceptions. Brantley observed that there have been environmental issues in the past but he pointed out technological advances that have improved monitoring for emissions. He said he is also proud of the agencys track record on managing ground water, saying its important to protect West Texas freshwater zones. While the agency doesnt operate wells itself or try to act as a policeman over the operators who do, Brantley said they ensure those operators follow regulations from agencies like the Railroad Commission and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The agency also has strict covenants requiring operators to demonstrate no harm to human health and safety. What Brantley said he hopes to achieve is for companies we contract with to be successful, make sure we dont intrude on their ability to meet peoples needs. He continued, If someone has an issue, we dont have dollar signs in our eyes and say in that moment, pay us or lose the lease. It goes back to being for the public, let operators work efficiently and not let projects die on the vine. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 NPS / C. Hoyt Show More Show Less 2 of 3 NPS / C. Hoyt Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The National Park Service announced Friday the opening of the Lone Mountain Trail. The moderately challenging 3-mile loop goes around the base of Lone Mountain -- an imposing feature just north of park headquarters at Panther Junction, according to a press release. With only 200 feet of elevation, the trail will be a good hiking destination for families with children. Lone Mountain Trail can be accessed 1 mile north of Panther Junction. Hikers will be able to see views of the Chisos, Rosillos and Dead Horse Mountains, along with the volcanic features of Lone Mountain and the wide variety of desert plants and animals, according to the press release. FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) A former Colorado police officer who did not stop another officer from being rough with a 73-year-old woman with dementia was sentenced Friday to 45 days in jail and three years of probation. Daria Jalali earlier pleaded guilty in the arrest of Karen Garner in Loveland, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Denver, in 2020. She had faced up to 60 days in jail for failing to intervene, a crime created by lawmakers as part of a police reform bill passed during protests over racial injustice and police brutality in 2020. Former officer Austin Hopp arrested Garner after she left a store without paying for about $14 worth of items. Police body camera video released last year shows Garner repeatedly saying that she was trying to go home. After Garner turns away from him, the footage shows Hopp grabbing her arm and pushing her to the ground and handcuffing her. Later, he pushed her against the hood of his car and, after she tries to turn around, he moves her bent left up arm up near her head. Soon after, Garner began to slump toward the ground. Jalali, who arrived after Garner was handcuffed, says, Stand up! Were not going to hold you. Hopp was sentenced in May to five years in prison for his treatment of Garner. Loveland settled a lawsuit filed by Garner for $3 million. Her family has said her condition deteriorated after her arrest and she requires around-the-clock care as a result. Jalali apologized to Garner and her family in court, the Loveland Reporter-Herald reported. She told Judge Joshua Lehman that she thought Garner was intoxicated and believed Garner was only complaining about her handcuffs so she could get out of them. I wanted to be a good police officer and my heart was in the right place, but I still came up short, she said. Jalali's lawyer, Anna Geigle, said Loveland police and another department let her stay on the job despite a pattern of poor performance recorded in her personnel files. A neuropsychological evaluation showed Jalali did not have the psychological makeup to act with the precision and awareness expected of police officers, she said. Lehman said Jalali should have known Garner was a delicate woman suffering from a mental health issue. She just sounds out of it and terrified to me, he said after watching body camera footage from the arrest for the first time in court. The fact that two law enforcement officers couldnt comprehend that is incomprehensible to me. Garner's son, John Steward, told the judge Jalali had no idea of the stress, pain and sadness the arrest has caused his family. We all have choices to make in life, and all our choices have consequences, he said. I ask that justice be served for my mom today. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) The owner of a North Dakota abortion clinic that faces closure this month was directing traffic and deliveries Friday at its planned new location a few miles away in Minnesota. The Red River Women's Clinic, which has been operating on a busy downtown Fargo street since 1998, will close that location on Aug. 26 unless a judge blocks a North Dakota trigger law banning abortion. In the meantime, a move is already underway just over 2 miles (3 kilometers) away to a three-story brick office building in the middle of a commercial area. Clinic owner Tammi Kromenaker declined to talk about details of the Moorhead facility, promising a statement later during what she said was a busy day of deliveries scheduled. As she spoke, a moving truck pulled up on the street and a junk removal truck drove through a parking lot. Some abortion rights supporters in North Dakota still hope Kromenaker's clinic can prevail in a lawsuit alleging that abortion is protected by that states constitution. No hearing is yet scheduled. Though Kromenaker previously said she would move only if litigation fails, the statement she gave later Friday suggested she's fully committed to relocation. Red River Womens Clinic has found our new home, she said. We could not be prouder to be able to continue to provide abortion care to our community and the region. This has not been an easy undertaking. She added: As the lights go out on legal abortion in North Dakota, we want to assure everyone that Red River Womens Clinic is here to stay. Abortion care will continue to be available in our region." The clinics relocation has been boosted by $1 million in GoFundMe donations. Kromenaker said she looked for a new location to rent or buy for more than a year and that she ultimately had to buy an office building larger than needed. She said it would be up to other tenants whether they stay. She said renting space to compatible tenants would give the clinic long-term financial stability. The building appeared mostly empty Friday. Kromenaker has declined to say when the new clinic would be ready, but has said patients will see no interruption in services. Minnesota Republican state Rep. Tim Miller, the director of an anti-abortion coalition that opposes the new clinic, told The Associated Press he plans to challenge the city on its zoning and planning rules. I just find it hard to believe that that an office building can suddenly become a clinic where theyre doing abortions, Miller said. That just seems too simplistic for me. Destini Spaeth, the volunteer leader of the North Dakota Women In Need, which helps patients pay for travel costs, said the Moorhead facility will be the clinic that the community built. In the end, I think people needed somewhere to put their action and their rage into something good, Spaeth said. And I know we all we all felt so helpless. And this felt like something tangible that we could see and make possible. boonchai wedmakawand/Getty Images MIDLAND, Texas (AP) A Texas man has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for attacking an Asian family in 2020 because he thought they were Chinese and therefore responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, according to federal court records Jose Gomez III, 21, of Midland, Texas, was sentenced Thursday after pleading guilty to three counts of committing a hate crime. Editors Note: The following is the first of two stories about a conversation with Tracee Bentley with the Permian Strategic Partnership about the possibility of the creation of a regional health care complex. -- Yes, the Permian Strategic Partnership is working on the possible creation of a transformative health care hub for Midland-Odessa. However, media reports up to this point have lacked other detail, fueling speculation and misconceptions that officials wanted to address. Permian Strategic Partnership Executive Director Tracee Bentley talked to the Reporter-Telegram this week about the years the coalition of 17 energy companies have spent on improving health care in the region, an assessment that pointed out some gaping holes here in Midland-Odessa, the potential of a regional approach and the extremely long-term project that officials are talking about. Bentley said medical leaders in Midland and Odessa have been consulted and are working with the Permian Strategic Partnership, the Scharbauer Foundation, the University of Texas System and the Texas Tech University Health Sciences System. She also added the No. 1 concern regardless of what happens with this hub is getting a planned behavioral health center across the finish line. Officials have said the state has committed $40 million of the $90 million needed for a mental health facility unlike anything that exists in Midland-Odessa or the region. That facility is also the focus of officials with Midland Health, the Ector County Hospital District and foundation officials across the region. The Behavioral Health Center is the first piece to a potential health care hub, Bentley told the Reporter-Telegram. And we think it makes good sense that wherever the behavioral health center lands is a good place to potentially put more things like a pediatric center or a cancer center or new nursing lab, you get my drift. The behavioral health center could be a cornerstone for what is in our future, potentially. An assessment tells the story The Permian Strategic Partnership has already spent more than $41 million on health care initiatives across the region. The last of the list PSP health care projects offered to the Reporter-Telegram was $700,000 on an assessment completed by Chartis, which according to the companys website is the nations leading health care advisory firm with an unparalleled breadth of capabilities and depth of experience. Chartis assessment was the result of work over around two years. Bentley said pretty significant gaps were pointed out, including access to behavioral health care first and foremost. Other deficiencies included access to specialty care, rural health care facilities struggling with connectivity and primary care access. The assessment also showed that almost 50% of people leave the region for health care, specifically for specialty reasons. We don't think that it needs to be that way, Bentley said. We think that over time, we can recruit the specialists and we can recruit the talent. The assessment pointed out that the Midland-Odessa metropolitan area has one of the lowest health care economies among all metropolitan areas in the entire U.S., according to Bentley. So, if the Midland Odessa health care economy was on par with the national average, our total health care economy would be about $4.5 billion, Bentley said. We're about $1.5 billion short of being on par with the national average. We also know, when you invest in health care like other places have done, it helps your overall economy, you live in a much healthier place, and it creates economic diversity, which even my companies would say is a great and healthy thing. Lastly, the assessment pointed out that a regional approach to health care could benefit the region as there were duplicative efforts that made health care less efficient. And really, as we started looking at the assessment, we thought, why aren't we thinking bigger? Bentley said. All eyes are on the Permian Basin right now. And they're going to continue to be for the foreseeable future. We think it's our duty to make sure that we continue to do what we do best, which is produce clean and reliable energy and that we've got to have a healthy community in order to be able to do that. They are big, lofty goals Should officials in Midland-Odessa do more than fill gaps in regional health care and attempt to make the Permian Basin a health care destination with a world-class center for health care, it would not happen overnight. Should the communities decide to create options for women and children, cancer patients, trauma, a teaching hospital or other things that bring people from across the region to Midland-Odessa, the timeframe is closer to 15-20 years (if at all). But I think if we don't do any, we're not doing ourselves a service by not investigating whether or not these things are even possible, Bentley said. Maybe the answer comes back and it is just too big of a stretch for the Permian to host something like this. But at least we know. And at least we did our homework. Nobody is saying that any of this is inevitable, except for the behavioral health center. Bentley talked about there are no plans about emptying buildings (contradicting media reports from earlier in the week) of any health care facility in Midland-Odessa. She said it is entirely premature to determine specifics, including location, project price or project plans. Officials with the hospital districts in both Midland and Odessa would agree as tax money they currently receive could only be diverted to a Permian Basin health organization with the approval of voters. Higher level conversations are what is taking place right now, Bentley said. Those conversations would then likely involve state lawmakers to what investment the legislature would be willing to make or as local residents say, how much of the money the Permian Basin sends to Austin could be sent back to take care of health care in the region. During the last session, organizations like the PSP and the Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance helped lobby to make roadway commitments in excess of $600 million possible. The regional also received that $40 million for a mental health facility. Bentley said there has been participation from those at Midland Health, MCH in Odessa and at more rural hospitals across southeast New Mexico and West Texas. Should be the plan continue forward, more comments from the community will be required. As we start to sift through more information and the assessment, and really kind of hone in on what is feasible and what is not feasible, we had planned to absolutely have discussions and engage the community, Bentley said. Coming Tuesday: The conversation addresses the assessments look at emergency care in the region, the PSPs investment in health care and other potential obstacles that must be overcome. Midland Mayor Patrick Payton will not run for mayor. I cant say I am terribly surprised, and I wish him the best in future endeavors. Lets remember that Payton still has five months as mayor, so lets try to avoid talking about him in the past tense. Still, elections are coming up, and candidates will talk about the future, so we can all be forgiven if it appears we are moving on. Paytons announcement comes in the midst of the sign-up period for city election, and there will be some that talk about the timing of his announcement. Two things can be true. First, Payton deserved every opportunity to consider whether he wanted to run. If it happened today or two months ago, great. I also dont hold it against the man for changing his mind. Midland didnt need a mayor whose heart wasnt in it or who would have been distracted from the task at hand. At the same time, Payton didnt give much notice for those interested in running for the position. Election Day is Nov. 1. Early voting for the election will begin Oct. 17. That provides a person 72 days to get their name out, educate people on their platform and inspire people to vote. They also must raise money (potentially six figures) and do the operations needed to do the three things previously mentioned. This means it will be nearly impossible for a person with little name recognition to win a plurality and become the next mayor. This race is important to Midland, but it will get lost in the sheer amount of media especially online -- that is the governors race between Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto ORourke. There will not be the attention span in this or just about any other community in Texas to introduce and educate tens of thousands of potential voters to new local contestants, and that is what makes it different than even the city council races of 2021. Voters, specifically less informed voters casting a ballot in the Abbott-ORourke race, are likely to go with their gut instinct in this race about known commodities down the ballot. Still in the space of 24 hours between Thursday and Friday, what appeared to be a pretty boring city election cycle turned on a dime with one person saying, Im out. There will be a new mayor and new representative of District 4. Still, more interest in what is taking place at the local level is good for communities. This is no different. -- The Reporter-Telegram is again planning complete coverage of local races. For those participating in Midland ISD and City of Midland races, we will offer op-ed opportunities to offer their thoughts about important issues. When youre looking for tickets for your next business trip or a family vacation, you might find some moderately-priced options from JetBlue, which is the 7th largest airline in North America. JetBlue is whats known as a low-cost airline. Note that this is a subtle but important difference compared to ultra-low-cost airlines like Spirit, Allegiant, or Frontier. With those other no-frills airlines mentioned, there are strict limits on who can bring a carry-on and how much extra its going to cost to do so. But JetBlue is a level above that in terms of whats included in ticket pricing, much more similar to major airlines, though there are a few things to keep in mind about carry-on size, price, restrictions, and more. In fact, JetBlue has one of the most unique carry-on policies in the industry, at least for its most affordable ticket option. Lets dive in. JetBlue carry-on policy Just like with other airlines such as American or Delta, most JetBlue passengers are allowed one carry-on bag and one personal item while they fly. But thats only if they opt for Blue, Blue Etra, Blue Plus, or Mint ticket fares. If you fly Blue Basic, you will not be allowed a carry-on bag at all, not even for an additional fee. Like all other airlines, JetBlue carry-on bags must be safely stowed in the overhead compartment when you board or under the seat in front of you. All personal items must fit under the seat in front of you as well. JetBlue does not offer closet storage for any hanging garments like dresses or suits. JetBlue offers all passengers flying domestically (except Basic Blue) a guarantee that their carry-on will make it on board, regardless of overhead bin space. If the bag does not make it onboard, youll be granted a $25 JetBlue Travel Bank credit. JetBlue carry-on size Like most other airlines in the country, JetBlue has carry-on size restrictions that reflect the recommendation on the FAAs website. Carry-on bags must not have any dimensions larger than 22 x 14 x 9 (55.88cm x 35.56cm x 22.86cm). Having most airlines adopt these same carry-on size limits makes it easy since you can fly multiple airlines with the same bag. Not only does it make your travel experience easier, but it also makes shopping for carry-on bags much easier! Here are some great options to consider as your next carry-on bag: Away Carry On Suitcase US Traveler Rio 2-Piece Softside Luggage Set Protege Arendale Rolling Spinner Suitcase Wrangler El Dorado Luggage Set Kenneth Cole REACTION Madison Square Hardside Luggage JetBlue personal item size Most airlines dont actually put a size limit on your personal item other than that it must fit under the seat in front of you. JetBlue, however, is one of the few that does limit its size, with maximum dimensions of 17 x 13 x 8 (43.2cm x 33.0cm x 20.32cm). The good thing here is that those dimensions are actually pretty big for a personal item, so you should still be able to bring whatever type of item you want. Some good examples of personal items include backpacks, totes, purses, laptop cases, briefcases, and more. Check a few of these personal item options out: Expandable Overnight Bag BoardingBlue Underseat Duffel Bag Matein Travel Backpack L.L.Bean Travel Backpacks and Totes JetBlue carry on weight limit Even though the airline has more carry-on restrictions than some other companies, there is currently no weight limit on carry-on bags or personal items. The only caveat to this is that if your carry-on doesnt fit under the seat in front of you, it must be light enough for you to safely lift it into the overhead compartment by yourself if assistance is not available. JetBlue Basic Economy carry-on rules As mentioned above, JetBlue Blue Basic (which is JetBlues economy ticket option) passengers are not allowed carry-on bags at all, not even for an additional fee. If you show up at the gate with a bag as a Blue Basic passenger, youll be forced to gate check it for $65 $180 depending on how many other bags you have checked. This policy is different compared to most other airlines who either offer free carry-ons to all passengers or, at the very least, allow them to pay a baggage fee and still fly with a carry-on. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. You can fly Blue Basic and bring a carry-on bag under the following exceptions: US Active military members Minors traveling on their own JetBlue Mosaic customers Blue Basic fares combined with an Even More Space seat Passengers traveling to and from London JetBlue carry-on liquids JetBlue, like all other US airlines, follows rules set forth by the TSA when it comes to traveling with liquids in carry-on luggage. This is commonly known as the 3-1-1 Rule or 3-1-1 Directive and encompasses the following: Liquids are limited to 3.4oz/100mL containers All liquid containers must fit in one quart-sized resealable transparent plastic bag There can only be one bag of liquids in each carry-on If youre in a rush to get packed, you can just put your liquids in a quart-sized Ziploc bag you might have gathering dust in your pantry. But there are also some better options out there that are designed specifically for this purpose: Container Store 1-Quart Resealable Clear Bags with Zippers L.L.Bean Sea to Summit Travelling Light Clear Zip-Top Pouch 3-1-1 Travel Bags on Amazon Alex Jones attempts to answer questions about his emails asked by Mark Bankston, lawyer for Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, during trial at the Travis County Courthouse, Austin, Texas, Aug. 3, 2022. Although some groups have resumed meetings, others schedules may have changed because of pandemic restrictions. It is recommended you contact the group in advance to verify details. Any changes in meeting schedules can be emailed to JJCsocial@myjournalcourier.com. ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 217-370-4002 Jacksonville locations: First Baptist Church, 1701 Mound Ave. Wheelchair-accessible. Club HOW, 638 S. Church St. Monday Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW. Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at First Baptist Church. Bowen Group. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Tuesday Open discussion, noon at Club HOW. Womens open meeting, 5:30 p.m., First Christian Churchs Fireside Room. VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 7 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, Main and Washington streets. ROODHOUSE: Closed discussion, 12-step/12 traditions, 8 p.m. at Grace Center, 114 W. Palm St. Wednesday Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Thursday Closed discussion, 7:30 a.m. at Club HOW. Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Newcomers Group. Friday Closed discussion, noon at Club HOW. TGIF Group. Closed discussion, 5:15 p.m., Big Book Study at Club HOW. VIRGINIA: Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at United Methodist Church, 401 E. Broadway Ave. Saturday Open speaker, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. Open meeting, noon at Club HOW. Sunday Closed discussion, 8 p.m. at Club HOW. 12 & 12 Group. Closed discussion, 10 a.m. at Club HOW. (Second Sunday is open) SPRINGFIELD: AA for Women, 10 a.m. at Discovery Club, 313 W. Cook St. AL-ANON Meetings are nonsmoking and open to anyone. The only requirement is that there be a problem of alcohol with a loved one or friend. 217-248-6434. Wednesday Al-Anon, 7:30-8:30 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 331 E. State St. (use Morgan Street entrance). NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS All meetings are nonsmoking. Not affiliated with any religious organization. Jacksonville locations: First Christian Church, 2106 S. Main St. (enter through far southeast door). 217-883-1975. Lutheran Church for the Deaf, 104 Finley St. (enter through back door). 217-883-1975. Wednesday Open discussion group, 8 p.m. at Lutheran Church for the Deaf. Friday Open discussion group, 7:30 p.m. at First Christian Church. OTHER MEETINGS Monday Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. at Faith Tabernacle, 571 Sandusky St. Use side entrance to church hall. PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 7-8 p.m. in the basement of Subway in Pittsfield. 1-800-323-1388. Tuesday Jacksonville Sunrise Rotary, 7 a.m. Holiday Inn Express meeting room, South Jacksonville. 217-243-6895. Bereavement support group, 10-11 a.m. Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 4. Jacksonville Area Landlords Association (JALA), 6 p.m. at the Morgan County Fairgrounds grandstand. Social time at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call 217-243-1409 or 217-248-5416. Wednesday Breastfeeding support group, 6 p.m., Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Meeting Room 2. ROODHOUSE: Women with Hearts of Love (WWHOL), 6-7 p.m. at House of Restoration, 208 W. Franklin St. 217-602-1670. Thursday Jacksonville Area Chess Club, 6-9 p.m. at Jacksonville Public Library. 217-370-0882. St. Johns UCC Grief Group: 7 p.m., St. Johns UCC, 216 North St., Brighton. Free | Support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one. Jacksonville Kiwanis Club, noon at Hamiltons. WHITE HALL: Addicts Victorious, teens 5:30-6:30 p.m.; adults 7-8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of New Life Church, 626 Curtis St. Friday Jacksonville Rotary Club, noon at Hamiltons. PITTSFIELD: Addicts Victorious, 6 p.m. at Assembly of God, 575 Piper St. 800-323-1388. Saturday Jacksonville Amateur Radio Societys Net, 9 p.m. Transmitted on K9JX repeater. K9JX.com. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) Kenyans are voting Tuesday to choose a successor to President Uhuru Kenyatta after a decade in power. The race is close and could go to a runoff for the first time. One top candidate is Raila Odinga, an opposition leader in his fifth run for the presidency who is supported by his former rival Kenyatta. The other is William Ruto, Kenyattas deputy who fell out with the president. Both tend to focus far more on domestic issues, raising the question of how either will follow up on Kenyatta's diplomatic efforts to quell the tensions in neighboring Ethiopia or disputes between Rwanda and Congo. WHATS AT STAKE? Kenya is East Africas economic hub and home to about 56 million people. The country has a recent history of turbulent elections. Even then, it stands out for its relative stability in a region where some elections are deeply challenged and longtime leaders such as Rwandan President Paul Kagame and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni have been declared the winner with almost 99% of votes, or been widely accused of physically cracking down on contenders. Kenya has no transparency in campaign donations or spending. Some candidates for Parliament and other posts are estimated to be spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to gain access to power and its benefits, both legal and illegal. WHAT ARE THE MAIN CANDIDATES' PLATFORMS? The 55-year-old Ruto promotes himself to the young and poor as a hustler who rose from humble beginnings as a chicken seller in contrast to the elite backgrounds of Kenyatta and Odinga. He seeks greater agricultural productivity and financial inclusion. Agriculture is a main driver of Kenyas economy and about 70% of the rural workforce is in farming. In his final campaign speech on Saturday, he said if elected, his government will deploy 200 billion shillings ($1.6 billion) a year to increase job opportunities. The 77-year-old Odinga, famous for being jailed while fighting for multi-party democracy decades ago, has promised cash handouts to Kenyas poorest and more accessible health care for all. In his final campaign speech on Saturday, he said that if elected, his government in its first 100 days would begin paying 6,000 shillings ($50) to families living below the poverty line. WHAT DO VOTERS CARE ABOUT? Odinga and Ruto have long circled among contenders for the presidency, and there is a measure of apathy among Kenyans, especially younger ones in a country where the median age is about 20. The electoral commission signed up less than half of the new voters it had hoped for, just 2.5 million. Key issues in every election include widespread corruption and the economy. Kenyans have been hurt by rising prices for food and fuel in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine, and that comes after the financial pain of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than a third of the countrys youth are unemployed. WHEN WILL KENYA HAVE A WINNER? Official results will be announced within a week of the vote. To win outright, a candidate needs more than half of all votes and at least 25% of the votes in more than half of Kenyas 47 counties. No outright winner means a runoff election within 30 days. The previous presidential election in 2017 made history when a top court overturned the results and ordered a new vote, a first in Africa. If the courts again call for a new vote, such an election would take place within 60 days of the ruling. Candidates or others have a week after the results are declared to file a petition to the court, which has two weeks to rule on it. I want you to know that we as a country are at an inflection point, Odinga told the crowd listening to his campaign speech Saturday. Either something very good will happen or something terrible will happen. He vowed to shake the hand of his rivals whether he wins or loses. Ruto said Saturday he will respect the decision of the people of Kenya and won't accept violence or participate in anything that undermines the constitution. Police work is nothing to laugh at law enforcement is among the most dangerous of occupations but Jacksonville's first police chief had a name that brings a smile. Peter Rabbitt was the first to hold the position of police chief in the city. His unusual surname, however, did not detract from his ability, and he earned both professional and political respect. Rabbitt, whose name sometimes is spelled with one T, was born in Jacksonville on Dec. 3, 1854, soon after his parents settled in the city from Ireland. He attended Catholic schools as a youth. One account says he was one of the first students to enroll in Jacksonville Business College after its establishment in 1866. That same account describes Rabbitt as an honest, industrious young man." Those qualities certainly helped his career and, in 1880, he was named to the Jacksonville police force. The next year, a Quincy newspaper listed his position as marshal. Also in 1881, he married his wife, Tillie, a 23-year-old Iowa native. Voters apparently were satisfied with his performance and re-elected him multiple times. A Democrat, Rabbitt ran well in a local Republican landslide in 1883, winning re-election by just five votes. The Jacksonville Daily Courier reported that Rabbitt did excellent service in the police department of the city, and as a detective he was regarded as one of the most efficient of the profession. In 1887, Mayor James Willard appointed Rabbitt as the first chief of police in Jacksonville history. Including Rabbitt, the entire force numbered five men, who together were charged with protecting a city of more than 12,000 people. Rabbitt, however, was not on the job for long. He repeatedly clashed with Willards successor and was relieved of his duties as chief in 1889. Still only 35, Rabbitt moved on to other pursuits. He became a successful contractor with projects across central Illinois, including paving the streets of Litchfield, in Montgomery County. Life in the 19th century posed its own set of hazards. In November 1892, the Courier reported that two small boys were driving a team attached to an empty coal wagon belonging to (Rabbitt) when the horses became frightened at a passing locomotive. The boys lost control of the team as the wagon finally struck an obstruction and was turned completely upside down. Though the boys were caught under the wagon, the young fellows crept out from under the heap with scarcely a scratch, to the amazement of onlookers. Rabbitt, however, had more serious problems. Around that time, according to the Courier, his mind became unbalanced, allegedly a result of over brain work. As a result, he was committed to the Central Hospital for the Insane. Unfortunately, Rabbitts emotional struggles did not improve and he was hampered by a succession of strokes of paralysis, each one worse than the last. By 1895, his condition had declined further and, that Dec. 7, he was rendered unconscious by another stroke. On Dec. 9, with his condition grave, he was sent to his home on East Lafayette Avenue, but it was clear that he would not last. He died at 12:15 a.m. Dec. 10. Rabbitt was just 41. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, a stark ending to one of the legendary police careers in city history. In 1999, Morgan County Historical Society and Jacksonville Police Department members erected a modern stone on Rabbitts grave, denoting his service to the city. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) John Rensenbrink, a Maine political scientist and conservationist who co-founded the Green Party of the United States, has died. He was 93. Rensenbrink, of Topsham, died in hospice, surrounded by his family, the national Green Party said. An obituary in the Bangor Daily News stated that Rensenbrink died of an illness July 30. Rensenbrink helped convene the first Green Party meeting in the United States, which took place in Maine in 1984, the national party said in a statement. He also helped form the Maine Green Party, which was the first state-level Green Party and is now known as the Maine Green Independent Party, its members said. Rensenbrink taught political philosophy and history at Bowdoin College in Maine for decades and helped found the new political party out of frustration with the Democratic Party and a desire to crusade in favor of peace and the environment. Past and present members of the Green Party remembered him as a tireless activist and a pivotal figure in the development of Green organizing. John Rensenbrink for decades embodied the best of American progressive politics linking thought to action, and motivating Greens from the local to the national and international levels, government reform advocate Ralph Nader, who twice ran for president on Green tickets, said in a statement. Rensenbrink was born in Pease, Minnesota, to a dairy farming family. He earned a doctorate from University of Chicago and settled in Maine in the 1960s. He ran for U.S. Senate in 1996, earning about 4% of the vote in an election won by Republican Sen. Susan Collins, who continues to serve today. He also managed political campaigns and was elected as the Maine Green Party's first co-chair, the state party said in a statement. Not only did he revolutionize third-party politics in the United States, he also showed us how to recontextualize our views of ourselves outside conventional structures of politics and economics," said Fred McCann, who is co-chair of the Maine Green Independent Party today. Rensenbrink's obituary states that there will be a memorial gathering in his honor in September. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the state party is called the Maine Green Independent Party, not the Maine Green Independence Party. Overnight reports from Jacksonville police: Three charged in fight: One woman was arrested and two others were cited after police were called to a fight at West Morgan Depot, 213 W. Morgan St., about 11:55 p.m. Friday. Desmaria L. Harris, 18, of Jacksonville and Kayleigh D. Horrighs, 21, of Jacksonville were cited on charges of disorderly conduct, according to police reports. Jayla A. White, 21, of 703 W. Beecher Ave. was arrested on a charge of resisting or obstructing a peace officer after police said she refused several orders to leave the area after being involved in the disturbance. Race against time: Police were called at 9:02 p.m. Friday about a car speeding in the 1200 block of West Morton Avenue, swerving in and out of traffic and ignoring a stoplight. The driver told police he was trying to get to Home Depot before it closed. Police did not say if he made it. Park assault: A man told police that a woman who is a friend was hit by another man in Community Park about 7:25 p.m. Friday. The woman had minor injuries, but declined to press charges, according to police. Waistband weapon: A concerned caller told police there was a boy walking near South Clay Avenue and Laurel Drive with a weapon in his waistband about 6:30 p.m. Friday. It ended up being a BB gun, police said, which the juvenile turned over to a family member. Ride swiped: A vehicle was stolen from the 700 block of East Chambers Street about 8 p.m. Friday. Kameleon007/Getty Images/iStockphoto PITTSFIELD Seven Pike County students have received 10 scholarships from funds managed by the Farmers State Bank Trust Department, according to the bank. Adileigh West, a 2022 Pittsfield High School graduate, received the Helen and Forrest Baughman Educational Trust Scholarship, created through the will of Forrest Baughman to benefit Pittsfield High School students planning to pursue a career in a medical field. West was chosen based on her character, scholastic average, financial need, leadership, service to her high school and earnestness and desire for further educational advancement. West also received the Louella Mae Dixon Scholarship, created through the will of Louella Mae Dixon to benefit graduating Pike County seniors. She was selected for the Dixon scholarship based on financial need, goodness of character and scholastic achievement. Nathan Scranton, a 2022 Pittsfield High School graduate, received the Barnes Scholarship. Sammy and Ellen Barnes were longtime Pittsfield residents who believed in the importance of higher education and wanted to alleviate some of the financial burden for deserving Pittsfield High School students. The scholarship, established under the will of Ellen Barnes, is available to graduating seniors of Pittsfield High School who participated in band, chorus or IHSA music contests each of their four years of high school. Josi Simmerman, a 2022 Western High School graduate, received the Earle Seaborn Scholarship, established under the will of Delma Seaborn Mink, who taught in various Pike County schools. It is given to a student who will attend a leading university in Illinois. Selection is based on financial need, scholarship, leadership, service to his or her high school, character, and earnestness and desire for educational advancement. Marissa Burdick, a 2022 Pittsfield High School graduate, was awarded the Glen and Ada Schnepf Scholarship, established under the will of Glen and Ada Schnepf. The recipient must attend a state college or university in Illinois. Selection is based on financial need, scholarship, leadership ability, character and desire to further educational advancement. The scholarship is renewable. T.J. Reel, a 2022 Pittsfield High School graduate, received the Cox Scholarship, established under the will of William H.H. and Edith Cox. Recipients must attend an Illinois state college or university. Selection is based on financial need, scholarship, leadership ability, character and desire to further educational advancement. The scholarship is renewable. Emma Saxe, a 2022 Pittsfield High School graduate; West and Simmerman each received the Hack-Miller Pike County Educational Trust Scholarship. The scholarship was established under the William Hack and Elizabeth Miller Family Educational Trust to benefit a graduate of a Pike County school. Selection is based on community service, leadership, character, academic achievement, job experience and financial need. Raegan Smithers, a 2022 Pittsfield High School graduate, was awarded the Geneva McRill Scholarship, established under the will of Geneva McRill to benefit Pike County graduating seniors who are planning to become a lawyer, a medical doctor or a minister. Selection is based on character, scholastic average, leadership, service to his or her high school, financial need, earnestness and desire for educational advancement. During more than 51 years of administration of scholarship programs, Farmers State Bank Trust Services has provided more than $971,130 to Pike County students, according to the bank. Role of race contested in killing of Nigerian man in Italy View Photo CIVITANOVA MARCHE, Italy (AP) Two marches Saturday in a well-to-do Italian Adriatic beach town both sought justice in the brutal daylight killing of a Nigerian man at the hands of an Italian stranger but were divided by one word: Racism. One march by Nigerians living in Italys Macerata province was led by victim Alika Ogorchukwus tearful widow and joined by two of his brothers. Organizers of that march said they did not want the search for justice to be clouded by accusations of racism that they feel cannot be proven. The second march, along same route an hour later, was led by Black Italians from all over Italy who demanded that Italian authorities reverse themselves and recognize the role that race played in the July 29 killing. Not naming racism wont help us understand how to defeat it. Because racism exists in Italy, Selam Tesfaye, a Milan-based immigrant activist, told the second crowd of about 100 people. If someone in Civitanova wants to explain why this is not racism, we are here. A widely circulated video shows the Italian man wrestling Ogorchukwu to the ground and strangling him. One mans voice can be heard shouting for the attacker to stop, but no onlookers intervened physically, adding a layer of public outrage over their apparent indifference. Police arrested an Italian suspect, Filippo Ferlazzo, 32, but quickly ruled out a racial motivation for the attack. The finding was confirmed by prosecutors who did not include racial motivation in the charge sheet, according to Ferlazzos lawyer, Roberta Bizzarri. According to police, Ferlazzo first struck Ogorchukwu with a crutch the vendor used after pursuing the Nigerian 200 meters (yards) down a shopping street lined with high-end boutiques. Some accounts said Ogorchukwu had complimented Ferlazzos companion while trying to make a sale or ask for spare change. Others said he had touched the companions arm. Townspeople have accepted the official version of events, attributing the Nigerian mans death to an insistent street-seller unfortunately clashing with a man who has a court-documented history of mental illness. This is not a racist city, newsstand owner Domenico Giordano said. This is an open city. If you behave well, you are welcomed and even helped. People have left flowers and condolences on the sidewalk where Ogorchukwu was killed, in front of a beachwear boutique that was closed for lunch at the time. Store owner Laura Latino said she has received negative comments from as far away as Houston, accusing her of standing by and doing nothing when she wasnt even there. Be careful about judging a city of 45,000 people, Latino said, adding that false rumors were ruining the reputation of the city. City officials have expressed concerns that the killing was being politicized ahead of Italys early parliamentary election on Sept. 25. Samuel Kunoun, a Nigerian union activist who organized the march with the victims family, said he does not believe the attack was racially motivated. Still, the role of race in the case is so charged that he kept the word racism off banners in the march that attracted 200 people, mostly Nigerians. We dont have to mix it with racism. What happened is that someone who is not normal killed our fellow Nigerian, Kunoun said. We want this boy to pay for what he has done, to be in prison for life. That is our justice. But a manifesto for the second march, billed as Italys first-ever organized by Black Italians, lists the recognition of the role of race in Ogorchukwus killing as chief among 11 demands. Some 30 organizations said they would seek to join the prosecution as civil complainants. Ogorchukwus widow, Charity Oriakhi, is reluctant to say the killing was racially motivated. It is just someone who is wicked, Oriakhi told The Associated Press. She said both she and her husband had always felt welcome in Italy and that he never recounted negative interactions when he was out selling. In fact, she said, he often came home with gifts from Italians for the couples 8-year-old son. The pair met in the Tuscan town of Prato about a decade ago, shortly after Ogorchukwus arrival in Italy, and later resettled in the Marche region in an apartment above a marble workshop in the small hillside town of San Severino. The Nigerian government has condemned Ogorchukwus death and its foreign ministry has urged Italian authorities to bring the perpetrator of the heinous act to book without delay. Not all Nigerians in Macerata province are denying a racial element. The word racism cannot be minimized because it exists, said Daniel Amanze, who arrived in Italy from Nigeria as a student 40 years ago. He said he saw racism becoming more obvious in recent years as some politicians scapegoat immigrants to cover for their poor administration. Amanze said Ogorchukwus killing renewed a sense of fear among Africans living in the Marche region that had started to dissipate following two other racially motivated attacks. One was a 2018 shooting spree by a far-right political activist targeting Africans in Macerata that wounded six. The other was the 2016 death of a Nigerian man, Emmanuel Chidi Nnamdi, who was attacked after defending his wife from racial abuse in the town of Fermo. Ogorchukwu used a crutch because a car struck him while he was on a bicycle a year ago, leaving him with a limp. The familys lawyer, Franceso Mantella, said the street vendor continued to hawk wares, from tissues to straw hats, even after an insurance settlement provided a bit more financial security along with Oriakhis job cleaning a train station. The widow said she last saw her husband when he gave her a sandwich at the train station on the day he died. She is haunted by the video and keeps the TV at home off so their son doesnt see such images. I saw the video, she said, mimicking the attackers stranglehold on her husband. What hurts me most is there are people circled. They do a video. No one to help. I wish someone rescued him. Maybe he would not be dead. ____ Chinedu Asadu in Lagos, Nigeria and Gianfranco Stara in Civitanova Marche contributed. By COLLEEN BARRY Associated Press Bus crash on highway in Croatia kills at least 12 people View Photo ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) A Poland-registered bus carrying pilgrims to a shrine in Bosnia skidded from a highway in northern Croatia early Saturday, killing at least 12 people and injuring several others, police and officials said. Croatian police said on Twitter that in the skidding of a bus with Polish license plates, according to initial information from the field, 11 people died and several were injured. Officials said one more passenger died later in a hospital and that the bus was carrying 43 people. Croatias state HRT television reported that about 30 people were injured, many seriously. It said the most likely cause of the crash was the driver falling asleep. The broadcaster showed video of a smashed blue bus in a ditch next to the highway. The bus was traveling in the direction of Zagreb, Croatias capital. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the bus was taking pilgrims to the Catholic shrine in Medjugorje, a town in southern Bosnia. The shrine is Europes third-most popular pilgrimage destination after Lourdes and Fatima, although the Vatican has not verified any of the reported miracles that witnesses claimed to have seen there. This morning, I spoke about the details of the tragedy with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who assured the full support of Croatian medical services, Morawiecki said on Facebook. I recommended our consular services to organize a support organization for the families of accident participants. Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinic said the bus originated from a place near Warsaw and that according to some information, it was carrying pilgrims to Medjugorje. The accident happened at 5:40 a.m. local time (3:40 a.m. GMT) some 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Zagreb, on the A-4 highway, which is busy during the peak of the tourist season. Rescue teams were sent to the location of the accident that an investigation what caused the accident was ongoing, Croatian media reported. CCSO confiscated drugs, cell phones and scale in Burson drug bust View Photo Burson, CA A large amount of meth and pot were found in a disabled Chevy SUV and the female driver was handcuffed and placed on $90,000 bail. A woman and a man were underneath the hood of the vehicle around 12:40 p.m. at a Burson gas station Thursday when Calaveras Sheriffs Deputies pulled over to help. Immediately, they noticed the SUVs registration tag had expired. While speaking with the pair, an employee of the station told deputies that the woman, 44-year-old Maria Aguilera from Stockton, had allegedly shoplifted swim shoes. During questioning, Aguilera admitted to the theft, and the shoes were found in the SUV and returned. A record check revealed she had an outstanding arrest warrant out of San Joaquin County. A further search of the vehicle turned up 34 grams of methamphetamine, 326 grams of marijuana, 3 smoking pipes, prescription pills, and narcotics sales items. Aguilera was taken into custody without incident. The man was released at the scene and the vehicle was towed. Before deputies left the scene a nearby resident approached them and reported that they saw the suspects vehicle possibly trespassing at a property nearby. Sheriffs officials disclosed that an investigation regarding that report is currently underway, but no further information is available at this time. Ebene, Mauritius (PANA) Mauritian President Prithvirajsing Roopun on Friday reiterated the vision to consolidate the countrys position as an International Financial Centre to further liberalise and diversify the current capital market and to strengthen its position in Africa San Andreas, CA Calaveras County has received a limited supply of monkeypox vaccines and plans to open a clinic next week. As reported here, over 1,100 cases of monkeypox have been reported in California as Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency earlier this week, allowing for testing and vaccinations statewide. Monkeypox is a rare illness caused by a virus. Its symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder and rarely fatal. On Thursday, Calaveras Public Health received a limited supply of monkeypox vaccines. The first monkeypox vaccination site will open on Thursday, August 11th. An appointment is required and no walk-ins will be accepted due to limited vaccine supply. Health officials note that vaccination is most effective within four days of exposure but can help up to 14 days later. They added that due to the short supply, the vaccine is currently available only to people at greater risk. These include people in close contact with respiratory secretions and skin lesions of someone infected with monkeypox. County health officials provided the following list of people eligible to receive the vaccine at this time: To receive a first dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine you must be a Calaveras County resident 18 years of age or older who fulfills one or more of the following criteria: Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, trans and other gender-diverse people, and have had more than one sexual partner in the past 14 days Sex workers of any sexual orientation or gender identity Persons who have had close contact within the past 14 days with someone with suspected or confirmed Monkeypox Persons who had close contact with others at a venue or event or within a social group in the past 14 days where a suspected or confirmed Monkeypox case was identified. This includes persons who received notice from a venue or event of a potential exposure within the past 14 days. Registrants will need to answer a series of questions to verify eligibility and can pre-register here or call (209) 754-2896. Those that meet eligibility criteria will be contacted to schedule an appointment or added to a waitlist. Public health officials advised that additional vaccination clinics will be hosted as resource availability improves. Those eligible for appointments will need to follow these guidelines offered by county health officials: Arrive to your appointment with a valid form of ID. Please be sure to arrive at your scheduled time (not any earlier). A form of ID will be required at the vaccination site. Valid forms of ID include: CA ID, CA Drivers License, Utility Bill along with ID, etc. A mask covering your nose and mouth is required. Wear loose clothing to show upper arm. Do not attend the clinic if you are feeling unwell or experiencing Monkeypox symptoms. This must be your first dose of the Monkeypox vaccine. If you had Monkeypox, then a vaccine is not recommended. You may be turned away if you do not meet the requirements (even if you have scheduled an appointment). Calaveras Public Health urges the public to protect themselves and each other to control the potential for spread. Details on symptoms and transmission and steps to prevent the spread of Monkeypox can be viewed by clicking here. Longtime AP correspondent, editor Marcus Eliason dies at 75 View Photo NEW YORK (AP) Marcus Eliason, an international journalist whose insightful reporting, sparkling prose and skillful editing graced Associated Press news wires for almost a half-century, has died. He was 75. He had been diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, developed pneumonia earlier this week at a nursing home, and died on Friday in a New York hospital, his family said. From Israel and the 1967 Six-Day War to apartheid-era South Africa and on to Afghan battlegrounds, bloody Belfast, the Iron Curtains fall, the handover of Hong Kong and countless other datelines and stories, Eliason witnessed and reported on some of the great world events of the 20th centurys final decades. And when that century drew to a close, it was the Eliason touch that greeted the new one. From East to West and North to South, the world welcomed the new millennium in a shimmering tapestry of song and light that rippled around the globe, he led off APs main article on January 1, 2000. By then he had moved on to his final posting, from which he retired in 2014, as a New York-based editor of some of APs biggest stories and projects and, finally, as chief editor for international feature stories, a valued guiding hand for scores of AP reporters worldwide. A classic AP go-to guy is gone, said former AP President and CEO Louis D. Boccardi. Even a quick look at the outline of his assignments, both abroad and here at home, says it all. If there was a tough assignment that needed a steady hand, Marcus was often the choice. Marcus was a wonderful writer and editor, erudite, wise and supporting, said former AP International Editor John Daniszewski, now the APs vice president and editor-at-large for standards. Observed Claude Erbsen, a longtime correspondent and global AP executive: He could make words sing and dance. Jack Marcus Eliason was born on Oct. 19, 1946, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, to Jewish immigrant parents from Europe, grew up in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and moved as a teenager with his parents to Israel. At age 20, after a brief apprenticeship at The Jerusalem Post, Eliason joined the AP bureau in Tel Aviv as a messenger and trainee puncher, or operator of the Telex machine used to transmit stories. A month later, on June 6, 1967, the Arab-Israeli conflict known as the Six-Day War broke out. When the new hire arrived at work and was chastised for not rushing in earlier, he told of having to buy emergency groceries for his mother, dig a backyard bomb shelter, pick up stranded hitchhikers, and so on. Dont stand there talking about it, kid, an old hand growled. Write it down. He did, launching a sterling career in news and being promoted to staff reporter a year later. Once asked how he learned to write so well, he replied, By punching the great copy of journalists in the AP bureau in Tel Aviv. Through the 1970s, the Eliason byline topped some of the biggest stories from the Middle East: terror attacks and Israeli government turmoil, another Arab-Israeli war, Anwar Sadats history-making 1977 visit to Jerusalem. Anwar Sadat, president of Egypt, had landed in Israel on a mission of peace. The time was 7:59 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19, he reported. For Israelis, and doubtlessly for Egyptians, too, it was more stupendous than Neil Armstrongs foot touching the moon. In 1978, Eliason was posted to the AP bureau in Paris, where among many other assignments he covered the exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as he led, from afar, the Islamist revolution in Iran. After a stint back in Israel, Eliason transferred to London, where he rose to news editor. His astute reporting and masterful prose stood out in one of APs premier writing bureaus, whether covering the bloodshed of the Troubles in Northern Ireland or having fun with British eccentrics like the worlds worst poet, William McGonagall. Scotland does its poets proud, and no town is without its statue to Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott or Robert Louis Stevenson, Eliason wrote from Dundee. But mention The Great McGonagall in his hometown and reactions range from a fond chuckle to pained silence. He next returned to Israel, this time as chief of bureau, leading a staff of prize-winning reporters and photojournalists in the 1990s, overseeing the nonstop flow of news of Palestinian uprisings, intermittent Arab-Israeli peace talks, Israeli political battles and Scud missile attacks from Saddam Husseins Iraq. From there, he moved on to his final international assignment, in Hong Kong, where he ran coverage of the 1997 handover of the British colony to Chinese control, writing all the while. Throughout the decades, the AP also tapped the talents of the big, gregarious Israeli with the South African accent a high school graduate whose insatiable reading and store of knowledge often amazed colleagues for temporary assignments in some of the worlds hottest spots, on some of the eras most important stories. He reported from Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion of that country in 1979 and from his southern African homeland during the worst of its anti-apartheid upheavals. After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the AP dispatched Eliason to travel along the former Iron Curtain border to interview ordinary citizens and write an in-depth report on the meaning of that epic chapter of 20th-century history. In 1997, he left Hong Kong for AP headquarters in New York and a job as lead editor for feature articles from around the world, an acknowledged master becoming an understanding mentor for a cadre of younger foreign correspondents, from Beijing to Berlin to Buenos Aires. He was one of those journalism heroes I had as a young writer those fascinating, unattainable bylines, said one of those correspondents, Ted Anthony, now APs director of new storytelling and newsroom innovation. Then he became the greatest editor Ive ever had, an astonishing mix of encourager and enforcer. And a dear friend. When he retired after 47 unbroken years with the AP, Eliason remarked that Im a guy who has worked all his life. No fellowships, no sabbaticals, no parental leaves. I was having way too much excitement for that. Leaving his desk for the last time, he heard the vast AP New York newsroom burst into applause. It was a gracious, spontaneous gesture that reminded me once again how lucky I have been, he later wrote. Said Boccardi: It was the AP that was lucky. Eliason is survived by Eva, his wife of 44 years and countless house moves and adventures; a daughter, Avital, of Tel Aviv, Israel, and a son, David, of New York. The family said he will be buried in Kadima, Israel. ___ Charles J. Hanley was a writer and editor for The Associated Press from 1968 to 2011. By CHARLES J. HANLEY Associated Press Indiana becomes 1st state to approve abortion ban post Roe View Photo INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana on Friday became the first state in the nation to approve abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, as the Republican governor quickly signed a near-total ban on the procedure shortly after lawmakers approved it. The ban, which takes effect Sept. 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions would be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10-weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed. Under the bill, abortions can be performed only in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics would lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an illegal abortion or fails to file required reports must also lose their medical license wording that tightens current Indiana law that says a doctor may lose their license. I am personally most proud of each Hoosier who came forward to courageously share their views in a debate that is unlikely to cease any time soon, Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the statement announcing that he had signed the measure. For my part as your governor, I will continue to keep an open ear. His approval came after the Senate approved the ban 28-19 and the House advanced it 62-38. Indiana was among the earliest Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws after the Supreme Court ruling in June that removed constitutional protections for the procedure. But it is the first state to pass a ban through both chambers, after West Virginia lawmakers on July 29 passed up the chance to be that state. Happy to be completed with this, one of the more challenging things that weve ever done as a state General Assembly, at least certainly while Ive been here, Senate President Pro-Tem Rodric Bray told reporters after the vote. I think this is a huge opportunity, and well build on that as we go forward from here. Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange, who sponsored the bill, said that she does not think all states will come down at the same place but that most Indiana residents support aspects of the bill. Some senators in both parties lamented the bills provisions and the impact it would have on the state, including low-income women and the health care system. Eight Republicans joined all 11 Democrats in voting against the bill, though their reasons to thwart the measure were mixed. We are backsliding on democracy, said Democratic Sen. Jean Breaux of Indianapolis, who wore a green ribbon Friday signifying support for abortion rights, on her lapel. What other freedoms, what other liberties are on the chopping block, waiting to be stripped away? Republican Sen. Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores spoke about his 21-year-old-daughter, who has Down syndrome. Bohacek voted against the bill, saying it does not have adequate protections for women with disabilities who are raped. If she lost her favorite stuffed animal, shed be inconsolable. Imagine making her carry a child to term, he said before he started to choke up, then threw his notes on his seat and exited the chamber. Republican Sen. Mike Young of Indianapolis, however, said the bills enforcement provisions against doctors are not stringent enough. Such debates demonstrated Indiana residents own divisions on the issue, displayed in hours of testimony lawmakers heard over the past two weeks. Residents rarely, if ever, expressed support for the the legislation in their testimony, as abortion-rights supporters said the bill goes too far while anti-abortion activists expressed it doesnt go far enough. The debates came amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face some party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost. Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville, who sponsored the House bill, told reporters after the House vote that the legislation makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation. Outside the chambers, abortion-rights activists often chanted over lawmakers remarks, carrying signs like Roe roe roe your vote and Build this wall between church and state. Some House Democrats wore blazers over pink Bans Off Our Bodies T-shirts. Indianas ban followed the political firestorm over a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to the state from neighboring Ohio to end her pregnancy. The case gained attention when an Indianapolis doctor said the child came to Indiana because of Ohios fetal heartbeat ban. Religion was a persistent theme during legislative debates, both in residents testimony and lawmakers comments. In advocating against the House bill, Rep. Ann Vermilion condemned fellow Republicans who have called women murderers for getting an abortion. I think that the Lords promise is for grace and kindness, she said. He would not be jumping to condemn these women. ___ Arleigh Rodgers 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. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers ___ Find APs full coverage of the overturning of Roe v. Wade at: https://apnews.com/hub/abortion By ARLEIGH RODGERS Associated Press/Report for America SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The eastern Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis has elected a new prime minister after holding snap elections three years earlier than planned. Dr. Terrance Drew of the St. Kitts-Nevis Labor Party ousted Prime Minister Timothy Harris of the Peoples Labor Party, according to preliminary election results released Saturday. Harris first became prime minister in February 2015 and served a second term after Team Unity, a three-party alliance, won nine of Parliaments 11 seats in the 2020 elections. But Harris lost a no confidence motion filed by his coalition partners earlier this year, prompting the twin-island nation to hold general elections Friday. Six political parties fielded a total of more than 30 candidates vying for 11 of Parliaments 15 seats. Drews party captured six seats, while Harriss won one. The islands governor general will appoint people to the remaining four seats after the election. Drews party promised improved health care, affordable housing and more access to education. Harriss party pledged to build a stronger economy, create more jobs and further reduce poverty, among other things. IRVINE, Calif. (AP) Police have arrested a Southern California woman for investigation of poisoning her husband. Police in the Orange County city of Irvine say a man reported Thursday that he believed he was being poisoned by his wife of 10 years after he grew ill over the course of a month. The man had video evidence he also provided to authorities, police said in a statement. He had internal injuries but is expected to recover, the statement said. Yue Yu, 45, was arrested Thursday after investigators interviewed her and searched the couples home, the statement said. She is due to appear in court Monday and is being held on $30,000 bail, online jail records show. It was not immediately known whether Yu had an attorney. Yu is a dermatologist in Orange County and attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, according to her offices website. A message was left seeking comment at the office. Providence Mission Hospital, where Yu can see patients, said in a statement Friday that the hospital is cooperating with police and the incident was a domestic issue and has not affected patient care. July 28 A theft was reported on July 28 at the 2300 block of W. 11th St. The reporting party noted stolen Social Security cards. A 22-year-old man was arrested on July 28 at the 600 block of W. 24th St. Officers responded to the location in reference to an individual eating and drinking items that were unpaid for at Dollar General. The man was located at the 200 block of W. 24th St and was found to have two active warrants. He was charged with driving with an invalid license with previous conviction/suspension without financial resolution and with warrants for failure to appear/bail jumping and for displaying an expired license plate or expired registration insignia. A sexual assault was reported on July 28. Damaged property was reported at the 4000 block of W. 15th St. Vehicle damage was noted. A theft was reported at the 1200 block of E. 5th St. on July 28. Officers were dispatched to the location in reference to a theft from a trailer. A 29-year-old woman was arrested on July 28 at the 2700 block of Olton Road for an active warrant. The warrant was for theft. Officers conducted a traffic stop at the 1700 block of W. 5th St. on July 28 during which a 41-year-old woman was arrested and charged with driving with an invalid license with previous convictions/suspensions without financial resolution. A 38-year-old man was arrested on July 28 at the 3200 block of Lexington St. The individual was charged with public intoxication and with an active warrant. July 29 Two bicycles were found in a field at the 2200 block of Quincy St. on July 29. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1700 block of W. 5th St. Officers responded to the location in reference to a vehicle that crashed into the building. The vehicle crashed into the front glass of the building. Fraudulent use of a business credit card was reported at the 310 block of S. I-27. The business lost $3,399.23 in fraud charges. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 1000 block of N. Columbia and the 300 block of W. 11th St. on July 29. According to PD, the crash involved three vehicles. The first was traveling north at the signal light (which was red) at the 1000 block of N. Columbia and disregarded the stop light. It entered the intersection and was struck by a second vehicle that was turning into the intersection as it swerved attempting to avoid the crash. The first vehicle struck a third before coming to a stop. The drivers of the first and second vehicles and a passenger in vehicle two all declined EMS care at the scene. The driver of the third unit was assessed by EMS and was released. Criminal mischief was reported at the 600 block of W. 11th St. on July 29. The reporting party told officers a known individual entered their residence and caused damages. Police arrested a 43-year-old man on July 29 at the 200 block of SE 10th St. for multiple active warrants. The warrants include charges for assault by contact and for failure to appear/bail jumping. July 30 An 18-year-old man was arrested on July 30 at the 3400 block of Wood St. and was charged with public intoxication. He was found to have multiple active warrants including charges for failure to stop, driving with no license and for failure to appear. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported at the 3300 block of Olton Road on July 30. A theft was reported at the 1200 block of W. 21st St. on July 30. July 31 Three individuals were arrested on July 31 at the 2400 block of Dimmitt Road for shoplifting. The individuals include a 19-year-old boy, a 19-year-old girl and a 21-year-old boy. They were each charged with a misdemeanor charge of theft. Criminal mischief was reported at the 800 block of Denver St. on July 31. Police arrested a 35-year-old man and charged him with criminal mischief. Vehicle damage was noted in the crime report. A burglary was reported at the 700 block of Denver St. Christian Luke Hinojosa, 25, was arrested and charged with burglary of a habitation, which is a felony. He was also charged with interfering with an emergency call for help. A theft was reported at the 400 block of W. 5th St. on July 31. An assault was reported at the 710 block of Fresno St. on July 31. Aug. 1 An assault was reported at the 100 block of W. 9th St. on Aug. 1. A stolen vehicle was reported on Aug. 1 at the 220 block of S. I-27. A burglary was reported at the 600 block of Nassau St. on Aug. 1 Criminal mischief was reported at the 1800 block of W. 17th St. on Aug. 1. A crash resulting in vehicle damage was reported on Aug. 1 at the 300 block of W. 5th St. Aug. 2 Criminal mischief was reported at the 3100 block of Canyon St. Police arrested a 51-year-old man and charged him with criminal mischief. A theft was reported at the 600 block of W. 24th St. on Aug. 2. Streets in Plainview and Seth Ward will receive seal coat treatment in late August. Contractors will be spread out in four areas of the community starting Aug. 22. The project is anticipated to be complete by mid-week, according to a news release from the City of Plainview. Sealcoating, or pavement sealing, is the process of applying a protective coating to asphalt-based pavements to provide a layer of protection from the elements such as water, oils, and U.V. damage. During the duration of the road work, vehicles will need to be moved from the curb. Those who live along the affected streets will receive door fliers the day before the work begins, the news release reads. The following shows a tentative schedule for when the road work is expected to be completed, barring any delays. Its also noted that the process could be finished faster than anticipated if application goes well. Any changes to the schedule will be communicated to residents. 16 th Street between Joliet Street and Columbia Street Street between Joliet Street and Columbia Street 16 th Street between Kermit Drive and Mesa Drive Street between Kermit Drive and Mesa Drive 17 th Street near Kermit Drive Street near Kermit Drive Kirchwood Drive between Westridge Road and I-27 Kirchwood Drive between Ennis Street and I-27 including S. Jefferson, S. Itasca, S. Holliday, S. Garland and S. Floydada Yucca Terrace Road Karen Lane SW 7 th near Westridge Road near Westridge Road Wood Avenue between East 24 th & 34 th Street & 34 Street Kirchwood Place #1 Kirchwood Place #2 A map of the seal coat area can also be found on the City of Plainviews website www.plainviewtx.org. Any questions can be directed to the Street Department by calling (806)296-1100. NPS/CA Hoyt Nature lovers, Big Bend National Park has opened a brand new 3-mile hiking trail that is moderately challenging. It's just north of park headquarters at Panther Junction, according to a news release from the park on Friday, August 5. Visitors can now access the new path called the Lone Mountain Trail one mile north of Panther Junction. The trail is clearly marked with good signage, Big Bend stated in the release. A half-mile gravel access road will lead you to a small parking area and trailhead. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. ATU Images/Getty Images DALLAS (AP) A former Dallas-area mayor and a developer were sentenced Thursday to six years each in federal prison for bribery and tax fraud in a public corruption case that could have formed the plot of a movie. From May 2013 to April 2015, developer Mark Jordan plied then-Richardson Mayor Laura Maczka with money, home renovations, luxury hotel stays, airfares and even a job at one of his companies while she helped him with zoning requests for his apartment projects, according to prosecutors. Eventually, in 2017, the pair married, after Maczka had an affair with Jordan and divorced her husband. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HAVANA (AP) A fire set off by a lightning strike at an oil storage facility raged uncontrolled in the Cuban city of Matanzas, where four explosions and flames injured 121 people and left 17 firefighters missing. Cuban authorities said a unidentified body had been found late Saturday. Firefighters and other specialists were still trying to quell the blaze at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, where the fire began during a thunderstorm Friday night, the Ministry of Energy and Mines tweeted. Authorities said about 800 people were evacuated from the Dubrocq neighborhood closest to the fire, The government said it had asked for help from international experts in friendly countries with experience in the oil sector. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said the U.S. government had offered technical help to quell the blaze. On his Twitter account, he said the proposal is in the hands of specialists for the due coordination. Minutes later, President Miguel Diaz-Canel thanked Mexico , Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile for their offers of help. A support flight from Mexico arrived Saturday night. The official Cuban News Agency said lightning hit one tank, starting a fire, and the blaze later spread to a second tank. As military helicopters flew overhead dropping water on the blaze, dense column of black smoke billowed from the facility and spread westward more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) toward Havana. Roberto de la Torre, head of fire operations in Matanzas, said firefighters were spraying water on intact tanks trying to keep them cool in hopes of preventing the fire from spreading. Cuba's Health Ministry reported that 121 people were injured with five of them in critical condition. The Presidency of the Republic said the 17 people missing were firefighters who were in the nearest area trying to prevent the spread. Later Saturday, the Health Ministry said in a statement that a body had been found and officials were trying to identify it. The accident comes as Cuba struggles with fuel shortages. There was no immediate word on how much oil had burned or was in danger at the storage facility, which has eight giant tanks that hold oil used to fuel electricity generating plants. I was in the gym when I felt the first explosion. A column of smoke and terrible fire rose through the skies, resident Adiel Gonzalez told The Associated Press by phone. The city has a strong smell of sulfur. He said some people also decided to leave the Versailles district, which is a little farther from the tank farm than Dubrocq. Many ambulances, police and fire engines were seen in the streets of Matanzas, a city with about 140,000 inhabitants that is on Matnzas Bay. Local meteorologist Elier Pila showed satellite images of the area with a dense plume of black smoke moving from the point of the fire westward and reaching east to Havana. That plume can be close to 150 kilometers long, Pila wrote on his Twitter account. ___ Andrea Rodriguez on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ARodriguezAP The Alex Jones Redemption Tour began with a single image. Pictured are three figures, two of them book-ending Jones, both hosts of the controversial cultural criticism podcast Red Scare that nonetheless counts or has counted mainstream figures like Elizabeth Olsen and Charli XCX as fans. Dasha Nekrasova, to Jones' right, is a member of the cast of Succession, the zeitgeist-y HBO dramedy that is currently filming its fourth season. Jones flashes a toothy smile, his arm slung around the waists of the grinning women. The image is from 2021, and it caused a major stir among the terminally online. Did Nekrasova and Anna Khachiyan actually like Alex Jones? Were the hosts merely being transgressive for clout? Does platforming Jones giving him airtime on an ensuing episode of the podcast embolden his fans? Is that even Red Scare's responsibility? What it did was prove that as repellent as he is to many, some people with reputations would put theirs on the line for him. It turns out that Jones was there with filmmaker Alex Lee Moyer, who was following Jones around for her second film, a documentary called Alex's War. Jones entered the fray again this summer when his trial began in Austin, based on his claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax. For Jones, this line of thinking follows a lifetime of hair-brained conspiracy theories. Shootings (Sandy Hook, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas) are hoaxes perpetrated by crisis actors. Every major piece of news school shootings, COVID-19, the 2020 presidential election is a false flag or an inside job or an international conspiracy perpetrated by the New World Order. It can get tiring, and even after de-platforming on Spotify, YouTube, Facebook, and most media companies that he doesn't own, the Alex Jones business is still booming. Alex's War Just as the trial began, another image dropped, from the premiere of Alex's War. I'm no expert on film production and release dates, but the concurrence of the film and the trial have me thinking like a conspiracy theorist. The Alex Jones Redemption Tour rolled along, at least until the testimony flowed. The documentary, released on July 29, is from LA-based filmmaker Moyer, last known for 2020's TFW No GF, an examination of incel culture. The two films share a verite style of filmmaking in that they present their subjects to the viewer with the assumption that, if they've made it this far, they already get the deal. Moyer doesn't deign to judge or criticize her subjects. In showing Jones, unfettered and red-faced, spittle flying from his mouth as he spews asinine theories, bonkers asides, and a number of facts about the Third Reich, Moyer allows the man to hang himself with his own rope. Whether or not that is Moyer's intention or if she simply flocks to complex, uncomfortable media subjects isn't quite clear. It may not be necessary, or even interesting, to know what Moyer thinks of Jones. Almost everyone knows who Alex Jones is and formed their stone-etched opinions of him before Donald Trump became president. The film only benefits from the gonzo look at Jones, but after two-plus hours of Jones screaming about Hitler inventing the Olympic Rings (he didn't) and peeing on the (recently bombed) Georgia Guidestones, the viewer doesn't get a real look at Alex Jones, or even a new one. Mostly, it begs the question: Who is Alex's War for? The most interesting sections of Alex's War center around the depiction of his upbringing in a John Birch Society-adjacent household and his longing for a counter-cultural existence in a then-transgressive Austin that, according to Jones, was much more attuned to his line of conspiratorial thinking than it is today. The latter jibes with his redemptive arc. Jones is just a kook asking questions; let's see what he has to say. It's no surprise that Moyer, the Red Scare hosts, and Glenn Greenwald, who interviewed Jones at a premiere event in Austin, have latched onto Jones. Their collective fascination is with transgression, regardless of the (sometimes hateful, mostly counterfactual) content of its source. The real Alex Jones is much more interesting than any of this, but has the viewing public ever seen him? Even a verite experiment like Alex's War, in which Jones is seen flubbing lines while recording InfoWars hits, presumes that the subject understands that there are cameras trained on him. His performance which he has been practicing for three decades follows. Take, for instance, his realization on Wednesday, August 3, that his attorneys accidentally sent the plaintiffs' attorneys two years' worth of text messages from Jones' phone, contradicting prior testimony. The End of the Tour The Jones on trial unscripted, truly flustered, having to reap what he has sown is a wholly unfamiliar character, even in Alex's War. The world has seen the other Alex Jones, the supposedly real Alex Jones, in hundreds of thousands of hours of tape, on Austin Public Access, on YouTube, in Richard Linklater films. Aside from a few filmed sidewalk scuffles, like the few humorous ones in Alex's War, we also never see the victims of Jones' falsehoods react with proper context. That all changed with the trial, a bonus feature, if you will, for the documentary. Neil Heslin, whose 6-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, testified that Jones made his life "a living hell," and that he still felt the reverberations of Jones' conspiracy theory ravings. "What was said about me and Sandy Hook itself resonates around the world," Heslin said. "As time went on, I truly realized how dangerous it was. ... My life has been threatened. I fear for my life, I fear for my safety." Even after Jones conceded that Sandy Hook was "100% real," pundits like Greenwald, who hosted the premiere for Alex's War and let Jones get away with the same sort of slithering away from questions that he has railed against for more than a decade stuck by his side. Sadly, it took the big reveal hard proof that the man is lying to get some folks to jump ship. Greenwald, who tweets like his life depends on it (it does, in a way), took a 16 hour break from the platform after the bombshell dropped. "This is your Perry Mason moment," Jones said as the text messages were shown on a screen in the courtroom, realizing that there's no coming back from this one, that no photo-op with an HBO star or softball Q&A session with a formerly great journalist can save him. And just like that, the Alex Jones Redemption Tour came to an unceremonious end, flat tires on the tour bus, the engine smoking on the side of the highway. Texas Republican officials at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday prodded attendees to suit up for a red wave in the upcoming November midterm elections, criticizing federal immigration policy and inflation while boasting about Texas economic successes. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz stood in a tan blazer and blue button-up shirt in front of the crowd in Dallas convention center on Friday, and directed his ire at President Joe Biden, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, LGBTQ communities and communist woke professors. My name is Ted Cruz, and my pronouns are kiss my ass, Cruz shouted to the crowd of conservatives. Every day I represent 30 million Texans, and my job, it's like the old Roman Colosseum where you slam on a breastplate, and you grab a battle ax, and you go fight the barbarians. But as Republicans used the conference to rally their base, they faced fierce criticism from Democrats for sharing the stage with Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister facing backlash for racist comments. Orban, who spoke at the convention on Thursday, said in an address last week that Europeans do not want to become peoples of mixed race. The prime ministers remarks immediately sparked outrage and uneasiness from his critics and confidants, according to The Washington Post, and led to the resignation of one of Orbans longtime advisers. Texas Democrats condemned the GOP for openly welcoming a world leader with a polarizing international reputation. Orban has previously said Muslims threaten Europes Christian identity, advocated for a high-tech border fence for curtailing immigration from the Middle East and Africa, supported bans on LGBTQ-themed content in schools and opposed same sex couples ability to adopt children. Gilberto Hinojosa, the Texas Democratic Party chair, called state officials attending the four-day event a shame. With all of the urgent issues facing Texas including rural schools facing desperate staff shortages, increasing gun violence due to unpopular Republican-instituted lax gun laws, an electric grid again on the verge of collapse, a lack of affordable healthcare, and women being forced to carry pregnancies, Hinojosa said in a written statement, our states Republican leaders would choose to spend their time warmly welcoming the most fringe of extreme-far-right figures from around the country and world to our great state. During his speech on the opening day of the convention, Orban received a warm welcome from the crowd and told them he was an old fashioned freedom fighter. Upcoming elections in America and Europe, he told the audience, would define the two fronts in the battle for western civilization. This war is a culture war, the prime minister said. We have to revitalize our churches, our families, our universities and our community institutions. The events lineup features a bevy of GOP Texas officials including Cruz, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Mayra Flores. Others scheduled to attend include U.S. Reps. Brian Babin, Michael Burgess, Ronny Jackson, Beth Van Duyne, Randy Weber and Roger Williams. Former President Donald Trump is set to give the keynote address on Saturday as he remains under public and congressional scrutiny for his baseless comments about election fraud prior to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The conference in Dallas comes as both parties are ramping up efforts to mobilize their bases ahead of the November midterm elections. Texans will elect a bevy of new congresspeople, legislators and state officials in the first major election after the U.S. Supreme Court revoked the constitutional right to an abortion, several mass shootings including the Robb Elementary massacre in Uvalde that left 19 students and two teachers dead and state GOP efforts to limit the teaching of race and sexuality in classrooms. The midterms will also be the first under new political maps that Republicans redrew to favor their party. Abbott helped open the conference Thursday afternoon, taking swipes at Democrats across the country, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom. Newsom recently ran newspaper ads in Texas that criticized GOP leaders for their policies on guns and abortions. "He's just pissed off that all of his businesses are moving to Texas," Abbott said. The Texas governor also boasted of his initiative to offer bus rides for migrants from the Mexican border to Washington, D.C. The city's mayor, Muriel Bowser, has said her city is being overwhelmed by the migrants. "I have one thing to say to you and to them: There are more buses on the way as we gather at this convention," Abbott said. Abbott announced Friday he was expanding the program to New York City. Later Thursday afternoon, the convention heard from Patrick, who kicked off his speech by reiterating that he is "all in" if Trump runs for president again in 2024. If Trump decides not to, Patrick added, the Republican nominee "better take on the MAGA agenda because no one in the White House, in the history of this country, has done so much in four years." Patrick also used his speech to appeal for GOP unity in Texas now that the primaries are over. He said state Republicans need to come together "because make no mistake: This election in November is not going to be an easy election." Flores, who won the special election for Texas 34th Congressional District in June, said on a panel Friday that Texas immigration system needs fixing so good people can come here to the United States. Others slated to attend the conference include Republican U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has reiterated Trumps baseless claims about election fraud; and Steve Bannon, who was recently found guilty in a contempt of Congress trial for not providing documents or testimony to a House committee investigating the Capitol riot. (Natural News) The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), Chinas armed forces, has surrounded Taiwan as it conducts its biggest live-fire drills since 1996 to intimidate the island nation. China scheduled the four-day military exercise to begin the day after United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi concluded her whirlwind visit to Taiwan, which lasted less than 24 hours. They are expected to last until 12 noon local time on Aug. 7. (Related: ANALYSIS: Why China LOSES any escalation involving Taiwan and the United States Navy.) Pelosi is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Her visit included a meeting with high-ranking state officials, an appearance at the Legislative Yuan, Taiwans parliament, and another meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen. Chinese state media reported that the exercise will be conducted in six major maritime areas surrounding Taiwan, with the closest being within 12 miles of the Taiwanese coast. During the period of the exercises, China warned ships and aircraft from entering the relevant sea areas and airspace. The Taiwanese Ministry of National Defense reported chasing off several Chinese navy ships that had crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait. The ministry also reported 27 Chinese fighter jets violating Taiwanese airspace. Major Gen. Meng Xiangqing told state television that the PLA also launched missiles over Taiwan, marking the first time that China has done so. He said the arc passed over an area where Taiwan stations U.S.-supplied MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile batteries. America watching Chinese military drills very closely In an interview with MSNBC, John Kirby, the National Security Councils coordinator for strategic communications, said the White House is watching Chinas live-fire exercises very, very closely. Its concerning. Its not just concerning to us, but its concerning, of course, to the people of Taiwan. Its concerning to our allies in the region, especially Japan, said Kirby. Five of the missiles the PLA fired landed within Japans exclusive economic zone, or within 200 nautical miles of the Yaeyama Islands, which have over 50,000 Japanese residents and are less than 100 miles from Taiwans western coast. This is a grave problem affecting the safety of our people, said Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi. I strongly protest. When asked about Beijing claiming that Pelosis trip is what provoked the Chinese response, Kirby responded: The provocateur here is Beijing. They didnt have to react this way to what is completely normal travel by congressional members to Taiwan. The Chinese are the ones who are escalating this. In a press conference at the White House, Kirby noted that Americas policies regarding Taiwan have not changed. He said Beijings provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait will not deter the U.S. from its security commitments in the region, and that the U.S. Armed Forces would conduct standard air and maritime patrols through the Taiwan Strait in the next few weeks in line with longstanding operations. One of the things thats troublesome about exercises like this or missile launches like this is the risk of calculation, the risk of a mistake that could actually lead to some sort of conflict, said Kirby. Learn more about Chinas latest actions in CommunistChina.news. Watch this clip of Gravitas on WION as host Palki Sharma Upadhyay discusses Chinas retaliation to Pelosis Taiwan visit. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: China surges forces toward Taiwan, conducts live-fire drills as Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits. Pentagon-funded think tank simulates war with China over Taiwan. Taiwan concerned about internet connectivity if China decides to launch an attack. US reassures Taiwan of its FIRM COMMITMENT to the island nation. Trump: China will DEFINITELY attack Taiwan following Russia-Ukraine example. Sources include: Brighteon.com WIONews.com WSJ.com TheGuardian.com (Natural News) Fufeng Group, a bio-fermentation company based in mainland China, recently bought 300 acres in North Dakota for $2.6 million. The manufacturing firm plans to build a milling plant in the area. As per the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), China possesses over 191,000 acres of land in America, but the figures were before the North Dakota land sale this spring. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday, August 1, requesting the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to immediately review the purchase. We ask that this review process be completed with the utmost urgency to aid Grand Forks officials in their decision-making process and provide clarity on whether this land purchase has national security implications, the governor stated in the letter. Fufeng Group USA COO Eric Chutorash claimed that they do not have any Chinese government ownership and the workers will all be Americans. He added that the human resources director, commercial director sales team and engineer are not people transferred from China. I know were not going to be asked to be collecting any intelligence on Grand Forks Air Force Base, Chutorash told the Grand Forks Herald during a forum back in March. I cant stress it any more than that. (But) personally, I wouldnt provide it. I dont believe the team being built there would provide it. Burgum said the company agreed to a voluntary CFIUS filing to further explain its intentions in North Dakota. But Chutorash said that his team would be required to state a reason for the CFIUS review when they offer consent and they have been given no reason to request a review. Fufeng Group is the worlds largest manufacturer of xanthan gum and monosodium glutamate. China shows displeasure over Pelosis Taiwan visit The growing Chinese territory inside the U.S. can be a problem gauging from Chinas response to a recent visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Taiwan. Following the high-profile visit, China kicked off its biggest-ever military exercises in the seas around the island nation. Pelosi became the highest-ranking U.S. politician to visit the island in 25 years. (Related: China surges forces toward Taiwan, conducts live-fire drills as Speaker Nancy Pelosi visits.) She praised Taiwans democracy and pledged American solidarity during her brief stopover. She even added fuel to the fire by saying Chinese anger could not stop world leaders from traveling there. Our delegation came to Taiwan to make unequivocally clear that we will not abandon Taiwan, she told Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said earlier in the week that Pelosi was within her rights to visit Taiwan while stressing that the trip did not constitute a violation of Chinese sovereignty or Americas longstanding One China policy. The Chinese didnt think so. Chinas foreign minister spokesperson Zhao Lijian said: The Chinese Peoples Liberation Army will not sit back. Following this statement, the Chinese sent warplanes to the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, August 2, and continued their live-fire drills surrounding Taiwan until Thursday, August 4. Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party said China is conducting drills on the busiest international waterways and aviation routes and that is irresponsible, illegitimate behavior. Meanwhile, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi called Pelosis visit to Taiwan a manic, irresponsible and highly irrational act by the United States, according to state broadcaster CCTV. Visit NationalSecurity.news for more news related to current threats to Americas security. Watch the below video that talks about the reasons why Pelosi should and shouldnt have visited Taiwan. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Communist China seizing control of American food supply with massive corn processing plant in North Dakota. Taiwan is the real China. The peoples Republic of China is an illegitimate dictatorship. REVEALED: Pelosi-linked lobbyists are pushing Chinas social credit system for American citizens. SEC ignores Paul Pelosi but charges 11 in alleged $300 million crypto Ponzi scheme. Sources include: AGWeb.com Governor.ND.gov Reuters.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The European Unions regulator for vaccines has confirmed that the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine made by Novavax can cause cardiac inflammation. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Aug. 3 that the Maryland-based drug firms Nuvaxovid vaccine should list myocarditis (heart muscle inflammation) and pericarditis (heart lining inflammation) as potential side effects. It has asked Novavax to provide additional data on the side effects. According to the agency, both healthcare professionals and people wanting to get the vaccine should be warned about the risks of Nuvaxovid. Cardiac inflammation has also been noted as risks linked to the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. Novavax told the Epoch Times in an email that during the vaccines clinical trials, the rate of myocarditis observed between those injected with the actual shot and a placebo were close. As more data becomes available, we will better understand the nature and magnitude of any potential risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, it wrote. We will work with the relevant regulators to assure our product information is consistent with our common interpretation of the incoming data. A month prior, the EMA added anaphylaxis severe allergic reaction as a side effect of the Novavax shot. The product information [for] Nuvaxovid will be updated with severe allergic reaction and unusual or decreased feeling in the skin as new side effects, it said on July 14. The decision followed the assessment of the EMAs Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee. A few cases of anaphylaxis linked to the vaccine were reported, but the EMA refused to disclose the actual figure. (Related: European Medicines Agency adds SEVERE allergic reaction to Novavax COVID shots side effects.) According to The COVID Blog, the Novavax sub-unit protein vaccine delivers the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein using an insect virus. It also utilizes saponin from the soap bark tree (Quillaja saponaria) native to South America to trigger an immune response in the body. US regulators also flag Novavaxs cardiac inflammation risks The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted the Novavax shot an emergency use authorization (EUA) on July 13. Dr. Robert Califf, the head of the American regulator, said in a statement that the EUA granted to Novavax expands the available vaccine options for the prevention of COVID-19. Under the EUA, the two-dose Novavax vaccine is permitted for use on adults aged 18 and older with an interval of several weeks between the two doses. The FDA later remarked that the vaccines clinical trials did raise concerns about cardiac inflammation, and that it alerted both recipients and healthcare providers about these. Furthermore, the regulator also ordered Novavax to conduct post-authorization observational studies to evaluate a potential connection between its vaccine and adverse events of special interest including myocarditis and pericarditis. The Novavax shots product label for the U.S. market warned against injecting it to people with a history of allergic reactions to any of its components. But even before it was granted EUA in July, staffers at the FDA pointed out that the vaccine increased the risk of myocarditis. In documents released June 3, staff members at the regulator cited four events of myocarditis inflammation of the heart muscle that occurred during clinical trials of the vaccine. Novavax conducted trials of its sub-unit protein vaccine on almost 30,000 patients between December 2020 and September 2021. These events raise the concern for a causal association with this vaccine, similar to the association documents with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. Data from passive surveillance during post-authorization use in other countries also indicate a higher than expected rate of myocarditis and pericarditis [heart lining inflammation] associated with the vaccine, they wrote. Further evaluation is needed to inform the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, and their outcomes, as additional data emerge over time. Watch this video about the FDAs emergency approval of the Novavax vaccine. This video is from the TKWK T.V channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Propagandists now try to position COVID vaccine Novavax as HERBAL medicine after realizing public has lost all faith in deceptive pharmaceutical industry. IMPOSSIBLE SCIENCE: Novavax says it will have a new vaccine ready in just two weeks for the Omicron variant, which appeared just last week. FDA warns of CARDIAC INFLAMMATION risk linked to the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. 3 Aussie women experience SERIOUS REACTIONS after getting Novavax COVID shot. FDA admits covid injections from Pfizer, Moderna cause heart inflammation. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com 1 TheEpochTimes.com 2 TheCOVIDBlog.com FDA.gov 1 FDA.gov 2 Brighteon.com (Natural News) The rich becomes richer as the market system fails, thanks to the failsafe mechanisms known as bail-ins and bailouts. Bail-ins and bailouts are both designed to prevent the complete collapse of a failing bank. Their difference lies primarily in who bears the financial burden of rescuing the bank. With bailouts, the government injects capital into banks. During the financial crisis in 2007-2008, the government bailed out major banks by injecting $700 billion from taxpayer funds into Bank of America, Citigroup and American International Group. Bail-ins, on the other hand, provides immediate relief. Banks use money from their unsecured creditors, including depositors and bondholders, to restructure their capital and stay afloat. Put simply, they can convert their debt into equity to increase their capital requirements. However, banks can only use deposits in excess of the $250,000 protection provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Thats why financial analyst Gregory Mannarino is adamant in his belief that this is an engineered collapse. What more do we need to see to realize that the economy is freefalling by design? The debt is inflating by design and corporations are getting tens of billions of dollars by design. Thats the failsafe in case you dont know. We have a failing system, but the failsafe is bail-ins and bailouts, Mannarino said. So understanding the current environment it is failing. And the failsafe is bail-ins, bailouts; thats it and you are seeing it now. Whatever they have to do, you can expect to see moving forward with many more hundreds of billions of dollars created out of thin air to fund this, to fund that and to fund the other thing and then they are going to sell it to you. Mannarino, an active and full time trader, noted that central banks are buying all the debt. Central banks have sent a clear message to the market that they got their back and that they are going to continue to inflate the debt. (Related: Central banks are willing to destroy the global economy if it means saving the stock market.) According to Mannarino, the European Central Bank (ECB) is now involved in an unlimited bond-buying program and the Federal Reserve is following suit. People now see the biggest wealth transfer in the history of the world, with the rich getting richer because of corporate bailouts that are now in effect, he said, while noting that small businesses are struggling in the U.S. with almost 52 percent saying they are more than likely going to fail. There is no connection between the stock market and the economy The financial analyst explained that there is no connection between what the stock market does and what the economy is doing because everything is a distraction and a lie. He pointed out that America is completely broke as a nation with trillions of dollars in debt and it cannot borrow its way into prosperity. The central banks are the strongest entities on the planet right now, Mannarino said. He noted that the Federal Reserve exists because of the fiat monetary system and the petrodollar. The entire military might of America is in the back pocket of the Federal Reserve, he said, adding that the U.S. military is mandated to protect the petrodollar. Mannarino compared the situation to a Ponzi scheme. In order to keep going, it must continually find sources to pull more cash into the system to make it run, he said. Eventually, the system will implode. And an implosion in the debt market is going to change the financial landscape of the world. The financial analyst said a debt market implosion is going to wipe out the stock market, with the S&P 500 falling at least 80 percent from its all-time high. When that happens, Mannarino said, people will be moving their cash into commodities, hard assets and cryptocurrencies. Follow MarketCrash.news for more news about the global financial market. Watch the video below to know why bail-ins and bailouts from central banks are the system failsafe. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Announcement of Russia defaulting on debts an attempt to divert attention away from the Wests endless money printing. Fed rate hike to unleash AVALANCHE of home foreclosures and market drops while still doing little to halt skyrocketing INFLATION. Massive Chinese debt bomb set to explode as mortgage holders, suppliers refuse to make payments on loans. Biden blatantly lies about the stock market, claiming non-existent GAINS when the market actually shows alarming LOSSES. The next stock market crash is already on its way, and America could lose $35 trillion in the collapse. Sources include: Brighteon.com Investopedia.com MoneyProMax.com (Natural News) White House Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci has complained that Americans are still not adhering to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) public health restrictions. He has also insisted that citizens should still wear masks indoors. In an interview with Katie Couric, Fauci blamed anti-vaccine advocates, American politics and misinformation for influencing people to defy wearing face coverings and refuse the vaccines. Unfortunately, given the fatigue that were at in this country from 2 1/2 years of this, everyone is tired of it, he said. It is very difficult, superimposed upon an anti-vax type feeling among some, superimposed upon the political divisiveness we have in this country and social media misinformation and disinformation. He said these are the reasons why it is very difficult to get people to adhere to commonsense public health measures. Faucis contradicting statements confuse people Analysts cant help but wonder if these were the real reasons why people doubt the efficacy of public health protocols in mitigating COVID-19 spread. Perhaps, they say, the measures were not sensible enough. Also, Faucis contradicting statements have been confusing people throughout the pandemic. Internal documents recently obtained by the group America First Legal proved that there was direct coordination between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and social media platforms on censoring COVID-19 vaccine skepticism they characterized as vaccine misinformation. Fauci and Biden were the ones who declared last year that people who received the jabs would not contract the disease. But both of them caught COVID-19 despite being quadruple-vaccinated. White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said in a recent interview she wasnt surprised that people who were quadruple vaccinated contracted the disease. I knew these vaccines were not going to protect against infection and I think we overplayed the vaccines, Birx told Neil Cavuto of Fox News. Previously, Fauci confirmed to Cavuto that the jabs dont protect overly well from infection. Fauci still stood by his statement that these shots protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death, despite studies and real-world data revealing otherwise. News outlet Clark County Today also pointed out that top health officials like Fauci continue to ignore the reports of severe illness and death in the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) database. As of July 22, VAERS has received 29,790 reports of COVID-19 vaccine-related deaths among a total of more than 1.3 million adverse events. In February 2020, Fauci told then-Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell via email that he didnt recommend universal masking, saying that the coverings are really for infected people to prevent them from spreading the infection to people who are not infected rather than protecting uninfected people from acquiring infection. A month later, he spoke out against universal masking amid a pandemic in a 60 Minutes interview, saying that there is no reason to be walking around with a mask in the middle of an outbreak. The World Health Organization even recommended at that time not to wear face masks unless they are sick with COVID-19 or caring for someone who is sick. CDC also declared masks are usually not recommended in non-healthcare settings. However, Fauci suddenly changed his tune and recommended mask wearing. Finally, in a recent interview on HillTVs Rising, Fauci claimed that he didnt recommend locking anything down and passed on the blame to the CDC, which according to him made the lockdown recommendations. (Related: TWISTED: Fauci is now claiming that he never recommended lockdowns.) I have been on the record of saying that. Always try, to the best of your ability, to keep the children in school, but in a safe environment, he said. Locally, a decision is often made when there is so much infection to close the school, but I would always see that as a last resort, and I have always felt that way. Jason Chaffetz, former Republican representative and chairman of the House Oversight Committee, noted that Fauci was clearly out there showing everybody, lock it down, put on your mask, dont go to school, put restrictions on travel. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky posted on his Twitter account: Hes unashamed and unrepentant. He knows the shutdowns were a catastrophic mistake, so hes trying to rewrite history. Its clear that the people who were in charge of our nations COVID response are trying to rewrite history regarding the pandemic, wrote Matt Margolis for PJ Media. Visit MedicalFascism.news for more news about the Biden administrations tyrannical efforts, disguised as public health measures. Watch the below video that talks about how Fauci and other government officials contradict each others statements on the COVID-19 pandemic. This video is from the Rick Langley channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Jeffrey Tucker: Fauci has done incalculable damage throughout the world. Birx admits she and Fauci made up the science on social distancing, lockdowns. Anthony Fauci, NIH fund Chinas military-run labs using US taxpayers money. Faucis wife Christine pushes for children to be enrolled in covid vaccine trials. Sources include: BlackListedNews.com FreeBeacon.com WND.com FoxNews.com TownHall.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Efforts to prevent Kansas from becoming one of the most abortion-friendly states in the country, despite its red status, have failed. Voters there overwhelmingly decided to reject Amendment 2, which would have affirmed that there is no Kansas constitutional right to abortion or to require the government funding of abortion. The amendment aimed to overturn a 2019 decision by the Kansas Supreme Court declaring that the states constitution enables a woman to make decisions regarding her body, health, family formation, and family life, including the decision whether to continue a pregnancy. That same year, the Kansas legislature passed a law banning second-trimester abortions, as well as another law pertaining to the health regulations of the gruesome procedure. The Kansas Supreme Court in an overwhelming 6-1 vote decided that all of these laws violate the state Constitution. This year, efforts were made to override that decision with a vote but they failed. Unfortunately, the implications of the Amendment 2 vote in Kansas are nationwide. Other states may try to put forth similar ballot initiatives to decide the fate of unborn babies. It is not clear as to why the polls would have been so far wrong in this instance, but it is quite possible that the pro-abortion side was more energized than the pro-life side, writes Steve Byas for The New American. After all, the average person, on both sides of the question, probably thinks that the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed abortion nationwide, although all their ruling did was return the matter to the states where it belonged. Was Amendment 2 worded poorly, confusing voters into rejecting it? Emily Wales of Great Plains Planned Parenthood was so excited by Amendment 2 being voted down that she issued a statement of praise and celebration for the groundswell of grassroots support that made it happen. Now, more than ever, our work continues, she added. Joe Biden also issued a statement well, he bumbled through something on a teleprompter, anyway declaring that the vote against Amendment 2 proves that the majority of Americans agree that women should have access to abortion. Listen to the will of the American people and restore the protections of Roe as federal law, Biden added. Laura Kelley, the Democratic governor of Kansas, was perhaps the most dramatic, stating that had Amendment 2 been passed rather than rejected, it would throw the state back into the Dark Ages. There is some speculation that the wording of Amendment 2 may have been confusing to voters, who may have thought that voting against it also meant voting against abortion. There could also have been some confusion as to whether the yes vote or the no vote was in opposition to abortion (those who oppose abortion may have thought a no vote indicated opposition, while a yes vote was for abortion rights), Byas writes. There is no doubt that the millions of dollars spent in Kansas in a massive disinformation campaign claiming things like the Kansas Legislature was poised to ban contraception and the like made a difference with many Kansans who naively believed such propaganda. Byas also warns against calls for a constitutional convention on this and other important matters because he believes that doing so would result in a deluge of untold millions of dollars of direct propaganda, along with pressure from powerful special interests, to produce a drastically altered U.S. Constitution or even an entirely new document. State legislatures (or state conventions) would be subject to the same types of pressures, he says, adding that abortion might easily get enshrined into any new constitutions were conventions to be held. The latest news about the abortion fight can be found at Abortions.news. Sources for this article include: TheNewAmerican.com NaturalNews.com 1st caravan of grain ships leaves Ukraine Xinhua) 11:18, August 06, 2022 KIEV, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The first caravan of ships carrying grain left Ukraine's Black Sea ports on Friday under a landmark deal to prevent a global food crisis, Ukraine's Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said. "Three bulk carriers NAVI STAR, ROJEN and POLARNET carry 57,000 tons of Ukrainian corn destined for Turkiye, Great Britain and Ireland," Kubrakov wrote on Facebook. Three Ukrainian ports, namely Odesa, Chornomorsk and Pivdenny, could export about 3 million tons of grain per month, Kubrakov said, adding that Ukraine could also import agricultural goods via the Black Sea. According to government plan, the three ports may soon handle more than 100 vessels per month, Kubrakov said. On July 22, Ukraine and Russia separately signed a deal with Turkiye and the United Nations in Istanbul to resume food and fertilizer shipments from Ukrainian ports to international markets via the Black Sea. On Aug. 1, the first cargo vessel carrying grain left the Ukrainian port of Odesa for the port of Tripoli in Lebanon. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here (Natural News) New Jersey State Police were able to access blood samples from the states Newborn Screening Laboratory by using a mere court subpoena. The State Police accessed blood and DNA WITHOUT probable cause or a warrant. This blood was originally collected from a newborn nine years ago in a hospital setting. Now this DNA is being used to identify the childs father and compel him to take further tests, as the police link him to a crime from 1996. Newborn Screening Laboratory operates in violation of parental rights, privacy rights The Newborn Screening Laboratory contains a library of blood and DNA samples taken from babies at birth. Babies do not get to give consent after birth, and parents often give in to invasive blood draws of their newborn due to the high level of coercion and force that is used in the hospital setting. The babies are removed from their parents care and pricked in the foot several times during their hospital stay. According to New Jersey statute, hospitals are required to take blood samples at birth to screen for sixty different diseases. Similar DNA harvesting laws are on the books across the United States. Some of these laws allow states to keep the blood and DNA samples for ten years or longer. Parents are not informed about the possibility that the childs DNA could be used without their permission and that it could be used as evidence to build a case against the family. Parents are not given a chance to opt out, either. New Jersey State Police obtain newborn DNA unconstitutionally to target the father The blood sample in this New Jersey case was seized via court subpoena, without the child or the parents consent. The New Jersey State Police were able to analyze the DNA from the nine-year-old blood spot. Once the police made the DNA connection between the child and his father, they issued a warrant on their target, forcing the father to take a buccal swab. The state was able to tie the childs DNA to his father to charge him for a crime that was committed in 1996. Since then, a lawsuit was filed by the father and the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, seeking to protect the man against this warrant-less search and seizure. New Jerseys Office of the Public Defender wants to protect citizens from illegal searches, and they want to investigate state agencies that illegally glean DNA from the Newborn Screening Laboratory. New Jersey State Police are accessing DNA unconstitutionally to build evidence for their prosecutions, and in the process, they may be conducting illegal surveillance of citizens. According to the details of this case, the all-powerful state can compel blood and DNA harvesting once a child is born. The state may store this personal information for a decade or more, so they can use it against the parents for future surveillance purposes, witch hunts and retaliatory prosecutions. With this DNA database just waiting to be exploited, the state can readily conspire against families, using their childs DNA to compel further testing of family members and build a case against them. This DNA database may also allow unaccountable authorities to come after parents who do not comply with state mandates, unconstitutional order and other senseless decrees that violate parental rights. A copy of the lawsuit is available for viewing online. The implications of this case are enormous, considering the severity of police state power that was granted to the government over the last two years under the guise of public health and safety. This case will decide whether the state can violate the 4th amendment of the US Constitution and readily access newborn DNA from the Newborn Screening Laboratory without probable cause or a warrant. For more on these matters, check out PrivacyWatch.News. Sources include: SGTReport.com Doc.ReclaimtheNet.org [PDF] (Natural News) Saudi Arabia raised oil prices for Asian buyers to record-high levels for its September loadings. Saudi Aramco, the countrys state-owned oil producer, increased the price of its Arab Light grade of crude oil for Asian clients by $0.50 per barrel to $9.80 higher than the Oman/Dubai crude oil benchmark. This exceeds the previous record of $9.35 per barrel set back in May. This price hike is also lower than the market forecast of between 70 cents to $1 a barrel. (Related: Saudi Arabia hikes oil prices as Asia eases COVID-19 restrictions.) The official selling price of Arab Extra Light was increased by 30 cents to $10.95 a barrel. Arab Super Light increased by 80 cents to $12.15 per barrel. Arab Medium was raised by 60 cents to $7.75 a barrel. The price hikes also made these crude grades reach record-level prices. Arab Heavy increased by 70 cents to $6 per barrel, another record-high price. Heavier varieties of crude oil tend to be made into fuels such as diesel. The lighter varieties are turned into gasoline. Now all crude grades are getting cheaper, so Saudi needs to make its prices more competitive. Otherwise, traders will take spot cargoes [rather] than lift Saudi oil, one trader in Singapore told Reuters. Saudi Arabia also raised the price of crude oil heading to the United States by $6.15 a barrel and to Northwest Europe by $4.70 per barrel against ICE Brent for September. For American customers, this marks the first change in the price of crude oil since May. The increase is expected to make crude oil grades linked to Brent crude more attractive for Saudi Aramcos Asian clients. It could also put more pressure on regional grades and lower demand The increase is expected to lower demand for Saudi grade crude oil and increase demand for oil linked to Brent crude in Europe, especially for Saudi Aramcos current Asian clients. It could also increase pressure on regional grades to increase output to meet demand. Price hike could be meant to curb demand as Saudis struggle to increase production Saudi Arabia raised prices a day after it joined the monthly OPEC+ meeting wherein the group met to discuss its oil production plans for September. The group of the worlds largest oil exporters ultimately decided to raise their September quota by 100,000 barrels per day (bpd). Saudi Arabia was allocated an additional 26,000 bpd. OPEC increasing its daily oil production plans for September strongly suggests that the group believes oil demand will increase next month. However, Saudi Arabia increasing the price of its crude is sending a different message: that it wants to cool the demand for its exports, especially to its Asian clients, by hiking prices. Many major oil producers around the world are still facing supply problems. According to analysts at Goldman Sachs Group, demand exceeds output by around two million barrels a day. This, coupled with Asian oil consumption continuing to recover since its 2020 slump, could mean that Saudi Aramco is facing similar concerns with meeting demand. Look at demand outside the U.S. India is scorching. China, we think, is growing strongly, said Bob McNally, president of Rapidan Energy Advisers, during an appearance on Bloomberg Television. Saudi Arabia sells most of its oil to Asian clients, especially in China, India, South Korea and Japan. Learn more about the oil and energy situation around the world at NewEnergyReport.com. Watch this episode of the health Ranger Report as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses how America is already running out of diesel engine oil products. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Oil-producing giants warn of dwindling energy supply worldwide as fuel prices hit record highs. Saudi Arabia says it cant ensure oil supply stability amid jittery period of global instability. Saudis consider using yuan over dollar in oil sales; move could signal collapse of petrodollar and the American economy. Saudi Arabia may increase oil prices amid Russia-Ukraine war. Sources include: Finance.Yahoo.com OilPrice.com Reuters.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved declaring monkeypox a local emergency on Tuesday, August 2, a day after California Governor Gavin Newsom declared the illness a public health emergency. LA County Board of Supervisors Chair Holly J. Mitchell said: The proclamation of local emergency is to help our county do all that we can to get ahead and stay ahead of this virus. San Diego County also declared a public health emergency for monkeypox on Tuesday. San Diego County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher said the situation they were facing with monkeypox is different from that of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). We take it very seriously, but as I mentioned earlier, it is exponentially less transmissible. We know more about it. We also have a vaccine at the start of it, he said. Fletcher also said monkeypox primarily impacts the LGBTQ community, echoing statements made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization (WHO). Both agencies said that homosexual males are the primary spreaders of the monkeypox virus, which was was mainly confined to West and Central Africa until recently. (Related: SCHLONG COVID: Global study finds that almost every case of monkeypox occurs among a homosexual or bisexual male.) Mayors in San Francisco and New York City also recently declared emergencies over the virus, just days after the WHO declared the outbreak in more than 70 countries a global emergency. So far, there had been 5,811 cases of monkeypox recorded in the United States, with 1,390 cases in New York, 827 in California and 520 in Illinois. Officials confirm pediatric case of monkeypox In Long Beach, officials confirmed a pediatric case of monkeypox, although it remains unclear how the child contracted the illness. Dr. Anissa Davis, the citys health officer, said on Tuesday that while news of a pediatric case may cause alarm, please remember that monkeypox is still rare, is much more difficult to get than COVID-19 and other common childhood illnesses and is rarely dangerous. (Related: WHO says monkeypox outbreak unlikely to turn into next global pandemic.) Monkeypox was officially declared a public health emergency in California on Monday, August 1. Well continue to work with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risk, Newsom said in a statement. California has received over 61,000 doses of the monkeypox vaccine and has distributed over 25,000 of these doses. The type of monkeypox virus identified in the current outbreak is said to be rarely fatal, and people usually recover within weeks of contracting the virus. However, the lesions and blisters that come with it can be very painful. For Newsom, the alert in California was issued to help the state health department increase its vaccination programs and education and outreach efforts to respond to the virus. California is working urgently across all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach, he said. He added that he will be working with the federal government to secure more vaccines, raise awareness about reducing risks, and stand by the LGBTQ community in fighting stigmatization despite declaring that gay men are likely spreaders of the disease. Illinois under state of emergency due to monkeypox Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker also declared a state of emergency due to monkeypox outbreaks on Monday. [Monkeypox] is a rare, but potentially serious disease that requires the full mobilization of all available public health resources to prevent the spread, he said. Thats why I am declaring a state of emergency: to ensure smooth coordination between state agencies and all levels of government, thereby increasing our ability to prevent and treat the disease quickly. Declaring a state of an emergency helps with logistics and coordination between departments that are working to respond to such an emergency. In the case of the monkeypox outbreak, this means devoting more resources to testing opportunities and vaccinations, including mobilizing who can administer them while accessing funds designated for emergencies. Visit MonkeyPoxPanic.com for more news related to monkeypox. Watch the video below to know more about Californias declaration of the monkeypox as a health emergency. This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: The child Monkeypox explosion will reveal the extent of the pedophilia epidemic in America. WHO admits (but doesnt) that monkeypox is a gay disease. If monkeypox is an STD that children are contracting, it could expose extent of pedophilia in America. WHO finally tells LGBT males to stop their sex-capades to halt spread of monkeypox. Its looking more and more like monkeypox is a cover story for covid vaccine-induced shingles, autoimmune blisters and herpes. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com NPR.org (Natural News) Nearly 600 migrants were apprehended on Saturday, July 30, in Burgenland, an Austrian state on the borders of Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia. This is only the latest batch of thousands of migrants that have poured into Austria in recent weeks, prompting authorities to sound the alarm as another migration wave crashes through Europe. Over 2,400 migrants were already taken into custody in Burgenland last week, and 2,029 from the week prior, nearly all of whom entered the nation through Hungary. In contrast, only 549 migrants were caught in the same area in the final seven days of April. This is a new peak value, we have never had so many arrests in a single day this year and not since 2015, the year of the great wave of refugees, a spokesperson from border operations said. Over 27,800 apprehensions have already been recorded in Burgenland so far this year, which is up from 19,938 in 2021. The wave is now at the highest levels since the refugee crisis and police and military at the border are now reportedly overwhelmed. The processing capacities in Burgenland are currently no longer sufficient, more than 200 asylum applications had to be processed in other federal states over the weekend, officials warned. Authorities are also expecting numbers to continue climbing as more migrants arrive in the European Union (EU) from the east and south. A local investigator said millions of migrants are waiting hundreds of kilometers to the east in camps and hiding places to escape. The preparations, however, are already in full swing. The rush will come, the investigator said. Meanwhile, Switzerland is also seeing an escalation in illegal border crossings, primarily by the Austrian border. Swiss authorities said they arrested 3,468 migrants illegally present in the country in June, which is nearly triple the number of apprehensions in the same period last year. (Related: Hordes of immigrants now suing Germany for not giving them free government handouts quickly enough.) Most of the migrants crossing into Switzerland came from its eastern border, which lies relatively close to the Balkan Peninsula, where roughly half of all illegal migrations into the EU have taken place in 2022. In mid-2020, Europol predicted a flood of migration from third-world countries, which were heavily affected by global lockdowns and economic deceleration. Hungary wants close cooperation with Austria against illegal migrants Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said in a joint press conference with Burgenland Governor Hans Peter Doskozil that the value of good and well-balanced cooperation is even higher in out-of-the-ordinary periods like the current one. Szijjarto noted that there are a few challenges that state borders are able to stop, and therefore it is important to develop cross-border cooperation based on mutual respect, such as relations between Hungary and Burgenland. When we talk about the neighborly relations between Hungary and Austria, we might as well talk about the neighborly relations between Hungary and Burgenland, he said. Hungary and Burgenland share a lot of product exports, with 181 Hungarian companies operating on both sides of the Hungarian-Burgenland border. It is, therefore, all the more important that the border should be easily crossable by those that do it in line with the law and with full respect of legal regulations, and at the same time, we must stop those that want to cross into the other country in violation of regulations, Szijjarto explained. (Related: Ukrainians fleeing Russian invasion now showing up at U.S. border as Biden ending Title 42.) Among his main concerns is the development of the Lake Ferto area, which is a joint goal and responsibility of both borders. The increasing migratory pressure is also a joint challenge, as authorities have already stopped 130,000 illegal migrants at Hungarys southern border this year. We will not let illegal migrants enter despite getting only two percent financial support from the European Union for this European task so far, Szijjarto said. Visit Migrants.news for more information about migrants fleeing to EU countries. Watch the video below to know more about illegal immigrants entering Europe. This video is from the Puretrauma357 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Is the Great Replacement really just a theory? No Americans really are being replaced with migrants. Swedish PM admits failure of integrating migrants, laments society becoming too weak. Global food scarcity to cause 20+ million refugees from Africa to flee to Europe mass migration. Western Europe is committing cultural suicide by blindly adhering to political correctness as their nations are overrun. More than 200 illegal migrants vaccinated ahead of vulnerable Brits. Sources include: Europe.InfoWars.com DailyNewsHungary.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) (Chris Parker, Headline USA) The FBI has added some of Americas most patriotic symbols to its terror warning watchlist, solidly in line with the Biden administrations increasingly expansive net on so-called domestic terrorism. (Article by Chris Parker republished from HeadlineUSA.com) The Second Amendment, one of our nations highest laws, is now listed among the Domestic Violent Terrorism Symbols believed to be used by domestic extremist groups. The shorthand 2A made the list as well. But it wasnt alone. The Betsy Ross Flag, the first iteration of the American flag (which hangs at the FBI headquarters) also made the list. It was also joined by the Gadsden Flag. The list was revealed in a document leaked by an FBI whistleblower to Project Veritas. It claimed that the symbols are used by Anti-Government or Anti-Authority Violent Extremists. The terror watch already contained the Spartan helmet and the skull symbol made famous by the Punisher comic book character. In addition to symbols deemed terroristic, like Revolutionary War imagery, the FBIs document lists Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by police on Jan. 6, as a person that Militia Violent Extremists consider to be a martyr. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, demanded answers from FBI Director Christopher Wray. These symbols werent things like the Ku Klux Klan or the Nazi Party, which naturally would be symbols of that. Still, instead, they include rather astonishingly patriotic symbols of our nation and history, he said. Wray largely tried to dodge the question. Well, Senator, Im not familiar with the particular document that you have behind you, and Im not in the practice of trying to comment on documents I havent recognized, he said. But I will tell you that when we put out intelligence products, including ones that reference symbols, which we do across a wide variety of contexts, we usually make great pains take great pains to put caveats and warnings in the document that make clear that a symbol alone is not considered evidence of violent extremism. This isnt the first time that the FBI has specifically targeted conservatives. Recent documents confirmed the FBIs interference in the 2020 presidential elections. It was found that the FBI falsely labeled intelligence that had been verified as credible against Hunter Biden as disinformation. That revelation also came from a whistleblower. CBS confirmed that individual was highly credible. Read more at: HeadlineUSA.com (Natural News) The energy crisis that is unfolding in Germany and other parts of Europe has prompted Austrian oil and gas company OMV AG to halt all crude product deliveries indefinitely. OMV Germany, which operates two storage facilities in the southern part of the country, says a run on supplies has created a situation in which operations must be temporarily suspended in order to secure supplies in the short and medium term. The current run on heating oil, OMV says, is possibly due to crisis-driven market shortages and thus excessive speculation and stockpiling. (Related: Germany is slated to run out of gas this winter due to conflicts with Russia.) Loading of crude supplies will remain offline until the Burghausen refinery has resumed production, the company added in a statement. Both Burghausen and Feldkirchen, the two storage facilities in question, are scheduled to restart deliveries on August 15. Whether or not that actually happens remains to be seen. Will Europe make it through the winter? Both diesel and heating oil are in short supply across Germany, Austria and Switzerland due to Russias invasion of Ukraine, which prompted Western powers to impose sanctions against Russia. Those sanctions resulted in a delayed return of a key component of the Nord Stream 1 (NS1) pipeline, which was already running at less than half capacity prior to the invasion. Now, the pipeline is scheduled to resume flows of just 20 percent, which is not enough to power Germany through the winter. Then, the Burghausen refinery went into maintenance mode, resulting in OMV having to halt deliveries of crude products at least until mid-August but that is not all. Reports further indicate that the Rhine Rivers water levels have been declining to the point that deliveries made from the North Sea via that critical waterway are unable to move through to their destinations. This trio of problems suggests that Central and Western Europe could face a blackout this winter as there will not be enough energy to go around throughout the entire cold season. Another component of the panic hoarding of diesel and heating fuel stems from some utilities having to switch their mode of power generation from natural gas to other crude products due to the NS1 situation. As a result of all this, German energy prices have soared to record levels, clocking in at more than 400 euros per megawatt-hour on the European Energy Exchange. Brent crude prices, meanwhile, have tumbled below $100 a barrel on paper, which shows that they are out of touch with the reality of the physical markets. With all the news coming out of Germany lately, I get the feeling theyre looking to be crushed for a third time in their history, wrote a commenter at Zero Hedge. This time without actually firing a shot. What do you think happens when the summer ends and energy needs increase? That is precisely the problem, someone else responded. No one thinks, every western ghoul politician just does what its told, no thinking involved. I can hardly wait to see them dragged behind cars. Another noted that this was more than likely all planned long in advance, just like the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) was. All the leaders in Germany are part of the WEF / Schwab system of one world governance, this person wrote, WEF referring to the infamous World Economic Forum. Digital. Social credit scores. Saudi Arabia keeps pushing their The Line NOEM. A prison in the desert 200 meters wide, 170 kilometers long and 500 meters above sea level. Your life, emotions, actions, beliefs, dreams, abilities under complete control. Sex and reproductive means ceased. They dont tell you that, do they? Its in their plans. The latest news about the energy crunch in Europe can be found at FuelSupply.news. Sources for this article include: ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com An analysis revealed how the devastating intensification of extreme weather is causing people all over the world to lose their lives and means of support as a result of more deadly and frequent heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and droughts brought on by the climate crisis. Intensive Analysis The most thorough compilation of scientific papers ever analyzed shows beyond a shadow of a doubt how humankind's massive carbon emissions are pushing the climate to dangerous new extremes. Without human-caused global warming, at least a dozen of the most hazardous events-from deadly heatwaves to searing temperatures-would have been all but impossible. What's most concerning is that all of this is occurring with only a 1C increase in the global average temperature. Extreme weather is being amplified by global warming at an "astonishing speed," according to experts. The head of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, Prof. Maarten van Aalst, put it bluntly: "The earth is changing quickly, and it's already affecting us." Currently, the planet is projected to warm by at least 2.5C. Based on what we have seen thus far, that would result in considerably more death and damage. To evaluate how much worse or more likely a severe weather occurrence was made by human-caused global warming, the research under review employed a method known as attribution. The technique's effectiveness lies in its ability to establish a clear connection between the catastrophes people experience and the frequently oblique rise in atmospheric greenhouse gases brought on by the widespread combustion of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution. It throws the climate catastrophe' scientific truth into stark relief. Also Read: Have These MIT Scientists Finally Found a Way to Reverse the Effects of Climate Change? Climate Studies Every such research currently accessible has been gathered into a new database of attribution studies of more than 500 occurrences by the climate information website Carbon Brief, which was shared exclusively with the Guardian. There is no question that we are already well into the era of climate death and devastation based on database analysis and interviews with the top attribution experts in the world. According to Dr. Fredi Otto of Imperial College London, we have been living in the age of [climate] destruction for decades. "The research strongly supports this, but the policies do not support it." The teenage activist and super typhoon victim Mitzi Jonelle Tan said: "These studies are proof that what is being done is not even close to adequate. It's a matter of life and death here. Prof. Bill McGuire of University College London warns that there is no time to waste: "What is astonishing is the speed with which global warming is translating into a hike in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather when the planet's average temperature is up by just a little bit more than 1C." Cause-and-Effect Relationship Since the global south is least to blame for the climate issue but is also home to many of the people most susceptible to its consequences, attribution studies have only examined a tiny portion of extreme weather occurrences so far. However, the following is what we can say with certainty on how much human-caused climate change is to blame, where it has already affected, and how much it has cost us in terms of lives lost and property destroyed. It is a frightening realization of how severely the climate problem has already impacted society and how urgently we need to avert future degradation. Related Article: Large Climate Tech Firm to Build Massive Plant that Sucks CO2 from the Air For more environmental news, don't forget to follow Nature World News! AP Indiana has become the first state in the nation to pass new legislation restricting access to abortions since the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling in June that overturned Roe v. Wade Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. Submit One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Researchers at Michigan State University have shown that locusts can not only "smell" the difference between cancer cells and healthy cells, but they can also distinguish between different cancer cell lines. However, patients need not worry about locusts swarming their doctors' offices. Rather, the researchers say this work could provide the basis for devices that use insect sensory neurons to enable the early detection of cancer using only a patient's breath. Although such devices aren't on the immediate horizon, they're not as far-fetched as they might sound, said the authors of the new research shared May 25 on the website BioRxiv. (BioRxiv, pronounced "bio archive," is a pre-print server that hosts research articles before they've been peer reviewed.) Part of that is because people have grown accustomed to technology that augments or outperforms our natural senses. For example, telescopes and microscopes reveal otherwise invisible worlds. The success of engineered devices can make it easy to overlook the performance of our natural tools, especially the sense organ right in front of our eyes. Noses are still state of the art. There's really nothing like them when it comes to gas sensing." Debajit Saha, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, MSU That's why we trust dogs and their super-sniffers to detect telltale smells of drugs, explosives and, more recently, health conditions including low blood sugar and even COVID-19. Scientists are working on technology that can mimic the sense of smell, but nothing they've engineered can yet compete with the speed, sensitivity and specificity of old-fashioned biological olfaction. "People have been working on 'electronic noses' for more than 15 years, but they're still not close to achieving what biology can do seamlessly," said Saha, who also works in the Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, or IQ. This lack of gas-sensing devices creates an opportunity when it comes to early detection of diseases, especially those like cancer, for which early intervention can save lives. When cancer is caught in its first stage, patients have an 80% to 90% chance of survival. But if it's not caught until stage 4, those numbers plummet to 10% to 20%. Cancer cells work differently than healthy cells, and they create different chemical compounds as they work and grow. If these chemicals make it to a patient's lungs or airways, the compounds could be detected in exhaled breath. "Theoretically, you could breathe into a device, and it would be able to detect and differentiate multiple cancer types and even which stage the disease is in. However, such a device isn't yet close to being used in a clinical setting," Saha said. So Saha and his team are developing a new approach. Instead of trying to engineer something that works like biology, they thought: Why not start with the solutions biology has already built after eons of evolution, and engineer from there? The team is essentially "hacking" the insect brain to use it for disease diagnosis, Saha said. "This is a new frontier that's almost unexplored," he said. Saha and his team chose to work with locusts as their biological component for a few reasons. Locusts have served the scientific community as model organisms, like fruit flies, for decades. Researchers have built up a meaningful understanding of their olfactory sensors and corresponding neural circuits. And, compared with fruit flies, locusts are larger and more rugged. This combination of features allows the MSU researchers to relatively easily attach electrodes to locust brains. The scientists then recorded the insects' responses to gas samples produced by healthy cells and cancer cells, and then used those signals to create chemical profiles of the different cells. This isn't the first time Saha's team has worked on something like this. In 2020, while at Washington University in St. Louis, he led research that detected explosives with locusts, work that factored into an MSU search committee recruiting Saha, said Christopher Contag, the director of IQ. "I told him, 'When you come here, we'll detect cancer. I'm sure your locusts can do it,'" said Contag, the inaugural James and Kathleen Cornelius Chair, who is also a professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. One of Contag's research focuses had been understanding why cells from mouth cancers had distinct appearances under his team's microscopes and optical tools. His lab found different metabolites in different cell lines, helping account for the optical differences. It turned out that some of those metabolites were volatile, meaning they could become airborne and sniffed out. "The cells looked very different metabolically, and they looked different optically," Contag said. "We thought it made a lot of sense to look at them from a volatiles perspective." Saha's locust sensors provided the perfect platform to test that. The two Spartan groups collaborated to investigate how well the locusts could differentiate healthy cells from cancer cells using three different oral cancer cell lines. "We expected that the cancer cells would appear different than the normal cells," Contag said. "But when the bugs could distinguish three different cancers from each other, that was amazing." Although the team's results focused on cancers of the mouth, the researchers believe their system would work with any cancer that introduces volatile metabolites into breath, which is likely most cancer types. The team is starting a collaboration with Steven Chang, director of the Henry Ford Head and Neck Cancer program, to test its detection system with human breath. The researchers are also interested in bringing the chemical sensing power of honeybees into the fold. The MSU team already has promising results using honeybee brains to detect volatile lung cancer biomarkers Again, people need not worry about seeing swarms of insects in their physicians' offices. The researchers' goal is to develop a closed and portable sensor without an insect, just the biological components needed to sense and analyze volatile compounds -; possibly before other, more invasive techniques can reveal the disease. "Early detection is so important, and we should use every possible tool to get there, whether it's engineered or provided to us by millions of years of natural selection," Contag said. "If we're successful, cancer will be a treatable disease." Other MSU contributors to the project include research associate Ehsanul Hoque Apu (who is now a research fellow at Michigan Medicine); doctoral students Michael Parnas and Alexander Farnum; undergraduate research assistant Noel Lefevre; and Elyssa Cox, the lab manager of Saha's Bioengineering of Olfactory Sensory Systems, or BOSS, laboratory. (Newser) Work could soon begin on the great Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion, considered the "largest ecosystem restoration project in US history," writes Boyce Upholt for Hakai Magazine. Aspects of the $2 billion engineering scheme have been in the works for decades, ever since people began noticing the alarming pace of land loss in the Delta caused by centuries of efforts to tame the Mississippi River. If nothing is done, Louisiana stands to lose the vital marshlands that dominate the Delta. Environmentalists, shrimpers, oil companies, coastal communities, tribes, and officials at all levels of government agree that something must be done, but nobody wants to live with the consequences of the proposed solutions. It's all about mud. Tributaries from 32 states plus two Canadian provinces drain into the Mississippi, which carries not only water but more than 300 million tons of dirt to the Gulf of Mexico each year. Over three centuries, efforts to tame the river have resulted in an uninterrupted system of levees stretching hundreds of miles and disrupting the natural distribution of all that mud. Adding to the problem, oil companies have built a vast and under-regulated network of canals, causing up to half of the land loss across the Delta by some estimates. The proposed diversion will punch a gap in the levee system and enable restoration of thousands of acres of marshland. An impact study by the Army Corps of Engineers suggests existing ecosystems and communities will be dramatically altered in the process. However, for all the hubbub, Upholt concludes that it might not matter much unless something is done to address rising oceans caused by climate change. Read more here. (Read more Mississippi Delta stories.) (Newser) A rural South Korean town is getting roasted over its video ad on garlic that some farmers say stinks of obscenity and has even sexually objectified the agricultural product. The controversy surrounds a 30-second video posted around two years ago on a YouTube channel for Hongseong County, a small town of about 100,000 people known for its local "Hongsan" garlic, the AP reports. The video shows a woman touching the thigh of a man named "Hongsan" with a full garlic head mask and saying words like "hard" to apparently describe the quality of the local garlic. It's also a parody of a famous scene from 2004 hit Korean movie Once Upon a Time in High School. The spicy ad, which reportedly generated about 190,000 views, had been largely kept underground, but began to take root in the larger public when it was aired on electronic billboards at a Seoul express bus terminal and a downtown street in the central city of Daejeon last month ahead of the garlics release. One farmer who saw the video notified some farmers groups, while South Korean media also began reporting about it, leaving a bad taste in people's mouths. "We cant repress our astonishment," said a joint statement issued by the local branches of two major farmers organizationsthe Korean Peasants League and the Korean Women Peasants Association. Calling the video "suggestive" and "inappropriate," the statement said it "sexually objectified garlic. The farmers groups asked Hongseong to apologize and punish those responsible for the video. Hongseong officials said Wednesday theyve withdrawn the video from their YouTube channel and had stopped airing it on the billboards last week. The county hasnt issued any official statement on the issue, and officials said they are discussing how to respond to the farmers requests. Many South Koreans believe garlic, one of the essential ingredients in Korean cuisine, boosts stamina. Some think it can improve mens sexual functions as well. (Read more South Korea stories.) (Newser) The jury in Alex Jones' defamation trial on Friday awarded the parents of a 6-year-old boy killed in the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School punitive damages of $45.2 million. Jones' lawyer immediately objected, the New York Times reports, pointing out to the judge that Texas law limits punitive awards to twice the amount of compensatory damages plus $750,000 per plaintiff. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis won compensatory damages of more than $4 million on Thursday. Jones repeatedly had told his Infowars audience that the mass shooting was a hoax. A lawyer for the plaintiffs asked the jury Friday to "send a very very simple message" when deciding punitive damages: "And that is, stop Alex Jones. Stop the monetization of misinformation and lies." An attorney for Jones suggested Friday that the jury settle on a fraction of its punitive award for the parents of Jesse Lewis, per CNN. The jurors could multiply Jones' purported hourly earnings of $14,000 by the 18 hours that Federico Andino Reynal said Jones spent talking about the massacre on Infowars. That would come to about $250,000. In the compensatory damages stage Thursday, Jones' team unsuccessfully proposed damages totaling $8 to the same jury. The jury heard testimony Friday that Jones and Free Speech Systems, the parent company of Infowars, have a net worth of $135 million to $270 million, per the Times. The $49 million in total damages ordered this week would be about three-fourths of Infowars' revenue last year of almost $65 million. It's the first time a court has found Jones financially liable for spreading lies about the 2012 shooting, per the AP, but he faces two more trials from Sandy Hook families, in Texas and Connecticut. Heslin and Lewis had asked the court for $150 million, based on $1 in compensation and $1 in punishment for the estimated 75 million people who experts claim either don't believe the shooting was real or have doubts, per the Washington Post. After the judge left the courtroom Friday, Mark Bankston, a lawyer for Jesse's parents, shouted, "I'll take it!" (Read more Alex Jones stories.) Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High around 75F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa ordered urgent humanitarian relief aid to be dispatched to quake-stricken people in Afghanistan. HM the King directed the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF), chaired by HM the Kings Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to supervise the relief-aid drive. Based on the royal directives, the foundation signed an agreement with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in support of efforts to extend relief aid to quake-hit Afghanistan. Under the deal, a RHF delegation will pay a visit to the quake-stricken regions in Afghanistan and distribute relief aid to people HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa expressed deepest thanks and gratitude to HM the King, RHF Honorary Chairman, hailing royal humanitarian initiatives in support of disaster-stricken and needy people worldwide. He commended the Government, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for its unwavering support to the foundation. He stressed Bahrains coordination with other GCC countries and the United Nations in support of crisis-stricken Afghan people, noting that the foundation would deliver urgent relief and medical aid. Mourners around Bahrain flock to commemorate Ashura TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Mourners from all over Bahrain flocked together yesterday to commemorate Ashura, which falls on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Husseinis funerals commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein and held mourning processions in several regions of the Kingdom. The Ministry of Interior took care of security and traffic arrangements during processions to ensure smooth traffic and the safety of all road users. Brigadier Shaikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa, the Director-General of Traffic, had said traffic officers are stationed on all roads leading to maatams (community centres) that mark Ashuras anniversary. He said that the traffic arrangements were part of the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to provide a secure environment and the requirements for the success of the Ashura season. Community Service Police were also working to ensure a safe atmosphere during the Ashura season. Officials said they are working to provide facilities and services to make the event successful and enhance public safety. We are working to provide services to mourners and carry out awareness campaigns. Northern Governor visits Maatams Meanwhile, the Northern Governor, Ali Abdulhussain Al-Asfoor, continued inspection visits to determine the security, service and health needs of maatams (community centres), in line with the directives of Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa. Deputy Governor, Brigadier Khalid Rabia Sinan, Chairman of Ashura Committee at the Northern Governorate, Al-Sayed Shareef Abdulla, and other officials visited the North Sehla, Jannusan, Jid Al-Haj and the southern Karana community centres, accompanied Al-Asfoor. The governor commended the efforts of community centres managements and sub-committees to ensure trouble-free organisation of Ashura rituals, praising their cooperation and coordination with security and service authorities. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Setting a vehicle on fire in Buhair has landed a man in the dock less than 24 hours of reporting the crime. The Criminal Investigation police at the General Directorate of Criminal Investigation & Forensic Science was instrumental in arresting the 49-year-old suspect behind the arson attack. The man, whose nationality or name stays undisclosed, allegedly set the vehicle on fire over a personal dispute with its owner. The man, however, landed in custody, thanks to quick police action. Police said they opened an investigation soon after receiving a report. Crime scene evidence, including CCTV footage, led the police to identify the suspect. Police then went on with a search operation to arrest the suspect and managed to to that within 24 hours of registering the complaint. The General Directorate said they took all legal measures to refer the suspect to Public Prosecution. Agencies | Gaza The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Israel pounded Gaza with airstrikes on Friday, killing at least 15 people, and triggering a barrage of retaliatory rocket fire from militants in the Palestinian enclave. The most severe Gaza violence since a war in May of last year followed days of tensions between Israel and the Islamic Jihad group, which Israel accused of planning attacks. A five-year-old girl in Gaza was among those killed in the Israeli strikes, according to the health ministry in the blockaded territory controlled since 2007 by Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid described the strikes as a precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat, and announced the killing of Taysir Al Jabari, who he described as Islamic Jihads second-in-command. Islamic Jihad said the Israeli bombardment amounted to a declaration of war, before it unleashed an initial response of more than 100 rockets towards Israel. It later announced another flurry of rocket fire, as air raid sirens rang out across southern and central Israel and officials in the countrys commercial capital Tel Aviv opened the citys bomb shelters. There were no immediate reports of casualties inside Israel. The army had initially confirmed at least 70 rocket launches from Gaza, saying 11 had fallen inside the strip, with dozens intercepted and others landing in open areas. Hamas has fought four wars with Israel since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, including the conflict last May. Islamic Jihad is a separate group, but aligned with Hamas. A flare up with Islamic Jihad came in 2019, following Israels killing of Baha Abu Al Ata, Jabaris predecessor. The sides exchanged fire for several days without Hamas joining the fray. Hamass moves amid the current violence could prove crucial in determining its severity, with the group facing pressure from some to maintain calm in order to improve economic conditions in the territory. Gaza City resident Abdullah Al Arayshi said the situation was very tense. The country is ravaged. Weve had enough of wars. Our generation has lost its future, he told AFP. Hamas said Israel has committed a new crime for which it must pay the price. The Israeli strikes were ongoing late Friday, targeting what the army described as militant targets across the territory. Gazas health ministry has confirmed 10 dead along with at least 75 injured. Flames poured out of a building in Gaza City following the first round of strikes, while wounded Palestinians were evacuated by medics. Gazas health ministry reported a five-year-old girl, targeted by the Israeli occupation was among nine people killed. Five-year-old Alaa Kaddum had a pink bow in her hair and a wound on her forehead, as her body was carried by her father at her funeral. Hundreds of mourners gathered in Gaza City for the funerals of Jabari and others killed in the air strikes. Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht said we are assuming about 15 killed in action in Gaza, referring to Palestinian combatants. Israeli tanks were lined up along the border and the military said Thursday it was reinforcing its troops. US ambassador Tom Nides said Washington firmly believes that Israel has a right to protect itself and urged all sides to maintain calm. UN Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland said he was deeply concerned, warning that the escalation was very dangerous. The strikes come four days after Israel closed its two border crossings with Gaza and restricted the movement of Israeli civilians living near the frontier, citing security concerns. The measures follow the arrest in the occupied West Bank of two senior members of Islamic Jihad. The militant group did not launch attacks on Israeli territory after the arrests. The office of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, which runs the occupied West Bank, said the Israeli military action amounted to a dangerous escalation and called on the international community to curb Israeli aggression. The Israeli military banned large gatherings in communities within 80 kilometres of the Gaza frontier until Saturday evening. The measure follows four days of road closures and other restrictions in the border area. Palestinians including patients and those with Israeli work permits have been prevented from leaving the Gaza Strip since Tuesday, while the goods crossing has also been shut. Gazas only power station is at risk of imminent outage due to a lack of fuel supplies through Israel, its manager warned on Thursday. This weeks shutdown of the border area follows a raid by security forces in the northern West Bank district of Jenin. Israeli forces detained Bassem Al Saadi and another senior member of Islamic Jihad. A 17-year-old member of the group was shot dead by Israeli forces during the raid. E Pluribus Unum In the late 1980s I was the priest at the American Episcopal Church in Waterloo, Belgium, a suburb of Brussels. The congregation was called American because in its 10-year history, it had always had an American priest, used the American Book of Common Prayer, and had the American bishop in Paris as their visitor. Interestingly though, the congregation never had a majority of Americans. All Saints Church in Waterloo was full of English-speaking expatriates from around the world. We, of course, had American and English businessmen and diplomats working in Brussels, but we also had French and Belgian widows from the first and second World Wars. We had four African ambassadors to the European Union, and Anglicans from all over the British Commonwealth. When we celebrated the traditional Nine Lessons and Carols at Christmastide, we had a different English accent for each reading. For the last 15 years of my ministry before retiring in 2019, I was the rector of St. Johns Episcopal Church in Bridgeport. Bridgeport has such a diverse population that none of the neighborhoods or even its voting districts had an ethnic majority, despite being surrounded by suburbs that were 94 to 99 percent white. St. Johns was one parish, but has four congregations, and celebrated services each Sunday in English, Spanish, French, and Creole. We had an annual International Fiesta where parishioners in native costumes came from all four congregations to share with one another food and drink from their ancestral homelands. It was the best party of the year. So, after I retired to our home in Kent, I became the part-time priest at St. Johns Episcopal Church in Washington. During the pandemic, the seven religious congregations of Washington came together as the Washington Council of Congregations to minister to the urgent needs of our community. We organized food drives, meal deliveries, volunteers at our Warren/Washington Food Bank, sponsored quarterly blood drives for the American Red Cross, and raised funds to support the Community Culinary School of Northwest Connecticut, located in New Milford. Last fall in the midst of the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, we brought the local community together as the Washington Refugee Resettlement Project (WRRP) to organize a refugee family resettlement, inspired by our experienced neighbors at the New Milford Refugee Project (NMRP), both working through IRIS, the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven and Hartford. In the end, both groups received families from the Turquoise Mountain group of artisans founded by Prince Charles in 2005, and we both rented houses on the same street, so that our families, who already knew each other, could continue to support each other as they adjusted to life in the United States. As an American who have lived outside the states for significant periods of time in Montreal, Oxford and Brussels, I know the anxiety of unfamiliarity that comes at once living in a strange land, each place with different habits and behaviors. I also know about the close ties formed by expatriates struggling together to adjust to changes in expected societal norms. But I also know the delight and the sheer joy of meeting new people, experiencing new customs and traditions, and recognizing together our common humanity. Our two refugee families, each with four children, are settling into their new lives in the United States, with the support of NMRR and WRRP. They are all taking English classes, mostly through the Literacy Volunteers on the Green. The children started public school in April, and have been engaged in summer programs at the Pratt Center and the Village Center for the Arts in New Milford. Living downtown, the families can walk or ride their bikes to get to the grocery stores, pharmacy, and even doctors offices. They often ride the bus to Danbury for work or to purchase Halal meat and foodstuffs that they miss from home: dates, and nuts, and Mango ice-cream. I have been there, and I remember the delight I experienced when I found a small shop in Oxford that catered to the American students with essential foodstuffs like Cheerios and Oreo cookies, and even Lone Star beer. The world is a diverse place, with many nations, tribes, and peoples, but we share a common humanity. We are never complete without all the others. And so: E Pluribus Unum, Out of many, one, our nations motto as placed on the Great Seal of the United States by an act of Congress in 1782, remains as true today as ever. The Rev. Geoffrey Hahneman is the priest-in-charge at St. Johns Episcopal Church at 78 Green Hill Road, Washington, CT 06793. He can be reache at the parish office telephone, 860-868-2527, or the St. Johns email, stjohnschurch@snet.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) A 12-year-old boy who had been in a coma for four months died Saturday at a London hospital after doctors ended the life-sustaining treatment his family had fought to continue. Archie Battersbees mother, Hollie Dance, said her son died at 12:15 p.m., about two hours after the hospital began withdrawing treatment. British courts had rejected both the familys effort to extend treatment and a request to move Archie to a hospice, saying neither move was in the child's best interests. Im the proudest mum in the world,'' Dance said as she stood outside the hospital and wept. Such a beautiful little boy and he fought right until the very end.'' The legal battle is the latest in a series of very public British cases in which parents and doctors have sparred over who is better qualified to make decisions about a child's medical care. That has sparked a debate about whether theres a more appropriate way to settle such disagreements away from the courts. Archie was found unconscious at home with a ligature over his head on April 7. His parents believe he may have been taking part in an online challenge that went wrong. Doctors concluded Archie was brain-stem dead soon after the accident and sought to end the long list of treatments that kept him alive, including artificial respiration, medication to regulate his bodily functions and round-the-clock nursing care. But his family objected, claiming Archie had shown signs of life and wouldn't have wanted them to give up hope. The disagreement triggered weeks of legal arguments as Archie's parents sought to force the hospital to continue life-sustaining treatments. Doctors at the Royal London Hospital argued there was no chance of recovery and he should be allowed to die. After a series of courts ruled it was in Archie's best interest that he be allowed to die, the family asked for permission to move the him to a hospice. The hospital said Archies condition was so unstable that moving him would hasten his death. On Friday, High Court Judge Lucy Theis rejected the familys request, ruling that Archie should remain in the hospital while treatment was withdrawn. Their unconditional love and dedication to Archie is a golden thread that runs through this case, Theis wrote in her decision. I hope now Archie can be afforded the opportunity for him to die in peaceful circumstances, with the family who meant so much to him as he clearly does to them." That ruling was carried out Saturday after both the U.K. Court of Appeal and the European Court of Human Rights refused to take up the case. But Archie's family said his death was anything but peaceful. Ella Carter, fiance of Archie's eldest brother, Tom, said Archie was stable for about two hours after the hospital stopped all medication. That changed when the ventilator was turned off, she said. He went completely blue,'' she said. There is absolutely nothing dignified about watching a family member or a child suffocate. No family should ever have to go through what weve been through. Its barbaric. Carter put her head on Dance's shoulder and sobbed as the two women hugged. The hospital expressed its condolences and thanked the doctors and nurses who had looked after Archie. They provided high quality care with extraordinary compassion over several months in often trying and distressing circumstances,'' said Alistair Chesser, chief medical officer of Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs the hospital. This tragic case not only affected the family and his carers but touched the hearts of many across the country.'' Legal experts insist cases like that of Archie are rare. But some disputes pitting the judgment of doctors against the wishes of families have been fought in the public eye, such as the 2017 legal battle over Charlie Gard, an infant with a rare genetic disorder. The parents unsuccessfully fought for him to have experimental treatment before he died. Under British law, it is common for courts to intervene when parents and doctors disagree on a child's medical treatment. The best interests of the child take primacy over the parents right to decide what they believe is best. Ilora Finlay, a professor of palliative medicine at Cardiff University and member of the House of Lords, said this week she hopes the Conservative government will hold an independent inquiry into different ways of handling these cases. Deciding such disputes through an adversarial court process doesnt help anybody, she said. The parents dont want to go to court. The doctors dont want to go to court. The managers dont want to go to court, Finlay told Times Radio. My worry is that these cases are going forward to court too quickly and too early, and that we need an alternative way of managing the communication between the doctors and the parents." The difficulty for parents is that they are in shock and often want to deny that there has been a catastrophic brain injury, Finlay said. When theres brain injury, often their child looks intact, so their face looks as it always did,'' she said. So understanding what has gone on inside the brain and the amount of injury is something that needs to be sensitively explained to parents, and that takes time." Archie's family was supported by the Christian Concern, which campaigns on end-of-life issues and the role of religion in society. The group said it was a privilege'' to stand beside the family. The events of the last few weeks raise many significant issues including questions of how death is defined, how those decisions are made and the place of the family,'' Christian Concern Chief Executive Andrea Williams said. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. HAMILTON, ON, Aug. 5, 2022 /CNW/ - People who are experiencing homelessness, suffering from mental health and addictions, and urban Indigenous individuals will now have access to 50 safe affordable homes in Hamilton. Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, Chad Collins, Member of Parliament for Hamilton EastStoney Creek, and Steve Clark, Ontario's Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Neil Lumsden MPP for Hamilton East Stoney Creek, announced $5.8 million in federal and provincial funding for McQuesten Lofts. The Government of Canada is investing over $3 million to support the project through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF). In addition to a joint investment with the province of over $2.8 million through the Affordable Housing (IAH) Bilateral Agreement. Located at 256 Parkdale, McQuesten Lofts is operated by Indwell Community Homes, and serves individuals in need of affordable, secure housing by providing support services that address and prevent homelessness through enhanced housing stability. Twenty-percent of the units are dedicated to addressing the chronically and episodically homeless urban Indigenous population in Hamilton. The remaining units address the following priority populations: chronically homeless, individuals transitioning from provincially funded institutions, individuals with mental health and addictions issues and persons with disabilities. The project aims to assist the most vulnerable populations by creating a home where their lives are transformed and they can flourish in a community of belonging. Fully independent apartments provide tenants the opportunity to create a life of their own with safety, privacy, and dignity. Quotes: "Every Canadian deserves a safe place they can turn to in difficult times. Our government continues to invest in affordable housing for those who need it most. McQuesten Lofts is providing support for the most vulnerable in Hamilton, by helping them rebuild lives, and gain independence, while accessing critical support services. This is the National Housing Strategy at work." The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion This investment from the Government of Canada's National Housing Co-Investment Fund is improving the economic and social well-being of those living with mental health issues, physical disabilities, and Indigenous groups, who now call this wonderful building their home. It is making Hamilton a better place to live because when people have a secure and stable home, they gain the confidence they need to succeed and fulfill their potential." Chad Collins, Member of Parliament for Hamilton EastStoney Creek "Our government's policies have delivered historic results in getting more housing built faster and complement our nearly $4.4 billion investments over the past three years to grow and enhance community and supportive housing, address homelessness and respond to COVID-19. We have also strengthened mental health and addictions supports for people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness. Ensuring all Ontarians have a home that meets their needs and budget, especially our most vulnerable, is a top priority for our government." The Honourable Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing "Led by Premier Ford and Minister Clark, our government is working hard with our partners to ensure the people of Ontario have access to safe and attainable housing. Projects like the McQuesten Lofts help protect our community's most vulnerable and build a stronger Ontario." Neil Lumsden, MPP for Hamilton East Stoney Creek and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport for Ontario Quick facts: The National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) is a program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults. is a program under the National Housing Strategy (NHS) that gives priority to projects that help people who need it most, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, those with mental health or addiction issues, veterans, and young adults. With a budget of $13.2 billion , the NHCF plans to: , the NHCF plans to: Create up to 60,000 new homes Repair up to 240,000 homes Create or repair at least 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence Create at least 7,000 new homes for seniors Create at least 2,400 new homes for people with developmental disabilities Budget 2022 proposes to advance $2.9 billion in funding under the NHCF to accelerate the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units. in funding under the NHCF to accelerate the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units. The Government of Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over $72 billion to give more Canadians a place to call home. National Housing Strategy (NHS) is an ambitious, 10-year plan that will invest over to give more Canadians a place to call home. Ontario has allocated nearly $4.4 billion over the past three years as part of its Community Housing Renewal Strategy and response to COVID-19 to help sustain, repair and grow community housing and help end homelessness. This includes the Social Services Relief Fund. has allocated nearly over the past three years as part of its Community Housing Renewal Strategy and response to COVID-19 to help sustain, repair and grow community housing and help end homelessness. This includes the Social Services Relief Fund. The Social Infrastructure Fund (SIF) was a joint federal-provincial program that funded the creation and repair of affordable housing, provided down payment assistance for homeownership, and provided rental assistance to families and individuals in need. Related links: As Canada's authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in Canada has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. authority on housing, CMHC contributes to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provides support for Canadians in housing need, and offers unbiased housing research and advice to all levels of Canadian government, consumers and the housing industry. CMHC's aim is that by 2030, everyone in has a home they can afford and that meets their needs. For more information, please visit cmhc.ca or follow us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and Facebook. To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, please visit www.placetocallhome.ca. SOURCE Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation For further information: on this news release: Daniele Medlej, Office of the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, [email protected]; Media Relations: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, [email protected]; Chris Poulos, Office of the Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, [email protected]; MMAH Communications Branch, [email protected] EAST HAVEN A Southington man was fatally shot in an altercation inside an East Haven bar early Saturday, according to police. Capt. Joseph Murgo said officers were dispatched to Bulls Eye Billiards on Main Street following a report of a shooting during the overnight hours. Police found two wounded people inside the bar, Murgo said. Both received medical care from East Haven firefighters. They were then taken to Yale New Haven Hospital. One of the wounded individuals later died. He was identified Saturday afternoon as Julius Bolden-Lowe, 26, of Southington, Murgo said. Police determined the bar fight became physical, leading to the shooting, Murgo said. Asked about a possible history of incidents at the establishment, Murgo said every bar comes with its own set of challenges, and this one is no different. We have been here periodically for various issues over the years, but I wouldnt say this establishment presents any more or less issues then the other establishments in town, said Murgo. Murgo asked anyone who witnessed the shooting, or the events leading up to it, to contact East Haven detectives at 203-468-3820. Those with information can contact the department via social media message, Murgo said. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com COLONIE, N.Y. (AP) Authorities in the Albany area are hoping modern DNA tracing techniques will help solve the murder of an 18-year-old woman more than 60 years ago. The body of Ruth Whitman was exhumed from a cemetery in Glenmont last week to perform DNA testing. The case had been cold since the 1990s when police pursued what turned out to be a bogus tip, but was reopened in 2012 when Whitman's family approached police. Whitman disappeared in December 1959 after being seen walking away from the scene of a fire at a house in her neighborhood. Police have suspected deceased serial killer Robert Garrow, who lived in Whitmans neighborhood at the time, but tell the Albany Times-Union they have at least two other people of interest one in Florida and the other in Connecticut. Some of the evidence collected by state police at the time of Whitman's murder was lost over time, but police are hopeful the evidence gathered from the exhumation will lead to a suspect. Fundamentally, they collected all the same evidence they collected the fingernail scrapings at the time, they submitted them to the lab, they determined there was human blood and hair under her fingernails, they just didnt have the technology to look for DNA, Deputy Colonie Police Chief Robert Winn told the newspaper. We have a lot of information, a lot of potential suspects, although no real direction other than more questions than answers, he added. A bus driver found Whitman's body the morning after she was last seen. She had been beaten and hit in the head with a blunt object, but there was no evidence she was robbed or sexually assaulted. Garrow lived near Whitman at the time of her death. He served prison time for rape in the 1960s and was serving a 25-year sentence in 1978 for fatally stabbing a teenager when he escaped from Fishkill State Prison and was shot and killed in the ensuing manhunt. Students from The College of Saint Roses Cold Case Analysis Center have assisted the Colonie police in researching the case. Part of the cost of the exhumation was paid by Seasons of Justice, an organization that provides funding to families for advanced DNA testing for cold case homicides. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Six times Sri Lanka's prime minister, President Ranil Wickremesinghe had long aspired to the pinnacle of power, enduring setback after setback but always managing to recover from seemingly impossible defeats. He has moved quickly to consolidate his position since lawmakers elected him this week to finish the term of his predecessor, ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. In the wee hours Friday, army troops and police forcefully cleared the capital's main protest site of demonstrators who had occupied it for months, angry over the country's economic collapse. On Friday, he appointed a classmate and ally of Rajapaksa, Dinesh Gunawardena, to be his prime minister and partner in rescuing the country from its predicament. The question is whether they can muster the political heft and public support to get the job done. Even his critics respect Wickremesinghe for his perseverance. If you are broken down and think you cant get what you want just look at a picture of Ranil Wickremesinghe, said lawmaker Udaya Gammanpila, who supported Wickremesinghes main rival in the presidential vote. Wickremesinghe is a divisive figure, unpopular among Sri Lankans fed up with shortages of food, fuel and medicine. Last week, protesters burned his private residence to the ground. Hes as well qualified as anyone after nearly a half-century in politics, but its unclear that the wiles that kept him head of his party for most of that time will suffice to overcome a tide of public antagonism. Few view Wickremesinghe as a real change from the government that was toppled earlier this month when Rajapaksa fled the country as angry crowds stormed his office. Born into a wealthy, politically active family whose fortune was made in timber and the media, Wickremesinghe trained as a lawyer and was elected to Parliament for the first time exactly 45 years before he took the oath of office Thursday. In coming days, he is expected to make a major policy speech laying out plans for fixing Sri Lankas dire economic, humanitarian and political crisis. Speaking just after he was pronounced the winner of Wednesdays secret ballot in Parliament, Wickremesinghe urged fellow lawmakers to unite in saving the nation. People are not expecting the old politics from us, they expect us to work together, he said. Meanwhile, out on the streets, protesters were chanting, Ranil, go home! Over the years, Wickremesinghe has moved in and out of the prime ministers office as his United National Party gained and lost power. But he coveted the top post, where the real power lies, running for office twice, in 1999 and 2005. In 2020, Wickremesinghes party splintered and suffered a humiliating defeat in national elections. He became its sole representative in Parliament, appointed rather than elected to his seat based on the proportion of votes. Detractors argued he lacks any mandate. In May, Rajapaksa turned to Wickremesinghe to replace his brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister after Mahinda was forced to quit. The hope was to restore Sri Lankas international credibility after it stopped making payments on its $51 billion in foreign debt when its foreign reserves dwindled perilously low, and Wickremesenghe has been leading negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on a bailout. But critics accuse him of protecting members of the Rajapaksa family, who are widely blamed for leading the nation into ruin, from allegations of corruption and other wrongdoing. Rajapaksa's resignation led to Wickremesinghe becoming acting president, in addition to prime minister and finance minister. His assurances that he would restore order and severely punish protesters who had attacked politicians' homes during the unrest won him support from dozens of lawmakers loyal to Rajapaksa. He cannot afford to seem soft on security: Islamic State-inspired terrorist bombings that killed 260 people in 2019 were largely blamed on intelligence failures stemming from fractured communication and friction between Wickremesinghe, then prime minister, and then-President Maithripala Sirisena. Tourism was devastated. Then came the pandemic. During his lengthy career, Wickremesinghe has headed various government ministries, as has his new prime minister, Gunawardena. Gunawardena earned a business degree in the U.S. and worked in New York before returning to Sri Lanka when his father, Philip, who helped lead Sri Lanka to independence from Britain, died. Wickremesinghe has become the public face of Sri Lanka's crisis, delivering weekly addresses in Parliament, raising taxes and pledging to overhaul a government that increasingly has concentrated power under the presidency a trend that many believe helped tip the country into its current predicament. Its unclear if, now that he has gained the long-sought presidency, Wickremesinghe will back reforms to curb its powers. He has been known to take the initiative at critical moments. In 2002, he tried to end a yearslong civil war, signing a Norway-brokered peace agreement with rebels who were fighting to create an independent state for the ethnic Tamil minority. The cease-fire won Wickremesinghe international acclaim, enabling him to salvage an economy on the brink of collapse after Tamil Tiger fighters attacked the islands only international airport and destroyed many aircraft. But the pact angered Sinhala Buddhist nationalists who saw it as a betrayal, and the cease-fire failed to hold. Then-President Chandrika Kumaratunga sacked Wickremesinghe and his Cabinet and called an election, which his party lost. Wickremesinghe ran for president the next year, losing to nationalist Mahinda Rajapaksa. In 2009, Rajapaksa defeated the Tamil Tigers, becoming a national hero in the eyes of the majority Sinhala Buddhists. During most of the years since then, the Rajapaksa family has dominated Sri Lankan politics, appointing family and friends in key political and administrative positions. Wickremesinghe tends to keep his private life under wraps. He is married to Maitree Wickremesinghe, a professor and expert on gender and womens studies. ___ Kurtenbach reported from Bangkok. ___ Find more of APs Sri Lanka coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/sri-lanka Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will run on the template of President Muhammadu Buhari if elected president in 2023, his campaign spokesman Festus Keyam... Presidential Candidate Tinubu is seeking to succeed his partyman in the next dispensation but there have been concerns about the direction his government would run given the woeful performance of the incumbent. Mr Tinubus associate and former party chairman Adams Oshiomhole had on Thursday sought to extricate Mr Tinubu from the failure of the Buhari regime, claiming his man has not been part of the government. But Mr Keyamo, a serving junior minister for Labour and Employment said Mr Oshiomhole was misinterpreted by the media. It is the same APC template that both leaders (Buhari and Tinubu) that they will use, Mr Keyamo said in an interview on Channels TV on Friday night. I saw one misleading headline from one of the papers yesterday and I laughed. It was misleading, misinterpreting what one of our leaders said. That we were distancing ourselves from the records of Buhari. That is utter nonsense. Like I said, we are proud of the record of the APC. The APC chieftain said. Mr Keyamo emphasised that Mr Tinubu is proud of the achievements of the Buhari regime. He said Mr Tinubu may however choose to improve on certain aspects of governance on the same template of progressivism. Nigeria has regressed on almost all indexes of national development in over seven years of the Buhari regime with worsening insecurity and the economy in comatose. Public universities have been shut for about six months as lecturers continue agitation over poor condition of service. In 2018, Nigeria displaced India to become the worlds poverty capital, according to a report by Brookings Institution, while Nigerias total public debt hit N41.60 trillion under the watch of the Buhari-led regime, according to the Debt Management Office. Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun, won the 2019 election through rigging. ... Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun, won the 2019 election through rigging. Amosun spoke on Friday in Abeokuta while speaking after receiving an award from the Abeokuta Club to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the association. The former governor had thrown his weight behind Adekunle Akinlade who contested on the platform of the Allied Peoples Movement against Abiodun who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress. Akinlade was defeated by Abiodun with a margin of 19,517 votes. Abiodun polled 241,670 votes to defeat Akinlade who had 222,153 votes. Amosun stated that the 2019 governorship election in the state was rigged to favour the incumbent governor. He added that he had moved on because those who orchestrated the rigging had apologised to him. Amosun said, During the last election, thank God, Chief Osoba is here, I have said it, we won convincingly. They rigged, rigged, and ended up with 19,000. Some of them came to apologise to me. I can be mentioning names. We won that election. But I have moved on. We did our work. We will continue to do what we have to do. God will be with all of us. Speaking later in an interview with newsmen, Amosun declared that he was not in support of Abioduns administration, saying he must be removed. He also assured his supporters that the nextline of action would soon be made public. Well, I am happy. When you are in a place and they are telling you that you have done the work of four or five governors altogether. I feel elated. I am happy that they appreciated our little efforts. Just wait, very soon, you will hear where we are going next. Clearly, you know my stand, and my stand is my stand. I am not supporting this administration that is there now. He must be removed, he said. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede has appealed to striking lecturers to resume. Oloyede mad... The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede has appealed to striking lecturers to resume. Oloyede made the appeal on Saturday while monitoring the 2022 mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). More than 42,000 candidates participated in the exercise conducted in 45 centres in five states. The examination was organized for candidates who could not participate in the nationwide test which was held in May. Oloyede appealed to parties to reach a truce to ensure affected students return to the classrooms. The registrar said even if ASUU called off the strike, it would not prevent it from happening again. I believe that what we should do is to look at the system and take some hard decisions. If we do not take such decisions, then we may be postponing the evil day, NAN quoted him saying. The federal government has yet to reach an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The industrial action started on February 14 and the government insists the figure being demanded is outrageous. Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo said ASUU knew the clear picture. ASUUs proposal is N1.2trillion. Their former N412blllion was 50 percent of the total wage structure of the federal government. I will tell parents and everybody, go and beg ASUU, the minister advised. Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the federal lawmaker representing the Enugu East Senatorial District at the upper chamber, Senato... Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the federal lawmaker representing the Enugu East Senatorial District at the upper chamber, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani has called on his supporters to dump the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi. He told the members of his Ebeano political family to dump the Obidient Movement. The former Enugu State governor, who made the call via posts on his social media handles, said his constituents would not afford to loose the governorship and State Assembly because of Peter Obi. According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has laid foundation in the State that cannot be ceded to another party. Referring to the movement for Peter Obis presidency as bandwagon, the lawmaker said such would not be allowed to take place in Enugu. Nnamani is the founder of the Ebeano political dynasty in Enugu State. He wrote, We cannot lay foundation for another political party and expect to umbrella on it 2 weeks later. NOT in Enugu! Not in ebeano country Lets cut the ,,, and muuuvvvveee. Obidient ebeano! Take a break we see you guys after Governorship and State Assemblies. This is a message to all ebeano. We go! No bandwagon in Enugu! IT is game ON!#ebeanoFAM. Politics is SERIOUS business. Not romantic Liason. We meet in February. May the majority win Enugu. We can not afford Bandwagon and loose Governorship and State Assemblies. Obidients Bye Bye for now. You win we congratulate you, after all we are kinsman.We win we meet again and roll. Unknown hoodlums, on Friday night, set ablaze the Ede residence of the parents of Kofoworola Babajide. Babajide is the Minority Leader in th... Unknown hoodlums, on Friday night, set ablaze the Ede residence of the parents of Kofoworola Babajide. Babajide is the Minority Leader in the Osun State House of Assembly. It was also gathered that residents of Ede town are now living in fear in the aftermath of the incident. Babajide, while speaking to journalists on Saturday revealed that his father has not been seen since his house was burnt down. He disclosed that before his parents house was burnt, some hoodlums suspected to be political thugs had earlier attacked some members of the Peoples Democratic Party at the venue of a ward he attended in Ede. Some armed thugs attacked us during a ward meeting of PDP in Ede yesterday (Friday). After that, I left for Osogbo. Later, I was told that they were attacking my parents house. They burnt the house and since then, I have not seen my father. We dont know if hes burnt alive inside the house or they have kidnapped him. The Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke has since reacted to the development. His spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke accused the outgoing Governor, Gboyega Oyetola of plotting to destabilise the state ahead of his exit from office in November. He stated that the agenda is to start conflicts and reprisal attacks from Ede which will eventually engulf the whole state ahead of the transition exercise. Senator Adeleke who strongly condemned the arson attacks on the lawmakers family called on security agencies to nip in the bud, the emerging agenda to plunge the state into crisis, warning that the peaceful conduct of the July election and the jubilant mood post-election should be sustained. I urge security agencies to swing into action and bring to book perpetrators of that dastardly attack on an innocent senior citizen whose only sin may be that his son is the PDPs minority leader in Osun State House of Assembly. Acts of violence must stop as election is not war. I appeal to the political class in Osun state particularly Governor Oyetola to be mindful of the harsh socio-economic condition of our people at the grassroots. We should respect their choice of leadership. It is immoral to further complicate the prevailing hardship with mindless politically motivated violence. The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party also called Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and security agencies to immediately arrest the situation in Ede and other parts of the state before it escalates. The Caretaker Chairman of the PDP, Adekunle Akindele in the statement on Saturday also condemned the attack on Babajide. The Osun State Police Command has since confirmed the incident. The Police Public Relations Officer, Yemisi Opalola said the incident happened on Friday night. Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, newly appointed director general of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation, yesterday... Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, newly appointed director general of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Organisation, yesterday vowed to do all within his power to ensure the success of the APC in next years presidential election. The partys vice-presidential candidate, Senator Kashim Shettima, separately appealed to youths to unite to vote for the APC flag bearer, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, promising that youths would play a pivotal role in government if the party won. Lalong told party supporters who welcomed him at the Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos, on his return from Abuja: This is another time for us to work for the victory of APC and also the victory of Tinubu/Shettima presidential ticket. He urged Nigerians to keep religion out of politics. Lalong stated that his position as the campaign councils director general demonstrates that Plateau people are respected in national politics and that the state will support the APC. He said: Campaigning for Tinubu/Shettima Presidential election will not be a new thing for us in Plateau State; it is not a difficult task at all. It was the same difficulty we faced in 2015 when some people said we would not win the election because we were tagged a Muslim party, but we won that election. All I want is for us to cement our relationship. Nigeria is one nation. The challenges that we have are not from the Muslims or the Christians. We have common challenges and our duty is to unite the people for development. I have capable hands on ground whom we will work together to deliver APC in the next election, he affirmed. Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, says security breaches in parts of country cannot be used as a yardstick t... Festus Keyamo, minister of state for labour and employment, says security breaches in parts of country cannot be used as a yardstick to say the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has failed. Keyamo spoke on Friday an interview with Channels Television. Over the past weeks, the spate of violent attacks has increased in parts of the country, with the federal capital territory (FCT) recording attacks. In July, there was an attack on the correctional centre in Kuje council area in the FCT, while troops of the presidential guard brigade were killed when they ran into an ambush by gunmen in the FCT. Speaking on the development, Keyamo said the Buhari-led government did not promise that the country will not witness violent attacks, adding that the government only promised to respond well. Last week, those who were gathering around the bushes of Abuja have been raided, flushed out and killed, he said. That is what we promised. We promised response. We did not promise that it wont happen. We promised response. We responded last week and killed them. Abuja is safe now. There is no incident like that around the bushes of Abuja again. We promised response and we have delivered response. People should not engage in scare mongering. Let me tell you something about the psychology of the bandits. They want to scare people. Their oxygen is fear. They want to create panic. It is the oxygen of the terrorists. It is only heaven when we arrive heaven that there will be no security breach at all. We have not arrived heaven. We are on earth; there must be security breaches. We have responded well. There are security breaches, regrettably, but that is not a yardstick to say government has failed. There are jailbreaks in America. The most secured place in the world, there are jailbreaks. In the western world, there are jailbreaks. Unfortunately, Im not proud of it. The optics are not good. Im not justifying it. It is the spin people put around it in Nigeria that I want to correct. Following the kidnap of a traditional head and three other people in Ondo State two days ago, the abductors demanded N50 million in exchange... Following the kidnap of a traditional head and three other people in Ondo State two days ago, the abductors demanded N50 million in exchange for the release of the victims. The kidnappers got in touch with the victims families hours after the abduction, according to a family source for one of the victims. On Thursday night, High Chief Mukaila Bello, the Oniku of Iku quarters in Ikare-Akoko, the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government Area of the state, was kidnapped at Ago-Panu axis along Ikare-Owo highway. Yeye Gbafinro, an All Progressives Congress (APC) leader and former candidate for the Akoko North-East seat in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Adeniran Adeyemo, and Bashiru Adekile, a community leader, were also abducted along with Bello. The vehicle conveying the victims was forced to a halt after the driver of the vehicle, who is currently receiving medical attention in an undisclosed hospital, was shot in the head. The victims were driving a Toyota Corolla sedan with the license plate KAK 818 AE from Akure to Ikare-Akoko when the gunmen opened fire. The source who said that the families did not have the resources to pay for such ransom, stated that they were still holding out hope that the kidnappers would release the hostages soon. The source also disclosed that Ikare Akoko, an ancient community, has been the scene of ardent interdenominational prayers and fasting for the safety of the victims. Lanre Adebambo, a security expert and the Jagunmolu of Ogbagi-Akoko Group Captain, urged the Akoko community to work together and synergize in order to have formidable security measures in place. Due to the vital placement of Akokoland as a gateway axis to the northern part of the country and the south-western states, Adebambo insisted that the action will make the Akoko highways secure for travellers and residents. The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended Ifeanyi Ezenagu for allegedly robbing women of their belongings. Public Relations Officer (PP... The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended Ifeanyi Ezenagu for allegedly robbing women of their belongings. Public Relations Officer (PPRO) SP Benjamin Hundeyin announced the arrest in a statement on Saturday. The 34-year-old was arrested by the detectives of the Surulere Division after complaints by six persons. Ezenagu allegedly stole three iPhone 12, two iPhone 11 Pro Max, one iPhone XR, one Nokia phone, one wristwatch, and one gold necklace all valued at N2,368,000. Police operatives recovered all the items before the suspect could dispose of them. Hundeyin said he lured women to hotels, where he laced their drinks to make them fall into a deep slumber. The suspect has no fixed address but lures women to different hotels where he drugs and robs them clean. Investigations reveal that he has robbed over 30 women since he ventured into this crime, the PRO added. The police have launched a manhunt to nab the receivers of the stolen items and will arraign Ezenagu soon. Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi advised Nigerians to be vigilant, and report criminal cases and suspicious happenings to security agencies. Radio amateur awarded six-figure NSF grant The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a grant of $399,211 to Nathaniel Frissell W2NAF, Ph.D., assistant professor physics and electrical engineering at The University of Scranton The Scanton press release says: Nathaniel Frissell, Ph.D., assistant professor of physics and electrical engineering at The University of Scranton, will lead a $399,211 National Science Foundation (NSF) grant-supported collaborative research project entitled Measuring Daily Ionospheric Variability and the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipse Ionospheric Impacts Using HamSCI HF Doppler Shift Receivers. As the lead principal investigator, Dr. Frissell will work with students at the University of Scranton, collaborators at Case Western Reserve University, and volunteers across the nation to study how dawn, dusk, and solar eclipses affect the electrified portion of the upper atmosphere known as the ionosphere. This will be done using a network of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) stabilized/synchronized high frequency (HF) receivers (known as Grapes), which were developed as part of the $1.3 million NSF-funded HamSCI Personal Space Weather Station (PSWS) project he was awarded in 2019. An annular solar eclipse will take place on Oct. 14, 2023 and a total solar eclipse will take place on April 8, 2024. These are the last solar eclipses to traverse the continental United States until 2044, and are therefore important, time-sensitive, information rich opportunities for running unique and controlled ionospheric experiments, said Dr. Frissell. This project takes advantage of the unprecedented opportunity to study the ionospheric impacts of the 2023 and 2024 solar eclipses and the daily ionospheric variability associated with dawn/dusk transitions. A better understanding of the impact of ionospheric disturbances is imperative, because these changes can affect crucial navigation and communications systems. According to Dr. Frissell, this new NSF grant will fund an additional 30 Grape receivers that will be deployed throughout North America. Volunteers from the HamSCI amateur radio community will be able to fund and field additional stations. All stations will run continuously from deployment through at least the end of the project in 2025, and will capture the 2023 and 2024 eclipses. The grant will also support masters and Ph.D. level student participation in the research data collection and analysis. This project will also establish a new network of measurement instruments that, due to its low- cost and operation by volunteers, has the potential to provide measurements for years to come, said Dr. Frissell, who also noted that results of the project will be shared widely with the amateur radio community through presentations at amateur radio conventions, local clubs, and publication in amateur radio magazines and journals. In addition, Dr. Frissell was awarded a highly-competitive, five-year $616,054 NSF CAREER grant in 2020 to apply sophisticated, physics-based atmospheric/ionospheric models to extensive data sets collected through the international network of ham radio operators. Dr. Frissell joined the faculty at Scranton in the fall of 2019. He earned a doctorate and a masters degree in electrical and computer engineering from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, and a bachelors degree in physics and music education from Montclair State University in New Jersey. He is the founder and lead organizer of the international citizen science space physics research collective known as the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation (HamSCI.org). HamSCI is recognized as an official NASA Citizen Science Project. Source Scranton University https://news.scranton.edu/articles/2022/08/news-faculty-nsf-eclipse-frissell-2022.shtml Locally reported news and sports Stay Current with What's Happening Get the most of NNY360, register today! By providing your email address, you consent to receive emails and special offers from NNY360.com Energy bills are high and not coming down soon, but heres some ways to cut costs Boost now or wait? Many wonder how best to ride out COVIDs next wave Watertown, NY (13601) Today Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers this afternoon. Thunder possible. High near 80F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low around 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. When it comes to health care, Dr. William G. Bronston has a long history of seeking justice for all. Part of that life work is documented in his book, released last year, Public Hostage, Public Ransom: Ending Institutional America. The book documents his three years at Willowbrook State School on Staten Island and how he was moved to document the public mobilization, media exposure and federal judicial processes that finally led to the action that Dr. Bronston helped to awaken. But as its title suggests, Dr. Bronstons book goes beyond Willowbrook. The model of Willowbrook, he says, is still with us, and a detriment to our health care system. And thats the main reason he published the book nearly 35 years after the closure of Willowbrook. Why now? Because were at a pinnacle of crises in America in relationship to the unaffordability of medical care, Dr. Bronston, 83, said in a phone interview from his home in Carmichael, California. You cant buy health care. Its not for sale. You can buy medical care. And the medical system in America has been so subordinated to corporate ownership and corporate control and so essentially squeezed toward privatization, despite the fact that we have Medicare and Medicaid as public systems. In terms of medical care, Dr. Bronston advocates for 100% security of the general population. The story of Willowbrook is a story to look at the centerpiece of the most expensive aspect of medical service, which is institutionalization congregate, segregated care, Dr. Bronston said. Im not just talking about residential institutions. Im talking about medical care. Our society is essentially dotted with gigantic empires. For example, Dr. Bronston said that California has about a half dozen major medical corporations that he said essentially dominate the health care field. As the system moves more and more toward privatization, to make medical care unaffordable and health care unavailable, were in a crisis situation, he said. The main remedy, Dr. Bronston believes, is universal heath care. Ive been very active in my whole, adult and professional life in pressing for universal health care in America, Dr. Bronston said. This story is essentially a precursor that leads to the unconditional reality and need for a radical change in our medical wealth-transferring, stigmatizing and labeling the medical service delivery system that dominates our society. Everything is medicalized. What that means is everything in monetized to the extent that in our system of giving a medical term, description of something, you can automatically bill for the problem. Youre able to generate income by defining the problem as a kind of a situation. He added, So the book becomes a harbinger story of the danger of the social and moral consequences of defining people as less than you and I less than human, and putting people into a dependent, money-linked status to the economy. That money link carries a sense of fear with it, Dr. Bronston said. Everybody lives with a gut-level sense of something possibly happening that they may not be able to cope with economically, he said. They cant count on the society and its caring, merciful relationship to each other. roots of advocacy Dr. Bronston worked at Willowbrook for three years and, as his book documents, he was a thorn in the administrators sides for all of those years. His advocacy began in college at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, where he was a fellow at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles with Dr. Richard Koch, who died in 2011 at the age of 89. He was an early advocate against institutionalizing the developmentally disabled, which was commonplace in 1955 when Koch was named director of the hospitals newly established clinic for the study of mental disabilities, his obituary in the Los Angeles Times noted. The traveling clinics he created evolved into dedicated regional centers that enabled children to remain home with their families or live in a non-institutional setting. My training was at the cutting edge of the field in the world, in terms of serving children who were different, Dr. Bronston said. Dicks whole position was to deflect people from institutions by providing the family with massive, cross-professional services. With that frame of mind and training, Willowbrook was an eye-opener for Dr. Bronston when he arrived in the spring of 1970. I was absolutely stunned, he said, because even the institutions in California like California state hospitals were nowhere near as wretched and as bestial as the experience at Willowbrook. He said he was first assigned to what was euphemistically called the baby ward. I immediately had 200 of the most broken children imaginable, Dr. Bronston said. I was the only doctor to take care of those 200 people. He writes in his book that while at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, it had 200 beds served by over 400 physicians. It was absolutely upside down, Dr. Bronston said. There were no off-service notes. I didnt know what was wrong with any of the children. I had two nurses, and two ward workers possibly three on a good day for each of my four wards to handle 50 kids in each of those wards who were absolutely devastated in terms of their medical and anatomical situations. He said he learned there was no treatment plan for the Willowbrook residents. I didnt really understand that at first, Dr. Bronston said. It took me a year of struggle to really begin to understand the reality of the situation. It was a slow learning process because I was there every day overwhelmed by clinical responsibilities and the routine that was imposed on us by the system which I didnt question at first because I was new in that place. Willowbrooks administrative formula largely was the root of its problems, Dr. Bronston believes. The definition of the population was that these were chronically ill, untreatable, progressively deteriorated patients which is exactly what they were not, Dr. Bronston said. They were children and people that had a developmental reality and a future. They needed to be in an educational framework and they needed to be essentially freed of the medical problems that were there as a result of the lack of adequate hygiene, care, medication and lack of adequate diagnoses that they were suffering under that place. The place was violent and totally inappropriate for anybody regardless of the magnitude of their disability. It was the wrong paragon. It was a medical model paragon rather than an educational paragon. Willowbrook, Dr. Bronston said, crushed and destroyed its population for money. The only way to describe Willowbrook is that it was a source of income for that state to pay off mortgages for these giant edifices that were built, he said. The benefits of that were the high-end salaries and the benefits that came from establishing these places in terms of construction, the contracts that were left for food, sheets, drugs, transportation and all to maintain this gigantic public workforce the social system that essentially was hired in order to manage these concentration camps. And they were American concentration camps. Now, theyre spread. Now, we have little ones called nursing homes and assisted living that cover the entire country and our society. Thats a harsh overview, but Dr. Bronston said a universal health care plan is the remedy to what he sees. Thats why without a universal health care system that is essentially free at the point of service and individualized across the population and integrated into society so that you dont have congregate, segregated anything in terms of managing peoples health care and their role in society and the community youre going to have this kind of atrocity. Lost and found Three Mile Bay author Ellen Marie Wiseman was finishing up her latest novel, The Lost Girls of Willowbrook, last year when she came across Dr. Bronstons book shortly after it was published. Dr. Bronston received an advanced copy of Mrs. Wisemans novel this year. By the time I got to the fourth chapter, I was so anxious that I had to put it down, Dr. Bronston said, adding that he did finish the book. Hes gratified that Mrs. Wiseman was able to expertly use some of his insights. Weve become very close friends and her publisher has invited me to come to New York to be with Ellen when her book comes out to be shoulder-to-shoulder with her at book signings and media opportunities, he said. Shes a major New York Times celebrity book writer who gets published in multiple languages. She feels, reciprocally, that the real story of Willowbrook is what people need to know about it. The synergy is a great honor. She feels honored connected to the source of the real story and I feel honored connected to somebody who is marketing the story to the general public in a way that is more accessible than my documentary. Dr. Bronstons book, self-published through Page Publishing, is a collage of different elements, from legal briefs and internal communications to photographs and newspaper articles. He copyrighted the book as a nonprofit corporation. I didnt want any of the money coming through royalties to me as opposed to being able to redistribute them in terms of advocacy. Willowbrook State School, which opened in 1947, closed in 1987 after legal battles and public outcry. Before then, in 1975, New York Gov. Hugh L. Carey signed a consent decree that ended the legal battle to improve conditions. According to the National Council on Disability, a U.S. government advisory agency, Although the consent decree did not require complete closure of the facility, it established that residents of Willowbrook had a constitutional right to be protected from harm and required the state to take immediate steps to improve the lives of those who lived there. The decree sought to ready each resident for life in the community at large and for the placement of Willowbrook residents in the least restrictive and most normal living conditions possible. Nobody from the inside has ever really written, personally, about the struggle for justice in these horrible places and to deal with the implacable, cruel, callous, ignorant, incompetent bureaucracy that essentially is the norm in these state systems, Dr. Bronston said. WIA supporting Binar satellites In 2020 the Board of the WIA supported the Binar-1 small satellite/CubeSat mission which was launched from the ISS by Curtin University. Binar-1 is a 1U CubeSat currently in low-Earth orbit (LEO) and was a technical demonstrator of in-house developed hardware that aimed to become a repeatable platform for research and educational purposes. This year the Board of the WIA agreed to support the upcoming mission 2 that will see satellites: Binar-2, Binar-3 and Binar-4 be deployed from the ISS in the same way as Binar-1 into LEO. A subsequent mission 3 will follow about a year later with three more CubeSats (Binar-5,6 and 7) to also be delivered into Low Earth Orbit. Part of the Binar mission is to try to make it easier for young, enthusiastic students to learn more about and how to use amateur radio in a way which directly relates to STEM. We believe that this specific use of amateur radio is a fantastic crossover opportunity for education and encouragement of STEM. Previously young students were constrained by resources, and current progtam wants to provide a platform where students - both high-school and university - can learn about amateur radio, spacecraft, their operations, and science experiments flying onboard the spacecraft. The satellites in Launch 2 will be Binar-2, 3, 4 will have a multiband radio, capable of operating in the amateur band. The radio frequencies are allocated in the 70cm Amateur Satellite Radio band and, as required by local and international regulatory bodies (ACMA, ITU, IARU), will be coordinated through the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union) with the support of the Wireless Institute of Australia as the national association for Amateur Radio in Australia . The main purpose of the usage of the amateur-satellite band allocation onboard the Satellites in Launches 2 and 3 is to provide a platform to educate high school and university students on satellite technology. Peter VK8ZZ WIA Secretary WIA Jerome Grenier grew up in Toulouse in southwestern France. He was working as a project manager for a tech start-up in Paris, where he met his wife, who is from New Orleans. They decided to move here, and he started The French Stall, a pop-up offering cakes, tarts, quiches and crepes. In July, he moved the business into St. Roch Market, where he focuses on crepes. The French Stall is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. For more information, visit french-stall.com or strochmarket.com. Gambit: How did you start The French Stall? Jerome Grenier: I was tired of my job and wanted to try something else. I really like cooking. I learned to cook at home. My mom taught me a few things. I met my wife in Paris. We decided to move to the U.S. and do some traditional French food. We moved here in August 2019. I started small doing a few farmers markets here and there. I started at (markets) in Covington and Mandeville. I went there because it was really easy to get started. I would go talk to people, and they would say, Yeah, come next week. It went pretty well. I started small to find my place and little by little it grew. I was doing a lot of pastries and quiches. I was making chocolate cakes and strawberry tarts and chocolate and caramel tarts and things like that. After the pandemic, the crepes took over. I thought my food was getting popular. My two main gigs were at Lafreniere Park on Wednesdays and in Mandeville on Saturday. It was getting busy from word of mouth. I was also doing some pop-ups, like at second lines. I was thinking it might be the right time to try to take the next step. I wasnt ready to open a restaurant. I wasnt sure if people were familiar with crepes. When I am at the market, people can see them. They are like, That looks good. Gambit: What is your take on traditional French crepes? Grenier: When I travel to other cities in the U.S., I always look to see if there is a crepe store. Its not like there is an American version of crepes. What I am doing is an authentic French version. With savory crepes, I use buckwheat flour batter. This is what we would use in France. It makes a crispier crepe. With a sweet batter, or a yellow batter all the crepes here are like that. For sweet crepes, I use a simple batter of regular flour, eggs, milk and sugar. I am trying to stay with the classics. The Parisian has mushrooms and homemade persillade, with garlic, shallots and parsley. For breakfast, theres one with eggs, cheese and bacon. I have some specials. I did a Cajun one with Cajun sausage, onions and cheese. I am planning to make one with shrimp, parsley, butter and garlic. The breakfast crepe and the Parisian are the two most popular. For the sweet ones, people like the Nutella, and you can add fruit, like strawberries. I also do crepes Suzette. Its flambeed with Grand Marnier. I put butter, sugar, orange zest and orange juice in the pan, and when its ready, I add the alcohol. Gambit: Whats the next step for the business? Grenier: I just started at the market six weeks ago. Sometimes I do quiches on the weekend. I have some sweet tarts I would like to do as well. I am doing a baby shower in a couple weeks. This is something I am developing. Ill do quiches and tarts. I have a couple of weddings in the fall where I will do a crepe station. Editor's note: This event has been postponed until October. The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, Aug. 13, will present a special concert honoring the legacy of civil rights activist Oretha Castle Haley. It takes place at the New Orleans Jazz Market, located on the Central City boulevard named for her. Born Oretha Castle in Oakland, Tennessee, in 1939, she moved to New Orleans in 1947. She first became a civil rights activist as a student at Southern University at New Orleans. She participated in a boycott and protests against the racially discriminatory employment practices of Dryades Street merchants. She also took part in sit-ins at segregated cafeterias, picketed Canal Street department stores and was arrested several times during protests. She was one of the leaders of a lawsuit that helped end racial discrimination at Charity Hospital, where she later worked. In 1960, Castle co-founded the local chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and was its president from 1961 through 1964. Her husband, Richard Haley, was an attorney for the group. She also helped organize political campaigns, including for Dorothy Mae Taylor, the first Black woman elected to the state House of Representatives. After Oretha Castle Haley died of cancer in 1987 at age 48, Taylor, then a City Council member, led the effort to rename Dryades Street between Philip and Calliope streets (near the area where one of the activists first offices was located) Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard. For more information about the upcoming concert honoring Haley, visit thenojo.com. Hey Blake, In 1975, I purchased a wrought iron fence and gate from a home being demolished on Royal Street. I installed it at my home. There is a manufacturers tag attached that says C.A. Mangin, 621 Bourbon St., N.O. What can you tell me about my fence? T-Bud Dear T-Bud, For more than 100 years, the Mangin name was well-known in the French Quarter and across the city. Mangins Iron Works, located at 621 Bourbon St., crafted many of the wrought iron balconies, fences and railings in the French Quarter from 1832 until 1920. Charles A. Mangin was born in New Orleans in 1854. He worked in the family business with his father and grandfather. The business, established in 1832, was on the first floor and the family lived upstairs. The building was later inherited by Lindy Boggs, who made it her New Orleans home from 1972 until Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In a 1920 Times-Picayune article, Mangin detailed his familys history in the ornamental ironworks business. I hardly had to learn at all. It was born in me, he said. I have worked around a forge since I was fourteen. Mangin explained the difference between wrought iron and cast iron produced from a mold. Wrought iron is like an oil painting every stroke is put on by hand, and there is only one copy in the world. Cast iron is like printing once you have the plate, you may run off millions of copies. In 1920, Mangin closed his business. I can get no workmen. Today, they want things turned out by machine, quick, cheap. Art does not matter to them, he told The Times-Picayune. There is no one to whom I can teach my trade; all the boys nowadays would rather be merchants and get rich than be apprentices for years at a difficult art and earn little. Mangin died in 1924. According to his family, one of his anvils and a large key that hung in front of the shop were donated to the Louisiana State Museum. Political parties of various countries strongly oppose Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region Xinhua) 11:18, August 06, 2022 BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Political parties of various countries on Thursday expressed strong opposition to the visit by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to China's Taiwan region. In messages addressed to the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the political parties also voiced firm support for China's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that Cuba firmly opposes any act to undermine China's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Daniel Ortega, secretary-general of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and Nicaraguan president, said that the U.S. politician ignored the one-China principle recognized in the United Nations (UN) resolutions and the Shanghai Communique solemnly signed by the U.S. side and flagrantly infringed upon China's sovereignty, which, once again, fully exposed the U.S. hegemonic behavior of duplicity. Boris Gryzlov, chairman of the Supreme Council of the United Russia party, said that Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is a blatant provocation against China, adding that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Hanjaya Setiawan, director of Foreign Relations, Central Leadership Board of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, said that Pelosi, out of self-interest, has been doing things that threaten regional and world peace, and her attempts will never succeed. Pelosi's provocation will only aggravate the tensions between China and the United States and undermine the stability of Asia, said Mushahid Hussain Sayed, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the chairman of the Pakistani Senate's Defense Committee, stressing that Pakistan firmly supports the one-China principle. Dogu Perincek, chairman of Turkiye's Patriotic Party, said Pelosi's Taiwan visit is a serious violation of China's sovereignty, adding the United States ignored international law and violated its previous commitments on the Taiwan question, showing the whole world once again that it is an unreliable country. Abbas Zaki, a member of Palestinian Fatah Central Committee and commissioner for relations with Arab countries and China, voiced strong condemnation of and resolute opposition to the U.S. provocation that undermines China's national unification and territorial integrity, saying the Palestinian people and Fatah firmly support the Chinese people in safeguarding national unification and territorial integrity. Raphael Tuju, executive director of Azimio la Umoja -- One Kenya Coalition Party, said Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is a despicable act of provocation against the friendly Chinese people, and the move is irresponsible, outrageous and reprehensible. The U.S. leader's visit to Taiwan breached the one-China principle and aimed to disrupt China's peaceful development process and maintain the U.S. hegemony, said Fred M'membe, president of the Socialist Party in Zambia, adding that peace-loving people of all countries must condemn such a move. Humberto Vargas Carbonell, general secretary of the Costa Rican People's Vanguard Party, said that Pelosi's visit to Taiwan is a blatant violation of and gross interference in China's defense of national territorial sovereignty by the United States, noting that those who play with fire in the move will perish by it. Ella Rule, chair of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist), said that at the time when the United States seriously provoked China, the party stands with the Chinese people and fully supports China in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Anton Gomez Reino, deputy of Podemos party and vice-president of the foreign affairs Committee in the Congress of Spain, said Pelosi's visit to Taiwan shows that the United States only wants to create conflict and provoke confrontation between camps to delay the decline of its hegemony. In the meantime, political parties and social organizations, including Nepali Congress party, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist), Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist), Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, Free Patriotic Movement in Lebanon, the Party of Independence and Labour in Senegal, Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, the Communist Party of Uruguay, A Just Russia-Patriots-For Truth party, Tobwaan Kiribati Party, Korea-China Leaders Society, Civil Society Alliance Forum of Cambodia, Sri-Lanka Veemansa Initiative and Somalia-China Business Council, have also voiced their opposition to Pelosi's Taiwan visit and their firm support for the one-China principle. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) President Wickremesinghe is strengthening the financial power needed to revive the UNP by using his old team. His old folks who were vehemently rejected by people are resurfacing under the guise of strengthening the party. Without any proper authority, they are directly interfering in the governance, but they lack a strategic plan to come out of the dire crisis the party is facing. Editorial President Ranil Wickremesinghe is amplifying his political power unprecedentedly. He is a lucky man in an unfortunate state. Simultaneously, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), the political party that gained power in the shortest period in the history of Sri Lanka, and which supported him in bringing him to power, is gradually depleting. But it continues to hold the centre of the constitutional power. According to some unofficial sources, many senior members of the party are worried and angry because the President's team has sidelined the SLPP and trashed many of their demands. As a political party, the SLPP is going through its most critical moment of political survival. The fact is that this party, which did politics on the ground until it won the elections, has deliberately ignored politics after gaining power and took decisions prioritizing overestimation and an ego-centric mindset. They underestimated the peoples revolt. A picture is worth a thousand words But when many "politicians" do not do politics, on the contrary, Ranil Wickremesinghe did politics. He reaped its harvest handsomely. At present, he is gradually succeeding in his power expansion but there are two main challenges. The first is to fulfil the demands of the SLPP, which provided conditional support for him to come to power. The second is to turn the United National Party (UNP) into a strong political movement again. Revivification of the UNP is possible but not an easy task. It is alleged that the President is strategically putting off fulfilling the demands of the SLPP as he is very good at buying time to avoid difficulties. To justify it in front of society, he brings to his office the small groups of mainly UNP loyalists who joined the struggle against the Rajapaksas by giving a prominent media campaign. Some opportunists involved in those protests have been given several positions. But in a few days, a strong opinion will be created in the political camps against President Wickremesinghe pointing out that this struggle is part of his great game. It is difficult to imagine that a politician like Basil Rajapaksa, who is the real owner of SLPP, has not realized this. Basil's encounter with Wickremesinghe in politics is an event that should be read carefully. Their artificial co-existence with each other will not last long. However, Mr Wickramasinghe is strengthening the financial power needed to revive the UNP by using his old team. His old folks who were vehemently rejected by people are resurfacing under the guise of strengthening the party. Without any proper authority, they are directly interfering in the governance but, they lack a strategic plan to come out of the dire crisis the party is facing. This behaviour is unlikely to bode well for the UNP. Because President Wickremesinghe's politics still depends on the SLPP. Also, in case of any crisis of survival, the first choice of the minor parties that broke away from the alliance led by the SLFP is the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, not Ranil's camp. This is likely to be the reality for at least the next six months until the President has the constitutional power to dissolve Parliament. It is important to recall two events in the political history of this country to understand what may happen in the future under such a situation. The first event was Mr Dudley Senanayake defeating Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who was the Prime Minister before forming his seven-party coalition. Mrs Bandaranaike was an internationally recognized successful political figure at that time who promulgated many national initiatives. In 1964, Sirimavo abolished the independent Ceylon Civil Service and replaced it with the Ceylon Administrative Service. In February 1964, Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai visited Sri Lanka then Ceylon which inevitably boosted the Sino-Lanka relationship. She, later, hosted Presidents Tito of Yugoslavia and President Nasser of Egypt in March 1964, but continued domestic unrest forced her to suspend parliamentary sessions until July. In the interim, she entered into a coalition which increased her majority by three seats. In October 1964, Bandaranaike attended and co-sponsored the Non-Aligned Conference in Cairo. In December 1964, she lost a vote of no confidence and dissolved Parliament. Dudley Senanayake came to power after the election. The seven-party coalition (hath hawula) that consolidated his power ruled the country for the next five years. However, the Coalition of Seven gradually dissolved, giving Mrs Bandaranaike a golden opportunity to regain power. Rest is the history. The second incident is the failed impeachment against President Ranasinghe Premadasa staged by Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Disanayaka in September 1991. The impeachment against the President came shortly after the brutal suppression of the JVP rebellion against the government. On the other hand, the Indian peacekeeping forces were withdrawn from the country and the LTTE was pushing for a political solution. But the power of the president gradually weakened. Consequently, Premadasa had lost the support of his senior members, but the current President Wickremesinghe, who was then a known MP, supported him. Thus, impeachment did not succeed. Premadasa tried to seize the opportunity to accumulate more power to ensure his authority. Subsequently, the internal rebellion against Premadasa was suppressed but he was unable to extinguish the turmoil. It further isolated him. What can happen if President Wickremesinghe continues to undermine the aspirations of the SLPP? Unlike Premadasa, he has no parliamentary power. He eats from someone else's plate. The rightful owner can seize it at any time. Consequently, there is a possibility of a repeat of Prime Minister Bandaranaike's 1964 scenario or President Premadasa's 1991 scenario. This is the tricky and complicated nature of politics. It's all about power, all other crises are secondary. Until President Wickremesinghe, who was a charming fortune, is constitutionally empowered to dissolve the current government, his survival depends on the SLPP. So the next six months are crucial. The political reality to be faced during this period is significant. If he continues to emasculate the power of the SLPP, it wouldn't take long for it to grow into a rebellion against him. Therefore, it is important to recognize the subtle dissimilarity between political conspiracies and political strategies to prioritise the strategies over conspiracies. Time will tell whether Mr Wickremesinghe and his inner circle will be able to deal with such a situation. If the ship has to sail on seas owned by others, it must sail in such a way as not to harm the owner's laws and interests. Without understanding that reality, if one gives priority to his will, the damage that can occur can be very serious. Consequently, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena will have room to become the President of choice and a new Prime Minister will take over at the discretion of the SLPP. Food for thought, Mr President! Three months after authorities say he used a hammer to beat his mother to death in her kitchen, a Jefferson Parish grand jury on Thursday handed up an indictment charging Joshua Chambers with second-degree murder in her death. Chambers, 28, was arrested April 25 as he stood in the doorway of the Marietta Street home he shared with his mother, Cora Chambers, 54, and confessed to killing her, according to the Kenner Police Department. Joshua Chambers has a history of mental illness, including several involuntary psychiatric evaluations, authorities said. But his mother loved him and did everything she could to care for him, according to relatives. +3 Despite challenges at home, Kenner mother allegedly killed by son poured love into everyone she met Cora Chambers had a vibrant, caring and generous spirit that practically sparkled whether you had known her for years or had just made her acq On the morning of April 25, investigators say Joshua Chambers attacked his mother with a hammer, bludgeoning her to death and binding her feet about 11 a.m. He told Kenner detectives he killed Cora Chambers because she had been putting medication in his cinnamon toast, authorities said. Police aren't sure what Joshua Chambers did for the next 12 hours. But, at some point, he left the house driving his mother's Ford Fiesta. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Joshua Chambers was involved in a hit-and-run accident in the vehicle that night near the intersection of Bissonnet Drive and Veterans Memorial Boulevard, police said. Chambers left the car at the scene and made his way back home. He was there to answer the door about 11:30 p.m. when officers assisting with the hit-and-run investigation stopped by to speak with the wrecked vehicle's registered owner. Joshua Chambers opened the door and blurted out, "I killed her. Cuff me," Detective Aaron Savoie testified during a preliminary hearing held in May in Jefferson Parish Magistrate Court. One of the officers peered around Chambers and into the residence and spotted Cora Chambers lying motionless on the floor. She was pronounced dead. In addition to murder, the Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office charged Joshua Chambers with hit-and-run driving. After Thursday's indictment, the court increased his bond to $750,000. He was being held at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. The court has ordered a mental evaluation to determine whether Chambers is competent to assist in his defense. The sanity hearing is scheduled for Aug. 31. Chambers' arraignment has been set for Sept. 30, court records said. National Hurricane Center forecasters are tracking a tropical wave that is expected to move off the coast of Africa later this weekend, and it has a 20 percent chance of developing into a named storm in the next five days. It's the first tropical activity in the Atlantic Basin since July 13, a sign that the seemingly slow 2022 hurricane season is entering its busy period. Some gradual development of the system is expected as it moves westward across the eastern and central Atlantic Ocean during the early to middle part of next week, forecasters said. This week, NOAA revised its storm forecast for the hurricane season, reducing the expected number of named storms and major hurricanes by one each. But they warned that conditions are still ripe for a more active than normal season, with as many as 20 named storms, 10 hurricanes and five major hurricanes Category 3 or stronger. August through October represents the peak months of the Atlantic Basin season, which officially lasts from June 1 through Nov. 30, said Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season outlook forecaster with NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. Get hurricane updates in your inbox Sign up for updates on storm forecasts, tracks and more. e-mail address * Sign Up Three storms have formed so far this year: Tropical Storm Alex, which formed as a depression on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, on June 2, and cut across the central Florida peninsula on June 4 before heading into the northern Atlantic. Hurricane Bonnie, which was first declared a potential tropical cyclone on June 27 off the northern coast of French Guyana, made landfall on the border of Costa Rica and Nicaragua on June 31, and crossed over into the Pacific Ocean on July 1. Tropical storm Colin, which formed along the South Carolina shoreline on July 2 and dissipated just inland of the North Carolina coast on July 3. Staff writer Mark Schleifstein contributed to this report. +6 A robot will rove the Gulf this year to study heat and hurricanes. Here's what it hopes to learn. A deep-diving robot will scour the Gulf of Mexico over the next year in search of underwater heat waves that can cause hurricanes, under a pro LOS ANGELESAuthorities have arrested a driver after she allegedly sped through a red light Thursday and plowed into other vehicles in a crowded intersection, killing a pregnant woman and her unborn child, three other adults, and a boy in a fiery crash. The California Highway Patrol on Friday said Nicole Lorraine Linton, who sustained moderate injuries in the collision, was taken into custody on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Charges are expected to be filed with prosecutors. The coroners office identified one of the victims Friday as Asherey Ryan, a 23-year-old pregnant woman from Los Angeles. Her unborn child was listed as baby boy Ryan in online coroners records. Two other women and a man, as well as a boy, were killed but their names were not made public Friday. Shortly after 1:30 p.m. Thursday, a Mercedes-Benz sedan caused the crash involving as many as six cars near a gas station in the unincorporated Windsor Hills about 10 miles southwest of downtown LA, according to the California Highway Patrol. It was definitely one of the most horrific crashes that weve seen, CHP Officer Franco Pepi told The Associated Press on Friday. The Mercedes-Benz sedan never appeared to brake as it flew through the intersection and Pepi said detectives are looking into whether Linton had a medical episode or was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Several people were flung from the cars and two vehicles caught fire. Television reports showed the blackened and mangled cars, as well as a childs car seat among the debris covering the street. Video showed the Mercedes careening through an intersection, striking at least two cars that exploded in flames and were sent hurtling onto a sidewalk, winding up against the gas stations corner sign. A fiery streak led to one car. One vehicle was torn in half. The car was going at least 50 mph as it raced through the crowded intersection, Pepi said Thursday. Eight people were taken to the hospital, including Linton. It was not immediately clear whether Linton, 37, had an attorney who could comment on her behalf. The other victims had minor injuries and included a 33-year-old woman and six children ranging in age from 13 months old to 15 years old, Pepi said. A memorial grew outside the intersection Friday, as mourners left flowers and candles in memory of the dead. Henry Sanchez, who works at nearby Sinclair Gas, was at the indoor register when he heard the loudest noise Ive ever heard. The sound of it, it was gut-wrenching, he told the AP on Friday. It was like two trains hitting each other, metal on metal. He saw people rush to the cars to offer aid but they were kept back by the flames until firefighters arrived. I remember everybody trying to get the fire down and help people out as much as they could, but nobody could do anything, he said. Veronica Esquival told KTLA-TV that she covered her head for protection as debris flew. All of the sudden, a baby literally flew from the middle of the intersection to the middle of the gas station and landed right on the floor in front of me, Esquival said. One of the workers came and saw me with the baby and took the baby out of my hands. Somebody tried to resuscitate the baby but the baby was gone. Debra Jackson, told KCBS-TV she was about to get out of her car to pump gas when she heard a big explosion. The flames just went over everybody, Jackson said. The flames went over my whole car and they told me to jump out of my car because I was trying to get out of my car, to go to the gas pump. And I jumped out of my car and just left my car sitting right there. Israeli airstrikes hit targets across Gaza on Friday, killing a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist group. Palestinian terrorists in Gaza fired dozens of rockets into Israel in response. As darkness fell, Israeli authorities said sirens had been sounded in southern and central areas, while images broadcast by Israeli television stations appeared to show a number of missiles being shot down by air defense systems. In Tel Aviv, Israels economic center, witnesses said they could hear booms but there were no reports of sirens. Islamic Jihad, a group with a similar ideology to Hamas, the terrorist group in charge of Gaza, said it had fired more than 100 rockets on Friday into Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv. Israels ambulance service said there were no reports of casualties. Earlier, local health officials in Gaza said at least 10 people, including a five-year-old child, had been killed and 55 wounded in the Israeli airstrikes. An Israeli spokesperson said the strikes had killed Islamic Jihad commander Tayseer al-Jaabari and around 15 terrorists but said the military did not have a final casualty total. Israel carried out a precise counter-terror operation against an immediate threat, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a televised statement in which he pledged to do whatever it takes to defend our people. Our fight is not with the people of Gaza. Islamic Jihad is an Iranian proxy that wants to destroy the State of Israel and kill innocent Israelis, he said. The Israeli military said in a Twitter post that its war planes targeted Islamic Jihad sites in Gaza that severely affect the organizations ability to develop military capabilities. New Video: IDF of strike which killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad military commander in northern Gaza Tayseer al-Jabari pic.twitter.com/M5ut1zmcTQ Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) August 5, 2022 An Islamic Jihad official confirmed that al-Jaabari, whom the Israeli military described as the main coordinator between Islamic Jihad and Hamas, had been killed in the strikes, which hit several targets around the strip. The strikes came after Israel arrested Bassam al-Saadi, a senior leader of the Islamic Jihad group, during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin earlier this week. It subsequently closed off all Gaza crossings and some nearby roads over fears of retaliation from the terrorist group, which has a stronghold in Gaza. Israels military said Defense Minister Benny Gantz had approved plans to call up 25,000 reservists following the strikes, signaling that Israel expected an extended confrontation. We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. State Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, is urging the Indiana Department of Health to be proactive in its response to monkeypox as the viral disease continues spreading in the Hoosier State. In a letter sent Wednesday to Dr. Kristina Box, the state health commissioner, Melton urges Box to share with Hoosiers more information about monkeypox, how it spreads and what steps can be taken to prevent infection. "One of the first cases of monkeypox in our state was discovered in Gary," Melton said. "Our neighboring state, Illinois, has already declared a state of emergency, which will allow their department of health to begin coordinating efforts to prevent and treat the disease as efficiently as possible" "I urge our state to begin taking proactive steps as well so we can get out ahead of this health issue before theres a further spike in cases," he writes in the letter. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 68 monkeypox cases in Indiana, compared to 602 cases in Illinois and 7,510 nationwide. Earlier this week, Box issued a statewide standing order allowing any eligible health care provider to administer the monkeypox vaccine to individuals age 18 and up in accordance with CDC guidelines. The state health agency also maintains a webpage with detailed information about the virus at: in.gov/health. "I encourage residents to remain diligent and look out for news from our state and federal health officials as they continue to monitor the situation and the impact on our communities," Melton said. Monkeypox is rarely fatal. The illness typically begins with fever, headache, chills, muscle aches and exhaustion about five to 21 days after exposure, according to the Indiana Department of Health. Within one to three days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash. The rash may start in the mouth or any part of the body before spreading. Some people may only develop the rash. The illness typically lasts for two to four weeks. People are considered infectious until all scabs from the rash have fallen off and a fresh layer of skin has formed. Person-to-person transmission is possible either through skin-to-skin contact with body fluids, monkeypox sores or contaminated items, such as bedding or clothing, or through exposure to respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact, the state health agency said. "Hoosiers who believe they may have been exposed or who develop symptoms consistent with monkeypox are urged to contact a health care provider," Box said. Anyone who's lived in Northwest Indiana has probably spent a significant amount of time soaking in views of Lake Michigan. The Great Lake's South Shore has inspired poets like Carl Sandburg, painters like Frank Dudley and writers like Nelson Algren. Now anyone can jot down their creative ideas in appropriately themed memo books. Our headquarters sits about a mile and a half east of Lake Michigan, one of the largest bodies of fresh water in the world, said Jim Coudal, cofounder of Field Notes. Weve wanted to do a set inspired by the Great Lakes for years, and when we saw the bright cobalt Classic Techweave cover stock from Neenah, we knew it was finally time. Each memo book in the limited edition set is dedicated to a Great Lake. The lake is depicted in an illustration on the front cover and explained with history, data and trivia in the back cover. It's being sold online, at retail stores and as part of Field Notes Quarterly Edition Series, which people can have mailed to them through a subscription. Subscribers also get a sixth memo book with a charcoal cover honoring the entire Great Lakes Waterway. Field Notes also is releasing The Great Lakes T-shirts and a set of vintage postcards styled after Curt Teich & Company. The Chicago-based company printed more than a billion postcards over a 90-year period, many of which are preserved at the Curt Teich Postcard Archive in the Newberry Library. Most Teich postcard images were photographed by the companys salesmen as they toured the country, then touched up or embellished back home, said Bryan Bedell, design director at Field Notes. We decided to be as faithful to the process as possible, which led to a 1,300-mile road trip to shoot each of the lakes on black and white film. We scanned the negatives and, having examined the original Teich production files, we felt no qualms about retouching and colorizing the photos beyond recognition. For more information, visit fieldnotesbrand.com. HAMMOND A Gary man is set to plead guilty next week as kingpin of an illicit drug network that murdered a rival dealer five years ago. Teddia Teddy Caldwell, 46, the estranged husband of Gary Councilwoman Linda Barnes-Caldwell, is giving up his right to a jury trial to avoid a lifetime in prison. Caldwell is scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon before U.S. District Court Magistrate-Judge Andrew P. Rodovich to formally change his plea to drug and homicide charges. Caldwell and his defense attorney, Arlington Foley, of Crown Point, who negotiated the plea deal, signed a nine-page document outlining its terms. Caldwell admits under the deal that he and eight other co-defendants sold cocaine from Caldwells Gary home and Gary business, a car wash, between June 2016 and late February 2018 when he was first arrested and charged with being a large-scale drug dealer. Caldwell is also agreeing to plead guilty to the felony counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine and the drug-related murder of 43-year-old Kevin Hood, of Gary, on July 28, 2017. He states in his plea agreement he hatched a plan to rob Hood of a large amount of cocaine and money compiled by Hoods rival drug network. Caldwell also planned to split the proceeds of the robbery with co-defendants Taquan Clarke, Devontae Martin and at least one other unnamed co-conspirator, who went to Hoods business, another Gary car wash, to rob Hood at gunpoint. Caldwell states in his plea agreement he arrived as Hoods robbery was in progress. He states he saw Hood trying to fight off Martin when Clarke ran up and fatally shot Hood. Caldwells plea agreement states, I understand that I am guilty of Kevin Hoods murder because I played a role in planning the robbery of Mr. Hood and his car wash and this robbery led to Mr. Hoods murder. The U.S. Attorneys office has agreed, in turn, to drop all remaining charges against Caldwell and recommend he receive a more lenient sentence than the maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The length of his sentence will be decided later by U.S. District Court Judge Philip P. Simon, but the homicide charge does carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years. The U.S. Attorney also agreed to drop a felony count against Caldwells girlfriend, Paronica Bonds, over her role in attempting to smuggle a synthetic marijuana to Caldwell inside the Porter County Jail in Valparaiso, where Caldwell is currently held. The guilty plea would come four and a half years after Caldwell was first charged, not only with Hoods death, but also the killing of suspected police informant, Akeem Oliver, 29, of Gary Oct. 8, 2016, in Gary. The case has gone through multiple delays since charges were first filed in early 2018. First, federal prosecutors spent more than a year deciding whether to seek the death penalty against Caldwell eventually declining to do so. Then the COVID-19 pandemic shut down federal court trials for many months over the past two years. During that time, five of his co-defendants pleaded guilty to drug-related charges. Caldwell agreed to change his plea to guilty less than two weeks after federal authorities arrested his girlfriend, Paronica Bonds, on the latest drug charge and put her in jeopardy of a prison sentence. Caldwells co-defendants, Clarke and Martin, had been set to begin trial Aug. 22, but Judge Simon cancelled that event Friday in the wake of the monumental change in the case caused by Caldwells plea agreement. VALPARAISO A 20-year-old Chesterton-area man, who is accused of having sexual contact with a minor in Lake County, was sentenced Friday to jail time and mental-health counseling for the same type of offense in Porter County. Porter Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clymer modified a plea agreement at the last minute Friday to allow a one-year period of probation for the mental-health treatment in addition to two-and-a-half years behind bars for Elijah Fleming. Fleming will then spend a year on probation and be required to register as a sex offender and comply with those strict limitations and requirements. "I just want to apologize for the stuff I did," Fleming said during the sentencing hearing. Fleming said his actions have had an impact on his life, causing him to miss family holidays and gatherings. He said he did not realize the seriousness of his actions and called them the "biggest regret of my life." Earlier in the hearing, the mother of the young victim, said the sexual battery has caused trauma for the girl and the family. The girl now suffers from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and is no longer an excelling student. Despite the impact, the mother said her family is prepared to move forward after sentencing. "As of today, we are no longer Elijah Fleming's victims," she said. Fleming pleaded guilty in late June to felony counts of sexual battery and possession of a narcotic drug. The Porter County sex case stems from October 2020 when a 14-year-old girl told police she met Fleming a month earlier on Snapchat and told him her age, police said. Fleming then reached out to her the following month, picked her up, gave her marijuana and had sex with her, police said. Porter County police took Fleming into custody in May 2021 at a Portage mobile home, where they said they also found drugs and paraphernalia, resulting in the further charges. Clymer had revoked Fleming's bond in March after learning he was charged with two new felony counts in neighboring Lake County of sexual misconduct with a minor. Fleming is accused of repeatedly having sex in October with a girl in Cedar Lake he knew to be 14, according to a court document. The case parallels the allegations in Porter County in that Fleming is accused of meeting a 14-year-old girl on the instant messaging app Snapchat and smoking marijuana with her before sex, records show. A probation officer told the court Friday that if Fleming is convicted in Lake County, he could be required to register as a sex offender for life. The government of Indiana is on the verge of mandating every Hoosier woman who becomes pregnant to carry the pregnancy to term and deliver a baby, unless the pregnancy involves a life-altering trauma. On Friday, the Republican-controlled House voted 62-38 to approve Senate Enrolled Act 1, sending the measure back to the Republican-controlled Senate where lawmakers agreed Friday night to endorse the final version of the legislation, 28-19. It now is up to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to decide whether the near-total abortion ban crafted by the Legislature over the past two weeks will take effect Sept. 15. The legislation prohibits all abortions in Indiana from the moment of conception, except within 10 weeks of fertilization for pregnancies caused by rape or incest, or 20 weeks if necessary to prevent serious physical impairment or the death of a pregnant woman, or because of a lethal fetal anomaly. It also shuts down all abortion clinics in the state by requiring every abortion be completed in a hospital or hospital-owned surgical center, puts doctors at risk of losing their medical license if they fail to sufficiently justify the legal basis for an abortion, and sets the stage for Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita to some day overrule locally elected prosecutors and file criminal charges alleging an illegal abortion. At the same time, the measure explicitly exempts in vitro fertilization programs from the restrictions on abortion and appears to leave intact current state laws relating to the availability of contraceptives and the ability of women to travel to other states to obtain an abortion. The House vote in favor of the proposal followed more than four hours of debate that was, at times, passionate and emotional, but largely respectful, notwithstanding occasional shouts in opposition from the public gallery overlooking the chamber and continuous loud chanting against the measure from Hoosiers standing outside the chamber's rear windows in the Statehouse rotunda. The Senate's more than three-hour debate over whether to concur with the House changes to the measure largely centered on whether denying nearly all women access to abortion is government overreach that infringes on the personal liberty of Hoosiers, which usually is well-guarded by state senators. Among Northwest Indiana lawmakers, the House vote split along party lines with the Region's Republican representatives all supporting the near-total abortion ban and the Region's Democratic representatives uniformly opposed. In the Senate, state Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, broke away from many of his fellow Republicans and joined all Region Democrats in voting no because he said the legislation does not address sexual assault involving disabled adults, including Hoosiers with Down syndrome. The proposal was supported in the Senate by Northwest Indiana state Sens. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell. If enacted by the governor, Indiana would become the first state to legislatively impose new abortion restrictions following the June 24 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that rescinded the right to abortion established by the high court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Public opinion polls show a majority of Hoosiers oppose strict limits on abortion access. Nevertheless, the measure will end a half-century of pregnant Hoosier women having an individual choice to bring a child into the world or to terminate her pregnancy prior to fetal viability. Supporters of the proposal estimate it will eradicate approximately 95% of abortions in the state. According to the Indiana Department of Health, there were 8,414 abortions in Indiana during the 2021 calendar year. "Our goal through this legislation is to strengthen protections for the unborn while stepping up support for families," said state Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, the sponsor and a LaPorte native. "It is consistent with our overall goal to care for mother and baby." At least three Republicans, state Reps. John Jacob, R-Indianapolis, and Curt Nisly, R-Milford, and state Sen. Mike Young, R-Indianapolis, voted against the plan because it fails to prohibit all abortions by including unverified exceptions for rape, incest, and the life and health of a pregnant woman. Jacob said in a post-Roe world it is "weak" and "pathetic" for Indiana lawmakers to fail to fulfill their repeated promises to Christian Hoosiers and Republican voters to entirely ban abortion if given the opportunity. "This bill justifies the wicked, those murdering babies, and punishes the righteous, the pre-born human babies," Jacob said. "By continuing to regulate baby murder in this bill you are inviting the judgment of God on our state and on our nation." "God will not bless a state that kills its children," he added. On the other hand, several Democratic representatives observed Indiana stands to lose much more by denying women bodily autonomy and signaling to businesses that the state is willing to use the heavy hand of government to pick winners and losers on a divisive social issue. "This is a sad day for our state," said state Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond. "We are voting to take away the rights of Hoosier women to choose what happens with their bodies." Jackson said if the measure becomes law Indiana will become a "wasteland" as OB/GYNs and other doctors flee the state, thousands of children are born each year to women who either don't want or can't afford them, and some women resort to unsafe abortions to terminate their pregnancies. "Women, especially black women and low-income women, will die because of this bill," Jackson said. "It's cruel, it is unjust and it is downright despicable." State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary, noted in no other circumstance does the state control what happens to a person's body since individual consent is required to get a vaccine, donate blood or donate organs even if needed to save a life. "This bill tells women the moment they become pregnant that the fertilized egg that cannot live outside her body has more rights than she does," Hatcher said. Similarly, state Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City, and state Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago, said women will become "second-class citizens" in Indiana if the proposal is signed into law. "Women are more than capable of making this decision on their own," Harris said. How to contact Gov. Holcomb Hoosiers interested in contacting Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb to share their opinion on the abortion legislation awaiting his signature or veto can reach him three ways: Telephone: 317-232-4567 Mail: Office of the Governor, Statehouse, Indianapolis, IN 46204-2797 Email: By filling out the online form at in.gov/gov/ask-eric/ Here are the recent bookings by the Porter County Sheriff's Department. All information is taken directly from the website. Months of brinkmanship by Russia over the flow of natural gas to Germany and the rest of Europe could reach a high point later this week, when a temporary shutdown of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline is scheduled to end. Nord Stream 1, the main pipeline connecting Germany and Russia, is operated by Gazprom, the Russian state-owned energy giant. Gazprom, which recently warned European buyers of its gas that it might cut off flows, shut down the pipeline on July 11 for annual maintenance. Gazprom is scheduled to restart the pipeline after about 10 days, as it has done in past years. But this year the closure has raised concerns that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia will keep the pipeline shut to punish Germany and the rest of Europe for their opposition to the war in Ukraine. Other pipelines, running through Poland and Ukraine, are not being used as alternative links to send gas as they were in past years during the temporary shutdown, Germanys pipeline regulator said. Melissa Bank, a witty, acerbic writer whose first book, The Girls Guide to Hunting and Fishing, became a global publishing phenomenon in 1999, died on Tuesday at her home in East Hampton, N.Y. She was 61. Her sister, Margery Bank, said the cause was lung cancer. Ms. Banks success was not exactly an overnight one. She spent 12 years writing the book, a collection of stories, in part because a bicycle accident had left her temporarily unable to write. A day job as a copywriter for a big advertising firm kept her busy as well. But after the title story was published in 1998 in Zoetrope: All Story, a literary magazine started by the director Francis Ford Coppola, Ms. Bank was suddenly the buzziest unpublished writer in America. She soon had an agent, and a bidding war began, which Viking Press won, over eight other publishers, paying a $275,000 advance (the equivalent of about $475,000 today) a sum rare for a first-time fiction writer and practically unheard-of for a debut collection of short stories. This week Chancellor Olaf Scholz publicly acknowledged for the first time that plans to shut down the countrys remaining three nuclear plants on Dec. 31 may no longer be viable. Scholz was responding to the sense among over 80 percent of Germans, according to recent polls, that the country must re-evaluate its shift away from nuclear power among the most emotional and divisive debates the country has grappled with since reunification. We are having conversations we thought we would never have to have again, said Rosi Steinberger, a member of the regional parliament in Bavaria, a state that will most likely find itself in most need of nuclear power because of likely energy shortages. This is painful for all of us, said Steinberger, a member of the Green Party, which has roots in the antinuclear movement. But we are also under the shadow of this war in Ukraine. If this isnt a government issue protecting life I dont know what is, said Representative John Young, a Republican who supported the measure. He added: I know the exceptions are not enough for some and too much for others, but its a good balance. The laws passage came after two weeks of emotional testimony and bitter debates in the Statehouse. Even though Republicans hold commanding majorities in both chambers, the bills fate did not always seem secure. When a Senate committee considered an initial version of the bill last week, no one showed up to testify in support of it: The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana called it a cruel, dangerous bill, Indiana Right to Life described it as weak and troubling, and a parade of residents with differing views on abortion all urged lawmakers to reject it. The debate was supercharged by the case of a 10-year-old Ohio girl who had traveled to Indiana for an abortion after she was raped. The abortion provider in that case, Dr. Caitlin Bernard, became a target of some on the right. Abortion rights protesters were a regular presence at the Statehouse during the session, sometimes chanting Let us vote! or Church and state! so loudly from the hallway that it could be difficult to hear lawmakers. Several Democrats invoked the vote in Kansas, in which 59 percent of voters decided to preserve abortion rights, as an example of the political risk Republicans were taking. Democrats suggested putting the issue to a nonbinding statewide vote in Indiana, which Republicans rejected. Judging by the results I saw in Kansas the other day, said Representative Phil GiaQuinta, a Democrat who opposed the Indiana bill, independents, Democrats and Republicans by their votes demonstrated what is most important to them, and me, and that is our personal freedoms and liberty. Todd Huston, the Republican speaker of the Indiana House, said he was pleased with the final version of the law. But asked about the protests in Indianapolis and the vote in Kansas, he acknowledged that many disagreed. The lawyers for the family had disclosed during the trial that Mr. Joness team had sent them, apparently inadvertently, a huge cache of data from Mr. Joness cellphone, and on Friday Judge Gamble said she would not stand in the way of the lawyers for Mr. Heslin and Ms. Lewis providing the messages to law enforcement and the House Jan. 6 committee. The committee has subpoenaed Mr. Jones in its investigation over his role in helping plan the pro-Trump rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, that preceded the attack on the Capitol. In the Sandy Hook defamation cases, a trial for damages in another of the suits is scheduled to begin next month in Connecticut, but it could be delayed because of a bankruptcy filing last week by Free Speech Systems. Lawyers for the families criticized the move as another attempt by Mr. Jones to shield his wealth and evade judgment. The Texas case allowed the plaintiffs to introduce testimony about Mr. Joness wealth and the operations of his companies, which in addition to carrying his broadcasts make money by selling merchandise. Bernard Pettingill Jr., a forensic economist and former economics professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, testified as a witness for Mr. Heslin and Ms. Lewis on Friday that Mr. Jones is a very successful man. Infowars averaged $53.2 million in annual revenue between September 2015 and December 2018, Mr. Pettingill said. Since then, there has been a nice healthy increase in the companys revenue, including from sales of survivalist merchandise and supplements, and it brought in nearly $65 million last year, he said. Representative Dan Newhouse of Washington, one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, will advance to the November general election to seek a fifth term after finishing in the top two in a crowded primary, according to The Associated Press. He will face Doug White, a Democratic businessman, who narrowly trailed him as of Friday night. Under Washington election laws, the top two candidates in the primary, regardless of party, advance to the general election. The race in Washingtons Fourth Congressional District featured seven Republicans, including Mr. Newhouse, and one Democrat, Mr. White. Mr. Newhouse, 66, drew the ire of Mr. Trump and local Republicans after supporting his second impeachment. The Australia Letter is a weekly newsletter from our Australia bureau. Sign up to get it by email. CANBERRA, Australia For as long as Ive been in Australia, climate change policy has stymied governments, leading to division, inaction and embarrassment, most recently as the country became a global laggard at last years international climate conference in Copenhagen. That now stands poised to change with the lower house of Parliament passing a bill this week that will finally put Australia on a path toward reducing carbon emissions by a significant amount 43 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. The bill is expected to pass the Senate next month, after the Labor government secured reluctant support from the Australian Greens, which had pushed for a higher target. And it is being hailed as the most significant piece of climate legislation in a decade, while also being criticized for not going far enough. It was not clear if the reactor whose operation was altered on Friday was shifted to a standby status, said Dmytro Orlov, a former plant engineer who is now the mayor of Enerhodar, where the plant is. This is an unusual event but not unpredictable, he said. Personnel were prepared. He compared it to the emergency response in the case that an electrical line were damaged by wildfire or another accident. Energoatom, the state power company, released a statement on the Telegram social networking site saying that Russian artillery fire had severed the electrical line. The Russian military again resorted to provocation, the company said. It said an industrial space on the complexs grounds was struck three times, hitting the wiring and a transformer. The statement said the operators reduced output and disconnected one reactor from the electrical grid. Releases of radioactive substances were not recorded, the statement said. Hours later, the energy company reported a second attack on Telegram, saying Russians had fired three rocket-propelled grenades that landed near one of the nuclear reactors. The explosions, the statement said, damaged an auxiliary building and a specialized station. Fire danger is high, the company said. The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was aware of the reports and seeking further information about the situation. TEL AVIV Israeli airstrikes hit several targets in the Gaza Strip on Friday, prompting Palestinian militants to return fire with scores of rockets, in the deadliest escalation of violence in the territory since an 11-day war last year. The Israeli airstrikes hit residential apartments as well as militant watchtowers and outposts, killing a militant leader and at least nine other people including a 5-year-old girl, according to the Gaza health ministry. United Nations officials attempted to broker a truce, but militants continued to return fire with rockets late Friday, raising the likelihood of a more protracted conflict that diplomats and analysts feared could last into next week. Supartono said that many artists felt the German media was labeling Documenta as antisemitic without discussion. The mood was so tense that when it was first announced that Peoples Justice would be covered up (this was before it was removed), about 70 artists representing many of the collectives at the exhibition gathered to debate what to do. Some called for all of the artworks in the exhibition to be covered in protest of what they felt was censorship without any debate or dialogue, which would have meant effectively shutting down the exhibition themselves. With so little trust between the artists and the German media and authorities, even efforts to address the flash points at Documenta are facing challenges. On Monday, an academic panel appointed by regional authorities began studying what had happened at Documenta. Its remit includes providing advice should further problematic images come to light. But many artists at Documenta have opposed the panel. Farid Rakun, a member of ruangrupa, said in a video interview that it forced only one reading of the exhibition, as antisemitic; could lead to censorship; and also set a worrying precedent. Its a political move, Rakun said, adding, We cannot accept it. The academics have said their work would not lead to censorship committees. In interviews with 10 artists taking part in Documenta, all said they were concerned about the potential implications of the row. Vidisha-Fadescha, an artist and the founder of the Indian-based art and social space Party Office, who uses they/them pronouns, said they would not even answer the question of whether they supported the B.D.S. movement because doing so could endanger their safety. Artists in Germany could have their ability to find work curtailed by stating their views, Vidisha-Fadescha added. Some artists said they believed the row had already had an effect. Eyal Weizman, the director of Forensic Architecture, a group whose investigations into political violence are shown in museums worldwide, said in a phone interview that earlier this year, the director of a German museum postponed one of his exhibitions, citing Weizmans support of the B.D.S. movement. As the upset over Documenta exploded in June, the director canceled Weizmans show entirely. On Friday, the governor of Indiana signed into law a near-total abortion ban, making the state the first to approve sweeping new restrictions since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. On Saturday morning, one of Indianas biggest employers, the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, issued a strong objection to the new restrictions. Given this new law, it said in a statement, we will be forced to plan for more employment growth outside our home state. The company, which employs more than 10,000 people in Indiana, began by saying that abortion is a divisive and deeply personal issue with no clear consensus among the citizens of Indiana. It noted that Eli Lilly has expanded its employee health plan coverage to include travel for reproductive services. But, it added, that may not be enough for some current and potential employees. The number of people in the citys family shelters, where almost all of the recent increase has occurred, tends to tick upward in summer, and although there has been a recent surge at the Mexican border, refugees from Latin America find their way to New York in large numbers all year long. The citys Department of Homeless Services declined to provide figures for how many of those arriving at shelters recently had come from outside New York or for whether the proportion had changed. Last month, after the city violated the right-to-shelter law by failing to provide rooms for some people who had come to the family intake shelter in the Bronx, Mr. Adams blamed asylum seekers sent from Texas and Arizona. Advocates for homeless people say there are many reasons the city shelter system has become overloaded, some partly or wholly within the citys control. Those factors include a lack of affordable housing, an increase in evictions and longer wait times to move out of shelters and into apartments. Although some of the migrants who arrived on the chartered bus from Texas on Friday were headed into the shelter system, Mr. Rodriguez and a friend who traveled with him, Pablo Gutierrez, knew someone in New York who was able to give them a place to stay. We have a friend who is going to come to meet us here, Mr. Gutierrez said. The right to an abortion is protected in the Kansas State Constitution and on Tuesday, a decisive majority of voters kept it there. Fifty-nine percent of Kansans who went to the polls voted to reject a constitutional amendment that would have opened the door to full abortion bans of the kind that exist in neighboring states like Missouri and Oklahoma. What makes this all the more striking is the fact that Kansas is one of the most reliably Republican states in the country. Donald Trump won in the 2020 presidential election with more than 56 percent of the vote. Three of its four representatives in the House are Republicans and its two Republican senators, Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall, are among the most conservative in the Senate. Anti-abortion activists were confident they would succeed. Theyve taken, instead, a devastating blow to their project. In recent years, filmmakers have increasingly performed whats known as fan service making creative choices that acknowledge or acquiesce to the desires of fans. At its best, fan service is charming. It allows fans to feel seen and heard. It allows them to believe they have a small hand in a huge creative endeavor. At its worst, fan service can be exploitative, sexist or racist. Very often, it panders, making a movie or show feel as though it has no distinct point of view or creative vision, that the creators desperation for public approval has trumped good storytelling or creative ambition. There was no choice Marvel and Mr. Coogler could have made that would please everyone. If they recast King TChalla, many would have thought it too soon after Mr. Bosemans death. If they simply disappeared him for a movie by inventing a reason to place him on a mission somewhere, his absence would have been a distraction. Killing him off, as they appear to have done, has angered some. And, unfortunately, whichever character, and actor, takes on the mantle of Black Panther next will bear the brunt of fans doubts, disappointment and derision particularly if the new Black Panther will be, as some have speculated, a woman. Heaven forbid! (Weve seen this time and again, most notably in the Star Wars franchise, where actors of color have endured unconscionable harassment for contradicting certain fans notions of who can be heroic in our imagined, interstellar futures.) For the time being, the filmmakers made the best decision they could. It would be deeply unfair to expect any actor, however talented, to step into the massive shoes Mr. Boseman left behind. The new King TChalla would forever compete with our memory of the original. The successor would be expected to somehow channel Mr. Bosemans swagger and gravitas, to replace the irreplaceable. And when the actor who plays the new king inevitably disappointed audiences for not actually being Mr. Boseman, he would become the target of intense ire. We should not ask anyone to be placed in that line of fire. The #RecastTChalla movement seems well intended. But the fundamental issue isnt whether or not a role in one movie should be recast; its about what representation demands. Black Panther, in 2018, bore the weight of outsize fan expectations, as a groundbreaking Black superhero leading a major film. That is an unreasonable burden to place on one character, on one actor, on one film. Black people men and boys as mentioned in the petition, but also women and girls should have more than one superhero to enjoy and see themselves in. So should people of other races and ethnicities, cultures and identities. We should not be asking Marvel to recast TChalla; we should be asking it to expand the roster of heroes. We have to think bigger and demand more. Whatever happens in the next Black Panther movie, the #RecastTChalla proponents may ultimately get their wish. In recent years, Marvel has introduced us to the multiverse, which allows for multiple realities to coexist (and for infinite extensions of its intellectual property). In the multiverse, there may be realities where TChalla is alive and well and saving the world as Black Panther. We may still see some of those stories. To the Editor: Re The Movement to End Homework Is Wrong, by Jay Caspian Kang (Sunday Opinion, July 31): Finland proves that you dont need homework for education success. Students there have hardly any homework, and it has one of the top education systems in the world. In America, there is ample time for students to do in class what is now assigned as homework. Whether a student attends an expensive private school, an underserved public school or something in between, being burdened with hours of additional work to do after school unnecessarily robs them of time for play, introspection, creative thinking, relaxation and intellectual growth. Mr. Kang regards the demonstration of diligence and personal responsibility as an important raison detre of homework. He sees schools as places where students can distinguish themselves and pursue upward mobility. But ranking students on homework production favors students with quiet places to go home to, good Wi-Fi, and access to tutors and parents who can provide help. In other words, it favors students of higher socioeconomic status. China, economically ascendant, has become increasingly assertive in pressing its economic, political and territorial claims. The United States, which long treated the country as something of a charity case, now regards it as a rival and, increasingly, as a threat. While some tension is inevitable, the rhetoric in both nations has taken a bellicose turn. There is little trust or cooperation even on issues of clear mutual interest, like combating the Covid-19 pandemic or addressing climate change. The hardening on both sides was on full display this week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a provocative visit to Taiwan to underscore Americas support for its democratic government, and China mounted an overheated response, staging military exercises that encroached on Taiwans airspace and territorial waters to emphasize its determination to establish sovereignty over what it regards as its own. China announced on Friday that it also would suspend communication with the United States on a number of issues, including climate change and efforts to prevent drug trafficking. It is in everyones interest for the two most powerful nations on Earth to find ways of easing these tensions. Over the past half century, beginning with President Richard Nixons seminal visit to China in 1972, the leaders of the United States and China have repeatedly chosen to prioritize common interests above conflict. Building this relationship, for all its flaws, has contributed much to the worlds stability and prosperity. This deal created the worlds largest office furniture company, newly named MillerKnoll. Though these individual brands will remain separate, this entity now controls both companies, as well as more than a dozen others. In addition to his new post-merger role as president of Herman Miller, Mr. Watson was also named chief product officer of MillerKnoll, the larger organization. The condition, the moment were in now, is the most intense one that Ive ever been in, in my career in furnishings, Mr. Watson said, referring to the ways the pandemic particularly has catalyzed a profound shift in peoples relationships to work, space and the office. This statement holds particular weight considering his near-lifelong career in the industry. Though his father was an electrician for the Federal Aviation Administration and his mother was a nurse and a homemaker, during his childhood in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, they reupholstered their neighbors button-tufted furniture in their basement as a side hustle. Choosing a path distinct from his four older siblings, all of whom are engineers, Mr. Watson majored in visual and environmental studies at Harvard, and wrote his senior thesis on La Chaise, designed by Charles and Ray Eames. He worked on the product team at Knoll, and he was the vice president of American sales and marketing and then global marketing director at Vitra, and worked as the chief executive officer at Moroso before joining Herman Miller, which is based in Zeeland, Mich., 13 years ago. On the day before police officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor in her apartment in Louisville, Ky., a detective tried to persuade a judge that a former boyfriend of Ms. Taylors could be using her home to stash money and drugs. The detective, Joshua Jaynes, said the former boyfriend had been having packages sent to Ms. Taylors apartment, and he even claimed to have proof: a postal inspector who had confirmed the shipments. Mr. Jaynes outlined all this in an affidavit and asked a judge for a no-knock warrant so that officers could barge into Ms. Taylors home late at night before drug dealers had a chance to flush evidence or flee. The judge signed off on the warrant. But this week, federal prosecutors said Detective Jaynes had lied. It was never clear whether the former boyfriend was receiving packages at Ms. Taylors home. And Mr. Jaynes, the prosecutors said, had never confirmed as much with any postal inspector. As outrage over Ms. Taylors death grew, prosecutors said in new criminal charges filed in federal court, Mr. Jaynes met with another detective in his garage and agreed on a story to tell the F.B.I. and their own colleagues to cover up the false and misleading statements the police had made to justify the raid. The authorities did not elaborate on why they thought the killings may be connected and did not say whether there were any witnesses to the homicides, but they said they believed the Muslim community was being targeted. The Albuquerque Police Department, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office, is asking city residents to come forward with any information that could be connected to the killings. This is something that impacts us all, Raul Torrez, the Bernalillo County district attorney, said at a news conference on Saturday. Every member of this community has to stand up. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said on Twitter on Saturday that the killings were deeply angering and wholly intolerable and that she was sending more State Police officers to help the Albuquerque Police and the F.B.I. She also expressed solidarity with the Muslim community in the state. It didnt click on me at first because everyone was asking questions about amphibious stuff and tactics, and he asked me about Saturday, General Berger said at the ceremony, to laughter. Capt. Ibrahim Diallo, 31, who came up from Quantico with Captain Saintilfort, said in an interview that all these friends started messaging me, saying, Youre going to be next. I dont know if Im going to stick around that long, he said, but just the fact that junior Marines can see this, they will see that no matter what background you come from, you can achieve in the Marine Corps as long as you perform. For the Marine Corps, the promotion of General Langley is a step that has been a long time coming. Since the corps began admitting African American troops in 1942, the last military service to do so, fewer than 30 have obtained the rank of general in any form. Not one had made it to the top four-star rank, an honor the Marines have bestowed on 73 white men. Seven African Americans reached lieutenant general, or three stars. The rest have received one or two stars, a majority in areas from which the Marine Corps does not choose its senior leadership, like logistics, aviation and transport. That supply is enough to cover 550,000 people, but about three times as many doses are needed to cover the 1.6 million to 1.7 million Americans who, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are at high risk of monkeypox. For now, the virus has been spreading primarily through skin-to-skin contact during sex among gay and bisexual men, the C.D.C. has said. Some federal officials are hoping that by injecting a smaller dose of the vaccine between skin layers, called an intradermal shot, the Biden administration could tamp down the outbreak before it spreads more widely. But some experts argue that this approach has not been sufficiently studied. They also warn that some vaccinators will need training to properly deliver the shots, which could slow vaccination efforts. Otherwise, the government could end up wasting doses, not saving them. Intradermal injection involves carefully guiding a needle into skin layers, a thin space with immune cells. If a vaccinator goes too deep and inserts the dose into fat, the patient might not receive enough vaccine, experts say. But if the needle is not inserted far enough, some of the vaccine could leak back out. And in safe haven cases, if a mother changes her mind, she must prove to the state that she is fit. According to Ms. Kelsey, since her operation began, two women who said they had placed their infants in boxes have tried to reclaim custody of their children. Such cases can take months or even years to resolve. Birth mothers are also not immune from legal jeopardy, and may not be able to navigate the technicalities of each states safe haven law, said Lori Bruce, a medical ethicist at Yale. While many states protect surrendering mothers from criminal prosecution if babies are healthy and unharmed, mothers in severe crisis dealing with addiction or domestic abuse, for example may not be protected if their newborns are in some way affected. The idea of a traumatized, postpartum mother being able to correctly Google the laws is slim, Ms. Bruce said. With the demise of Roe, we know we are going to see more abandoned babies, she added. My concern is that means more prosecutors are going to be able to prosecute women for having unsafely abandoned their children or not following the letter of the law. On Friday, the Indiana governor signed legislation banning most abortions, with slim exceptions. And the safe haven movement continues apace. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) has launched the Saudi Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC) to invest in promising sectors throughout Egypt, one of the worlds emerging markets. SEIC will invest in priority sectors including but not limited to, infrastructure, real estate development, health care, financial services, food and agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and other opportunistic investments. The company will also contribute to enhancing access for PIF and its portfolio companies, along with the Saudi private sector, to a variety of investment opportunities in Egypt. This will help drive attractive long-term commercial returns and enhance cooperation across many strategic sectors, said a Saudi Press Agency report. Yazeed Alhumied, Deputy Governor and Head of MENA Investments at PIF, said: "We are pleased to announce the launch of the Saudi Egyptian Investment Company, in line with PIFs ongoing expansion domestically and globally, and in alignment with our 2021-2025 strategy. In light of the economic growth in the region, SEIC will capitalize on lucrative investment opportunities within a number of promising Egyptian economic sectors, which will also support the expansion efforts of Saudi businesses and other PIF portfolio companies. The strategic economic partnerships that PIF has established with many investors and leading companies are among the most fundamental elements of its success. I came across this story because Mr. Taylor, his mother and three of his siblings were among the 272 people sold by Jesuit priests in 1838 to raise money to save the college we now know as Georgetown University, a story that Ive been reporting on since 2016. (Mr. Taylors sister, Charlotte, was born after the sale, and his father was enslaved by another man.) Mr. Taylor ended up with a new owner in Maryland at first but was sold again and sent to New Orleans aboard a slave ship in 1846. Exactly where he spent his first decades in Louisiana remains unknown. But he enlisted in the Union Army as a member of Company E of the 75th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops, a unit lauded for its bravery in the storming of Port Hudson, a highly fortified Confederate stronghold in 1863. Mr. Taylor took a bullet in the thigh during one battle, but he survived and was honorably discharged in 1865, his military pension records show. By the 1880s, he had found his way to Iberville Parish, where dozens of the people enslaved by the Jesuits had ended up. By then, hundreds of Black people across the country were placing ads. Dear Editor, a man in Holly Springs, Miss., wrote in July 1880, I wish to inquire for my father, Thomas Duncan, who was sent to Texas during the war. Four years later, a woman in Brenham, Texas, who had been sold, placed an ad seeking her son. His name was Absalom, she wrote. When I left him he was three years old. When Ms. Kujichagulia-Seitu decided to take a DNA test earlier this year, she had no idea that her ancestors had roots in Maryland. She was born in Oakland, Calif. All she knew was that her grandparents and their families were from Louisiana. HAVANA Lightning struck a crude oil storage facility on the northern coast of Cuba, igniting a fire that on Saturday had left dozens of people injured, 17 firefighters missing and prompted the evacuation of some 600 people, according to the authorities. Images of the fire at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, in Matanzas Province, 60 miles east of Havana, the capital, were shared by the Cuban Energy Ministry on social media and show enormous flames rising from the facility, with plumes of smoke blackening the sky. Military helicopters were seen trying to douse the inferno as dozens of firefighters rushed to the scene. In addition to the 600 evacuees, some 1,300 people fled the area, according to the office of Cubas president, Miguel Diaz-Canel. MANILA President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said on Saturday that their nations were committed to strengthening their military alliance, and that their governments would need to deal with rising tensions in Asia, including those involving China and Taiwan. Mr. Marcos said at the start of a meeting with Mr. Blinken in the presidential palace that Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan had not, in his opinion, intensified those tensions; rather, it demonstrated how the intensity of the conflict has been at that level for a good while now, but we sort of got used to the idea and then put it aside. Mr. Marcoss comment came as China continued to hold military exercises in the waters near Taiwan, two days after it fired 11 ballistic missiles into the same area, five of them landing in waters that are part of Japans exclusive economic zone. State media has indicated that the actions could mark a new pattern of more regular and more aggressive incursions. The Global Times, a state-run tabloid, said in an editorial on Friday that the work of promoting reunification had entered a new stage. On Chinese state television on Saturday, Meng Xiangqing, a professor at National Defense University, said that the militarys actions could become normalized. As long as the forces of Taiwanese independence dont stop for a day, as long as external interference doesnt stop for a day, then our actions to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity will not stop, he said. China also said on Friday that it would cancel or suspend talks with the United States on areas including climate change and military coordination, which some analysts said increased the chances of a miscommunication spiraling into a full-fledged crisis. The United States, Taiwan and other governments have accused China of overreacting. But in some ways, the apparent shift in public opinion could be attributed more to successful Chinese propaganda than to the actual intensity of the drills, said Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore, who studies nationalism and Chinese foreign policy. Though the current exercises were on a larger scale and closer to Taiwan than usual, the Chinese military has been stepping up its incursions into Taiwanese-claimed territory for years, he said. And China could have gone further, for example by starting the exercises while Ms. Pelosi was still in Taiwan, or by causing more disruption to U.S. and Japanese military activity in the region, he added. So if there is a view that P.R.C. action has been sufficiently strident, this would owe no small part to the domestic messaging of P.R.C. state-controlled media, Professor Chong said, using the acronym for the Peoples Republic of China. Outrage over nuclear safety violations Rafael Grossi, the head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, said on Tuesday that every principle of nuclear safety has been violated has done nothing to dislodge the Russian army from the site, and fighting has continued daily, with explosions in the early afternoon on Friday. Mr. Grossi called conditions at the plant out of control. Mr. Grossi said he was far more worried about Zaporizhzhia than he was about Chernobyl, the site of the 1986 nuclear disaster, also in Ukraine, that radiated the surrounding area and imperiled Europe. Chernobyl, I think we are fine, said Mr. Grossi, noting that his agency had inspected the plant regularly and had restored sensors for radiation monitoring and other detection devices. But the I.A.E.A. has been unable to access key parts of the reactors at Zaporizhzhia, as the occupying Russian force and surrounding shelling make it too dangerous for inspectors. That raises the prospect that if damage is done to the facility, it may be difficult, at best, to assess the danger, he added. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ukrainian state nuclear company, Energoatom, said Russian soldiers have occupied basements at the plant and are preventing employees from sheltering in them, despite the risks from combat in the area. People do not have shelter and are in danger, the statement said. Blocking access to the shelters comes atop other psychological stresses for Ukrainian workers on the reactor control room and other plant employees, who have been subjected to harsh interrogations including torture with electrical shocks, according to Ukrainian officials. The tension poses risks of accidents by human error, the officials have said. Five-year-old Alaa Qadoum was outside a relatives house in the northern Gaza Strip on Friday when an Israeli airstrike hit in the street nearby without warning, killing her, according to the girl's grandfather and a neighbor who witnessed the scene. Hours later, Alaa was wrapped in a white shroud and a Palestinian flag, her face uncovered so relatives could plant a few final kisses on her forehead before she was laid to rest. A bright pink bow tied most of her hair back. She was an innocent, little girl, her grandfather said. Was she launching rockets on the border? She was a child who wanted to see her whole life ahead of her. The most violent conflagration in more than a year between Israel and Gaza militants extended into a second day on Saturday, with exchanges of rocket fire and airstrikes that destroyed residential buildings, and pushed the death toll to at least 24, according to Palestinian health officials. Palestinian health officials said that among those killed in the strikes were six children, but Israel said some civilian deaths were the result of militants stashing weapons in residential areas, and that in at least one case, a misfired Palestinian rocket killed civilians, including children, in northern Gaza. The current round of fighting, which began on Friday with Israeli airstrikes, has mainly pitted Israel against Islamic Jihad, the second-largest militant group in Gaza. Hamas, the dominant militia in Gaza, has so far stayed away from direct involvement, raising hopes that the conflict will not escalate into a larger war. Video Israeli airstrikes destroyed residential buildings in Gaza and killed several people, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military described the buildings as weapons stores belonging to militant operatives and said evacuations took place before the strikes. Credit Credit... Mahmud Hams/Agence France-Presse Getty Images The most violent conflict in more than a year between Israel and Gaza militants extended into a second day on Saturday, as Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes and militants responded with rocket attacks, pushing the death toll up to at least 24, according to Palestinian health officials. The Israeli military said it had hit two buildings in Gaza belonging to operatives of the militant group Islamic Jihad that it described as weapons stores. Military officials said that warnings were given and the buildings had been evacuated before the strikes. In response, Islamic Jihad and other smaller Palestinian militant groups in Gaza fired rockets early Saturday at Israeli towns closest to the edge of the territory, and by the evening they were aiming at Tel Aviv and its suburbs, sending beachgoers rushing for cover. The renewed tensions highlighted the challenge of preventing flare-ups in Israel and the occupied territories when both the Israeli and Palestinian leaderships are divided and politically weak, international attention is elsewhere and there is little hope of ending the 15-year blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel and Egypt. There is no end in sight for this cycle, and no actor seems to wish to construct any more stable alternative, said Prof. Nathan J. Brown, an expert on the Middle East at George Washington University. Image Paramedics transported a Palestinian woman injured on Saturday during Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City. Credit... Mahmud Hams/Agence France-Presse Getty Images This round of fighting, which began on Friday with Israeli airstrikes, has mainly pitted Israel against Islamic Jihad, the second-largest militant group in Gaza. Hamas, the dominant militia in Gaza, has so far stayed away from direct involvement, raising hopes that the conflict would not escalate into a larger war. No cease-fire appeared imminent, however, despite early mediation efforts by foreign diplomats and the United Nations. One of the Palestinians killed on Friday was a 5-year-old girl. Three children were also killed on Saturday, though it was not immediately clear whether they were hit by an Israeli strike or a misfired Palestinian rocket. The Israeli military said they were killed by a failed Islamic Jihad rocket launch. The only power plant in Gaza halted operations because of a freeze on fuel deliveries from Israel, further reducing power across large parts of the territory. The battles began on Friday when Israel preemptively launched airstrikes to foil what it said was an imminent attack from Islamic Jihad in Gaza. Earlier in the week, Israel had arrested a senior Islamic Jihad figure in the West Bank, leading to threats of reprisals from the group. Israel said its airstrikes aimed to stop the group from following through on those threats. One airstrike on Friday killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander in Gaza, and prompted the group to return fire with several rocket and mortar barrages that sent thousands of Israelis into bomb shelters overnight Friday. On Saturday, rockets and other projectiles fired from Gaza hit at least two Israeli towns, wounding at least two soldiers and a civilian, according to Israeli officials and news reports. The majority of Palestinian rockets, however, either fell on open areas or were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome air defense system, according to the Israeli military. Fady Hanona contributed reporting. Offaly had a special visitor last week with Irelands favourite weatherman, Deric Hartigan of Virgin media, doing a number of live broadcasts from the Birr Town and Birr Castle Demesne. He was in town to mark the start of the 54th Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival, one of Irelands longest running festivals, which will see 80 events taking place in 10 days and he got into the spirit of things donning his own vintage outfit. While in town, Deric met many of the people behind Vintage Week, including Emma Nee Haslam Manager of Birr Theatre and Arts Centre, who spoke about the wide range of activities taking part at the festival. Deric also spoke to Ethna Garahy, Vintage car enthusiast and owner of a stunning 1967 duck egg blue vintage Morris Minor. She showed him some stunning Vintage cars that will be part of the vintage car. Robert Parkinson explained the fun to be had at the Crinkill Soap Box Derby taking place as one of the closing events of the festival and poet and writer Rita Kelly, who is a judge of the Victorian Sponge and cucumber sandwich competition at the Great Vintage Picnic held at Birr Castle, also participated. It was an early start for many from the town, young and old, who turned up in full vintage costume for the broadcast, which gave a hint of the festivities scheduled for the next ten days. The Birr Vintage and Arts Festival is just one of a number of festivals taking place in Co Offaly during 2022. For more information see www.visitoffaly.ie stc Bahrain has announced plans to build the foundation for a 5.5G network, in partnership with Huawei, making it the first company that will adapt this network, not just in Bahrain, but the Middle East region as a whole. The 5.5G network speed will be ten times faster than 5G network, and the applications that it will support will achieve more than improved connectivity, it will support the Internet of Things in a way that has not been done in the past. The 5.5G network will also create opportunities and pave the way to use the latest artificial intelligence technology and will improve data storage capabilities on a global scale in addition to empowering green technology, nurturing the environment and reducing energy consumption. The announcement comes as part of stc Bahrains strategy to establish and develop the infrastructure to power the next version of 5G (5.5G) within the next three years, reflecting stc Bahrains commitment to invest in the latest technology and keep up with global trends. World-class infrastructure stc Bahrains current 5G network covers all areas of the kingdom and supports 2CC (two cell carriers), enhancing stc Bahrains network performance and contributing to the kingdoms Vision 2030 to build a world-class infrastructure that links Bahrain to the global economy. The milestone was announced during the quarterly board meeting, where Eng Nezar Banabeela, Chief Executive Officer of stc Bahrain, presented the companys vision around the evolution of 5G and its ambitious plans to start building the foundation of a 5.5G network, commenting: stc Bahrain is committed to investing in network infrastructure that positions Bahrain as a global telecommunication and ICT leader. We are incredibly proud to be at the forefront of building Bahrains future advanced network connectivity services, paving the way for innovation, and further digital transformation across the kingdom. He added: As more intelligent applications and demands emerge, we want the infrastructure to be able to support a thriving digital ecosystem and setting the foundation of 5.5G, is critical to that future. Five business capabilities stc Bahrain has identified five business capabilities which will be focused to achieve the ambition of the target network: service penetration, efficiency creativity, resource integration, value competitiveness, and social contribution. As part of phase one of the vision, major network revamp and upgrades have been initiated in all network domains including wireless, Datacom, Transmission, Core, IT and Digital Infrastructure. With the completion of phase one of the project, the stc network will be upgraded and evolved to the very latest telecom standards to make the network foundation ready for 5.5G capability (also known as 5G-Advance as per 3GPP standard). At the conclusion of the programme, network capability will increase from 3Gbps to 10Gbps. stc Bahrains implementation of Artificial Intelligence and digital tools to optimise network management will position the company as a regional innovator and leader in terms of network operations.-- TradeArabia News Service The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is looking at building modular homes for Ukrainian refugees in a town close to the Offaly border Beachgrove in Rathangan have been earmarked as a possible location along with Lakeside Park in Newbridge. Councillors in Kildare were sent a brief email two weeks ago by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth informing them of the move. It's understood they have not been briefed yet on the plans. The email said the Office of Public Works (OPW) would be surveying the council owned sites and assessing their suitability. The government is under pressure to house the incoming refugees and the OPW has been charged with overseeing the construction of these modular homes in locations across the country. Cllr Mark Stafford said: "Rathangan has a number of Ukrainian refugees and they are very welcome, and we will certainly do all we can to accommodate them. However, the transport network will have to be looked at. They will need access to work and other towns. That would be a concern I would have." Rumble 05 Aug 2022 Alex Jones has to pay millions after a lawsuit for defamation. But does that really mean that everything hes ever said is.. Ou Yang was on a business trip to the southern county of Pingtung, CNA said, adding that he had assumed the post early this year to.. Jerusalem Post 06 Aug 2022 Chinese aircraft and warships practised on Saturday for an attack on Taiwan, island officials said, in retaliation for a visit there by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. By Mir Afroz Zaman Dhaka, Aug 6 (UNI) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to reach here on Saturday on a two-day trip to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues with the Bangladesh leadership. On the second day of the visit, he will meet his Bangladeshi counterpart A K Abdul Momen. Aside from bilateral issues, China will eye on geopolitics and strategic assistance, said diplomatic sources. Bangladesh side will focus augmenting business, speedy implementation of different development projects and the Rohingya repatriation. Foreign Ministry officials told this correspondent that after the Chinese Minister meets Momen on Sunday morning, at least five instruments and MoUs could be signed. Later, Yi will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Diplomatic sources said Bangladesh will put emphasis on boosting investment and duty free access for more Bangladeshi products in the Chinese market. Around 98 per cent of Bangladeshi products have been getting duty free access to the Chinese market. Now it will seek duty free access for 100 per cent products. Currently, Bangladesh exports products worth $700 million to China and imports products worth over $1.3 billion. China has invested $1.4 billion in Bangladesh. Dhaka has given China a special economic zone in Anwara, Chattogram. Bangladesh will seek more Chinese investment in other economic zones too. A total of 27 projects were finalised for implementation during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Dhaka in 2016. China was supposed to invest $24 billion in those projects. The decision will be reviewed this time. Bangladesh will raise the Rohingya repatriation issue. Speaking to the media, Bangladesh state Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam said: Rohingya issue is the most prioritised issue from our side. The issue will be discussed with due importance. Bangladesh wants China to put pressure on Myanmar to create a conducive environment in its Rakhine state for Rohingya repatriation. The visit by the Chinese Minister comes amid US-China tensions over Beijing's strident opposition to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. Diplomatic sources said the Chinese Foreign Minister could raise issues like Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Development Initiative (GDI) that Chinese President Xi Jinping has announced. But Momen said: Now we are busy with overcoming Covid-19 and facing the Russia-Ukraine crisis. As a result, even if the issues like GSI and GDI are raised, we do not have much interest in getting involved in all the hostility that is going on among the different superpowers. UNI MAZ MR US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan continued to raise tensions over the weekend with China halting all talks with America on climate change and military relations. The head of Amnesty International in Ukraine left the watchdog over claims that Ukrainian soldier were endangering civilians. Russia's offensive in Donetsk continues with fierce fighting in Bakhmut. DW has the latest. Upworthy 05 Aug 2022 Russia and Ukraine on Friday accused each other of shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest of its kind in.. Taiwan described recent Chinese air and sea incursions as "a possible simulated attack." China has ramped up its military exercises after senior US lawmaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei. Canada's defence minister says there's no justification for the Chinese military's live-fire exercises off Taiwan. Anita Anand says it's an "unnecessary escalation" following the visit of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the island. A group of Polish nationals was headed to Medjugorje when their bus crashed near the town of Varazdin, Croatian officials have said. Several passengers were killed. An adviser to Ukraines president accused the NGO of feeding into Russian propaganda trying to blame Ukraine for death and.. Upworthy 04 Aug 2022 Russian forces began an assault Saturday on two key cities in the eastern Donetsk region and kept up rocket and shelling attacks on other Ukrainian cities, including one close to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine's military and local officials said. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. The US has accused Beijing of "provocative" actions after Taiwan said China rehearsed an attack. Chinese, Vietnamese FMs vow to speed up bilateral cooperation in key areas Xinhua) 11:19, August 06, 2022 PHNOM PENH, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on Thursday on the sidelines of the foreign ministers' meetings on East Asia cooperation, with both sides agreeing to accelerate cooperation in key areas. The two sides said they will implement the consensus reached at the 14th Meeting of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation and speed up the next phase of cooperation in key areas. Son wished the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China a great success, adding that the Vietnamese side will hold a series of celebration events at that time to demonstrate the mutual support between socialist countries. He said the Vietnamese side regards the relations with China as a strategic choice and top priority in its foreign policy and looks forward to maintaining high-level exchanges between the two parties and countries, carrying forward their traditional friendship, consolidating mutual political trust and deepening practical cooperation. The Vietnamese side reiterates its firm commitment to the one-China policy, Son said, adding that it has issued a related statement jointly with other countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), pledging to work together to maintain regional peace and stability. Wang said the two countries, both as socialist countries, have always firmly supported each other's major core interests. He said the two sides should strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, make it a visionary goal for them to build a community with a shared future that bears strategic significance, and jointly enrich the paths to modernization for developing countries. Wang appreciated the Vietnamese side's adherence to the one-China principle, stressing that the causes and consequences of the current situation across the Taiwan Strait are clear, and the rights and wrongs are obvious. The U.S. side's unpopular moves not only infringe on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, but also harm the common interests of the region and all developing countries, and breach the basic norms governing international relations, Wang noted. Wang stressed that around 100 countries have expressed their commitment to the one-China principle, and the Unite Nations Secretary-General has clearly stated that the UN will continue to adhere to the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. Wang said China is willing to work with the Vietnamese side to give full play to their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, jointly safeguard the unity of socialist countries, and jointly defend international fairness and justice. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. When a spacecraft dramatically parachutes down to a distant world, debris will inevitably litter the landing site. NASA has documented the diverse debris scattered by the 2021 landing of its high-tech Perseverance rover, including a strange-looking ball of tangled, "spaghetti"-like material, which the space agency believes... Israeli conducted air strikes that killed at least 10 people, including a senior militant and a five-year-old girl after the government monitored an "imminent threat" to its people. The attack kiled Tayseer al Jabari, a commander within the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). National Party members and delegates waking up in Christchurch after the first day of their party's annual conference this morning might be scratching their heads, trying to remember what happened the day before.This may not be... Rishi Sunak has vowed to phase out university degrees that do not improve students' "earning potential", under plans to reform education if he became the UK's next prime minister. Jones, the creator and face of the conspiracy-peddling website InfoWars, is on the hook for a total of $49.3 million for spreading falsehoods about the 2012 mass shooting at an elementary school. Israel has unleashed a wave of airstrikes on Gaza, killing at least 10 people, including a senior militant, and wounding dozens, according to Palestinian officials. Israel said it was targeting the Islamic Jihad militant group in... South Africans are reeling from yet another horrific crime story dominating the headlines. This time, eight women were gang raped in Krugersdorp while shooting a music video at a mine dump. The youngest victim was only 19 years old. Daily Star 14 Aug 2022 Willian could be set for a shock return to England's top flight as Fulham track the wantaway winger - and Daily Star Sport are.. Rumble 09 Aug 2022 Demonstrators rallied outside the Friends of IDF headquarters in Manhattan, in support of Palestine. They waved Palestinian flags,.. A project many years in the making will officially be complete Wednesday, Aug. 10, as the city of Bad Axe will host an official opening of the city's new splash pad. The splash pad, which has been a project in the works for multiple years now, will have its official ribbon cutting at 5:15 p.m. to commemorate the new feature of the city park. The idea of a grand opening was brought up during the most recent city council meeting this past Monday. City Manager Rob Stiverson suggested a few different dates to the council before making a final decision at a later date. There are a couple food vendors that will want to be involved, said Stirverson. We are also waiting on a couple spray nozzles to come in. In the same meeting, there was an extension to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant, which will allow the city to finish the project properly after it experienced delays with back ordered parts and finding the water main. The pad itself is operational with most of the features running. Guests can press a button at the splash pad and the water will run for three minutes before needing to be reactivated. Some features, such as the blue whale feature, are not operational as of yet but are there as visual features for the time being. Also still to come are the sun shade sails that will be up to give shade to guests. The city is looking to have music in the park as well as food vendors for the event. As of right now the splash pad is unofficially open to those looking for something to do at the city park. It is located south of the city park, next to the walking trail, and north of the in-line skating rink. Ieuter Insurance Group is renting a bus to take numerous current and former employees down to Crowne Plaza Lansing West on Tuesday, Oct. 4. After all, it's not every day that your agency president gets inducted into the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame. President Cal Ieuter, whose 45 years with his namesake agency extend back to when it was called Ferries and Maxwell Agency, has been chosen for this professional honor of a lifetime. "It's a humbling experience," Ieuter said of being selected for the hall of fame, noting that it is a reflection on his entire team. "If you don't surround yourself with good people, it's not going to work. We've got a great group of people that work for us." Ieuter (pronounced "yite-er") grew up in Ottawa in northern Illinois, where his father ran an insurance agency. He graduated from Northern Arizona University and served in the U.S. Army from 1966-69 before starting his insurance career in Chicago, working with his brother. When Ieuter came to Midland in 1977, Ferries & Maxwell, which started in 1940, had about 20 employees. Ieuter and Jim Secor eventually bought the agency from Bob Ferries and Martin Maxwell and it became Ieuter & Secor, and after Secor retired, it became Ieuter Insurance Group, which now has about 50 employees. Ieuter Insurance insures at least 30% of the homes in Midland and has clients in 48 states, Ieuter said. Two of Ieuter's sons have continued the family tradition by joining him in working at the agency -- Kurt Ieuter since 1996 and Karl Ieuter since 2005. "They both have spearheaded our growth substantially," Ieuter said. Ieuter's wife of 55 years, Nancy Ieuter, said her husband is a "people person" and that has made the insurance business a great fit for him. "He loves people, talking to people, helping people," Nancy said. "It's been a really great profession for him because he enjoys going out and meeting new people and helping them." Nancy noted that nine members of the extended Ieuter family work in insurance, including one of their grandsons who just started his career in Lansing. Former Lake States Insurance Company President Gene Chang, who nominated Ieuter for the hall of fame, said his colleague and friend of more than 30 years is the only insurance agent out of thousands he has known whom he would recommend for this honor. "He's not only a good agent, he also does a lot of charitable and social activities for the community. Besides being a good agent, he's also a good citizen for the community," Chang said. According to a news release from the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame, Ieuter works closely with the insurance program at Northwood University, hiring interns and promoting continuing education for all of his staff members. He is an active industry volunteer with the local chapter of Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters and has worked with a number of legislators in his region on insurance issues and legislation. His community involvement includes serving as president of the Midland Area Chamber, Midland County Economic Corporation and Rotary Club, where he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International. To be a good insurance agent, Ieuter said one needs to have empathy for people, always give one's best effort, and act with a sense of urgency. "We have a rule that we have to return phone calls in the same day. We try to handle things with a sense of urgency," Ieuter said. Also being inducted on Oct. 4 is Bonnie Johnson-Hayward, who has been active in the insurance industry since 1991 and is Vice President/COO of the General Agency Company in Mount Pleasant. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Northwood. Registration information for the hall of fame induction is available at www.MIHOF.org. The Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame was established at Olivet College in 1994 as a way to pay tribute to individuals who have made a significant impact on the ability of the Michigan insurance and risk management industry to serve the public. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The head of Chad's military government met Saturday with Qatar's ruling emir after months of talks between Chadian forces and rebel factions, hosted by the Arab country. Chad's Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby spoke with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Footage from the Qatari royal court, or diwan, showed Sheikh Tamim with Qatar's foreign minister, while a Chadian delegation accompanied Deby. A later statement on the state-run Qatar News Agency quoted Sheikh Tamim as backing a comprehensive national reconciliation in Chad, saying the ongoing negotiations between the military and the rebels represented a first step toward that. Sheikh Tamim also reportedly wished Deby luck in an upcoming national dialogue planned in the Chadian capital of NDjamena on Aug. 20. The talks had earlier been set for May. Talks between the rebel factions and the military began in March in Doha, the Qatari capital. Deby's visit comes as diplomats hope the military government and the rebel groups would sign an agreement in Doha ahead of the Aug. 20 talks. But it remains unclear whether the Front for Change and Concord in Chad, the main rebel group in the country, will sign a deal. That shadowy group, known by the French acronym FACT, is blamed for the 2021 killing of Chad's longtime President Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled the country since 1990. Mahamat Idriss Deby is the 38-year-old son of the slain president who leads Chads Transitional Military Council. Other rebel groups involved in the Qatar talks included the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development and others. They have called for Deby to declare he would not run in any coming elections, though the military junta has insisted that can only be decided in the national dialogue talks. A planned 18-month transitional period in Chad is to end in the coming months, putting renewed pressure on the sides to reach an agreement. Already, Chad had grown frustrated by the 30 years of rule by Deby's father, leading to years of rebel uprisings in the former French colony that borders Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan. In July, Qatar's satellite news network Al Jazeera reported that over 20 rebel groups had withdrawn from the Doha talks. They had accused the military government of harassments, intimidation, threats and disinformation amid the negotiations. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. MSU Extension of Midland County and cooperating parent educators sponsor the Parents Corner. Send submissions to Midland County MSU Extension Educator, Sheila Salo, 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland, MI 48640 or salo@msu.edu Homestead Sunday: Fun on the Farm. What kind of chores did they do on the farm? Stop by and help, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 7 at Chippewa Nature Center. The chickens need to be fed, the gardens tended and repairs made. From sunrise to sunset there is always tasks to complete! This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org Summer Wildflower Walk. Summer wildflowers put on a show with a variety of colors, flower structures, heights, and patterns. Join a CNC naturalist 9-10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 to learn how to identify commonly found species and discuss their importance within an ecosystem.This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org Paddles and Pints. From 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10, spend an evening kayaking down the Chippewa River with a naturalist as you look for turtles, fish, eagles, and other wildlife. The trip will end at the Tridge in Downtown Midland where participants may take a short walk to WhichCraft Taproom for a refreshing drink. Cost is $40 and includes a $10 voucher. Meet at the Tridge where CNC staff will shuttle participants via 15-passenger van to CNCs canoe/kayak launch. Register by Aug. 8 www.chippewanaturecenter.org Walk Midland. Chippewa Nature Center is the Wednesday location for Walk Midland. The next event is set for 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10. Midland Parks and Recreation, in partnership with MyMichigan Health, Chippewa Nature Center, Greater Midland Corporate Wellness and Little Forks Conservancy, will host seven walking locations throughout the week through Wednesday, Aug. 31. Participants walk an approximately two-mile walking route. Drawings will be held at each walk for prizes. For each walk, participants will be registered for a grand prize Midland Staycation gift basket. This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org Preserving MI Harvest Series. Michigan State University Extension will be offering a series of food preservation classes online. These free classes will be offered at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursdays. The next topic will be Food Preservation Do's and Don'ts. A discussion on some of the outdated preservation processes (Don'ts) as well as the Do's to keep your home preserved foods safe to enjoy. These sessions will not be recorded, they will only be offered live. Supporting materials will be emailed to all participants after each broadcast. Join in the fun, sign up for one, some or all these educational sessions. There is time at the end of each program to ask questions. To register, visit events.anr.msu.edu/PreservingMIHarvest/ Kids Nature Art: Forest. Meet CNC staff at 2-3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11 at The Woods Nature Play area at Chippewa Nature Center for a blast of forest art. Stations with different projects will be set up to allow your artist to experience forest plants and animals through art. This self-paced experience will allow children to create many projects or work hard on a single masterpiece. This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org Full Moon Stroll. Join an Interpretive Naturalist for a hike to enjoy this months full moon, 8-9:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11. Learn how the tradition of naming moons began and what makes each month special. Please wear dark colors and bring a flashlight. This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org Wee Stroll. This free program, 10-11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 12 at Chippewa Nature Center, is designed for parents to take a guided walk with their child, learn about the outdoors and learn ways to introduce children to the natural world around them. www.chippewanaturecenter.org Salamander Meander. Silent and secretive, salamanders are often a creature of mystery. Join Chippewa Nature Center staff 9-10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 13 to hike and turn over logs to look for these shy amphibians. The group will meet at the Visitor Center, then caravan to the River Point property at the end of Hubert Road. This event is free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org Homestead Sunday: Schoolhouse. What was it like to go to school in the 1870s? Visit Chippewa Nature Center's one room schoolhouse 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14 to find out. Guests will be able to practice their elocution, read from a McGuffey Reader and brush-up on history. Save some time for recess! Play a game of graces or tag and learn how to walk on stilts. This event is free. Midland Prescription for Health. Midland County Prescription for Health is a program in collaboration with MyMichigan Medical Center, the Midland Area Farmers Market, and Michigan State University Extension. Sessions will be provided 10-11 a.m. Wednesdays, Aug. 17 through Sept. 21. Attend a free six-lesson workshop focused on nutrition and shopping at the farmers market. For every lesson you complete, participants will receive $10 in vouchers to be used at the Midland Area Farmers Market. Learn about the farmers, food and food assistance available at the Midland Area Farmers Market and build confidence in shopping there through a weekly guided tour. To register, call MSU Extension at 989-385-5144. These sessions are free. www.chippewanaturecenter.org Safe Food = Healthy Kids. A free online workshop food safety workshop for child care providers is set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30. Learn what the best practices are for food safety to help keep kids safe. To learn more and to register, visit events.anr.msu.edu/SFHKSummerFall22/ or call 1-877-643-9882. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) An Oklahoma City man fatally shot his three young children then shot and killed himself early Saturday, according to police. A person jogging or walking called police after spotting the four bodies in a vehicle in a northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood about 7:30 a.m. Saturday, said Capt. Michelle Henderson. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Southeast Asian foreign ministers issued a joint statement Friday after a series of meetings in the Cambodian capital criticizing Myanmar for its lack of progress in ending violence there, but with weaker language than several countries had hoped for. Myanmars military-led government, which seized power from elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, has been accused of thousands of extrajudicial killings, and last week carried out its first official executions in decades, raising an outcry from several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and countries around the world. ASEAN has been trying to implement a five-point consensus it reached on Myanmar last year, calling for dialogue among all concerned parties, provision of humanitarian assistance and an immediate cessation of violence, among other things. Following news of the late-July executions, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah accused Myanmar of making a mockery of the five-point process. Still, in their joint statement Friday, the foreign ministers only expressed our concerns over the prolonged political crisis in the country, including the execution of four opposition activists," while adding they were deeply disappointed by the limited progress in the implementation of the five-point consensus. Myanmar's foreign ministry issued a statement later Friday saying it objected to a reference in the ASEAN joint statement to a lack of progress in implementing the five-point consensus because it neglects Myanmars efforts on its implementation. The ministry's statement, released to journalists in Myanmar, decried efforts by some ASEAN and Western nations to contact opposition forces in Myanmar known as the National Unity Government and its affiliated armed wing, the People Defense Force, which it branded terrorists. If ASEAN member states and external partners genuinely wish to help Myanmar in restoring normalcy, they should not encourage engaging with the terrorist groups such as NUG and PDF and should avoid any actions that could encourage terrorism," it said. The statement said Myanmar will continue to cooperate in implementing ASEAN's five-point consensus through a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led process without compromising its national sovereignty. Cambodia currently holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, which also includes the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei in addition to Myanmar. With the ongoing violence in Myanmar, the country was asked not to send any political representative to the ASEAN meetings. In protest, Myanmars military government said it would send no delegate at all, so was unrepresented in the talks. But in preliminary discussions leading up to the main meetings, a lower-level representative from Myanmar expressed objections to the proposed wording of the joint statement, which led to the exclusion of stronger criticism being proposed by Malaysia, Singapore and others, according to a diplomat who was involved in the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meetings. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has in the past urged ASEAN to do more to confront Myanmar, also known as Burma, noted that the executions of the four political prisoners had occurred despite Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in his capacity as ASEAN chair, pushing Myanmar to reconsider. I urge my fellow ministers to continue to press the regime to end its brutal violence, to release those unjustly detained to allow humanitarian access and restore Burmas path to democracy, Blinken said at a news conference after the foreign ministers' statement was released. "We also have to increase economic pressure to do more to stop the flow of arms and revenue to the regime, insist on accountability for the atrocities committed. Russia is Myanmars top arms supplier, and Blinken took a swipe at Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Myanmar on his way to the ASEAN meetings and calling the country a friendly partner." That directly flies in the face of ASEAN's hard work to bring the violence to an end, Blinken said. Although ASEAN has tried to project itself as a showcase of regional unity with its leaders and top diplomats locking their hands in an unusual group handshake photo-op in their annual summits, the diverse bloc has been perennially buffeted by conflicting agendas within. Following their daylong meeting on Wednesday, they delayed issuing the joint statement due to differences over the section on Myanmar, the diplomat said. Cambodia forged a compromise Thursday night which paved the way for the belated release of the weaker statement on Friday, the diplomat said. There were concerns that if a compromise was not reached, the contrasting viewpoints on Myanmar could have blocked the issuance of the statement like in a similar embarrassing incident about a decade ago when Cambodia also hosted the ministerial gathering, the diplomat said. In the 2012 meeting, the unresolved impasse centered on whether Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea should be included in the joint statement. Cambodia then was accused by the Philippines and Vietnam of blocking mention of the increasingly tense territorial conflicts. It was the first time that the bloc, founded in 1967, had failed to issue a post-conference joint statement in its history. The military's overthrow of Suu Kyi's government triggered widespread peaceful protests that were violently suppressed. They have evolved into an armed resistance and the country has slipped into what some U.N. experts characterize as a civil war. More than 2,100 people have been killed by the military government since it took power and nearly 15,000 have been arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-governmental organization that tracks killings and arrests. ___ Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Four more people injured in the explosion of a fuel tanker in Bint Baya, southern Libya, were evacuated on Saturday to Italy for treatment, the Health Ministry of the Government of National Unity (GNU) has announced Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Kenyan presidential candidates held final political rallies in the capital, Nairobi, on Saturday to make their final appeals for votes ahead of Tuesday's poll with each promising to concede peacefully Rome, Italy (PANA) - Rising acute food insecurity in Somalia has caused more than 900,000 people to flee their homes in search of humanitarian assistance since January last year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned Photo: (Photo : Lisa Runnels) Lee Reynolds, an expectant dad, was coursing down the M65 at 70mph when his partner, Natalie Whitton, gave birth to their second child in the car's footwell. The 34-year-old dad thought he had plenty of time to make it to Burnley Hospital when his 31-year-old partner went into labor in the early hours of Wednesday morning, July 27. Lee soon found out he was mistaken as their baby suddenly came out en route to the hospital. The father-of-two was on the phone with a midwife and said they were in the fast lane going 70mph, but when he looked on the floor, the baby was already out on the footwell. The mother quickly picked up the baby while the midwife on the phone instructed them on what to do. She told them to make sure the baby was breathing, and once she was sure it was, she said to carry on, per Daily Star. A motorway baby was born The mom added that her husband kept asking her if she wanted to pull over. She could feel a little bit of an urge to push, but she told her husband to keep going and continue driving; then, all of a sudden, the baby came out. "I remember feeling relieved that this pressure had gone. I had a water birth before, and that helped a lot, but I had nothing this time." Natalie added that her husband pulled over to the hard shoulder following the birth and the couple waited for an ambulance crew. The motorway baby was born at 5:57 a.m. under the guidance of 999 emergency call handlers, with the dad helping his partner perform basic health checks on their new child. The couple traveled to Burnley Hospital, where they spent roughly six hours with doctors before returning home. Lee said that he could see the sign on junction 12 of the M65 for Burnley Hospital, and that's the junction he needed as he was ten minutes away, per Manchester Evening News. Read Also: Mom Gives Birth in Elevator on Mother's Day; Medical City Security Guard Comes to Her Rescue What to do in an emergency delivery? Annually, nearly 9,000 women in the U.S. who go into labor and cannot make it to the hospital have an unplanned or unattended birth at home or are in the car on the way to the hospital. Some of those women later make it to the nearest hospital. If the baby is coming and you think you can't make it to the hospital, call 911 as soon as possible. Remove your pants and underwear and lie down or sit, do not try to stand or squat as the baby could fall and suffer serious injury. Try to stay calm, and practice deep breathing. When the urge to push becomes overwhelming, push for counts of five, then pause and breathe. Do your best to gently assist the baby out as it emerges from the pelvis and carefully unloop the umbilical cord if it's wrapped around the baby's body or neck, per UT Southern Medical Center. Related Article: Doctors Make Emergency Delivery of Pregnant Mom's Baby in Baltimore Drive-By Shooting Photo: (Photo : Unsplash) A mom from Australia got bashed by trolls online for removing a port-wine stain birthmark from her baby's face. The mom clarified that she did it for the health of her child. In January, Brooke Atkins, 33, had her second child, Kingsley. She immediately noticed that half of his face was covered with the birthmark.While port-wine stains may appear harmless, they can be linked to glaucoma and Sturge-Weber syndrome. The Sturge-Weber syndrome causes seizures, while glaucoma causes blindness. Since the toddler was diagnosed with both conditions, the parents decided to get the birthmark lasered at the end of May. @brookecyn Before you comment nasty things - its not just a birthmark,its a portwine stain, the goal isnt to completley remove it, its to keep the skin healthy.Please research PWS before leaving uneducated, negative comments original sound - larissalambert Read Also: Charlotte Woman Whose Baby Died Sues Abbott Alleging its Milk is Dangerous to Premature Babies Controversial removal of port-wine stain birthmark The mom said that when Kingsley was born, they were referred to the dermatology and vascular department of the Queensland Children's Hospital, where the medical team organized Kingsley's first treatment. They explained to her why they needed to remove the birthmark, New York Post reports. Atkins explained that the purpose of the laser treatment was not to remove the birthmark but to keep the skin healthy and prevent further damage to the facial area. Although the laser treatment was in the baby's best interest and was recommended by the doctors, the mom of two got slammed online for her baby's surgery decision. Critics quickly called her a monster for giving her baby laser surgery. Another said she was a "brainwashed mother" who made her son insecure after he got out of the womb. While the mom admitted that the comments made her cry and question her decision with their cruel words playing in her head, she felt overwhelmed with more than 32,700 people following little Kingsley's journey on social media. There were also plenty of positive comments on the video. Port-wine stain birthmark The mom took the opportunity to educate people about the port-wine stain. According to Mayoclinic, the port-wine stain is a permanent birthmark. It starts as pinkish or reddish and turns darker as the child ages. It usually appears on the face but also affects other areas of the body. Over time, the affected area may thicken slightly and develop into an irregular, pebbled surface in adulthood. Port-wine stains are often associated with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) or Sturge-Weber syndrome, conditions that require regular medical evaluation. Klippel-Trenaunay is a rare congenital disorder involving problems in the development of certain blood vessels, soft tissues, bones, and sometimes the lymphatic system. It is most often associated with port-wine stains, overgrowth of tissues and bone, and vein or lymphatic system malformation. People with KTS often have complications involving port-wine stains. The mark may thicken over time to form blisters (blebs) which are prone to bleeding and complications. It can also lead to skin ulcers and poor wound healing. To manage port-wine stains, doctors usually recommend laser therapy. Meanwhile, Atkins said that Kingsley is thriving and is responding well to treatments after his initial laser therapy treatments. He is due for another round of laser appointments in August. Related Article: Reddit Offers Generous Tips to Mom Who Can't Afford Anything for Her Child's Birthday Photo: (Photo : FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images) The threat of listeria infection in pregnant women is the focus of a lawsuit filed by a Massachusetts mom against Big Olaf Creamery, who is suing the Florida company for her miscarriage. In May 2022, Kristen Hopkins experienced baby loss on the 11th week of her pregnancy. She was visiting Florida for a family wedding and recalled eating ice cream from Big Olaf Creamery at Beverly's Ice Cream store, also named in the lawsuit. A week later, Hopkins was back at her home when she had episodes of mild cramping and a feeling of persistent indigestion. She woke up shivering one morning and looked pale, prompting her husband, Frank Imbruglia, to bring her to the hospital. Doctors told the couple that their baby was already dead and that Hopkins was positive for listeriosis, per the New York Post. Read Also: TikTok Mom Going Through Menopause Gets Pregnant Two Times Listeria outbreak at Big Olaf Creamery Around the time of Hopkins's visit to Florida, the ice cream company was calling its customers, distributors, and retailers following a possible listeria outbreak that had contaminated their products. Since September 2021, more than 24 people have been hospitalized after eating Big Olaf Creamery products, but a specific dessert was not yet been identified. In July 2022, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that a product recall had been issued for all Big Olaf Creamery products with a June 30 expiration date. The CDC specifically stated that the risk of listeria infection is high among pregnant people due to their compromised immune systems. Pregnant women showing symptoms of listeriosis may experience diarrhea or upset stomach, alongside fever, chills, and muscle aches. The symptoms may crop up even two months after the infection. It may also be possible for a pregnant women not to show symptoms at all, but the infection may have already passed on to their fetus. Moms who suspect they have contracted listeria must go to their doctor for a blood test. As listeria could be treated, they may be prescribed antibiotics safe for their child. Moms-to-be, did you know Listeria can grow in the fridge? Its important for pregnant women to reheat deli meats until steaming hot or 165F, in order to protect their unborn child from illness. For more information click here: https://t.co/fXjdRxFI2v pic.twitter.com/nLHBOjVDIT Harnett County Health Department (@HarnettCoHD) June 1, 2021 There are cases of babies surviving listeria infection during pregnancy, but they could be born with serious health issues like paralysis, blindness, seizures, intellectual disability, and problems with organs like the heart, kidneys, or brain. Newborn babies born with listeriosis might not survive as well, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The ACOG advised pregnant moms not to eat unpasteurized milk and foods, refrigerated pate, meat spreads or smoked seafood, unwashed raw produce, and hotdogs or luncheon meats that have not been steamed hot or cooked. Kristen Hopkins' health continues to deteriorate Hopkins, who was discharged on June 17 after her miscarriage, has not yet completely recovered. According to Daily Mail, she has a home health nurse tending to her. The mom, who has two daughters under five years old, said in her complaint that she is "emotionally distraught" over the loss of her third child. She is also worried that the listeria may have affected her fertility. While in the hospital, doctors gave Hopkins and her husband the worst-case scenario and said she might need a hysterectomy if her condition did not improve. Hopkin's lawsuit is the second against Big Olaf Creamery. In July, the family of Mary Billman, a senior adult, sued the company for her death. Aside from pregnant women, individuals above 65 years old are also vulnerable to listeria infection. Related Article: Mandy Moore Can't Have Epidural for Baby's Birth Due to Thrombocytopenic Purpura; What's the Cause? This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions A vehicle parked at the Mensah Sarbah Hall of the University of Ghana was set ablaze during a clash between students in the early hours of Saturday, August 6, 2022. The reason for the clash between members of the Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah Halls is not clear but university property was destroyed during the inter-hall fight. Notice boards, waste containers, Veronica Buckets and some vehicles were destroyed during the clash. A bust of John Mensah Sarbah was also removed from the Hall during the clash. Perpetrators to face sanctions In a statement condemning the violent clash, the management of the university said efforts were ongoing to identify and sanction the perpetrators. "Management of the University has noted with concern, yet another series of clashes between students of Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah Halls, which occurred late in the evening of Friday, August 5th, and in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 6th, 2022," the statement said. "Management condemns these needless acts of violence that have led to injuries and destruction of property and calls on students of the two Halls to immediately halt any planned continuation of these acts. "Efforts to identify the perpetrators are ongoing, and those found culpable of breaking national laws or University regulations will be appropriately sanctioned. "Management assures the University community of its resolve to ensure that academic work and other activities proceed without hindrance, and of its commitment to safeguarding peace and stability on all campuses of the University". Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyemang Manu, has paid a working visit to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in the Ashanti regional capital, Kumasi. The visit on Wednesday, August 4, 2022, was to inspect the progress of work on the maternity and children blocks of the hospital. The project was commissioned for reconstruction by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on May 15, 2020. This was after the 45-year-old maternity and children units uncompleted buildings were declared unfit for purpose when they were subjected to a comprehensive risk assessment by some engineering companies. The buildings were subsequently demolished to make way for the new edifice currently under construction. Speaking to the media during his visit to the site, Kwaku Agyemang Manu expressed shock over the pace at which the project is being carried out. According to the Minister, he feared that the government could not complete the project on time and would be severely criticised by the public in the face of the challenges that have bedevilled the country. He said: When I came to Okomfo Anokye I was a little taken aback because at the time we awarded the project to the contractor, there were a lot of challenges. The first project which is the 45-year-old building, which the president thought should be rehabilitated, the consultant we contacted came back and said the building would not be fit for purpose and that he fears for the lives of all who would even work on the building We did estimates and the cost was rising astronomically and the money we were going to invest could demolish the building and reconstruct it. So we laid it before the President, and parliament and cabinet approved it We also implored the Asantehene to speak to the people on our behalf to bear with us that we would demolish the building and reconstruct it. When I heard of the demolishing I didnt come here but I was apprehensive of the backlash we would receive if the work is not done. So when I came and saw it I was delighted, the Minister added. Kwaku Agyemang Manu is optimistic, however, that the project would be completed before 2024 due to the speed with which the work is being done. Meanwhile, KATHs maternity and children blocks are one among other construction projects he has inspected in the Ashanti region. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The husband of the missing staff of the Lands Commission, Dr Wilberforce Aggrey, has finally been granted bail but has yet to meet the GH300,000 bail condition slapped on him after spending almost 10 months in police custody. The accused, who is standing trial at the Kumasi High Court on charges of kidnapping and deceit of the public, was granted GH300,000 bail with one surety to be justified by the court presided over by Justice Duniel Obeng on Friday, July 29, 2022. Dr Aggrey, a Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was arrested in October 2021 over the disappearance of his wife, Rhodaline Amoah Darko. The court had previously denied him bail and remanded him into police custody since November 2021. Accomplices Dr Aggrey is standing trial with two others, Yaw Boateng currently at large, and Justice Appiah. Appiah was found in possession of Rhodaline's phone which he claimed to have bought from Boateng. He has since been granted bail while Boateng is at large and being sought by the police. The accused is alleged to have kidnapped his wife, who has been missing since August 2021. Read also: High Court denies husband of missing woman bail Opposition The State Attorney, Edward Charles Addo Yirenkyi, who led the prosecution, initially objected to the bail application by counsel for the accused person for fear of him compromising the witnesses in the case. Three of the prosecution witnesses were people who worked directly under the accused and prosecution believed that granting him bail would jeopardise their case However, last Friday, the prosecution did not put up a strong objection to the bail application by the defence after the third witness had been crossed examined by the defence lawyer. Background Rhodaline Amoah-Darko, the staff of the lands Commission in the Ashanti Region, was reported missing after she allegedly left home at Gyenyase in Kumasi, on August 30, 2021, and did not return. The husband reported the case to the police on September 2, 2021, after she went missing. However, communication from her mobile phone allegedly from suspected kidnappers demanding a ransom emanated from a location (cell tower) close to her residence, The messages from Rhodaline's phone to the husband's phone and later from the husband's phone to other relatives all emanated from a location (cell tower) near their residence, according to police investigations. Based on that, the husband was invited for interrogation and according to the prosecution Dr Aggrey allegedly admitted that he sent those messages from Rhodaline's phone because he was threatened that his family would be harmed if he did not do that. According to the police, the accused claimed to have sent the wife to a location close to Volta Lake to ensure her safety. He could, however, not lead the police to the said location of the wife. The case has since been adjourned to October 17, 2022. 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. Featured Video Professor Ken Attafuah, the Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority (NIA), has disclosed that applicants for Ghana Card can fill a registration form online. According to him, the online platform is created to ease the registration exercise, however it is limited which means the applicant will still have to go to Regional or district offices or the NIA headquarters to finish up the registration process. "You can do it online up to a point. We have to capture your biometrics. So, you can go online, book appointment and fill a form - basic information - but a lot of the information on it is so technical. It's coded," he said. In an interview on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme, Prof. Attafuah recounted reasons why the registration cannot be done solely online. He explained the Ghana Card registration demands biometric authentication which cannot be done via online application. "It's a bit complex and complicated but the law requires us to be accurate. Then you come to the biometrics; with the biometrics, we have to capture your 10 figures. There is a technique for doing that and with our system, you can't use your mobile phone to take a picture of your fingers for us. We have a technology for taking your eyes that you can't snap your eyes and forward it to us because you have taken a selfie. "About your face, the system is built such that your two ears should be exposed because your ears are your biometrics. Your ears are different from each other and it's different from any other human being's ears. We want to capture that too in a particular way, so it's significant that you come to us physically to be registered by capturing those biometrics." He also stated that before the registered person can receive his or her Ghana Card, he or she will have to be biometrically verified again which is also impossible to do online. "The third reason why you can't apply online is, after doing all this, we want you to give us authorization before we print the card or thumbprint. And when you finish, finally we must issue the card to you biometrically and when it matches, we hand it to you," 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. Featured Video The health minister, Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, has dispelled claims that President Akufo-Addo misappropriated covid-19 funds received from donor countries and the World Bank. According to him, the monies accrued from the donors as part of their support to the Ghana government to combat the virus and eradicate it from the population have been directed into the construction of health facilities. The Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for the Dormaa Central Constituency in the Bono region, disclaimed when he paid a working visit to the Ashanti region to inspect government projects under construction. One of such projects he inspected was the Sawua Infectious Disease Centre sited in the Bosomtwe District, adjacent to the Ashanti Regional Hospital. The infectious disease centre is one of the facilities President Akufo-Addo had promised to build for the country to shore up the nations efforts to contain and curb the spread of infectious diseases, especially during epidemics. We are going to beef up our existing laboratories and establish new ones across every region for testing. We will establish three infectious disease control centres for each of the zones of our country, i.e. Coastal, Middle Belt and Northern, with the overall objective of setting up a Ghana Centre for Disease Control, President Akufo-Addo stated in his eighth update on enhanced measures to combat the coronavirus. Speaking to journalists during his inspection of the facility, the MP said There are twelve of these nowNana Addo has received so much but we dont know how the monies were spentThese are some of the tangibles we have commissioned. So Nana Addos works are now being manifested and well see a lot more going forward. Ghanaians will be amazed at whatever money they have claimed Nana Addo has borrowed and yet hasnt done anything. That is propaganda. But while this is coming up, you will see what is there. Kwaku Agyemang Manu explained that when the government began taking receipt of the monies, they arranged to build infrastructures across the country with the funds such that in case the infection continues or future epidemics we will have facilities well distributed across the country. So this is one of such facilities. According to him, the government initially started with 12 but we believe by the close of the year we would have added a few more. Among the twelve facilities include the Sawua, Dodowa, Goaso, Sunyani, Cape Coast, Zebila and the Tamale Teaching Hospital attachment. Source: 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. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has made his first reshuffle at the National Security by reassigning the sector coordinator, Amb. Major General Francis Adu-Amanfoh (rtd). He will act as Special Advisor to the President of the Accra Initiative a communique from the presidency said. The National Security Co-ordinator, Amb. Maj. Gen. Rtd) Francis Adu-Amanfoh, with effect from Monday, 8th August 2022, has been reassigned by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to act as Special Advisor to the President for the Accra Initiative. He will be working out of the Office of the President. The Accra Initiative was launched in September 2017 by Ghana, Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Cote dIvoire as a vehicle for enhanced security cooperation amongst the countries, in response to the growing threats of terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa, the statement said in part. The statement added that the president has also appointed the Deputy National Security Coordinator to act as the substantive Coordinator. In accordance with Section 20 (1) of the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2020 (Act 1030), President Akufo-Addo has subsequently appointed Mr Edward Asomani, Deputy National Security Co-ordinator, to act as National Security Co-ordinator, with effect from Monday, 8th August 2022. The confirmation of his appointment is subject to the receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the National Security Council, given in consultation with the Public Services Commission, it added. The statement also indicated that the Director General of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), Kwaku Domfeh, has been appointed Ambassador-designate to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Source: 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. Featured Video President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the Upper East Region Water Supply System in Navrongo in the Kassena Nankana Municipality. The new water treatment and supply plant is expected to improve water supply as it will deliver 4.5 million gallons of potable water a day to about 347,466 households in more than 40 major towns and communities. Paga, Navrongo, Bolgatanga, Zuarungu, Bongo and their surrounding communities are some of the areas that will be served, with the project executed in two phases by Denys Engineers and Contractors BV. The President said the project was structured into two phases with the aim of increasing the design horizon from 2030 to 2040 to make adequate provision for future generation. Until this project, residents in and around Navrongo relied on boreholes as their source of water for domestic and other commercial activities, while others relied on untreated water from the Tono Irrigation Dam and other small and untreated water sources. Project scope The 38 million project started in September 2018, funded with a loan from ING Bank of Belgium and the Dutch government through the ORIO funding, a Dutch official development aid for infrastructure financing. The project involved the design and construction of a new 20,500 cubic metres per day treatment plant at Tono, up from the 7,200 cubic metres per day that the people used to depend on. It also covered the construction of a new water intake facility at the Tono Reservoir, including a pumping station and raw water transmission pipeline. Another component was the construction of 68 kilometres of transmission pipelines to transport treated water from the plant at Tono to the beneficiary communities. Furthermore, a 71km of distribution network was constructed to transport water to consumers in Navrongo, Bolgatanga, Paga, Tono, Bongo, Zuarungu, Winkogo, Tindomologo and Gia. Also, there was the construction of 600 cubic metres and 400 cubic metres new elevated water reservoirs at Navrongo and Zuarungu, respectively, as well as the rehabilitation of the existing Vea water treatment plant to bring the capacity to 5,000 cubic metres per day. Similarly, there is the provision of new service subsidised connections to 4,800 people to ensure the inclusion of all customers. First term project Addressing the gathering Navrongo, President Akufo-Addo expressed gratitude that work on the project, which started in his first term of office, had been duly completed. He said in January 2018, the government through the Ministry of Finance secured funding to the tune of 37.68 million, consisting of a 12 million grant from the Netherlands government and 25 million from the ING Bank of Netherlands to construct the project. The President said the project was structured into two phases with the aim of increasing the design horizon from 2030 to 2040 to make adequate provisions for future generation. He said the water project was in line with the governments policy to construct more water projects to meet future population growth. President Akufo-Addo said the execution of the project fell in line with the programme of the government to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Six, which is ensuring the availability of sustainable and equitable management of water and sanitation for all. He said the government remained committed to creating an enabling environment through the provision of social infrastructure that would attract businesses. I expect that with the availability of potable water in this area, investors will take advantage of the One-District, One-Factory initiative to establish small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to create employment for young people to stimulate the growth and development of the domestic economy. The President said the government was working diligently to make funds available to improve water supply in all areas across the country. The objective is to ensure equity and improve the quality of life of all communities in the country, President Akufo-Addo added. Other works He stated that work had started on the Keta, Wenchi and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Sanitation and Water Supply projects to increase access to potable water in those areas. President Akufo-Addo added that by the end of the year, work would commence on the Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply Expansion project, the Tamale-Yendi Water Supply project and the Damongo Water Supply project. He further indicated that the processes had started for work to begin on the second phase of the Kpong Water Supply Expansion project to augment water supply to the people of the Greater Accra Region. President Akufo-Addo urged the inhabitants of the beneficiary communities to help maintain the water infrastructure to continue to have access to water and religiously pay their bills as well. He further thanked the Netherlands government for the considerable support towards the execution of the project as well as the contractors for completing the project ahead of schedule. Improving water access The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecelia Abena Dapaah, said the project gave full credence to the determination of the government to improve access to potable water. It is in recognition of the Water for all agenda of the government to provide water for all Ghanaians to improve their lives, she said. Ms Dapaah said the project would bring to an end the rampant system failure, burst pipes and high unaccounted for water issue of the area. She expressed excitement that the project had carried out an extensive distribution network expansion and replacement as well as the provision of additional storage reservoirs. No more rationing The Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company (GWCL), Dr Clifford A. Bramah, said with the completion of the project, the water rationing and shortages in Bolgatanga, Navrongo, Zuarungu, Bongo, Paga and surrounding communities would be a thing of the past. Until the new system, he said, GWCL operated a dual water supply system in the Bolgatanga Municipality involving surface water and groundwater (borehole) systems. The major source of water supply to the town is from the water treatment plant at Gowrie in the Bongo District. This system is supplemented by mechanised boreholes at Zuarungu and the Bolgatanga Secondary School that pump water into overhead tanks for distribution to residents of these areas, Dr Braimah said. The GWCL managing director said also included in the project was an institutional strengthening and technical assistance for the next two years of operations. It is made up of management assistance as well as staff training in various aspects of water supply management to improve capacity, and thereby ensure the long-term sustainability of water supply to the area, Dr Braimah stated. He appealed to the public to report faults, burst and leaky pipes to the company through its application (app) for prompt response. For his part, the Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, Jeroen Verheul, called for more collaboration between the Netherlands and Ghana for their mutual benefit. The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, in a welcome address, said the project had come at the right time to solve the acute water supply challenges which faced major towns and communities in the region. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former schoolmate of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has detailed how he joined the Tamale Methodist Boys Brigade before his mother converted to Islam. According to Mr. Rajah Ishwsh, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia joined the Boys Brigade in the Tamale Methodist Church in the 1960s. My name is Rajah Ishwah. I grew up in Tamale in the 60s, born in 63 the same year as the Vice President, we are just three months apart. We both went to Sakasaka Primary school, we were mates from Primary 1 to class five I think. While I was in Primary school the Vice President was my very good friend. I happened to be a Methodist and wemy brothers and I joined the Boys Brigade when we were in class 3 or 4. The Vice President one time we were marching through town and at the time he lived with his parents in the center of Tamale, second storey building in downtown Tamale so he saw us and was really excited. Even though already he knew I was a member of Boys Brigade because we talk at school, so he expressed interest and asked me to talk to his mum. So I came over and fortunately for us she agreed. She had no reservations about the fact that it was a Christian Youth Organization. She agreed and have us the money to pay for the uniform and the membership which we did and we were with the boys brigade till we left for Secondary School. At that time it was a boarding school so there was no way we could attend meetings and since then weve still been in touch, our mothers went to the same school, he said. He indicated that hes not surprised that people doubt the Vice President when he says he is a member because he grew up in a Muslim home. However, he was quick to add that the Boys Brigade is non-denominational and accommodates all and sundry. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia while speaking at the 175th anniversary of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Accra touted the peaceful co-existence in Ghana and the fact that the country always ranked well for peace. He recalled his days as a member of the Methodist Boys Brigade. Growing up I was an active member of the Methodist Boys Brigade until my mum changed to Islam. I suspect Im the only Muslim Member of the Boys Brigade. To date out of the seventeen siblings, nine are Christians and eight are Muslims. That is the beauty of religious acceptance in Ghana. Social Media users casted doubt at the claims by the Vice President whom they believe has been a Muslim all his life. Source: Ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video MyHelp-YourHelp Foundation, a Christian charitable organisation (NGO) with a focus on education, health and social services, on Saturday, July 30, 2022, organised a free health screening exercise for the people of Ashiaman and its environs in the Greater Accra. The health screening exercise, which has become part of the Foundation's annual event, saw more than 700 people, including children being screened for various diseases including malaria, hypertension diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. The beneficiaries were also sensitised to heart diseases, stroke, alcoholism and drug abuse, among others. Those whose conditions needed further clinical diagnoses and treatment were referred to bigger health facilities. The Foundation also teamed up with the National Health Insurance Scheme to register residents without health insurance onto the Scheme while those with expired membership had it renewed for them. Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation assembled a team of medical practitioners from all the major health facilities in the Greater Accra Region, such as Korle Bu Teaching hospital, Cocoa Clinic, Ridge hospital, Tema General Hospital, Ashaiman Polyclinic, and 37 Military hospitals to conduct the exercise. These health workers were all members of the Foundation and they were led by Dr Riches Esiape, the Head of the Medical Team of the Foundation. Speaking with the media after the exercise, Dr Esiape said the gesture had helped to inform the people about their health status. Surprisingly we found a lot of children with blood in the urine and we intend to alert the District Director of Health," he said. Based on the discovery, he said, they were suspecting that the children with blood in their urine might be swimming in the river bodies around the neighbourhood, saying So we have a high suspicion for Schistosomiasis. Dr Esiape, who is also the Medical Manager of Cocoa Clinic, has, therefore, advised parents in Ashiaman and its adjourning communities to discourage or prevent their children from swimming in the nearby water bodies. He also called for mass treatment for the children in the Ashiaman areas by the District Health Directorate against Schistosomiasis. Touching on the need for regular medical checkups, Dr Esiape advised the general public to prioritise regular medical checkups to enable early detection of diseases in their systems. We encourage everybody to go to the hospital because hypertension, for example, is not going to give you symptoms. Until you go to the hospital and you check, you can never know, he explained. He added, So we encourage everybody to go to the hospital, have your BPs checked, have your sugar levels checked, and do a general medical examination. There are a lot of things in the body that until you are checked, you cant tell what you have. The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Mr Nicholas Cofie explained that the foundation was established to make a difference in the life of the less fortunate people in communities by providing access to lifes basic needs including healthcare, quality education and other basic human needs. He said the exercise was targeted at providing an opportunity for people, especially those who could not afford frequent medical check-ups due to financial constraints, to have access to medical care. It is important that once in a while, once every few months, the clinic is able to offer such a screening programme, he said, adding that it provided an avenue for early detection, management and treatment of serious and sometimes chronic diseases. Mr Cofie said he was excited about the successful outcome of the screening given what he called the impressive turnout of people to be screened. For him, the screening was a social responsibility of the foundation to the community. He also commended Cocoa Clinic, Widama Pharmacy, Dannex Ayrton starwin PLC and Kafnam Company Ltd for supporting the exercise with medical kits and drugs for the exercise, saying their sponsorship greatly contributed to the success of the event. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Parliamentary Select Committee on Education has promised to make a strong case for the removal of import duties on raw materials for the local printing industry. It is the conviction of the committee that the removal of the duties will help boost the printing industry to enable it to compete with foreign printers. The Chairman of the committee, Kwabena Amankwah Asiamah, gave the pledge during a visit by the members of the committee to G-PAK Limited, a subsidiary of the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), yesterday to apprise themselves of the progress of work on the printing of textbooks for primary schools. He was responding to an appeal by the Managing Director of the GCGL, who is also the Board Chairman of G-PAK Limited, Ato Afful, to Parliament to consider the removal of import duties on printing materials to boost the activities of local printers, since the duties resulted in increased production cost. G-PAK Limited is a leading printing and packaging company which has been in the business for the past 49 years. Mr Asiamah, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Fanteakwa North in the Eastern Region, said taxes on raw materials such as paper and ink increased the production cost of companies engaged in the printing of textbooks and newspaper production and so it was time the situation was critically examined to make the local printing industry competitive. First time He noted that it was the first time the need for taxes to be removed from imported raw materials for the local printing industry had been raised with the committee. Consequently, he said, the committee would include it in its report and table it before Parliament when the House reconvened for consideration. Satisfaction Mr Asiamah expressed satisfaction with the work done so far by G-PAK and hoped that the company would meet the timelines for the printing of the textbooks. Benefits Welcoming the committee members, Mr Afful said the zero tax rating on finished printed products into the country, compared to duties on imported raw materials, made it difficult for the indigenous printing industry to remain competitive and break even. He said some time ago, the GCGL took up the issue with the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) but the commissioner indicated that it did not fall within the mandate of the GRA and that it was Parliament that could consider the matter. While expressing gratitude to the committee for the visit, Mr Afful was of the conviction that the conversation on taxes on imported raw materials would be taken further up for consideration. He said when that was done, it would boost the local printing industry, generate more jobs and contribute significantly to the general economy. The Ranking Member on the committee and MP for Akatsi North, Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, commended G-PAK for the work done so far and expressed the hope that by the beginning of the next academic year in September this year, primary school pupils would have access to the textbooks to enhance teaching and learning in schools. The Vice-Chairman of the committee and MP for Kwesimintsim, Dr Prince Hamidu Armah, said the issue of taxation on raw materials raised was legitimate and needed to be looked at, since it made the cost of production expensive, which also had an impact on the prices of textbooks. Presentation Earlier in a presentation, the acting General Manager of G-PAK, Kingsley Mate-Kole, had told the committee that the company had the capacity to take up any printing job. He said G-PAK was contracted by Afram Publications and Kabkork Publications to print English and Science textbooks for pupils from primary four to six, adding that so far the company had delivered all the 272,300 textbooks it was contracted by Kabkork to print. With regard to the Afram Publications contract, which involved 808,282 copies of textbooks, he said G-PAK had delivered 245,000 textbooks, with 172,371 ready to be picked up, adding that the company would meet the August 27, 2022 deadline for the contract. Appointed Time The committee members also visited the Appointed Time Printing Company, where they expressed satisfaction with the quality of books being printed for primary schools. Appointed Time is mandated to print science textbooks for primary one to six for two local publishers, Prof. Quarm Publications and NNF Esquire Limited, with 600,000 of the books having already been completed and distributed to schools. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Ashanti Regional Communications Directorate is set to launch comprehensive plans and strategies aimed at improving the communications machinery of the party in the region, ahead of the 2024 general elections. The Directorate, headed by Dennis Kwakwa, is reportedly set to enrol the services of hardworking and prominent party personalities to augment the publicity and communication department of the party. The party, sources disclosed, is setting up a full communication strategy which will involve various committees to oversee the smooth and effective implementation of the communication and publicity machinery. According to information available, some prominent names may feature in the list which is expected to be released in the next few days. Some include the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Simmon Osei Mensah, Economic Advisor and Spokesperson to the Vice President, Dr Gideon Boako, Deputy Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr. John Ampontuah Kumah, CEO of Ghana Gas, Dr. Ben Asante, Mr. Boateng Genfi of EximBank Ghana, and the Director General of NADMO, Nana Agyemang Prempeh. Others include the MP for Effiduase Asokore, Hon. Nana Ayew Afriyie, Dr Henry Kwabena Kokofu of the EPA, KMA Mayor, Hon. Sam Pyne, Hon. Kennedy Kankam, MCE for Asokore Mampong, amongst others. This according to sources, forms part of an ongoing restructuring which is geared towards preparing the party to be on a strong footing in terms of promoting the achievements of the government and also counter wicked lies and propaganda of the opposition National Democratic Congress and their assigns. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/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. Featured Video Award-winning Ghanaian rapper, Gambo, has teamed up superbly with Bongo Flava star, Young Dee also known as Young Daresalama, to release his first East African collaboration. The potential hit-song titled: 'Sio Simple' was recorded in Tanzania, and marks the beginning of Gambo's ambitious agenda to position himself as a continental superstar. https://youtu.be/7iqzs02MA5s Produced by Tanzania's award-winning music producer, Mr. T Touch, 'Sio Simple' is a follow-up to Gambo's highly successful 'Settle' track which featured Kechi. 'Sio Simple' has been made available for streaming on major platforms including YouTube. https://gambomusic.ffm.to/gambo-ft-youngdaresalama-sio-simple Tour Gambo recently embarked on his maiden tour of East Africa. The Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) Unsung Act of The Year 2022 arrived in Tanzania on July 11, 2022. His tour of Tanzania ended on July 25, and he and his host, Young Daresalama, kept themselves busy in the studio, recording the 'Sio Simple' song which is highly likely to take over the airwaves in Ghana and Tanzania. As part of the itinerary for his visit to Tanzania, Gambo, the 'Kwacha' and 'Drip' hitmaker toured a number of media outlets. His historic tour of East Africa was facilitated by his record label, BlackMob. The 'Boys Aye Wild' and 'Settle' rapper used the tour to market himself to East African music lovers as well as promote the music industry of Ghana. Gambo about a month ago released his banger titled 'Settle' featuring Ghanaian music duo Kechi. The wedding anthem, 'Settle' has so far garnered over 655,000 views on YouTube alone and faring very well on other major streaming platforms. https://youtu.be/mHehA_aL2xk Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Kidnappers of prominent Nollywood actors and members of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Cynthia Okereke and Clemson Cornel, have made contact with the families of the stars demanding a total of $100,000 to release them. This contact according to the Guild was via their families. The actors were reported missing after their family members confirmed they didnt return home from a film location at Ozalla Town, Enugu state in Nigeria. Both actors are renowned for starring in movies shot in Enugu and Delta States. On Saturday, the AGN national president, Emeka Rollas, told a source that the kidnappers have made contact with the families and are demanding the sum of $100,000. We pray to God for his intervention and for Him to put confusion in their midst. He continued; We are also working closely with the different security operatives, but we are not sure what to expect from them because the same thing is happening everywhere in the country. Mr Rollas also said members of the Guild are working closely with the families of the victims and the security forces to ensure their safe release. Mr Rollas added, the kidnappers cleared the monies in Cynthia Okerekes account this morning. As part of measures to forestall a repeat occurrence, Mr Rollas said that the Guild had ordered its members not to shoot outside of the metropolis and to ensure that they make adequate provisions for security in their locations. AGNs Director of Communications, Monalisa Chinda, broke the news of the kidnap of the actors in a press statement. Ms Chinda said their kidnap had increased fear amongst members about the safety of actors filming in the country. Source: thechronicle.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Aiken, SC (29801) Today Mostly cloudy this evening with showers developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy this evening with showers developing after midnight. Low 68F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Thirty years ago Sept. 1, Dr. Gary Senn began his employment at USC Aiken. He plans to stay there until he retires. This is the best place to work in the universe, Senn said. I love what I do, so there hasnt been a reason to look elsewhere. Its been very gratifying. Senn serves as the director of the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center on USC Aikens campus and its DuPont Planetarium. In addition, he is the director of both the Center of Excellence in Middle-level Interdisciplinary Strategies for Teaching and the Center of Excellence in Educational Technology. Senn also is a tenured professor in the School of Education. I enjoy being able to infuse a love for science, technology, engineering and mathematics in people of all ages, he said. I like to see the light that comes on when they understand a little bit more about the world around them. Science is a wonderful thing, he continued. Some people are afraid of it. Some people dont like it. But I think if they can be introduced to it in a fun, engaging and meaningful way, they will have a better appreciation for it. I think science is important to everybody, no matter what their career or what their interests are, Senn added. We are all involved in science whether we know it or not. We have bodies that are science. We use technology. Even if its just a videotape, its still technology. Senn said his mission also includes encouraging people to appreciate the life around us. The Ruth Patrick Centers resident animals include Ruth, a gopher tortoise, and other reptiles along with Raleigh, a barred owl. One of kind of my subgoals is to try to get people to see a snake and not think they immediately need to kill it, Senn said. When he was younger, Senn developed an appreciation for creatures of all kinds. He was born in Virginia, but was mostly raised in Connecticut. Senns father was a submariner in the U.S. Navy. He later worked for a power company and then got a job at a nuclear power plant that was being decommissioned. As for Senns mother, she was a homemaker before she furthered her education in order to become a nurse. Some of the money she made was used to put me through college, said Senn, who has two younger brothers. The neighborhood where Senns family resided in Connecticut was small and friendly. It was a great place to grow up, Senn said. We had a number of immigrant families from Italy, and most of them were related. They sort of adopted us. I spent the holidays with my Italian brothers and sisters. We would have picnics at various houses around the neighborhood. It was fun. Senn also was an eager explorer of a nearby forest. There was about 4,000 acres of woods behind our house, and that always intrigued me, Senn said. I spent a lot of time out in the woods just on my own, learning and observing. I think that was an important part of my interest in science. His other outdoor activities included sailing and boating. In high school, Senn excelled as a science student. I considered becoming a teacher because when I learned things, I was really very interested and excited in sharing what I learned with other people, he said. But my guidance counselor and other people encouraged me to look at something else maybe more science-related because they thought that maybe education wasnt the right thing to do. Following his graduation, Senn enrolled in the Florida Institute of Technology, where he earned five degrees, beginning with a bachelor of science in marine biology and ending with a doctorate in science education, biology and technology. The years Senn attended Florida Tech werent uninterrupted. There were breaks during which he worked at a salmon hatchery in Connecticut and taught at the high school and junior high levels. Senn also got certified as a principal. But before he received his doctorate in 1992, Senn decided that a career in education at the college level appealed to him most. I applied to a number of universities and I was offered three positions, Senn said. One of those was at USC Aiken. During a visit to Aiken, Senn was impressed. The other two universities were in big cities, he said. I grew up in a small town, and I just liked the small town atmosphere better. I really fell in love with Aiken. I thought it was a wonderful place. Senn began what has turned out to be a long stint at USC Aiken as the Ruth Patrick Centers technology director. He became the facilitys director in 2004. The Ruth Patrick Center offers a variety of programs and camps. Their focus is the education of K-12 students, but there also are plenty of opportunities for those who are older to learn. We have worked with well over a million people since Ive been here, Senn said. Ive kept the statistics each year since 1992. During the time he has been at the USC Aiken, numerous improvements have been made at the Ruth Patrick Center. Among them are the addition of a rooftop observatory, the opening of the DuPont Planetarium in 1995 and a 2017 upgrade of the planetariums system from a Digistar 2 to a Digistar 6. The observatory was something that I had a vision for early on, and I pushed to have it on the roof, Senn said. It came to pass thanks to (funding from) Bechtel (an engineering company). During an expansion in the late 1990s, the Ruth Patrick Centers size increased from 11,000 square feet to 44,000 square feet. In the future, were looking at expanding the second floor in the (11,000-square-foot) original building, Senn said. It will cost $300,000 in all, but were still $50,000 short to be able to start that project. Making the Ruth Patrick Center bigger, however, isnt Senns only goal. The good thing about education and inspiring others is that there are always new people coming (to visit) and there are new children being born, he said. We want to find new ways to meet their needs, and as we do that, we constantly will be making adjustments. Senn is especially proud of the events that the Ruth Patrick Center has offered to view celestial phenomena such as comets and lunar and solar eclipses. I would like to highlight that, he said. I think it has been a pretty significant thing. I remember when there was a partial solar eclipse on Christmas Day one year. I came out here to let people come out and look through telescopes, and they did come out. Jeff Priest was the Ruth Patrick Centers director in 1992 when Senn was hired at USC Aiken. He believes the future is bright with Senn at the Ruth Patrick Centers helm. Gary has done a fantastic job, said Priest, who was USC Aikens executive vice chancellor of academic affairs when he retired in 2018. He has continued to move the center forward, and he always has the teachers and the students best interests in mind in all the programs at the center. Hes a good grant writer, which is necessary for the center function, Priest added. Hes an excellent educator, and he also is very dedicated to what he does. Senn and his wife, Mandy, have two children, Keryn and Ryan. When not at the Ruth Patrick Center, Senn enjoys geocaching, an outdoor recreational activity. He also is an elder at New Covenant Presbyterian Church. Ernest Andrade's face lights up as he takes a flying saucer-like object off one of the shelves that line a wall on the second floor of the Charleston Tech Center, the home of the only Apple Product Museum in the Southeast. "It is an original graphite AirPort Base station released by Apple in 1999," said Andrade, the founder and director of Charleston Digital Corridor, entrusted with the piece of hardware and 74 other Apple product originals from Noah Schiffman and Jan Schiffman's collection. The siblings inherited the technology from their father, who was a curious pack rat, Andrade said. "He bought the technology, brought it home and let the boys tinker with it." Tinkering paid off. Today, Jan Schiffman is vice president of product development at Oracle in the San Francisco Bay area. His brother is the chief technology adviser at KBR Inc. in Charleston. The collection ended up scattered in their houses and garages until the Charleston Digital Corridor provided them with a permanent home. Sitting atop the neatly streamlined shelves made from Baltic Birch plywood the same used to make the booths that invite workers from the 700-plus companies that operate in the building to work in open spaces, mingle, or just sit and appreciate the newly minted museum that opened to the public on July 22. The display includes Apple computers dating back to 1979, original iPods, monitors, keyboards, mice and computer accessories like the iSight a brand name used by the technology giant to refer to cameras on various devices. At each exhibit is a simple tag with a bar code that visitors can scan to bring them to an information page describing the history of what they're looking at. "The display had to be bespoke. It had to fit the Apple products, be streamlined and sexy," Andrade said. "Apple is all about performance and design." While the first instinct might be to write off the collection as kitsch, sitting among the 40-plus years of Apple innovation under late visionary co-founder Steve Jobs becomes more than just nostalgia, it becomes an awe-inspiring experience. "You can see how the company grew from its roots making personal computers to the consumer electronics business with more than $200 billion in cash and investments that it is today," Andrade said. While anyone is welcome to stop by in its first week, the museum pulled in 20 visitors from off the street "we're especially looking forward to hosting students and school-age visitors," Andrade said. The museum played host it its first group of 34 high schoolers most from the Lowcountry but some from Seattle, Texas, Atlanta and Rock Hill who were attending a weeklong program focused on science, technology, engineering and math at the College of Charleston. The jam-packed week had students explore various topics, including weather, the environment, human disease, math and robotics. It culminated with a visit to the Charleston Tech Center and its newest attraction. "While the students had a variety of interests, they all immediately gravitated to the Apple Museum and buzzed into conversations among each other about the generations of technology on display," said Sebastian van Delden, dean of the College of Charleston's School of Sciences and Mathematics. On the ride home, van Delden said he overheard the 16-year-olds talking about "how cool the museum was." One said: "I didn't even know Apple made that." Students are a primary reason Andrade decided to establish the museum at the Morrison Drive tech hub. "The community has an obligation to guide a person," Andrade said. "We want students and other visitors to the museum to have the opportunity to see how far technology has come and maybe envision where they can take it in the future." The collection is a way to feed the area's cultural vibrancy. "We are pleased to invest further in the support of that culture with this broad collection of Apple products," Andrade said. Plans are underway to expand the museum with a second unit that will house another 50 products, including original advertising, after they have been cleaned and researched. Donations of Apple equipment and monetary contributions are welcome to help round out the collection. Andrade said some historic products have sold in the hundreds of thousands at auction. Equipment donations can help the museum curate additional pieces through trade. They can purchase other items with cash donations to "fill in the gaps" in the collection. That can include up-to-date technology, and Andrade is exploring the possibility of partnering with the Apple Store on King Street to display some of the newest innovations. Interactive sessions with volunteer technology experts demonstrating the old working equipment are also under consideration. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low 71F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. For years, nonprofits and municipal governments have been investing millions of dollars and forming numerous partnerships to tackle the affordable housing crisis facing the Charleston region. Now, churches are ramping up efforts to be part of the solution. Congregations in the Charleston area have been providing reasonably priced housing to members of the community for decades. But as the crisis continues, P.A.S.T.O.R.S. Inc, a group of religious leaders formed in 1999, intends to create more than a dozen affordable residences across Charleston County. These include 10 houses for ownership and six apartment rental units. The organization hopes to finish the projects within the next 18 months. The group is a coalition of about 20 congregations, though much fewer churches actively participate. The organization is calling on more churches to join the effort. The Rev. Julius Barnes, chairman for P.A.S.T.O.R.S., said houses of worship must be involved in addressing the crisis because the lack of affordability impacts their members. The nonprofit has already helped to build two houses in the town of Hollywood. Charleston County awarded the organization $142,000 in federal housing funds to build the standalone homes for two single mothers and their families. The first home sold for $225,000 and the second for $255,000, with $10,000 left as a subsidy for each house. The women received a loan for their mortgages through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which provided them with monthly payments less than what many people pay for rent, said F.A. Johnson, development director for P.A.S.T.O.R.S. Hollywood welcomes the new development. Though the town very much hopes to maintain its rural character, the municipality recognizes the need to provide places to live to those who cannot afford homes closer to the region's metropolitan areas, said Councilman Handy Miles Jr. "People have good jobs and they're looking for a home to afford," Miles said. Housing continues to be expensive. In June, the median home sales price in Charleston County was $609,500, according to the Charleston Trident Association of Realtors. With the skyrocketing costs of housing in recent years, P.A.S.T.O.R.S. has been shifting its efforts toward helping people own new homes. While the organization itself doesn't dole out the money, it partners with agencies to obtain funds, and then the nonprofit seeks out residents making 80 percent or less of the area's median income to help these individuals acquire new houses. P.A.S.T.O.R.S. intends to build an additional 10 houses across the county, focusing mainly on rural areas, where land is more affordable. However, the organization is also doing work on the Charleston peninsula to provide affordable rental opportunities, also helping congregations to make use of their properties. St. Luke's Reformed Episcopal on Nassau Street owns a home next door and is refurbishing it to create two new affordable apartment units. That project is being done in partnership with a local hospital to provide housing for patients. A short distance north at Wallingford Presbyterian Church, the congregation has partnered with P.A.S.T.O.R.S. and the city of Charleston to create new housing for veterans. "We need more churches to get involved," Barnes said. For churches, getting involved in affordable housing is advantageous for both the congregations and residents, Johnson said. The effort provides additional revenue streams for churches, freeing them from having to rely as heavily on tithes and offerings, he said. Affordable housing also helps provide economic empowerment for individuals, allowing them to create generational wealth. "That's why we've got to push out into the county to get more homeownership opportunities," Johnson said. Charleston County welcomes the partnership with P.A.S.T.O.R.S. The county receives about $500,000 annually in housing funds from the federal government. The money is not nearly enough to do the work that's needed, but more help could aid in addressing the housing issue, said Jean Sullivan, county community development director. The county would like to see different organizations applying for funds each year, she said. The more people who are involved in the effort, the better off well be," she said. HILTON HEAD ISLAND When local governments received American Rescue Plan Act funds from the federal government this year, some places around South Carolina funneled it into roads, tax relief, and housing. Hilton Head bought sewer connections. Specifically, the town allocated $200,000 to help renters and landowners connect to the public sewer system. The program builds on a multi-million dollar fund to transition low-income residents off septic tanks. The effort stems from public health and environmental concerns: Failing septic systems can introduce dangerous viruses and pathogens into the groundwater. Getting more people hooked up to sewer could also address two of the town's top challenges: the loss of Gullah-owned property, and the need for affordable housing. To understand the present-day connection between wastewater and real estate, one needs to go back in time. Way back. 'A giant sand dune' Three million years ago, seawater repeatedly submerged areas of Hilton Head, said Stephen Borgianini, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of South Carolina Beaufort. Its lower-lying beaches looked more like marshes. More recently 18,000 years ago, to Borgianini the sea level rose and the coastline migrated, moving the ocean floor onto shore. "Just remember, this island is really a giant sand dune," he said. As a result of its history, Hilton Head's soil is a mix of fine sand, clay and silt. Where sewage is concerned, that's a bad combination. The Goldilocks zone Disposing of wastewater demands a delicate balance. Too much time underground and it doesn't break down. Not enough time underground and it doesn't break down either. Instead, it requires what Borginanini calls "the Goldilocks zone." That's the optimal period of contact with bacteria and fungi, microorganisms that clean wastewater before it reaches the top of the water table. But in Hilton Head's sandiest soil, wastewater moves too quickly. In worst-case scenarios, sewage can reach plant roots and run into tidal creeks. In other parts of the island, where clay and silt resist the flow of moisture, wastewater drains too slowly. Here, septic systems are nearly certain to fail. Still, people living here before the mid-20th century didn't have many options. They couldn't send their sewage off the island; they had to use on-site systems, such as cesspools or, eventually, septic tanks. The arrangement wasn't ideal, but it made sense. Said Borgianini: "That was the way we did business in the Lowcountry for at least 100 years." An early start In 1957, business changed. That year, Charles Fraser began creating a meticulously planned resort community on the island's south end, where soft beaches contained the ancient silt and clay trapped by long-ago marsh grasses. To encourage growth, developers like Fraser included plans to collect future inhabitants' wastewater. A private firm installed water lines, and the state created a public service district for part of the island. By the late 1960s, a number of home buyers, especially those in resort areas, could enjoy potable water straight from the tap, and flush their toilets into a new sewer system. Compared with other parts of the country, Hilton Head's sanitary waste infrastructure looked ahead of the curve. "They got an early start, which a lot of places didn't," Borgianini said. The Deep Well Project But older households used older methods. Around 1968, a public health nurse who had retired to Hilton Head noticed how often her neighbors fell ill, especially native islanders. To Charlotte Heinrichs, their symptoms looked consistent with intestinal parasites the kind that come from contaminated drinking water. Sure enough, if an afternoon thunderstorm flooded the ground or king tides washed over the beach, wastewater from cesspools or septic tanks seeped into residents' shallow, hand-dug wells. Heinrichs founded the Deep Well Project in 1973 as a straightforward solution to the problem: dig further underground for clean water. In the decades since, the nonprofit's name seems more figurative than literal, since the well-known organization now seeks to provide for all kinds of basic needs, from food, to rent, to school uniforms. But in its charter, the Deep Well Project had a focus as narrow and precise as the holes it drilled. Dirty little secret Intestinal parasites are "kind of Hilton Head's dirty little secret," said Sandy Gillis, executive director of the Deep Well Project. Still, when the town incorporated in 1983, voters declined to make their tax dollars or local officials responsible for water and sewer. By then, a majority wanted to control development, not encourage it; as a result, they conceived of a "limited services government." That meant more than half a dozen utility companies dealt with wastewater. Households outside those networks retained their on-site systems. They sometimes worked, but often didn't. "Can you imagine if they had to shut down swimming at Coligny Beach because there was a sewage spill?" Gillis said, by way of explaining why, in the early 1990s or so, businesses quietly began to take an interest in individuals' wastewater solutions. "You think about all the shrimping and the oysters that come out of the May River," Gillis said. "I mean, people are eating the fish out of there." Sewer access for everyone Sewer systems are not just pipes. They're laws and money, labor and, in some cases, persuasion. "Back then, people were or weren't having a problem," said Pete Nardi, the general manager of Hilton Head Public Service District, which acquired a handful of utilities in 1995. "A lot of people don't necessarily want an expense if they're not having a problem." Still, local leaders perceived the business, environmental and public health incentives to get everyone on sewer. In 2004, they created a plan to extend sewer service throughout the island and a fund to help low-income residents connect to it. The town kicked in $10 million, Nardi's public service district $3 million and philanthropic donors through the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry another $3 million. In a pleasing historical echo, the Deep Well Project handled applications for the program, called Project SAFE Sewer Access for Everyone. Over the past nearly 20 years, Gillis said she saw a pattern. The sewer line would come down a road, and the public service district would put a notice on everyone's door: The line is there, you can hook in now. "There would be a flurry of activity," Gillis said. "And then when they would complete another area, there would be another flurry of activity." But in recent months, the activity slowed to a trickle. "The analogy I use is, it's like when you have a refrigerator," Gillis said. "Even though there's a really cool whiz bang refrigerator that has water on the door and Kool-Aid ice options, you're probably not going to go buy a new refrigerator until your current refrigerator craps out." Connections In town meetings this spring, the topic of sewers rarely came up. After all, the vast majority of residents are now connected. Only about 800 households use septic; they are mostly in the historic Gullah neighborhoods, or in the earliest subdivisions of Fraser's Sea Pines development. Instead, officials and residents worried over the lack of affordable housing, and the loss of Gullah culture as native families are forced to give up their land. Alex Brown, a Town Council member who represents several native island neighborhoods, said, "We've lost a lot of property because folks just can't afford to pay their taxes. It goes to the tax sale, and it's gone at that point." Sewers connect the town's two present-day preoccupations. If landholders could rent a vacant lot or an unused part of their property, they could both create a home for someone else and generate enough income to pay the tax bill. For islanders who are property-rich but cash-poor, rental units could "lead to people having a piece of property that's working for them versus working against them," Brown said. But setting up rental units likely in the form of mobile homes is prohibitively expensive. Among other things, it requires water and sewer connections. (State rules prohibit installing or repairing a septic system if public sewer services are available.) Gillis has seen the cost of a sewer connection fee as low as $4,000 and as high as $13,000. Brown estimated $7,000, a number that could make a tenant's monthly rent unaffordable. "Although you may call yourself a good landlord, when you get that type of hit, you're gonna pass it on to the tenant, right?" he said. With this calculus in mind, town officials again turned their attention to offsetting the cost of sewer connections. Chipping away Compared with Project SAFE, the town's new grant program broadens the categories of people who qualify. Renters are eligible; heirs whose names are not on the property deed are eligible; residents who make up to 100 percent of the areas median income are eligible. "Project SAFE tackled so much of the low-hanging fruit," Nardi said. "Now I think the town is after some of the higher-hanging fruit." Since July 1, two residents have qualified for the town's sewer connection program; a third has requested four applications, presumably to create rental units. Brown acknowledged that the town needs to put hundreds of units on the ground at a time, "but even one unit is chipping away at the problem," he said. He praised the sewer connection program as a good use of ARPA funds, as did Nardi and Gillis. But Brown also noted that the town is not drawing on a legacy of trust from native islanders. Historically, "the opportunity to connect the town with the Gullah community has just not been there, OK?" Brown said. "It's just not been in existence." Town officials might be wary, then, of touting a program that could make native islanders' property more attractive to outside buyers. They might also be cautious of appearing that they are improving homeowner's property with government money. As they promote universal sewer use, they try to stay in the Goldilocks zone, emphasizing the safety and reliability of sewers, as well as the public benefits of what is ultimately a very personal matter. Brandon Alter covers the town of Kingstree and Williamsburg County for The Kingstree News. He is from the suburbs of Washington, D.C. He graduated from the University of South Carolina's school of Journalism and Mass Communications in May 2021. Many of my fellow Christians consider it an insult to God to suggest that mere humans could be changing the climate, let alone that we should be so presumptuous as to try to change the course God has set for the planet. Its always struck me as a strange objection, since God gave us dominion over his planet assigned us to act as its caretakers. But like any argument that invokes the Creator, its a powerful one, and a number of politicians and clergy use it effectively to oppose efforts to slow the changes that are overheating our planet and rendering larger swaths of it uninhabitable. A new statement of the Christian faith attempts to address those bizarre interpretations not with science but with theology, calling care for the creation the first duty of Christians. Which, I should note, is hardly a radical concept. It should be required reading for anyone who considers efforts to protect the planet liberal nonsense. Its so important, in fact, that Im keeping my commentary to a minimum so I can share a good chunk of it with you. (You can find the entire text here.) Now, it's true that it came from the Episcopal Church, which some understandably dismiss as a bunch of kooky liberals, given the churchs positions on well, on a lot of stuff. But the instigator and one of the chief architects was the bishop of Upper South Carolina, the Rt. Rev. Daniel Richards, whom I helped elect last fall and would defy anyone to dismiss as a kooky liberal. It was Bishop Richards who approached the microphone during the churchs General Convention last month and took on one of those touchy-feely statements the bishops were being asked to endorse about saving the planet. I love yall, but half my people are not going to hear this, he said of Episcopalians in roughly the northwestern half of South Carolina. No Scripture, very little theology and a brief call to our baptismal covenant is not enough for this statement to hold weight with Christian brothers and sisters who do not agree with us. He told the assemblage of the nations Episcopal bishops that without the weight of Scripture behind it, the statement would just be another shout and another political division line within our national politic. This produced a tense few minutes, as a California bishop angrily denounced Bishop Richards for daring to slow down the touchy-feely statement. But a North Carolina bishop quickly stepped up to suggest that the author, Bishop Richards and a few others spend the evening writing a scripturally based argument. Two days later, to applause and unanimous approval, they presented the 1,011-word statement on climate and our vocation in Christ. God is the source of all creation, it begins, and we, humankind made in Gods image have been given the gift of life and responsibility to care for creation. We depend on Gods creation to sustain our life together, and, by serving as good stewards of creation, we reflect Gods tender love for all that has been made. In caring for our earth, we return our love to God. This is our first vocation, made explicit in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible: together with God, together with one another, we care for Gods world. We are only fully human and fully alive when we are in right relationship with the whole created order. ... It is no surprise that once Adam and Eve surrendered to temptation and sought to grasp divine knowledge, to idolize and center the self over all else, that the whole creation began to suffer, and humanity along with it. Sin flowed forth in estrangement, exile, and eventually violence and death. Critically, the statement goes far beyond the usual "care for the creation" argument to encompass care for our neighbors. It declares that the changing climate is creating the very problems Christians have a duty to address human conflict, involuntary migration and food insecurity and that These related crises increase the rate of violence, cause more natural disasters and humanitarian crises, and deepen the wounds of those already suffering from racism" as "People living in poverty are plunged further into poverty by the deteriorating condition of the planet. It goes on to draw a link between human selfishness and a warming planet and to present climate change and environmental degradation as manifestations of our turning away from God. The bishops note that the baptismal covenant all Episcopalians make with God requires us to resist evil, seek Gods will, treat all people with dignity and strive for justice and peace. Living into these promises, they continue, we must face the climate crisis for the sake of love of God and neighbor: If we hope to treat all human beings with dignity, we must address climate change so droughts, floods, and extreme weather patterns dont force people into exile and desperate, life-threatening migration. If we hope to build peace, we must address climate change so that competition for scarce resources does not drive further violence. If we hope to ensure that every child of God has enough to eat, we must address climate change so that our bountiful earth can continue to support and sustain food systems that nourish people and the soil. The resolution argues that just as We find hope in the power and reality of the Resurrection, so it is that We, Gods faithful, are called to share the hope that will empower change. That hope must include fundamentally transforming our way of life from one centered on self to one centered on the flourishing of the whole creation, so that we can follow Jesus call to preach good news to the creation. (Mark 16:15). And, it concludes, In these ways and so many more, we embrace the original vocation God gave us, to care together for the world God made. Fund another round of direct financial aid, like Prugraman Salappe'' Invest into building a new hospital Assist businesses to hire or keep workers, and help residents who are still unemployed They should be spent on a wide range of services and programs Vote View Results The Daily Mail has published another exploration of the Biden family business in this story by Josh Boswell. Boswell draws on the laptop from hell and White House visitor logs to show the apparently direct involvement of President Biden in the business. Please check out Boswells excellent story. Boswells story is profusely illustrated, Daily Mail style. Best of all, it includes the statement below from Latham & Watkins criminal defense attorney Chris Clark. According to the Latham & Watkins profile, Clark represents Hunter Biden in the grand jury investigation of Hunter Bidens tax issues. Clark responded to the Daily Mail on his (i.e., Hunters) behalf. Perhaps the most surprising thing about this was Hunters lawyers response when I asked him for comment: pic.twitter.com/BSTsoukXOs Josh Boswell (@JoshTBoswell) August 5, 2022 The Daily Mail describes Clarks statement as near unintelligible. I would say it is bizarrely deranged in the style we have come to expect from Clarks client. The Daily Mail appends this note to Clarks statement: NOTE: Clark, who has previously specialized in media industry cases, appeared to be under the mistaken impression that DailyMail.com is a News Corp company, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. DailyMail.com is in fact owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. He did not comment on the First Sons criminal investigation, including the reported focus by prosecutors on the $142,300 Hunter received from a Kazakh oligarch to buy a Porsche Panamera. As I mentioned earlier this week, I was expelled from the daily Minnesota Department of Health Covid briefings conduced by Commissioner Jan Malcolm after I emailed a critical question to her staff. I repeatedly emailed to ask why I had been expelled. I left one or two voicemails with the head MDH communications asking why I had been expelled. I received no response or explanation. I then filed a Minnesota Data Practices Act request to try to figure it out. Internal emails made it clear that I was expelled because of the critical question after MDH staff consulted with the Walzs staff. I had tuned in to the briefings following Walzs March 25, 2020 emergency order that arbitrarily shut down the state. Following the data, I saw that 80 percent of the deaths attributed to Covid by MDH occurred in long-term care facilities. I sought an answer to the question why the state was being shut down because of a crisis in long-term care about which the authorities themselves remained silent. At all times along the way Governor Walz and Commissioner Malcolm were protected inside a circle of media love led by the Star Tribune. As they inflicted incalculable damage to lives and careers and public health, they liked it that way. Today the Star Tribune editors publicize a JAMA study of undefined harassment endured by public health workers and a follow-up survey including harassment of public officials such as Malcolm. Someone on the editorial board interviewed Malcolm on the study and Malcolm unburdened herself inside that circle of media love once again: In an interview this week, Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Commissioner Jan Malcolm said the study is tough to read. Ill just be really honest with you, Im having a little PTSD, she said, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder. Its just bringing back so many difficult things weve been through in the last couple of years personally, for my staff at MDH, for our local public health colleagues. When I think about the damage thats been done, it just makes my blood boil. Enduring the vagaries of one-man rule tends to set free people on edge. The survey posed the question: Is it justifiable to harass or threaten public health officials after business closures done to slow COVIDs spread? The planted assumption is that the correct answer is no. Thats the way they roll over at the Star Tribune. In the boiling blood department, it doesnt do much for me to reflect that, despite her manifest incompetence and deceit, Malcolm not only still has the job she came in with, she is complaining about it. The Star Tribune editorial itself observes limitations of the study that render it a joke. At Healthy Skeptic, Kevin Roche makes out a bill of particulars in the indictment of Malcolm. Kevin writes: You forced thousands of nursing home residents to be isolated from what little social contact they had. These residents then gave up, developed what is euphemistically referred to as failure to thrive syndrome and died. You compiled one of the worst records in the country in regard to nursing home deaths and serious illness. Your constant harping on danger and safety led hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans to miss needed health care, including child immunizations, leading to sharp rises in serious disease and to increases in death from causes such as dementia, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes. We will pay the price for this terror campaign for years to come. Your policies caused a sharp increase in deaths from drug and alcohol abuse. You supported open-border policies which allowed enormous quantities of fentanyl and other dangerous drugs to flood into our communities, you supported destroying effective police forces to stop this flow of drugs and you have done nothing, absolutely nothing to limit the use of these drugs. Adolescents, young adults and minorities are most at risk due to your policies and inaction. You supported and enforced school closures which destroyed the educational and social lives of Minnesotas children, and led to thousands of minority children simply dropping out of school. You supported lockdowns which disrupted all Minnesotans lives, leading to the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs and the closure of thousands of businesses, resulting in financial and mental health distress. You constantly provided misleading and incomplete information to the public and continue to do so to this day. You have been more interested in releasing data that support your messages as opposed to the truth. You suppressed a study on the ineffectiveness of masks. You refused to release communications with teachers unions showing that your school closure policies were just payback for campaign contributions to Walz and Democrats. You hid data showing that most hospitalizations attributed to Covid were not primarily for treatment of that condition. You supported crazy approaches to attributing deaths to Covid. You continue to refuse to provide full data on breakthrough infections and reinfections that would allow an honest assessment of vaccine effectiveness and immunity from prior infection. You lied about vaccine effectiveness and supported vaccine mandates which worsened health care staffing problems and led to worse health care. Your policies caused many workers to lose jobs even though they were no more likely to get infected or to transmit than were persons who were vaccinated. Kevin concludes: In short, you are guilty of ignoring the overall public health and spreading coronamonomania. Far from improving outcomes in Minnesota, whether from Covid-or other diseases, you worsened them. So spare us your self-pity, Commissioner Malcolm, and think about how you might atone for all the harm you have done to Minnesotans. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has said the federal government has no money to meet the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Mr Keyamo, newly appointed as the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaigns, asked parents to beg ASUU members to return to classes because the federal government would not borrow money to meet the demands of the lecturers. He said this on Friday during an interview on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television Mr Keyamo said the meetings ASUU had with the Nimi Briggs committee were done without the input from the Ministry of Finance and other agencies with roles to play in the implementation of the recommendations. The minister said the federal government could not meet the financial implications of the Briggs committee, hence the need for fresh negotiation. He described the proposals in Briggs committee report as unrealistic, adding that other unions in the education sector are also opposed to the content of the report. At a point, we set up the Nimi Briggs committee to receive the complaints of ASUU and look into how the report could be accommodated within the framework of the finances of the government. When the committee began to sit with ASUU, there were critical institutions of government that were supposed to be in those meetings. National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Budget Office of the Federation, Head of Service, Ministry of Finance. ASUU at a time rejected these agencies from sitting down with them. How can you sit down with the Ministry of Education without those with the purse of government? Without those who know how people are to be paid? That was what ASUU did with the Briggs Committee. They sat down and fixed their own salaries and emoluments with the Ministry of Education without the other critical stakeholders. Parents should beg ASUU Mr Keyamo said that he is willing to beg on air if that would placate the lecturers to return to school. The proposal ASUU is talking about is N1.2 trillion. I will tell the parents, go and beg ASUU. Like the president said, those who know them should appeal to their sense of patriotism. Do you want me to kneel down and beg ASUU on air as a parent also? I can kneel down to beg them. The nation cannot grind to a halt because we want to take care of the demands of ASUU, he said. He added that the additional wage bill proposed by ASUU is about N560 billion in addition to the normal N412 billion that FG was already paying for salaries and emolument. Strike Government-owned universities have been locked since 14 February when ASUU declared strike over the federal governments inability to meet several agreements signed. On Monday, ASUU extended the strike for another four weeks, citing governments failure to conclude the process of renegotiating the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement, deploy the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS), pay outstanding arrears of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and others. Four police officers were killed Friday night when gunmen attacked Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigerias South-east. The incident, which happened around 10 p.m., has caused fear among residents. The gunmen also razed a section of the facility and some operational vehicles within the premises. They were said to have stormed the area in three vehicles - a tipper and two sienna cars and opened fire on the facility, killing the officers in the process. A resident told PREMIUM TIMES he heard several gunshots in the night at the police facility, but could not say the number of officers killed in the attack. It was this morning that we came out and saw corpses of policemen there. I am not sure how many of them were killed, but I saw up to four (bodies), he said. The police spokesperson in the state, Michael Abattam, did not respond to calls and a text message seeking comments from him on the attack. Worsening insecurity Like other states in Nigerias South-east, security has deteriorated in Imo State, with frequent attacks by armed persons. The attacks often target security agencies, government officials and facilities. The latest incident came barely 24 hours after some gunmen attacked a residence of a police inspector in Orogwe, a community in Owerri West Local Government Area of the state. Two of the gunmen were killed in that attack. Last week, gunmen invaded the same Orogwe Community and killed seven security guards. The Nigerian government has accused the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra of being responsible for the deadly attacks in the region. But the group has repeatedly denied their involvement in the attacks. The separatist group is leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra which they want carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south Nigeria. The leader of the secessionist group, Nnamdi Kanu, is detained in Abuja where he is facing trial for terrorism. The body of former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, who died on Thursday evening, has been laid to rest at his residence in Ila-Orangun, Osun State. Mr Balogun was buried around 2:15 p.m. on Saturday according to Islamic rites. The former IGP, who served as Nigerias top police chief between 2002 and 2004, died at age 74 in a hospital in Lagos. The burial rite was observed by the Chief Imam of Ila-Orangun, Salaudeen AbdulHamid. Around noon, prayers were offered for his repose at the Ila General Eid praying ground. The prayer was witnessed by his family members, close associates as well as police officers led by Osun State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode. Markets shut Traders at the Oja Obi market and Oja bajoko market in Ila-Orangun, on Saturday locked their shops to mourn Mr Balogun. Aside from closure of markets, the inhabitants also locked their shops to mourn one of the prominent sons of the community. Majority of the people in Ila-Orangun left their homes and businesses to pay last respect to the former police chief. PREMIUM TIMES learnt the Olu of Ila-Orangun, Abdulwahab Adedotun, issued a directive to close markets and shops in the community. Traders, residents mourn Sulaiman Kolawole, a foodstuff seller at the Oja Obi market, said he wept when the former police chief was interred. Mr Kolawole said many of the Ila-Orangun indigenes were employed into the police force by the the late former IGP. He is somebody that loves his hometown and his people and we also love him. If not for his sacrifice and help he used to offer to us, our town would not have been this developed, he said. I cried today while they were putting his remains inside the grave. He is a loving person and a very good man. He is always ready to listen to us. Many of our children have been enrolled in the police force because of his assistance. Recently, some of our people were also employed into the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, it was with his intervention they got those opportunities. A bread seller in the Oja Obi market who identified herself as Iya Bisi expressed sadness over the demise of the late former Inspector General of Police. I was not happy when I heard the news, she said. It was shocking because we never expected that such a good man will leave us at this time. He has been a very good man to everybody in Ila and we will miss his good works. Adewunmi Wasiu, Principal of Nurudeen Grammar School, Ila-Orangun, said he lost focus when he received news of the death of the former police chief. He described Mr Balogun as a rare gem in Ila. I was shocked when I heard news of the death of Tafa Balogun, when they brought the news to me, I lost focus on what I was doing. I did not know what I am doing again. I am deeply saddened. We have lost a rare gem in Ila. I have been opportuned to meet Alhaji Tafa Balogun while I was serving as the National Secretary of Ila National Students Association in 2004. During that time, he employed more than hundred people from Ila into the police force. He is a very good man loved by everybody in this community, Mr Wasiu said. Another resident of Ila-Orangun, Abdulganiy Maroof, described the deceased as a good man. I am really worried about the death of this man. Though, I am not an indigene of this town but I live here and I know what this man has done for his people. Kano Fire Service on Friday rescued a 15-year-old boy who was stuck inside a layer of a flyover bridge located at Kofar Nasarawa in Kano metropolis. The spokesperson for the Kano States Fire Service, Saminu Abdullahi, told PREMIUM TIMES that the boy was rescued unhurt and handed over to the police. Mr Abdullahi identified the teenager as Hamza Hayaha, a resident of Sharada quarters, who fled home for about three months for fear of punishment. He spent three months wandering between the Kofar Nasarawa flyover bridge and the farm centre GSM market within the metropolis. The boy lost his mother, he was staying with his father, he fled home after one of their neighbour who owns a provision store sent him with N4000 to buy things for him. He spent the money, and he is afraid to return home for fear of punishment because of the money. God willing, we have succeeded in rescuing him and we handed him over to the Kwalli police division in the state, the spokesperson said. We asked him how he got trapped on the flyover, he said he just found himself there without knowing how, Mr Abdullahi added. Former President Goodluck Jonathan departed Abuja for Nairobi on Friday leading a team of observers to Kenyas general elections scheduled to hold on August 9. Mr Jonathan would serve as the Head of the Electoral Observation Mission of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA). EISA has deployed a full-fledged short-term team of observers to Kenya. Ikechukwu Eze, the special adviser on media to Mr Jonathan, stated on Friday in Abuja that the EISA team comprises 21 short-term observers drawn from Civil Society Organisations. It also comprises Election Management Bodies and representatives of the academia from across the African continent. The observers will be deployed in all the regions and specifically in ten counties, across Kenya. They will observe the final stages of the political parties campaigns, Election Day procedures and results aggregation processes. The Missions assessment of the electoral process will be guided by the principles and obligations set out in the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. It will also be guided by the 2002 OAU/AU Declaration of the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa, among others, he stated. Mr Eze added that the EISA Electoral Observation Mission would issue a preliminary statement on its findings at a news conference on Aug. 11. (NAN) The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate alleged smear campaigns against it and its staffers. A statement by JAMBs Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, also called on Nigerians to be wary of such campaigns. Mr Benjamin alleged that the campaigns are being sponsored by individuals affected by the boards reforms, which has blocked the source of their illicit wealth. He also assured of the boards commitment to continue doing its job with transparency and best practices across the world. Part of his statement reads: This is to alert the general public to a well-orchestrated smear campaign against JAMB and its management. This sinister campaign is being sponsored by some disgruntled individuals whose unwholesome interests are being affected by the spate of current reforms in JAMB which have successfully blocked their sources of illicit wealth. JAMB alleged that an unstable shadowy character is being used to attack the agency through some publications in some media outlets. But the examination body described as fake, unsubstantiated and ridiculous. The statement by the spokesperson further added; Already, they have concocted some false and totally baseless allegations for which they have contracted an unregistered and faceless NGO to be circulating to various agencies, especially the ICPC, media outlets and bloggers across the country. While we urge the ICPC to investigate the malicious allegations and make its findings public, we also advise the media and members of the public to beware of the shenanigans of these merchants of falsehoods who are hell-bent on tarnishing the hard-earned and positive image of the Board and its leadership. The management of the Board will continue to manage the affairs of the organisation with utmost transparency and in line with international best practices regardless of the array of dark and powerful forces working round the clock to pull it down. Backstory A media organisation, Sahara Reporters, had recently published a report over an allegation of about N11 billion fraud against the JAMB management. According to the petition, the appointment of the current Director of Finance and Administration, Mufutao Bello, did not follow due process, even as it alleged of the agencys violation of the governments policy on the Treasury Single Account (TSA) use. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe. The operatives of the Western Nigeria Security Outfit Amotekun have arrested a suspected drug dealer and armed robber in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The suspect, identified as Omoalaba Segun, was arrested on Thursday after he allegedly robbed a POS operator of N420,000 on MKO Abiola Way in the capital. The Commandant of Amotekun in the state, David Akinremi, who disclosed this to PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, said the suspect confessed to being a drug dealer, and member of the Eiye Confraternity. When search was conducted in his house, 151 wraps of weeds suspected to be Indian Hemp were recovered. The Amotekun boss said Mr Segun had an accomplice during the robbery, but he is currently on the run. The suspect was allegedly caught with a locally made pistol. Narrating how operatives of the corps arrested the suspect, the commandant said, On 3rd August, 2022, at about 2100hrs, a team of operatives of the Amotekun Corps while on patrol along Moshood Abiola Way in Abeokuta Metropolis was attracted to a scene where a man was being pursued by some members of the pubic at Edward Junction, Leme, Abiola way, Abeokuta. The operatives immediately swung into action which led to the arrest of the above suspect. On interrogation, he admitted committing the crime and that he came with a member of his criminal gang, name withheld, who escaped with the unregistered motorcycle. The suspect initially gave his name as Sulaiman Abu Musa and that he reside in Oke-Sokori, Abeokuta, only to find out his real name is OMOALABA SEGUN. The Corps will, however, continue to trail the escaped accomplice as well as other members of his cult group, whose names he has revealed to us. Mr Akinremi vowed that all criminals in the state would be flushed out by Amotekun, with the collaboration of other security agencies. Osuns governor-elect, People Democratic Partys (PDP) Ademola Adeleke, has said that he is ready to defend his victory at the election petition tribunal and retain his mandate. Mr Adeleke said his emergence as governor-elect was entrenched in total compliance with the law and in the will of the people. His declaration is contained in a statement issued on Saturday in Osogbo by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed. Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who was defeated at the July 16 election and his party, filed a petition before an election tribunal on Friday, challenging the elections outcome. Mr Adeleke, however, claimed that the election was one of the most transparent in recent history in Nigeria, adding that the peoples mandate, freely given against overwhelming odds, would be defended and validated. He said in the statement that PDPs Legal Department was taking appropriate action on the petition and called on his supporters to remain calm. This divine victory cannot be stolen through the backdoor. I urge the good people of Osun, who voted massively to reject bad governance, to remain calm. We are doing the needful to defend their mandate. We will do all within our powers to ensure judicial validation of our victory as this is an election globally certified as a great advancement in electoral transparency and integrity. We also want to reaffirm our faith in the judiciary as a bastion of hope and justice. We have unshakeable trust in God that this election petition shall end in another landmark victory for us and the resilient people of Osun, he said. INEC declared Mr Adeleke the winner of the election on July 17, with 403,371 votes to Governor Oyetolas 375,027 votes. (NAN) The Kogi Police Command says two Indian expatriates are missing following Friday evening attack on a convoy of top management staff of West Africa Ceramics Company Ajaokuta, Kogi. Kogi Commissioner of Police Edward Egbuka made the disclosure on Saturday in a statement issued by the Commands image maker William Ovye-Aya in Lokoja. We just discovered that two expatriates of the West Africa Ceramics Company Ajaokuta were abducted by hoodlums that launched an attack on their convoy along Lokoja-Ajaokuta road. Our findings also showed that only one expatriate was killed along with the two police inspectors and two drivers of the ceramic company. While we condemn in strong term the dastardly act of the attackers, we are resolute to track them (hoodlums) down and rescue the expatriates unhurt. The police also wish to refute the insinuation that the hoodlums took away some AK-47 guns belonging to our officers during the attack, he said. Mr Egbuka appealed to the public to report any suspicious character or movement to the security agencies for necessary action. He said that the bodies of the five victims had been deposited at the morgue of ASCOL Medical Centre in Ajaokuta Steel Complex. (NAN) Popular island map highlights shared heritage (China Daily) 11:24, August 06, 2022 [Photo/Chinanews.com] Mainland netizens are expressing deep affection for Taiwan and a strong desire for national reunification after they found streets and even snack bars on the island could be searched using online maps. Through some Chinese navigation apps, such as Baidu Map and Gaode Map, internet users can easily learn of detailed location information about streets, buildings and small food shops in Taiwan, with some named after mainland cities, including Chongqing, Nanjing and Changsha. Users can also search bus routes, whether there are traffic jams and what foods are available around popular scenic spots in Taiwan using Baidu Map. On Friday, mapping services like these began receiving significant attention on mainland social media platforms. As of 8 pm on Friday, a hashtag called "Maps have already shown every street in Taiwan" has been viewed more than 1.3 billion times on Chinese social media platform Sina Weibo. Discussion on the topic could be heard in coffee shops, restaurants and on subways. Although the service has been in place for quite a long time, the enhanced public attention came after United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent visit to the island. Weibo user Hia-Taurus said: "I could feel older generations' homesickness when I saw many streets on the island named after mainland cities. Come back, Taiwan!" After discovering via Gaode Map that a few Taiwan food shops were also called Shanxi knife-cut noodles, a traditional food from the Northern Chinese province, another Weibo user Zhangbeibeina, whose IP address is in Shanxi, said: "I would like to know if the noodles in Taiwan are as delicious as ours." Baidu Map said that so many searches such as "knife-cut noodle shops in Taiwan" had been made in the app, leading to complaints about delays or the failure of results to appear on Friday. Apart from these friendly comments, many netizens have also expressed support and understanding for how the mainland has been responding to Pelosi's recent visit. Zheng Ning, an associate professor at Beijing-based Communication University of China, has been following online opinions. Zheng said she could feel mainland netizens' deep feelings for Taiwan. "Many posts are full of emotion, and have become more sensible compared with the infuriation seen a few days earlier. Some of my friends on WeChat, especially young students, for example, were angry on Tuesday while seeing Pelosi's flight land in Taiwan without receiving drastic military countermeasures from the mainland. "Such anger or disappointment was their pure patriotic feeling, and it could be understood. But when they calmed down and saw the countermeasures gradually unfolding, they've been aware of what kind of response is more beneficial to China," she said. Zheng said that such emotional shifts have also happened to many of her students. "More netizens, I believe, will be more sensible while talking about the Taiwan question with more information and countermeasures provided by the country." Huang Min, a Fujian province native who experienced the 1996 Taiwan Straits confrontation, said the Chinese military conducting drills all around Taiwan is a "noticeable progress of military capability". However, Huang said he and his friends still wish to see a peaceful reunification, given how Fujian and Taiwan share many similarities in culture, language and customs, and also have close ties in terms of history, family ties, economy and other aspects. [Photo/Chinanews.com] [Photo/Chinanews.com] (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Some retired police officers and family members have described the late former Inspection-General of Police (I-GP), Tafa Balogun, as one of the best cops Nigeria ever produced. The retired officers paid glowing tributes to the late Mr Balogun in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence. Many said Mr Balogun, who was convicted for stealing and money laundering during his tenure as IGP, was one Inspector-General of Police that brought great reforms to the force. Tunde Alapinni, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) and one-time Force Spokesperson, said the impact made by Mr Balogun could not be ignored. Mr Alapinni said that Mr Balogun was devoted to the transformation of the police and its personnel. In his own tribute, a retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG), Waheed Kassim, described the late Mr Balogun as a dear brother and friend, stressing that his death was shocking. For David Omojola, it was too early for Mr Balogun, whom he described as his Big Boss, to leave this earth suddenly. However, we are consoled that he impacted positively on our lives. His tenure as I-G witnessed tremendous and good policing, Mr Omojola said. Edward Ajogun, a retired Commissioner of Police (CP) and one- time Personal Assistant to Mr Balogun as IGP, said his former boss was always thinking positively about the Nigeria Police Force and security of Nigeria. Mr Ajogun said that Mr Balogun brought lots of reforms into the police including the creation of female mobile police. He also introduced computer training for officers, mass promotion for officers stranded for years and ensured that officers were promoted according to seniority. He said that under Mr Balogun, the Force had credible staff list which was used for promotion, stressing that the late IGP was a unifier, encouraging officers to work as a team. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Abiodun Alabi, described late Mr Balogun as a visionary leader and a mentor to many retired and serving officers. Mr Alabi said that anytime he visited the late IGP, he always drew attention to how best Lagos should be policed. The Force will miss his wealth of experience. It is his mentorship that has piloted some of us to where we are today in the Force, Mr Alabi said. The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State CID, Fayoade Adegoke, described the late IGP as, a great dad, benefactor, mentor, super cop who revolutionised the Force as an IGP. The first son of the deceased, Abayomi Balogun, said that his father never changed one bit before his death as an advocate of doing anything that was right. He said many people misunderstood his father as a strict person, stressing that members of the family were not exempted from such strictness. He described his father as a brilliant officer, father, who always attracted standing ovations at occasions, local or international wherever he delivered speeches or lectures. The second daughter of late Mr Balogun, Bolale Balogun, said her father would be greatly missed for many things, including food recipes, words pronunciation, reading and responsible behaviour. My father taught me that there is no alternative to success than to follow due process in all things. He made me tough like himself. If he wants to punish you for doing wrong, it is 24 strokes of the cane; because of this, no one dares get into daddys trouble, she recollected. The former police boss died at Reddington Hospital in Lagos on Thursday night. He will be buried on Saturday in Osun. He was Nigerias 21st indigenous Inspector-General of Police. He served as IGP during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He joined the Nigerian Police Force in May 1973 as member of Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Course 3. Mr Balogun attended the University of Lagos and graduated in 1972 with a B.A. in Political Science. He worked in various police commands and rose through the ladder to become IGP. Mr Balogun was at a time the Principal Staff Officer to former Inspector-General of Police, Muhammadu Gambo, and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Edo, and pioneer Commissioner of Police in Delta. He was also CP in Rivers and Abia states. Mr Balogun, a fellow of the premier highest military institution in Nigeria, the National War College, later became an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone One, Kano, from where he was named the 21st IGP of Police on March 6, 2002. (NAN) Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has spoken on the disagreement between the state government and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM) over a N2.5 billion debt. The company, last week, said it has sued the state government for a 2021 deal, in which it got some vehicles and their parts, on credit. It said the worth of the debt with a dollar value of $3.8 million, has now risen to about $6.3 million, pointing out that the value of the money depreciated by over 40 per cent. The Commissioner for Information in the state, Declan Emelumba, would later fault the claim, saying that the company was covering some facts and attempting to blackmail the state government. He accused the company of intentionally refusing to admit that the government had made some payments and that the amount being claimed by the company was just a balance of the total cost of the vehicles purchased by the government. The truth is that the total value of the contract we had with them came to over N5 billion out of which we have paid N3.5 billion. So, they are talking about the balance, Mr Emelumba had said. In their reaction on Monday, Cornel Osigwe, the companys spokesperson, insisted that the state government was yet to pay the N2.5 billion debt for the purchase of its vehicles and their parts. He accused the government of attempting to water down the facts and substance of the allegation, saying the current debt is being owed after the company supplied another set of vehicles in 2021, one year after the first transaction. Mr Osigwe also denied that there was an agreement with the state government that the company would set up a service centre in the state. The spokesperson explained that although the company was servicing and maintaining the vehicles supplied to the state before, they decided to withdraw the services due to the state governments failure to pay for servicing parts used, which have risen to above N7 million. But speaking on the allegation, Mr Uzodinma, in a Facebook post on Friday, insisted that there was an agreement that the company would set up a mobile technical workshop for servicing the supplied vehicles. The governor said the vehicles were purchased for the purpose of combating rising insecurity in the state and that the government decided to patronise Innoson Motors to promote local products. He said the state government had remitted over N3 billion to the company and waited for the company to comply with the agreement of setting up a servicing centre for the vehicles, but they failed. Rather than fulfilling its obligations to the Imo State Government and complying with the conditions of the said agreement, the management of IVM embarked on an unfortunate public outcry to whip up sentiments to mislead unsuspecting Nigerians and rip off the taxpayers of Imo State, Mr Uzodinma said. The governor said over 70 per cent of the supplied vehicles have broken down and that others are in various stages of disrepair due to failure of the company to set up a service centre for the vehicles. I am saying, as promised, come and do the (servicing) workshop so that we can repair the vehicles and at least regain money from them before we can pay more money, the governor said in a video clip which accompanied his Facebook post. I also came from the private sector. We dont throw away money. We have to get value for money, he added. He, however, expressed optimism that the issue would be resolved amicably. Mr Uzodinma, who said he was awaiting the court action, added that the government was also open for out-of-court settlement with the company. The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday ordered the estate of the late Sunny Odogwu to pay Access Bank Plc N26 billion in compliance with a 2015 judgment. Daniel Osiagor, the judge, dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the estate challenging the banks claim and the courts jurisdiction. The judge affirmed a 3rd November 2015 judgment of Justice Saliu Saidu in suit number FHC/L/CS/1633/14 which ordered the defendants to pay their outstanding indebtedness of N26 billion to Access Bank. The judge invalidated a purported consent judgment in which parties in the suit agreed on the payment of N12 billion as full and final payment. He noted that the said consent judgment was made by a court which lacked jurisdiction in the matter. The defendants, in their preliminary objection, had argued that having taken benefit of the consent judgment, the bank could not turn around and ask the court to set it aside. However, Access Bank said the consent judgment was flawed, in that it was delivered by a court that lacked jurisdiction to entertain it. Kemi Balogun, counsel to the bank, said the matter had been taken to the Court of Appeal when the lower court entered the consent judgment. Mr Balogun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, argued that only the appellate court had the power to adjudicate on such matters at that level. Justice Osiagor said Mr Baloguns argument nullified the consent judgment entered by Justice Rilwan Aikawa, on the ground that he lacked jurisdiction to grant such order. The judge affirmed the earlier judgment of Justice Saidu, which ordered the defendants to pay their outstanding indebtedness of N26 billion. He dismissed the N12 billion consent judgment granted by Justice Aikawa, noting that courts of coordinate jurisdiction cannot grant a consent judgment after a matter has been decided. Justice Osiagor ordered that the payment must be less all amounts earlier paid by the judgment debtor to the bank. He also awarded N200,000 against the defendants. Access Bank Plc and Mr Odogwu, the Ide Ahaba of Asaba, entered into a N26 billion loan agreement when the latter was alive. The late businessman wanted to use the facility to build luxury apartments to be known as Le Meridien Grand Towers in highbrow Ikoyi, Lagos. The bank demanded collateral and Mr Odogwu mortgaged prime properties in Lagos, Abuja, Dubai, and Los Angeles to Access Bank, in return for the facility. After the death of the businessman, the mortgaged properties eventually became subjects of litigation. Trouble started when the estate of Mr Odogwu reacted angrily to a move by Access Bank to take over the uncompleted Le Meridien Grand Towers. A music publicist has shared a harrowing experience he had with some police officers on his way to meet a friend in Lagos. Ajayi Boluwatife recounted his ordeal with members of the Federal Special Weapon and Tactics (FSWAT) via his Twitter handle on Friday. He told PREMIUM TIMES that he was arrested in Ikoyi and taken to a police division in Adeniji Adenle, Lagos Island. They made me fill out a statement form and paid 150k. Recounting his experience in a Twitter thread, he said that he was arrested by the police officers on Thursday, around Ikoyi-Link bridge road. Some men men dressed in all black with FSWAT written all over, stopped my car, he said. I was calm, next thing they told me to come down & as I was about to open my bag to show them I have no contrabands, they cuffed me, pushing me towards their Korope (mini bus) across the road, I kept on begging that they have me mistaken for someone, all they kept on saying was youre a criminal, youre a robber. They cuffed me to another guy they caught with Indian hemp & I kept on begging that I had nothing on me, they were 3, one told me to keep quiet if not hell slap me & he was smiling. Mr Boluwatife said that they were driven to Adeniji Central Police Station in Lagos Island in handcuffs. They took me & the other guy to the back of the station & Uncuffed us, telling us to drop our bags & bring our phones, he said. They started asking where do I work & I tried answering, they didnt even let me explain anything, these illiterates kept on saying Im lying & that I should call Olamide or Wizkid on my phone if truly I work in the music (industry), if not Im lying. He further said that when his phone was searched, they saw conversations with some clients and his Cash App and concluded that he was a fraudster. He added that he pleaded to call his parent but they refused to give me my phone, calling me a robber & telling me Ill sleep in the cell. He said some minutes later, the officers instructed him to write in his statement that I made 5000 dollars from yahoo. According to him, he was also asked to write the date he ventured into fraud. These people refused to let me call my dad or my friends, I was AWOL for 2 hours & I had to do their bidding before I was released, I dont pray for my enemy to go through this. Police react Reacting to Mr Boluwatifes experience, Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson of the police in Lagos State, said via his Twitter handle said that FSWAT is overseen at the federal level. It is now imperative to clarify that FSWAT, domiciled in Adeniji Police Station, is not under the Lagos State Police Command but under the FCID, Abuja, he wrote. He also put out the contact of Funmilayo Eguaoje, the spokesperson of the FCID. Im on it, Ms Eguaoje told this newspaper on Saturday. She added that she has spoken with Mr Boluwatife and told him to meet with the Deputy Commissioner of police and identify the officers. The police in Imo State said they have begun a manhunt for gunmen who attacked and killed four police officers at Agwa Divisional Police Headquarters in Oguta Local Government Area of the state. The police spokesperson in the state, Michael Abattam, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, hours after the attack. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the four police officers were killed Friday night when gunmen attacked the police facility. Mr Abattam said the gunmen were suspected members of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network. The command will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators of this dastardly act are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law, he said. How the attack happened Mr Abattam said two criminal suspects at the police facility were freed and a rifle stolen by the gunmen. The hoodlums who came in two cars and a tipper, shooting sporadically, used a tipper vehicle in forcing the gate open to gain entrance into the station, throwing improvised explosives devices and petrol bombs, Mr Abattam said. The fire, which affected a parked private car and some motorcycles, was later put off, preventing it from causing more damages. Fortunately, the building was not affected, he added. He said police operatives engaged the gunmen in a shootout. The police spokesperson said the gunmen retreated and escaped from the facility with their vehicles after some of their members were killed during the shootout. He did not, however, mentioned how many of the gunmen were killed in the shootout. Mr Abattam said the area has been fortified with enough police operatives, and that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Barde, has visited the facility for an on-the- spot assessment. He said the police commissioner also visited the traditional ruler of the (Agwa) community in his palace, and assured him and members of his community of the police commitment to restore peace in the area. Mr Barde urged residents of the state to report to the police any person seen treating bullet wounds or hiding within their communities. Towards stemming neonatal mortality in the country, a Nigerian milk booster and lactation company The Milk Booster, has launched what is now arguably the first breast milk bank in the country. Launched as part of the activities towards marking this years annual Breastfeeding Week, the companys founder and managing director, Chinny Obinwanne, said the idea stemmed from her personal experience and training not only as a medical doctor but also as a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. She said the new bank will prioritise babies that are very low in weight, sick and healthy preterm babies, sick full term babies, and other babies whose mothers dont want to breastfeed. Mrs Obinwanne said neonatal mortality statistics in Nigeria is still alarming and that the companys efforts are targeted at contributing to reducing the menace. Neonatal Mortality in Nigeria Regarded as the number of neonates dying before reaching 28 days of age, per 1,000 live births in a given year, neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria is said to currently stand at 35 deaths per 1,000 live births as of 2022. According to Knoema, a data resource website, the neonatal mortality statistics in Nigeria was 65 deaths per 1,000 live births as of 1971, before reducing to 35 deaths in 2020. Mrs Obinwanne said Nigeria has the highest neonatal mortality rate in Africa and the third highest premature rate in the world. Meanwhile, the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have said over 70 per cent of children in Nigeria are denied breast milk. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell and WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus in a joint statement to celebrate the 2022 World Breastfeeding Week said as global crises continue to threaten the health and nutrition of millions of babies and children, the vital importance of breastfeeding as the best possible start in life is more critical than ever. This World Breastfeeding Week, under its theme; Step Up for Breastfeeding: Educate and Support, UNICEF and WHO are calling on governments to allocate increased resources to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding policies and programmes, especially for the most vulnerable families living in emergency settings, the statement noted. Breast milk as solution Speaking at the launch at the weekend, the milk bank founder said the country loses billions of naira annually addressing some challenges in the paediatric health sector, which she noted are quite avoidable if adequate breastfeeding is done by mothers. She said that it is cheaper for Nigeria to invest in breastfeeding than to invest in treating the sicknesses that will arise from not breastfeeding babies accurately. She said the new initiative is not new globally but agreed that it is a culture alien to Africa and Nigeria in particular. She, however, agreed that the situation is improving. She said; I have had women come to me asking for breast milk for premature babies. Once a set of triplets needed breastmilk badly because their mother died but we couldnt help. Whenever we lose babies due to lack of breastmilk, my heart bleeds because it ends up increasing the already high neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria. So, I have taken it upon myself to provide pasteurised breast milk for these babies so that they will be able to have a chance at life, she said. Breast milk over formula Mrs Obinwanne, a member of British Lactation Consultants, said there is a misconception that formula and breastmilk are the same. She said; The difference is huge but the formula companies keep pushing it to our faces and if you are not knowledgeable on breastfeeding, you will fall into their trap. That is why WHO says if a baby is not getting his mothers milk, the next step is a donors breast milk before you offer infant formula. She said her organisation will put in a lot of effort in creating awareness, educating mothers so that they will change their mindsets. Pasteurised breastmilk Speaking on how her organisation gets the breast milk, Ms Obinwanne said the firm already has some donors who have excessive milk supply but that she is also working hard to increase the number of donors. She said, after screening the mother, we get the breast milk, process it and pasteurise it, then test the breast milk again to be sure that it is safe before we give it to the baby. We screen them for HIV Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis and HTLV. We dont sell breast milk, thats why every mom that is donating is a volunteer donor. You are not selling the breast milk to us but we will be paying for the screening, we will be sustaining the facility, so it is going to be a similar pathway to the way blood banks work, she said. Electricity challenge She, however, noted that the initiative faces the power supply challenge, saying the development has compelled the company to currently locate the bank within its existing company facility. Because of poor electricity, we are starting up in the milk booster facility where we have constant power supply. So, the milk bank is starting inside the same facility with the hope that very soon, the milk bank would have grown big enough to have a bigger space and facility, she said. Barely two weeks after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern, the U.S .government has made the same declaration as infections spread across the country. The declaration was made by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Friday as part of the Biden-Harris Administrations comprehensive strategy to combat the monkeypox outbreak. The country has confirmed more than 6,600 cases of monkeypox in 48 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico as of Thursday, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of Friday, the CDC data also shows that 28,220 cases have been confirmed globally in 88 countries, noting that 81 of these countries have not historically reported monkeypox before the recent outbreak. The statement by the HHS management said: Ending the monkeypox outbreak is a critical priority for the Biden-Harris Administration. We are taking our response to the next level by declaring a public health emergency, said Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement on the HHS website. With todays declaration, we can further strengthen and accelerate our response further. U.S. strategy, response The statement also quoted the White House National Monkeypox Response Coordinator, Robert Fenton, who assured that the U.S. will be applying lessons learned from COVID response to wildfires to measles, and will tackle this outbreak with the urgency this moment demands. The statement also noted that the HHS has shipped more than 602,000 doses of the JYNNEOS vaccine to states and jurisdictions, an increase of 266,000 in the past week. HHS has allocated 1.1 million doses to states and jurisdictions in total and is making more doses available as jurisdictions use their current supply. The department also announced that it has accelerated the delivery of an additional 150,000 doses to arrive in the U.S. next month. ALSO READ: WHO declares monkeypox global emergency It further added that the U.S. strategy includes significantly scaling the production and availability of vaccines, expanding testing capacity and making testing more convenient, reducing burdens in accessing treatments and conducting robust outreach to stakeholders and members of the LGBTQI+ communities. Monkeypox spread Before the current outbreak, most cases occurred in countries where the virus is endemic, but the majority of the recent cases have been detected in gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, particularly in non-endemic countries. However, WHO has said anyone can contract the virus and that there is currently no evidence it is a sexually transmitted disease, but human-to-human transmission can result from close contact with respiratory secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or recently contaminated objects. The common symptoms associated with monkeypox are swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. The U.S. CDC recommends that people avoid intimate physical contact with individuals who have a rash that looks like monkeypox and consider minimising sex with multiple or anonymous partners. A former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, has broken his silence over the 2019 governorship election, saying the incumbent, Governor Dapo Abiodun, must be be removed from office. Mr Amosun said the 2019 election was rigged in favour of the governor, adding that those who rigged the election had apologised to him. He did not mention names. The immediate past governor spoke on Friday evening, during an interview with journalists after receiving an award from the Abeokuta Club to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the association. Mr Amosun said he was not in support of Mr Abioduns administration, saying the governor must vacate his seat at the expiration of his first four year term. He also assured his supporters that his next line of action would soon be made public. Well, I am happy. When you are in a place and they are telling you that you have done the work of four or five governors altogether. I feel elated. I am happy that they appreciated our little efforts, said Mr Amosun. Just wait, very soon, you will hear where we are going next. Clearly, you know my stand, and my stand is my stand. I am not supporting this administration that is there now. He must be removed. Background In 2019, although a member of the APC, Mr Amosun had backed Adekunle Akinlade, the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) governorship candidate, against Mr Abiodun. Mr Abiodun eventually won the 2019 election with a margin of 19,517 votes. Mr Abiodun polled 241,670 votes to defeat Mr Akinlade who had 222,153 votes. Mr Amosun had instructed his supporters not to engage in a war of words with the government until after three years. APC reacts In a swift reaction, the publicity secretary of the APC in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye, dismissed Mr Amosuns claim. Mr Oladunjoye said the former governor is obviously suffering from political amnesia and out-of-office loneliness enjoining the Ogun people to pray for him. Mr Oladunjoye described Mr Amosuns claim as an insult to the psyche of the people. He said it is a sad indication that the former governor is yet to purge himself of extreme arrogance and intolerance that were his trademarks, which earned him suspension from our party, even as a sitting governor. There is absolute no truth in the specious utterance of the former governor who is obviously still sulking from the electoral defeat of his surrogate party in 2019, he said. Our party and candidate not only won fair and square, the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun was also attested to by his co-contestants, many of whom later joined APC and are still in APC. It is on record that many of the then opposition figures like former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Salmat Badru, the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Rueben Abati, GNI and others served in the Economic Transition Committee chaired by Mr Tunde Lemo, which was set up by Prince Dapo Abiodun immediately after the elections. Mr Oladunjoye accused the former governor of littering the state with unfinished projects despite paying for them 100 per cent upfront. Despite the handover without a handover note, despite the wanton destruction of public facilities including pipe-borne water taps in Abeokuta, and notwithstanding the untoward provocations and shenanigans; Governor Abiodun remained focused and determined to leave Ogun State much better than he met it. Suspected gunmen have kidnapped a four-year-old boy, Oluwadarasimi Omojola, as his father, Boluwaji Omojola, managed to escape on Itaji/Ijelu-Ekiti Road in Oye Local Government area of Ekiti. The traditional ruler of the community, Owajumu of Omu-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Ogundeyi, confirmed the incident through a telephone interview with reporters on Saturday. Mr Ogundeyi said the incident happened at about 6.00 p.m. on Friday. The traditional ruler explained that the boy was returning from Ayede-Ekiti with his father, who managed to escape, after sustaining a severe cutlass injuries from the abductors. He said that the injured farmer was currently receiving medical attention at an undisclosed facility. Mr Ogundeyi said that security operatives and local hunters had since been mobilised to go after the kidnappers to rescue the boy. Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ekiti Command, has yet to confirm the incident as the time of filing this report. (NAN) Team Nigeria is now the number one African team on the medals table at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, following the addition of another gold medal to the countrys total haul in Birmingham, on Saturday. As of the end of Day 8 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Team Nigeria trailed South Africa in the eighth position, having amassed a total of seven Gold, three Silver, and six Bronze Medals, making a total of 16 medals. But on Saturday, Day 9, the countrys athletes continued from where they stopped as they dominated the Womens F55-57 Shot Put event where Eucharia Iyayi won the gold, while Ugochi Alam settled for the bronze. Iyayi did not just win the gold, she did it in style; setting a new Commonwealth Games Record with a 10.03 throw. Team Nigeria, as of the time of filing this report, has eight gold, three silver, and five bronze medals which is slightly better than South Africa, who has seven gold, seven silver, and nine bronze medals. Though many events are yet to be decided, which leaves room for changes in the current position, Team Nigeria is on course for even more medals as the Commonwealth Games heads for the home stretch. Aside from the duo of Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume that are strongly tipped to defend their Commonwealth Games titles on Sunday in the 100m Hurdles and Womens Long Jump events, a couple of other Team Nigeria athletes are closing in on medals in their respective events. Team Nigeria has qualified for the Womens 4 x 100m final after finishing top of their heat with 42.57 while the Mens Team is also through to the final of 4 x 400m after finishing top of their heat with 38.85. Also, Ebikewenimo Welson, who beat Tayab Raza [Canada] in the Mens Freestyle 57 kg, will be fighting for gold in Wrestling later on Saturday. This is also same as in Womens Freestyle 50 kg where Mercy Genesis, who crushed Christelle Letchidjio [Scotland] 10-0, will also be fighting for gold. LEHI, Utah, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Project Solar, the leading e-commerce brand for solar installations, today announced the close of a $23M Series A financing round led by Left Lane Capital, with additional support from strategics within the industry. The investment represents the first institutional capital for the company and will help them scale their digital-first, direct-to-consumer offering in additional markets. The company will also further invest in the development of its solar installation technology stack that sits across the entire solar process - from automated quoting to project management. Founders Trevor Hiltbrand and Matthew Smith, with backgrounds in e-commerce and tech startups, set out to disrupt the solar industry by cutting out commissioned sales reps from the solar business model and increasing transparency and efficiency in the process. With just a few inputs from customers, Project Solar instantly calculates your needed system size and corresponding price for your home's current electrical usage, all without talking to a sales rep. Back in 2021 when the company launched, Project Solar targeted do-it-yourselfers with their DIY solar kits, but quickly pivoted their focus to full installation by creating an installer network covering 20 solar-friendly states. The installers within the network are vetted and fully managed by Project Solar, offering the customer the benefit of local labor and serviceability, while maintaining the warranty benefits, scale, and pricing advantages of a large national brand. "At our pricing, solar is an amazing investment for nearly every homeowner in the United States. Nationally, our customers see an average ROI of 18% in the first year," says Trevor Hiltbrand, CEO and Co-Founder of Project Solar. By cutting out the commissioned sales representatives, who often make anywhere from $0.30-$1.00/watt, Project Solar is able to offer dramatically lower prices to consumers in a transparent and upfront manner. Project Solar sells at an average of $2.20/watt while the national average sale price for residential solar hovers around $3.90/watt (source NREL ). The Series A funding follows the recent announcement from President Biden about a two year pause on panel import tariffs from Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam, which is a huge win for the solar industry and solar shoppers alike. Federal incentives further drive down the cost of going solar with a current 2022 federal tax credit equal to 26% of the project cost. "Solar has never been more attractive from an investment perspective, nor more needed from an environmental perspective," says Matthew Smith, President and Co-Founder of Project Solar. "Our online model allows us to offer top tier equipment, with warrantied professional installation, for industry leading low prices," Smith adds. "We are thrilled to partner with the entire Project Solar team. The company's growth over the last year speaks for itself. With rising energy costs and more awareness of our climate impact, it has never been better for the consumer to consider solar as a complete energy solution for their home. Project Solar has adopted technology across the entire organization which has allowed the business to scale rapidly across the entire country," says Derek Urben, investor at Left Lane Capital. Project Solar is on track to having 30 megawatts of solar installed this year, with the goal of installing 150 megawatts during 2023. With this additional funding and the continued trust that customers put into the brand, Project Solar is on its way to becoming the most trusted household brand in solar energy. About Project Solar: Project Solar is a commission free solar sales, design, permitting and procurement company offering a digitally powered automated solar quoting and checkout experience, paired with full installation services through their proprietary network of contractors. With a mission to drive green energy adoption through substantial homeowner financial savings, Project Solar offers top tier solar equipment and installation directly to consumers at a fraction of the average cost. For more information, please visit https://projectsolar.io/. About Left Lane Capital: Left Lane Capital is a leading New York-based global venture capital firm investing in high-growth internet and consumer technology companies. Left Lane's mission is to partner with extraordinary entrepreneurs creating category-defining businesses fundamental to the human condition and spirit. Previous investments include GoStudent, Masterworks, M1 Finance, Tovala, FightCamp, Wayflyer, Blank Street, and more. For more information, please visit www.leftlanecap.com . SOURCE Project Solar NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of Celsius Financial Products, including CEL Tokens, Earn Rewards high-interest accounts, and/or Celsius Loan products, between February 9, 2018, and June 13, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"), against Celsius Network LLC ("Celsius"), Celsius Lending LLC, Celsius KeyFi LLC (collectively, the "Celsius Entities") and its executives Alexander Mashinsky, Shlomi "Daniel" Leon, David Barse, and Alan Jeffrey Carr (together, "Defendants"), of the important September 13, 2022 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased Celsius Financial Products, including CEL Tokens, Earn Rewards high-interest accounts, and/or Celsius Loan products you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Celsius class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7586 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 13, 2022. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, Defendants violated provisions of the Securities Act by selling non-exempt securities without registering it. The complaint alleges that Celsius and Individual Defendants violated provisions of the Securities Act by also participating in Celsius' failure to register the Celsius Financial Products. The complaint alleges that the Defendants violated provisions of the New Jersey Common Law by possessing the monetary value of Celsius Financial Products of inflated value which rightfully belongs to the Plaintiff and members of the Class. Also according to the lawsuit, Defendants violated provisions of the Exchange Act by carrying out a plan, scheme, and course of conduct that Celsius intended to and did deceive retail investors and thereby caused them to purchase Celsius Financial Products at artificially inflated prices; endorsed false statements they knew or recklessly should have known were material misleading, and they made untrue statements of material fact and omitted to state material facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading. To join the Celsius class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7586 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. According to the recent market study by Technavio, the Breastmilk Storage Bags and Bottles Market is expected to increase by USD 706.68 million from 2021 to 2026, with an accelerated CAGR of 7.95%. The report provides a detailed analysis of drivers & opportunities, top winning strategies, competitive scenarios, future market trends, market size & estimations, and major investment pockets. North America will account for 39% of market growth. North America's top market for breastmilk storage bottles and bags is the US. The market in this region will expand more quickly than the market in APAC. Download FREE Sample: for more additional information about the key countries in APAC Vendor Insights- The Breastmilk Storage Bags and Bottles Market is fragmented, and the vendors are deploying growth strategies such as focusing on product delivery through multiple distribution channels to compete in the market. Acute Ideas Co. Ltd.: The company offers breastmilk storage bags and bottles that include palm cups, nipple shields, nipple correctors, and hands-free devices. The company offers breastmilk storage bags and bottles that include palm cups, nipple shields, nipple correctors, and hands-free devices. Ameda Inc.: The company offers breastmilk storage bags and bottles that include breast pumps, pump parts, and accessories, breast care, breast milk storage, hands-free pumping apparel, breast milk warmers, and rental pumps. The company offers breastmilk storage bags and bottles that include breast pumps, pump parts, and accessories, breast care, breast milk storage, hands-free pumping apparel, breast milk warmers, and rental pumps. Basil Products Co. Ltd.: The company offers breastmilk storage bags and bottles that include a Thermo 3d straw cup, leak-proof straw cup, oil bottle ultra, wide-neck sili-glass feeding bottle, and silicone owl suction placemat. Find additional highlights on the vendors and their product offerings. Get a Free Sample Report Regional Market Outlook North America will account for 39% of market growth. North America's top market for breastmilk storage bottles and bags is the US. The market in this region will expand more quickly than the market in APAC. The market for breastmilk storage bottles and bags will expand in North America over the forecast period due to factors including a significant rise in the awareness of various technologies for a convenient and comfortable lifestyle, an increase in dual-income households, and a rise in the number of working women. Latest Drivers & Trends Driving the Market- Breastmilk Storage Bags and Bottles Market Driver: The rise in the number of working women is one of the main factors fueling the growth of the worldwide breastmilk storage bags and bottles market. The number of working women worldwide is rising, which has increased the demand for practical baby care items including breastfeeding accessories like storage bags and bottles. The market for baby care items in the US, which also includes the market for nursing supplies, is also anticipated to grow as the average household income rises. Breastmilk Storage Bags and Bottles Market Challenge: The availability of less expensive alternatives to nursing supplies is one of the major obstacles to the expansion of the worldwide breastmilk storage bags and bottles sector. Important rivals who sell formula milk are progressively releasing novel goods to increase their market share. In addition, mothers prefer the traditional method of breastfeeding to artificial alternatives, and this option for breastfeeding supplies includes breastmilk storage bags and bottles. These elements can prevent the market from expanding as anticipated. Didn't Find What You Were Looking For? Customize Report- Don't miss out on the opportunity to speak to our analyst and know more insights about this market report. Our analysts can also help you customize this report according to your needs. Our analysts and industry experts will work directly with you to understand your requirements and provide you with customized data in a short amount of time. Do reach out to our analysts for more customized reports as per your requirements. Speak to our Analyst now! Here are Some Similar Topics- Condom Market by Material, Distribution Channel, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The condom market share is expected to increase by USD 4.03 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.31%. Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Sexual Wellness Market by Product, Distribution Channel, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The sexual wellness market share is expected to increase by USD 42.02 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 10.97%. Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Breastmilk Storage Bags and Bottles Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 7.95% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 706.68 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 6.16 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 39% Key consumer countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, Competitive strategies, Consumer engagement scope Key companies profiled Acute Ideas Co. Ltd., Ameda Inc., Babisil Products Co. Ltd., Baby Amore, Brainbees Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Dr.Browns, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Junobie in Indiana, Lansinoh Laboratories Inc., Mayborn Group Ltd., Medela AG, NUK USA LLC, Philips International BV, Pigeon Corp., Shoplet, Summer Infant Inc., and The Angelcare Holding Inc. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and Market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio "Consumer Staples" Research Reports Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Product Exhibit 06: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by End-user Exhibit 07: Executive Summary Chart on Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel Exhibit 08: Executive Summary Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 09: Executive Summary Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 10: Executive Summary Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 11: Parent market Exhibit 12: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 13: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 14: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 15: Chart on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 17: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 18: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 19: Five forces analysis - Comparison between2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 20: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 21: Bargaining power of suppliers Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 22: Threat of new entrants Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 23: Threat of substitutes Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 24: Threat of rivalry Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 25: Chart on Market condition - Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Product 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 26: Chart on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 27: Data Table on Product - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Product Exhibit 28: Chart on Comparison by Product Exhibit 29: Data Table on Comparison by Product 5.3 Bottles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 30: Chart on Bottles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Bottles - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 32: Chart on Bottles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Bottles - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Bags - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 34: Chart on Bags - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Bags - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 36: Chart on Bags - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Bags - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 38: Market opportunity by Product ($ million) 6 Market Segmentation by End-user 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 39: Chart on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 40: Data Table on End-user - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 6.2 Comparison by End-user Exhibit 41: Chart on Comparison by End-user Exhibit 42: Data Table on Comparison by End-user 6.3 0-6 months baby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 43: Chart on 0-6 months baby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Data Table on 0-6 months baby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 45: Chart on 0-6 months baby - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 46: Data Table on 0-6 months baby - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.4 7-12 months baby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 47: Chart on 7-12 months baby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Data Table on 7-12 months baby - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 49: Chart on 7-12 months baby - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 50: Data Table on 7-12 months baby - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by End-user Exhibit 51: Market opportunity by End-user ($ million) 7 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 52: Chart on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Distribution Channel - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel Exhibit 54: Chart on Comparison by Distribution Channel Exhibit 55: Data Table on Comparison by Distribution Channel 7.3 Offline stores - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 56: Chart on Offline stores - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Offline stores - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 58: Chart on Offline stores - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Offline stores - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 Online stores - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 60: Chart on Online stores - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Online stores - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 62: Chart on Online stores - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Online stores - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel Exhibit 64: Market opportunity by Distribution Channel ($ million) 8 Customer Landscape 8.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 65: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 9 Geographic Landscape 9.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 66: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 9.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 68: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 69: Data Table on Geographic comparison 9.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on APAC - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on APAC - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.6 South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on South America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on South America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.7 Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 86: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 87: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) and - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 88: Chart on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) and - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 89: Data Table on Middle East and Africa - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 90: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 91: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 92: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 93: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.9 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 94: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 95: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 96: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 97: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.10 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 98: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 99: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 100: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 101: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.11 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 102: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 103: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 104: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 105: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.12 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 106: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 107: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 108: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 109: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 9.13 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 110: Market opportunity by geography ($ million) 10 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10.1 Market drivers 10.2 Market challenges 10.3 Impact of drivers and challenges Exhibit 111: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 10.4 Market trends 11 Vendor Landscape 11.1 Overview 11.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 112: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 11.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 113: Overview on factors of disruption 11.4 Industry risks Exhibit 114: Impact of key risks on business 12 Vendor Analysis 12.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 115: Vendors covered 12.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 116: Matrix on vendor position and classification 12.3 Acute Ideas Co. Ltd. Exhibit 117: Acute Ideas Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 118: Acute Ideas Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 119: Acute Ideas Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.4 Ameda Inc. Exhibit 120: Ameda Inc. - Overview Exhibit 121: Ameda Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 122: Ameda Inc. - Key offerings 12.5 Babisil Products Co. Ltd. Exhibit 123: Babisil Products Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 124: Babisil Products Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 125: Babisil Products Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 12.6 Lansinoh Laboratories Inc. Exhibit 126: Lansinoh Laboratories Inc. - Overview Exhibit 127: Lansinoh Laboratories Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 128: Lansinoh Laboratories Inc. - Key offerings 12.7 Mayborn Group Ltd. Exhibit 129: Mayborn Group Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 130: Mayborn Group Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 131: Mayborn Group Ltd. - Key offerings 12.8 Medela AG Exhibit 132: Medela AG - Overview Exhibit 133: Medela AG - Product / Service Exhibit 134: Medela AG - Key offerings 12.9 NUK USA LLC LLC Exhibit 135: NUK USA LLC - Overview LLC - Overview Exhibit 136: NUK USA LLC - Product / Service LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 137: NUK USA LLC - Key offerings 12.10 Pigeon Corp. Exhibit 138: Pigeon Corp. - Overview Exhibit 139: Pigeon Corp. - Key offerings 12.11 Shoplet Exhibit 140: Shoplet - Overview Exhibit 141: Shoplet - Product / Service Exhibit 142: Shoplet - Key offerings 12.12 The Angelcare Holding Inc. Exhibit 143: The Angelcare Holding Inc. - Overview Exhibit 144: The Angelcare Holding Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 145: The Angelcare Holding Inc. - Key offerings 13 Appendix 13.1 Scope of the report 13.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 146: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 147: Exclusions checklist 13.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 148: Currency conversion rates for US$ 13.4 Research methodology Exhibit 149: Research methodology Exhibit 150: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 151: Information sources 13.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 152: List of abbreviations About Us 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 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. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio SEATTLE, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Four years ago, conference attendees in Chicago could revisit and discuss Filipino-American history. Now, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) is determined to restart its 2022 national conference by combining in-person and virtual offerings Aug. 11-13 at Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue. The 19th biennial national conference and general membership meeting in Seattle is the marquee event of FANHS, a historical society with 41 chapters in the U.S. "It's truly an intergenerational conference," said Emily P. Lawsin, historic preservation specialist at 4Culture, a sponsor of many FANHS projects in Seattle. "Intergenerational meaning from first-generation immigrants to third-, fourth-, fifth-generation Filipino Americans whose families have been here for 100 years or more." "FANHS 40: Past, Present, Future" is the conference theme. This year, FANHS celebrates its 40th anniversary. "I think it's really important to know your history and where you come from so you know where you're going," Lawsin said. "Mel Orpilla, who is FANHS' president emeritus, coined the saying 'No history, no self. Know history, know self.'" About 320 people are expected to attend the hybrid conference both online by using the Whova app and in-person. Highlights of the conference also include an appearance by retired Army Major General Antonio Taguba and a reading by award-winning novelist Peter Bacho, author of "Uncle Rico's Encore: Mostly True Stories of Filipino Seattle." The Opening Plenary speaker is Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, and the Banquet Keynote Speaker is writer Jen Soriano. For more information about the 2022 FANHS Conference, visit fanhs-seattle.org/conference/. About the Filipino American National Historical Society The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) is a volunteer-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is "to promote understanding, education, enlightenment, appreciation and enrichment through the identification, gathering, preservation and dissemination of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States." For more information on FANHS, visit fanhs-national.org/filam/. SOURCE Filipino American National Historical Society HONG KONG and LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Newchic, an online fashion platform composed of brands that celebrate diversity, inclusion, and creativity, today announced that it will extend the deadline of its 2022 #ArtYourPossibility Contest by nine calendar days to August 19, 2022 (PST). The original deadline was August 10, 2022 (PST). NEWCHIC 2022 FASHION CONTEST #ARTYOURPOSSIBILITY# Newchic postponed the deadline to ensure that no contestant loses their chance to compete in the contest for circumstances beyond their control. Contestants must submit portfolios that consist of six original illustrations that relate to one (or two) of the four contest themes as well as a description of the story and creative process behind the designs. (Contestants are allowed to submit work for up to two themes maximum.) "At Newchic, one of our principal goals is to equip emerging designers with the resources to express their unique creativity," said Mr. Zou, President of Newchic. "We are excited to showcase this talent on a global scale." The 2022 #ArtYourPossibility Contest seeks to uplift rising fashion creatives around the world by giving them a platform to tell their unique stories and advocate for the causes they care about. The contest is centered around four themes that are based on the four CSR-conscious fashion brands acting as co-hosts for the competition: Selfsow, Koyye, Mensclo, and Charmkpr. Each of these four brands focuses on a specific social mission in addition to supporting Newchic's broader goal of promoting uniqueness, expression, and multi-creativity. Selfsow celebrates women's awareness and appreciation of their own beauty and their power to define their beauty through self-expression. Koyye creates designs that reflect the dauntlessness of young street-culture enthusiasts who are constantly pushing the boundaries of color and creativity to make a difference in the world. Mensclo emphasizes a "less is more" approach to design, utilizing timeless, minimal styles that can adapt to any wardrobe. Finally, Charmkpr draws on the influence of global heritages and histories on men's fashion, highlighting the beauty of our united planet. Newchic has also adjusted other key contest dates to reflect the new deadline. After submissions close on August 19, 2022 (PST), the public will have the chance to vote for their favorite submissions. Newchic will select the top eight finalists based on this vote and coordinate 1:1 interviews with the designers, which will take place over Zoom the weekend of August 20, 2022 (PST). Then, on the weekend of August 27, 2022 (PST), Newchic will host an Instagram Live where judges will review the finalists' designs in real-time and announce the top four winners based on a scoring system. The top four winners will each receive a cash prize of 1,500 USD. There's still time to join the contest. Register to learn more about participation and full contest details using the following link: www.newchic.com/designers2022 About Newchic Newchic is an online fashion platform composed of brands that celebrate diversity, inclusion, and creativity. Founded in 2014, Newchic has achieved rapid development on a global scale, ranking among the top online shopping websites. Newchic offers a wide range of clothing, shoes, bags, and accessories to help conscious customers pursue their styles. Newchic has won recognition and trust from customers in Europe, America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. SOURCE Newchic Company Limited NEW YORK, Aug. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues its investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) resulting from allegations that Discover Financial Services may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Discover Financial Services securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=7773 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] or [email protected] for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On July 20, 2022, after trading hours, Discover Financial Services issued a press release announcing its financial results for its second quarter of 2022. Among other items, Discover Financial Services disclosed that "[t]he company is suspending until further notice its existing share repurchase program because of an internal investigation relating to its student loan servicing practices and related compliance matters. The investigation is ongoing and is being conducted by a board-appointed independent special committee." On this news, Discover Financial Services' share prices fell $9.80 per share, or 8.9%, to close at $100.00 per share on July 21, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] www.rosenlegal.com SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Root Brands, a global brand known for harnessing nature to provide the support and protection your body needs, has added another powerhouse product to its immune boosting lineup. Mitochondria Defense Shield, MDS, is a patent pending proprietary combination of vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, and enzymes working together to maintain DNA integrity and ensure proper cell function, to protect your body from aging and disease. Mitochondria are tiny double membrane-bound organelles found in almost every cell of all organisms except bacteria, they are known as "the powerhouse of the cell". Let's talk about ingredients and go a little more in depth with each. Vitamin C is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues. It enters the mitochondria in its oxidized form and protects mitochondria from oxidative injury. Vitamin D is vital for regulating the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and facilitating normal immune system function. Vitamin K-2, when it breaks down calcium in our bodies, vitamin K2 activates a protein that helps the mineral bind to our bones to do its job. Vitamin K activates proteins that play a role in blood clotting, calcium metabolism and heart health. Magnesium acts as an antioxidant in the mitochondria, thereby reducing the synthesis of reactive oxygen species and increasing the antioxidant capacity, which in turn can improve mitochondrial dysfunction. Quercetin is a pigment found in many plants, fruits, and vegetables. It is found that quercetin may modulate mitochondrial biogenesis by reducing reactive oxygen species production in various cell types. Lastly, let's talk about NAD+. Life as we know it cannot exist without the nucleotide nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD). From the simplest organism, such as bacteria, to the most complex multicellular organisms, NAD is a key cellular component. It has been clearly demonstrated that cellular NAD levels decline during chronological aging. This decline appears to play a crucial role in the development of metabolic dysfunction and age-related diseases. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is a central metabolic cofactor in eukaryotic cells that plays a critical role in regulating cellular metabolism and energy homeostasis. NAD+ may play an important role in reducing mitochondrial stress. Dr. Christina Rahm, formulator, and Chief Science Officer at The Root Brands, uses only the highest quality patent pending formulations and trade secret ingredients, carefully selecting them for their properties and proven outcomes, then layers them together to provide maximum results. SOURCE The Root Brands Argos hashrate output at the end of July was 2.23EH/s Argo Blockchain yielded 219 Bitcoins in July, making for a 22% month-on-month (MoM) increase, the dual-listed crypto mining companys latest operational update shows. Mining revenues for the month came to 3.89mln (US$4.73mln) but despite this being a 15% MoM increase, margins did fall from 50% to 37%. Argo attributed the narrower margins to skyrocketing global energy prices, explaining: During the month of July, Argo's electricity costs at its Helios facility in Texas continued to be higher than previously anticipated. Electricity costs have increased around the world, largely due to higher natural gas prices stemming from the war in Ukraine, as well as increased demand for electric-powered air conditioning during an unusually hot and dry summer. In tandem with its competitors, Argos Helios facility in Texas voluntarily went offline as an energy crisis gripped the state in the middle of July, reducing energy usage by over 1,000 MW. The company stated: In extraordinary circumstances like that, Argo believes that electricity should be prioritised for uses that ensure the health and safety of the public and is proud to be able to reduce its operations in order to contribute to grid stability. Debt obligations slashed Also in tandem with its competitor, Argo sold a large portion of its Bitcoin reserves in July. During the month, the company sold 887 Bitcoins at an average price of approximately US$22,670, with proceeds going towards reducing outstanding debt obligations to Galaxy Digital (TSX-V:GLXY). As of July 31, debt obligations had been slashed to US$6.72mln from US$50mln in the second quarter. Argo goes in-house Despite unavoidable macro concerns, Argo is making steps to increase internal operating efficiency. In July, the company completed its swap of 10,000 S19 mining rigs out of third-party facilities hosted by Core Scientific to its own self-hosted data centres. Argo expects to generate enhanced performance following the swap, with greater control of operations positively impacting operational costs. Total hashrate the amount of processing power dedicated to mining operations at the end of July was 2.23EH/s, comprising approximately 1.1% of Bitcoins global hashrate. ARB shares were up 2.7% on the week as of Friday morning. Moscow, Aug 6 : Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to strengthen bilateral relations during their talks in Russia's Sochi. Putin and Erdogan on Friday pledged to increase bilateral trade volume on a balanced basis and to meet each other's expectations in the economic and energy fields, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a joint press statement issued after their meeting in the Black Sea resort city. According to the statement, the leaders vowed to take concrete steps to boost collaboration on issues concerning such sectors as transportation, commerce, agriculture, industry, finance, tourism and construction. Putin and Erdogan praised the Russia-Ukraine grain export deal reached last month in Turkey's Istanbul, and they underscored the need to ensure its full implementation, including the unimpeded export of Russia's grain, fertilizers and raw materials. They also discussed the situations in Syria and Libya, the statement said. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Budapest, Aug 6 : Three illegal migrants were killed and eleven more injured in a deadly road accident in Hungary, local police reported. The accident happened at Bocsa, 122 km south of Budapest, early Friday morning, Xinhua news agency reported. Police said that a Hyundai minivan driven by a Georgian man carrying 15 illegal migrants had refused to stop at a police checkpoint, and crashed into an oncoming Mercedes before bursting into flames. Two of the Hyundai's passengers were killed. Twelve others were taken to the hospital, where one person died later. Four other people escaped the accident unharmed. The driver was arrested at the scene of the accident on suspicion of human trafficking and negligence leading to a fatal road accident. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced in July that he would create a new border protection body called "border hunters" to deal with increased pressure from migration. Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Tuesday that Hungary has stopped more than 130,000 illegal migrants at its southern border so far in 2022, which is more than in the whole of the 2021. Tel Aviv, Aug 6 : Hours after Israeli airstrikes killed several people including a leader of militant organization Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in the Gaza Strip, several rockets were fired back at Israel from Gaza, according to media reports. Air raid sirens were sounded in several Israeli cities, but the rockets went down in open terrain or were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system, dpa news agency reported, citing the Israeli military. The PIJ's military arm said on Friday evening that the rockets were fired in retaliation for the killing of PIJ commander Taisir al-Jabari. "We're attacking Tel Aviv and the cities of the centre and the surrounding area with more than 100 missiles," it said. Earlier, the Israeli military attacked several targets in the Gaza Strip following threats by the PIJ. According to Palestinian sources, at least 10 people were killed in the Israeli attacks, among them a 5-year-old child and other PIJ members. At least 75 people were reportedly injured. Both the Palestinian Ministry of Health and the Israeli army confirmed al-Jabari's death. According to Israel's armed forces, PIJ military bases and buildings in the Gaza strip were also targeted during the airstrikes. On Monday, PIJ leader Bassem Saadi was arrested in the West Bank town of Jenin during an Israeli anti-terror operation. The military arm of the organization, the al-Quds Brigades, subsequently threatened retaliation. The PIJ is particularly active in the Gaza Strip, from where it regularly launches rocket attacks on Israel. The organization has close ties to Iran. The Israeli military cordoned off areas on the edge of the Gaza Strip for several days and raised its alert level. Israel continued its attacks on Friday evening. Prime Minister Yair Lapid said: "The Israeli government will not allow terrorist organisations to set the agenda in the towns on the outskirts of the Gaza Strip and to threaten Israeli citizens. Those who want to attack Israel must know that we will get to them." Washington, Aug 6 : Following renewed skirmishes between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh earlier this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on the leaders of both countries to seek "direct dialogue" to resolve the conflict. Blinken held separate phone calls with Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Friday, dpa news agency reported, citing State Department spokesperson Ned Price. Blinken "urged direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve issues related to, or resulting from, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict", Price said in a statement. Blinken assured Pashinyan that the US was "watching the situation in and around Nagorno-Karabakh closely", while he called for "de-escalation" in his conversation with Aliyev. Several deaths and injuries were reported when fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh flared up again on Wednesday. The Azerbaijani army said it had captured mountainous areas of the region and that Armenian fighters had been killed. Armenia said Azerbaijan had violated a ceasefire agreement that had been in force since the end of 2020, when the last war ended. The region of Nagorno-Karabakh, with its majority Armenian population, was annexed to Azerbaijan during the Soviet era. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh claimed independence from Baku as the Republic of Artsakh, backed by Yerevan, sparking a brutal six-year war. The war ended in 1994, with Armenia initially victorious, although the Republic of Artsakh was never internationally recognized and existed for decades in legal limbo. In 2020, Azerbaijan recaptured large parts of Nagorno-Karabakh in a second, far shorter conflict. Under the terms of the ceasefire Armenia was forced to make major territorial concessions, including agreeing that access to Nagorno-Karabakh from Armenia could only be had via a corridor monitored by Russian peacekeepers. That ceasefire has been broken several times since then, however. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Kabul, Aug 6 : At least eight civilians were killed in an explosion in a predominantly Shia neighbourhood in western Kabul, Taliban authorities have said. Another 18 people were injured after explosive devices placed inside a cart were detonated on Friday, dpa news agency reported, citing a statement by police spokesperson Khalid Zadran. Some of the wounded were in critical condition, Zadran added. The attack came as Shia Muslims, a religious minority in the country, were preparing for Ashura which commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The Islamic State (IS) militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a statement on its official telegram channel, the group said they had targeted a gathering of Shia Muslims. Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August last year, IS has carried out a number of deadly attacks, mainly targeting religious minority groups. Los Angeles, Aug 6 : California hit another grim milestone in the Covid-19 pandemic as the most populous state in the US reached 10 million confirmed cases, according to data released by the state health authorities. The Golden State, home to around 40 million residents, reported a total of 10,024,326 coronavirus infections to date, along with 93,056 related deaths, the California Department of Public Health was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. There are 4,435 people with Covid-19 currently hospitalised in the state, with 505 in intensive care units, said the department in a Friday update. Around 79.9 per cent of people in the state have been vaccinated with at least one Covid-19 dose, the update showed. California, once an epicenter of the pandemic, became the first in the country to surpass 5 million coronavirus infections December 2021. Statewide transmission numbers in California had been on a consistent climb, from one of the lowest points of the pandemic in early April until peaking in mid-July at one of the highest case rates of the health crisis, reported The Sacramento Bee, the largest newspaper in state capital. The growth was fueled by subvariants of Omicron: BA.2 lineages at first, which dominated new cases throughout spring, followed by the BA.4 and BA.5 strains, which took over early this summer, said the report, adding that infection and hospital numbers have improved gradually in recent weeks. With California suffering through another intense coronavirus wave, the stunning proliferation of the BA.5 subvariant is becoming a growing focus of scientific scrutiny, with experts saying it may replicate itself far more effectively than earlier versions of Omicron, the Los Angeles Times reported last month. If BA.5 retains its position as the main dominant variant for a while, that could eventually stabilise the situation in California and eventually point to a situation where there will finally be a downturn in cases, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious-diseases expert at University of California San Francisco, was quoted as saying by the biggest newspaper on US West Coast. People are "taking more risks; they're moving around; they're traveling," Chin-Hong told the newspaper, adding that "a number of people aren't wearing masks at places where it was once ubiquitous, meaning there's less peer pressure to wear a mask in areas where it was once commonplace." "There's no question the state's official tally is increasingly considered an undercount with so many positive at-home test results going unreported. Still, perhaps our more-relaxed attitude for catching the latest immunity-evading, yet less-deadly variants of the virus are playing a part in how quickly the millions add up," said a report published Friday on the website of a California newspaper, the Monterey Herald. Public health officials in Los Angeles, the most populous county in the state and the country, noted on Friday in a press release that the metropolitan area "remains at the high community level" and urged people to be fully vaccinated to increase protection against Covid-19. Los Angeles County's Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted in a press release earlier this week, "As we continue to see improvements in our metrics, we still must do all we can to protect those who are most vulnerable, including the elderly, immunocompromised, and our essential workers." "Given that transmission remains high, and the variant currently circulating is responsible for many reinfections, we encourage everyone to be cautious and layer in protections including testing before gathering, isolating away from others when infected or sick, and masking indoors," she added. The county, home to over 10 million residents, backed off last week from reinstating an indoor mask mandate as Covid-19 infections and rates of hospitalizations stabilised. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, Aug 6 : It was the dead of the night in November 1947, and winter had decided to be at its vengeful worst. Travelling on a train from Delhi with her two small children wrapped in a red shawl, she looked at the shadows of the trees outside. They were like sentinels of sorrow. The darkness, the icy winds, the sound of the train moving on the tracks... and the first draft of 'Aaj Aakhan Waris Shah Nu' was born. The famous dirge that immortalized poet Amrita Pritam is about the horrors of the partition of Punjab during the 1947 Partition of India. Addressed to the historic Punjabi poet Waris Shah, who had written the most popular version of the Punjabi love tragedy, 'Heer Ranjha', it appeals to him to arise from his grave, record Punjab's tragedy and turn over a new page in Punjab's history. Written in November 1947, it was the first major poem on the biggest tragedy that the sub-continent had witnessed and most writers, poets and artists stress that it is the most powerful one on the Partition -- on both sides of the border. "It was a time when everyone was depressed, shamed and haunted. All you could hear was silence. It required a woman to write the first dirge on the tragedy. After all, what happened to women on both sides during the Partition was disgusting and criminal --- humiliated, killed, raped and sold as prostitutes. Amrita came out to scream in that silence. Of course, many critics from our side of Punjab had a problem -- 'why was the poem addressed to Waris Shah and not Guru Nanak'. The leftists thought it should have been addressed to Lenin. Now, Waris Shah was the symbol of the composite culture of Punjab, she had to call upon him and nobody else," says poet and critic Nirupama Dutt. Adding that it enjoyed immediate following in the newly formed Pakistan too, with the poet Faiz Ahmad Faiz who read it inside his jail cell and coming out to discover people carrying it in their pockets and reciting it at tea stalls and other addas, she asserts, "Many good poems emerged later, but this one will always enjoy a special space. Also, it towers over all her other work." Theatre director Neelam Mansingh believes that poetry is like any other classical text -- the catalyst may be a certain terrible event that gives birth to the poem, but it becomes something that travels through time. "When you see a massacre, brutalization of women, sexist or misogynist behaviour, one goes back and finds a thread. 'Heer' represents the essence of a Punjabi woman. She ceases to be a person but becomes an archetype. In that context, 'Aaj Aakhan Waris Shah Nu' is a poem that connects and resonates every time you read it. It never seems dated," says this Padma Shri awardee. "Herself a great poet of her times, she added another dimension of the female point of view of Waris Shah's 'Heer' by underlining the fact that she has to pay the price of bloody ventures of the male ego. By connecting 1947 with Waris and then Heer, Amrita has immortalised the senseless sufferings of all of us. While celebrating the anniversary of the freedom of the country,it is important not to forget the slavery of our hatred, diplomatic immaturity and political selfishness," says playwright and author Atamjit Singh, recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi honours. Believing that an artist-- a poet, painter or filmmaker must talk and record the issues of her/his times, National award-winning Punjabi filmmaker Rajeev Kumar feels that whenever massacres, wars or any other tragedy strikes, the worst sufferers are women. "With this poem, she responds not just as an artist but also as a woman. Just like Paash wrote in the 1970s that 'we are living in the era of Vietnam'(US intervention in Vietnam).' It is the way that she has articulated the tragedy and brought forth the suffering of all sides that makes it special." Well-known critic Yograj Angrish, who has written over 10 books on Punjabi poetry and is the Vice chairman of Punjab Kala Parishad feels that some poems become evergreen and we tend to go back to them whenever history is repeated. "During the Khalistani movement, poet Surjit Patar wrote 'At that time Waris Shah was divided, now it is Shiv Kumar Batalvi's turn. Amrita was a poet of cultural tradition. When a crisis came, she looked and addressed a secular poet from her tradition. Remember, Waris Shah was a Muslim. If the madness in civilization ends, this poem will also vanish. But are we naive enough to believe that?" Even as it remains of the most talked about poems on the Partition, poet Desraj Kali, who has written extensively on Dalit issues and was published and praised widely by Amrita Pritam in her magazine 'Nagmani' believes that this is the poet's worst work. "Reading this poem, one feels she has no clue about Waris Shah's works, especially Heer. Shah's Heer is a revolutionary character, she didn't cry or get emotional. No father in Punjab even now dares to name his daughter Heer. She is anti-establishment, anti-system -- both politically and socially, for her tradition means nothing. I fail to understand why Punjabis from both sides are so obsessed with this work. Don't they look within? Are they trying to say that all the killings were just in frenzy? Let us not forget many were calculated ones too." Poet Sudeep Sen feels that we all know what happened in 1947, but the poem is a humbling reminder of the past and a fervent cry to rise up and hold firm. "There are echoes here that one can relate to current-day politics - but a poem elicits much more, both at the level of history and emotion," he concludes. (Sukant Deepak can be reached at sukant.d@ians.in) New Delhi, Aug 6 : A Mumbai-bound Vistara flight returned to Varanasi after it suffered a bird hit, Aviation regulator DGCA said. Vistara A320 aircraft VT-TNC operating flight UK622 (Varanasi-Mumbai) was involved in an air turn back to Varanasi due to a bird hit. The aircraft has landed safely in Varanasi with and the radome is damaged. It has been declared aircraft on ground (AOG), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)said. In a statement, a spokesperson of the private carrier said: "Vistara flight UK 622 operating from Varanasi to Mumbai on August 5, 2022 turned back to Varanasi due to a bird strike during departure. Due to a maintenance inspection of the aircraft being required, another aircraft has been sent from Delhi to Varanasi to fly the passengers to Mumbai. It has been our constant endeavour to minimise inconvenience to our customers in such unavoidable situations whilst keeping safety as our topmost priority." This is the second such incident of bird hit. A Go First flight operating from Ahmedabad to Chandigarh was diverted to Ahmedabad after a bird hit on Wednesday. Multiple incidents of technical snags and diversion of flights have been reported in the last few weeks. As per government data, a total of 478 technical snags related occurrences were reported in the planes in the last one year between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. New York, Aug 6 : A McDonald's worker in New York's Brooklyn who was shot point-blank in a spat over cold french fries has died, police said. Following the Monday night shooting, Matthew Webb, 23, had been on life support at Brookdale Hospital and died on Friday, reports dpa news agency citing the police as saying. The suspect, Michael Morgan, 20, accused of shooting the fast-food worker in the face because he was mad about how the restaurant handled his mother's fry order, is expected to be charged with murder. "The people are anticipating homicide charges in this case, given the victim is currently on life support," Assistant District Attorney Luis Paternina said at Morgan's Thursday arraignment, apparently unaware Webb had already died. "So, essentially, the victim's family is waiting to make a difficult decision about taking the victim off life support." Morgan, 20, was initially charged with attempted murder in Webb's shooting, and with murder, for a 2020 shooting he confessed to after his arrest, authorities said. Morgan tried to cover up his most recent crime, disposing of evidence that included the clothes he wore when pulling the trigger, Paternina charged. The shooting happened when Morgan showed up the McDonald's on Fulton St. in Bedford-Stuyvesant after hearing his mother's complaints about cold fries during a FaceTime chat between the two, according to authorities. Video surveillance showed Morgan punching Webb in the face, knocking the worker to the ground before pulling the weapon and pumping a bullet into the victim's neck on the sidewalk outside the McDonald's, authorities said. Morgan admitted to getting the gun from a friend in his apartment building, Paternina said. Parternina said Morgan's girlfriend, 18-year-old Camellia Dunlap, admitted in a videotaped interview to handing him the weapon. Dunlap was arrested alongside Morgan inside the accused shooter's home. "She was holding the gun for him," said Paternina. Dunlap, who was charged with felony weapon possession, was ordered held on $50,000 cash bail. The previous murder that Morgan confessed to occurred on October 21, 2020, just six blocks from the McDonald's where he shot Webb. The victim Kevin Holloman, 28, was however not Morgan's intended target, the prosecutor said. Washington, Aug 6 : Ten people died after a house fire in the US state of Pennsylvania , according to the state police. Authorities responded to the fire at a two-storey home in Nescopeck, Luzerne County, at 2.42 a.m. on Friday, where 14 people were living, reports Xinhua news agency. Four of them survived but 10 others, including three children, have been confirmed dead. State police said a criminal investigation is underway. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf wrote on Twitter that he was "heartbroken" by the tragedy. Beijing, Aug 6 : Amid escalating tensions between the US and China following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier in the week, Beijing said that it was halting co-operation with Washington in several key areas, including climate change and military talks, the media reported. In a statement on Friday, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said that dialogue between American and Chinese defence officials would be cancelled, while co-operation on returning illegal immigrants, climate change, and investigating international crime would be suspended, reports the BBC. According to the Ministry, the decision was taken because Pelosi visited Taiwan "in disregard of China's strong opposition and serious representations". Friday's move comes as China continued its large-scale military exercises around Taiwan which were launched on Tuesday in response to Pelosi's visit. The Foreign Ministry in Taipei said on Saturday that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) has sent a "record number" of military aircraft and naval vessels into areas around the island. As part of its military exercises, the PLA also launched 11 ballistic missiles in Taiwan's direction, one of which flew directly over the island and passed close to the capital Taipei for the first time, according to reports. Five other missiles landed east of Taiwan in Japan's exclusive economic zone, in a gesture that was widely seen as a warning to Tokyo to stay out of the conflict. The exercises are due to continue until Sunday. The visit of the highest-ranking US politician to Taiwan in 25 years provoked outrage in Beijing, which claims Taiwan as part of its sovereign territory, despite the island being self-governing since 1949. China has also imposed unspecified sanctions on Pelosi "and her immediate family members". Seoul, Aug 6 : North Korea on Saturday condemned US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. In a statement, Jo Yong-sam, director general of the Foreign Ministry's press and information department, also criticized Pelosi for talking about "strong and expanded deterrent" against threats from North Korea during her trip to South Korea earlier this week, reports Yonhap News Agency. She made a two-day visit here from Wednesday following a trip to Taiwan. She had talks with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and a phone call with President Yoon Suk-yeol. Pelosi then visited the Joint Security Area of Panmunjom inside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It demonstrates the "hostile policy of the current U.S. administration towards the DPRK", the North's official said in the statement carried by Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central News Agency. Pelosi, who is "the worst destroyer of international peace and stability had incited the atmosphere of confrontation with Russia during her visit to Ukraine in April, and incurred the wrath of the Chinese people for her recent junket to Taiwan", Jo said. He warned that it "would be a fatal mistake for her to think that she can go scot-free in the Korean Peninsula. The US will have to pay dearly for all the sources of trouble spawned by her wherever she went". Hyderabad, Aug 6 : Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy is hailed as the 19th-century hero who led the first mass rebellion in Andhra Pradesh against the British. Descendant of a dispossessed Polygar family, once a powerful feudal class of chieftains who looked after administrative matters in villages, he led a mass uprising against the tyranny of the British in 1846. He organised an army of 5,000 villagers in Koilkuntla Taluk (now in the Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh) and was executed in the cruelest manner. His skeleton was kept hanging in a cage for several years until 1877. However, the revolt went down in history as inspirational for the later struggles for India's freedom. 'Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy' a Telugu language biopic released in 2019 highlighted the story of one of the early freedom fighters. With superstar Chiranjeevi playing Narasimha Reddy, the movie projected the 19th century hero with a high dose of nationalism. However, historians are of the view that the rebellion led by Narasimha Reddy was not about nationalism. According to them, as the chieftain of Koilkuntala, Reddy challenged the British after the latter tried to remove the privileges accorded to the Polygars and also attempted to acquire their estates. Narasimha Reddy, whose real name was Majjera Narasimha Reddy, was a descendent of a disposed Polygar of Uyyalawada in Koilkuntla Taluk. He was the youngest of three brothers related on their father's side to the Polygar of Uyyalawada. K. Venugopal Reddy, history professor at the University of Pondicherry, wrote in 'Dominance and Resistance: A study of Narasimha Reddy's Revolt in Andhra Pradesh' that the revolt in Koilkuntla was mainly against colonial oppression and all sorts of dominations. The ruthless policy of the British to root out the Polygars was equally met with stiff resistance from the former overlords. Thus, it was a revolt against the illegitimate British hegemony and its attempts at subduing the people and colonizing the territories. The peasants and other classes of people, who were mostly affected due to the oppressive policies of the East India Company, also supported those who took up arms against the alien rulers. According to Venugopal Reddy, economic distress of peasants and of all sorts of economic grievances of Kattudadies and Bhattavartithies in Koilkuntla Taluk led them to revolt against the British for which Narasimha Reddy had assumed leadership. The revolt of Narasimha Reddy in the Ceded districts was a unique instance of thousands of peasants taking up arms when their livelihood was threatened by the proposed Inam regulations. Confiscatory proceedings and unlawful regulations coupled with fiscal oppression attracted the disinherited sons of the soil to the standard of revolt raised by Narasimha Reddy, the poor son of a former Polygar. "The insurrection was in the first instance solely that of Kattubadies and their friends. But when thousands of lower class peasants flocked to the standard of Narasimha Reddy in the seizure of the Tahsildar and driving away all public servants, it became a widespread mass revolt where peasants and other lower classes had played a remarkable role," Reddy noted. "Colonialism necessarily produces resistance of its own. This becomes perceptible, when agrarian economy was in the midst of a painful process and strained phase of transformation in the first half of the 19th century as a consequence of the colonial agrarian policies, the communities affected by the development chose to defy the colonial state. It is in this context that the revolt of Polygar Narasimha Reddy in Koilkuntla Taluk becomes critically significant," the social scientist added. According to him, the revolt of Narasimha Reddy was actually a rebellion of more than 5,000 peasants of the Cuddapah district in 1846. The peasants and lower class people in the Taluk, who had long standing grievances under the British administration, had supported the Polygar Narasimha Reddy's revolt against alien rule. The author observed that the peasants of the ceded districts ever since the establishment of the British Company regime continued to suffer from fiscal oppression and fear of deprivation, consequent on revenue regulations introduced by the British in the first half of the 19th century. The British company officials failed to take cognisance of the interests of the native peasants. The village headmen who were everything for the village community did feel the discontinuance of their ancient privileges with the introduction of new land revenue regulations. Venugopal Reddy wrote that the opposition to British rule could be organised only by the dispossessed Polygars, who had intimate contacts with the people. Although the Polygars were actuated by their ambition to revive and re-establish their authority with all their privileges and prerogatives, they also protested through their revolts against the fiscal oppression and deprivation that affected all classes of people. Their wealth had been drained by a foreign power and the hierarchy of dependents in their dominion was deprived of their means of livelihood. Their supporters were now the peasants who rallied to fight against British rule. It was at this time that Polygar Narasimha Reddy realised the situation and seized the opportunity to revolt against the British with the support of different classes. The British officers had issued warrants for the apprehension of about 1,000 rebels of which one half were kattubadies or village hereditary police. A total of 112 rebels were convicted along with Narasimha Reddy, who was sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out at Koilkuntla at 7 a.m. on February 22, 1847. It was reported by Acting Collector J. H. Cochrane that the capital punishment was to make a great impression on the spectators, the number of whom exceeded 2,000 and there was a deep silence that had prevailed when the awful ceremony was performed. The revolt started by Narasimha Reddy ended with his execution. His body (skeleton) remained hanging in a cage for several years in Koilkuntla until 1877. But this event had left its imprint in the minds of the people. As a tribute to Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy, Andhra Pradesh government last year named Orvakal Airport in Kurnool district after him. Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy announced that since Uyyalawada came from this region, the airport will be named after him. Bengaluru, Aug 6 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19, adding that his trip to New Delhi has been cancelled. Taking to Twitter, Bommai said: "I have tested positive for Covid-19 with mild symptoms and have isolated myself at home. Those who came in touch with me in last few days, kindly isolate yourself and get urself tested. My trip to Delhi stands cancelled." The Chief Minister's positive result comes as Karnataka reported 2,042 new Covid cases and two deaths in the last 24 hours. Currently, the overall number of active cases in the state stood at 11,403, while the daily positivity rate was 6.32 per cent, weekly positive rate 6.30 per cent and the weekly fatality rate was 0.09 per cent. Bengaluru Urban district reported 1,309 cases, while 1,175 patients were discharged. The total active cases stood at 8,338, while one fatality was reported in the last 24 hours. Belagavi district (110), Dharwad (96), Mysuru (82), Hassan (61) districts recorded the most number of new cases after Bengaluru Urban. So far, Karnataka has administered 11,66,46,496 Covid vaccine doses and 67,98,015 precautionary shots. Washington, Aug 6 : A West Virginia man who threatened to kill Anthony Fauci for his work as chief medical advisor to the US President during the Covid-19 pandemic has been sentenced to more than three years in prison, the Justice Department said. The Department said on Friday that Thomas Patrick Connally Jr, 57, will serve 37 months in a federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release for encrypted emails sent to the country's infectious disease expert and head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reports dpa news agency. Connally confessed in a plea agreement that he was responsible for sending unsolicited emails to Fauci for a nearly seven-month period that ended in late July 2021. One of those messages said that along with his family, Fauci, 81, would be "dragged into the street, beaten to death, and set on fire". In April 2021, Connally send more than a half-dozen late-night messages to the nation's top immunologist. "Threats like these will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," said Erek Barron, US attorney for the District of Maryland. Fauci was said to have been one of several health officials menaced by Connally. The threats came at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when lockdowns were widely in effect. Fauci had become a pariah to many conspiracy theorists who faulted the Brooklyn native for relaying information that didn't jibe with their alternative views. "What you're seeing as attacks on me, quite frankly, are attacks on science," he told MSNBC in June 2021. Rome, Aug 6 : World food prices declined dramatically in July following the resumption of grain exports from Ukraine, according to the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). A deal to allow grain shipments from Ukraine and adjustments to the global supply chain helped relieve some price pressure, Xinhua news agency quoted the FAO as saying. The monthly index of food commodity prices fell 8.6 per cent in July, its largest one-month fall since 2008, according to data released by the UN agency. The decline represented the third consecutive month the index fell, though it's the first time in that period the decline was significant. Despite the trend from July, the index is still 5 per cent higher than at the start of the year and 13 per cent above levels from a year ago. In April, the FAO index reached its highest-ever level due to increases in fuel prices, a slowdown in grain exports from Russia and Ukraine amid the ongoing war, and other supply chain issues. Every component of the index retreated in July, led by an 11.5 per cent fall in prices for grains and cereals -- the largest component in the index. The FAO said that development was partially related to a key deal to unblock the main Black Sea ports in Ukraine to allow grain exports, one of the world's top grain producers. But prices for grains and cereals were still nearly 25 per cent above their levels from 12 months ago, it added. According to the FAO, prices for vegetable oil was down 19.2 per cent, a 10-month low, helped by strong export quotas for Indonesian palm oil. Dairy prices were 2.5 per cent lower amid lackluster global demand, while prices for meat slipped 0.5 per cent, their first decline since last year. FAO's Food Price Index is based on worldwide prices for 23 food commodity categories covering prices for 73 different products compared to a baseline year. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, Aug 6 : India-based crypto platform WazirX has courted massive controversy, first after Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on its parent company Zanmai Lab and then world's largest crypto exchange Finance completely disowning the Nischal Shetty-run platform. Changpeng Zhao, founder and CEO of Binance, said in a tweet thread late on Friday that the company "does not own any equity in Zanmai Labs, the entity operating WazirX and established by the original founders". "On 21 Nov 2019, Binance published a blog post that it had 'acquired' WazirX. This transaction was never completed. Binance has never - at any point - owned any shares of Zanmai Labs, the entity operating WazirX," Zhao contended. The Binance CEO said that recent allegations about the operation of WazirX and how the platform is managed by Zanmai Labs are of deep concern to Binance. "Binance collaborates with law enforcement agencies all around the world. We would be happy to work with ED in any way possible," he tweeted. The ED on Friday searched the director of WazirX cryptocurrency and froze its bank assets worth Rs 64.67 Crore "for assisting accused instant loan App companies in laundering of fraud money via purchase and transfer of virtual crypto assets". Zhao said that Binance only provides wallet services for WazirX as a tech solution. "WazirX is responsible for all other aspects of the WazirX exchange, including user sign-up, KYC, trading and initiating withdrawals," he said. WazirX is the largest crypto exchange in India and its annual trading volume exceeded $43 billion in 2021. Shetty, co-founder of WazirX, disputed Zhao's claims in a series of tweets. "More facts about WazirX: Binance owns WazirX domain name, Binance has root access to AWS servers, Binance has all the Crypto assets, Binance has all the Crypto profits. Don't confuse Zanmai and WazirX", he tweeted. New York, Aug 6 : Foreign mercenaries under contract to Mali's military government are believed to have carried out a massacre of over 30 civilians in the country earlier this year, according to a confidential UN report. Accessed by dpa news agency, the report, which was authored by UN experts and has been submitted to the Security Council, describes an incident that took place in central Mali in early March and relates eyewitness accounts of the arrival of "white-skinned soldiers" in a Malian village on the morning of March 5. "The soldiers proceeded to round up the men and older boys, tied their hands behind their backs and blindfolded them," the report quoted a witness as saying, adding that the were subsequently rounded up in the centre of the village and the surrounding houses were looted. The soldiers then apparently began beating the blindfolded and restrained men with heavy sticks, while others blocked the entrances to nearby houses and instructed women and children to remain inside. "They could only hear the screams of the men as they were beaten," the witness added. Up to 34 men, including 29 Mauritanians and four Malians, were then taken away, the witness said, adding that their charred remains were discovered nearby the following day. Mumbai, Aug 6 : Bank of Baroda, the second largest state-owned bank, is planning to raise Rs 1,000 crore through issuance of infrastructure and affordable housing bonds on August 12, a source close to the development told IANS. "The likely tenure for the bonds is seven years and have Rs 250 crore as base issue and Rs 750 crore as greenshoe," the source said. The auction for the infrastructure and affordable housing bonds is expected to be held on August 12 on the BSE's bidding platform. During the bidding, better coupon is expected to set on the bonds considering the higher demand for PSU bonds. The bonds have got 'AAA' ratings with 'Stable' outlook from ICRA and India Ratings and Research. On June 27, the board of directors of the bank has approved raising Rs 5,000 crore through Long term Bonds for financing of infrastructure and affordable housing. The source said Rs 5,000 crore is expected to raise by the bank in tranches. Whereas, on July 16, the investment committee of the bank approved raising Rs 1,000 crore through this bonds. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 6 : The Kerala government is contemplating reshuffling a few CPI-M minister's portfolios with state Education Minister V.Sivankutty, caught in legal bind over vandalising the state Assembly in 2015, likely to step down, sources said. According to the sources, in order to ensure Sivankutty's honourable exit, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is giving him a key party post leading to a reshuffle of portfolios. Replacing Sivankutty as a minister would be Varkala assembly constituency CPI-M legislator V.Joy. Sivankutty, along with five top leaders, have been asked to be present in the court on September 14 in connection with the case, when their charge sheet would be read out, a source in the know of things said. Hence in all likelihood, Sivankutty will put in his papers later this month and Joy would be inducted and along with it there will be a reshuffle of the portfolios of a few existing CPI-M ministers. Ministers who could see a minor change in the existing portfolios include, P.Rajeev, V.N.Vasavan, M.V.Govindan, P.A.Mohammed Riyas, Veena George and K.Radhakrishnan. Sivankutty will be replacing incumbent Thiruvananthapuram district CPI-M secretary Anavoor Nagappan, who was a surprise choice to the party's state secretariat when it was reconstituted, and hence he is moving out. New Delhi, Aug 6: After having come into power some of the ministers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seem to have given up the party's professed policy of simplicity. Punjab's Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Mann has shot off a letter to the principal secretary, PWD, Anurag Verma demanding a list of 34 changes including renovations to her official bungalow. The minister's letter has raked up a major controversy in official circles as the demands would cost the cash-strapped state around Rs 2 crore to implement. The demand listed at no 33 is to construct a swimming pool in the bungalow's backyard along with a washing area. No other ministerial bungalow in Sector 39, where all ministers reside, has a swimming pool. None of the ministers occupying these palatial bungalows during the Akali or Congress regimes had demanded the construction of swimming pools. The other demands include construction of an air-conditioned master bedroom on the first floor, replacing all the floor tiles in the bungalow, changing the curtains, replacing the existing furniture in all the rooms, 65-inch TV sets in all bedrooms, new mattresses, 8-seater dining table, chandeliers in all rooms, redoing of cupboards, setting up of glass cabin with new furniture, and laying of synthetic grass in the first-floor verandah, etc. According to a rough estimate prepared by an engineer, the renovation as demanded by the minister would cost more than Rs 2 crore. The PWD will have to get the rough estimate sanctioned by the finance department. She has been allotted bungalow number 953, which was earlier occupied by Raj Kumar Verka, a cabinet minister in the Congress' Charanjit Channi government. Repeated attempts made by India Narrative to talk to the principal secretary PWD for his comments went unanswered. However, a copy of the minister's letter along with a questionnaire was sent to him on WhatsApp. He responded in the evening saying, "I will have to check it," and said he would revert on the issue on Monday. However, he did not deny the existence of the controversial letter by the minister. Similarly, calls were also made to the minister on her personal mobile phone number but she did not pick up the calls. However, a female claiming to be the minister's sister picked up one of the calls. When asked to get Anmol Gagan's comments on the issue, she said, "the letter in circulation about the renovation of the bungalow is fake." Nor has there been any official denial from the official spokespersons of the Punjab government. This reporter rang Mr. Baltej Pannu, director of media relations of the Punjab government several times, but he did not pick up the phone nor did he call back. Attempts were also made to elicit an official response from the director, public relations (DPR), Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, and Ishwinder Singh Grewal, deputy director, press in the office of the DPR. They too did not pick up the calls nor did they revert back. A copy of the letter in question was sent to the DPR on WhatsApp. Fondness for luxury among the AAP ministers was also evident when one of the ministers of Bhagwant Mann's government, after taking oath on the very first day, protested against the allotment of "too small a room" for his office in the civil secretariat. His demand was met, later on. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative New Delhi, Aug 6: With 106 days left for holding the federal and provincial elections, Nepal's ruling coalition on Friday agreed to go to the polls under an electoral alliance. A meeting of the five ruling parties decided to finalise seat-sharing arrangements as early as possible for the federal and provincial elections slated for November 20 this year. The Nepali Congress Party, chief ruling party, has CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janata Samajbadi Party and Rastriya Janamorcha as partners. The coalition came into existence in July last year succeeding the then government led by KP Sharma Oli. Oli is now the opposition party leader. "The parties in the coalition government will now fight elections under the alliance," Narayan Kaji Shrestha, a senior leader of the CPN (Maoist Center), told India Narrative Friday evening. The ruling coalition's decision comes a day after the government headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba announced to conduct elections in the third week of November in a single phase. "Today's meeting also formed an 11-member cross-party taskforce with a mandate to finalize electoral seats among them for the upcoming elections," the senior leader said. The top leaders of the ruling coalition will finalize seat-sharing arrangements among the ruling parties once the cross-party taskforce submits its report. "Seat-sharing arrangement among the ruling parties is going to be a herculean task for the task-force," leader Shrestha further said. According to Nepal's Election Commission, the country will vote to elect 275 members for the House of Representatives-165 under the direct election system and 110 under the proportional representation (PR) system on November 20. Simultaneously, 550 members for the seven provincial assemblies will be elected-330 under the direct election system and 220 under the Proportional Representation category on the same day. With Friday's decision to forge the electoral alliance among ruling parties, chances for alliance between the two largest communist parties-the CPN (Maoist Center) and the CPN (UML), have disappeared, observers said. Earlier in July, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, chairperson of the CPN (Maoist Center), a key partner in the current coalition government, floated the idea of having electoral alliance under the banner of a "Socialist Center" among the like-minded communist forces. Dahal, who is also the two-time prime minister a former rebel leader, however last week said at a public event that his attempt to form the "Socialist Center" among the like-minded communist forces could not materialize right now due to lack of time as there are just three months and a week left for holding the elections. Dev Prasad Gurung, a leader of the CPN (Maoist), told India Narrative that several rounds of talks were held with the view of exploring the possibility of bringing all former Maoist leaders and other like-minded individuals under one umbrella. "Forming a left alliance by bringing Nepal's communist forces together under one umbrella has now been almost impossible," Gurung said. Nepal conducts period elections every five years, which took place in late 2017 last time. With the declaration of the elections, the five-party coalition government headed by Sher Bahadur Deuba has now turned into a caretaker one and can't make any crucial decisions. On Friday evening, Nepal's Election Commission also asked all the political parties in the country to-register their parties in the Election Commission as elections have been announced for late November. The polling body has estimated that approximately 18600000 voters will participate in elections across the country. In May this year, Nepal conducted elections to pick a fresh set of people's representatives for 753 local levels in a single phase. This is going to be the second time the Himalayan country holds federal and provincial elections after it adopted its first democratic republic constitution in September 2015. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Bhopal, Aug 6 : A villager was killed by Maoists on suspicion on being a police informer in the forest area of Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district, police said on Saturday. The deceased has been identified as Lalu Dhurve, a resident of Malajkhand village. Maoists also took away the corpse, police said, adding that efforts are on to get the body back with the villagers' help. Confirming the incident, Balaghat Superintendent of Police (SP) Sameer Saurav said: "A villager identified as Lalu Dhurve was shot dead by Maoists in a forest area who took the body with them. On receiving information, a team of police reached the spot and investigation is underway." A handwritten note was found from the spot, which read that "Communist Party (Maoist) takes the responsibility of killing Dhurve." It further warned the police to stop making the local people informers by luring them with money. Maoists also warned villagers that anyone trying to be a police informer, will meet the same fate. However, it's not the first such incident in Balaghat forest area, which is tribal dominated and also a Naxalite zone. Patna, Aug 6 : After Saran, suspected spurious liquor claimed three lives in neighbouring Vaishali district of Bihar. As per local villagers, two others are critically ill. The tragedy occurred in two separate villages. While two men died in Sardei village, the third person succumbed in Dhadhua. Sunil Chaudhary and Vikash Chaudhary of the Sardei village were relatives. Two others are battling for their lives. They had consumed spurious liquor during "Chathi" (a celebration on the sixth day after the child is born) in Sardei village. Vikash's brother Shambhu Chaudhary also consumed liquor and stated to be critical. Another incident was reported in Dhadhua village under Jandaha police station in Vaishali district when a person named Karan Kumar consumed liquor on Friday night. He complained of abdominal pain on Saturday morning. The family members rushed him to a hospital in Jandaha where he succumbed. The district administration Vaishali has sent a medical team apart from police to investigate the incident. Sources say that some more people had consumed spurious liquor so the death toll may rise. Meanwhile, the toll reached 13 in the Saran liquor tragedy that occurred on Wednesday night. As many as 17 persons have lost their eyesight. The fatality is expected to rise further. Kiev, Aug 6 : Ukraine's General Staff on Saturday said that Russian troops were fiercely attacking Bakhmut, a cornerstone of the defence system around the last Ukrainian-held urban area in the eastern Donbas region. "The enemy is carrying out an attack on Bakhmut; The fighting continues," the General Staff said in its latest situation report. The pro-Russian rebels had reported the day before that there was fighting already inside the city area, reports dpa news agency. The statements from both sides however, could not be independently verified. Since the capture of the Luhansk region in early July, Russian offensive efforts in eastern Ukraine have concentrated on the neighbouring Donetsk region. Luhansk and Donetsk make up the Donbas region, a predominantly Russian-speaking area which has been the focus of Moscow's war aims for months. Step by step, the Russian invaders have been able to push back the Ukrainian defenders in recent weeks. They now control about 60 per cent of the territory, the situation report said. The headquarters of the Ukrainian troops in Donbas is located in the built-up urban area of Slovyansk-Kramatorsk, where some half million people lived before the war. From the east, this area is secured by the Siversk-Soledar-Bakhmut line of defence. This line is now wavering in several places. Russian troops are also outside Siversk and Soledar. However, the heaviest fighting is currently going on around the Bakhmut traffic junction, which the Russians are shelling with artillery and tanks. Fighting is also continues directly outside the former regional capital Donetsk, which has been in the hands of pro-Russian separatists since 2014. The troops loyal to Moscow are trying to push the Ukrainians further back. In the area of the small town of Avdiivka, north of Donetsk, there were several attempted attacks, which were repelled, the Ukrainian general staff reported. Large areas of the region are being shelled with artillery. In the south of the country, however, the initiative is going the Ukrainians' way. There, Russian troops are concentrating on defending their positions in the occupied areas, the situation report said. The Ukrainian military's Southern Command had previously reported having destroyed at least six Russian weapons and ammunition depots as well as two command points in the Kherson region. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War New Delhi, Aug 6 : Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth, who plays Thor, the god of Thunder, has said that CWG gold medallist Mirabai Chanu is worthy of Thor's hammer and even called her a legend. Chris's praise comes after Chanu won gold at the ongoing CommonWealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. She was feted with the honour after she lifted 201 kilos. A social media user had tweeted to Chris, saying: "Time for Thor to give up his hammer." To which, he replied: "She is worthy! Congrats, Saikhom, you legend." An ecstatic Chanu replied to Hemsworth saying: "Thank you so much @chrishemsworth, always love to watch you." The reference was made because apart from Thor, no other superhero can pick up the Mjolnir. Thor's Mjolnir is the hammer of the thunder god Thor in Norse mythology, used both as a devastating weapon and as a divine instrument to provide blessings. Latest updates on Commonwealth Games 2022 Mumbai, Aug 6 : India's Pawan Kumar Sehrawat emerged as the most expensive buy on Day 1 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 9 Player Auctions held in Mumbai on Friday. He was bought by Tamil Thalaivas for a whopping sum of INR 2.26 crore. Meanwhile, Guman Singh emerged as the most expensive Category B player at the Pro Kabaddi League Player Auction, being bought for a whopping INR 1.21 crore by U Mumba. The first day of the Pro Kabaddi Season 9 Player Auction witnessed plenty of fierce bidding and some surprises. Abhishek Singh, who had played for U Mumba, joined Telugu Titans and the Mumbai based side wished the played all the best for his future. "Abhishek Singh joins @Telugu_Titans for a winning bid of 60L. Thank you for your contribution, we wish you all the best," U Mumba said on the Koo app. Telugu Titans also bought Parvesh Bhainswal in the auctions on Friday. "Our first buy of the day Parvesh Bhainswal will be the part of #Titansquad," Telugu Titans wrote on the Koo app. This Player Auction also witnessed a jump in the 1 crore club from two players in the last Player Auction to four players. Pardeep Narwal and Siddharth Desai were part of the 1 crore club last time, while Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, Vikash Khandola, Fazel Atrachali and Guman Singh were part of the 1 crore club in Saturday's Player Auction. A total of 30 players were sold to the 12 franchise teams with as many as 4 Final Bid Match (FBM) cards being used on Day 1. The auction witnessed teams spend INR 18.11 Cr on Day 1, across the various categories of players being auctioned. The Iranian kabaddi legend Fazel Atrachali broke the record for the most expensive defender and overseas player ever after being acquired by Puneri Paltan for INR 1.38Cr. Atrachali held both the records previously when he was picked by U Mumba for INR 1 crore in the 2018 vivo Pro Kabaddi League Player Auction. While his compatriot, Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakgsh (F) was acquired by Puneri Paltan for INR 87 lakh. ??Ahora | Asi se desarrolla la ceremonia por el 198 aniversario de la Batalla de Junin en el Santuario Historico de Chacamarca, con la presencia del presidente @PedroCastilloTe; el Premier @anibaltorresv ministros de Estado y autoridades regionales. pic.twitter.com/yic6xdITCc Washington, Aug 6 : Ten years after a white supremacist gunned down six Sikh worshippers at a gurdwara in the US state of Wisconsin, the White House is calling for a sharp increase in funding for a federal programme that provides security grants for houses of worship. But a Sikh-American advocacy group has said that many gurdwaras have not been able to take advantage of the six-year-old funding programme because of a complicated application process and tight deadlines, VOA reported. "Too many gurdwaras are not getting funding, and that's a real challenge," said Sim Singh Attariwala, senior policy and advocacy manager for the Sikh Coalition in Washington. "We do think that more needs to be done to ensure that houses of worship across the nation are able to take advantage of some of the federal resources that would provide additional funding, which would then be used to harden security (and) to improve training," Attariwala said. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state agencies, provides financial support for the physical security of non-governmental organisations, including houses of worship. To make it easier for Sikh temples and other smaller houses of worship to apply to the program, a group of 89 US-based gurdwaras sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Thursday urging his support for the NSGP Improvement Act, VOA reported. "We believe that every community should have access to these resources, even those that do not want to bring law enforcement agencies into their houses of worship," the group wrote in the letter. The programme was created by Congress in 2016, nearly four years after Wade Michael Page, a radicalised Army veteran, killed six people and critically injured a seventh at the gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. The massacre was the deadliest attack on Sikhs in the US, VOA reported. In the years since the mass killing, Sikh temples have hardened their security by installing security cameras and taking other measures, Attariwala said. But the safety measures have been eclipsed by a steady stream of attacks against houses of worship in recent years, he said. "We are seeing more and more attacks happening that are fuelled by violent white supremacist ideology, and that's really concerning. More needs to be done to protect our communities." Tel Aviv, Aug 6 : The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Saturday they are preparing for a "week of operations" against Palestinian militants, as a barrage of retaliatory rockets were fired from Gaza overnight following the targeted killing of a Palestinian militant leader. Air-raid sirens sounded in several towns in the south of Israel on Saturday morning, according to a military spokesperson, adding that 190 rockets had been fired from the Gaza Strip since Friday, reports dpa news agency. The Israeli military said that the rockets either fell on empty land or were intercepted by the Iron Dome defence system. Some 36 rockets fell short and landed inside the impoverished coastal strip. Warning sirens had wailed in several Tel Aviv suburbs on Friday evening. Israeli forces launched airstrikes against dozens of targets inside Gaza on Friday that resulted in the killing of Taisir al-Jabari, a senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group. The strikes on terrorist sites were continuing on Saturday, Israel said. According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza, at least 11 people have died since Friday, including a five-year-old child and other Islamic Jihad members in addition to al-Jabari, while some 80 people have been injured. Palestinian Islamic Jihad is classified as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and the US. According to Israel, al-Jabari was responsible for numerous attacks on Israel launched from the Gaza Strip. Israeli military operations also continued in the West Bank, where 20 people were arrested in early morning raids on Saturday after previous operations this week. Hyderabad, Aug 6 : Telangana on Saturday paid rich tributes to Telangana ideologue Professor K. Jayashankar on his birth anniversary. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, state ministers and leaders of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) recalled the key role played by the former vice-chancellor of Kakatiya University in the Telangana movement. Ministers, MPs and state legislators offered tributes to the late leader at various programmes held across the state. The chief minister recalled that it was Jayashankar who highlighted the sufferings under the undivided rule and ignited the passion among people to launch a movement to achieve their own state. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said Telangana movement was carried out with the inspiration from Jayashankar and the goal was achieved with determination and hard work. The chief minister said that Telangana has become a model for the entire country in self-rule as envisioned by Jayashankar. He said while prioritising the weaker and backward sections and striving for the welfare of all people, the state government is working to fulfil the dreams of Jayashankar. MLC K. Kavitha along with MLAs D. Nagender and Maganti Gopinath paid tributes to Jayashankar at a programme held at TRS headquarters Telangana Bhavan. Finance minister Harish Rao said Telangana was following on the path shown by Jayashankar and under KCR's leadership has already become a model for the entire country. Jayashankar's statues were garlanded at various places in the state. Programmes were also organised in universities and offices of various institutions to pay tributes to the leader. New Delhi, Aug 6 : A 22-year-old woman, working at a spa in the national capital, was allegedly sedated and gang raped by two men, an official said on Saturday, adding that four persons have been arrested in connection. The arrested were identified as Rahul, a manager at the spa; Satish Kumar, a customer; and owners of the spa Brij Gopal and Sandeep. Furnishing details, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest) Usha Rangnani said a PCR call was received at Maurya Enclave police station regarding sexual assault of a woman at the spa located in Pitampura, after which the police immediately rushed to the spot. "At the spot, the victim , along with her husband, was present outside the spa centre and complained regarding sexual assault on her by the manager and one more person," DCP Rangnani said. In her complaint, the woman stated that she joined the 'Ocean Spa Centre' on July 30 and on August 4 around 6 p.m., a person came and demanded sexual favour. "The accused manager offered her a cold drink. After consuming it, she felt dizzy and both raped her," the senior official said. After the police learnt about the incident, the victim was sent to hospital for medical examination and a counsellor from Delhi Commission for Women was called. Accordingly, the police registered an FIR under section 354A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 328 (Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) and 376 D (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code and immediately arrested Rahul and Satish Kumar. The official said that the owners were having MCD licence, and "the concerned civic agency has been intimated to cancel the license and seal the premises". Later, the police also registered a case under section 188 of the IPC against Ocean Spa Centre for violation of guidelines and following which the owners, Brij Gopal and Sandeep, were also arrested. "Further, preventive action under appropriate sections of law has been taken against them," the official added. Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal also took cognizance of the incident, and pointed out that prostitution or sex rackets are being openly run in the national capital. New York, Aug 6 : US-based space agency NASA's Curiosity rover has hit a milestone as it celebrated the 10th anniversary of its landing on Mars on August 5. Ten years ago, a jetpack lowered NASA's Curiosity rover onto the Red Planet, beginning the SUV-size explorer's pursuit of evidence that, billions of years ago, Mars had the conditions needed to support microscopic life. Since then, Curiosity has driven nearly 18 miles (29 kilometers) and ascended 2,050 feet (625 meters) as it explores Gale Crater and the foothills of Mount Sharp within it. The rover has analysed 41 rock and soil samples, relying on a suite of science instruments to learn what they reveal about Earth's rocky sibling. And it has pushed a team of engineers to devise ways to minimise wear and tear and keep the rover rolling: In fact, Curiosity's mission was recently extended for another three years, allowing it to continue among NASA's fleet of important astrobiological missions. "We are seeing evidence of dramatic changes in the ancient Martian climate," Ashwin Vasavada, Curiosity's project scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, said in a statement. Curiosity has studied the Red Planet's skies, capturing images of shining clouds and drifting moons. The rover's radiation sensor lets scientists measure the amount of high-energy radiation future astronauts would be exposed to on the Martian surface, helping NASA figure out how to keep them safe. But most important, Curiosity has determined that liquid water as well as the chemical building blocks and nutrients needed for supporting life were present for at least tens of millions of years in Gale Crater. The crater once held a lake, the size of which waxed and waned over time. Each layer higher up on Mount Sharp serves as a record of a more recent era of Mars' environment. Now, the intrepid rover is driving through a canyon that marks the transition to a new region, one thought to have formed as water was drying out, leaving behind salty minerals called sulfates. New Delhi, Aug 6 : Vistara started its long-haul operations, with direct connectivity between Delhi and London Heathrow, in August 2020. Today, the airline offers direct connectivity to and from several international destinations including Bangkok, Dhaka, Dubai, Frankfurt, Jeddah, Kathmandu, London Heathrow, Paris, and Singapore. Celebrating the second anniversary of its long-haul operations, the carrier, has kick-started 'Dawat-e-Awadh' - a special meal festival, on board all its long-haul flights, till 31 August 2022. Customers flying Vistara from India to Frankfurt, London, and Paris will be offered flavourful Awadhi delicacies, in response to popular demand for regional favourites on these flights. The special menu includes several vegetarian and non-vegetarian Awadhi dishes such as Zafrani Pulao, Dum ka Paneer, Murg Handi Korma, Aloo Bukhara Kofta, Achari Murg Khurchan with Khamiri Roti, etc. and indulgent desserts like Shahi Tukda and Matka Kulfi. Deepak Rajawat, Chief Commercial Officer, Vistara, said, "At Vistara, we are on a constant quest to find ways to delight our customers, and completing two years of our long-haul operations gives us the perfect reason to celebrate with them. We have often received very positive feedback on Indian regional favourite meals from our customers on flights to and from the UK and Europe, regardless of their demographics. 'Dawat-e-Awadh' is designed to create a memorable gastronomic experience for our customers onboard India's finest full-service carrier." (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Manila, Aug 6 : US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday assured Philippine officials that Washington was determined to de-escalate tensions in the Taiwan Strait to keep the region safe and ensure unimpeded access to the major waterway. In a one-day visit to Manila, Blinken met Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo, and other government officials, reports dpa news agency. He also dropped by a vaccination site against Covid-19. The visit comes amid China's ongoing live-fire military drills in response to US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which have triggered security concerns around the world. "We always stand by our partners," Blinken told reporters after his meetings with Marcos Jr and Manalo. "It's important to underscore that because of what's happening north of here, in the Taiwan Strait." "Since China launched nearly a dozen ballistic missiles toward Taiwan two days ago, we've been hearing from allies and partners across the region who are deeply concerned about the destabilizing and dangerous actions," he said. Blinken stressed that Washington will keep the lines of communication open with Beijing, to avoid any miscommunication and misunderstanding, while working with regional organisations and allies to ensure cross-strait peace and stability. "Our allies and partners across the region have told us in no uncertain terms, that they are looking for responsible leadership right now," he said. "So let me be clear, the US doesn't believe that it's in the interest of Taiwan, the region or our own national security to escalate the situation." He urged Beijing to "focus on ... the fact that for 40 years plus, we've managed this problem, this challenge well and we've done it in a way that's avoided any conflict". "I think that's the expectations that countries ... around the region and around the world have," he added. "They certainly expect us, the US and China, to manage our differences responsibly and that's what we're determined to do." In his meeting with Marcos Jr, Blinken stressed Washington's commitment to the two countries' joint defence agreement and told the president that the US was looking forward to working his administration to "deepen" the alliance with the Philippines. "Our relationship is quite extraordinary because it is really founded in friendship," he said. "It's forged as well in partnership and it's strengthened by the fact that it's an alliance as well." "The alliance is strong and I believe, we will all (be) stronger. We're committed to the mutual defence treaty. We're committed to working with you on shared challenges," he added. Marcos Jr said recent regional and global tensions highlighted the importance of the relationship between Manila and Washington. "I hope that we will continue to evolve that relationship in the face of all the changes that we have been seeing and the changes between bilateral relations between us and the US," he said. Marcos Jr said he saw the 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty, which commits the US and the Philippines to come to each other's aid in the event of foreign aggression, to be "in constant evolution". "We can no longer isolate one part of our relationship from the other," he added. "We are too closely tied because of the special relationship between the USand the Philippines and the history we share." Bengaluru, Aug 6 : The Karnataka government has intensified vigilance along the state borders to keep the monkeypox virus at bay, Health Minister Dr K. Sudhakar said here on Saturday. "We are being vigilant. We are taking up surveillance measures at our state borders and we have taken all precautionary measures," he said. He further stated: "We have also made sure there is thermal screening at every port and airport round the clock. There are three officials at each place working in 8-hour shifts. This is the reason why no case has been reported in the state." He also stated that a person from Ethiopia who had travelled to India showed symptoms of monkeypox. "We sent his samples for a lab test. He tested negative for monkeypox on Friday. It was smallpox. As of now, there hasn't been a single case of monkeypox," he said. Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar district authorities are keeping a vigil in the bordering districts as five cases of monkeypox were confirmed in Kerala. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared monkeypox as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) on July 22. More than 20,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 80 countries across the world. India has reported nine cases of monkeypox -- five from Kerala, four from New Delhi. Chandigarh, Aug 6 : Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Cabinet colleague Harpal Cheema on Saturday appeared in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Aman Inder Singh here in a two-year-old rioting case. The AAP leaders led a party protest in January 2020 against the then Congress government led by Capt Amarinder Singh against the power tariff hike. However, the court had granted exemption from appearance to another Cabinet minister Aman Arora. A case was registered against AAP leaders, including Mann and Cheema, on charges of pelting Chandigarh Police with stones in a demonstration on January 10, 2020. They were booked on charges of rioting, assault and obstructing police from performing their duties near the MLA hostel in Sector 4, Chandigarh. In the previous hearing on March 23, Mann, Cheema and other leaders were asked to appear before the Chief Judicial Magistrate court. Mann was represented by senior advocate Anmol Rattan Sidhu and advocate Pratham Sethi. As per the police, half a dozen police personnel were injured when AAP supporters allegedly started throwing stones at them. Beijing, Aug 6 : Chinese tech conglomerate Alibaba has bid goodbye to nearly 10,000 employees in an effort to cut expenses amid sluggish sales and slowing economy in the country, the media reported on Saturday. According to South China Morning Post, more than 9,241 employees left Hangzhou-based Alibaba during the June quarter, as the company trimmed its overall headcount to 245,700. "That put the total decrease in employee numbers for Alibaba, owner of the South China Morning Post, to 13,616 over the six months to June, marking the firm's first drop in payroll size since March 2016," the report noted. Alibaba reported a 50 per cent drop in net income to 22.74 billion yuan ($3.4 billion) in the June quarter, down from 45.14 billion yuan in the same period last year. "The reduced payroll reflects Alibaba's renewed efforts to cut expenses and drive up efficiency, as it faces continued regulatory pressure, sluggish consumption and a slowing economy in China, the world's biggest e-commerce market," the report noted. Alibaba Chairman and CEO Daniel Zhang Yong said the company will add nearly 6,000 fresh university graduates to its headcount this year. Last month, reports surfaced that billionaire Jack Ma is planning to give up his control of Ant Group amid pressure from the government regulators. According to a report in Wall Street Journal, the move is aimed at part of the fintech giant's effort to move away from affiliate Alibaba Group Holding that is under immense scrutiny from the government. Since last year, Chinese regulatory authorities have been cracking down harder on domestic tech giants like Alibaba and Ant Group to end their dominance in the internet sector. According to the report, Ma could relinquish his control by transferring some of his voting power to other Ant officials, including Chief Executive Eric Jing. Ma has controlled Ant since he carved its precursor assets out of Alibaba more than a decade ago. Founded in 1999, Alibaba went through a major reshuffle when Ma passed the baton as CEO to Daniel Zhang in 2015 and further appointed him as Chairman in 2019. Taipei, Aug 6 : In manoeuvres around Taiwan on Saturday, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is performing "what it believed to be a simulation of an attack on Taiwan's main island", according to the Defence Ministry in Taipei. The Ministry said that numerous military aircraft and warships were operating near Taiwan and some of them had crossed the unofficial centre line in the 130-km-wide Taiwan Strait, which separates the mainland and the island and is mostly respected by both sides, reports dpa news agency. In response, Taiwan's military had sent aircraft, radioed warnings and mobilised missile defence systems to track the Chinese military aircraft. The Mainland Affairs Council, Taiwan's government agency on policy dealings with Beijing, strongly protested China's simulation, asking to immediately stop the irresponsible provocation. China had launched the manoeuvres around the democratic self-governing island in response to the visit by leading US politician Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. It was the highest-ranking visit from the US in a quarter of a century. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and vehemently rejects official contacts between other countries and Taipei. On Friday, the PLA had sent a "record number" of 68 military aircraft and 13 naval vessels into waters near the island, Taiwan's military reported. Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu tweeted his condemnation of what he termed a "dangerous escalation of the military threat" that was "wrecking peace & stability in the region & must be condemned". As part of its military exercises, which are due to end on Sunday, the PLA also launched 11 ballistic missiles in Taiwan's direction, one of which flew directly over the island and passed close to the capital Taipei for the first time, according to reports. Five other missiles landed east of Taiwan in Japan's exclusive economic zone, in a gesture that was widely seen as a warning to Tokyo to stay out of the conflict. China has suspended dialogue with the US on climate action and on certain military matters, while it ceased cooperation on issues such as the fight against organized crime, drugs and the repatriation of illegal immigrants altogether. In addition, Beijing imposed unspecified sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family members, accusing her of "seriously interfering in internal affairs". Speaking in the Philippines, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had no desire to see the escalation of military tensions. He urged Beijing to "focus on the fact that for 40 years plus, we've managed this problem, this challenge well and we've done it in a way that's avoided any conflict". "I think that's the expectations that countries ... around the region and around the world have," he added. "They certainly expect us, the US and China, to manage our differences responsibly and that's what we're determined to do." New Delhi, Aug 6 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP chief J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and MPs from the ruling party and the Opposition cast their votes on Saturday in the Parliament House complex for the election of the new Vice-President of the country. Modi exercised his franchise by reaching Parliament at 10 a.m. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh came in a wheelchair since he is unwell and cast his vote. Several members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh also cast their votes. Voting in the Vice-Presidential election started at 10 a.m. and will continue till 5 p.m. The votes will be counted in the evening itself, and the result is likely to come by 7 p.m. Jagdeep Dhankhar from the NDA and the Opposition's Margaret Alva are in the fray in the Vice-Presidential poll. A total of 788 MPs from both the Houses of Parliament are eligible to vote in the election of the Vice-President. In terms of numbers, NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar is most likely to win, but on the lines of the Presidential election, the BJP is working on a strategy to get more and more MPs' votes so its candidate can win with a big margin. The Trinamool Congress, a major opposition party, has decided to abstain from the Vice Presidential election. Biju Janata Dal (BJD), YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) as well as the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have announced their support for the NDA candidate to ensure a big victory for Dhankhar. Patna, Aug 6 : Bihar JD(U) president Umesh Kushwaha on Saturday served a show cause notice to party leader RCP Singh for "discrepancies in immovable properties registered from 2013 to 2022 in his name and that of his family" and sought to know the source of income to purchase that land. The notice was served to him following a complaint lodged by two party members in Nalanda who levelled serious corruption charges against RCP Singh, before the party's top leadership. The party has asked RCP Singh to clarify how the registries of 58 plots have been done in the names of himself, his daughters - Saharsa SP Lipi Singh and Lata Singh, and family members. The party has mentioned that RCP Singh was associated with Nitish Kumar as a bureaucrat and has served as two time Rajya Sabha MP, party's national president, organisational secretary of the party as well as union minister in the Central government. "As our leader Nitish Kumar works on zero tolerance for corruption policy and he never compromises on it and has not purchased properties despite his long public life, the party is also expecting the same from you. Hence, you have been asked to reply point wise," Kushwaha said in the notice to RCP Singh. As per the details, 12 plots were registered in Saifabad Moja under Islampur block, 12 plots in Kewali block. These two lands were registered in the names of Lipi Singh and Lata Singh in 2013 and 2016 respectively. As per the letter of JD(U), 33 plots in Sherpur Malti Mauja and one in Mohhamadpur were registered in the names of the family members of RCP Singh. As per the documents of the party, Naresh Prasad Singh, a native of Neemchak Bathani in Nalanda had donated land to a person named Dharmendra Kumar on April 28, 2014. The same land was donated further by Dharmendra Kumar to Lipi Singh and Lata Singh. The letter further said that a person named Bindeshwari Saw purchased two plots on September 4 and 15 and sold them to Lipi Singh and Lata Singh. One of the land was sold within 6 days after the registry and another was sold after 8 months. After resigning from the union cabinet, RCP Singh held public meetings in several parts of Bihar. During the meeting, some of his supporters projected him as future chief minister of Bihar which made the top leadership of the party uncomfortable. Bhopal, Aug 6 : A team of the Madhya Pradesh police reached the Congress's state headquarter, Indira Gandhi Bhavan, at Shivaji Nagar here on Saturday. They reached without any prior intimation at 1.30 p.m., just before a delegation of the party led by Vice President MPCC Media Department, Sangeeta Sharma, was set to leave the office to hand over a Tricolour to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat, a source from the party told IANS. The RSS chief, who is currently on a three-day visit to Bhopal, will attend the concluding meet of Vishwa Sangh Siksha Varg. The programme is to infuse Indian values among Hindus living abroad and its concluding ceremony will be held on August 7. The Madhya Pradesh Congress unit had announced on Friday that they will handover a Tricolour to Mohan Bhagwat during his visit to Bhopal on Saturday and as per their plan, the Congress leaders were about to leave, when officials arrived and deployed a heavy police force outside the Congress headquarters. The Bhopal police is yet to make any statement on this issue. The Congress and the BJP has been involved in a verbal faceoff over the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' programme, which is part of the 'Azadi Ka Mahotsav' celebrations. New Delhi, Aug 6 : Amid the ongoing standoff over the contentious liquor policy, a new issue has cropped up between the Delhi government and the LG after the Montenegro consulate complained to the latter about dirty water supply. In a letter to Delhi LG, Honorary Consul General Dr Janice Darbari complained that the Consulate General Office was not getting water supply for the last two days. "The Delhi Jal Board has said that it will send a water tanker, but no action has been taken. The water supply is low and dirty," Dr Darbari complained. Taking cognisance of the matter, LG Vinai Kumar Saxena has immediately directed the chief secretary to resolve the matter. "Received complaint from Consulate of Montenegro regarding non supply of water, unavailability of tankers & dirty water at low pressure by DJB. Directed CS to immediately resolve the issue. Advised CM Arvind Kejriwal ji to address such matters that affect India's image globally", said LG in a tweet. The Consul General has requested Delhi LG Saxena to resolve the matter "as it disrupts the working of the diplomatic Mission in India". New Delhi, Aug 6 : Indian Air Chief Marshal V.R. Chaudhari on Saturday flew three indigenous platforms, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40), which are being inducted into IAF as part of its drive towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. The IAF chief was demonstrated the capabilities of the LCH and HTT-40 as well as updates on the Tejas. He also interacted with the designers and test crew to understand the current status and future plans. He later delivered the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture which was attended by serving & retired officers of IAF, HAL and other stakeholders from the aerospace industry. The IAF chief also spoke on 'Capability and Force Development Plans of IAF' towards making it a future ready combat force. New Delhi, Aug 6 : Over 900 data layers of various Central Ministries and Departments have been uploaded on the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP), as per the ministry of Commerce and Industry. The Government launched PM Gati Shakti in October, 2021 for the development of multimodal connectivity infrastructure to various Economic Zones. PM GatiShakti NMP is a technology enabled GIS platform to support data-based decision making for integrated planning, synchronised implementation, and project monitoring. "Since October, 2021, more than 900 data layers of concerned Central Ministries and Departments have been uploaded on the NMP. Individual portals with necessary data layers, customised tools and functionalities for all concerned Central Ministries and sState governments have been developed," said the ministry. Recently, the Ministry said that PM Gati Shakti is not a scheme, therefore no funds are allocated under it. However, the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure has issued the guidelines for "Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment for 2022-23" on 6 April 2022. Part-II of the Scheme is aimed at facilitating PM Gati Shakti related investment in the States. An amount of Rs 5,000 crore is earmarked for Part-II of the Scheme. States have been sensitised about the guidelines and are in the process of complying with necessary conditions for availing the funding under the scheme, added the ministry. At present, 23 Ministries and Departments at Centre are part of PM Gati Shakti. These ministries include prominent ones like the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Road, Transport & Highways, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Ministry of Power and many others. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan entails creation of a common umbrella platform with all infrastructure projects pertaining to various Ministries incorporated within a comprehensive database for efficient planning and implementation on a real-time basis. Uploading of data (geo-coordinates of projects) by Ministries on the National Master Plan portal is intended to reduce duplication of efforts and promote adoption of integrated approach for planning of projects and their synchronised implementation. August 06 : Filmmaker and producer Karan Johar pens an appreciation note for dapper star Ranveer Singh, which is not about promotion, agenda or occasion, just a heartfelt praise from a filmmaker to the most versatile actor on the block. Karan Johar took to his social media profile and dropped a gorgeous monochrome picture of Ranveer Singh, who has been facing a lot back lashes for his nude photoshoot, and wrote, SoThere is no occasion no marketing agendano launch coming up! Nothing! This is just a feeling I have which I feel like sharing with everyone! I have grown to love Ranveer Singh! The man! The person! The Ball of love that he is! His ability to make everyone he meets feel so specialthe love that he exudes and that consumes his being and his entire aurahis passion to express every little gesture of love Over the period of my film I have observed him closely and at a distance as to what a solid guy he is! Yes he has his idiosyncrasies as an artist but thats what we see translate so beautifully on celluloid! So hes allowed On a personal level I have been so touched on so many instances just by his generosity of spirit! I love you Ranveer! Never lose sight of that good bacha you were raised to be added Karan. Karan Johar has been vocal about his praises and appreciation for Ranveer Singh and vice-versa. The duo has collaborated on various projects in different capacity. Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani also stars Alia Bhatt, Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan, and Shabana Azmi. This is the first full-length feature film Karan has directed since the 2016 movie Ae Dil Hai Mushkil. Los Angeles, Aug 6 : Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein's latest hearing in his sexual assault case was delayed when a flood caused a lockdown at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, the Los Angeles prison where he is currently behind bars. "Just a routine delay," one of Weinstein's attorneys, Mark Werksman, told members of the media who were sitting in the courtroom, reports 'Variety' "My client, on the payphone, is still in his cell," Weinstein's attorney said at 9:29 a.m., asking for an update from the bailiff, who was on the phone with the prison, trying to arrange transportation for Weinstein to be escorted to the courthouse for the hearing. "It is my understanding," Judge Lisa B. Lench began, "That there was a flood at Twin Towers where Mr. Weinstein is housed. It is now 9:40." The hearing was originally scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. It was the latest court date, leading up to Weinstein's long-awaited Los Angeles sexual assault and rape trial. Judge Lench pushed the hearing to August 10 but first dealt with a few matters regarding the defense's subpoenas to witnesses. Earlier this week, in another hearing for the case, Judge Lench ruled to limit the amount of information that could be obtained by Weinstein's defense team for the upcoming trial, approving the prosecution's motion to quash subpoenas from four witnesses for their correspondence, including personal emails and texts dating as far back as 2004 with one of the alleged victims. At that hearing, however, the judge said she wouldn't prevent the defense from serving future subpoenas to victims and would not ask them to notify the prosecution in advance of their attempts to serve. On Friday morning, discussions got a bit heated with the prosecution objecting to Weinstein's attorney, Alan Jackson, who argued that the defense has the right to subpoena witnesses without giving advanced notice to the prosecution. "As much as Mr. Thompson would love us to hand him our playbook, that's not the law. We're entitled to an investigation," Jackson said, speaking of lead sex crimes prosecutor Paul Thompson, who argued the the defense's subpoenas have been "vastly over-broad." "It can have the effect of harassing witnesses and the victims," Thompson said, explaining his objection. The prosecution argued that Weinstein's attorneys have not made "any remote attempt to narrow the scope of what they're asking for in what is possibly relevant in this case,a so that if "something completely irrelevant" is asked of a witness of a victim, "we can't unring the bell. "I don't know whether they're over-broad," the judge told Jackson. "I have no idea because I don't know until I get documents. At some point in time, there has to be an opportunity for an objection to be made, if one is justified." Weinstein is scheduled to go on trial on October 10 in L.A. He faces 11 charges of rape and sexual assault from five women. Bengaluru, Aug 6 : Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai is set to hold a video conference with Deputy Commissioners and other senior officials of the rain-affected districts on Saturday. Chief Minister Bommai is under isolation after testing positive for Covid-19. He is scheduled to chair the meeting from his RT Nagar residence, seek details of the havoc caused by incessant rains and issue directions for effective rescue and relief measures. The DCs of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru, Davangere, Tumakuru, Ramnagar, Yadgir, Koppala, Haveri, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Gadag and Chikkamagaluru would participate in the meeting. Due to the incessant rains, a three-story building collapsed in the busy Chikkapet locality of Bengaluru in the wee hours of Saturday. The building houses three cloth shops on the ground floor. However, no loss of life is reported as there was no one when the incident happened. More than 10 families have been shifted by local authorities from Muttalli near Bhatkal in Uttara Kannada district following landslides. The heavy rains are pounding the Bhatkal region and CM Bommai had recently visited to take stock of the situation. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy rains in 27 districts of the state on Saturday. As many as six districts have been put on red alert, orange alert has been issued for 11 districts and yellow alert for 10 districts. YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS. Ned Price, the spokesperson of the US Department of State, presented details about the telephone conversations of the Secretary of State Antony Blinken with the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. ARMENPRESS reports in the conversation with Prime Minister Pashinyan, Blinken assured that "the United States is closely following the situation in and around Nagorno Karabakh". "He called for direct dialogue between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve issues related to or arising from Nagorno Karabakh," Price said in a statement. In the telephone conversation with the president of Azerbaijan, Blinken "called for de-escalation", again urging to start a direct dialogue with Armenia. Mumbai, Aug 6 : In another shocker, a woman was brutally gang-raped in Maharashtra's Bhandara, sparking a political war between the ruling Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis regime and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. According to the police, the victim, aged around 35, was sexually assaulted between July 30 and August 2 near Kanhadmoh village under the Kardha police station in Bhandara district. She was dumped by the assailants near the highway where some villagers noticed her, naked and bleeding profusely from serious injuries, and alerted the police. The police rushed her first to a local hospital in Bhandara but as her wounds were deep, she was shifted to the Nagpur government hospital where she has undergone a surgery. However, her condition is still critical. The Chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Women, Rupali, took serious cognisance of the incident, while other leaders compared it to the decade-old Nirbhaya incident of Delhi. Following an uproar, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a woman IPS officer to probe the case, which he termed as "a serious and gruesome incident". As per the preliminary police probe, at least three persons were involved in the crime of which two have been traced and picked up for questioning, details of which are not immediately available. The Bhandara Police are scouring the CCTV footages on the Bhandara-Gondiya highway besides launching a manhunt for the one or more persons who may have been involved in the crime in the district and the adjoining areas. Hyderabad, Aug 6 : Pressure is mounting on the authorities of Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge and Technologies (RGUKT) at Telangana's Basar town to take action after a video clip of two workers taking bath inside the kitchen of one of the messes went viral. Students and parents were shocked to see the video, which shows the workers taking bath inside the kitchen of one of the three messes on the campus of RGUKT, popularly known as IIIT Basar. Some students who captured the video of the workers taking bath uploaded it on social media. Some mess workers were allegedly using the kitchen for bathing and washing their clothes. Though the authorities issued a notice to the mess contractor, the students are demanding stringent action as this posed a serious health hazard. Reacting to the video clip, NSUI Telangana unit president Venkat Balmoor on Saturday termed it as degrading and disgusting. He wanted to know when Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao and the Education Minister will be jolted to the ground reality and help the students by resolving their concerns. The students are already agitated over frequent incidents of food poisoning. The latest incident has added to their concern. Some students who posted the video on Twitter tagged the Telangana Governor, Education Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, IT minister K.T. Rama Rao and others. The campus has seen a series of incidents of food poisoning. In the latest incident, nearly 100 students fell ill on August 3. Ten of them were admitted to hospitals while others were treated on the campus. They had developed symptoms of food poisoning. Earlier on July 15, over 100 students had fallen ill with complains of vomiting and loose motion. Some of them even fell unconscious. This incident came less than a month after students staged a week-long protest demanding better quality food, drinking water and other amenities. The students had complained that the food being served in the hostel mess was of poor quality. They alleged that on several occasions, small insects and frogs were found in the hostel food. They had called off their week-long protest on June 21 after Education Minister Indra Reddy visited the institute and gave an assurance that their problems will be solved in a phased manner. A delegation of students had met Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan in Hyderabad on August 3 and brought to her notice the problems faced by them. Kolkata: TMC leader Partha Chatterjee being brought to Joka ESI hospital for medical examination, in Kolkata on Sunday, July 31, 2022. (Photo: Kuntal Chakrabarty/IANS) Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, Aug 6 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the multi-crore teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal has come across as many as 50 banks accounts held individually or jointly by prime accused Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee. The agency officials have contacted all the bank authorities concerned and asked for statement details, following which they will be sent for forensic audit. Meanwhile, the ED sleuths have come across another shell company in this connection, in which the names of directors were changed a number of times ever since it was floated on March 23, 2012. The address of the said company, Ananta Texfab Private Limited, is Club Town Heights, Block 5, Flat 8A, 14 B.T. Road, Kolkata 700056. Incidentally, this is also the address of Arpita Mukherjee's flat from where the ED sleuths had recovered huge stash of cash and gold on July 28. As per the ED, when the corporate entity was floated on March 23, 2012, its three directors were Partha Chatterjee's deceased wife, late Babli Chatterjee, daughter Sohini (Bhattacharya) Chatterjee and son-on-law Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya. In 2016, the names of the daughter and wife were removed from the list of directors and Arpita Mukherjee's name was included. However, as per Corporate Affairs Ministry records, currently the two existing directors of the company are Mrinmoy Malakar and Ranesh Kumar Singh. "The names of directors changing so frequently points at something fictitious in this entity. Probably this is another shell company which was used to divert funds to different channels. Now we are trying to detect the identity of the two current directors, Mrinmoy Malakar and Ranesh Kumar Singh, and their links with Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee," an ED official said. ED has summoned Sohini (Bhattacharya) Chatterjee and Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya for questioning in this connection. Both are currently settled in the US and the ED has sent an email communique to them asking them to reach Kolkata at the earliest. Director: Hanu Raghavapudi Film: Sita Ramam; Duration: 160 minutes (Releasing in theatres) Director: Hanu Raghavapudi Cast: Dulquer Salmaan, Mrunal Thakur, Rashmika Mandanna, Prakash Raj, Gautham Vasudev Menon, Yarlagadda Sumanth Kumar, Bhoomika Chawla, Vennela Kishore, Tarun Bhaskar, Murali Sharma and Sunil. IANS Rating: **** By Manigandan K.R. Director Hanu Raghavapudi's 'Sita Ramam' is just a brilliantly-crafted, beautiful love story that leaves you completely overwhelmed by the time you walk out of the theatre. The film, which has all the makings of a timeless classic, tells the love story of Lieutenant Ram, played by Dulquer, an officer of the Indian army who was serving in Kashmir in the sixties, and Sita, a princess who was willing to relinquish everything, including her wealth and title, for the sake of his love. The story slowly unravels itself as Afreen (Rashmika Mandanna), a Pakistani student studying in the UK, is forced to embark on a journey to deliver a letter written by Ram to Sita almost 20 years ago. She is entrusted with the job of delivering the letter by her late grandfather, Pakistan Brigadier Tariq, played by Sachin Khedekar. Afreen, who appears to be a feminist and a jingoist, whole-heartedly hates India and therefore, grudingly begins her search for Sita. The journey, however, opens her eyes to truths that she was blind to initially and makes her see the power of love, compassion and kindness. Director Hanu Raghavapudi does a magnificent job of narrating a touching romantic story capable of melting the hearts of even the most cynical people. The film has much to offer, both as a visual spectacle and as a treasure trove of noble ideas. Though' the film might initially come across like just another classic rich girl falls for poor boy kind of story, in reality, it is much more than that. It is a story that is full of small incidents or interactions that showcase various qualities that deserve praise. It also dispels myths along the way, in its own sweet non-imposing manner. Take for instance, the scene in the film in which Ram, who does not know his Sita is actually a princess, attempts to convince her that she does not have to worry if he has the means to provide for her because he has a princely sum of Rs 12,000 in his bank account. It is just a beautiful sequence that evokes laughter and admiration both at the same time. Laughter at Ram's ignorance and admiration at his sincerity. The film has breathtaking visuals from the start till the end. Every single scene is picture perfect. Be it the lighting, the choice of colours, the designs or the frame, there is very little to complain about. Both cinematographers P.S. Vinod and Shreyaas Krishna seem to have done outstanding work in the film. So good is their work that 'Sita Ramam' can be watched just for its visuals alone! Vishal Chandrashekar's music, be it for the background score or for the songs, work big time. The songs in this film have considerable retention value and that credit must go entirely to Vishal. His background score is also apt. Dulquer, like always, delivers a fantastic performance in the film. He charms his way into your heart and rules it like a king by the time the film ends. But it is Mrunal Thakur who steals the show. She looks the part and plays it to perfection. She displays the class of royalty and the compassion of a kind-hearted noble soul simultaneously with commendable ease. While her attire and attitude indicates royalty, her eyes are full of compassion and kindness. Her demure nature perfectly complements the playful and flamboyant nature of Ram and they make an ideal pair together. Rashmika Mandanna as Afreen showcases a new facet of her acting. She plays a woman who is self-centred, unforgiving and hateful at first but turns into a person forgiving and loving at the end. Rashmika showcases both personalities quite well. Almost all the actors deliver in this film. Special mention of Vennela Kishore and Murali Sharma, must be made, who played their parts to perfection yet again. In all, 'Sita Ramam' is a work of perfection and deserves to be celebrated. -- Syndicated from IANS Chennai, Aug 6 : Actor Prakash Raj on Saturday announced that his Prakash Raj Foundation has donated a free ambulance for the poor in memory of late Kannada actor Puneeth Rajkumar. Taking to Twitter, Prakash Raj, who originally comes from the Kannada film industry but is an integral part of several other industries such as Tamil and Telugu, said: "Appu Xpress -- Donated a free ambulance for the needy in memory of our dear Puneeth Rajkumar .. a Prakash Raj Foundation initiative. The joy of giving back to life." Actor Puneeth Rajkumar was fondly referred to by family, friends and fans as Appu. Prakash Raj's donation comes close on the heels of the Karnataka government announcing that it would be honouring the late actor with the prestigious 'Karnataka Ratna' award on November 1. Puneet Rajkumar will be the tenth recipient of the award, which happens to be the state's highest civilian honour. The award is to be conferred on the late actor on the day of the Kannada Rajyotsava. Colombo, Aug 6 : Amid pressure from its immediate neighbour India, Sri Lanka has urged China to delay the entry of controversial Chinese ship 'Yuan Wang 5' into the Chinese controlled port in Southern Hambantota. In a letter to the Chinese Embassy in Colombo, the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka stated, "The Ministry wishes to request that the arrival date of the vessel Yuan Wang 5 in Hambantota to be deferred until further consultation is made on this matter." Referring to the permission given on July 12 allowing the Chinese ship to enter the Hambantota Port, the Foreign Ministry said, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka presents its compliments to the Embassy of People's Republic of China in Colombo and has the honour to refer to the Ministry's Note No. PR/0640/2022 dated July 12, 2022 conveying the clearances for the visit of the vessel Yuan Wang 5 to enter the Port of Hambantota for replenishment purposes." Weeks ahead of the visit of the Chinese 'spy' ship, India had expressed its concern with the government of Sri Lanka. India had cautioned that it monitors closely all the developments with regard to her security, in the backdrop of the arrival of Chinese 'research' vessel which was planned to reach Hambantota on August 11. According to a bilateral agreement signed in 1987, no Sri Lankan port can be allowed to be used for military purposes by any country in a manner prejudicial to India's interests. In response to India's concern, Sri Lanka had earlier stated that the visit of the Chinese ship was only for "refuelling and replenishing of other facilities and provisions". "The ship or members of its crew will not involve in any internal affairs or business in Sri Lanka. China and India have always helped Sri Lanka domestically and in the international fora as true friends," Cabinet spokesman and Media Minister Bandula Gunawarndena had stated. "Sri Lanka would not do anything to harm the good understanding and trust existing between the two countries for millennia. Under no circumstances would Sri Lanka act detrimental to the interests of India or China as both nations have been Sri Lanka's friends-in-need and have stood alongside Sri Lanka at all times," he had said. New Delhi, Aug 6 : For Chinese processing and manufacturing enterprises that originally tried to make India an overseas product-processing centre, if it is indeed increasingly difficult and unprofitable to operate in the country, then withdrawing from India is also an available option, state-run Global Times has said. The Indian government is looking into cases of alleged tax evasion by three Chinese mobile companies -- OPPO, Vivo India and Xiaomi. "Frequent investigations by the Indian side into Chinese enterprises not only disrupt those companies' normal business activities, but also impedes the improvement of business environment in India and chills the confidence and willingness of market entities, especially Chinese enterprises, to invest and operate in India," read a commentary in the publication. Since April 2020, out of 382 foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals the central government received from Chinese firms, India approved only 80 as on June 29. "The number presents the increasingly difficult business environment facing Chinese investment and companies doing business in India," the report said. Some manufacturers have turned their eyes to Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam after withdrawing from India. "Faced with competition from Vietnam, India should no longer set obstacles for its manufacturing development, and should stop carrying out crackdown on Chinese investment," the report added. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the China-India trade is on course to cross $100 billion for the second consecutive year as it has gone up to $67.1 billion in the first half of 2022. "Hopefully India can provide a fair and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese investors, which will be mutually beneficial to both Chinese enterprises and India's manufacturing ambitions," the commentary read. OPPO India, Xiaomi India and Vivo India were served notices by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for duty evasion, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha this week. A show-cause notice demanding Rs 4,403.88 crore has been served to OPPO Mobiles India Ltd based on an investigation conducted by the DRI, while five cases of Customs duty evasion have been registered against Xiaomi Technology India, Sitharaman said in a written reply. The DRI detected customs duty evasion of around Rs 2,217 crore by Vivo Mobile India Private Ltd. A show-cause notice has been issued to Vivo India demanding customs duty amounting to Rs 2,217 crore, under the provisions of the Customs Act. Bagalkot : , Aug 6 (IANS) The police in Karnataka have arrested a woman for getting her adopted son killed with the help of her sons-in-law and lover in Bagalkot district. The deceased youth has been identified as Vasantha Malingappa Kuruballi (24). The police have arrested four persons in connection with the incident -- Kamalavva, her sons-in-law Sindhoora Beeranna and Bheemappa Malali, and the woman's lover and Beeranna's father, Ninganna. According to the police, Kamalavva had lodged an FIR one month ago, alleging that Vasantha had disappeared. The police later found his decomposed body abandoned in a gunny bag. As the police got suspicious about the role of Kamalavva in the murder of her adopted son, they questioned her, which revealed that since the victim questioned her affair with the father of her son-in-law and also asked for his share in the property, she got him killed. In the wee hours of June 19, the accused smashed the victim's chest with a boulder and later smothered him to death. They also damaged his private part. Then they put his body in a gunny bag and threw it into a canal in Belagavi district, the police said. Kamalavva then went to the police station and lodged a missing complaint. Bhopal, Aug 6 : The people of Bundelkhand have also made a major contribution to the freedom struggle of the country. Chhatarpur district's Charan Paduka area had witnessed a bloodbath similar to Punjab's Jallianwala Bagh on the orders of British political agent Fisher. On January 14, 1931, when people gathered in Charan Paduka to protest against the taxes imposed by the colonial administration and were planning an agitation, Fisher gave orders to fire in which 21 freedom fighters were martyred. It was a major agitation whose leaders Pandit Ram Sahai Tiwari and Heera Singh had already been arrested by the colonial police. This incident is reminiscent of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre as on April 13, 1919, people protesting against the Rowlatt Act were fired upon on the orders of General Dyer in which hundreds of people were killed. Charan Paduka area lies on the banks of Urmila river and when the order to fire was given, many people jumped into the river leading to the river's water turning red. At that place, a fair is held and tributes are paid to the martyrs. Bundelkhand senior journalist Ravindra Vyas said the situation here is like "shaheedon ki chitaon par lagenge har baras mele" (fairs will be held on the pyres of martyrs every year), where on Makar Sankranti a fair is held and people ranging from political parties to social organisations come to pay tributes. This area has not got an identity at the state or country level. In 1930, Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi's non-cooperation movement was at its peak and his Dandi March had posed a challenge to the colonial rulers. At that time people in Bundelkhand were also uniting to fight for the freedom of the country. People were angry with the colonial police and it was evident at the Mahrajpur assembly too. The district magistrate was present there but his presence had an adverse effect on the protestors and they started pelting stones at his car. After this, cases were filed against many people post which many of them were slapped with fines and others were jailed. This year, the country is celebrating 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' but till date, not even a single memorial has been built for the martyrs of Charan Paduka. There is a pillar on which a torch is visible, that is the only identity of the place. Promises were made many times but not fulfilled. Guwahati, Aug 6 : A young wushu player and boxer from Assam's Moranhat who was jailed for allegedly supporting the banned outfit United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) has been granted by a court, an official said on Saturday. Maina Chutia, 23, was arrested for allegedly commenting on a Facebook post, written in favour of ULFA-I. Superintendent of police of Charaideo district, Yuvraj Saurav told IANS that Chutia had showed her willingness through social media to join ULFA-I and she was arrested as per the law of the land. It has been alleged that she had written on Facebook: "If I get any link, I will join ULFA. I love ULFA-I." A lower court in Charaideo district on Friday granted bail to Chutia. She spent more than one-and-a-half months in the jail. Her comment on Facebook had come under the scanner of the cyber cell of police and a team from the Moranhat police station went to the athlete's house and arrested her on June 17. After walking out of jail, Chutia said: "It was tough to spend so many days in jail, but could learn a few good things there." As per reports, she would be participating in a wushu tournament slated to be held from Sunday in Guwahati. It is to be noted that, Barshashree Buragohain, a college student from Jorhat was also in jail for "supporting" ULFA-I. She was granted bail recently by the Gauhati High Court. However, another youth from Sivsagar district, Bitupan Changamai is still in jail for commenting on Barshashree's Facebook post. YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS. US Congresswoman Lori Trehan called on the United States and allied countries to condemn the latest violence against Artsakh by Azerbaijan, ARMENPRESS reports, she wrote on her "Twitter" page. I've heard from many Armenian Americans in Massachusetts who are rightly outraged by Azerbaijan's latest violent attack that has led to tragic and unnecessary loss of life. The U.S. and our allies must condemn this violence and work diplomatically to prevent future escalation, she wrote. New Delhi, Aug 6 : The government had informed the Lok Sabha on Friday that Malaysia is procuring 18 Tejas fighter jets while the US, Argentina, Australia, Egypt, Indonesia and Philippines too have shown interest to procure the light combat aircraft (LCA). Last year, the Indian government had awarded a Rs 48,000 crore contract to state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for manufacturing 83 Tejas jets to be delivered by 2023. The indigenous Tejas fighter jet was in the news recently after becoming Malaysia's first choice. This Indian aircraft competed with the developed aircraft of China, Russia and South Korea, and due to its features, it overshadowed all the aircraft. Defence expert Qamar Agha said that if compared to Sukhoi, Tejas is much lighter. "Tejas is fully capable of carrying a load of eight to nine tonnes. It can fly with as many weapons and missiles as Sukhoi, which weighs more. Its biggest advantage is its speed. Despite being light, its speed is unmatched. These aircraft can fly as fast as the speed of sound, i.e., Mach 1.6 to 1.8, up at an altitude of 52,000 feet," he said. Agha added: "The Tejas Mark-1A is also costlier than the Sukhoi-30MKI fighter aircraft because many latest equipment have been added to it. For example, it has radar developed in Israel. Apart from this, the aircraft also has an indigenously developed radar. It is very light and its fighter power is also better. It is a multifunctional fighter aircraft." Tejas is fitted with an active electronically-scanned radar for critical operation capability. It can refuel in the air and be ready for war again. It can target enemy aircraft from a distance. Not only this, it also has the ability to dodge the enemy's radar. "At a time when there is a shortage of fighter jets in the Indian Air Force fleet, Tejas should be welcomed," the defence expert said. Tejas made its first flight in January 2001. The aircraft was inducted into the squadron of the Indian Air Force in 2016. Dhanbad : , Aug 6 (IANS) A special CBI court here on Saturday sentenced both the men convicted of the sensational murder of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Dhanbad, Uttam Anand, who was mowed down while out a morning walk, to life in jail for remainder of their natural life without any remission. The court also imposed fine of Rs 30,000 each on Lakhan Kumar Verma and Rahul Kumar Verma, who were convicted by the court on July 28 - exactly an year after the crime. Anand was on a morning walk on July 28, 2021 when he was mowed down deliberately by an auto-rickshaw, seriously injured, and succumbed during treatment. The gory visuals caught on CCTV had created an outrage across the nation and drawn the attention of the Supreme Court, which took up the case suo moto, and ordered the Jharkhand High Court to monitor the trial. The state government had handed over the probe to the CBI, which had registered the case on August 4, 2021. The case was earlier registered by State police on a complaint from Anand's wife and two accused were arrested by local police. After taking over the investigation of the said case, the CBI constituted a Special Investigation Team. After thorough investigation, covering all the possible aspects, the CBI filed a charge sheet on October 20, 2021 against both accused. As many as 58 prosecution witnesses were examined in the trial was completed in six months, while the entire investigation and trial was completed within record time of around one year from the said incident. Moscow, Aug 6 : Russia has asked the UN and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to make Ukraine stop the "shelling" of Europes largest nuclear power plant. Moscow accused Ukrainian troops of firing artillery shells at the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant in the country's southern Zaporozhye Region on Friday, RT reported. The plant was seized by Russian forces in late February, when Moscow launched its military campaign in the neighboring country. The facility continues to operate with Ukrainian staff under Russian control. Igor Vishnevetsky, a senior non-proliferation and arms control official at the Russian Foreign Ministry, warned that the shelling of the plant risks triggering an event similar to the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, RT reported. According to the Russian Defence Ministry, "parts of the equipment" at the plant are out of power due to the shelling, and a fire broke out at the facility and was quickly put out. The ministry claimed that "by sheer luck", the Ukrainian shells did not cause a bigger fire and "a possible nuclear disaster". The ministry said that Ukrainian troops also shelled the adjacent city of Energodar, causing power outages and disruptions of water supply. The ministry called on the international community to condemn Ukraine for "the acts of nuclear terrorism". Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky claimed that the shelling of the plant came from Russian troops. "It is not only yet another reason why Russia should be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism, but also a reason to impose tough sanctions on all of Russia's nuclear power industry," Zelensky said on Friday. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Guwahati, Aug 6 : Banned militant outfits United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) and a Yung Aug-led faction of the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang) have called for a 'total boycott' of the celebrations of India's 75th Independence Day in five northeastern states. The groups also called for observing a general strike in five northeastern states -- Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya. In a joint statement, the militant outfits told people "at all levels" not to participate in all forms of 'fake' Independence Day activities. "Our protest calling for a boycott of the fake Independence Day of colonial India will be a total shutdown from 00.00 hours to 18:00 hours on August 15," the statement said. It said that the Covid-19 pandemic has crippled the socio-economic development of the entire world as well as the West-Southeast Asian (WeSEA) region and thousands of indigenous farming families have lost ther homes due to floods and landslides. "After 75 years of so-called Independence, the indigenous people are suffering from debt, GST, soaring prices of essential commodities, and hundreds of other problems. It is unfair, historically irrelevant, and worthless for a state, which is unable to stand by the suffering people in such a time of declining living standards, to celebrate its 76th pretentious Independence Day on August 15," the statement said. The ULFA-I, which during the past one year has twice extended the unilateral ceasefire and also refrained from calling bandh and boycott during last year's Independence Day, and this year's Republic Day celebrations, recently recruited some youth as its armed cadres. Kolkata, Aug 6 : A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) trooper, deployed at the Indian Museum at the busy Park Street crossing, on Saturday opened indiscriminate fire from his AK-47 rifle, killing a colleague and injuring another one critically, police said. After the incident, the rogue trooper hid within the museum premises with his weapon. Commandos of Kolkata Police and other CISF officers and troopers have totally cordoned the Museum area, and used microphones to ask the killer CISF trooper to surrender. City Police Commissioner, Vineet Goyel, sporting a bullet-proof jacket and metal head-gear, also reached the spot. This is the second case of a shooting by a security personnel on a Kolkata street in the last three months. On June 10, a Kolkata Police constable, deputed for security of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission at busy Park Circus, opened fire with his Insas rifle, killing one woman, before committing suicide. Hotan : , Aug 6 (IANS) Authorities in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region used the Chinese governments 100-day crackdown on criminals and fugitives to target Uyghurs deemed "religious extremists" and "two-faced", a police officer said, as per media reports. The anti-crime campaign elsewhere in China focused on crimes like theft, while in Xinjiang officers sought to catch allegedly disloyal Uyghurs, officials said, RFA reported. Authorities focused on "operations against evil forces" in Hotan, the police officer said. "'Evil forces' refer to people who take criminals under their wings. Here our main targets in eliminating evil forces are those people who took people who preached religion illegally under their wings, protecting them from being prosecuted. The people they took under their wings also include separatists, extremists and two-faced people," he told RFA. "Pickpockets and thieves are in the periphery of our target in this operation. The main targets are the ones I mentioned earlier," he said. Xinjiang's Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities have been subjected to severe human rights abuses, torture and forced labor, as well as the eradication of their linguistic, cultural and religious traditions in what the United States and several Western parliaments have called genocide and crimes against humanity, RFA reported. Chinese authorities have detained up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in internment camps since 2017, according to numerous investigative reports by researchers, think tanks and foreign media. China has said that the camps were vocational training centers meant to deter religious extremism and terrorism, and that they are now closed. Gurugram, Aug 6 : A retired woman IAS officer was reportedly duped of around Rs 2 lakh on the pretext of online home delivery of liquor in Gurugram. Based on a complaint received through the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), an FIR has been registered at the city's cybercrime police station (east), the police said. The complainant, Zohra Chatterji, a resident of Sushant Lok, told the police that on July 23 she placed an online order for liquor through the website jagdishwineshopgurgaon.com for a party at her place. As she was busy in guest arrangements, she shared the credit card number and one time password (OTP) with the caller in a hurry. "Thereafter I got an SMS that Rs 630 was debited through my credit card, but soon after I found that Rs 1,92,477.50 was debited from my card," the woman stated in her complaint. Based on her complaint, an FIR has been registered against unknown fraudsters under Sections 419 (cheating by impersonation) and 420 (cheating) of IPC and Section 66-D of Information Technology Act at the cybercrime police station, the police said. "The matter is under investigation. We will take technical support to nab the criminals," said Bijender Kumar, SHO of cybercrime police station. Recently, the police had nabbed three members of a gang who duped a man of over Rs 1 lakh by promising to deliver liquor at his home. New Delhi, Aug 6 : Opposition nominee for Vice President Margaret Alva on Saturday congratulated her contender -- NDA-backed candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar, after the latter emerged victorious in the Vice-Presidential election. She said: "This election is over. The battle for protecting our constitution, strengthening our democracy & restoring the dignity of Parliament, will continue." She thanked all the leaders of the Opposition, and MPs from across parties who voted for her in this election and all the volunteers for their selfless service "during our short but intense campaign". She said the election was an opportunity for the Opposition to work together, to leave the past behind and build trust amongst each other. "Unfortunately, some opposition parties chose to directly or indirectly support the BJP, in an attempt to derail the idea of a united opposition. It is my belief that by doing so, these parties and their leaders have damaged their own credibility," she added The Election Commission announced former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar's victory at a press conference after the counting of votes. As the term of incumbent Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu ends on August 10, the members of both houses of the Parliament on Saturday voted to elect the country's 16th Vice-President. Utpal Kumar Singh, returning officer for the vice presidential election, said that of total 780 electors, only 725 voted for the vice presidential poll. Of total 725 votes, 15 votes were found invalid and 710 votes valid. As per the Election Commission, Dhankhar secured a total of 528 first preference votes, while Alva got only 182 votes. Meanwhile, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot also congratulated Dhankhar. In a tweet, he said: "Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Jagdeep Dhankhar on being elected as the Vice-President of India. "People of Rajasthan are happy that Jagdeep Dhankhar has become the second Vice-President from Rajasthan after Bhairon Singh Shekhawat," he added. Kolkata, Aug 6 : A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) trooper, who opened indiscriminate fire with his AK-47 rifle on Saturday evening, killing a colleague and critically injuring another, was neutralised and apprehended after over an hour-long operation by a joint team of Kolkata Police commandos and the paramilitary force, police said. The entire operation was led by the city Police Commissioner, Vineet Goyel himself who rushed to the crime spot at the Indian Museum, at the busy Park Street, immediately sporting a bullet-proof jacket and metal headgear. The killed CISF personnel was identified as Assistant Sub Inspector identified as Ranjit Sarongi. The injured CISF officer, admitted to the state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital, has been identified as Subir Ghosh, an Assistant Commandant rank officer. Police or the CISF authorities are yet to disclose the identity of the killer jawan, who had taken cover in the museum after his shooting spree. On getting the news, commandos of Kolkata Police and other CISF officers and troopers cordoned the Museum area, and used microphones to ask the trooper to surrender. A city police source said that the joint team first identified the area in the museum area where jawan was hiding. After that, electrical connections to the entire block was snapped. Then a Kolkata Police commando fired tear gas shells, which forced the killer jawan to come out in the open, following which he was quickly neutralised by the combat force commandos and apprehended. Speaking to media persons, the Commissioner of Police said that the killer jawan was caught without any increase in the number of casualties. "At least 15 rounds were fired. We are investigating the reason why he resorted to indiscriminate firing. Prima facie it seems that he was suffering from mental depression," he said. A senior city police official said that fortunately the firing happened after the Indian Museum gates were closed for the visitors and many staff of the museum had left. "Otherwise, the number of casualties would have been much more," he said. This is the second case of a shooting by a security personnel on a Kolkata street in the last three months. On June 10, a Kolkata Police constable, deputed for security of Bangladesh Deputy High Commission at busy Park Circus, opened fire with his Insas rifle, killing one woman, before committing suicide. Amaravati, Aug 6 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president and former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday called on President, Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. This was Naidu's first meeting with Murmu after she was elected as the President last month. The TDP had extended its support to her. Chandrababu Naidu was in Delhi to attend the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav meeting chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. After meeting Murmu, the TDP chief said it was a courtesy call to congratulate her on her victory as the President of India. He said that the TDP extended unconditional support to her and all the party MPs and MLAs voted in her favour. Murmu had visited Amaravati on July 12 as part of her election campaign. The TDP had organised an interaction with the party MPs, MLAs and MLCs. Speaking on this occasion, Chandrababu Naidu had heaped praise on Murmu and termed her life as exceptional. She would be an inspiration to the downtrodden sections of society for leading a simple life, Naidu felt. After meeting Murmu on Saturday, Naidu attended the meeting on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav held at Rashtrapati Bhavan chaired by APrime Minister Modi. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Central government to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of its people, culture and achievements. The Mahotsav commenced on March 12 last year to mark the 75-week countdown to the 75th anniversary of independence and will end on August 15, 2023. This is the first time Chandrababu Naidu was invited by the Centre for an official meeting in the national capital since the TDP lost power in Andhra Pradesh in 2019. The TDP had pulled out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2018, protesting the Centre's refusal to grant Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. Naidu-led party had joined hands with the Congress party for 2019 elections but it lost the power to YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in Andhra Pradesh. In recent times, Naidu dropped hints that he is ready to once again ally with the BJP. The saffron party's state leadership, however, remained cold to the proposal. YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS. The US Department of State should use all its diplomatic tools to hold Azerbaijan's leadership accountable for the attacks against Artsakh, ARMENPRESS reports US Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky said. "Azerbaijan should be held accountable for once again violating the ceasefire agreement with Armenia. I call on the Department of State to use all its diplomatic tools to hold Aliyev's regime accountable for the attacks against Artsakh and to prevent further massacres," Schakowsky wrote on her Twitter page. New Delhi, Aug 6 : Amid rising Covid cases on daily basis, the Centre on Saturday wrote to seven states reporting rising infections, asking them to ensure adequate testing, and promote Covid-appropriate behaviour. In a letter to Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said: "Upcoming months are likely to witness mass gatherings in context of various festivities to be held in different parts of the country, leading to large number of individuals undertaking intra- and inter-state journey or congregating at same places." Noting that this may potentially facilitate transmission of infectious diseases, including Covid-19, he said that it is critical to ensure adequate testing is undertaken in all the districts of the state while maintaining the recommended share of RT-PCR and rapid antigen tests. "The state must also closely monitor districts reporting higher cases, positivity rates and clusters to prevent further spread of infection and effective case management. "ln view of some changes in symptoms and clinical manifestation of the disease, it is crucial to monitor and report district wise lnfluenza-like illness (lLl) & SARI cases in all health facilities as per the guidelines, on a regular basis for detecting early warning signals of the spread of infection," he underlined in the letter. The Genome Sequencing of prescribed samples of international passengers as well as collection of samptes from sentinel sites (identified health facilities) and local cluster of new Covid-19 cases is equally important, he added. The Centre has also asked these states to increase the pace of vaccination for all eligible population and accelerate the administration of free precaution doses. These states have also been advised to diligently follow the five-fold strategy, 'Test-Track- Treat-Vaccinate and adherence to Covid Appropriate Behaviour within the community. --IANS avr/vd A Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Nagpur, Aug 6 : In a shocking incident, a woman was brutally gang-raped for over four days in Gondiya district, sparking a political war of words between the ruling Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis regime and the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, here on Saturday. According to Gondiya Police, the victim, aged around 35 years and working as a maid, was sexually assaulted between July 30 and August 2 by at least three persons near Kanhadmoh village under the Goregaon police station in the district. According to the preliminary report, at around 7 pm on July 30, the woman was waiting at a bus stop to go to her brother's village when one of the accused, Shriram Urkude (37), offered her a lift on his vehicle. When they reached near Mudipar village, Urkude demanded to have sex with her, but when she refused, he threatened to kill her. As she continued to resist, he raped her inside the vehicle. He continued to rape her repeatedly over the next two days and finally dumped her in an injured state near Kanhadmoh on August 1, where she awaited help. Seeing her in a helpless state, two others -- Amit Ashok Sarve (30) and Aejaz Mohammed Wahid Ansari (22) -- also took advantage of the situation and forcibly took her away on their motorcycle. They drove to an isolated field near Gunthara, assaulted her and repeatedly raped her for several hours before abandoning her near the roadside on August 2, said the Gondiya police. Seeing her in a badly injured state, bleeding profusely and in a semi-naked condition, some locals alerted the Bhandara police. A police team rushed her first to a local hospital in Bhandara for treatment but since her wounds ran deep, she was shifted to the Nagpur Government Medical College where she underwent a surgery. However, her condition is still critical. Swooping into action, the Bhandara Police transferred the matter to Goregaon Police, which arrested the three culprits on August 4, based on the statement of the woman which was recorded at the hospital. The Chairperson of Maharashtra State Commission for Women, Rupali Chakankar, took serious cognisance of the incident while some other leaders compared it with the decade-old Nirbhaya incident in Delhi. Following an uproar, Shinde has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by a woman IPS officer to probe the matter, which he termed as "a serious and gruesome incident". The Gondiya Police are scouring the CCTV footages of the various locations where the accused trio took her in their vehicles besides tapping local witnesses. Shiv Sena leader Neelam Gorhe, BJP's Chitra Wagh and others condemned the incident and demanded that the accused should be tried at a fast-track court under the stringent Shakti Act. NCP's Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar slammed Shinde-Fadnavis for delaying the cabinet expansion owing to which, he claimed, the government is losing a grip on the day-to-day administration, leading to such incidents. Kabul, Aug 6 : Three persons were killed and seven others were injured in a blast in Kabul's Pol-e-Sukhta area on Saturday evening, according to Mawlawi Zabihullah, commander of PD6 in Kabul, media reports said. Reports from the explosion scene said that the explosives were put in a pot on the side of the road, Tolo News reported. It has been reported that security forces were not harmed in the explosion. Saturday's explosion took place relatively close to Friday's blast. According to the Kabul Security Command, the explosion on Friday in the Sarkariz area killed eight people while 18 others were injured. Daesh has claimed responsibility for Friday's blast. New Delhi, Aug 6 : US President Joe Biden has denounced the Gurdwara shooting that took place in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on August 5, 2012, on its tenth anniversary. Terming it as the deadliest attack on Sikh Americans in US history, Biden stressed the need to ban assault weapons used in many mass shootings in places of worship, along with high-capacity magazines. On August 5, 2012, the Sikh community of Oak Creek came under attack when white supremacist Wade Page stormed a Gurdwara in Wisconsin and gunned down six worshippers, before shooting himself dead. A seventh person who was severely paralysed died from his injuries in 2020. Stating that no one should fear for their life when they worship or go about their lives in America, Biden said the House of Representatives has passed a bill in this regard, and called upon the Senate to act as wel "To stand in defence of religious freedom, we must all stand together to ban the weapons that terrorise congregations around our country," the President said. He also lauded the optimism of the Sikh community in the US, which annually hosts a memorial in honour of the mass shooting victims of Wisconsin. Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and American Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (AGPC) said the SCCEC and AGPC memorialise this shooting and pray for the departed souls and their families. They also expressed solidarity with other faith communities that have fallen victim to mass gun violence and white supremacy, and urged the US Congress to pass the 'Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act'. "We also join the call to US Congress by Sikh Coalition and SALDEF to pass the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act," said Himmat Singh, SCCEC Coordinator. "On this sad occasion, we remember the church mass shooting in Charleston, where nine Black worshipers were shot and killed in 2015, and the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh where 11 worshipers were slain in 2018. "Both SCCEC and AGPC stand in full solidarity with other faith communities that have fallen victim to mass gun violence and white supremacy," said Pritpal Singh, Coordinator, AGPC. New Delhi, Aug 6 : Delhi on Saturday reported marginal decline in new Covid cases in last 24 hours, at 2,311 against 2,419 on the previous day, while there was one more death, as per the health bulletin. Meanwhile, the Covid positivity rate has also marginally risen to 13.84 per cent, and the number of active cases stands at 7,349, out of which 4,586 patients are being treated in home isolation. With 1,837 patients recovering in the last 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has gone to 19,33,427, while Delhi's total caseload is 19,67,104 and the death toll continues at 26,328. The number of Covid containment zones stands at 217. A total of 16,702 new tests -- 11,773 RT-PCR and 4,929 Rapid Antigen - were conducted in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 3,96,01,980 while 13,551 vaccines were administered - 1159 first doses, 2,094 second doses, and 10,298 precaution doses. The total number of cumulative beneficiaries vaccinated so far stands at 3,59,24,705, according to the health bulletin. Washington, Aug 6 : Former US Vice President Dick Cheney has attacked ex-President Donald Trump, calling him a "coward who lost big" and who poses the "greatest threat to our Republic" in what appears to be a vociferous defence for his daughter Liz Cheney, Vice Chair of the January 6 Capitol Hill insurrection panel, a target of Trump and Republicans' ire for her statements in the panel against Trump for "dereliction of duty". Dick Cheney, known as a Vice President who yielded enormous power under George W. Bush's presidency as a Republican, branded Trump as the greatest "threat to our Republic" in a new campaign ad for his daughter Liz Cheney, who is running for re-election in Wyoming. Poll pundits rate her re-election chances as fairly low with Republicans campaigning for her opposite GOP candidate Hariet Hageman, who has endorsed Trump's claims of a 2020 stolen election. "In our nation's 236-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our Republic than Donald Trump," said Dick Cheney, who served as Vice President for two terms under George W. Bush. "He (Trump) tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him. He is a coward. A real man wouldn't lie to his supporters. He lost his election, and he lost big. I know it, he knows it, and deep down I think most Republicans know it," Dick Cheney was quoted by The Guardian in the campaign ad for his daughter Liz Cheney seeking re-election from Wyoming in the midterms for the House of Representatives. . Dick Cheney also said how proud he was of his daughter "for standing up to the truth, doing what's right, honouring her oath to the Constitution when so many in our party are too scared to do so". The one-minute ad featured the elder Cheney's sharpest public attacks against Trump to date. Best known as the most powerful Vice President in American history, and a major figure in leading the US to war in Iraq, he has taken to defending his daughter in her fight against Trump. "There's nothing more important she will ever do than lead the effort to make sure Donald Trump is never near the Oval Office. And she will succeed," he said in the ad. The younger Cheney has been widely praised by liberals as vice-chairwoman of the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill. Liz Cheney has been one of Trump's most pointed critics, accusing him of violating the Constitution for his role in the insurrection. In return, she has been largely ostracised from her party. Cheney faces an uphill re-election battle against the Trump-backed candidate Harriet Hageman, who maintains that the 2020 election was stolen. "Liz Cheney has long forgotten she works for Wyoming (or perhaps she never knew), not the Radical Democrats. Wyoming deserves a Congresswoman who will represent us and our conservative values. It's time to retire the elitist Liz Cheney," Hageman tweeted on Thursday. Though Liz Cheney has at least a million dollars more in donations to her campaign against Hageman, she was 22 points behind Hageman in a July poll conducted by the Casper Star-Tribune. In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Liz Cheney said she does not expect to lose on August 16. "I really believe that the people of Wyoming fundamentally understand how important fidelity to the constitution is - understand how important it is that we fight for those fundamental principles on which everything else is based," she said. Hyderabad, Aug 6 : Telangana BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Saturday said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has no moral courage to face Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hence he is boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting with lame-duck excuses. Sanjay lashed out at KCR for his remarks made at the press conference. He said if the chief minister was really worried about the state, he could have raised the concern at the meeting. He said KCR's decision to boycott the meeting amounted to insulting democratic institutions. Sanjay said KCR never showed interest in going to official meetings during the last eight years. The BJP leader remarked that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president visits Delhi only for political benefit and to meet leaders of political parties but never went there for the sake of people. "KCR is saying that he is boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting but the days are not far when people of Telangana will boycott him," he said. Reacting to KCR's remarks, Sanjay said the chief minister was giving a lecture on the history of Planning Commission, co-operative federalism and democratic spirit but not doing his duty. Stating there is a shortage of teachers in the educational institutions in Telangana, he advised the KCR to go and give lectures there on how he failed as the chief minister. The BJP leader said before speaking on the NPAs of companies in the country, KCR should explain why industries are getting shut down in Hyderabad. He said it was ironic that the chief minister was speaking about imports from other countries when his government is unable to make Bathukamma sarees in Telangana and is sourcing the same from Surat. Bandi Sanjay also wanted to know why KCR imported furniture for Pragati Bhavan (official residence of Chief Minister) from China. Alleging that KCR is responsible for suicides of farmers, weavers, intermediate students, unemployed and employees, the BJP leader said it was shameful that he is criticising the Centre. Sanjay also referred to KCR's remark that he stayed in Delhi for 5 days and forced the Centre to allow the state to raise debt of Rs 10,000 crore. "KCR said that last year, the Centre did not give more than Rs 5,000 crore to the state. If the Centre had really not provided the funds, what was he doing for one year," he asked The BJP state chief also asked if KCR will apologise in Assembly if proved that Centre had given more than Rs 5,000 crore. Sanjay remarked that NITI Aayog doesn't exclusively work for KCR and only gives strategic advice on policy issues to make the economy strong. Itanagar, Aug 6 : Hundreds of tribals belonging to Chakma and Hajong community on Saturday organised a peaceful yet massive protest at Diyun in Arunachal Pradesh's Changlang district against the denial on issuance of Residential Proof Certificates (RPC) to the applicants of these communities, allegedly "as part of the state government's policy to throw them out". According to the agitating tribals, on July 29, the state government suspended the RPCs already issued and asked the officials further not to issue any RPCs. Krishna Chakma, spokesperson of the Chakma Hajong Rights Alliance, said that the denial of the RPCs is nothing but continuation of racial profiling of the Chakma and Hajong tribals. The two tribal communities would not accept 'Kangaroo justice', Krishna Chakma said, adding that this is not something allowed in a country governed by the rule of law. "The first victim of the denial of the RPCs are job seekers and the students. They are citizens of India and often join recruitment in the army. The same is being denied through suspension of the RPCs as the recruitment drive into the Indian Army has started," said Rup Singh Chakma, President of the Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union (APCSU). Another Chakma student leader Sumangol Chakma said that this is nothing but an attempt to deny the existence of the Chakmas and Hajongs in the state. The agitating tribals accused the role of All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union behind the issue. There are about 65,000 tribals belonging to Chakma and Hajong community in Arunachal Pradesh who fled from East Pakistan and were settled by the Central government in the then North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) in 1964 to beef up security following the 1962 Indo-China war. Krishna Chakma said that though they are citizens, Arunachal Pradesh has been denying the same despite the Supreme Court directing to process the citizenship applications on January 9, 1996. "Not a single application has been processed as on date but in 2021, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister announced to resettle the Chakma and Hajong tribals outside the state. The denial of the RPCs is a part of the same campaign," Krishna Chakma said. Ahmedabad, Aug 6 : Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday interacted with the traders in Gujarat's Jamnagar at an event during which he promised five guarantees. During the interaction, he also listened to the problems of MSME sector traders. "A lot of support is being received from the people of Gujarat. We will first eliminate the atmosphere of fear. The second guarantee is to respect the businessmen. The third guarantee is to eliminate corruption. The fourth guarantee is to clear the pending issues related to VAT and the fifth guarantee is to create an advisory body and the government would act on its suggestions," he said. The AAP leader further said: "Before I became the chief minister, I felt that it would be difficult to run a government. But we changed the face of government schools and hospitals in Delhi within five years. Then I felt that the country has been betrayed, the country can move forward... we just need to end the dirty politics." New Delhi, Aug 7 : At least three children, all aged around 7-8 years, were injured during a celebratory firing here on Saturday, the police said. An information was received at Seelampur police station that three children have been injured in a firing incident after which the police rushed to the spot at J block Jhuggi area in northeast Delhi's Seelampur. "It was revealed that a function was being organised by one Qutubddin to celebrate the birth of his child and during the celebration, one person, identified as Aamir a.k.a. Hamza fired a bullet which rebounded from the ground and hit three 3 children who were playing there," Deputy Commissioner of Police (northeast) Sanjay Kumar Sain said. The senior police officer said the children were shifted to a nearby hospital where their condition is said to be stable and out of danger. "Efforts are being made to apprehend the accused person. Legal action has been initiated," he added. China's Yunnan reports over 3,800 golden hair monkeys Xinhua) 13:59, August 06, 2022 KUNMING, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Yunnan Province has achieved remarkable results in the conservation of Yunnan golden hair monkeys as its population increased to more than 3,800, up from less than 2,000 decades ago, according to a conference on the species. Yunnan golden hair monkeys, also known as the black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys, are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and are under first-class national protection. The number was revealed during an annual conference of the conservation network of the species. The conservation network, a platform jointly initiated in 2019 by 13 organizations, including the Yunnan provincial forestry and grassland administration and the Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research of Dali University, has invested heavily in saving the monkeys. Zhang Shuxia, deputy director of the Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research of Dali University, said the protection of the species has achieved remarkable results and accumulated experience and set a positive example for the conservation of rare and endangered primates. Zhang added that further steps would be taken to protect the species, such as strengthening the standardized monitoring and mobilizing more social forces to join in. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) YEREVAN, AUGUST 6, ARMENPRESS. US Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence strongly condemned Azerbaijan's use of military pressure against Artsakh along the Lachin Corridor, ARMENPRESS reports the congresswoman wrote on her "Twitter" page. "I urge the Department of State to use any diplomatic tool at our disposal to prevent such an attack," she wrote. New Delhi, Aug 7 : Ahead of Independence Day the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted search operations in Delhi and arrested one accused who was allegedly involved in the activities of ISIS module case. The accused was identified as Mohsin Ahmad, a resident of Batla House in New Delhi. The case was registered suo-moto by NIA on June 25 under sections 153A, & 153B of IPC and sections 18, 18B, 38, 39 & 40 of UA (P) Act.A "The arrested accused is a radicalised and active member of the proscribed terrorist organisation ISIS. He has been arrested," the source said. Further detail awaited. Kiev, Aug 7 : The Ukrainian army is coming under increasing pressure in eastern Donetsk but repelled all Russian advances towards Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Slovyansk, the Ukrainian General Staff said. Fierce fighting has been raging around Bakhmut for days and pro-Russian rebels reported fighting had reached inside Bakhmut on Friday, but the statements could not be verified, dpa news agency reported. Bakhmut, a small town, is considered a cornerstone of the defence around the last Ukrainian-held urban area in the Donbass. If Bakhmut and other small towns fall, the way would be largely clear for Russian troops to proceed towards Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Jerusalem, Aug 7 : Israel denied its responsibility for an airstrike that killed civilians, including four children, in Gaza, saying the fatal explosion caused by a failed rocket was launched by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). Lior Hayat, head of Israel's National Public Diplomacy Directorate, said in a statement that a rocket, which was misfired by the PIJ militants, caused "the tragic killing of the children" in Jabaliya in the northern Gaza Strip, Xinhua news agency reported. An Israeli military spokesperson said that "an in-depth debrief" showed that the Israeli Air Force did not carry out any airstrikes in Jabaliya at the time of the incident. At least five people, including four children, were killed and 15 others injured on Saturday night by an explosion in the refugee camp of Jabaliya, according to Palestinian sources and paramedics. According to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), at least 350 rockets have been fired toward Israel since Friday, and more than 95 percent of them were intercepted by air defense systems, with no injuries or major damage reported. Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz visited an air defense battery on Saturday and said the operational activities will "continue and intensify." Palestinian authorities in the Gaza Strip reported at least 15 people were killed in the airstrikes and over 100 people injured since Friday. The fighting began on Friday when the Israeli air force killed a senior PIJ commander. The violent escalation came after several days of heightened tensions along Israel's border with the Gaza Strip. My goal in the future is to explore the applications of machine learning to environmental sustainability, whether it's through robotics, time series forecasting or something new altogether. Ivey Engineering, Inc., (IEI), an engineering consulting firm, is pleased to announce that Ria Jain of Dublin, Calif., is the winner of the 2022 $1,000 scholarship essay contest. Jain, an electrical engineering and computer science major, plans to attend UC Berkeley this fall. "The IEI scholarship allows me to pursue opportunities in college that will help me change the world through STEM," said Jain. Jain's interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) began in elementary and middle school. By the time she reached high school she knew she wanted to focus on engineering and computer science. Through her high school's environmental technology and sustainability club, she was able to work on a project that used software and hardware tools to prototype an underwater remote-operated vehicle. "We were able to help a local company investigate broken infrastructure in a nearby creek," said Jain. "My goal in the future is to explore the applications of machine learning to environmental sustainability, whether it's through robotics, time series forecasting or something new altogether." Jain competed with about 200 other college students from the United States. Applicants were required to write an 800- to 1,000-word essay on one of several topics and were judged for creativity and originality. Jain's winning essay discusses six tips to prevent a home or building fire. One tip she gives is for homeowners and building owners to invest in smoke alarms. "It is not enough that a smoke alarm is presentit is important to regularly check that it is functional," Jain explained in her essay. "Embedding this step into your maintenance routine is critical for fire safety," she said. "Ria wrote a well organized and outstanding essay," said Bill Ivey, president of IEI. "Her essay explained some insightful ways to prevent structure fires. You can tell she spent considerable time and effort in writing it," he added. For Jain, the scholarship will ultimately provide a way for her to give back to the community. "This scholarship not only will support my studies, it will also allow me to make an impact on society and give back to those around me," she said. "We're excited to see where Ria will go with her electrical engineering and computer science degree and wish her the best in her career goals," said Ivey. Overall, the IEI scholarship program, which began in 2017, has awarded $10,000 to university students of diverse majors. Any potential or current college or university undergraduate student within the United States is able to apply for the scholarship. The next deadline for essay submissions is May 1, 2023. For contest requirements or for more information about the scholarship, visit IEI's scholarship web page. About Ivey Engineering IEI is an expert witness and building systems consulting firm based in San Diego, Calif. Established in 1994, IEI serves clients in over 30 states. The firm's consultants have experience in the design, construction, service and repair of HVAC, plumbing, fire protection and energy management systems. To read more about Ivey Engineering and its consulting services, visit the companys website. Faith Maloney, Co-Founder, Best Friends Animal Society Faiths no-big-deal' approach to doing the extraordinary every day is part of what made Best Friends and in particular our Sanctuary what we are today. It is with profound sadness that Best Friends Animal Society announces the passing of co-founder Faith Maloney, who passed away yesterday from ovarian cancer. Considered a pioneer in the animal welfare movement, Faith along with a group of friends built Best Friends Animal Sanctuary from the ground up in 1984. With little money and even less construction experience, the group bought raw land in the desert town of Kanab, Utah, and a collection of used books on construction. They went to work building a sanctuary for abandoned and abused animals that would eventually become the countrys largest no-kill sanctuary and headquarters of Best Friends Animal Society. In the earliest days of Best Friends, Faith, with no formal training, served as the DeFacto animal control officer for the area, regularly responding to calls from the Kanab Police Department, Kane County Sheriffs Office, Fredonia (Arizona) Marshalls Office, and the Kaibab Paiute Tribal Police. She simultaneously established and managed the sanctuarys Dogtown area, where each day Faith cared for more than 500 homeless dogs and earned the nickname Chief Dog. She knew every dogs name and story, and amazed Sanctuary visitors with her connection to the animals. Best Friends Chairman of the Board and Co-founder Francis Battista shared the following statement: Faiths no-big-deal' approach to doing the extraordinary every day is part of what made Best Friends and in particular our Sanctuary what we are today. Faith was committed to the ideal of cheering on others and helping them do their best for the animals, the planet and each other. Faith lived a life of compassion. She was authentic. She paved the way for so many who emulated her commitment to the animals. Her pragmatic advice and warm laugh among so many other things will be remembered. Faith Maloney was born in Guildford, England, on March 11, 1944, to Irish parents. She attended an all-girls convent school from age five to 16, and then attended the Guildford School of Art, in Surrey, UK, where she earned a degree in fine arts with a minor in lithography. Faith eventually emigrated to the United States and spent 38 years in Kanab, UT focusing on her passion for saving animals. Faith was the first president of Best Friends and a popular columnist for Best Friends Magazine, where for thirty years she offered pragmatic advice to readers on everything from how to help a neurotic pet to dealing with cats who knead too much. She also contributed regularly to the local newspaper Southern Utah News. In 1998, she co-created Best Friends How to Start a Sanctuary workshop, which has been the gateway experience for dozens of no-kill organizations around the country. It is now an accredited university course in collaboration with Southern Utah University. Battista continued: "Faith herself said, I feel that I have both the gift and the responsibility to pass along what I have learned over the years. She enjoyed helping people vault the obstacles that block their paths to doing what they love most with the animals, and that is helping to save their lives. Losing Faith is devastating, but her legacy of kindness and her commitment to the animals will live on through the work of Best Friends. And getting on with the work is just what Faith would have wanted from us all. Our thoughts are with her family. Faith was 78 years old. She is survived by her daughters, Carragh and Eve, her son, David, and her grandchildren Zoe and Jacob. Her impact on a large and dedicated national community of animal lovers working to save the lives of homeless pets cannot be overstated. She will be deeply missed. About Best Friends Animal Society Best Friends Animal Society is a leading animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in Americas shelters by 2025. Founded in 1984, Best Friends is a pioneer in the no-kill movement and has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from an estimated 17 million per year to around 355,000. Best Friends runs lifesaving programs across the country, as well as the nations largest no-kill animal sanctuary. Working collaboratively with a network of more than 3,700 animal welfare and shelter partners, and community members nationwide, Best Friends is working to Save Them All. For more information, visit bestfriends.org. Photo Courtesy of Folds of Honor Helping military families whove endured the hardest sacrifices is a noble cause, and I am grateful to the GovX community for fueling our mission to give back to organizations like Folds of Honor, said Alan Cole, GovX CEO. GovX, the online shopping site exclusively for current and former military, first responders, and federal employees, is pleased to announce the organization raised $11,477 in the month of July for Folds of Honor, the nonprofit dedicated to military families. Folds of Honors mission and focuses on providing scholarships to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled service members. GovXs monthly donation is part of the ongoing GovX Gives Back charitable initiative, raising funds for nonprofits serving the military and first responder community. Helping military families whove endured the hardest sacrifices is a noble cause, and I am grateful to the GovX community for fueling our mission to give back to organizations like Folds of Honor, said Alan Cole, GovX CEO. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded over 35,000 scholarships to military families. Looking ahead to August 2022, GovX Gives Back will support The Honor Foundation, a career transition program for the U.S. Special Operations Forces that effectively translates their elite military service to the private sector and helps create the next generation of corporate and community leaders. Providing mentorship, networking, professional development and more, The Honor Foundation is dedicated to making sure these elite warriors continue to lead mission-driven lives. To learn more about The Honor Foundation, please visit honor.org. Funds for the generous donations come from GovXs Patch of the Month proceeds, as well as GovX Gear sales. The Southern California-based collagen protein brand and GovX partner BUBS Naturals, will match 50% of GovXs total GovX Gives Back donation in August. BUBs Naturals was founded in honor of a former Navy SEAL who was killed in action serving in Benghazi, Libya. To support GovX Gives Backs charitable initiatives and learn more, visit Govx.com/t/govx-gives-back. GovX is proud to serve those who serve and their families by offering the best prices on top brands and experiences and creating a platform where members can support the important work that many nonprofits and organizations are doing for the community. To learn more about GovX and GovX Gives Back, please visit http://www.GovX.com. # # # About GovX: GovX.com is for men and women of service. A members-only online destination for military and first responders, the site offers thousands of products from hundreds of brands at exclusive, below-retail pricing. Members include active and veteran U.S. military, firefighters, law enforcement officers, federal agents, healthcare workers and personnel from related government agencies. For more information, visit http://www.govx.com A team of Greenberg Traurig LLP litigators led by Shareholders Daniel Pulecio-Boek and James E. Gillenwater secured the release of Samir Handal, a Miami-based Haitian and U.S. real estate developer, from a Turkish prison and facilitated his return to the United States. Handal has been baselessly accused by Haiti of having a role in the July 7, 2021 assassination of then President of Haiti Jovenel Moise. We are pleased that the rule of law prevailed and that Samir, who is innocent of these accusations, is beyond the reach of Haitian prosecution, said Pulecio-Boek a Litigation Practice shareholder in Greenberg Traurigs Washington, D.C. office. We are now considering seeking relief against the parties who sought to implicate Samir in this horrific crime. Other Greenberg Traurig attorneys assisting in the matter were Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida and Miami Litigation Shareholder Benjamin G. Greenberg, and Miami Litigation Associates Gabriel A. Diaz and Carlos Haag. About Greenberg Traurigs Litigation Practice: Greenberg Traurigs Litigation Practice includes a team of more than 600 attorneys. The firms trial lawyers regularly appear in state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as in appellate courts and before international arbitration panels. They work closely with in-house counsel to develop a strategy that best fits a litigation cost and proficiency model appropriate to the clients unique needs and goals. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP has more than 2500 attorneys in 43 locations in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The firm reported gross revenue of over $2 Billion for FY 2021 and is consistently among the top firms on the Am Law 100, Am Law Global 100, and NLJ 250. On the debut 2022 Law360 Pulse Leaderboard, it is a Top 15 firm. Greenberg Traurig is Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certified Plus by The Diversity Lab and the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program certifies that the firms U.S. offices are 100% powered by renewable energy. The firm is often recognized for its focus on philanthropic giving, innovation, diversity, and pro bono. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com. A longstanding leadership dispute between members of the Cayuga Nation has once again resulted in the destruction of property in Seneca County. The federally recognized nation leadership said that it oversaw the demolition of three "dilapidated and vacant" structures at two separate properties Wednesday at 4 Briarwood Circle in Seneca Falls and 2906 County Road 124 in the town of Varick. The Cayuga Nation Council said in a news release that the home on the property in Varick was unsafe, uninhabitable and being used to facilitate an illegal mail-order marijuana operation, but critics of the demolition described the property as a classic farmhouse and barn that was the home of a nation elder and others and used for traditional ceremonies. The nation council is led by federal representative Clint Halftown, but other nation members follow what they consider the nation's traditional government and dispute Halftown's authority. A statement from the traditional Cayuga Chiefs and Clan Mothers, along with their legal counsel, described the demolition in Varick as being led by "armed mercenaries" who removed Cayuga elder Wanda John from her home "so violently that they injured her." They said that John was forced to watch the destruction of her home after the people who came to the property "threw her to the ground, stepped on her head, and then zip-tied her wrists together and placed her in a vehicle." A spokesperson for the nation council said that John never lived on the property and provided a photo of weapons and drugs reportedly removed from the home before it was demolished. The council said that the properties it took action against have long been used for criminal activity and that residents have lodged complaints with local governments. John, the council said, resides at a nation-owned property on Route 89 in Seneca Falls and that is has taken legal action against her for failing to pay rent for the past 10 years. The council said that evidence seized at the Varick property included suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, packaging materials and business records as well as a loaded shotgun that had a chambered round. Because the alleged drug operation utilized the U.S. Postal Service, the council said "the matter has been referred to federal authorities for investigation and prosecution." The demolition of the Varick house clears an eyesore from this community, Halftown said in a news release. The Varick house demolition was a necessary, routine operation for uninhabitable, run-down properties. Demolishing this long-time eyesore is a step forward for the safety of our entire community. We look forward to cleaning up this property and consider it for a use that will benefit the Nations citizens. The traditional Cayugas said this week's events "are just the latest in ongoing violent demolitions targeting the traditional community and its citizens, all of which were undertaken at the behest of Clint Halftown and the Halftown Council," a press release said. "This attack is only the most recent of numerous acts of violence perpetrated by Clint Halftown's 'Cayuga Nation' enterprises against his own people, and more are expected," community organizer for the traditional Cayugas Hilary-Anne Coppola said in a statement. In February 2020, the nation police department seized and destroyed other buildings in Seneca County, leading to a protest a week later that erupted into a fight resulting in injuries and criminal charges. The Seneca Falls Police Department and Seneca County Sheriff's Office investigated after both sides complained that crimes had been committed by the other. One man, a Seneca County resident who is not a nation citizen named Cahrles Bowman, was charged by local law enforcement. In a trial earlier this year, he was acquitted on a third-degree assault charge and convicted on a third-degree criminal trespass charge. Bestseller Maxwell returns to her paranormal roots in The Dark King (Entangled Amara, Oct.), a romance between Las Vegas hotelier and fae king Caiden and feisty Wisconsinite Bryn. Why paranormal romance? Im kind of a romance snob. I only read and write romance, because no matter what mood youre in, you can always find it as a subgenre of romance: suspense, comedy, westerns, Regency, thrillers. You can always find it, and then you have the bonus of the romance as well. Its the best of both worlds. I started as a paranormal author. My very first contract was for a paranormal trilogy about vampires and angels. Im a huge, huge fan of Gena Showalter, Kresly Cole, Laura Adrian, Larissa Ionethey were all my inspiration when I first started writing. And then when I became a contemporary romance author, I had to ask my editor, What do these characters do all day, when they dont have a prophesy to figure out or a world to save? They just sit and talk and get to know each other? I had to learn what contemporary was. I stuck with that for a few years, but now Im back and Im super-excited about it, because I love to build worlds with my own rules. Your version of Vegas is teeming with dark fae. How did you approach the worldbuilding? I like to base it in as much reality as possible, even with it being a paranormal story. I did a lot of research on fae lore and I also had one of my readers who is something of a fae expert as a backup consult. I chose what worked for me, what worked for the story, and the world I wanted to create. There were a few things that I took liberty with, but I really loved creating the world out of as much real lore as possible. For those who are interested in that kind of lore, they relate to that and recognize it. And for those who are not familiar with it, as I was not before I started writing this, its something that you can just steep yourself in without having any prior knowledge of it. Tell me about your approach to the sex scenes. Oddly enough, I hate writing sex scenes. People are always sad to hear that, because thats what Im known for. But I hate writing them. I love having written them. I think I do them very well. But theyre so draining because I put so much detail into them. Youre not only dealing with internal monologues, youre working with dialogue and logisticsthe setting, what theyre smelling, and hearing, and feeling. So instead, Ill put insert sex scene here, and then I have to go back and write all the sex scenes. I title the missing sections with whats going to go on in the scene. Years agomy daughter was 13 at the time, I thinkI had labeled one of the scenes butt sex. My daughter came up behind me and said, Chapter 12: butt sex. God, Mom! I was like, Stop looking over my shoulder! Each day since Covid-19 forced Americans indoors, the writers Yiyun Li and Edmund White have booted up Skype at five oclock in the evening to engage in a two-person book club. White, whom Li calls a very good performer, reads passages of the books aloud, and the two compare their marginalia, often finding that they have underlined the same passages. Good writers, after all, must first be great readers. Li, 49, is certainly a great reader, having now led a number of literary-minded netizens through multiple collective read-throughs of War & Peace and one of Moby-Dick. The readings were hosted by the publisher and literary magazine A Public Space; Li is a contributing editor at the magazine, and the group published her companion volume to War & Peace, titled Tolstoy Together, last year. (Li reads each of these books once a year herself, she says, online book club or no.) Her forthcoming book, Septembers The Book of Goose (her ninth, and first with Farrar, Straus and Giroux after a decade and a half with Random House), also found inspiration from her reading. This time the source was not a masterwork of world literature, but, rather, criticism on an arcane subject: midcentury novels by French children. I read all sorts of old things, Li says over Zoom, seated in front of a tiled fireplace, a little white dog curled up behind her, in her living room in New Jersey, where shes a professor of creative writing at Princeton University. Among the old things she reads are the works of the Irish British fiction writer Elizabeth Bowen, which Li and White devoured in their book club. In the process, Li came across Bowens reviews of a handful of books by four French teenagers. (Such books became, briefly, a trend in France following Francoise Sagans 1954 debut, Bonjour Tristesse, which was published when she was 19.) One 14-year-old whose work Bowen reviewed, Berthe Grimault, particularly intrigued Li. There was little Li could find about Grimault, aside from the fact that she hailed from the western countryside. Eventually, she came across one little piece of information about how she was sent to an English finishing school after she published the book, where the headmistress discovered that she could not writethat she was illiterate. The wunderkind, it turned out, was actually a charlatan. But to Li, she was something more: an inspiration. We novelists, she says, like those things that you cannot grasp. That fraudulent young writers story brought forth from Li the tale of Agnes Moreau, a poor girl growing up in the countryside of western France after World War II. In The Book of Goose, the adult Moreau recounts the story of her youth, and how her mischievous childhood friend Fabienne, taking advantage of their claustrophobic closeness, pressures Agnes into playing a series of imaginative childhood games, which might more appropriately be called hijinks. Soon, Agnes is pushed into putting her name to books Fabienne dreamed up and dictated to her; when theyre published, Agnes becomes, for a time, one of Frances best-known authors, and her life is turned upside downthough she hadnt, in fact, quite written the books for which she was lauded. In spite of the ruse, Agnes really can write. She is, in fact, practically an aphorism machine. In an early chapter, after Agnes, older and married and living in America, learns of Fabiennes recent death, she writes, No, it is not Fabiennes ghost that has licked the nib of my pen clean, or opened the notebook to this fresh page, but sometimes one persons death is another persons parole paper. I may not have gained full freedom, but I am free enough. Lis own pen is so deft that the reader might be forgiven for overlooking how central the interrogation of the writing process is to The Book of Goose. Its not until near its end that the novel becomes, self-evidently, a kunstlerroman, tracing Agness evolution from an impressionable girl hoping to please a domineering friend into the writer of The Book of Goose itself. Agness development into a real writer, Li says, happened almost by accident, a product of Lis own authorial intuition. When I was writing the first draft, I was very much in Agness headI was probing as she was probing, Li explains. And one of the earlier readers of the first draft said, Oh, I really liked this, because this also tells us how a writer writes a book. And I thought, Oh, I forgot! Its true. Its about the process. Even if she was not a great writer, she still published those books. Li, on the other hand, is obviously a great writer. After emigrating from China to the United States in 1996, she earned her MS in immunology at the University of Iowa, then quickly abandoned the sciences for the arts, going on to receive her MFA in fiction and creative nonfiction from the Iowa Writers Workshop in 2005. That same year, she published her debut story collection with Random House, A Thousand Years of Good Prayers, after signing a $200,000, two-book contract; she would go on to be named a Guggenheim and MacArthur fellow and win multiple PEN awards, among other honors. Ive known Yiyun for a very long time, and I remember that she was up to something pretty extraordinary in those early short stories, says Mitzi Angel, president and publisher of FSG and Lis editor. (Angel acquired Lis first book in the U.K. while working at HarperCollins UKs Fourth Estate imprint.) There was a unique sensibility at work, and she was doing something with language that was very interesting, because she was writing in a precise English that somehow seemed to borrow something that was hard to put ones finger on from the Chinese language. This book is quite a departure for her in some ways, because its set in France and in England, and its a historical novel, you might sayalthough I hesitate to say that because its not pastiche, which a lot of historical novels are, and because theres such a vision at work that it doesnt feel like a historical novel. While the book is a departure in some sense, it is also reflective of an ongoing shift in Lis career. Her first four books, published between 2005 and 2014, are centered on the lives of Chinese citizens and the turmoil they endured in the Communist China of Lis youth. Her two most recent two novels, 2019s Where Reasons End and 2020s Must I Go, do not. In between came 2017s Dear Friend, from My Life I Write to You in Your Life, Lis sole work of nonfiction. In it, Li examines her difficult relationship with her mother and her struggles with mental health, even as she asks why a writer would ever write autobiographically. I wouldnt say I will never write about China again, Li says. But I like to think of the biography as sort of accidental: it just happens. I have this biography, but that doesnt have to specify what kind of topics I write aboutalthough as authors, we do feel pressure to write something aligning with our biographies. Which is such a boring thing to ask of a writer. Instead, of herself, Li asks for, if not perfection, at least something like it. She is her own most rigorous reader, and, consequently, her toughest editor: The Book of Goose is roughly 350 pages, but the original draft, Li says, was twice as long. I cut probably 200 pages from the first draft, and then I cut more and rewrote 100 pagesthere were just too many things I wanted to put in. But in the end, you have to exert your discipline. My first draft for each novel is always very long, and if I can cut 200 pages from it, Im always very happy. These days, Li thinks less about the craft of writing. As she puts it, the characters dont ever think about craft, and by aligning my feelings and visions with theirs, I think Ive stopped thinking about it. She demurs when told how brilliant her turns of phrase have turned out, attributing the proses power to the characters, to their own secret languagethe language of the isolated countryside, and of childhood friends whose closeness borders on obsession. They do not read literature, Li says. But on the other hand, theyre not influenced by anything they read. Its their languagethey have to make up their language to describe things: Can I grow happiness in the birds nest? Can I grow happiness in the water? I dont think educated people would think about such things. This trait is shared by Agnes and Fabienne, but its patently nonautobiographical coming from a yearly reader of Melville and Tolstoy. Now that her novel set in France is finished, Li is still immersed in the country, or at least its people: shes been reading a biography of Honore de Balzac. (Hes an odd bird, she says.) For Li, as a writer, the creative process always begins in others books. What to read next? Thats a good question. Balzac? Suppressing votes is the crime of the century, after all, says Mysti Berry, the editor and publisher of the Low Down Dirty Vote anthologies of crime fiction inspired by the theme of voting. With proceeds going to nonprofits that fight for voting rights, Berry has released three volumes so far, the latest this spring. BookLifes reviewer praised the new volumes stories as diverse, playful, upsetting, and inspired and inspiring. As Berry and her writers take the pulse of a democracy in crisis, we caught up with her to discuss her initial inspiration, the power of crime fiction, and the fresh anger and innovation that propels the newest collection. Can you speak about the power of the crime story to reveal truths about a society? Crime fiction requires us to take a long look at the gap between who we pretend to be and who we really are. Crime writers arent looking for happy endings; were looking for answers, and the answers are often unflattering. We need to keep reminding ourselves, so that the next time were tempted to do something stupid like overlook a corrupt mans bad acts, well remember that its possible to do the right thing, even in a corrupt organization. The title for this series came to you in a flash, right? Its funny, because titles are usually the very last thing that comes to meand often a title never comes; I just have to scour the finished manuscript for a pithy phrase. But back in 2017 I was talking to my husband about how voting had always been this bright shining symbol, like libraries and hospitals, that were more than a bundle of selfish animal impulses attached to opposable thumbs. After the second election in my lifetime where the popular vote was different from the Electoral College vote, I felt low. During the discussion, the phrase low-down dirty vote popped into my head. My lifelong limited political awareness had helped create the opening for this voting rights erosionso what could I do to help stop it? Well, I knew some very good crime writers, and I had this title, and enough tech skills to be sure that publishing an anthology was within my ability. This anthology would be different in two ways. First, writers are paid as close to market rate as I can afford because writers should never work for free. Second, 100% of the saleseverything that would have come to me as publisheris donated to the cause: 2018s volume benefited the ACLU, 2020s went to the Southern Poverty Law Center, and this year its Democracy Docket. Do you remember what it felt like when the first stories came in? Okay, this is embarrassing but true. A few years ago I saw the diamond exhibit at the Museum of Natural History. Walking from glittering case to case, I fantasized about smashing the glass and snatching handfuls of diamonds because they were so fabulous and I wanted them! Well, thats honestly how I felt when the stories for the first volume came in. I felt rich. Not metaphorically rich but physically and emotionally rich. Here I was, getting to read stories written by writers at the top of their game, trying new points of view or structures or themes, and they were mine and mine alone for a while. The series has published several debut authors writing memorable stories. Is that important to you? How have you found these new writers? Initial credit goes to Catriona McPherson, who said: Sure I can contribute, but I know this new writerwould you give her a look? If you know Ms. McPherson, you know she is a person of quality, so I said hell yes, and her new writer, Kris Calvin, delivered a warm and sweet take on the theme. Catrionas request planted a seed in my brain about new voices. So I reached out to friends from my MFA programyes, I have an MFA, but I never let it get in the way of a good story!for volume 1, and encouraged the other writers I knew to recommend a new person to me. For volumes 2 and 3, we held open submissions. Honestly, I was slightly embarrassed that every writer in volume 1 was white and, as far as I know, straight and cisgender like me. All very fine writers, but this was to support voting rights defense, so I should have people of color, LGBTQ+ authors, people representing the communities most at risk when we start suppressing votes. That was on me to fix. The second volume had better diversity, and volume 3 is the most diverse yet. If were going to survive these times with democracy intact, we need to hear each others stories, listen, believe, and understand each other. You note in the introduction to this third volume that, this time, the stories seem powered by greater outrage than before, and that some are now taking on a speculative edge, pushing the boundaries of a traditional crime story. Its been so interesting! Many stories are drenched in anger and frustration. It makes me worry a bit about our national mental health. But it makes for powerful storytelling! Theres a mini theme of biting the hand that feeds you, which I think reflects our frustration with the whole dark money political situation and the inherent unfairness of growing wealth inequality. I saw it in Miguel Alfonso Ramoss story and Misty Sols and a few others. Pat Canterburys soft, kind voice makes a great contrast for the ugly story she has to tell, rooted in actual Sacramento history. David Corbett and Travis Richardson write with a passion and fury that surprised me. I feel like every congressperson and senator who is iffy on voting rights should read both stories and then ask, Is this really what I came to D.C. to do? One of the hardest things about this collection was choosing between traditionally told stories and those written in new waysdifferent structures, following perhaps a different set of rules than I learned from screenplays and traditional crime fiction. How does it feel to be three books in? Are there plans for a fourth? I hope we fix a lot of things in the 2022 election, because I am not sure if Ill publish a fourth volume or join the Handmaids. It feels that dire. Barbara DiLorenzo never planned to create a book about the fear a child might feel during a lockdown drill at school, but then she experienced one of those drills herself. As a result, she wrote and illustrated One Thursday Afternoon (Flyaway, Sept.), in which a girl processes her anxiety following a school lockdown drill by spending quiet time outdoors making nature art with her grandfather. Back in March 2018, DiLorenzo was shopping in her neighborhood bookstore in Princeton, N.J., with her baby, about to meet a friend for lunch at the local Panera. Both women were running latewhich was fortunate, as DiLorenzo later learned a gunman had been inside the restaurant and was killed. My friend got caught up in the flow of people coming out on one side of the building, and I was on the other side, unaware of what was happening, DiLorenzo recalls. The police came into the bookstore and yelled for us to evacuate and I ran out of there, my baby in my arms, terrified. Though deeply upset by the incident, she also felt it was a weird one-time thing and that Princeton is generally quite safe. Several months later, DiLorenzo was invited to do an author visit at a local school. I did two big assemblies, sharing about my previous books, she says, remembering that a couple of alarms had gone off in between her talks. They told me they were testing the alarms, so I didnt really think anything of it. After everything was done and she was about to leave, a librarian asked if she could show her all the artwork the kids did in response to her books in the library. When another alarm rang, DiLorenzo wasnt concerned. But then the librarian ran and turned off the lights, put the blinds down, and told us where to go behind the desk, she says. When I asked, Is this another drill? she said, No, its not. Its an active shooter code. As they waited, DiLorenzo and the librarian talked quietly about what might be happening. I was thinking about what these little wiggly kids who could barely sit still during a talk were going through and what the teachers were going through, she says. How does a teacher in that urgent moment keep a whole classroom quiet and safe? After roughly half an hour, the librarian received a message that there was no active shooter in the buildingit had been a threat called into area schoolsand everyone was let go. This really shook me, DiLorenzo says. I couldnt stop thinking about how it is sort of the elephant in the room, in terms of how we talk about a lot of other things for kids like the first day of school, getting a sibling, all these different aspects of life that we try to help children through, but this big thing wasnt talked about. Another factor in DiLorenzos decision to move forward with her book idea was her realization that she hadnt paid close attention to what her own children had experienced during similar drills. I kept not wanting to write it, she says. And then I kept coming back to it thinking, I have to do this. In her minds eye, the initial vision that came to me was of the outdoors, away from the school somewhere, not at all connected so the conversation could be in a very safe space. She also imagined a grandparent-grandchild relationship and pictured an autumn backdrop, because thats when students typically learn different kinds of drills. I didnt put it down on paper until I went to a conference and an editor there suggested I write it down, she notes. She then sent it to her agent, Rachel Orr at the Prospect Agency, who started to send it out right as the pandemic hit. Everyone was so traumatized by Covid, DiLorenzo recalls, that the initial response was, This is too much. We cant handle a pandemic and this. The manuscript sat for a year, and after some more tweaking it went out again. The funny thing was, DiLorenzo says, some of the bigger publishing houses responded by saying, Its a nice submission, however, we dont engage with this topic. We see this topic come across our desk a lot, but we just dont know how to deal with it. It was really interesting to get that feedback. Soon after that second round of rejections, Jeannette Larson, consulting editor at Flyway Books, reached out to Orr in search of a book that would help children deal with fear, and DiLorenzos project found a home. I think this is a timely thing to talk about, DiLorenzo says, but Jeannettes main thrust was how to help kids handle fear and anxiety. I think she did a great job fleshing out the list of ways to cope that appears in the authors note, and she made sure that it ended up that not all the answers are in the book. Its really an icebreaker meant to start the conversation with kids and caregivers, not to say that theres an answer, because I dont know what the answer is other than to really listen to kids. In terms of design, DiLorenzo points out, One thing about this book that was really important to me is to make sure that any pre-readers who pick up the book do not see any images of violence, that its only nature and the grandfather and the granddaughter, and theres nothing that a pre-reader is going to be upset by. Another thing DiLorenzo is insistent about is that the book should not have a traditional release. She is immensely sad that her new work will be tied to tragedy, especially because it is arriving not long after the school shooting in Uvalde, Tex. Theres no way Im sitting in a bookstore and signing books, she says. Thats gross, and Im not doing that. She has decided instead to do a series of free art-in-the-park events with children and caregivers, close to her New Jersey home. Ill have art materials, she says, and when people come, we can talk about different skills, like observing nature and drawing. Ill have the book in the background if people are interested and want to look at it, but even if they dont notice the book, its still worth it to me. DiLorenzo says she knows from her experience teaching with the Arts Council in Princeton and working with many different populations that the art space becomes a refuge, where whatever is going on in the rest of your life, this is a space to kind of let go a little bit. When everyone in a group has paper and paints and theyre doing their thing, the conversations that happen can be really entertaining and funny, but also poignant. So if that helps teachers, thats great. The publisher just asked me to put together a guide with some step-by-step notes on how to draw different things like natural objects, and I want to try nature journaling. Channeling some of that energy that way might help. Bora Chungs first work to be translated into English, Cursed Bunny (Algonquin, Dec.), has been dubbed genre bending for its blending of science fiction, magical realism, and horror. But none of these descriptions do justice to this remarkable collection, which was shortlisted for the 2022 International Booker Prize. The 10 stories are beyond imagination: breathtaking, wild, crazy, the most original fiction I have ever encountered. The first story, The Head, begins with a woman about to flush a toilet, when a head pops out of it and says, Mother? The woman flushes, but the head keeps appearing. The head tells the woman it is created with the things you dumped down the toilet, like your fallen-out hair and feces and toilet paper you used to wipe your behind. The woman is furious but helpless, and the head follows her throughout her life until... the very disturbing end. The stories continue, each more astounding than the last. In The Embodiment, when a woman becomes pregnant without a sexual partner, the doctor admonishes her: You better find a father for that child fast. If you dont, things will get really bad for you. Scars centers on a kidnapped boy who is chained and tortured in a dark cave, attacked by a nefarious monster; Cursed Bunny, the title story, is a tale told by Grandfather, who explains the family business of making cursed fetishes and the power of the pretty bunny lamp to wreak havoc on a greedy family that destroyed another family. Chung, who was born and lives in Seoul and has written three novels and three story collections, tells me she was at the Seoul Wow Book Fair in 2018 selling books at her publishers booth when translator Anton Hur (who would translate Cursed Bunny from Korean to English) came by. She was trying to sell him a book when he picked up hers. I shut up and didnt say anything, she recalls. Then in perfect Korean he asks if he could translate it. But I didnt understand. Why would he want to translate my stories? Im thinking. Another author was there watching. Translate! He wants to translate your book! she says to me. Anton told me later that if I hadnt shut up, he probably would have walked away. Of course, I ask Chung about the stories: Where do they come from? Are they social commentary? She smiles (were on Zoom). I dont think about a message, she says. People find social commentary, but for me its random. The Head, the first story I ever wrote, was for a contest at school in 1998. I won $1,000 in prize money. I wasnt thinking about a writing career. My only intention was to win the money. Chung might not set out with a message, but she does say that The Head is about the fact that no one wants to listen to women. When the woman in the story tells her family about the head in the toilet, they all say, Ignore it, its nothing. Everyone acts like its normal, but life is not normal. When she was a young girl, Chung says, she always felt like the only weird one, but she thinks that all outsiders feel the same way, and that they learn to pretend that there are no problems. Her stories, she says, mix fairy tales, history, legends, and horror all together. If you go back to the Middle Ages, 1500 and before, there are recordings of things that do not seem real, but they are recorded as though they were real. The idea of people living with spirits and gods fascinates me. There are Korean chronicles from the sixth through 12th centuries. Russia has the same type of stories [Chung translates from Russian and Polish]so much fun. Thats what I am aiming at. Chung also gets ideas from scandals in Korean society. Scars was inspired by news stories of child abuse detailing deliberate mutilation for insurance money, or parents who abandon their children and appear again when they turn 18 to force them to take out loans on the parents behalf. Cursed Bunny sprang from a news report of a dumpling factory that was driven out of business by the malicious rumors of a powerful competitor. The owner killed himself after losing everything. Chung read an interview with the son and was heartbroken, she says. What could I do but write a story about revenge? If you love it immediately or are intrigued or curious, youve got a real treat in store. Theres humor, darkness, precision; its new and its smart. Its an incredible and distinct collection that completely sucks you into its worlds.Jessica Friedman, Sterling Lord Literistic The U.K. house Honford Star published Cursed Bunny in July 2021, and shortly after publication, Jessica Friedman at Sterling Lord Literistic, who represents foreign rights for the publisher, began looking for deals. I was in a good position, with a completely translated book, she says. I sent it out broadly in the U.S. It had been longlisted for the Booker at that point and going into the auction, it was shortlisted, which added to its appeal. Algonquin closed the acquisition for North American rights in April 2022 with, Friedman says, clear vision, strong marketing plans, and a strong offer. About Cursed Bunny, she adds, If you love it immediatelyas she didor are intrigued or curious, youve got a real treat in store. Theres humor, darkness, precision; its new and its smart. Its an incredible and distinct collection that completely sucks you into its worlds. In addition to the U.S. and the U.K., foreign rights have been sold in 16 territories to date. Algonquin editor Madeline Jones was knocked off her feet by the book, calling Cursed Bunny speculative and magical. It takes place on an alternate plane of reality, she says. Jones sees the social commentaryon the environment, on late-stage capitalismbut notes that it doesnt hit you over the head. You can sit with the stories and have an aha moment. I tell Jones that I was eating lunch when I started reading but put my sandwich aside. Funny you should say thatthat it put you off your lunch, she tells me. Im really squeamish about everythinghorror, true crimeso when I brought this to the editorial meeting, everyone was shocked. But I love it, and if it doesnt scare me, it should have broad appeal! DEAL OF THE WEEK Little, Brown Signs Fleetwoods Tracks Nicole R. Fleetwood, a National Book Critics Circle Award winner, MacArthur fellow, and NYU professor, sold Between the River and Railroad Tracks at auction to Ben George at Little, Brown. The memoir is about family and issues of safety and belonging regulated by racial, gender, and class boundaries, the publisher said. Fleetwoods tale of overcoming poverty to become a star academic is set against the backdrop of the story of her hometown of Hamilton, Ohio, which fell on hard times after shedding factory jobs in the 1970s and 80s. George elaborated that in the book, Fleetwood examines how changes in Hamilton represent changes in the nation, and that he is pitching the title as a Midwestern Yellow House meets Educated. PJ Mark at Janklow & Nesbit represented Fleetwood (Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration) in the North American rights agreement. At press time, a pub date had not been announced. Reads River Runs Through S&G In a two-book, world rights agreement, Cindy Spiegel at Spiegel & Grau bought Shelley Reads Go as a River. The debut novel, set for March 2023, was sold by Sandra Bond at Bond Literary and is inspired by a flood that wiped out the town of Iola, Colo., in 1966. The publisher said the novel is a poignant story of illicit young love, unfathomable loss, and finding home and resilience where its least expected. The book has seen a flurry of interest internationally, selling in 20 territories to date. Read retired from her position as a senior lecturer in writing and literature at Western Colorado University in 2018. SMP Gets Fashionable with MacDonell For St. Martins Press, Sarah Cantin preempted North American rights to Nancy MacDonells The Women Who Made Fashion Modern. MacDonell, a fashion historian and Wall Street Journal columnist, was represented by Stephanie Abou at Massie & McQuilkin. The book, St. Martins said, is an investigation into how the Nazi invasion of France gave rise to the American fashion industryand how, in the absence of direction from Paris couture houses, American designers and editors were able to steer the larger course of fashion history. The Women Who Made Fashion Modern is slated for spring 2024. Reeves Goes to Graywolf Jeff Shotts at Graywolf Press took North American rights to Roger Reevess Dark Days: Fugitive Essays, the first work of nonfiction from the poet. In Dark Days, the publisher said, Reeves explores the historical and contemporary violence of America, silence and art as vital places of refuge, ecstasy as a necessary form of protest, and how liberation through solidarity is achievable even during these dark days. The book, sold by Eric Simonoff at William Morris Endeavor, is slated for August 2023. Crown Buys Bitecofers Election Road Map Hit Em Where It Hurts by Rachel Bitecofer was acquired by Crown at auction. Kevin Doughten bought North American rights from Julie Stevenson at Massie & McQuilkin. Crown said the book, subtitled How to Save Democracy by Beating Republicans at Their Own Game and written with Aaron Murphy, is a pugnacious, bullshit-free examination of why and how Democrats lose elections they should win by playing defense on the most important issues and letting Republicans frame the stakes. It also offers a bold new blueprint for how Democratic politicians, pundits, and partisans can vault their candidates to victory in 2024s critical elections. Bitecofer is an election analyst who teaches about politics at Christopher Newport University. Our coverage of the first American Booksellers Association convention, held July 24, 1901, in New York City, was extensive17 pages of text without any pictures. At the time, bookstores were trying to establish themselves as alternatives to department stores, which were key sales outlets at the turn of the century. To level the playing field, ABA representatives were asking for fairer discounts, which would give them a chance to make a living. Relationships with the expanding library sector were also a hotly debated topic. For the complete article in the Publishers Weekly archive, go to publishersweekly.com/aug-03-1901. From the Archive: August 03, 1901 by Publishers Weekly on Scribd A compilation of PW's coverage of U.S. v. Bertelsmann SE & CO. KGaA, et al., the U.S. Department of Justice's bid to block Penguin Random House's acquisition of rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster, with the most recent coverage up top. In addition to our reporting, PW news editor John Maher live-tweeted the first half of trial testimony, writer Bethanne Patrick live-tweeted the remainder of week two, and PW bookstore and international editor Ed Nawotka is live-tweeting week three. Week Three Madeline McIntosh Details PRH's Publishing Process: As the Department of Justices case against the proposed acquisition of Simon & Schuster by Penguin Random House entered its third week, the defense called PRH US CEO Madeline McIntosh, plus merger and acquisition executives from ViacomCBS and PRH, to the stand to discuss why approval of the deal would benefit all parties. Week Two Agents Have Their Say: In a day dominated by testimony from some of publishing's leading agents, the overall theme was that the biggest advance is not the only thing that is important in reaching an agreement with a publisher, and that these agents believe that S&S authors would benefit from becoming part of PRH. Agents, Publishers Move Center Stage: As attorneys for Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster took their turn to defend PRH's purchase of S&S, William Morris Endeavor's Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, Gallery publisher Jennifer Bergstrom, and Norton's John Glusman found themselves in the witness chair. Brian Murray Still Wants S&S at HarperCollins: HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray, testifying in the trial over whether the Penguin Random House-Simon & Schuster trial will go through, said he was shocked by the price PRH offered for S&S. Later in the day, the defense cross-examined the government's economic witness. more... Don Weisberg, Government's Economist See Danger in PRH-S&S Merger: As the government's case against Penguin Random House's acquisition of Simon & Schuster winds down, Macmillan CEO Don Weisberg and government economist Nicholas Hill laid out reasons why they are concerned about the impact of the proposed merger. Week One Markus Dohle's Silicon Valley of Media: On day four of the trial, the government called Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle who described publishers as the "angel investors in our authors and their dreams, their stories." Karp's Second Day of Testimony: On day three of the trial, S&S CEO Jonathan Karp finished his testimony as a government witness. Also taking the stand, DOJ statistician Adriana Porro. Jonathan Karp and Stephen King Take the Stand: The second day of the DOJ's trial featured a little star power: bestselling author Stephen King took the stand. But in terms of the case before the court, the highlight of the day was the testimony of S&S CEO Jonathan Karp. Also taking the stand, literary agent Ayesha Pande, who finished her testimony; S&S CFO Dennis Eulau; and a portion of Kansington CEO Steve Zacharius's video testimony was played in court. Opening Arguments, Pietsch Testimony on Day One of DOJ Trial to Block PRH/S&S Merger: After months of anticipation, the governments bid to block Penguin Random Houses acquisition of rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster got off to tedious start. In addition to Pietsch, literary agent Ayesha Pande began her testimony. Trial to Block PRH/S&S Merger Begins; Evidence Dispute Looms: The trial got underway on August 1 in Washington, D.C., with the case expected to run about three weeks. Meanwhile, filings made public late on July 29 shed light on a lingering pre-trial evidence dispute that could impact PRHs defense. Pre-Trial Coverage In Final Briefs, DOJ, PRH Flesh Out Arguments Ahead of Trial: With oral arguments set to begin on August 1 in Washington, D.C., the parties on July 25 filed their final pre-trial briefs outlining their cases for trial. Showdown: DOJs Bid to Block PRH Acquisition of S&S Is Heading to Trial: PW previews the U.S. Department of Justices bid to block Penguin Random Houses acquisition of rival Big Five publisher Simon & Schuster. Justice Department Sues to Block Penguin Random House Acquisition of S&S: On November 2, 2021 the U.S. Department of Justice sued to block Penguin Random House parent company Bertelsmanns proposed acquisition of Viacom CBS subsidiary Simon & Schuster, arguing that it would result in substantial harm to authors. Bertelsmann to Buy S&S for $2.2 Billion: On November 25, 2020 Bertelsmann emerged as the winning bidder for Simon & Schuster. In an announcement, the parent company of Penguin Random House said it had reached an agreement to buy S&S from ViacomCBS for $2.175 billion. Is Simon & Schuster a Bargain at $1.7 Billion?: The New York Times reported that HarperCollins and Penguin Random House were the favorites to acquire Simon & Schuster with the expected purchase price to be at least $1.7 billion, the top end of original estimates of $1.2 billion$1.7 billion for the price of the countrys third-largest trade publisher. This story will be updated continuously. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Purdue University celebrated almost 1,700 students academic accomplishments during two summer commencement ceremonies on Aug. 6. Eligible to participate in the ceremonies were 1,699 students 510 undergraduate, 756 masters, 407 Ph.D. and 26 professional program candidates. Two posthumous degrees were conferred: a Master of Science to Elif Ilkel from the Brian Lamb School of Communication, and a Bachelor of Science to John Zachary Linzey from Purdue Polytechnic Institute. Purdue alumnus Paul K. Kearns keynoted the morning ceremony. Clint Chapple, Distinguished professor in the College of Agricultures Department of Biochemistry, keynoted at the afternoon ceremony. Kearns serves as the director of the U.S. Department of Energys Argonne National Laboratory. He manages a growing multidisciplinary science and engineering research center with a $1.2 billion diversified research portfolio and more than 3,300 employees, 8,000 facility users and 800 visiting researchers. Kearns served as Argonnes chief operations officer from 2010-17. He is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He serves on the DOE National Laboratory Directors Council and the U.S. Council on Competitiveness National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers. He has doctorate and masters degrees in bionucleonics and a bachelors degree in natural resources and environmental sciences, all from Purdue. Chapple received his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in botany and his Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Guelph. Following his postdoctoral research at Michigan State University in the DOE Plant Research Lab, he joined Purdue. He served as biochemistry department head from 2008-15. From 2015-20, he served as director of the Purdue Center for Plant Biology. He has received numerous awards, including being named a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a fellow of the American Association of Plant Biologists and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. William Raymer gave the student response at the morning ceremony. Raymer received his Master of Science in industrial engineering. Raymer grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before moving to Utah at the age of 16. He earned a bachelors degree in mathematics and statistics (composite) from Utah State University and was a member of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps. He was selected to become an officer in the U.S. Space Force. Raymer will continue as a Ph.D. student at Purdue in the fall and, upon graduation, will serve as a space operations officer with the U.S. Space Force. About Purdue University Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last four years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://stories.purdue.edu. Two central New York congressional candidates have released their latest campaign commercials, while another will embark on a district tour in the coming weeks. Conole's new ad focuses on Medicare, Social Security Francis Conole did not have to look far for the star of his new campaign ad. Conole's mother, Patricia, is seated next to the Democratic candidate in the 30-second spot, which is airing on broadcast and cable stations in the 22nd Congressional District. The ad highlights Francis Conole's stance on Medicare and Social Security. He supports preserving the earned benefits and believes that Medicare should be allowed to negotiate prescription drug prices. "I am refusing to take corporate PAC money, so I plan to take on these big drug companies so central New Yorkers can pay less for their prescription drugs, and we can use these savings to reduce the budget deficit and protect Social Security and Medicare," Conole said in a statement. Conole is seeking the Democratic nomination in the 22nd district, which includes all of Onondaga, Madison and Oneida counties, plus a sliver of Oswego County. He is one of four Democrats Sarah Klee Hood, Chol Majok and Sam Roberts are the others running in the Aug. 23 primary election. Tenney in new ad: Impeach Biden Republican U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney is making her pitch to GOP voters in the 24th Congressional District with a straightforward message: President Joe Biden should be impeached. Tenney's second TV ad begins with her asking a question of herself, "How I feel about Joe Biden?" Her response: "I see this guy as a talentless, career politician and completely derelict in his duty, which is why I've called for him to be impeached." She continues by expressing frustration that Republicans "don't fight" and urges those in her party to "fight every single day." "I stand up to the status quo in both parties," she said. "I have a core set of principles. Can we preserve this republic? It is all on the line. It's not easy to fight the fight that patriots fight, but it's worth it." There have been eight resolutions introduced in the House of Representatives to impeach Biden, but Tenney has not signed on as a cosponsor of any of those measures or sponsored her own. In a statement, she specified why she believes Biden should be impeached. She accused the president of dereliction of duty at the southern border and a "disastrous retreat" from Afghanistan. "I will not stand by while Biden and (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) trample on our constitution to push their far-left agenda," Tenney said. "I look forward to working with a Republican House majority next Congress to impeach Biden and hold his administration accountable for their numerous failures." Tenney is vying for the Republican nomination in the 24th Congressional District, which is comprised of 12 counties stretching from western New York to the North Country. All of Cayuga County is in the 24th district. Fratto plans district tour Mario Fratto, who is seeking the Republican nomination in the 24th district, will hold 15 events in the next two-plus weeks before the Aug. 23 primary election. His schedule includes events in all corners of the 12-county district. He has one event planned for Auburn from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15, at Veterans Memorial Park on Genesee Street. All of his events are open to the public, according to his campaign. Fratto is competing against Tenney and George Phillips for the GOP nomination in the 24th district. The winner of the primary will face Democratic candidate Steven Holden in the general election. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian and comedian Pete Davidson have broken up after dating for about nine months, according to multiple media reports. ADVERTISEMENT TMZ, E! News and UsMagazine all cited unnamed sources as confirming the split. TMZ said Davidson, 28, has been filming a movie in Australia, while Kardashian, 41, is working and raising her four young children in Los Angeles. Kardashian also is in the midst of a divorce from rapper Kanye West. "They amicably split this week," one insider told UsMagazine.com of Kardashian and Davidson. The still have "a lot of love and respect for each other," another source told E!, but they found that the distance and their demanding schedules "made it really difficult to maintain a relationship." The pair started dating in October after Kardashian guest hosted Saturday Night Live, the sketch comedy show for which Davidson was a cast member at the time. They made headlines when they walked the red carpets at high-profile events such as the White House Correspondents' Dinner in April and the Met Gala in New York City, and shared on social media photos from their various luxurious vacations. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! Davidson recently quit SNL to pursue opportunities in film and standup comedy. A man in Northern California has been charged with using a pellet gun to shoot people at random, including a 15-year-old girl who suffered a collapsed lung and a fractured rib The window for New York voters to change political party affiliation before the Aug. 23 primary is closing fast after a court decision Wednesday set a new deadline for Aug. 11. Prior to the reversal by a judge in Steuben County, voters would have had the unprecedented opportunity to change parties through Primary Day. At the behest of the state Board of Elections, acting State Supreme Court Justice Patrick McAllister, the same judge who determined the state's legislative redistricting, established a deadline that precedes the early voting period eliminating some of the unpredictability surrounding state races. Before Wednesday's change, voters had been allowed to change their party affiliation thanks to ripple effects from the state's political roller coaster this year. With two separate primaries June 28 and Aug. 23 established due to delays in solidifying new maps for congressional districts, some typical regulations were thrown into flux. When the second date was added, the state Legislature decided not to extend the enrollment freeze until seven days after the Aug. 23 primary, at least temporarily creating a rare opportunity for voters. In a year with one primary, voter party affiliation could not be changed from Feb. 14 until seven days after the June vote. Political analysts had been intrigued by how an "open" primary would impact some of the hotter state races, such as the heated GOP clash between Carl Paladino and Nick Langworthy in NY-23, but also elections downstate. The possibility that independent voters could suddenly enroll as Republicans or Democrats on Primary Day created an unpredictability. New York voters can change enrollment through Aug. 11 by visiting the voting registration section of the Department of Motor Vehicles' website or by downloading and printing the voter registration form from the New York Board of Elections website and following the mailing directions. Anything received by the Board of Elections Aug. 12 or later will not be effective until Aug. 30, an elections official said Thursday. Early voting runs from Aug. 13-21. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. Photographer / Multimedia Editor Has been working as a photojournalist since 2007, before moving into newspapers, he worked with an NGO called Project HOPE. He then went to work for the Press and Sun-Bulletin in New York, and then in New England working for the Brattleboro Reformer. The Honda Jazz RS will also be powered by a hybrid powertrain with the company spelling out three drive modes - Normal, Sport and Economy. Honda has made no qualms about its plans of going big in the world of electrics and hybrids but while new models may provide the necessary thrust to take on a long list of rivals, propelling its existing models with more power is a clear strategy as well. So while the Civic RS has gained a whole lot of attention in recent times, it is now the turn of Honda Fit, also called Honda Jazz in select markets, to get set for a launch in the RS form factor. The 'RS' tag is usually on the more powerful models from German luxury brands but Honda too uses it to denote slightly more powerful variants of models minus the tag. And the Honda Jazz is all set to become a hot hatch once it is launched in the home market of Japan and subsequently in certain European markets. While the power figures aren't yet officially known, the international spec of the Honda Jazz puts out around 109 hp and offers 253 Nm of torque. And obviously, these figures would see an upward revision with the RS moniker. The Honda Jazz RS will also be powered by a hybrid powertrain with the company spelling out three drive modes - Normal, Sport and Economy. While the model would continue to be a front-wheel drive, it will now get paddles behind the steering to control the intensity of regenerative braking. FOLLOW US:Stay Updated with latest content - Subscribe us on FOLLOW US:Stay Updated with latest content - Subscribe us on That Honda Jazz remains a popular option in current times and in certain markets is underlined by the fact that the Japanese auto giant is persisting with adding newer technology to it. But it is also a fact that Jazz has been far from impressive in certain other markets. Already taken out of the US lineup, there are certain reports that it could also be phased out here in India as the company gets ready to drive out a mid-size SUV at some point next year. First Published Date: HARTFORD Police said they are investigating a lunchtime bank robbery that occurred Thursday. The robbery happened about noon Thursday at the Bank of America, 790 Maple Ave., near Goodwin Park in the southern part of the city. When officers arrived, they learned that someone made off with a backpack of cash and was last seen heading west on West Preston Street, Lt. Aaron Boisvert said. The person was not armed. Numerous officers and a police dog checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect, Boisvert said. Employees provided a description, and the persons image was captured on bank security cameras. However, police did not release a description or surveillance photos. In addition to patrol officers and bank security specialists, staff from the departments Capital City Command Center and Major Crimes and Crime Scene divisions are working on the investigation, Boisvert said Friday. Anyone with information about the robber can call the Hartford Police Department anonymous tip line at 860-722-8477 (TIPS). This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The administration of President Joe Biden and one of Indiana's largest employers have condemned the state's new ban on abortions, with the White House calling it another extreme attempt by Republicans to trample women's rights. Indiana on Friday became the first state in the nation to approve such legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 1973 landmark case that had protected the right to abortion nationwide. The Indiana Legislature took a devastating step as a result of the Supreme Courts extreme decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and eliminate womens constitutionally protected right to abortion," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Saturday. "And, its another radical step by Republican legislators to take away womens reproductive rights and freedom, and put personal health care decisions in the hands of politicians rather than women and their doctors. The ban, which takes effect Sept. 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions will be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10-weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest won't be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed. Under the bill, abortions can only be performed in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics will lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an illegal abortion or fails to file required reports will lose their medical license. Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co., which employs 10,400 people at its headquarters in Indianapolis, warned that the ban could lead it to reassess its presence in Indiana. We are concerned that this law will hinder Lillys and Indianas ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world," the company said in a statement Saturday. "While we have expanded our employee health plan coverage to include travel for reproductive services unavailable locally, that may not be enough for some current and potential employees. "Given this new law, we will be forced to plan for more employment growth outside our home state, it said. Lilly has research and development hubs in New York City and the California cities of San Diego and San Francisco, and this year announced it would build a $700 million genetic medicine hub in Boston. Lilly was not among the more than 250 businesses that opposed abortion restrictions in a letter released July 21 by the American Civil Liberties Union, The Indianapolis Star reported. IU Health, Indiana's largest health care system, said it was studying the new law. IU Healths priority remains ensuring our physicians and patients have clarity when making decisions about pregnancy within the limits of the law. We will take the next few weeks to fully understand the terms of the new law and how to incorporate the changes into our medical practice to protect our providers and care for the people seeking reproductive healthcare, it said in a statement. The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce urged the General Assembly to proceed with caution. Over the last two weeks, the Indiana General Assembly has debated a substantial policy change on the issue of abortion in a compressed timeframe, the chamber said in a statement Thursday. Such an expedited legislative process rushing to advance state policy on broad, complex issues is, at best, detrimental to Hoosiers, and at worst, reckless. ___ Find APs full coverage of the overturning of Roe v. Wade at: https://apnews.com/hub/abortion WATERBURY Gov. Ned Lamont has signed legislation that will align the states childhood lead poisoning standards with federal benchmarks. I think were doing the right thing, Lamont said Friday at an afternoon news conference in Waterbury. Its a long-term commitment weve got to make here, but were making it. And were doing everything we can to keep our kids safe. Because we found out during COVID, we are all in this together. If youre not safe, none of us are safe. Lamont appeared alongside local and state officials at Rose Hill to discuss the legislation. Seventy-two percent of Waterburys housing units were built before lead paint was outlawed in 1978, Lamont said. The legislation will gradually reduce the blood lead level that will trigger a parental notification or home inspection to align more closely with federal standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meaning Connecticut will perform more inspections going forward. It will also allow local and state health agencies to perform more testing in specific areas. The children being protected by this law are the future, and we need their homes, their schools and the places they are being cared for to be safe, Connecticut Public Health Commissioner Manisha Juthani said. The damages cause by lead are permanent and we have not done whats in our control to help these young people. The bill had bipartisan support and most of it will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. Lamont is also allocating $30 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to help with case management and remediation around lead poisoning. For too long, the standards for lead testing and treatment in Connecticut have fallen well behind the best practices, and I am glad we are making these long-overdue updates, Lamont said. jonah.dylan@hearstmediact.com LOS ANGELESCybersocket welcomes award-winning performer Devin Franco to this month's exclusive chat on its new Live Channel next Tuesday, August 9 at 5:30 pm PT/8:30 pm ET. Fans will be able to ask Franco anything during the Q&A, and he will be sharing the candid truth about porn industry hot topics, his career, the world of fetishes, being an entrepreneur, life beyond the camera and more. To take part in the Q&A, fans are invited to log on to www.Cybersocket.com/Live and register as a user or as a guest. The live session will be hosted by Cybersocket director and on-air personality Alexander Rodriguez. Archived live chats will be available for viewing on the site, on YouTube, and as part of Cybersockets new podcast lineup, also featuring Teddy Bears "Bear With Us, Gurrrl." An aircraft group with a nuclear-powered submarine is set to take part in the drills. Chinas major military exercise around Taiwan entered day three Saturday, with the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) apparently staging a simulated attack on Taiwans main island, Taipeis Defense Ministry said. Multiple Chinese military aircraft and vessels operated near Taiwan on Saturday morning, some of them crossed the median line dividing the Taiwan Strait, the ministry said in a statement. The Taiwanese military sent warnings, scrambled aircraft and deployed defense missile systems to track the Chinese military planes, the statement said. A Taiwan Air Force air defense missile troop monitoring the situation, Aug. 6, 2022. Credit: Taiwan Defense Ministry On Friday night, four Chinese drones were spotted flying over the Kinmen islands near Chinas Fujian province, the defense ministry said. During the day on Friday, Chinese military aircraft made a record 68 incursions into Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ), many of them crossed the median line, which serves as a de facto border between Taiwan and the mainland. This is the highest number of incursions in one day. The previous single-day record was 56, on Oct. 4, 2021. By squeezing the median line, the PLA intends to make its encroachments on Taiwans air space and waters routine, therefore changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and making it a Chinese inner sea, said Shen Ming-Shih, acting deputy chief executive officer at Taiwans Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a government think-tank. The unprecedented drills are set to continue until noon on Sunday local time and Chinese media reported that a Chinese aircraft carrier group, featuring at least one nuclear-powered submarine, would take part in the first carrier deterrence exercise. Details however remain sketchy and the whereabouts of both Chinese carriers, Liaoning and Shandong, were unclear as of Saturday. Sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan participate in flight operations on the ship's flight deck while sailing through the Philippine Sea, Aug. 3, 2022. Credit: U.S. Navy USS Ronald Reagan returns The U.S. Navys only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, seems to have returned to east of Taiwan from a position near its Japanese home port, several sources said. The amphibious assault ships USS Tripoli and USS America were also heading to waters near Taiwan, the U.S. Naval Institute reported. The carrier and other ships are expected to conduct maritime transit through the Taiwan Strait in the coming weeks, according to U.S. National Security Spokesperson John Kirby who added that the U.S. will take further steps to demonstrate our commitment to the security of our allies in the region. On Friday China released a set of eight countermeasures in response to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan, freezing collaboration on three sets of military dialogues with the U.S., as well as from talks on the climate crisis, repatriation of illegal immigrants, counter-narcotics and legal assistance in criminal matters. The breaking off of the wide range of bilateral talks came after Beijing announced sanctions against Pelosi and her direct family members, accusing her of vicious and provocative actions. Pelosi is the most senior U.S. official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. On Thursday Japan said it had lodged a diplomatic protest after five ballistic missiles fired by China appear to have landed inside Japan's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which stretches 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the outer limits of Japan's territorial seas. Beijing rejected the complaint, saying China and Japan have not carried out maritime delimitation in the waters and Chinas missile test-launch in the area was consistent with international law and practices. Freight cars with Korean characters are seen at a train station in Dandong, northeastern China's Liaoning province, April 21, 2021. Rail freight shipments between the northern Chinese city Dandong and North Koreas Sinuiju will resume next week, providing a vital lifeline of goods to the pariah state, North Korean sources said. Starting around Aug. 8 or 9, the international freight train between Sinuiju and Dandong will resume its operation, an official from a trading organization in North Pyongan province told RFA on Thursday. There has been an order from the Central Committee for all trading companies to prepare import and export materials to load, he said, referring to the Central Committee of the Workers Party of North Korea. North Korean authorities proposed the resumption of service to the Chinese government because the country faces economic difficulties due to a serious shortage of supplies, he said. North Korea is dependent on trade and aid from China, its main ally and trading partner. Restrictions on the flow of goods from the country during COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns devastated North Koreas already chronically unstable economy. Freight train service between Sinuiju and Dandong, the hub of North Korea-China trade, was halted in August 2020 because of the pandemic. It resumed on Jan. 16, but was closed by the Chinese again on April 25 after outbreaks in both countries. Maritime trade with North Korea was also halted at that time but was partially resumed in mid-July after repeated requests from authorities in North Korea. Trading company representatives, including ones from firms in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, are stationed in Sinuiju, which sits across the international border of the Yalu River from Dandong, the source in North Pyongan said. They have been ordering goods from their Chinese counterparts to import construction materials and basic food. They are trying to secure foreign currency to pay for the imports, he said. A North Korean source in Dandong, with knowledge of the situation, also told RFA on Thursday that the Dandong-Sinuiju freight train service was about to resume. Since yesterday, a Dandong-based logistics company has been recruiting truck drivers to transport goods to the Dandong freight station and manpower to load goods on the freight train in preparation for the resumption of Dandong-Sinuiju freight train operations, he said. The logistics company must collect basic food such as sugar and flour, iron products, and construction materials ordered from North Korea from all over China and transport them to Dandong freight station, said the source, who declined to be named so as to speak freely. Additionally, Dandong quarantine authorities will directly manage the freight station and the trains that return to China after transporting goods to North Korea, he said. Chinese workers who load and unload goods on freight trains in Dandong must have received COVID-19 vaccinations, the source added. Workers will be tested daily for the virus and can continue on the job if their results are negative. The freight train will operate 15 to 17 cars at a time and will go directly to the Uiju quarantine facility, formerly the Uiju Airfield, near North Koreas northern border with China, the source said. Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee for RFA Korean. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Police officers patrol a night food market near the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar, northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, a day before the Eid al-Fitr holiday, June 25, 2017. Authorities in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region used the Chinese governments 100-day crackdown on criminals and fugitives to target Uyghurs deemed religious extremists and two-faced, a police officer in a major city said. The campaign was rolled out by Wang Xiaohong, a close ally of Chinese President Xi Jinping who was appointed public security minister on June 25, to eradicate criminal forces and to shore up political security and social control across the country. Wang directed police to diffuse all kinds of safety risks and resolutely safeguard social stability in the run-up to the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party later this year, when the partys national policy goals for the next five years will be set and its top leadership elected. At a July 15 promotional meeting for the Hundred Days Action across China, Chinese public security leaders said that 42,000 cases had been cracked and 72,000 criminal suspects had been arrested during the campaign, according to Chinese media reports. RFA called Chinese police departments at various levels in the region to find out how the operation affected the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, who have borne the brunt of Chinas oppressive policies for decades. Tight-lipped authorities generally declined to discuss cases, but the public security sweep in Xinjiang targeted mainly Uyghurs deemed religious extremists, separatists, terrorists and two-faced persons, state media in Xinjiang said. The Chinese Communist Party uses the term two-faced to describe people usually officials or party members who are either corrupt or ideologically disloyal to the party, though it is often applied to Uyghurs in official positions who are interested in carrying on their cultural and religious traditions. A police officer in Hotan (in Chinese, Hetian), a major oasis town in southwestern Xinjiang, confirmed the citys police headquarters held meetings on eliminating and fighting against evil forces in recent months. The anti-crime campaign elsewhere in China focused on crimes like theft, while in Xinjiang officers sought to catch allegedly disloyal Uyghurs, officials said. Authorities focused on operations against evil forces in Hotan, the police officer said. Evil forces refer to people who take criminals under their wings, he told RFA. Here our main targets in eliminating evil forces are those people who took people who preached religion illegally under their wings, protecting them from being prosecuted. The people they took under their wings also include separatists, extremists and two-faced people. Pickpockets and thieves are in the periphery of our target in this operation, he said. The main targets are the ones I mentioned earlier. The officer went on to say that authorities arrested a man named Waris and more than 10 people during a social gathering that was attended by more than 500 people. We took them away with black hoods on their heads, he said. The ones who were arrested are all male. There were no females among them. The policeman said he did not know the identities of the 10 others, and that the case was classified as a state secret. Xinjiangs Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in Xinjiang have been subjected to severe human rights abuses, torture and forced labor, as well as the eradication of their linguistic, cultural and religious traditions in what the United States and several Western parliaments have called genocide and crimes against humanity. Chinese authorities have detained up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities in internment camps since 2017, according to numerous investigative reports by researchers, think tanks and foreign media. China has said that the camps were vocational training centers meant to deter religious extremism and terrorism, and that they are now closed. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan and Switzerland have agreed on the return by Swiss authorities of $131 million in assets seized during criminal proceedings against Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of longtime Uzbek President Islam Karimov. The Uzbek Justice Ministry said on August 16 that Minister Ruslanbek Davletov and Swiss President Ignazio Cassis signed an agreement in Bern to place the confiscated assets for a UN fund for sustainable development in Central Asia's most populous nation of 35 million. The breakthrough is one of a handful of efforts by Tashkent to agree on the return of some $1 billion in illicit funds, in some cases slowed by foreign authorities' desire to ensure transparency in the funds' return to public coffers. "The fund will allow the returned assets to be used for the benefit of the population of Uzbekistan," Cassis said at the signing ceremony. Switzerland froze around 800 million Swiss francs ($842 million) in 2012 in connection with criminal proceedings against Karimova, a pop diva and businesswoman who had a public falling-out with her late father and is currently in an Uzbek prison on embezzlement and criminal conspiracy charges. The Uzbek Justice Ministry said in February that it was working with authorities in Switzerland, the United States, France, Russia, and several other nations on the return of Karimova's assets that it said were "earned through criminal activities." The ministry said at the time that Uzbek and Swiss authorities had agreed to create a multiparty trust fund with the United Nations to work on the return of assets that were confiscated under a court decision as part of the probe against Karimova. It said that assets worth about $131 million and confiscated in 2019 were ready to be transferred to Uzbekistan. In 2020, the Swiss government said a nonbinding framework agreement signed between Switzerland and Uzbekistan meant any returned assets "shall be used for the benefit of the people of Uzbekistan." Tashkent has sought over $1 billion from foreign jurisdictions since announcing Karimova's imprisonment in 2017. Once seen as a possible successor to her father, Karimova was placed under house arrest in Tashkent in 2014 while he was still alive and running the country. Karimov died in 2016 and Shavkat Mirziyoev succeeded him soon afterward. Criminal investigators in Switzerland, the United States, Sweden, and the Netherlands have linked Karimova to a massive, years-long bribery scheme that revolved mainly around foreign telecommunications companies gaining access to the Uzbek market. In December 2017, Karimova was sentenced to a 10-year prison term but the sentence was later commuted to house arrest for five years. She was detained in March 2019 for allegedly violating the terms of her house arrest. In February 2020, Karimova sent a letter to Mirziyoev offering to return $686 million to the country's treasury in exchange for the dismissal of the court case against her at home. But a month later she received an additional 13-year sentence after being found guilty of extortion, money laundering, and other crimes. TURKMENABAT, Turkmenistan -- Dog catchers in Turkmenabat have been assigned to catch and kill at least seven stray dogs every day, locals say, as authorities in Turkmenistans second-biggest city continue a brutal campaign of animal cruelty. There are not many stray dogs or cats left on the streets of Turkmenabat, and those charged with exterminating them sometimes take away peoples pets to reach their daily target, several dog owners have complained. In one notorious case, the dog catchers took away a dog that was tied up outside a supermarket while the owner was buying groceries, residents told RFE/RL. The authoritarian Central Asian state has long been criticized for the systematic slaughter of stray animals using barbaric methods. In Turkmenabat, a city of some 250,000, each housing-management company is responsible for hiring people to carry out dog and cat culling drives in its neighborhood. One such company in the citys Khimki district was recently named as the most successful in exterminating stray animals, RFE/RL correspondents reported, citing officials and residents. But some of the canines caught in Khimki last week turned out to be pet dogs. Outraged dog owners demanded that the management company return their pets, only to find out they had already been destroyed, locals told RFE/RL. Cruel Methods Turkmenabat residents also accuse the dog catchers of using brutal methods to catch animals and keeping them in appalling conditions. A graphic video of a purported dog-catching sweep in Turkmenabat shows three animal-control officers beating two screaming dogs with a rod before throwing them into the back of a garbage truck. Another gruesome video -- also sent from Turkmenabat -- purports to show the corpses of animals inside dirty cages in dilapidated, dungeon-like premises. Several residents told RFE/RL that everyone privately condemns how the sweeps are being carried out, but they are too afraid to publicly criticize or argue with housing-management companies, as they depend on housing managers to get certificates that enable them to receive subsidized food in government stores. Subsidized food is a lifeline for many people in Turkmenistan, which has been plagued by chronic food shortages and price hikes for at least five years. The certificates that indicate each persons address and the number of people living in a household must be updated each month. Ironically, the latest sweep in Turkmenabat came as the government adopted a new law on July 25 that bans cruelty against animals. The law -- which was passed shortly after RFE/RL's Turkmen Service published reports on the country's cruel ways of dealing with strays -- bans causing injuries or other serious harm to dogs or depriving them of food, water, sleep, rest, or exercise. It also prohibits the use of methods that cause dogs unnecessary suffering when catching or regulating the number of strays. Activists dubbed the law hypocritical considering what has been practiced, and said its unlikely that Turkmen authorities will comply with it anytime soon. Turkmenistan has been criticized for its long-standing practice of exterminating dogs and cats by poisoning them, beating them to death, starving them to death, or killing them by refusing to give them water. Municipal authorities often bribe local teenagers to give poisoned sausages or bread to stray dogs and cats to kill them, animal rights defenders said. Dog catchers routinely beat strays to the brink of death on the streets. In one incident in Ashgabat, eyewitnesses told RFE/RL that an animal control officer was seen beating a dog and her puppies with a rod in front of children at a kindergarten. Authorities have never publicly addressed the widespread criticism of the country's cruelty toward dogs and cats in their country. The desert nation takes pride in their native dog breed, the Alabai, which are dubbed "wolf crushers" for their ferocity and officially listed as part of Turkmenistan's national heritage. Turkmen President Serdar Berdymukhammedov and his predecessor (and father), Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, have been often photographed with dogs and horses. The former president has devoted a book to alabais and declared the last Sunday of April to be Alabai Day in honor of the celebrated breed. There is also a 6-meter-high golden statue of an Alabai -- Turkmenistan's dearest dog -- in a central square in the capital, Ashgabat. Written by Farangis Najibullah based on reporting by RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondents in Turkmenistan. The head of Amnesty International's Ukraine office has resigned, accusing the rights watchdog of parroting Kremlin propaganda in a report that criticized Kyiv's military response to Russia's unprovoked invasion. Amnesty sparked outrage in Ukraine with the publication of a report on August 4 that accused Kyiv's forces of endangering civilians by basing themselves in residential buildings, schools, and hospitals. "If you don't live in a country invaded by occupiers who are tearing it to pieces, you probably don't understand what it's like to condemn an army of defenders," Oksana Pokalchuk said on Facebook, announcing her resignation late on August 5. "And there are no words in any language that can convey this to someone who has not experienced this pain." Pokalchuk said she had tried to warn Amnesty's senior leadership that the report was one-sided and failed to properly take into account the Ukrainian position, but she was ignored. Amnesty International Secretary-General Agnes Callamard responded to Pokalchuk's resignation, saying: "Oksana has been a valued member of Amnesty staff and has led the Amnesty International Ukraine office for seven years with many significant human rights successes. "We are sorry to hear that she is leaving the organization, but we respect her decision and wish her well," Callamard said. Amnesty says it contacted defense officials in Kyiv with its findings on July 29, but had not received a response by the time of publication -- but Pokalchuk argued that this wasn't nearly enough notice. "As a result, the organization unintentionally put out a statement that sounded like support for Russian narratives. Striving to protect civilians, this research instead became a tool of Russian propaganda." Amnesty listed incidents in which Ukrainian forces appeared to have exposed civilians to danger in 19 towns and villages in the Kharkiv, Donbas and Mykolayiv regions. "We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas," Amnesty chief Callamard said. "Being in a defensive position does not exempt the Ukrainian military from respecting international humanitarian law." Ukraine's government pushed back hard against the report, which the Kremlin and Russian media have already quoted extensively. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba branding the allegations "unfair" and Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov called the report a "perversion." President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the rights group had tried to "amnesty the terrorist state and shift the responsibility from the aggressor to the victim." "If someone makes a report in which the victim and the aggressor are supposedly equal in some way, if some data about the victim is analyzed, and the aggressor's actions at the same time is ignored, then this cannot be tolerated," he said. Callamard tweeted later on August 4, saying that Ukrainian and Russian "social media mobs and trolls" were attacking Amnesty International. "This is called war propaganda, disinformation, misinformation. This won't dent our impartiality and won't change the facts," she said. With reporting by AFP LOS ANGELESTony Sting lends his talents to director Aiden Starrs latest release for PansexualX and Evil Angel, BiSexual 2, as well as the Jim Powers-helmed Secretly Bi from BiPhoria, both now available. In BiSexual 2, Sting joins Dillon Diaz and Electra Rayne in a three-way featuring the two men pleasuring Rayne and each other. Tony is an absolute delight to have on set. His fresh-faced charisma is contagious, Starr said. The three performers really had amazing chemistry in BiSexual 2 and it really shows! Sting faces off with Diaz once more in Secretly Bi, this time with Octavia Red sharing in the two men's affection. Jonathan Morgan, agent and co-owner of Nexxxt Level, which represents Sting, said the performer has been getting great feedback since signing with the agency just before the pandemic hit. When Tony first signed with Nexxxt Level, new doors opened for us to get him work in the bi and trans side of things. Other models have also benefitted from Tony being on the roster with them because producers can hire everyone in one phone call. They get a top crossover performer who can take direction and really lead a scene if necessary. Added Morgan's Nexxxt Level partner Andre Madness, "Tony is on the right track to have a great year. Tony is a great performer to have on our roster. Hes always tested and is ready to work whenever a booking comes in. He loves working in the adult film business and it shows whenever cameras are rolling in 2022." Fans can order Aiden Starrs BiSexual 2 here. The movie also stars Casey Calvert, Pierce Paris, Charlotte Sartre, Ruckus XXX, Sophia Grace and Jake Waters. Secretly Bi can be purchased here. Also in the cast are Aria Valencia, Sophia Burns, Michael DelRay, Draven Navarro, Jake Waters and Davin Strong. For more updates, follow Sting on Twitter. For booking information, visit NexxxtLevelTalentAgency.com or contact Jonathan at (818) 326-7001 or Andre (818) 383-8147. Ukraines infrastructure minister says that a foreign-flagged ship has arrived at a Ukrainian port for the first time since Russias invasion began in February. Oleksandr Kubrakov said on August 6 that a Barbados-flagged general cargo ship was in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk to take on a load of grain. "The Fulmar S is the first vessel to enter our seaport for loading since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Kubrakov wrote on Facebook. The guarantors of the agreement, Turkey and the UN, have confirmed that it is possible for the vessel to enter the port of Chornomorsk, he added. This event is also an important signal to the market that the grain corridor is a safe and most importantly profitable business opportunity for ship owners to return to Ukrainian ports, he said. The final destination of the vessel after unloading was to be the Turkish port of Iskenderun. "We are planning to quickly load the vessel and send it to the destination port. With that, we are ready to facilitate the capacity of the ports to handle at least 100 vessels a month," the minister said. A day earlier, the Turkish and Ukrainian authorities said three vessels carrying a total of up to 80,000 tons of corn had been cleared to leave Ukrainian ports as part of a deal to unblock grain exports. In a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations last month, Moscow and Kyiv agreed to resume shipments of wheat and other grain from three Ukrainian ports for the first time since Russia invaded more than five months ago. The halting of grain shipments from Ukraine, one of the world's biggest grain exporters, contributed to a spike in food prices and caused concern about countries in the Middle East and Africa receiving enough grain and other commodities to feed their populations. Ukraine blamed a Russian blockade of its ports for the halt in grain shipments, while Moscow blamed mines in the water placed by Ukraine as protection from a Russian amphibious assault. With reporting by Ukrainska Pravda and Reuters The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed grave concerns about the shelling of the massive Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant in Ukraine, saying it heightens the risk of nuclear disaster. Director-General Rafael Grossi's comments on August 6 came as Kyiv and Moscow traded blame for the shelling of the Zaporizhzhya site, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe. "I'm extremely concerned by the shelling yesterday at Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which underlines the very real risk of a nuclear disaster that could threaten public health and the environment in Ukraine and beyond," Grossi said in a statement. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Grossi urged all sides in the conflict to exercise the "utmost restraint" near the nuclear site. The IAEA chief added that it was "of paramount importance" that the agency be given access to the plant "to provide technical support for nuclear safety and security." The plant, about 200 kilometers northwest of the Russian-held port of Mariupol, has been under Russian supervision since Moscow's troops seized it early in the war, but the Ukrainian staff continues to operate the facilities. On August 5, Ukrainian officials said a high-voltage power line at Zaporizhzhya had been hit by Russian shelling, but they added that the plant was still operating and no radioactive discharges had been detected. Ukraine's Enerhoatom nuclear power company blamed Russian forces for the damage, while Russia's Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of shelling the site. Grossi said military action near the plant "is completely unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs." "Any military firepower directed at or from the facility would amount to playing with fire, with potentially catastrophic consequences." In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia must take responsibility for an "act of terror" after Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for the strikes at Zaporizhzhya. "Today, the occupiers have created another extremely risky situation for all of Europe: they struck the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant twice. Any bombing of this site is a shameless crime, an act of terror," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address. "Russia must take responsibility for the very fact of creating a threat to a nuclear plant," he said. Valentyn Reznichenko, the regional governor in Dnipropetrovsk, said that Russian forces the day before shelled a city across the Dnieper River from the plant. Military experts quoted in U.S. media reports say they believe Russia is shelling the area intentionally, knowing that Ukrainian forces cannot risk returning fire because it could damage the reactors or disturb nuclear waste sites. Separately, British military intelligence said Russia's war in Ukraine is about to enter a new phase, with the heaviest fighting shifting along the Dnieper River to a nearly 350-kilometer front that stretches southwest from near Zaporizhzhya to Kherson. In the east, Russian forces launched an offensive on Bakhmut and several other cities in Donetsk, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on August 6. In the Donetsk direction, the enemy is conducting an offensive operation, concentrating its main efforts in the direction of Bakhmut and Avdiyivka. It is utilizing ground attack and army aviation, the General Staff said on Facebook. The General Staff said in its morning report that Russian attacks were successfully repulsed in Yakovlivka, Vershyn, Kodem, and Zaytseve. The reports could not be independently verified. Britain's Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence bulletin that Russian forces are now almost certainly massing in the south in anticipation of Ukraines counteroffensive or in preparation for a possible assault. British intelligence reported that Russia has been moving long columns of military trucks, tanks, towed artillery, and other weapons away from the Donbas in the east toward the southwest. Russia has been also moving equipment and personnel into the annexed Crimea from Russian-occupied Melitopol, Berdyansk, Mariupol, and from mainland Russia via the Kerch Bridge. The extra equipment and personnel, which includes battalion tactical groups that comprise between 800 and 1,000 troops, will "almost certainly be used to support Russian troops in the Kherson region," British intelligence suggested. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces have been countering the enemy's moves focusing more often on targeting bridges, ammunition depots, and rail links in the southern regions, including the strategically important railroad spur that links Kherson to Crimea, the bulletin said. Ukrainian forces are almost certainly using "a combination of block, damage, degrade, deny, destroy, and disrupt effects to try to affect Russias ability to logistically resupply," it said. Ukraine's southern frontline city of Mykolayiv imposed an unusually long curfew from late August 5 until early on August 8, Vitaliy Kim, the head of the regional military administration, announced on Telegram. Kim said the measure is meant to allow authorities to identify and detain people collaborating with Russia. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said it detained two men suspected of being Russian spies responsible for identifying targets for Russian missile strikes that badly damaged ship-building infrastructure in the port city. The men "collected and transmitted intelligence to the enemy about important infrastructure facilities, fuel depots, the deployment and movement of personnel and equipment of [Ukrainian) armed forces," the SBU said. The agency said without specifying the timing that several ship-building operations and fuel depots were damaged. With reporting by Reuters, dpa, AFP, and AP The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says Russias war in Ukraine has only made an already horrific global food crisis even more dire. Speaking on August 5 in Ghana, Linda Thomas-Greenfield predicted that the war will cause food insecurity for an additional 40 million people and that sub-Saharan Africa will be hardest hit. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, how Kyiv is fighting back, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Thomas-Greenfield said that the COVID-19 pandemic caused the number of people considered food insecure to nearly double to 190 million. Since Russia's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the UN estimates that this number could rise to 230 million. That would mean that more than 40 million people will have become food insecure since [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin chose to invade his neighbor and steal their land. Thats more people than the entire population of Ghana, she said. She linked the increase to Russias capture of some of Ukraines most productive farmland, its spoiling of fields with mines and bombs, and the theft or destruction of agricultural equipment and infrastructure. The fact is, this hurts Africa, she said, adding that she understands that Africans "don't want to be pressured to pick a side, but said they need to know the facts. African governments have largely avoided taking sides in the conflict and have refused to join Western condemnation and sanctions. Thomas-Greenfield said she wanted to present the facts to Africans that Russias blockage of the Black Sea kept more than 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain from global markets and threatened food security across the Middle East and Africa. Meanwhile, food prices worldwide are 23 percent higher than a year ago, she said. Moscow has consistently denied responsibility for worsening the food crisis, blaming Western sanctions for slowing its food and fertilizer exports. Thomas-Greenfield strongly refuted that claim, calling it a regular piece of disinformation. She said U.S. sanctions do not apply to food and fertilizer and the U.S. has taken extra steps to make sure that companies and financial institutions understand that food and fertilizer are not the target of the U.S. measures. The fact is that our sanctions are targeted at Putin and his supporters, not agriculture and food, which are specifically carved out of the sanctions, she said. "Regardless of how you feel about Russia, we all have a powerful common interest in mitigating the impact of the war in Ukraine on food security," she added. With reporting by Reuters Beacon UU Sunday Service: An Infinitely Expanding Universe Aug 7 Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 510 N. Leroux St., Flagstaff. (928) 779-4492. 10-11 a.m., ALL ARE WELCOME! You BELONG at Beacon. Spiritually open and intentionally inclusive since 1958. Buddhist scripture states, .. there are thousands of suns, thousands of moons, thousands of inhabited worlds of varying sorts. Popular imagination and government funding of scientific studies are illuminating the idea that we are not the only intelligent life in the universe. If true, it would be exciting, frightening, and challenging within the living tradition of our faith. Rev. Patrice Curtis, preaching, with Worship Associate Andy Hogg and music from Andrez Alcazar. Our Guest Minister Today: Rev. Patrice Curtis is the Transformational Interim Ministries Director on the UUA Ministry and Faith Development team. Patrice collaborates with and supports interim ministers and religious professionals, in amplifying diversity, equity, and inclusion within congregations, and in disrupting unhealthy cultural patterns that make Beloved Community difficult to realize. Patrice is currently the Affiliate Minister with UUCP. Patrice interned at First Unitarian in Portland, OR, and has served the congregations of Clearwater, Florida; Washington, DC; and Church of the Larger Fellowship. https://go.evvnt.com/1258113-0. Unity of Flagstaff Aug 7 Unity of Flagstaff Spiritual Center, 1800 S. Milton Road, Flagstaff. 10:30-11:30 a.m., Guest speaker Matt Devlin talks and sings about finding your inspiration. (Guess what his is!) He will share how allowing that to express in his life expands his connection and consciousness. Join us this Sunday 10:30 AM Live or LIVE STREAM 1800 S. Milton Suite #103. https://go.evvnt.com/1267095-0. The Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Aug 7 The Episcopal Church of The Epiphany, 423 N. Beaver St., Flagstaff. 928-774-2911. WELCOMING ALL: All ages, all colors, all abilities, all orientations. All people are welcome here. Saturday evening is a small group that meets outside in our Labyrinth, when weather permits or in our Parish Hall otherwise. Sundays 8:00 am service has occasional special music provided when musicians volunteer, Sundays 10:30 am service has music and is online at epiphanyaz.org. Come and join us anytime. Choir resumes in the fall. https://go.evvnt.com/1266912-0. Flagstaff Federated Community Church: Please join us for in person services Sundays at 10 a.m. We are located at 400 W Aspen Ave. on the corner of Aspen and Sitgreaves in Downtown Flagstaff. All are welcome to our services. For more information about Flagstaff Federated Community Church please call our office at 928-774-7383, Mon Thurs 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Church of the Resurrection Sunday Church Services: May 8 740 W. University Heights Drive S., 740 W. University Heights Drive S., Flagstaff. 928-853-8522. 10-11:30 a.m., Church of the Resurrection Presbyterian Church in America (PCA): We invite you to join us for worship at 10 a.m. on Sundays at 740 W. University Heights Drive South as Rev. Joshua Walker preaches through the book of Acts. Please feel free to contact us for information on our mid-week gatherings and for more information on our church. You can find us at www.cor-pca.org and www.facebook.com/CORFlagstaff or we can be reached at corflagstaff@gmail.com and (928) 699-2715. Living Christ Lutheran Church: Living Christ Lutheran Church is a diverse and LGBTQ-affirming community of disciples embraced by God's unconditional love and enduring grace. You are invited to celebrate with us God's love and presence in your life, grow in your discipleship, and leave empowered to be God's hands in the world. We worship through music, teaching, prayer, and the sacraments each Sunday at 10 a.m. with Rev. Kurt Fangmeier leading. We offer worship both in-person (masks are respected, not required; encouraged for unvaccinated) and online. Learn more about us at our new website: lclcflag.org. Leupp Nazarene Church: The church, near mile post 13 or Navajo Route 15, has been holding services by teleconferences and doing drive-up meetings. For information, call pastor Farrell Begay at 928-853-5321. Teleconference number: 1-7170275-8940 with access code 3204224#. Services are 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sundays and 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Christian Science Society of Flagstaff: 619 W. Birch Ave. The Christian Science Society of Flagstaff has opened for Sunday services while continuing to have them available via Zoom for online and phone. Wednesday testimony meetings are available only via Zoom. For phone Sunday Services: Dial: 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 369 812 794#, Passcode: 075454#. For phone Wednesday meetings, dial: 669-900-9128, Meeting ID: 971 672 834#, Passcode: 894826#. The access for Zoom on Sundays is: https://zoom.us/j/369812794. The Zoom access for Wednesdays is: https://zoom.us/j/971672834. The password to use to enter both is CSS. We welcome all to attend our Sunday Services in person, or live by Zoom, at 10:00 oclock, and to attend our Wednesday Testimony meetings live by Zoom, at 5:30 oclock. Our Reading Room will be open on Wednesdays from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10-12 noon. For further information please call 928-526-5982. Dateline May 2022, remembering back before the rain: The mountain is burning this summer, so I am raking up needles, dead grass stems and leaves in my huge backyard. I have a couple of days to go, and then its done. This lovely yard, this relict landscape, with its native plants, kind of courses through me as it has over the last 30 years. It has been a magical place, but now with warming, it is a liability. Looking out the window at my precious little slab of the world; this place helped me find my way in life. My yards vegetation is comprised of stuff that may have been here for hundreds or thousands of years, longer than weve been here, by a lot. Since moving into this house in 1990, I got to watch the plants emerge each spring, through the summer and fall and on and on. The yard is dominated by the mesic bunchgrass, muttongrass (Poa fendleriana). As a cool-season grass, it is one of the earliest plants to emerge in spring, red seed stalks emerging under snow in February, in the old days. It is a beautiful grass, worthy of endless expanses. It is blue green, which becomes especially apparent with monsoon rains, when its involute or rolled leaves unfold. Ahh, that economy of nature thing. Biscuit root, wild candytuft and, of course, the dayflower are here, too. By raking the grasses this year, I am combing out the old leaf blades. This might previously have been done by fire and/or grazing herbivores. As I rake, more stones turn up, dislodged from clay soil turned to dust. The spaces between the bunchgrasses are getting wider, and it pains me to remove this organic debris, laying the soil bare to further drying. So, this is happening here, this measure of change. And yet, of course, muttongrass had a spectacular year in seed production. Its so touching. This is what I keep coming back to and hanging on to these days -- this beautiful nature that is all around. Plants blooming in a year like this seem kind of amazing, really. Watching juncos tool around so casually, checking cracks in the flagstone for bounty. Birds taking baths; ohh, dont get me started. With it so dry, watching birds drink and bathe in the pans I have about the yard is a damned good time. The other day, a robin got in and went to town splashing around, got out, shook off and then jumped right back in for more. The birds seem very polite around the water. When a pair arrives, one often keeps watch while the other drinks. Different species seem to wait their turn. The lesser goldfinches are chowing down on the niger seed with great gusto. I bet theyre headed for a second nesting session. So, the Peaks and most of the Inner Basin made it through the last fire the Pipeline Fire pretty well. The southeast flank burned ... again, reburn of the north side of the southern flank near Lockett Meadow, and it kind of looks like Sugarloaf burned again, too. While recovery of forests on the Peaks has been shown to be remarkably fast historically, the pace of that process appears be slowing considerably due to warming and drought, according to Peter Fule, forest ecologist with Northern Arizona University, in a recent Arizona Daily Sun article. He found this to be the case while studying the burned slopes of Schultz Peak -- which have shown little pine recovery since the fire in 2010. I got to visit Bob Hoffa, manager of the Nature Conservancy Hart Prairie Preserve, the other day. Driving up 151 in the morning, on the west side of the mountain, well, the place just kind of sparkled. The preserve lies at the base of Hart Prairie. In recent years, Coconino National Forest has been restoring the prairie, with intensive thinning of pines that have encroached in the last 140 years or so, without regular fire. Bebb willow, a circumboreal willow species, has made its home along the various drainages coming from the Peaks across the preserve; the drainages coalesce at the base of Fern Mountain and continue on to Volunteer Wash and then Sycamore Creek -- the one point on the mountain that drains that way! The Bebb willow population at Hart Prairie population is the largest in the Southwest, by a lot. Like so many plants, it may have migrated south to this area, the southernmost edge of its distribution, when the world was quite cold and wet, as in the last ice age. I sure love that imagery. These days, most of the Bebbs are small, stout trees, with some dieback in their canopies; their trunks are often quite large, spanning several meters in diameter across the base, suggesting some very long-lived plants. There is little recruitment, or establishment of younger plants, though there are a few super wet places on the preserve where they are coming in. This is the nature of this species populations through much of its western range. Hard to know if its drying and warming, or a natural condition. So much to learn. As other plants are losing ground to global warming in their southern ranges, like aspens, it's hard not to wonder if Bebb is, too. We dont know how long-lived Bebb willow is, and we dont know if it is clonal or spreading, and we dont know when it got here. An understanding of these features will speak to its risk here. If it is a long-lived plant, kind of like creosote bush, then producing offspring every year is not such a big deal. The Preserve is considering using carbon-14 dating to get at the age of some of the plants, and perhaps how long theyve been at Hart Prairie. Boy, will that be a story. Stay tuned. Hart Prairie Preserve plans start up its public natural history walks next year, after being interrupted for several years due to COVID. Please stay tuned for that, too. So, Schultz Peak is now sending down rocks as well as soil on the east side of the mountain with monsoon rains, while Schultz Creek has started to assert itself on the west side, as it tries to find its way to the Rio de Flag. Wild, unimaginable times are upon us. Heres to us, Flagstaffians, and this wild world. BISBEE MJ was a tiny, black-haired girl, just 5 years old, when her father admitted to his bishop that he was sexually abusing her. The father, a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an admitted pornography addict, was in counseling with his bishop when he revealed the abuse. The bishop, who was also a family physician, followed church policy and called what church officials have dubbed the help line for guidance. But the call offered little help for MJ. Lawyers for the church, widely known as the Mormon church, who staff the help line around the clock told Bishop John Herrod not to call police or child welfare officials. Instead he kept the abuse secret. They said, You absolutely can do nothing, Herrod said in a recorded interview with law enforcement. Herrod continued to counsel MJs father, Paul Douglas Adams, for another year, and brought in Adams wife, Leizza Adams, in hopes she would do something to protect the children. She didnt. Herrod later told a second bishop, who also kept the matter secret after consulting with church officials who maintain that the bishops were excused from reporting the abuse to police under the states so-called clergy-penitent privilege. Adams continued raping MJ for as many as seven more years, into her adolescence, and also abused her infant sister, who was born during that time. He frequently recorded the abuse on video and posted the video on the internet. Adams was finally arrested by Homeland Security agents in 2017 with no help from the church, after law enforcement officials in New Zealand discovered one of the videos. He died by suicide in custody before he could stand trial. The Associated Press has obtained nearly 12,000 pages of sealed records from an unrelated child sex abuse lawsuit against the Mormon church in West Virginia. The documents offer the most detailed and comprehensive look yet at the so-called help line Herrod called. Families of survivors who filed the lawsuit said they show its part of a system that can easily be misused by church leaders to divert abuse accusations away from law enforcement and instead to church attorneys who may bury the problem, leaving victims in harms way. The help line has been criticized by abuse victims and their attorneys for being inadequate to quickly stop abuse and protect victims. Yet the Utah-based faith has stuck by the system despite the criticism and increasing scrutiny from attorneys and prosecutors, including those in the Adams case. I just think that the Mormon church really sucks. Seriously sucks, said MJ, who is now 16, during an interview with the AP. They are just the worst type of people, from what Ive experienced and what other people have also experienced. MJ and her adoptive mother asked the AP to use only her initials in part because videos of her abuse posted by her father are still circulating on the internet. The AP does not publish the names of sexual abuse survivors without their consent. William Maledon, an Arizona attorney representing the bishops and the church in a lawsuit filed by three of the Adams six children, told the AP last month that the bishops were not required to report the abuse. These bishops did nothing wrong. They didnt violate the law, and therefore they cant be held liable, he said. Maledon referred to the suit as a money grab. In his AP interview, Maledon also insisted Herrod did not know that Adams was continuing to sexually assault his daughter after learning of the abuse in a single counseling session. But in the recorded interview with the agent obtained by the AP, Herrod said he asked Leizza Adams in multiple sessions if the abuse was ongoing and asked her, What are we going to do to stop it? At least for a period of time I assumed they had stopped things, but and then I never asked if they picked up again. The perfect lifestyle The Adams family lived on a lonely dirt road about 8 miles from the center of Bisbee, an old copper-mining town in southeastern Arizona known today for its antique shops and laid-back attitude. Far from prying eyes, the Adams home a three-bedroom, open concept affair surrounded by desert was often littered with piles of clothing and containers of lubricant Adams used to sexually abuse his children, according to legal documents reviewed by the AP. Pauls wife, Leizza, assumed most of the child-rearing responsibilities, including getting their six children off to school and chauffeuring them to church and religious instruction on Sundays. Paul, who worked for the U.S. Border Patrol, spent much of his time online looking at porn, often with his children watching, or wandering the house naked or in nothing but his underwear. He had a short fuse and would frequently throw things, yell at his wife and beat his kids. He just had this explosive personality, said Shaunice Warr, a Border Patrol agent and a Mormon who worked with Paul and described herself as Leizzas best friend. He had a horrible temper. Paul was more relaxed while coaxing his older daughter to hold a smartphone camera and record him while he sexually abused her. He also seemed to revel in the abuse in online chat rooms, where he once bragged that he had the perfect lifestyle because he could have sex with his daughters whenever he pleased, while his wife knew and doesnt care. He would later tell investigators the abuse was a compulsion he couldnt stop. I got into something too deep that I just couldnt pull myself out of, he said. Im not trying to say the devil made me do it. The Adams family was deeply involved in the Mormon community, and on Sundays they attended services in Bisbee. So Adams turned to his church, and to Bishop Herrod, when he sought help and revealed his abuse of MJ. Herrod later told Homeland Security agent Robert Edwards he knew from the start that Leizza Adams was unlikely to stop her husband, after he called her into the counseling sessions. The bishop, who was also Leizzas personal physician, said she seemed pretty emotionally dead when her husband recounted his abuse of their daughter. The bishop also recognized the harm being done to MJ. I doubt (she) will ever do well, he said in his recorded interview with Homeland Security agents. Herrod also told Edwards that when he called the help line, church officials told him the states clergy-penitent privilege required him to keep Adamss abuse confidential. But the law required no such thing. Arizonas child sex abuse reporting law, and similar laws in more than 20 states that require clergy to report child sex abuse and neglect, says that clergy, physicians, nurses, or anyone caring for a child who reasonably believes a child has been abused or neglected has a legal obligation to report the information to police or the state Department of Child Safety. But it also says that clergy who receive information about child neglect or sexual abuse during spiritual confessions may withhold that information from authorities if the clergy determine it is reasonable and necessary under church doctrine. In 2012, when Herrod rotated out of his position as bishop of the Bisbee ward a Mormon jurisdiction similar to a Catholic parish he told incoming Bishop Robert Kim Mauzy about the abuse in the Adams household. Instead of rescuing MJ by reporting the abuse to authorities, Mauzy also kept the information within the church. In a separate recorded interview with federal agents obtained by the AP, Mauzy said church officials told him he should convene a confidential disciplinary hearing for Adams, after which Adams was ex-communicated in 2013. Mauzy and other church leaders still didnt report Adams to the police. Two years later, in 2015, Leizza Adams gave birth to a second daughter. It took her husband just six weeks to start sexually assaulting her, recording the abuse, and uploading the videos to the internet. The revelation that Mormon officials may have directed an effort to conceal years of abuse in the Adams household sparked a criminal investigation of the church by Cochise County Attorney Brian McIntyre, and the civil lawsuit by three of the Adams children. Whos really responsible for Herrod not disclosing? McIntyre asked in an AP interview. Is it Herrod, who says he followed the church lawyers instruction not to report the abuse to authorities? Or is it the people who gave him that advice? 'The call comes to my cellphone' When it comes to child sexual abuse, the Mormon church says the first responsibility of the church in abuse cases is to help those who have been abused and protect those who may be vulnerable to future abuse, according to its 2010 handbook for church leaders. The handbook also says, Abuse cannot be tolerated in any form. But church officials, from the bishops in the Bisbee ward to officials in Salt Lake City, tolerated abuse in the Adams family for years. They just let it keep happening, said MJ, in her AP interview. They just said, Hey, lets excommunicate her father. It didnt stop. Lets have them do therapy. It didnt stop. Hey, lets forgive and forget and all this will go away. It didnt go away. A similar dynamic played out in West Virginia, where church leaders were accused of covering up the crimes committed by a young abuser from a prominent Mormon family even after hed been convicted on child sex abuse charges in Utah. The abuser, Michael Jensen, today is serving a 35- to 75-year prison sentence for abusing two children in West Virginia. Their family, along with others, sued the church and settled out of court for an undisclosed sum. Child abuse festers and grows in secrecy, said Lynne Cadigan, a lawyer for the Adams children who filed suit. That is why the mandatory reporting came into effect. Its the most important thing in the world to immediately report to the police. The lawsuit filed by the three Adams children accuses The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and several members, including Bishops Herrod and Mauzy, of negligence and conspiring to cover up child sex abuse to avoid costly lawsuits and protect the reputation of the church, which relies on proselytizing and tithing to attract new members and raise money. In 2020, the church claimed approximately 16 million members worldwide, most of them living outside the United States. Very few of the scores of lawsuits against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mention the help line, in part because details of its operations have been a closely guarded secret. The documents in the sealed court records show how it works. The help line is certainly there to help to help the church keep its secrets and to cover up abuse, said Craig Vernon, an Idaho attorney who has filed several sex abuse lawsuits against the church. Vernon, a former member, routinely demands that the church require bishops to report sex abuse to police or state authorities rather than the help line. The sealed records say calls to the help line are answered by social workers or professional counselors who determine whether the information they receive is serious enough to be referred to an attorney with Kirton McConkie, a Salt Lake City firm that represents the church. A document with the heading Protocol for abuse help line calls, which was among the sealed records obtained by the AP, laid out the questions social workers were to ask before determining whether the calls should be referred to the lawyers. Mormon officials in the West Virginia case said they did not recognize the Protocol and could not authenticate it. But a ranking church official in a separate sex abuse lawsuit in Oregon confirmed that those answering the help line used a written protocol to guide them. There would be a page containing various topics to discuss and handle, said Harold C. Brown, then director of the churchs Welfare Services Department. The Protocol instructs those staffing the help line to tell callers they are to use first names only. No identifying information should be given. Under the heading High Risk Cases, it also instructs staffers to ask a series of questions, including whether calls concerned possible abuse by a church leader, an employee, or abuse at a church-sponsored activity. The protocol advises those taking the calls to instruct a priesthood leader, which includes bishops and stake presidents, to encourage the perpetrator, the victim, or others who know of the abuse to report it. But it also says, in capital letters, that those taking the calls should never advise a priesthood leader to report abuse. Counsel of this nature should come only from legal counsel. That counsel comes from attorneys from Kirton McConkie, which represents the church. Joseph Osmond, one of the Kirton McConkie lawyers assigned to take help line calls, said in a sealed deposition that hes always ready to deal with sex abuse complaints. Wherever I am. The call comes to my cellphone, he said. He then acknowledged that he did not refer calls to a social worker and wouldnt know how to do so. Osmond declined to comment through church officials. Peter Schofield, a Kirton McConkie lawyer long associated with the help line, also declined to answer questions from the AP. Maledon, the attorney for the church in the Adams lawsuit, said church clergy or church attorneys have made hundreds of reports of child abuse to civil authorities in Arizona over an unspecified number of years. But he could not say how many calls to the help line were not referred to police or child welfare officials and could not provide a referral rate. Two church practices, identified in the sealed records, work together to ensure that the contents of all help lines calls remain confidential. First, all records of calls to the help line are routinely destroyed. Those notes are destroyed by the end of every day, said Roger Van Komen, the churchs director of Family Services, in an affidavit included in the sealed records. Second, church officials say that all calls referred to Kirton McConkie lawyers are covered by attorney-client privilege and remain out of the reach of prosecutors and victims attorneys. An ominous time Mormon leaders established the help line in 1995 and it operated not within its Department of Family Services, but instead in its Office of Risk Management, whose role is to protect the church and members from injury and liability in an array of circumstances, including fires, explosions, hazardous chemical spills and severe weather. The department ultimately reports to the First Presidency, the three officials at the very top of the church hierarchy, according to records in the sealed documents. Risk management also tracks all sex abuse lawsuits against the church, according to a sealed affidavit by Dwayne Liddell, a past director of the department who helped establish the help line. He said members of the churchs First Presidency knew the details of the help line. I have been in those type of meetings where ... the training of ecclesiastical leaders (and) the establishment of a help line have been discussed, Liddell said. When asked who attended the meetings, he answered, Members of the First Presidency and the presiding bishopric, or the top leaders of the church. Before establishing the help line in 1995, the Mormon church simply instructed bishops to comply with local child sex abuse reporting laws. At the time, child sex abuse lawsuits were on the rise and juries were awarding victims millions of dollars. The Mormon church is largely self-insured, leaving it especially vulnerable to costly lawsuits. There is nothing inconsistent between identifying cases that may pose litigation risks to the church and complying with reporting obligations, church lawyers said in a sealed legal filing. But one affidavit in the sealed records that repeatedly says the church condemns child sexual abuse also suggests the church is more concerned about the spiritual well-being of perpetrators than the physical and emotional well-being of young victims, who also may be members of the faith. Disciplinary proceedings are subject to the highest confidentiality possible, Rytting said. If members had any concerns that their disciplinary files could be read by a secular judge or attorneys or be presented to a jury as evidence in a public trial, their willingness to confess and repent and for their souls to be saved would be seriously compromised. A global investigation In 2016 police in New Zealand arrested a 47-year-old farm worker on child pornography charges and found a nine-minute video on his cell phone, downloaded from the internet, showing a man in his 30s raping a 10-year-old girl. A global search for the rapist and his victim was on. It started with Interpol and led to the U.S. State Department, where investigators using facial recognition technology matched the rapist with a passport card photo of a U.S. Border Patrol employee living in Bisbee, Arizona, according to a Homeland Security synopsis obtained by the AP. Agents rushed to the Naco, Arizona, Border Station and arrested Adams, then a lanky, bearded mission support specialist with the Border Patrol. After some coaxing, Adams admitted to raping MJ and to sexually assaulting her younger sister, and to posting video of the assaults on the internet. When agents raided his home, they seized phones and computers holding more than 4,000 photos and nearly 1,000 videos depicting child sex abuse, many featuring the Adams daughters. But the nine-minute video stood out. This video is one of the worst Ive ever seen, Homeland Security agent Edwards later testified, adding that haunting dialogue between Adams and his older daughter helped make the video stand out in my mind and continue to stand out in my mind. That video represented nine minutes and 14 seconds in seven years of continual and unnecessary trauma for MJ and a lifetime of abuse for her tiny sister while Bishops Herrod and Mauzy and church representatives in Salt Lake City stood by. After Paul Adams died by suicide, Leizza Adams pleaded no contest to child sex abuse charges and served two-and-a-half years in state prison. Three of the Adams children went to live with members of Leizzas extended family in California. The other three were taken in by local families. The survivors MJs little sister was only 2 when she met her adoptive mother for the first time. The toddler wrapped her arms and legs around Miranda Whitworths head, buried her face in her neck, and refused to look up to say good-bye to members of Leizzas family. It was the craziest thing, said Whitworth who, with her husband, Matthew, welcomed the toddler into their family. It was like when you see a baby monkey or baby gorilla cling to their mother, and they just wont let go. Over the next few days and weeks, the Whitworths would see additional markers of the unfathomable abuse the toddler endured at the hands of her father much of it recorded on video. She would howl in terror when any man attempted to touch her, whether it was Matthew or the family physician. The nurse was fine, but the minute the doctor walked in she climbed onto me and started screaming bloody murder, Miranda said. The 2-year-old was also terrified of the water. She wouldnt tolerate anything wrapped around her wrists. And at church, she would run and hide behind Miranda whenever anyone greeted her by an old family nickname. When they took in the toddler, neither Miranda nor Matthew knew very much about what had happened to her. But while sitting in on Leizza Adamss sentencing hearing, they learned about the repeated rapes, the videos, and the fact that church bishops knew about the abuse of the older daughter and did nothing to stop it. The Whitworths were converts to the Mormon faith and, like many new followers of a religion, they were especially enthusiastic about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In particular, they appreciated the efforts Mormons make to help fellow church members in times of need through church organizations established to give special attention to women, teens and children. But after learning about what Adams did to their new daughter, and the failure of the church to stop him, "we decided to remove our records from the church, said Matthew Whitworth. I personally couldnt continue to provide tithing money to a church that would allow young children to be abused and not do anything to prevent it. The adoptive parents of the third Adams child who has filed suit declined to speak to the AP about the case. Like MJ, Miranda and Matthew Whitworth said they joined the lawsuit against the church on behalf of their young daughter not in hopes of a payday, but to change church policy so that any instance of child sexual abuse is immediately reported to civil authorities. We just dont understand why theyre paying all these lawyers to fight this, Matthew Whitworth said. Just change the policy. The privilege That policy is the key to the churchs defense. In a recent filing asking a Superior Court judge to dismiss the case, Maledon and other lawyers for the church said the case hinges entirely on whether Arizonas child abuse reporting statute required two church bishops ... to report to authorities confidential confessions made to them by plaintiffs father. Whatever moral or public policy arguments one could make that the church should have told authorities that Paul Adams was raping his daughters are irrelevant, the lawyers argued. Arizonas reporting statute broadly exempts confidential communications with clergy, as determined by the clergyman himself, according to the church motion to dismiss the case. Reasonable people can debate whether this is the best public policy choice. But that is not an issue for a jury or this court. Bishop Herrod, in his recorded interview, said church officials told him he had to keep what Adams told him confidential or he could be sued if he went to authorities. But McIntyre, the Cochise County attorney, said thats false, noting the Arizona reporting law says that anyone reporting a belief that child sex abuse occurred is immune from any civil or criminal liability. Aside from the legal arguments over whether Bishops Herrod and Mauzy were excused from their reporting obligations under the clergy-penitent privilege, critics of the inaction by the two bishops and the broader church have raised ethical issues. Gerard Moretz, a seasoned child sex abuse investigator for the Pima County, Arizona, Sheriffs Department and an expert witness for the Adams children, is one of them. What aspect of your religious practice are you advancing if you dont report something like this? he asked. 'US should bear responsibility' for four times of grounding of China-US military ties over Taiwan question By Guo Yuandan (Global Times) 14:12, August 06, 2022 Photo: Global Times China on Friday announced eight countermeasures in response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's highly provocative visit to the island of Taiwan, among which three concern China-US military ties. China canceled China-US theater commander talks, defense policy coordination talks and military maritime security consultative mechanism. Taking the latest countermeasures into account, China-US military ties have hit rock bottom over the Taiwan question for at least four times since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two sides. Experts said that the US should be blamed for the suspension of basically all channels for the two militaries to communicate. On one hand, the US vowed to raise guardrails for bilateral ties and avoid military confrontations, while on the other, the country continued to infringe China's core interests. The relationship between the Chinese and US militaries is an important part of bilateral ties. In the context of the current China-US relationship, the stability of the relationship between the two militaries is the "brake pad" that prevents the bilateral relationship from getting out of control. The negative impact of Pelosi's visit to the Taiwan island on the exchanges between the two militaries of China and the US is obvious, and it will also affect future relations between the two countries and their militaries, experts said. On June 10, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met for the first time in Singapore. On June 30, at a routine press conference of the Ministry of National Defense, Tan Kefei, deputy director of the Ministry of National Defense Information Bureau and spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, said that "the China-US military relationship is now at an important juncture, and going forward, the two militaries will carry out a series of dialogues and exchanges." On July 7, General Li Zuocheng, a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and chief of staff of the CMC Joint Staff Department, held video talks at the invitation of General Mark Milley, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. However, along with Pelosi's visit, the China-US military ties have declined steeply and scheduled talks have been canceled. Looking back at the history of China-US military relations, including this incident, due to the influence of the Taiwan question, the relationship between the two militaries has been damaged and fallen to a low point for at least four times. In 1995-96, then Taiwan island leader Lee Teng-hui visited the US, leading to increasing tense in China-US military ties. China successively conducted two large-scale live missile launch exercises at that time; in October 2008, the US sold advanced weapons worth more than $6 billion to Taiwan island; in January 2010, the US again sold weapons with a total value of nearly $6.4 billion to the island. Tian Shichen, founder of the Global Governance Institution and director of the International Center for the Law of Military Operations, told the Global Times that the Taiwan question concerns China's core interests and its essence is to safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The military dialogue mechanism between China and the US includes dialogue between senior-level military commanders. This is the first time that the dialogue mechanism of China-US Theater Commanders Talk goes public. China-US Defense Policy Coordination Talks and China-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings are the communication channels in the China-US military relations, which are relatively long-term, stable and the most important dialogue channels, a military expert told the Global Times on Friday. The negative impact on China-US military relations is obvious following the cancellation of these two mechanisms, the expert said. "Communication between the two militaries has improved a little recently, but it is now declining sharply," said the expert. Zhou Bo, a researcher at the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University echoed the opinion. Zhou told the Global Times on Friday that with the declining of China-US relations in recent years, the military relations between the two sides will inevitably be negatively affected. The two above-mentioned dialogue mechanisms have played a vital role in military communication between the two sides. However, with the cancellation of the two, communication at the working level between the US and Chinese militaries will come to a standstill, said Zhou. Tian has been involved in the negotiations of the China-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement for a long time. Tian said that the communication mechanism was interrupted twice by the NATO bombing of the former Chinese embassy in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999 and the China-US plane collision incident in 2001. "At present, almost all the channels of mechanism communication between the Chinese and US militaries are interrupted, increasing the possibility of misunderstanding and unexpected incidents, all of which are the responsibility of the US." Another expert told the Global Times that the US has been unilaterally seeking to add a so-called "guardrail" to prevent a military conflict between the two sides, but on the other hand, the US has been constantly provoking and violating China's core interests. "China's actions are a warning to the US that those who play with fire will eventually get burned." Experts believe that given the US military action on China's doorstep, along with the disruption of military-to-military communication channels between China and the US, there is no doubt that a possibility of a misfire will increase. But they agreed that although the China-US military ties hit rock bottom, it does not mean the two militaries canceled all communication channels. The hotline between the two defense ministries still works and emergency talks can still be conducted. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) An outdated elementary school on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton will be replaced if the state comes up with money to match federal dollars. We are cautiously optimistic that we will receive all the funding needed to start construction for May Fay Pendleton School, Fallbrook Union Elementary School District spokesman Bill Billingsley said. The existing school was built in 1954 for a student population of 361, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) wrote in a letter to California Gov. Jerry Brown this month, but the structure is outdated and the student body has outgrown its space. It now enrolls about 750 students, Billingsley said, and many students attend class in relocatable units. The Department of Defense agreed to pay $48 million for the project and the state must match that with 20 percent, Issa wrote, asking Brown to expedite the funding. Advertisement Without the required matching funds, this $48 million, which is now available, could be rescinded and reallocated to other schools in the spring of 2018, he wrote. The campus is deteriorating, he wrote, noting that even with $6 million in repairs to its electric, gas, water and sewer facilities, the school doesnt meet current construction codes and standards. I know youll agree that the children of our service members deserve to receive a quality education and shouldnt be forced to deal with overcrowded classrooms, a deteriorating building, and unreliable facilities, he wrote. The district has submitted plans for a new campus to the Division of the State Architect, Billingsley said. Theyre under review, and will go to the Office of Public School Construction after theyre approved. If all goes as planned, the district could begin construction on the new campus within a year. On Thursday, it broke ground on the other Marine Base campus, San Onofre School. Mary Fay Pendleton school would accommodate 800 to 1,000 students in a modern, two-story building, Billingsley said. It will be all new construction with no relocatables and rich in technology, he said. It will have many resources for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education. It will have state-of-the-art wired classrooms, and will have facilities to allow physical education. The new school will be built on the footprint of the new school, with students attending class in the existing facilities while construction takes place, Billingsley said. We are so proud to be able to offer a new school for our military dependent students, which they so richly deserve, he said. deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan A Yellowstone County district judge sentenced a Chicago man this week to nearly eight decades in prison for shooting a man dead at a Billings house party in 2020. Lorenzo James Harris was cuffed and restrained in court, where District Judge Michael G. Moses gave his decision for counts of deliberate homicide, tampering with evidence and other felonies and misdemeanors. Moses acted as the sole juror in Harris homicide case as it went to bench trial earlier this year, an exceptionally rare occurrence, and a first for Moses. No one has ever placed their trust in a judge instead of a jury in a homicide case, that I am aware of, in the state of Montana. And this was a homicide case, one of the cases that I considered the most difficult to work my way through, Moses said Thursday in court. Officers with the Billings Police Department responded to a shooting on the South Side in late December 2020. They found an unconscious man with a gunshot wound to his neck laying in the front yard of a home on the 2800 block of Third Avenue South. Ambulance crews took the man, later identified as 39-year-old James Williams, to a local hospital. The Mississippi man died three days later from a single bullet that went through his shoulder, pierced his neck and went into his chest. Williams was shot at a party in a home rented by Harris mother, where he and his brother, Carvell Scott, lived. In the months after the shooting, investigators used surveillance and cell phone footage, along with testimony from witnesses and Harris cellmate, to piece together a timeline of events. Harris, Scott, Williams and several other were at Shooters Bar, according to court documents, when they went to Harris mothers house. Although testimonies varied on its cause, a fight erupted between Harris and Williams. As the fight escalated, Harris pulled a gun and shot Williams. There was no video evidence showing Harris pulling the trigger, documents said, nor did any witnesses testify to seeing the shooting. After pleading not guilty to the deliberate homicide accusation and maintaining his innocence through his bench trial, Harris admitted to being Williams killer Thursday. Yes, Im the man that shot James Williams that night...I was in the heat of the moment, drunk, but I am the man that shot the man, said Harris, sober and stoic through his sentencing. At the time of the shooting, Harris had two cases still pending in Yellowstone County. He was charged partner or family member assault in the summer of 2020. Per his release order, Harris was barred from visiting bars or drinking alcohol until the court had processed his case. Harris, who grew up in Chicago moved to Montana in 2020 with two of his children. Since at least age 13, he was effectively homeless and without any family or guidance, according to details of his life shared Thursday. He was arrested at 16 years old for stealing a car at gunpoint. Considering the environment in which Harris came of age, Moses said Thursday, the teenage Harris didnt have a chance from day one. In early December 2020, about two weeks before he shot Williams, Billings police arrested Harris on the Rims when he was allegedly waving around a firearm. Harris, apparently smelling like hard liquor, was belligerent during the arrest. County prosecutors played footage taken from inside the police cruiser that took Harris to Yellowstone County Detention Facility in court Thursday. Several officers dumped him in the back of the cruiser on his stomach. He managed to twist himself around and kicked a window loose in the vehicle. In between screaming obscenities, he used his feet to knock out the camera in the back seat. The officer driving the vehicle, fearing that Harris might kick his way out of custody, turned on his emergency lights to get to jail as fast as he could. Harris was released from custody after pleading not guilty to criminal endangerment and criminal mischief charges. By January 2021, he was back in Chicago and identified as a person of interest in the murder of Williams. He was arrested in Cook County on several outstanding warrants and extradited back to Montana in March 2021. Soon after entering YCDF, court documents said, Harris made two video calls in which he held a sign to the camera with a message to pass to his brother. The message read that Scott needed to get more than 4 ppl to say I wasnt there at that time. Prosecutors filed charges of deliberate homicide and witness tampering against Harris in April 2021. He remained in jail on a $1 million bail. In January 2022, defense attorneys and county prosecutors agreed to take the homicide and witness tampering case before a bench trial, with the decision of Harris innocence or guilt on Judge Moses. The trial began at the end of March of this year and spanned six days. Defense attorneys argued that while Harris did attempt to establish a false alibi distancing himself from the time and place where Williams was shot, he was innocent in the shooting. They cited the lack of footage of Williams being shot, no eyewitnesses to the shooting and no murder weapon recovered. The court denied a motion to have the deliberate homicide charge dismissed for lack of evidence. Prosecutors called 12 witnesses to testify before Judge Moses. Harris, according to prosecutors had the motive to shoot Williams, as he was losing a fist fight in his mothers house. Unlike the other suspects in the investigation, it was Harris who fled to Chicago and tried to cover his involvement through a false alibi. Among those 12 witnesses, prosecutors called a man who shared a cell with Harris at YCDF for several months. Harris opened up to the man, talking about his life in Chicago and eventually spoke about the night he shot Williams. Harris fought Williams over a woman, the man testified, and Harris shot him because he was disrespecting his mothers home. Harris told the man he was aiming for Williams face, but hit his shoulder, according to court documents. The man jailed with Harris told the court Harris hung Williams obituary on their cell wall. I ran my mouth to my goofy-ass cellieand he went back and told everything on me, Harris said in a phone call from YCDF, a portion of which was played at his sentencing. Judge Moses found Harris guilty of both homicide and witness tampering about a month after the trial. Prosecutors recommended a life sentence, plus an additional 10 years in prison since Harris used a weapon in the murder and 10 more years for witness tampering. County attorneys Arielle Dean and Ed Zink presented several pieces of evidence to fortify their argument. Along with the recordings of Harris in the back of the patrol cruiser and calling from YCDF, they also played videos Harris had posted to social media in the weeks after the shooting in which he told his children Montana police would never catch him. Harris, Dean said in court, was a killer. Only one person pointed a gun at James Williams face and deliberately pulled the trigger, but then fled to Chicago with his two children. And just days after the murder, was taking videos on Snapchat of himself back in Chicago in hotel rooms with multiple naked women, she said. A member of Williams family offered a statement to the court ready by Zink. She asked Moses to impose the maximum possible sentence. Sitting through the trial forced her to relive the day she learned Williams had been shot. Moses finding Harris guilty of deliberate homicide has given her and her family a chance to heal. They want to spare any other family the same grief by imposing a life sentence on Harris, and keeping him from killing again. Harris attorney, J. Gregory Tomicich with the Office of the Public Defender, pivoted his argument at sentencing. Instead of maintaining his innocence in the shooting, Tomicich said Harris shot Williams in a fit of anger that escalated during their fight. Harris never planned on killing Williams that night, according to Tomicich, and the mans death was a tragic consequence of Harris being under the influence and provoked. When given the chance to offer a statement before his sentencing, Harris used it to offer his condolences to Williams family. Harris, a father of five, doesnt know when hell see his kids again. He knows Williams will never be able to see his. What really hits home to him [Harris] is that James kids will never see their father again. So where are we at, your Honor? There is drug addiction. There are many bad habits. There is a lifestyle that we dont approve of. There is a culture here that we dont understand. Does that mean Lorenzo is a throwaway person? No. We reject the notion that he is a killer, and that hes going to kill again, Tomicich said Thursday. Harris defense asked Moses for a 40-year sentence, with the 10-year weapons enhancement and 10 years for witness tampering to run concurrently. In asserting that his decision would be neutral, Judge Moses acknowledged that Harris was a Black man from Chicago with a tattooed face and a lengthy criminal record. Harris also always treated the court with respect throughout his case. Harris had opportunities to get treatment in his teens while he was incarcerated in Illinois, Moses said, but he never took the opportunities. He agreed with both defense attorneys and prosecutors in that there was a fight that preceded the shooting, and that it was Harris who picked up a gun, squeezed its trigger and shot Williams. Harris was a killer, Moses said. Moses sentenced Harris to 65 years in Montana State Prison for killings Williams, plus 10 years for the weapons enhancement. For tampering with witness, Harris was given 10 years to be served consecutively. Harris reached plea agreements with prosecutors on his other two cases during his sentencing in which he admitted to charges of partner family member assault, criminal mischief and criminal endangerment. For restitution, Moses ordered Harris to pay $3,500 to cover funeral costs for Williams family and nearly $1,650 for the damage he inflicted on the BPD cruiser in December 2020. Moses did not place any parole restrictions on Harris' sentence. Mr. Harris, theres light at the end of this tunnel, but youre going to have to take advantage of everything you possibly can to get to that light as soon as possible, Moses said at the end of the nearly three-hour sentencing hearing. AFRICA Sudan Expected Council Action In June, the Security Council is due to renew the mandate of the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) before its expiration on 3 June in accordance with resolution 2579. The chair of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee, Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman (Ghana), is expected to provide the quarterly briefing on the committees work. Key Recent Developments More than three years have passed since former President Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April 2019. It has been over six months since the military coup detat in October 2021, and the political situation remains deadlocked. The state of emergency, imposed following the coup was lifted on 29 May. The promised transition to civilian rule and democracy is at risk of being derailed, and there is a shrinking window of opportunity for Sudanese stakeholders to resolve the political crisis, according to the Secretary-Generals latest report, covering 22 February to 5 May. On 28 February, UNITAMS published a summary report on its consultations for a political process in Sudan, which the mission had launched on 8 January. Following these consultations, the AU, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the UN formed a trilateral cooperation mechanism in support of a Sudanese-led process to end the political crisis and restore a civilian-led transitional government. As noted in the Secretary-Generals report, the mechanism has held meetings with various stakeholders focused primarily on transitional constitutional arrangements, the selection of a prime minister and cabinet, elections, government programmes, and a road map on the way forward. During the reporting period, levels of insecurity, including intercommunal clashes, armed conflict and criminality continued to pose a significant challenge for the authorities and escalating violence in Darfur resulted in a growing number of fatalities and significant new forced displacements, according to the Secretary-Generals report. It noted some progress on the gradual start-up of the Darfur Permanent Ceasefire Committee, which UNITAMS chairs, as well as progress in relation to the joint security-keeping force in Darfur, which was agreed to in the Juba Peace Agreement (JPA) and is planned to number 12,000 troops. During the reporting period, approximately 2,000 signatory armed movement personnel assembled to be trained by the Sudanese Armed Forces, the report says. The Secretary-Generals report expressed concern over the human rights, humanitarian and economic situations in the country. It stated that security forces continue to use excessive force against protesters, including live ammunition, resulting in 13 civilian deaths and 1,708 injuries during the reporting period. The report also noted that the total number of internally displaced persons in Sudan rose to over 3.1 million, with over 75,000 newly displaced in North, South and West Darfur and South Kordofan since January. On 18 April, Sudan sent a letter to the Council with a matrix containing 11 elements that [Sudan] views as guiding the role and work of UNITAMS. Among others, these elements include: assistance for electoral preparations, resources to help build the capacity of judicial and police institutions, support for national human rights mechanisms, and support for the shift from humanitarian assistance to development. The letter notes that this requires that UNITAMS redirect its priorities within its mandate to focus on those aspects, as noted in the matrix. The Council last renewed the mandate of UNITAMS on 3 June 2021, with the unanimous adoption of resolution 2579. The resolution retained the strategic objectives for UNITAMS outlined in resolution 2524, which established the mission on 3 June 2020, while making some adjustments. It also decided that UNITAMS should prioritise support for six specified areas during the mandate period. These areas include supporting ceasefire monitoring in Darfur, implementation of the National Plan for Civilian Protection and the constitution-drafting process. (For more, see our Whats In Blue story of 2 June 2021.) On 24 May, the Council received a briefing on UNITAMS from Special Representative for Sudan and head of UNITAMS, Volker Perthes. He told the Council that the situation in the country remains precarious and that time is short for the Sudanese to reach a political solution. While violations still occur, Perthes noted that violence by security forces against protestors appears to have decreased overall. In relation to Darfur, he warned that the risk of a new outbreak of violence remains high. Human Rights-Related Developments During its upcoming 50th session, the Human Rights Council is expected to hold an enhanced interactive dialogue on 15 June on the report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Sudan (A/HRC/50/22). Key Issues and Options An immediate issue for the Council is to renew the mandate of UNITAMS and consider what changes to the missions mandate, if any, are necessary. In doing so, members are likely to assess the role of UNITAMS across the four strategic objectives for the mission, namely assisting Sudans political transition; supporting the peace processes and implementation of the Juba Peace Agreement and future peace agreements; assisting peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Darfur and the Two Areas (that is, South Kordofan and Blue Nile); and supporting the mobilisation of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian and peacebuilding assistance. An option is for the Council to renew the mandate of UNITAMS for one year, maintaining its four strategic objectives while making some adjustments, including updating language to reflect thesituation since the 25 October 2021 coup; supporting the UN/AU/IGAD trilateral cooperation mechanism; condemning violence again protestors; and expressing concern over the deteriorating situation in Darfur. Another option is for members to assess the six priority areas identified in resolution 2579 and whether any changes are necessary. In doing so, Council members might consider the letter sent by Sudan on 18 April. Another possible option is to make no changes to the mandate and adopt a 12-month mandate renewal. At the time of writing, a draft deciding on a 12-month technical rollover had passed silence on 31 May. Council Dynamics Most Council members share similar concerns over the political, security, human rights, and humanitarian situations in Sudan. Members are supportive of the trilateral cooperation mechanism composed of the AU, UN and IGAD and welcome the start of the second phase of the intra-Sudanese dialogue facilitated by the mechanism. At the briefing on 24 May, the UK (the penholder on Sudan) emphasised that the Sudanese military must make progress on confidence-building measures, including by releasing all political detainees, ending the excessive use of force against protestors and lifting the state of emergency. Kenya, speaking on behalf of the three African members (Gabon, Ghana and Kenya), noted that the mandate of UNITAMS remains valid and relevant and expressed support for its renewal, saying, what is critical is for the Council to build the capacity of the mission to effectively and efficiently implement its mandate. In its statement, Russia said that the Sudanese authorities must reaffirm their commitment to the JPA and declare their intention to conduct elections in July 2023. In relation to UNITAMS, Russia urged the mission to follow its mandate strictly, paying equal attention to all its components. Negotiations on resolution 2579, which renewed the mandate of UNITAMS last year, went relatively smoothly, with areas of disagreement mostly centring on preambular language. In addition to addressing the views of Council members, the UK, the penholder on Sudan, apparently consulted with Sudan and took its views on the text into account. During the negotiations, China and Russia apparently opposed language on conflict-related sexual violence and climate change. (For more, see our Whats In Blue story of 2 June 2021.) At the time of writing, Council members such as China, Gabon, Ghana, India, Kenya and Russia apparently supported Sudans request for a technical rollover of the mandate, including following Sudans disapproval of an earlier draft circulated by the penholder which among other things updated preambular language to reflect the situation since the coup and made some adjustments to the mandate. The UK is the penholder on Sudan, and the US is the penholder on Sudan sanctions. Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman (Ghana) chairs the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee. UN DOCUMENTS ON SUDAN This extended the mandate of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS) until 3 June 2022. This was the 90-day report on UNITAMS. This was a letter from Sudan containing priorities for UNITAMS. This was the quarterly briefing on the work of the 1591 Sudan Sanctions Committee. The closing of storied jazz bar Club Deluxe underscores the devastation wrought by the pandemic on entertainment venues. It also illuminates the messiness of landlord-tenant disputes, many of which were heightened by the pandemics economic disruption. Aug. 27 will be the clubs last day of operation at the Haight-Ashbury location its occupied for more than three decades, said Sarah Wilde, who has owned the venue with husband Chris Pankow for seven years. She sent an open letter to musicians inviting them to grab a set and play there one more time. I am grateful for the opportunity to have run such an amazing institution, she said in an interview. I hope that we can move it. I have hopes for it being alive for another 33 years. Wilde and Veritas, the giant real estate company that manages the property, both say they were unable to come to an agreement about past and future rent. But beyond that, their accounts differ. We need the insatiable greed of wealthy investors, to give a flapjack about the cities they are systemically draining the color out of but they do not, Wilde wrote to the musicians. Veritas released a statement from Chief Operating Officer Jeff Jerden that said it had been proactively trying to find a resolution with Club Deluxe for a year now, to keep them in the space. It said it had offered to forgive over $200,000 of past due rent, amounting to two-thirds of arrears, and had offered a lease at lower rent through 2027. Despite the owners unwillingness to engage in meaningful negotiations, we have NOT initiated eviction, Jerden wrote. It is incredibly frustrating that we have done everything possible to prevent them from closing, only to be met with what theyve inaccurately posted. Wilde took issue with that characterization. Its offensive and patronizing that they are calling my participation, and that of my lawyer, meaningless, she said. We put a tremendous amount of effort in trying to reach a fair and feasible lease. Veritas provided a letter it wrote to Wilde and Pankow which said that if back rent were not received, Landlord may, among other things, commence enforcement of all rights and remedies pursuant to the Lease and/or otherwise under applicable law. Wilde said she absolutely interpreted those words as threatening eviction and a lawsuit over back rent. Veritas letter also said it will start charging Wilde and Pankow 5% of the delinquent rent. The two sides also disagree about the exact amount of arrears. Wilde said Veritas offer to forgive much of the back rent was conditional on signing a new five-year lease, which she didnt feel took into account the changed landscape. COVID is not gone, she said. Small businesses are still suffering. Fair market value is something I would have like to discuss because I feel it was different. Wilde said she was unable to pay the $15,000 monthly rent during the 16 months that health authorities required the club to shut down, from March 2020 until the end of June 2021. Since July 2021, when the club reopened, Wilde said she paid rent in full and on time even though Deluxe had to close four more times. Three were pandemic-required shutdowns and once was due to water from upstairs units pouring down onto the stage, according to a letter she wrote to Veritas, which the real estate company provided. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. She provided a copy of a rent ledger prepared by Veritas that confirmed her payments. Veritas, San Franciscos biggest residential landlord managing about 6,500 rentals in the city, has drawn criticism during the pandemic for its handling of rent relief for people in its apartments. A tenants union, the Veritas Tenants Association, staged a five-month rent strike. The group and its supporters said the strike resulted in cancellation of rent debt, but Veritas said that it had not negotiated with the group, and it was mischaracterizing a rent relief program it announced separately. Veritas says it has worked hard to support tenants during the pandemic. Thats not how Wilde sees it. We need these investors to see us as having value in our community, but they do not, and so we vanish from the cityscapes they come into, she wrote in her letter to musicians. Chronicle staff writer Roland Li contributed to this report. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid Oklahoma City, Okla. -- Visiting the new First Americans Museum (FAM) here the same week that Pope Francis was in Canada apologizing to Indigenous people there seemed like good timing for a small group made up mostly of members of my congregation. (My photo here of the museum shows it from the back.) As part of the anti-racism work our church has been engaged in, we've been offering different educational opportunities for people to learn more about the Native Americans who live and work in our area and about Indigenous history more broadly. This museum opened just last year -- and it's well worth a trip. The day after our group spent time at the FAM, we traveled north to Pawhuska, Okla., the center of Osage life and visited the Osage Nation Museum there. It's much smaller than FAM, but its very intimacy and focus make it quite appealing and worth the time. When I began to educate myself more about Native American history and life, I knew more about Indians from India than American Indians because I lived for two years of my boyhood in India. But like lots of people from small, almost-all-white towns in the U.S., I learned nearly nothing as a kid about Indigenous people here and their history. To share what we're learning as we work to create something of a partnership with the Kansas City Indian Center, we've put this Indigenous resource list (books, films, podcasts, etc.) on our church website. Feel free to read it, borrow it, share it. It's incomplete, for sure, but we're continuing to add to it. And I'm happy to hear your suggestions for what to add. In fact, as I write this I see that the FAM and the Osage Nation Museum aren't on our list. But then I asked our church staff to add them and now they're there. By making his apology trip to Canada, Pope Francis was at least inadvertently calling attention to a primary source for the miserable way the church and white Europeans generally have treated Indigenous people around the world. That source is the 1493 Doctrine of Discovery, a papal bull from Pope Alexander VI. It said that any land not inhabited by Christians was available to be "discovered," claimed and exploited by Christian rulers. It also urged that "the Catholic faith and the Christian religion be exalted and be everywhere increased and spread, that the health of souls be cared for and that barbarous nations be overthrown and brought to the faith itself." So in various places around the world, the first residents of this or that land were, by church decree, considered barbarous savages in need of salvation. Imagine all the trouble that has caused over the centuries when Christian supremacy crossed paths with and made friends with white supremacy. I hope you will make an effort to learn more about the nearly 600 federally recognized tribes -- and which among them might be your neighbors. The First Americans Museum here in Oklahoma City is a great place to start (well, after you get through the resources list to which I've linked you above.) * * * TWO DIFFERENT ATOMIC BOMBING INTERPRETATIONS The world is commemorating the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing of, first, Hiroshima (Aug. 6) and, second, Nagasaki (Aug. 9), two Japanese cities with rather different religious backgrounds. As this article from The Conversation notes, Hiroshima was marinated in Buddhism while Nagasaki "has a long history of Catholicism." So survivors from those two target cities processed the bombing experience and the response to it in different ways. As the story notes, one Catholic physician concluded "that those killed by the bombs were sacrificial lambs, chosen by God because of their unblemished nature. Thanks to their sacrifice, he noted, the war ended whereas those who survived, like him, had to endure defeat and destruction." By contrast, a man who grew up to be a Buddhist priest "viewed the atomic bombing as representing three circles of sins: the sins of Hiroshima residents, of Japanese nationals and of humanity as a whole." As always, our faith tradition (even when we have none) helps to shape our reaction to life in many ways. No wonder there's so much disagreement about nearly every aspect of life on Earth. Filipa Ioannou / The Chronicle San Francisco police officers exchanged gunfire Saturday morning with a man they were chasing in the Mission District, an incident that left no one shot, though the use of potentially deadly force spurred an investigation by the district attorney. Police say the man fled as they tried to detain him near 16th Street and South Van Ness Avenue at 7:55 a.m. They pursued him on foot, and the shooting occurred during the chase. The man hid behind a vehicle and continued to shoot at officers, police said in a statement, which did not specify who fired first. California is getting ready to open a small college savings account for every child born in the state on or after July 1, 2022, and a much larger one for all low-income children who were enrolled in a California public school in grades 1 through 12 last year or this year. The state-funded program, nicknamed CalKids, advertises that it will provide up to $100 for newborns and up to $1,500 for low-income students, but parents of newborns will have to jump through some hoops to get the full $100 and very few school-age students will qualify for the full $1,500. Research has shown that having an investment or savings dedicated for college can have a positive effect on expectations of the child and parents, said Julio Martinez, executive director of the Scholarshare Investment Board, which is managing CalKids. At the end of 2021, there were 123 programs nationwide that opened long-term savings accounts for children, usually at birth or in kindergarten and usually for college, according to Prosperity Now, a nonprofit advancing racial economic equity. These Child Savings Account programs are typically sponsored by cities (including San Francisco and Oakland), states and nonprofit organizations. Californias will be the largest by far, both in the number and size of accounts. It will enroll about 3.4 million school-age children at the outset, plus an estimated 450,000 newborns annually. Thats more than the 1.2 million children enrolled in all the other 123 programs combined at year end, said Shira Markoff, a policy fellow at Prosperity Now. The next-largest statewide program, Pennsylvanias, contributes an initial $100 for newborns. The most generous, Maines, provides $500 for each newborn. San Franciscos Kindergarten to College program started when Gov. Gavin Newsom was the citys mayor. It opens a Citibank savings bank account seeded with $50 for every kindergartner in the citys public schools. Californias program has been in the works since 2019, when a bill authorized CalKids accounts for low-income newborns born on or after July 1, 2020. But implementation was delayed because of the pandemic and two subsequent bills that vastly expanded the program. The ScholarShare Investment Board, housed in the California Treasurers Office, will manage CalKids. The board also administers ScholarShare, the states voluntary 529 college savings plan. The Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America-College Retirement Equities Fund, a for-profit company that manages ScholarShare, will also do investment management and marketing for CalKids. The funds will be held in an omnibus or single account owned by the state, with a sub-account designated for each child. Families can watch their childs seed money grow, but cant withdraw it, use it for other purposes or transfer it to someone else. When the child enters a four-year or community college or technical/vocational program, the state will send that childs money directly to his or her school for education expenses. The money wont be taxable to the parent or child. If its not used for college before age 26, the money stays in the fund for others to use. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle 2021 Parents or other family members can open a separate 529 account on behalf of a child, and the state hopes the new program will encourage more parents to open one with ScholarShare. Although parents can link a CalKids account with an individual ScholarShare account for viewing purposes, the two accounts have different rules (parents have much more control over their own 529 plans) and can never be mixed. The state allocated $1.9 billion in last years budget to make deposits for low-income students enrolled in first through 12th grade in 2021-22. This years budget included $170 million for children entering first grade in 2022-23. The state is spending about $15.3 million a year for the newborn accounts. Making sure parents know about CalKids, and dont fall prey to impostors posing as the program to solicit personal information, will be a big undertaking. Each eligible student will get at least one notice by mail and by email, if an email address is available. To get the word out, we want to partner with credible sources such as universities, nonprofits, financial institutions and school superintendents, Martinez said. Here are some FAQs about the plan, officially called California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program. Who is eligible for CalKids? The state will open an account for any child born on or after July 1, 2022, regardless of income or where the child eventually attends school. We get data from the Department of Public Health no later than 90 days after their birth is registered. Once we get the data, the accounts will be created and parents will be notified, Martinez said. To qualify for a low-income school-age account, a student must meet at least one criterion under the Local Control Funding Formula. In general, students should qualify if they are receiving the national school lunch program, CalFresh or CalWorks, or are foster youths, homeless, migrant students or English learners. The California Department of Education will provide CalKids with information on each eligible student based on a census taken in October. The roster (of eligible students) wont become available until April of next year, thats when the accounts will be set up, Martinez said. All accounts will be opened regardless of immigration status. How can a parent see the CalKids account? To view the account, the parent must register at CalKids.org and provide the childs birthdate and the county where the child was born or attends school. For newborns, they also must enter either the Local Registration Number found on the birth certificate or the code provided on the notification letter. For school-age students, they must provide the students statewide student identification number or the code sent on the notification letter. The childs school or school district can provide the SSID. The program will not send out statements. How much will the state contribute to each CalKids account? For newborns, the state will deposit $25. It will add another $25 when the parent registers the account and another $50 if the parent links it to a new or existing ScholarShare account. For low-income students, the state will automatically deposit $500, plus $500 if they are foster youths, plus $500 if they are homeless. To get the full $1,500, a student would have to be a low-income, homeless foster youth. The state has identified 1,253 such students, Martinez said. Will the state make additional deposits after the initial one? No. Its a one-time grant. State funds will be allocated each year to cover kids born that year and incoming low-income first graders, as long as the state continues to make appropriations. Can parents add to the CalKids account? No, but they can link it to a new or existing ScholarShare account so they can view both accounts in one place. (Parents can open a 529 plan in any state, but cant link an out-of-state plan to CalKids.) Michael Macor/The Chronicle 2016 Can parents decide how the money is invested? No. Funds for children who were in grades 6 through 12 in the 2021-22 school year will be held in a CalKids Scholarship account and invested in a TIAA-CREF insurance product with a guaranteed return of 1% to 3% a year. When the money is disbursed to a school, it will be treated as a tax-free scholarship. Funds for younger kids, including newborns, will be invested in a growth-oriented age-based fund that will become more conservative as they near college age. By comparison, parents who open individual ScholarShare accounts can choose from various investment options and withdraw the money at any time. The money is exempt from state and federal tax if its used for the beneficiarys higher-education expenses (and from federal but not state tax if its used for K-12 tuition). If its used for other purposes, the investment earnings are taxable and could be subject to a 10% penalty. Does the account require a Social Security number? The state will open all CalKids accounts without a tax ID (either a Social Security number or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which is a tax ID for immigrants who cant get a Social Security number). To open an individual ScholarShare account, however, account owners must provide a Social Security number or ITIN number for themselves and the child named as the beneficiary. Money held in the CalKids scholarship fund for older kids can be disbursed to the school without a tax ID. Because the money for younger children will be held in a 529 plan, its possible that a tax ID will be required when its disbursed. At this point we are not entirely sure, Martinez said. We will know in five to six years when the money gets disbursed. By that time, the state may have come up with an alternative plan. What if the child moves out of state? The student must live in California for at least one year immediately preceding a distribution to a postsecondary institution. For more detailed information, go to www.calkids.org. Kathleen Pender is a freelance writer and former columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle. Twitter: @KathPender This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Supervisor Matt Dorsey and Honey Mahogany, his main competitor in the November election, have raised similar amounts of money as they prepare for a hard fight to represent San Franciscos District Six, recently released campaign finance documents show. Dorsey, who was appointed to his seat by Mayor London Breed in May, has pulled in more contributions so far, raising about $90,500 through June and ending the period with about $87,000 in the bank. Mahogany, who was the chief of staff to former District Six Supervisor Matt Haney, raised about $89,200 over the same period, ending with about $83,000 in cash on hand. The comparable financial hauls keep the two candidates on track for what is shaping up to be a highly competitive race for the supervisor seat that represents SoMa, Mission Bay and Treasure Island. SoMa, in particular, is one of the city neighborhoods most impacted by rampant public drug dealing and overdose deaths largely driven by fentanyl. Both candidates are trying to acknowledge that reality by directly referencing public safety in their campaign slogans. Dorsey, a former police spokesman and longtime press secretary for the city attorney, will be the incumbent on the ballot, with support from Breed and some of her key allies. Mahogany, the chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party, has extensive community connections from her political roles and her background in social work and LGBTQ nightlife. She would be the citys first transgender supervisor if shes elected. Matt Dorsey has the advantage of having the mayor on his side and the power of incumbency and the ability to go and meet people and do things for people right now, said Jim Ross, a political consultant who is not working on any of this years supervisor races. Honey Mahogany has the advantage of having years and years of relationship building and ties to people in the district. Thats why its gonna be an interesting race. Notable contributors to Dorseys campaign include former San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr and former Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, as well as Breed and her spokesman Jeff Cretan. Some of the more well-known contributors to Mahoganys campaign were Haney, former state senator Mark Leno and Supervisors Gordon Mar and Myrna Melgar. But District Six is not the only competitive supervisor race on the ballot. In District Four, which includes much of the Sunset, challenger Joel Engardio raised almost double the amount of the incumbent, Mar, over the first six months of the year, pulling in more than $80,000 while Mar brought in about $43,300. Engardio, who lost his third campaign for District Seven supervisor in 2020 before his neighborhood was moved into District Four this year, had about $76,300 in the bank at the end of June. Mar had $41,400. Mar has also been spending much more money than Engardio. Mar ended last year with a cash balance of about $38,600 and hes spent more than $40,500 this year. He put most of the money toward a mix of consultants, fundraising efforts, campaign literature and polling. Leanna Louie, the other candidate trying to unseat Mar, reported raising more than $21,000 in the first half of the year and spending very little of that amount. Engardio and Louie are both angling to oust Mar by characterizing him as a progressive out of step with what voters in his west side district want. They are highlighting, for example, that Mar opposed both of this years recall elections even though his district voted decisively in favor of them as did Engardio and Louie. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Engardio drew support from prominent contributors who included GrowSF Director Sachin Agarwal, Housing Action Coalition leader Todd David and the venture capitalist Garry Tan, who also contributed to Dorsey. Mars notable contributors included Leno, former Supervisor John Avalos and Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. One of Louies individual contributors was Mary Jung, a director of the San Francisco Association of Realtors who chaired the recall campaign against former District Attorney Chesa Boudin. Still, in order to win, either of Mars challengers would have to pull off a feat unprecedented in San Franciscos recent political history: Blocking an elected incumbent from being re-elected. The hardest thing to do in politics in San Francisco is to defeat an elected incumbent, Ross said. Dorsey wont have the same advantage in District Six, Ross said. Incumbents usually win, but its not unusual for appointed members of the board to lose, he said. Theyre kind of a proxy for the mayor that appointed them. They get all of the baggage but they dont necessarily get all the benefit. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris San Francisco officials could soon make changes to the divisive pandemic-era closure of neighborhood roads to through traffic, with a vote scheduled next month on a permanent Slow Streets program. The citys transportation agency has to decide on the program amid a politically fraught environment that Mayor London Breed is also navigating. Starting in the early days of the pandemic, the city closed 31 streets to through traffic to make space for people to walk and bike. Last year, four roads Lake Street, Golden Gate Avenue, Sanchez Street and Shotwell Street won approval to become permanent post-pandemic Slow Streets. That decision was followed by community outreach about future design. The resolution for the vote last year read that the decision whether to make permanent any slow streets will be subject to applicable public hearings, approvals and review. In September, the board of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency will vote on a permanent program that includes these streets, and could add or remove others. Supporters point to surveys showing Slow Streets were popular and the program helped achieve the citys goals of reducing traffic deaths and greenhouse gas emissions. Opponents said the program was slapdash, creating inequity. The fight over Slow Streets mirrors other bitter debates in San Francisco about how the city should use its public thoroughfares and how to balance competing needs, with arguments over JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park and the Great Highway equally intense. Breed has not been clear publicly on whether she supports making Slow Streets permanent. The mayor appoints MTA board members, who have sole discretion to remove or add Slow Streets, an agency spokesperson said. Breed wrote in a blog post last Friday that as a resident she loved seeing the impacts of Slow Streets, but the program needs to evolve. Read more: London Breed made $351,116 last year. Here's how much every San Francisco government worker makes. She said the city would make decisions about a permanent network based on accessibility, safety and reducing emissions, not solely to provide exclusive routes or turning public streets into private streets for local residents. Some Slow Streets routes make sense and some do not, while others should be considered for new interventions, she said. She said advocacy is often focused on affluent areas and lower-income communities are left behind. But Slow Streets supporters say internal documents and conversations with MTA staff show the mayor is lukewarm on the program and her staff has been pushing to roll it back. After months of lobbying from both sides on Lake Street led to a design that supporters oppose, Breeds policy director, Andres Power, expressed a strong preference in a June email to remove Slow Streets signs before the vote in September, despite being told they need to stay to comply with policy. However, one document indicates Breeds staff supports the programs her transportation adviser, Alexandra Sweet, asked MTA staff in a May email for safety statistics to bolster our reasons for keeping this program. The mayors spokesperson, Jeff Cretan, said the city will sunset the pandemic-era program when the COVID emergency ends and create a connected citywide network, and denied documents, which he said were taken out of context and misinterpreted, show Breeds staff directed the process. Opponents say the mayors office has provided a balanced view of the program, relaying concerns from both sides to the MTA, which they felt was more in line with supporters. On Lake Street, Breed said the city must genuinely consider neighborhood feedback on top of transportation, safety and climate change. Transit activist Chris Arvin, a member of MTA citizens advisory council, said internal documents obtained show Breeds team has been involved in rolling back the program. The mayors transportation adviser wrote on a shared document with MTA staff in April that we are planning to sunset Slow Streets and transition roads back to their original use or into neighborways, which are calm, residential streets, with less frequent traffic diversion. Cretan said there are a lot of theories and conspiracies, but the city is sunsetting Slow Streets in its emergency form, one of many pandemic programs adjusted on its path to becoming permanent. Arvin said the mayor seemed to reverse her 2020 stance, when she tweeted that Slow Streets had transformed neighborhoods and will continue to do so even after this pandemic ends. Supporters say that if the mayor is serious about climate change, we need more Slow Streets. They point to city climate policies that target making 80% of trips low-carbon by 2030 and recommend expanding Slow Streets. Supporters also point out the city is failing to make progress on its goal of eliminating traffic deaths by 2024, but data shows collisions and vehicle speeds reduced on Slow Streets. Luke Bornheimer, a Slow Streets supporter, said documents show the mayor is trying to undo the Slow Streets program, which he called a failure of leadership on climate change and transit safety. Others are also convinced the mayor isnt a huge fan. A former MTA employee, whom The Chronicle is not naming in accordance with its policy on anonymous sources, said MTA staff have known for a long time the mayor is ambivalent about Slow Streets and Breed hasnt been willing to support the program because its a political mess. Slow Streets supporters are worried about the programs future, especially after the city proposed a Lake Street design that advocates say reversed course on keeping through traffic off the road. Documents obtained by supporters show that before the design proposal, the mayors office and MTA staff met and corresponded with both sides for months. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Members of Open Lake Street, which amassed more than 3,000 members on its email list, said the closure made traffic congestion, speeding and pedestrian safety worse on nearby roads. Data from the MTA shows traffic and safety on neighboring streets hasnt changed much as of February. Tina Han and Alison Fong, who both live on streets off Lake, said they didnt know about the vote to make the closure permanent last year, and MTAs outreach for its survey was inadequate for people who dont speak English or are not tech-savvy. MTA spokesperson Erica Kato said the agency conducted extensive outreach. A February survey showed more than 53% of Richmond District residents, and 83.5% of Lake Street residents, wanted a Slow Street. Fong and Han said they want a comprehensive strategy to meet the citys climate change and traffic safety goals that addresses all residents concerns, such as families who need to drive kids to school. For Han, the issue was equity, since only some residents benefited from a safer road. Breed met with both sides of the Lake Street debate in January. Her transportation adviser said in a December email that the group opposing Slow Lake was important to the mayor. Fong said her group received no promises then. In March, a day after meeting with MTA and the mayors staff, the group told its mailing list that the mayor has asked SFMTA to re-evaluate the entire Slow Streets program. Cretan said the statement isnt quite accurate, saying staff informed the group they were already working on turning the emergency program into its permanent form. In June, the MTA proposed a design with traffic calming measures they said would make Lake Street less accessible to cut-through traffic, but Slow Streets supporters protested it wouldnt eliminate cut-through traffic, which they say is critical to making the street safe. Ten days before a public hearing on the design, Breeds transportation adviser wrote MTA staff a list of meeting agenda items that included Moving forward with Lake Street open it with traffic calming. Critics say this shows her staff directed the outcome of a sham hearing. The former MTA employee said the watered-down design and mayors office involvement were deeply irregular. Cretan denied any decision was made on Lake Street before the meeting, which was canceled. He said the agenda laid out what could possibly happen so the mayor had a full picture of eventual outcomes, but it wasnt the only meeting where options were discussed. Kato said MTAs approach on Lake Street evolved after public feedback. The agency held a hearing on traffic calming measures for the street on Friday, with a decision expected next week, although the mayors adviser already said in a June email that the agency intends to move ahead as soon as possible. The design could change if the board gives different direction in September. Supporters say Slow Streets future depends on political will and pressure. Safer streets are something that we have to fight for, Arvin said. Mallory Moench (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mallory.moench@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mallorymoench San Francisco police cited people for possession of drug paraphernalia, in some cases moments after they were legally supplied syringes and pipes from publicly funded harm-reduction programs, The Examiner has found. The citations were made during a recent blitz aimed at reducing open-air drug use in the Tenderloin. Standing outside the Tenderloin Center, Jeff, who uses fentanyl and methamphetamine, said he was recently cited by police for holding a glass pipe that he had picked up at the same facility not long before officers stopped him. It sucked. I just looked up at the wrong time, said Jeff, who is homeless. Cops are definitely more aggressive these days. The issue highlights the inconsistent strategies employed by The Citys police, district attorney and public health service providers in reducing risky drug use and overdoses as well as in dealing with outdoor drug markets in public spaces. As part of San Franciscos harm-reduction approach to health and substance use, clean supplies for safer drug use including syringes, pipes and antibacterial wipes are available in some public health facilities in The City. Places that distribute harm reduction supplies include the Tenderloin Center, which opened in January and is slated to close at the end of the year, and at nonprofits, including Glide, HealthRight360 and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. In California, it is lawful to possess syringes as well as supplies for safer smoking, including glass pipes and foil, which are made available for public health purposes and distributed from syringe services programs. The law also does not require people to have documentation, such as a receipt or ID, to prove where they obtained such materials. California Health and Safety Code section 121349.1 states that staff, volunteers and syringe services participants shall not be subject to criminal prosecution for possession of needles or syringes or any materials deemed by a local or state health department to be necessary to prevent the spread of communicable diseases, or to prevent drug overdose, injury, or disability acquired from an authorized needle and syringe exchange project entity. In 2018, the California Health and Safety Code was updated to expand materials that may be made available for public health purposes by syringe services programs, including glass pipes, foil and copper wire filters. Access to new smoke pipes can lead to the reduction of injection incidents among people who inject drugs, which increases their personal protective behaviors, a factsheet from the California Department of Public Health reads. So in July, harm reduction advocates were baffled when San Francisco police dramatically increased citations and arrests of people possessing drug paraphernalia. Police issued at least 129 citations and arrests involving stand-alone possession of drug paraphernalia in July, compared with 89 issued in all of 2021 and the first six months of 2022 combined, the San Francisco Chronicle first reported. Some of those citations were made just steps away from city-funded harm reduction programs that provide sterile drug use supplies, such as the Tenderloin Center at United Nations Plaza. The experience didnt deter Jeff from later using drugs with friends or returning to the facility another day for a hot meal and to replace the pipe he had lost. Jeff added that he lost the paper ticket and failed to show up to court for the citation. The experience matched what other harm-reduction service providers said happened outside their doors last month. Our staff have watched police go down the sidewalk and take away the supplies we just gave our program participants. We have definitely seen an uptick in this over the last few weeks, said Laura Thomas, director of harm reduction policy at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Its extremely frustrating. What we are doing is legal and supported by the City and County of San Francisco, by the State of California, and people have a legal right to possess harm reduction supplies we are giving them. Staff at Glide, a nonprofit providing health and basic needs services to homeless San Franciscans, noticed the same at its syringe services programs. These citations are disrupting our ability to provide public health services, prevent overdoses and protect peoples health and well being. People are choosing to protect their health by using clean supplies, said Wes Saver, senior policy manager at Glide. SFPDs approach is truly awful. There has been no engagement with providers and we know this strategy only makes risk-taking behaviors worse than they already are. Experiences vary, however. One woman named Akisha told The Examiner that she picks up clean needles and pipes from harm-reduction centers to shoot heroin and smoke fentanyl without having to share or use contaminated materials. Shes never had any trouble with the police for carrying her supplies, she said while holding a piece of foil with residue alongside friends in United Nations Plaza. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said her office would dismiss 17 stand-alone paraphernalia citations. But legal and public health experts assert that the recent uptick highlights a disconnect between tough-on-crime policing and street medicine services. Its problematic and it speaks to the need to have clarity as to what the DAs policy is, and also an understanding that prosecuting people for having drug paraphernalia does not address the root issue, which is that people need access to treatment, housing and jobs and health services, said Angela Chan, chief of policy for the San Francisco Public Defenders office. Jenkins, who was appointed by Mayor London Breed last month after the recall of Chesa Boudin, has pledged to crack down on drug dealing, particularly in the Tenderloin. But she has maintained that for now her office will maintain its policy of not prosecuting standalone charges for drug paraphernalia possession. When asked if its citations for paraphernalia run afoul of state law protecting those who obtain it from a supervised site, SFPD did not directly answer. Instead, in a statement to The Examiner, the department enumerated the spate of overdose deaths in San Francisco and thousands of grams of narcotics its officers have taken off the streets. While we believe the drug crisis in the Tenderloin is not just a policing issue, but also is a public health issue, there is a policing role and responsibility to enforce the law and disrupt open air narcotics dealing and public narcotics usage, the department wrote. The District Attorneys Office attributed the recent surge in case filings to a single rogue attorney and committed to withdrawing the charges. The unprecedented filings actually began, the office noted, shortly before Jenkins took office. Still, she has not ruled out adjusting the offices policy on standalone paraphernalia charges. She told The Examiner on Tuesday that her approach would be designed in collaboration with other city agencies. Were not going to punitively work our way out of that situation. We need to be figuring out how we get these people into treatment and the ways we can incentivize them to get the treatment, Jenkins said. Jenkins said her offices focus will be on the dealers, and not drug users. When asked if officers were targeting a specific area, SFPD said that it is working to identify crime hotspots. Police are hoping Jenkins gets on board. Our goal is to make constitutional narcotics arrest and constitutional seizures of narcotics to present the required evidence to enable the District Attorneys Office to do their jobs effectively to hold narcotics offenders accountable. Our continued goal with all our partners is to save lives, the Police Department wrote. Scientific evidence for providing clean injecting and smoking supplies dates back to the HIV/AIDS crisis, which gave rise to safe needle exchanges in San Francisco and beyond to prevent disease spread among drug users. Smoking supplies were added to the scope of harm reduction materials due to the significantly lower risk of overdose associated with smoking rather than injecting drugs. In addition, San Franciscans who use opioids have largely shifted away from injecting tar heroin to smoking fentanyl. However, overdoses remain at high levels, largely due to fentanyl being 50 times more potent than heroin. As of June, 297 people had died of overdose in San Francisco in 2022, according to data from the Office of the Medical Examiner, with fentanyl being the most common substance associated with overdose deaths. This is not how you get people into treatment. This is not how you reduce overdoses. The academic research shows aggressive policing increases overdose vulnerability, said Thomas. If people feel they have to rush their drug use or use everything on them so they think they wont get arrested, that dramatically increases vulnerability to overdose. CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic (CTC) is proud to announce that Pranav Bhatt, MD, MPH was recognized as one of the 2022 Texas Super Doctors Rising Stars, a prestigious list published annually by Texas Monthly magazine. This is Dr. Bhatts second consecutive year to be selected for this distinguished honor and the 11th year the award-winning magazine has put the spotlight on Texas physicians who are going above and beyond in their careers after being fully licensed and in practice for 10 years or less. Only 2.5% of all physicians with those criteria in Texas make the yearly Rising Stars list. Dr. Bhatt is a family medicine physician providing primary care services to Southeast Texans at CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic. Dr. Bhatt attended medical school in India before completing his residency in family medicine in Toledo, Ohio. He joined the CHRISTUS Health family in 2017. Its truly humbling to be chosen not just once, but twice, to be highlighted among this distinguished group of Rising Stars physicians, said Dr. Bhatt. It is and has always been my mission to provide compassionate and excellent care to all my patients. I am also honored that my fellow physicians recognize that and have confidence in me to continue living that mission. The yearly selection for Rising Stars is a rigorous, multi-step process that aims to identify health care providers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Doctors are encouraged to nominate fellow physicians. We are so incredibly proud of Dr. Bhatt, who is more than deserving of this distinct honor that puts him among the top young physicians in all of the Lone Star State, said Kelly Cady, CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic Vice President of Physician Practice Operations in Southeast Texas. Dr. Bhatt is a living example of what we as the CHRISTUS Trinity Clinic strive to recruit and embed in the communities we serve. We are committed to continuing providing top-level care to the people of Southeast Texas. Readers who are interested in learning more about Dr. Bhatt or would like to make an appointment can visit www.christushealth.org Wendi Christian, CPA, CISA, CITP, CGMA, MSA has been named president of the 2022-2023 national board of directors for the Accounting & Financial Womens Alliance (AFWA). She is a member of the Virtual Chapter in Groves. AFWA is such an integral organization that promotes and advances women both professionally and personally. I feel honored to have the opportunity to be a part of its leadership, said Christian, who is a VP of Accounting at 5Point Credit Union in Nederland. One of the largest independent credit unions in Southeast Texas, 5Point Credit Union has been serving local communities since 1935. An AFWA member since 2000, Christian has served on the San Antonio Chapter board as president and various other board positions, been a member of the AFWA National Board since 2015 and on the Executive Committee since 2017. Christian is also a member of Texas Society of CPAs, ISACA and AICPA. AFWA promotes and advances education, career development and leadership in the professions of finance and accounting. The Foundation of AFWA provides academic and professional credential scholarships to members and non-members since 2004. For more information about AFWA, visit www.afwa.org Susan Walsh/AP Elon Musk said Saturday his planned $44 billion takeover of Twitter should move forward if the company can confirm some details about how it measures whether user accounts are spam bots or real people. The billionaire and Tesla CEO has been trying to back out of his April agreement to buy the social media company, leading Twitter to sue him last month to complete the acquisition. Musk countersued, accusing Twitter of misleading his team about the true size of its user base and other problems he said amounted to fraud and breach of contract. A. Graff Deciding what to eat at San Francisco's Outside Lands music festival is overwhelming with more than 90 different food purveyors. How do you decide? One idea is to go to places that don't currently have a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Bay Area meaning this weekend in Golden Gate Park might be the only place you can eat this food at the moment. Nasim and Marzia Jafari still recall the chaos at the Kabul Airport after the Afghan government collapsed last year amid the Taliban's takeover. She, a military pilot, remembers sleeping on the runway at night and seeing lights of crossfire overhead. She recalls seeing people falling from a plane leaving the airport, "the worst memory" for her of that particular bad day. He still has the sign of the leg injury he suffered amid the rush of people at the airport as evacuations unfolded. The newlyweds, both 32, were able to evacuate from Kabul to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, where they spent eight months before their resettlement in Bismarck in May through Church World Service and Bismarck Global Neighbors. They are among 69 Afghan refugees resettled in North Dakota, including three in Bismarck, according to State Refugee Coordinator Holly Triska-Dally. The Jafaris are thankful for their opportunity in America. "We are happy that we have a good life here," Nasim said. Meeting Marzia graduated from Kabul University in 2015 and applied for pilot exams after seeing an Afghan Ministry of Defense announcement calling for pilots for the U.S. Air Force. "I was the only girl that could pass all of the exams," she said. She studied aviation for a year in Kabul, then studied for 1 years in the Czech Republic on a scholarship before graduating and returning to Afghanistan in 2018. She was the first woman pilot in her tribe, helping to carry military personnel, weapons and equipment. She met her future husband in 2018 after returning from the Czech Republic. Nasim noticed "everybody was talking about her" on social media, and he sent her a message concerned for her safety. They exchanged messages and began a courtship. They became engaged in 2019, with an elaborate engagement party. The coronavirus pandemic upended gatherings in 2020, but they eventually married -- just before the Afghan government collapsed in August 2021. Evacuation Initially, after the government collapsed, Marzia was inside the airport and Nasim was outside. The two were not able to meet, and for two nights Marzia and her colleagues slept on the runway, waiting for a plane after the Air Force commander stopped their departing aircraft from leaving. "We were in a complicated situation because the Taliban was everywhere," Nasim said. The couple reunited when Marzia and her colleagues left the airport for their safety. A brother of one of her colleagues later notified them of a gate at the airport that wasn't busy, and after connecting with U.S. military advisers at the airport, they were able to evacuate Kabul on a plane to Abu Dhabi. What was expected to be a two-week stay in Abu Dhabi's Emirates Humanitarian City stretched into eight months. The couple endured two to three months of quarantine for COVID-19. They also went through a lengthy process with federal agencies to come to the U.S., involving interviews, fingerprints, background checks, documents and COVID-19 tests. The Jafaris were connected with Church World Service, a national organization that started their resettlement process. They arrived in Virginia in April. New life The couple stayed in Virginia for about a month before being resettled in North Dakota, rather than their preferences of California or Maryland. Nasim researched North Dakota's cost of living, employment situation and other factors before the couple agreed to go. Upon arriving he was struck by the capital city's lack of skyscrapers and tall buildings, and the weather felt freezing to Marzia. Another Afghan family in Bismarck was among the couple's greeting reception. The Jafaris also have met another Afghan family in Dickinson. The couple lived with Bismarck Global Neighbors Executive Director Julie Ramos Lagos' family for about a month before they obtained an apartment. Ramos Lagos said the "sweet" couple has been nice to work with, noting that both Nasim and Marzia are well-educated and speak English well. "I think they'll be doing very well in Bismarck," she said. Her organization is helping them get settled; donors provided furniture for their apartment. Nasim is looking for a job in human resources and is working weekends at Walmart. He has an MBA. Bismarck Global Neighbors helped Marzia submit documentation to continue with her career as a pilot. And the couple is expecting their first child in December. "Hopefully after we have the baby ... she can continue her own profession in the U.S., as well," Nasim said. "We hope we can make it happen." They said they hope to reunite someday with their family still in Afghanistan. Nasim said the couple had "a good life, happy life" in Afghanistan before they fled. "We have to begin everything from zero, but at least we are safe," Marzia said. Its been a frustrating couple of months for Jaynry Mak. She's spent thousands of dollars repairing damages made to Dim Sum Corner after back-to-back vandalism and theft this summer. The latest break-in happened on Thursday morning after surveillance footage showed a man smashing the glass entrance and stealing two cash registers. KPIX first reported the story. Mentally and emotionally, were over it, Mak, managing partner at Dim Sum Corner, told SFGATE. We dont look like a business thats open, and it's had a significant impact on us. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Thursday when a man loitering outside Dim Sum Corner, at 601 Grant Ave., hurled an unidentified item at the door, according to Mak. Mak said when she saw surveillance footage later that morning, she saw that the man paced outside the restaurant for a few minutes before he entered the shop and ran out with two cash registers. Courtesy of Jaynry Mak Courtesy of Jaynry Mak Dim Sum Corner, located at 601 Grant Ave., was burgalrized on Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo: Courtesy of Jaynry Mak) Dim Sum Corner, located at 601 Grant Ave., was burgalrized on Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo: Courtesy of Jaynry Mak) San Francisco police called Mak around 2:30 a.m. to inform her of the break-in and waited for her arrival so she could board up the restaurant. SFGATE reached out to SFPD for comment but did not hear back by the time of publication. In June, Dim Sum Corner was vandalized twice when an individual used a slingshot to smash one of its windows. Days later, a person shattered another window with an unknown object. Due to those prior incidents, Mak told KPIX that she has since kept extra pieces of plywood handy at the restaurant in anticipation of the next hit. Dim Sum Corner wasnt the only business targeted in Chinatown this week either. KPIX reports that Bregoni Bistro, located at 615 Jackson St., had its windows smashed and iPads stolen on Wednesday morning. Mak believes that there should be more security in Chinatown. She said some of the preventative measures shes heard recommended to business owners is to add security cameras, but shes said that hasnt discouraged break-ins. Moreover, she adds that some business owners have installed gates, but Mak reasons that it shouldn't be the cost of doing business in San Francisco. As a community, it has been really difficult, Mak told SFGATE. I grew up in this city. A lot of businesses in Chinatown have gates and plywood now. It has never been this bad. Mak estimates the cost of damages and other expenses for Dim Sum Corner following the break-in will set her back about $5,000. The business had already been 50% below its pre-pandemic levels before the burglary and Mak said sales dropped compared to what they were a week earlier. For now, Mak said she is working with a local artist who will add artwork to the plywood covering the restaurant entrance, so customers know Dim Sum Corner is still open, especially during the weekend when its the busiest. I just hope it doesnt happen to anybody else, Mak said. The allure of the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park on the island of Kauai is its striking beauty. The pali, or cliffs, rise dramatically to as much as 4,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Hidden beaches are sprinkled among its many steep, amphitheater-like cliffs rising above green isolated valleys, as waterfalls tumble down its walls from great heights. It attracts all types of people from all over the world day hikers, backpackers, trail runners, free spirits and hermits. The park, which extends from Haena to Milolii Valley, can be seen by air, land or sea each a unique adventure that Ive done, and none of which get old. The 11-mile Kalalau Trail is an arduous but incredible journey to the remote, white-sand Kalalau Beach, which takes six to 10 hours, depending on ability. (Most people know the trail for the first 2 miles to Hanakapiai Beach.) The helicopter tour takes you inside and around the valleys, allowing you to peer over the coastline in ways you otherwise wouldnt be able to see. The boat tour is the best of both in many ways, as it immerses you right into the scene with very little effort, which is what I chose to do this time. The sunny sky is clear and sea spray hits me as we ride the open ocean. Makana Charters 32-passenger catamaran zips past Polihale Beach on my right, the last accessible beach by car on the west side. I see campers lining the vast white-sand beach and dunes until the towering cliffs begin. The light begins to change, as we continue in the shadow of these rolling cliff faces and the ocean turns a vibrant turquoise blue like none Ive ever seen. Dolphins appear, jumping and spinning, ahead of our boat I count at least seven or 10 and I feel that nothing could be as idyllic as this moment. Milolii Valley is where we spot the first remote beach on the coastline. A small valley, it was once a sustainable place to live, like the other valleys, as Hawaiians cultivated taro and fished for food. Its also been said before that Milolii, which means fine twist, is known for its cordage. The valley was apparently named after an expert sennit weaver who once lived there. Its also where Bishop Museum acquired an abandoned pili (grass) house that is currently exhibited at the museum in Honolulu. Christine Hitt/SFGATE Boat landings are not allowed at any of the beaches along the Napali Coast, but in the summer months, the adventurous set can kayak and land on Miloliis beach to camp for up to three nights with a permit. I daydream about the number of stars in the sky that must be visible from this remote spot at night, but its not long until we enter the next section of the Napali Coast known as Nualolo. From Nualolo to breathtaking Honopu Turtles pop up out of the water as we slow down to marvel at Nualolos sandy shoreline and fringing reef, the largest on the Napali Coast. Isolated by cliffs on all sides, it is made up of two parts: Nualolo Kai (kai means ocean) is the coastal part we can see, and Nualolo Aina (aina means land) is the part Ive never seen. Its not visible because Nualolo Aina is a hanging valley that doesnt touch the coast. Brbnkseaj/Getty Images/iStockphoto In the past, the Native Hawaiians who lived on this coastline would climb these mountains and ridges with ease. There was no 11-mile Kalalau Trail along the coastline that was built in the late 1800s. Instead, an elaborate system of foot trails once connected the different Napali Coast valleys to each other by climbing up into the cliffs to top in an area known as Kokee (above Waimea Canyon) and back down into a different valley. None of these other Napali trails exist today. At Nualolo, Hawaiians would traverse between the fishing village of Nualolo Kai and the farming village of Nualolo Aina by climbing sheer cliffs. One such cliff, Kamaile, was famous for its oahi (projecting fire) display. Similar to fireworks, people would gather in canoes in the ocean off Nualolo Kai and watch men light pieces of wood and hurl them from 2,500 feet. Light in weight, the wood sailed into the air spectacularly until it hit the water possibly to where our boat is sitting. The cultural sensitivity of Nualolo is evident, which is why only a few motorized raft tours have a permit to land on the beach for an archaeological tour and to educate visitors of the area. Kayak landings are prohibited. Before continuing, our guide points to a large 400-feet-tall X seemingly etched on the side of the 2,000-foot cliff face. Its not a marker, he says, but a natural formation made by the crossing of lava. I would have never guessed that. MartinM303/Getty Images/iStockphoto Our next stop, an open-ceiling cave, is the spot I am most anxious to see, as only smaller boats are allowed inside, depending on conditions. Slowly, our boat propels itself through a large, natural archway. All eyes straight ahead, as we enter the large round cavernous space with an enormous ceiling open to the sky. Its so much bigger than I expected as we do a full lap around its borders. The water is crystal clear and no photo can capture its full width nevertheless, I tried. Pukalani, the guide says the Hawaiian name of the place is called, which loosely translated means hole to the heavens. It was once believed to be the home of a shark god. Makana Charters is Native Hawaiian-owned from the area, and much of the guides knowledge is not from books but passed down through stories from friends and relatives, so these details amplify my experience. The scenic beauty of the Napali Coast really doesnt end, as Honopu (meaning conch bay) is coming up next. Often considered the most photographed beach of the Napali Coast, its appeared in many films, too. King Kong, Six Days Seven Nights and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, just to name a few. rothandrus/Getty Images/iStockphoto From the ocean, I take in the view of its gorgeous white-sand beach and dunes that are bisected by a natural archway and backed by the Napalis steep sea cliffs. Incredibly picturesque, the beach is only one part of Honopu, as it also has a hanging valley where Hawaiians once lived further inland. As lovely as it is, the beach is only accessible by water, and boat or kayak landings of any kind are not allowed. Majestic Kalalau Valley Next, we arrive at the jewel of the coastline, as some would say, to Kalalau (which means the straying, used to describe someone doing something foolish). I take in the whole scene: a long white sandy beach with an incredible backdrop of those rugged cliffs with large pointed spires like that of a cathedral, and a waterfall flowing down one side. There are a couple people on the beach permitted backpackers who completed the Kalalau Trail to get there and enjoy the isolated beach. Its illegal to be dropped off by boat. noblige/Getty Images/iStockphoto Kalalau Valley is larger than any other on the coastline, with an abundant amount of natural resources. Its clear why this had such a thriving Native Hawaiian population for generations. Western society disrupted the old way of life. By the early 20th century, most of the Native Hawaiians of the Napali Coastline had left for school or employment elsewhere. The last resident of Kalalau left in 1919 its believed other Napali residents left before then. Since then, many historic sites along the Kalalau Trail from Haena to Hanakoa to Kalalau have been disturbed by cattle and horse grazing, other agricultural ventures and people. YinYang/Getty Images Though now a state park, Hawaiians help preserve and take care of their ancestral home through the nonprofit the Na Pali Coast Ohana, addressing issues of illegal campers and visitors who [leave] behind untold tons of abandoned campsites and trash in the farthest extremes of the Napali. In my many visits, Ive always felt seeing the Napali Coast as a privilege and preserving its pristine environment and cultural history are of the utmost importance, especially for those with genealogy tied to the land. Stopping for more than a few minutes to allow photos with Kalalau Beach in the background, our captain reverses direction, and I take in one final view of the famed coastline as we speed back to the boat harbor. Editors note: SFGATE recognizes the importance of diacritical marks in the Hawaiian language. We are unable to use them due to the limitations of our publishing platform. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE It is a tale as old as time a music festival ends, and people need to get home. Unfortunately, that few mile trip back to your apartment almost always ends up being a nightmare. To try to soften the travel apocalypse, Outside Lands runs extra MUNI service throughout the festival, with added buses along the 5R Fulton bus on the north of Golden Gate Park, and more service along the N-Judah light rail line on south of the park. However, despite these additional reinforcements, other bus routes like the 38 Geary were swamped shortly after the festival let out. BRASILIA, BRAZIL (AP) Federal Police arrested three more suspects Saturday in a case arising from the slaying of a journalist and an Indigenous expert in the remote western reaches of Brazils Amazon rainforest in June. A police statement alleges the three were involved in the hiding of the bodies after the killing. It said they are relatives of Amarildo da Costa Oliveira, known as Pelado, a fisherman who is one of three men previously charged with murdering the victims. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Four men who escaped from a Mississippi jail are back in custody nearly 24 hours after they escaped, authorities said Saturday. Captured Friday night at a gas station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, were Antonio Reyes, Samuel Sims and Hunter Wiginton as well as an accomplice, Louisiana State Police said. The fourth escapee, Landon Braudway, was arrested early Saturday northwest of Corinth near the Tennessee state line, WTVA-TV reported. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Alex Jones is facing a hefty price tag for his lies about the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre $49.3 million in damages, and counting, for claiming the nations deadliest school shooting was a hoax a punishing salvo in a fledgling war on harmful misinformation. But what does this weeks verdict, the first of three Sandy Hook-related cases against Jones to be decided, mean for the larger misinformation ecosystem, a social media-fueled world of election denial, COVID-19 skepticism and other dubious claims that the Infowars conspiracy theorist helped build? I think a lot of people are thinking of this as sort of a blow against fake news, and its important to realize that libel law deals with a very particular kind of fake news, said Eugene Volokh, a First Amendment professor at the UCLA School of Law. U.S. courts have long held that defamatory statements falsehoods damaging the reputation of a person or a business aren't protected as free speech, but lies about other subjects, like science, history or the government, are. For example, saying COVID-19 isn't real is not defamatory, but spreading lies about a doctor treating coronavirus patients is. That distinction is why Jones, who attacked the parents of Sandy Hook victims and claimed the 2012 shooting was staged with actors to increase gun control, is being forced to pay up while Holocaust deniers, flat-earthers and vaccine skeptics are free to post their theories without much fear of a multimillion-dollar court judgment. Alex Jones was attacking individuals, said Stephen D. Solomon, a law professor and founding editor of New York Universitys First Amendment Watch. And thats important. A lot of disinformation does not attack individuals. Lawyers for the plaintiffs, the parents of one of 20 first graders killed at the Connecticut school in 2012, said they hoped a big-money verdict against Jones would serve as a deterrent to him and others who peddle misinformation for profit. I am asking you to take the bullhorn away from Alex Jones and all of the others who believe they can profit off of fear and misinformation, Wesley Ball said in his closing argument Friday. The gold rush of fear and misinformation must end, and it must end today." Jones, who has since acknowledged that the shooting was real, has claimed his statements about Sandy Hook were protected by the First Amendment. He even showed up to court with Save the 1st scrawled on a piece of tape over his mouth. But despite the public theatrics, Jones never got to make that argument in court. After Jones failed to comply with orders to hand over critical evidence, a judge entered a default judgment for the plaintiffs and skipped right to the punishment phase. Jones lawyer Andino Reynal told the jury during closing arguments that a large judgment would have a chilling effect on people seeking to hold governments accountable. Youve already sent a message. A message for the first time to a talk show host, to all talk show hosts, that their standard of care has to change, Reynal told jurors. Free speech experts say any chilling effect should be limited to people who wantonly disseminate false information, not journalists or other citizens making good-faith efforts to get at the truth of a matter. You have to look at this particular case and ask yourself, what exactly are you chilling? Solomon said. The kind of speech that defames parents who have lost their children in a massacre is maybe the kind of speech you do want to deter. You do want to chill that speech, Solomon said. Thats the message that potentially the jury wanted to send here, that this is unacceptable in a civilized society. As for Jones, Reynal said he isn't going away any time soon. He'll remain on the air while they appeal the verdict, one of the largest and highest-profile decisions in a defamation case in recent years. Among others: a gadfly ordered in February to pay $50 million to a South Carolina mayor after accusing her in emails of committing a crime and being unfit for office; a former tenant ordered in 2016 to pay $38.3 million for posting a website accusing a real estate investor of running a Ponzi scheme; and a New Hampshire mortgage provider ordered in 2017 to pay $274 million to three businessmen after he posted billboards accusing them of drug dealing and extortion. These kinds of damages and verdicts do have a chilling effect, Volokh said. Theyre intended to have a chilling effect on lies that damage peoples reputations. ___ Follow Michael Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak ___ Find APs full coverage of the Alex Jones trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/alex-jones This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MELBOURNE, Fla. (AP) Sold-out hotels. Excitement that seems to grow by the day. The potential for hundreds of thousands of visitors, support staff, and more. These are just a few of the factors being calculated into preparations for Artemis I, the first launch of NASAs moon-focused Space Launch System rocket slated for Aug. 29. Standing 322 feet tall, it promises to be the biggest, most powerful rocket to launch from the Space Coast in years bringing with it a level of excitement to match. All told, Space Coast officials are expecting at least 100,000 visitors for the rockets first window, which includes opportunities on Aug. 29, Sept. 2, and Sept. 5 (Labor Day). Currently, T-0 on Aug. 29 is set for 8:33 a.m. ET. Pad 39B will host. The rocket is part of NASAs Artemis program, which aims to put humans back on the moon sometime this decade. That starts with the uncrewed Artemis I mission and its plan to take an Orion capsule on a four-to-six-week journey to the moon and back. Artemis II will do the same with astronauts, then Artemis III will put two astronauts on the surface sometime after 2024. Hotels and tourism The Space Coast isnt a stranger to launch day crowds. During the space shuttle era that ran through 2011, half a million or more visitors would sometimes flood the area, scooping up hotel rooms and packing local businesses. Since then, crowds have been smaller, but still significant. Even during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands still flocked to Brevard County to see launches. Some of the recent SpaceX Crew Dragon launches, which take astronauts to the International Space Station from KSC, have drawn between 100,000 and 250,000 visitors, according to Peter Cranis, executive director of the Space Coast Office of Tourism. It wouldnt be a stretch to expect more than 100,000 for Artemis I. I think the crewed launches and these Artemis launches are going to be of equal interest to people, Cranis said. I would expect certainly over 100,000, if not more, coming for that. As of June, Cranis said, Brevard County had 10,734 hotel rooms and 4,500 vacation rental units. Each unit can obviously accommodate more than one person, but those numbers likely wont be impacted by spectators driving from Orlando, for example, to see the launch without staying overnight. Speaking to the greater launch cadence, Cranis said Artemis also supports his offices efforts at marketing the Space Coast. Both KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station have hosted 32 launches this year, a pace not seen since the 1960s. Our marketing line is were the only beach that doubles as a launch pad and now thats a message we can put out there because the frequency is so elevated, he said. Being known for that is something that makes us special among our peers who obviously have beaches to promote, but no space program. Just glancing at hotel room listings shows a rapidly dwindling supply among those that havent been sold out. The space-themed Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Center is one of the areas newest hotels. Completed this year and opened to the public in April, it boasts views of KSC and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station pads and even has a rooftop Space Bar specifically for launch viewing. All the Courtyards rooms, along with the Space Bar, are sold out for Artemis I. Weve had more and more people discover the hotel since it opened in April, with steadily increasing room bookings and patronage of The Space Bar on the roof, said Glen White, director of corporate communications for Delaware North. The company franchised the Courtyard hotel brand and paid for the project. We also anticipate having people book rooms and visit the Space Bar to feel the excitement of seeing Artemis on the launch pad in the days leading up to launch, White said. Delaware Norths main Space Coast operation is the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, which is expecting to sell out its Artemis day offerings. We are expecting capacity crowds at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the upcoming Artemis launch, said Therrin Protze, the visitor complexs chief operating officer. (The visitor complex) will offer special Artemis launch viewing packages that will include some of the closest public viewing opportunities with distinctive experiences like live commentary from space experts and access to select exhibits and attractions. Artemis Is launch ties in with the complexs recently opened Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex exhibit, which focuses on the future of spaceflight. Inside the new exhibit is a scale model of the SLS rocket, a flown Orion capsule similar to the one on Artemis I, and other items like a ceiling-mounted SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster. The visitor complexs tickets for Artemis I viewing will go on sale 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, at https://bit.ly/3OJBJuu. Kennedy Space Center and media Crowds gathering to see the launch as spectators arent the only visitors expected on the Space Coast. Hundreds of media members from around the world have signed up to cover the liftoff, too. KSCs public affairs team confirmed at least 700 media have signed up so far, a figure that dwarfs typical launches and is closer to crowds seen during the space shuttle program. Heather Scott, a spokesperson for the Space Forces Space Launch Delta 45, said the military branch will also be pitching in to help manage media. The growing sense of energy and excitement that has been steadily building around Kennedy and among our workforce in the last year is tangible, said Mike Bolger, director of KSCs Exploration Ground Systems. A sense of anticipation is growing daily as we close in on launching this amazing rocket and spacecraft. From an employee perspective, launch day car passes that can be used to bring personal vehicles and family and friends, in most cases are highly sought after. And its not just about launch day viewing: employees not directly working on Artemis have been handling non-critical items for those who are, even going as far as buying their lunch to help free up time. Our teams are laser-focused on walking SLS and Orion through the final steps before its maiden flight around the moon, but the excitement across the center is palpable, KSC Director Janet Petro said. You can see it in peoples faces, you can hear it in their voices, and when we all stand together with our eyes to the sky on launch day, I dont think there will be a feeling in the world like it. KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Ugandan authorities have suspended the work of a prominent LGBTQ rights group, calling it an illegal entity. Sexual Minorities Uganda has been the East African nation's most prominent support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people since 2004. Its leader, Frank Mugisha, said Saturday that authorities who oversee non-governmental organizations advised him to suspend activities, saying his group lacked needed documentation. This means that the life-saving work we do is on hold. We can't protect and support vulnerable LGBT people," he said. The background, of course, is homophobia and transphobia. The NGO Bureau said in a statement that the group needed to stop work with immediate effect because its neither a company nor an NGO. The case against Sexual Minorities Uganda stems from the group's name itself. The registrar of companies declined to register that name, saying it was unsuitable. A judge agreed, and the group's appeal to a higher court is awaiting judgement, Mugisha said. He said that because of the hostility to his group over the years, he decided to run it as an association instead of an NGO. Homosexuality is illegal in Uganda under a colonial-era law that criminalizes sex acts against the order of nature, and LGBTQ people face widespread discrimination. Some Ugandan officials have urged tough new legislation after a panel of judges nullified an anti-gay law enacted by President Yoweri Museveni in 2014 amid international condemnation. That law, invalidated because it had been passed by lawmakers during a session that lacked a quorum, prescribed punishments of up to life in prison for individuals convicted of engaging in same-sex activity. The original version of that bill, first introduced in 2009, included the death penalty for what it called aggravated acts of homosexuality. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden tested negative for COVID-19 on Saturday but will continue to isolate at the White House until a second negative test, his doctor said. Dr. Kevin O'Connor wrote in his latest daily update that the president, in an abundance of caution, will abide by the "strict isolation measures in place since his rebound infection was detected July 30, pending a follow-up negative result. Biden, 79, came down with the virus a second time three days after he had emerged from isolation from his initial bout with COVID-19, reported on July 21. There have been rare rebound cases documented among a small minority of those, who like Biden, were prescribed the anti-viral medication Paxlovid, which has been proved to reduce the risk of serious illness and death from the virus among those at highest risk. OConnor wrote that Biden continues to feel very well. Biden's travel has been on hold as he awaited a negative test. He plans to visit Kentucky on Monday to view damage from catastrophic flooding and meet with families. Biden was doing great, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Saturday when asked about his health during her appearance in Las Vegas at a joint conference of the National Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. She said that when she speaks to the president, he tells her to tell folks Ive been working eight-plus hours a day. During his first go-around with the virus, Bidens primary symptoms were a runny nose, fatigue and a loose cough, his doctor said at the time. During his rebound case, OConnor said only Bidens cough returned and had almost completely resolved by Friday. Regulators are still studying the prevalence and virulence of rebound cases, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in May warned doctors that it has been reported to occur within two days to eight days after initially testing negative for the virus. Limited information currently available from case reports suggests that persons treated with Paxlovid who experience COVID-19 rebound have had mild illness; there are no reports of severe disease, the agency said at the time. ___ Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Las Vegas contributed to this report. SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) A bus crash in Bulgaria early Saturday killed four people and left at least eight injured, authorities said. The bus was carrying tourists back to Romania from a trip to Istanbul when it crashed into a parked car on the side of a highway linking Bulgaria's central city of Veliko Tarnovo with the Danube port of Ruse, local police said. An energy study to determine whether salt caverns could be used in North Dakota to store gas and liquids is running millions of dollars over budget. The three-member North Dakota Industrial Commission on Thursday voted to reallocate $2.5 million from another study project to complete a core analysis that's integral to the salt cavern study. The other study, which deals with underground gas storage, requires only another $500,000 to complete. The commission on the recommendation of Deputy Executive Director Reice Haase also reallocated $500,000 that had been intended to acquire land for drilling a test well. That became unnecessary when project officials in the spring chose an abandoned well pad as the testing location to begin drilling. The $500,000 will be used to help pay for the services of an industry board that is advising the University of North Dakota's Energy and Environmental Research Center, which is conducting the study. The purpose is to determine the feasibility of constructing underground salt caverns in western North Dakota for energy resource storage, including natural gas, hydrogen and hydrocarbons. Core analysis refers to the collection of core samples of salt and surrounding rock zones, and testing those samples. The rise in the original $9.5 million budget -- which the Industrial Commission approved in May -- is due to challenges faced while drilling, according to Haase. Whenever you drill a well, theres a risk involved," he said. "Industry, theyre aware of the risks whenever you drill a well, and potential costs increase based on whatever issues you may encounter." The core analysis will cost $700,000. It will cost another $2.3 million to complete geologic modeling and engineering, according to Haase. He said EERC officials went to the Oil and Gas Research Council, whose mission is to promote growth of the oil and gas industry in the state, and the group recommended that the immediate needs of the salt cavern study be funded first -- drilling and core analysis. The most time-sensitive aspect of this project was that core analysis," Haase said. "Now that weve gone through the expense of drilling a test well and collecting that core, once you collect those samples you have about a month before those samples start to naturally degrade. And we need to get our laboratory analysis done before that happens." The $2.3 million needed to complete the geologic modeling and engineering remains to be added to the study's budget. The Oil and Gas Research Council on July 26 discussed options including a request to the Emergency Commission -- which decides on state agency funding requests between regular legislative sessions -- allocating the remaining Oil and Gas Research Program funds for the current state budget cycle, or determining if there are remaining funds from other projects that could be reallocated. Salt cavern projects, its very strategic for our state. If we have the opportunity to create salt caverns for underground storage, its not just for natural gas. We could store strategic supplies of propane storage that would help us a lot, Haase said, noting that propane shortages in the past have impacted farmers, especially in wetter seasons. He added that the council over the next month will work to source the remaining funding for the salt cavern study. The Industrial Commission is made up of the governor, agriculture commissioner and attorney general. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Dolly Parton donned her best sequined park ranger outfit Friday to unveil Big Bear Mountain, Dollywoods newest and longest roller coaster opening in spring 2023. The attraction, an expansion of Wildwood Grove, will bring thrills to this family-friendly area of the park. Big Bear Mountain is the largest single attraction investment in Dollywood history, with a cost of $25 million. Dollywood revealed a virtual ride-along Friday that shows the roller coaster taking visitors through a cave and waterfalls. Its the parks first ride with on-board audio, including music and words from Ned Oakley, the fictional caretaker of Wildwood Grove mascot Benjamin Bear. Dollywood president Eugene Naughton said this ride will help extend our storytelling in the park, and he is excited to see families hop aboard. If youre going to be the No. 1 family attraction in the United States, your product needs to be family friendly, he told Knox News. So, within this ride called Big Bear Mountain, I like to call it comfortable fun. Orange track and SUV coaster cars set the scene for a journey with Oakley to find the elusive Big Bear. The ride will last nearly two minutes as it rides along the edges of Wildwood Grove on 3,990 feet of track, reaching speeds up to 48 mph and a maximum elevation of 66 feet. The ride will include three separate launches, multiple airtime hills, high-speed carousel turns, and tunnels, including a pass behind a waterfall, a release said. Dolly Parton and Dollywood officials have revealed plans for Big Bear Mountain, the parks next roller coaster, scheduled to open in spring 2023. Located in Wildwood Grove, the ride marks the biggest single investment for an attraction in park history, with speeds up to 48 mph across nearly 4,000 feet of track. You know Im not gonna get on that, Dolly Parton said Friday during the Dollywood media event. If I get on that thing youll find one of my wigs in the top of a tree or the top of Clingmans Dome or something. But it does look like fun. Wildwood Grove, a $37 million addition to the park, opened adjacent to the Timber Canyon area in May 2019. The addition increased the park size by 20% and includes the Hidden Hollow play area and the Dragonflier, a smooth roller coaster for families to enjoy. Both the Dragonflier and Big Bear Mountain require guests be 39 inches tall, but the latter roller coaster will up the thrills by roughly 8 mph. I would say arguably, and with all humility, I believe that attraction will be up for the best new attraction in 2023 and will be known as one of the best of its kind in the world, Pete Owens, vice president of marketing and public relations, told the USA TODAY Network about the coaster in 2021. Dolly Parton and Dollywood president Eugene Naughton reveal plans for Big Bear Mountain on Friday. The $25 million roller coaster will be built in the Wildwood Grove section of Dollywood, and a rendering is displayed behind them. Big Bear Mountain was designed by Vekoma, which also designed the Dragonflier. The company has manufactured multiple rides for Disney parks, including Expedition Everest at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. As Dollywoods dreamer in chief, Parton wants employees to dream big as the park invests a half-billion dollars over the next 10 years in its quest to become a year-round, premier destination. Naughton said the park has spent $130 million in the first year of the plan and referred to the 2023 opening of Big Bear Mountain and HeartSong Lodge and Resort as a cool double dip for added fun in one year. The 302-room resort is inspired by Partons love for the Great Smoky Mountains and will feature a mercantile store, restaurant and a grab-and-go food spot. It also will include a music room, activities for kids and family gathering spots. Dollywood expects to open another resort in 2027, but the plans dont stop there. Naughtons long-term vision for the park is to extend operating hours and eventually become a year-round park. The Smokies are all about adventure and going exploring, Parton said in a news release. Im excited our guests will be able to head out on their own trip into the Smokies to see if they can find that Big Bear! Whether hes out there or not, Im sure theyll find a lot of memories along the way that theyll keep forever. SAN DIEGO (AP) The captain of a drug-smuggling boat that rammed a U.S. Coast Guard vessel off the coast of San Diego was sentenced Friday to more than 16 years in prison. Miguel Ojeda Agundez, 26, was carrying nearly 500 pounds (227 kilograms) of methamphetamine when he rammed the Coast Guard boat in 2020 and led authorities on a high-speed chase, federal prosecutors said. NEW WESTMINSTER, British Columbia (AP) A Canadian jury found a Dutch man guilty on Saturday of extortion, harassment and other charges related to a case of a Canadian teenager who was blackmailed to expose herself in front of a webcam. The 15-year-old later committed suicide after detailing her harassment on a YouTube video watched by millions around the world. The jury in the British Columbia Supreme Court trial of Aydin Coban has found him guilty on all charges he faced, including communication with a young person to commit a sexual offence and possession and distribution of child pornography in relation to the Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, teen Amanda Todd. FRESNO, Calif. (AP) A former Fresno-area police officer has been charged with sexually assaulting four women while on duty, federal prosecutors said Friday. A federal grand jury indictment unsealed Friday charges J. Deshawn Torrence with depriving the women of their constitutional rights under the color of law, according to the U.S. attorney's office. Bjoern Wylezich / TNS HARTFORD A federal grand jury on Friday indicted a New Haven man authorities allege was found with an unmarked handgun and crack and heroin he intended to deal. Niquelle Landelius, 26, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of ammunition by a felon, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base and heroin, the U.S. attorneys office for the District of Connecticut said. boonchai wedmakawand/Getty Images SAN ANGELO, Texas (AP) A former West Texas police chief was sentenced Friday to 15 1/2 years in prison for taking bribes for a multimillion-dollar contract for a city vendor. A federal judge sentenced former San Angelo police Chief Timothy Ray Vasquez, 52, in San Angelo after a jury in March convicted him of bribery and mail fraud. U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix also fined Vasquez $35,000. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TOKYO (AP) Hiroshima on Saturday remembered the atomic bombing 77 years ago as officials, including the head of the United Nations, warned against nuclear weapons buildup and as fears grow of another such attack amid Russia's war on Ukraine. Nuclear weapons are nonsense. They guarantee no safety only death and destruction," said U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who joined the prayer at the Hiroshima Peace Park. Three quarters of a century later, we must ask what weve learned from the mushroom cloud that swelled above this city in 1945," he said. The United States dropped the worlds first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, destroying the city and killing 140,000 people. It dropped a second bomb three days later on Nagasaki, killing another 70,000. Japan surrendered on Aug. 15, ending World War II and Japans nearly half-century of aggression in Asia. Fears of a third atomic bombing have grown amid Russias threats of nuclear attack since its war on Ukraine began in February. "Crises with grave nuclear undertones are spreading fast in the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula, Guterres said. We are one mistake, one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from Armageddon. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, in his peace declaration, accused Putin of using his own people as instruments of war and stealing the lives and livelihoods of innocent civilians in another country." Russias war on Ukraine is helping build support for nuclear deterrence, Matsui said, urging the world not to repeat the mistakes that destroyed his city nearly eight decades ago. On Saturday, attendees including government leaders and diplomats observed a moment of silence with the sound of a peace bell at 8:15 a.m., the time when the U.S. B-29 dropped the bomb on the city. About 400 doves, considered symbols of peace, were released. Guterres met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida after the ceremony and raised alarm over the global retreat in nuclear disarmament, stressing the importance for Japan, the world's only nation to have suffered nuclear attacks, to take leadership in the effort, Japan's Foreign Ministry said. Kishida escorted Guterres in the peace museum, where they each folded an origami crane a symbol of peace and nuclear weapons abolition. Russia and its ally Belarus were not invited to this year's peace memorial. Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin on Thursday offered flowers at a memorial epitaph in the park and told reporters his country would never use nuclear weapons. The world continues to face threats from nuclear weapons, Kishida said at the memorial. "I must raise my voice to appeal to the people around the world that the tragedy of nuclear weapons use should never be repeated," he said. Japan will walk its path toward a world without nuclear weapons, no matter how narrow, steep or difficult that may be. Kishida, who will host a Group of Seven summit meeting next May in Hiroshima, said he hoped to share his pledge with other G7 leaders before the peace monument to unite them to protect peace and international order based on the universal values of freedom and democracy. Matsui criticized nuclear weapon states, including Russia, for not taking steps despite their pledge to abide by obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Rather than treating a world without nuclear weapons like a distant dream, they should be taking concrete steps toward its realization, he said. Critics say Kishida's call for a nuclear-free world is hollow because Japan remains under the U.S. nuclear umbrella and continues to boycott the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Kishida said the treaty, which lacks the U.S. and other nuclear powers, is not realistic at the moment and that Japan needs to bridge the divide between non-nuclear and nuclear powers. Many survivors of the bombings have lasting injuries and illnesses resulting from the explosions and radiation exposure and face discrimination in Japan. The government began to provide medical support to certified survivors in 1968 after more than 20 years of effort by them. As of March, 118,935 survivors, whose average age now exceeds 84, are certified as eligible for government medical support, according to the Health and Welfare Ministry. But many others, including those who say they were victims of the black rain that fell outside of the initially designated areas, are still without support. Aging survivors, known in Japan as hibakusha, continue to push for a nuclear ban and hope to convince younger generations to join the movement. Guterres had a message for younger people: Finish the work that the hibakusha have begun. Carry their message forward. In their names, in their honor, in their memory we must act. NEW ORLEANS (AP) A federal judges ruling that keeps a national horse racing authority from enforcing its rules in Louisiana and West Virginia was temporarily blocked Friday by a federal appeals court in New Orleans. The ruling late last month by a federal judge in Monroe said the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority likely went beyond its bounds on three rules that went into place July 1. AMSTERDAM (AP) Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined Amsterdam's historic canals Saturday to celebrate Canal Parade, a Pride flotilla of 80 brightly decorated boats packed with people partying, singing and waving rainbow flags, balloons and umbrellas. The boats representing rights groups, bars, clothing brands and even the Dutch military made their way slowly through the waterways in a resumption of the hugely popular LGBTQ Pride event that had been canceled for two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It may seem evident that acquiring non-verbal communication skills will benefit you and those you care about. So why aren't more of us learning American sign language (ASL)? Though it isn't taught as frequently as spoken languages, knowing ASL, even at a beginner level, could significantly impact your life. There are plenty of reasons to learn ASL. Perhaps you want to teach your child to communicate before developing speech. Maybe you're interested in better connecting with friends and family who are deaf or hard of hearing (HOH). Or you might suddenly find yourself in need of picking up this method of communication. That's what happened with Mike Webb of Edinburgh, Scotland. His daughter was diagnosed as "profoundly deaf" at 18 months old, which meant she couldn't hear any sound below 90dBanything quieter than a leaf blower or concert was out of range. Webb and his partner didn't have a clue how to learn sign language, but they quickly accessed every resource they could to start, including signing lessons, and were ultimately able to communicate with both of their children, who now have cochlear implants. Currently, Webb raises money for Deaf Action, a charity that provides sign language, deaf awareness, and lip-reading classes for those in need. In an interview with the Edinburgh Evening News, Webb explained the positives of knowing sign language beyond the necessary: "Being able to communicate with your child just using facial expressions and your hands is quite special. You can defuse a situation quite quickly, just using your hands and eye contact." So how can you learn sign language like the Webbs? You could start your education at home with the top-rated 21-course Ultimate Learn American Sign Language Bundle. Can you teach yourself ASL? Whether you're learning ASL out of necessity or because you want to teach your child to communicate earlier, you can learn American sign language independently with some help, guided instruction, and lots of practice. And, much like any language, being in charge of the pace of study can make things a bit easier to manage. With online training, you can move as quickly or slowly as desired. If you're a parent-to-be, you've probably heard that infants can learn to sign up to four months sooner than they say their first word, making those nine months before the baby arrives a great time to get started. Whether they're born with hearing loss or not, you could save yourself a lot of agony wondering why your baby is crying if you teach them to express themselves with sign language. Research has also demonstrated with incredible results that teaching your young child ASL could have them speaking verbally sooner too. As recently as 2018, roughly 90% of parents with deaf children hadn't learned to sign. It hardly needs to be said, but not being able to communicate with your child can drastically change your relationship with them. We prepare for so many things in life; why shouldn't preparing for the possibility of needing to sign with a child be one of them? Learning ASL basics This bundle contains 50+ hours of instruction but starts you off right at the beginning with a course focused on the manual alphabet. The lessons will help you learn how to form each letter through exercises and activities similar to those in a spoken language course. Once you've learned the manual alphabet, you could technically spell your way through a conversation. However, much like verbally spelling your words out, it would take considerably longer and isn't an ideal way to carry on a conversation. After this foundational skill is locked down, you can move on to more advanced classes. If you're learning ASL so you can talk to a friend, relative, or colleague, you might have a specific vocabulary starting point in mind. With 21 courses and more than half dedicated to vocabulary, you'll have plenty of ways to customize your learning journey. Those categories include food, countries, days, pronouns, emotions, verbs, personality terms, and colors. Is your goal to show your infant how to sign? Then the occupation-based vocabulary ASL course, for example, can wait. If your HOH child has a favorite stuffed animal, you may be eager to learn how to sign that animal's species in ASL: Animal & Number Sentences. With so much to learn, this endeavor may feel intimidating, but you can relax a bit knowing this bundle was designed for people with no experience signing. It will all get easier as you develop your vocabulary and signing dexterity. For anyone with a bit of experience already, you can jump right into the Parent and Child Phrases course to learn new signs and how to supplement your signing with facial expressions. You may not have expected to practice smiling when you set out to teach yourself ASL, but facial expressions play a huge role in non-verbal communication. Every course in the bundle has great student ratings and is taught by TESOL and TEFL certified Michael Honkanen, creator of Able Lingo. Honkanen, who used ASL to communicate with and interpret for witnesses, victims, and persons of interest in his law-enforcement career, started Able Lingo to help open minds and make it easier for those who are not HOH to learn how to speak with a wider range of people. While you might not be an ASL master by the end of the training in this 1,161-lesson bundle, you'll be left with foundational skills in beginner sign language, a huge vocabulary list to memorize, and the confidence to keep going and get on your way to fluency. Learn the language used by nearly one million people in the U.S. with help from the Ultimate Learn American Sign Language Bundle, currently on sale for $34. Prices subject to change by: Jessica Kanzler DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) Greg Moklestad traded his Dubuque Senior High School classroom for an office in the Millwork District this summer. The computer science and engineering teacher spent the past month working with DMI LLC and Design Mill Inc., two Dubuque sister companies that focus on emerging technology, digital engineering and software development, among other professional services. His employment is part of the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program, offered through the Iowa Governors STEM Advisory Council. Educators in the program spend six weeks in science, technology, engineering and math-oriented workplaces, receiving a stipend and graduate credit for their work. I like getting back into the work field to help keep my content relevant for students, said Moklestad, who previously completed an externship with John Deere in 2018. It also helps me see what employers want and need. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that 80 teachers participated in the statewide externship program this summer. The program launched in 2009, and since that time, nearly 800 teachers have worked as externs with businesses and nonprofits in a variety of industries. Area teachers participating in the program said they gained a wide range of skills and techniques to implement in their classrooms, while businesses touted the new insights that the externs have brought to the workplace. Its always interesting to get a different perspective on what we do, said Jasmine Nobis-Olson, creative content manager with DMI. In our field, theres so much innovation and things move so quickly, so any fresh ideas are welcome in emerging technologies. Moklestad has spent his externship working with advanced LIDAR technologies, which use laser imaging and scanning to create digital environments. He said he plans to integrate more software engineering and computer science coding into his classes at Senior after learning about the importance of those skills at DMI. Roger Poling teaches business administration, computer science and personal finance at Hempstead High School. He is wrapping up his externship in MercyOne Dubuque Medical Centers marketing and communications department. Among other duties, Poling has worked on a marketing plan for the retail pharmacy portion of MercyOne, which he will bring back to his classroom this fall as a project-based learning task for his students to help complete. What Im hoping to get out of this, personally, is keeping the information Im teaching my kids about marketing current, he said. ... The project-based learning allows them to internalize and experience that, and its something that they can see going beyond the classroom. The Dubuque hospital also welcomed two Senior science teachers, Kelly Giesemann and Stephanie Monahan, who worked as externs on the clinical side. Christina Schauer, the hospitals director of clinical and professional development, said the two teachers observed multiple departments to create a list of available career opportunities at MercyOne. They also conducted a study to gather quantitative data on how nurses spend their time and helped create and update materials for staff professional development. It was really nice to have people there who were experts at teaching to help us find the best way to help educate our staff, Schauer said, later adding, They really came in ready to hit the ground running, and they tackled some of those things that weve been wanting to do for a very long time. Claire Molony will enter her first year as a science teacher at Cascade (Iowa) High School this fall. She completed an externship with Jackson County (Iowa) Conservation. She led educational and outdoor recreation programs for students and completed invasive-species removal and wildlife surveys. I definitely came back with a lot of knowledge about Iowa, about eastern Iowa and about native plants and native animal species in Iowa that I think will be really good to take back to my classroom and relate to the kids, she said. I also saw and developed a lot of communication and critical-thinking skills, and that was good for me to see so I can make sure Im helping my kids develop those skills, too. Jessica Wagner, environmental education coordinator for Jackson County Conservation, said Molony was the organizations sixth extern in the past five years. Its been a huge benefit for us to have another person on staff during our busy time in the summer, as well as just connecting with those teachers in our area and building relationships, Wagner said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Michigan judge on Wednesday extended an order that bars county prosecutors from enforcing a 1931 state law that bans abortion. Leadership Team member Allison Wilcox of the Women of Michigan Action Network said members are relieved that there is temporary assurance until the next hearing on Aug. 17. "As the overwhelming support for the Reproductive Freedom for All ballot initiative shows, huge numbers of Michiganders feel that abortion should be legal and that we should trust pregnant people and their doctors to make private decisions about pregnancy, miscarriage treatment, and contraception," she said on Thursday. "Being able to control your own body is a bedrock freedom that all Americans should support, even those who are personally opposed to abortion." Oakland County Judge Jacob Cunningham agreed after lawyers for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer argued that pulling the plug on his Monday order would cause chaos around the state. The restraining order will hold at least until the next hearing. Michigan's 91-year-old abortion ban makes it a crime to perform abortions unless the life of the mother is in danger. If you need one, you need one today or very, very soon, Assistant Solicitor General Linus Banghart-Linn said of abortion services. We dont want more confusion. Wilcox agreed. She said the 1931 Michigan law preventing abortion is extreme and places women at risk, also causing doctors to question whether they can provide care needed to a patient without risking legal action against themselves. A Court of Claims judge in May suspended the law in a different lawsuit, saying it's probably unconstitutional. That step had kept abortion legal in Michigan even after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in late June. But the status became clouded this week when the state Court of Appeals said the decision in May applied only to the attorney general's office, not to prosecutors in counties where abortion services are provided. Photo provided/AP Governor Gretchen Whitmer filed an amicus brief with the Michigan Supreme Court in support of preserving the statewide injunction issued in mid-May that prevents enforcement of Michigans 1931 law. "Recent fire drills and a legal patchwork that changes day to day, county to county, prove that our current situation is unsustainable," Whitmer said in a press release on Thursday. "We need clarity. Every day we delay, women will suffer and health care providers will wonder if their work will lead to prosecution. I will continue fighting like hell to keep abortion legal in Michigan and protect nurses and doctors from prosecution. Separately, voters in November will likely get an opportunity to decide whether to add abortion rights to the state constitution and override the old law. "We are confident that when Michigan voters are given the opportunity to amend our state constitution to explicitly protect reproductive freedom, that we will see a result similar to what happened recently in Kansas - overwhelming support for the right to a legal abortion," Wilcox said. "We would also expect that at that (upcoming August) hearing, a reasonable court would affirm that the 1931 anti-abortion law should not be enforced until Michigan voters have had their say in the November general election." Lawyers for Whitmer, a Democrat who supports abortion rights, rushed to Cunningham's court for a restraining order, which was granted Monday. Democratic prosecutors in some of the state's largest counties, especially in the Detroit area, have pledged to not enforce the 1931 abortion ban. But Republican prosecutors in Kent and Jackson counties have expressed a different position. David Kallman, an attorney for the two GOP prosecutors, argued against maintaining the restraining order. Since when does a governor have the right to go after a law he or she doesnt like? Kallman said. Just come to court and just say, Hey, I might be harmed by this so I want this law overturned or I want it changed.' Thats ridiculous. Cunningham declined to allow attorney John Bursch to argue on behalf of Right to Life of Michigan and the Michigan Catholic Conference. The judge said these two anti-abortion groups aren't formal parties in the litigation. As a part of the long continued conversation to bring a Texas monument to Beaumont, a local resident has started a petition. Since last year, bringing Battleship Texas, currently located at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in Houston, to Beaumont has been a topic of conversation at Beaumont City Council meetings. At its last meeting, Councilman Mike Getz brought up how citizens expressed that they want the museum to come to Beaumont. "A lot of times when I'm walking through the city going, places people ask me what's the status of getting Battleship Texas Beaumont and I tell them it's progressing and we're doing what we can here as a city that make that happen," Getz said. "Citizens took it upon themselves to give the citizens a voice and there is now a (petition) that is on the change.org site." The petition "Bring Battleship Texas to Beaumont," which was started by Beaumont resident Wilton Johnson on July 29, got 650 signatures its first week. RELATED: Battleship Texas could cost $10M to relocate The petition states that Battleship Texas is looking for a new location and that Riverfront Park in Beaumont is a great location. "City councils past have expressed the desire for Beaumont to become a 'destination location,'" Johnson said in the petition. "With the proximity and line of sight from I-10, berthing the Battleship here will bring tourism and foster economic growth down to vendors and local entrepreneurs." Beaumont resident Pam Shelander commented on the petition, saying it would be a "complete win" for the city to have Battleship Texas. "I believe bringing the Battleship Texas to Beaumont will be a catalyst for growth in downtown Beaumont," Shelander said. "People will be willing to make a stop in Beaumont during their travels on I-10 in order to tour the Battleship. Perhaps they will tour the other museums downtown, and have lunch downtown." RELATED: Beaumont City Council doesnt scrap Battleship Texas At a city council meeting last fall, former City Manager Kyle Hayes said it could cost up to $10 million to bring the chip to Beaumont. Theres a company called Lanier. Its a reputable engineering firm that does a lot of work for the Port of Beaumont, Hayes said. Their minimum cost to dock the ship was $5.2 million. But they made it clear that it could be $5.2 million to $8 million, or $10 million or more. We dont know. That was the number one concern because local taxpayers would have to pay for that. However, those numbers were just an estimate. To get an exact number, a firm such as Lanier would have to engineer the project, and that would cost up to an additional $800,000. SAN DIEGO (AP) A Southern California man who fled to Mexico after killing two people in 1987 following an argument over beer at a child's birthday party was sentenced Friday to 34 years to life in prison. Jose Solorio, 62, was sentenced in San Diego Superior Court. He was convicted in May of second-degree murder for the slayings at an apartment in Ramona, near San Diego. Solorio killed German Aviles, 26, and Ventura Aviles, 21 and wounded two other men during a birthday party for Aviles' 4-year-old daughter, prosecutors said. Solorio got into an argument with the victims and other men over getting more beer for the party. The defendant became offended over an insult directed at him. He left the party and returned with a loaded handgun," said a statement from the San Diego County district attorney's office. While standing in the doorway, Solorio gunned down German and Aviles, then wounded a third man in the apartment and a man outside who was returning with the beer, prosecutors said. Solorio fled to Mexico for 32 years. He taken into custody in 2019 and extradited to California. A Michigan man was arrested Aug. 4 after allegedly driving the wrong way on the expressway in a stolen vehicle. Michigan State Police troopers from the Gaylord post were dispatched to I-75 in Otsego County Aug. 4 on a report of a wrong-way driver on I-75, according to an MSP release. Troopers responded and located a 2007 Toyota on the shoulder of the southbound lane facing north. "The driver had fled on foot," the release reads. "Dispatch advised there were reports of a man running across south I-75 on foot headed west off the freeway. Troopers searched the area and were unable to locate the man. The vehicle was towed from the scene." After towing the vehicle and clearing the scene, dispatch received a call about a stolen vehicle from a nearby residence. "It was believed the suspect could be the same man that was driving on the wrong side of the freeway," the release reads. "The homeowner told troopers he was inside his home when he heard a loud noise. He then discovered someone had stolen his 2014 Jeep Cherokee from his garage. The suspect drove the vehicle through the garage door." Troopers were able to locate the stolen vehicle on South Old US-27 near Marlette Road, abandoned but still running. A nearby resident reported a man running through their backyard and into the woods. "An officer from the Gaylord City Police Department radioed he was currently in a foot pursuit with the man," the release reads. "Troopers caught up with the officer and located the man running near a lake." When the officers attempted to take the man into custody, the man reportedly brandished a knife. He complied with orders to put down the knife and was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect, a 39-year-old Alanson man, was lodged in the Otsego County Jail pending arraignment. Arlo Welser has only written one play as an adult the other she wrote in second grade. While her first work never made it onto an elementary school stage, the one she wrote recently won an award for Best One-Act Play at Creative 360s annual Art Speaks Festival, June 3-4. The play, "The Red List," was based on her and her husband in the dream. It takes place a couple of years in the future. The world is overpopulated and the government came up with a way for people to be humanely euthanized to make room, said Welser, of Midland. The idea came from a dream I had. Welser played the main character, Charlotte, in the one-act play. Login Loose played Charlottes boyfriend, William. Both Charlotte and William signed up for the government program, but throughout the dialogue of the play, Charlotte changed her mind in a heartbreaking turn of events. My character chickened out and he went through with it, she said. The characters were all working through this ethical dilemma. In addition to the main characters of Charlotte and William, Welser showcased different perspectives including a politician, grandfather and a newspaper editor. The plot had the audience on the edge of their chairs and tears were shed when it was revealed that the government program wasnt all it had been touted to be. By the time the truth was revealed, several people had already made the choice to be euthanised. Welsers one-act play won her $100 a prize. She was happy about the outcome of her one-act play at this years Art Speaks Festival. It felt really good; I was excited to be able to be in it, she said. I dont really believe in my ability to make art, but this increased my belief. A 2015 Dow High graduate, Welser is just a few classes away from completing a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Central Michigan University. Ive taken some time off here and there because I struggle with mental illness, Welser said. When she performed in "The Red List," Welser wore a short-sleeved shirt, revealing several scars on her arms. She opened up about her journey. I struggle with pretty severe depression, panic disorder and personality disorder, she said. Ive been self-harming since 2013. Its been a long time, I have a lot of scars. I have been getting better about not hiding myself. Welser has worked in the office at Creative 360 since 2018. She learned about the nonprofit, which focuses on community arts and wellness, through her mother, Carol Rumba, who was the organization's executive director from 2014-2019. I love the environment, the inclusiveness, the community and the creativity, Welser said. Welser shared more about her journey. I struggled with anxiety growing up. In 2011 my grandmother passed away, and that triggered a depression that never really left me, she said. Ive come a long way. Ive tried lots of pharmaceuticals. I went through inpatient residential treatment and outpatient programming. And I do a lot of art photography and painting. Welsers family serves as part of her support network. Rumba is retired while Welser's father, Mark Turpin, is a sound and light engineer for theaters. Her husband, Nolan Welser, works for Midland Public Schools. She also has a cat named Clamp and a tortoise called Crush. In addition to photography and painting, she likes writing and participating in theater. This summer, she acted in The Mousetrap, performed by Hath Summer Players. She played the part of Mrs. Boyle. Last fall, she was in Men on Boats at Midland Center for the Arts. She played the part of Bradley. This was a play that explored the Grand Canyon with John Powell, she said. It is about people who are excluded from history. Welser also likes dinosaurs. On July 30, she and her husband left for California, where they visited Jurassic World at Universal Studios Hollywood. They also visited La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. Im a huge Jurassic Park fan a huge dinosaur fan, she said. For those who also may struggle, she has a message. Keep working on your health, keep fighting, she said. Keep fighting. Even when the days are dark, find the little bits of light. You are loved and you are worthy. For anyone experiencing a mental health emergency, Midland County Community Mental Health has a toll-free crisis hotline at 1-800-317-0708. The organization can also be reached at 989-631-2320. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be accessed at 1-800-273-8255 or by dialing 988. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea on Saturday called U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the worst destroyer of international peace and stability, accusing her of inciting anti-North Korea sentiment and enraging China during her Asian tour earlier this week. Pelosi traveled to South Korea after visiting Taiwan, which had prompted China to launch military exercises including missile strike training in waters near the self-governed island. China views Taiwan as part of its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. While in South Korea, Pelosi visited a border area with North Korea and discussed the Norths nuclear program with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo. According to Kim, the two agreed to support their governments push for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula based on strong, extended deterrence against the North and diplomacy. On Saturday, Jo Yong Sam, director general at the North Korean Foreign Ministry's press and information affairs department, slammed Pelosi over her visit to the border and discussion of anti-North Korean deterrence. Pelosi, who had come under a volley of due criticism from China for destroying regional peace and stability by visiting Taiwan, stirred up the atmosphere of confrontation with North Korea during her stay in South Korea, Jo said in a statement carried by state media. Calling Pelosi the worst destroyer of international peace and stability, Jo argued Pelosis behavior in South Korea clearly showed the Biden administrations hostile policy toward North Korea. It would be a fatal mistake for her to think that she can go scot-free in the Korean Peninsula, Jo warned. The U.S. will have to pay dearly for all the sources of trouble spawned by her wherever she went. Pelosis visit to the Joint Security Area at the Korean border on Thursday made her the highest-profile American to go there since then-President Donald Trump visited in 2019 for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Located inside the worlds most heavily fortified border, the area is jointly controlled by the American-led United Nations Command and North Korea. U.S. presidents and other top officials have previously traveled to the area to reaffirm their security commitment to South Korea in times of animosities with North Korea. During her JSA visit, Pelosi didnt make any strong public statements against North Korea. She uploaded several photos from the JSA on Twitter and wrote: We conveyed the gratitude of the Congress and the Country for the patriotic service of our servicemembers, who stand as sentinels of Democracy on the Korean Peninsula. Pelosi said in a separate statement that she and Kim, the South Korean parliamentary speaker, reaffirmed our commitment to the U.S.-Korea alliance to advance security, strengthen our supply chains, and increase trade and investments that are beneficial to both our nations. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following North Koreas torrid run of missile tests earlier this year. U.S. and South Korean officials said North Korea is ready to carry out its first nuclear weapons test in five years. North Korea has said it would not return to denuclearization talks and instead focus on expanding its nuclear program unless the United States drops its hostile policies, in an apparent reference to U.S.-led international sanctions on the North and its regular military drills with South Korea. After Pelosi visited Taiwan and reaffirmed Washingtons commitment to defending democracy on the self-governing island, North Korea on Wednesday issued a statement berating the U.S. and supporting China, its main ally and biggest aid benefactor. Pelosi was the the first House speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Check out the spectacularly impressive corn mazes that Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant, Maine have been creating every year since 2001. They state on their website that "Treworgy's Award-winning corn maze is the longest continually running corn maze in Maine." They further explain: Since 2001, we have been delighting our visitors with this fall tradition, always in a new, surprising design. From the one that started it all, the giant piece of popcorn in 2001, to today each year's design seems to out-do the last. Check out pictures of past mazes in the cafe, or at the bottom of this page. And to make the experience even more fun, we include a special map with riddles to figure out as you visit "stations" inside the maze. When you complete the puzzle and bring your ticket to the cafe, you'll receive a free kiddie vanilla, chocolate, or twist soft-serve ice cream cone! All of the designs since they've started look awesome, and the 2022 mazefeaturing a Winnie the Pooh themeis equally detailed and fantastic. If I didn't suffer from the debilitating fear of getting lost in a corn maze, I might fly out to Maine and experience it! PETERSBURG. Va. (AP) A Petersburg police officer has been acquitted of assault charges stemming from his use of a Taser on a man who reportedly was seen walking the streets carrying guns. The RIchmond Times-Dispatch reports that retired Judge James Yoffy on Thursday found Lt. Jason Sharp, 50, not guilty of two misdemeanor assault charges and one count of making false statements in a police report. Yoffy ruled that Sharps use of his police-issued Taser on William Antonio Scott was reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances. Sharp and Petersburg Officer Jonai Jackson went to Scotts home on Oct. 4 to investigate a 911 call about an armed man walking the streets with several weapons. Before arriving, the officers were informed that Scott had previously been violent and resisted arrest, that he was a two-time convicted felon and was mentally unstable, said defense attorney Doug Ramseur. Upon arrival, Jackson ordered Scott to come out with his hands up, according to police body-cam footage. Scott began walking down the porch steps toward Sharp, telling him to Get the f- off his property. Sharp then fired his Taser at Scott, striking him, according to the footage. After Scott appeared to have recovered from the Taser shock, and when he began to move around, Sharp fired his Taser again, hitting Scott a second time. Scott then complied and put his hands behind his back to be handcuffed. He received minor injuries. Powhatan Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Robert Cerullo, who was appointed special prosecutor in the case, argued that Sharps use of the Taser was unnecessary and excessive. Ramseur said Sharp was suspended without pay after he was indicted in November, and is looking forward to returning to work. SUMTER, S.C. (AP) The parents of a newborn have been charged with neglect in connection with the infant's July death, South Carolina authorities said. Melissa Bautch, 21, of Sumter, called police on July 31, saying she had delivered a baby a few months prematurely about two days earlier, Sumter police said in a news release Friday. The infant was unresponsive at the time of birth, she claimed. BOSTON (AP) A Massachusetts police department whose officers are accused of wrongfully arresting a Black man while pursuing a white suspect said Friday that an outside investigation found no evidence of racial profiling. The town manager for Arlington, a Boston suburb, and its police chief said in an emailed statement that the town intends to vigorously defend itself against the allegations made in the federal civil rights lawsuit filed this week. Police have not responded to questions about whether the officers involved were wearing body cameras or whether the department uses them, but there is no body camera footage listed among the information reviewed in the investigators report. Donovan Johnson alleged in the case filed in Boston federal court that a white officer who had been chasing a white suspect grabbed him, threw him to the ground and pinned him there with a knee on his neck as he was walking home after work one day in February last year. Johnson's lawsuit against the town of Arlington and three of its police officers alleges that his constitutional rights were violated when police stopped him, searched him, and placed him in the back of a cruiser before releasing him with no charges. The town said Friday that police previously hired a licensed private detective a former police officer in another Massachusetts town to look into the allegations. The investigator concluded that the officer followed proper use of force policy and that there was no evidence of racial profiling. The investigator also said the officer denied race played any role in his decision to stop the man and told the investigator he believed Johnson was an accomplice to the white suspect. The investigation also concluded there was no evidence Johnson had committed any crime before he was stopped. The investigative report said Officer Steven Conroy, who Johnson alleges stopped him, also denied pulling out a gun or placing a knee on the man's neck. A message seeking comment was sent to Conroy by The Associated Press. Conroy's LinkedIn page shows he has since left the police department. The investigator did find that the officers violated some department policies and three officers were disciplined, the town said. I believe in the Arlington Police Department. Its track record is one of balanced, honest and progressive policing," Town Manager Sandy Pooler said in the statement. Johnson's lawsuit says police were initially called to an Arlington hotel about a man seen there who the staff believed was previously involved in the theft of televisions. The white man was known to police for prior criminal acts and when officers arrived at the hotel, Conroy showed a photo of the man to the front desk clerk, who said it appeared to be the same person. Police went to the room to investigate, but the man escaped and they began to chase him, according to the lawsuit. Johnson, who was almost to his Somerville home, saw the man jog past him before Conroy approached and yelled at both men to get the (expletive) on the floor. The white suspect got on his knees, but Johnson stayed standing, the lawsuit says. Johnson says Conroy threw him to the ground and pinned him there by placing a knee on his neck. The complaint says Johnson at one point yelled I cant breathe!" Another officer who arrived in a cruiser recognized the white man and put him in handcuffs, and the suspect told the officer he didnt know Johnson, according to the lawsuit. A third officer who arrived immediately jumped on Johnson to help Conroy hold him down, according to the complaint. Johnson's attorneys say the officers had no reason to believe he was involved in any crime: Police had a photo of the white suspect they were looking for, Johnson and the other man both told officers they didnt know each other, and nothing in the investigation indicated that there was more than one male suspect involved, the lawsuit says. The complaint says Johnson was released at the hotel after its staff told officers they had never seen him before. Cases of skin cancer in Illinois are rising, but the silver lining if there can be one is the death rate for the disease has remained stable. Skin cancer is an abnormal growth of skin cells and most often develops on skin exposed to the sun. But this common form of cancer can also occur on areas of skin not ordinarily exposed to sunlight. "The rate of skin cancer is increasing," said Dr. Rebecca Larson, a dermatologist for the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield. "Part of the reason is people are getting more sun exposure. It's a cultural change. Baby boomers had sun exposure when they were younger, and it is showing now. Women have an increased risk with indoor tanning." A 12% increase in the number of skin cancer cases in Illinois from 2015 through 2019 was noted in data compiled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute. Illinois' rate represents the sixth-highest increase nationwide. Free screening Jacksonville Memorial Foundation is sponsoring a free skin cancer screening clinic from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 20 in the Specialty Clinic at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital. It is the first skin cancer screening clinic locally since 2019, said Lori Hartz, director of community health. "The target of this screening is people not currently under the care of a dermatologist but feel they need to be checked. They can choose to have a spot checked, or a body scan," Hartz said. Skin cancer screening clinics have not been held since 2019 because of the pandemic, but Hartz said "we've had a great turnout for them and found many atypical results from the screenings." There were two clinics in 2019; 113 patients were seen and 42% of those had atypical lesions that needed follow-up with diagnostics, Hartz said. "That's a high percentage and shows why we need to do the screenings," she said. An advantage to signing up for the screenings, Hartz said, is patients can get an appointment with a specialist more quickly. It could take six months to get an appointment with a dermatologist for someone who doesn't go through the screening. Four appointment slots are available every 10 minutes and can be reserved by calling 217-479-3928. See More Collapse Between 2015 and 2019, 16,343 Illinoisans were diagnosed with skin cancer, and 1,448 died. Men in Illinois had a higher skin cancer rate than women. The Illinois skin cancer rate was 21.3 cases per 100,000 population, which ranked 38th nationally. Populous Cook County had a rate of 14.7 cases, ranking it 87th of 102 counties, which served to drop the overall state rate. The national rate was 22.6 cases per 100,000 population. Of west-central Illinois counties, Pike had the highest skin cancer rate at 35.5 cases per 100,000 population, which was seventh-highest in the state. Other area counties, their rate and rank, include Jersey, 29.9, 25th; Greene, 29.7, 27th; Sangamon, 29.2, 33rd; Morgan, 26.3, 48th; Madison, 22.6, 74th; Macoupin, 21.5, 79th; and Cass, 20.3, 82nd. The rates for Scott, Brown, Calhoun and Schuyler counties were too small to measure. Larson credits better screening programs for the death rate staying level. "Skin cancer screenings are more prevalent, and we are catching melanoma at earlier stages." Lori Hartz, director of Community Health at Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, concurs with Larsons assessment. "Skin cancer has a 99% five-year survival rate if the cancer can be prevented from entering the lymph nodes," Hartz said. "If it does, survival rate drops to 30%. This validates the importance of early detection and why we want to hold these screening clinics." Hartz said cancer was identified as one of the hospitals top three priorities during a needs assessment. "We are engaged in activities to address all cancers. Skin cancer is part of that menu. We are focusing on prevention and early detection." Larson said the death rate has improved as education improved. With melanoma, there are fewer treatment options if caught too late. By pushing early detection, the survival rates improve. "Skin cancer is very treatable," Larson said. "You can start with regular doctor and get referred to a dermatologist." In terms of exposure risk, the sun is a big one. Burned skin can be repaired, but not if it is burned over and over, Larson said. People with fair skin, blond hair and have blue or green eyes burn most easily, though individuals with darker skin can get it, too. Larson said the A-B-C-D-E rule is a guide to detect signs of melanoma. She said people should be aware of these signs and tell your doctor about spots that have any of the following features: Asymmetry: If a mole or birthmark is not the same on both sides. Border: The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. Color: The color is not the same all over and may include different shades of brown or black, or sometimes with patches of pink, red, white or blue. Diameter: The spot is larger than 6 millimeters across (about the size of a pencil eraser), although melanomas can sometimes be smaller. Evolving: The mole is changing in size, shape, or color. "The earlier something is caught, the better; but it's never too late," Larson said. "Anyone who has skin lesions they are concerned about should be checked out." She said one of the main things people can do is get adequate sun protection and use common sense when out in the sun, especially if they have a certain skin type. "Think about sunscreen. Use it if you will be out for a length of time," Larson said. "SPF 50 to 100 is a good range. If it's under 30, it's a waste of time. Put on enough. Use about an ounce when you use it. If you are going to be in water or sweat, use water-resistant sunscreen, and reapply about every three hours." Another factor is clothing. Larson suggests if you don't use sunscreen, grab a three-inch broad-brimmed hat, and wear long sleeves and long pants. "More clothes are being made that have UV protection," Larson said. "They can be found in clothing stores and are comfortable and lightweight." Larson also advised to be careful about the time of day you are outside. "Most sun exposure occurs between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.," Larson said. "If your shadow is shorter than you, find some shade. We don't tell people to hide indoors, but to take proper precautions." Larson said it is important to protect eyes and lips. "Ocular melanoma is not unheard of, and UV sunglasses provide good protection," Larson said. "We see a lot of skin cancer on lips. Lip balm made with UV protection can be commonly found." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STOWE, Vt. (AP) Lt. Gov. Molly Gray and Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint are the leading candidates in a Democratic U.S. House primary that could make either of them the first female member of Vermonts congressional delegation. Gray has the backing of the centrist lane of the party, with endorsements from former Govs. Madeline Kunin and Howard Dean. Retiring U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy donated $5,000 to her campaign and cast a ballot for her. Balint has been endorsed by an all-star list of progressive leaders, including the states other U.S. senator, Bernie Sanders; Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus; and Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the founders of Vermonts famously progressive ice cream company, Ben & Jerrys. The winner of Tuesdays primary is expected to cruise to victory in November in deep-blue Vermont. Despite the states liberal credentials built up over the last half century, the lack of turnover in the congressional delegation has made Vermont the only state in the country that has never been represented in Washington by a woman. Leahys retirement after 48 years in office set the stage for the history-making moment. U.S. Rep. Peter Welch, who has been in Congress since 2007, decided to run for Leahys Senate seat. That opened up his House seat for Gray or Balint, who would also be the first openly gay person to represent Vermont in Congress if elected. It's the first open seat in the state's three-person congressional delegation since 2006. And given Vermonts penchant for reelecting incumbents, its likely that the winner of the Democratic primary will be able to hold the seat as long as she wants. The ads on television and social media, and the flyers that are showing up in Vermonters' mailboxes every day, remain positive, focused on what the candidates see as their qualifications. But the high stakes of the contest and the ongoing battle between the centrist and progressive wings of the Democratic Party have laid bare the intensity of the campaign. During a debate Thursday, Gray called Balint out for a critical comment she made while seeking the endorsement of Vermonts Progressive Party. Balint had denounced Gray as a "corporatist and a catastrophe for the left. How can Vermonters expect that you will act any differently in Congress than you have on this campaign where youve launched negative attacks?" Gray said. Isnt that the problem that we see in Congress today?" Balint apologized to Gray for the comment, if you found it hurtful." But Balint used the opportunity to note the source of many of Gray's campaign contributions. I said at the time the reason why I was concerned was because of the funds that youre raising from Washington insiders," Balint said. You have raised a tremendous amount of money from lobbyists in D.C. and not as much money from people back here in Vermont." Despite this tension, the two candidates hold similar views on most issues. Both support abortion rights and want to boost affordable housing, increase access to inexpensive child care and expand broadband internet services in rural areas. Gray, a 38-year-old attorney, grew up on a farm in the Connecticut River town of Newbury and now lives in Burlington. She has touted her experience working as a Welch staffer in Washington, in Europe for the International Committee of the Red Cross, her time as an assistant attorney general and, for the last two years, her job as lieutenant governor. Balint, a 54-year-old former middle school teacher from Brattleboro, first came to Vermont in 1994 to teach rock climbing and settled in the state permanently in 1997. She was first elected to the state Senate in 2014. Two years ago, she became the first woman chosen as Senate president pro tempore, which means she oversees the chambers legislative work and presides over the state Senate if the lieutenant governor is absent. Disputes about the source of their donations Vermonters versus out-of-state donors or spending by outside groups have helped drive some of the acrimony in the race. A number of outside groups are supporting Balint's candidacy, including the LGBTQ Victory Fund, which has spent nearly $1 million supporting her. By law, those groups are prohibited from coordinating their efforts with the campaigns. Before the ads started, Gray had asked Balint whether she would condemn outside spending. Balint agreed. Now that the outside spending has started, Gray says those outside groups are interfering with the conversation she is trying to have with voters. All of a sudden, someone else is coming in and telling Vermonters who to hire. Thats not the Vermont way," Gray said. Outside groups are unelected. Theyre unaccountable. Theyre not representing us in Congress." Balint said she doesn't think the outside spending will make a difference in the race. In any event, she said, she has no control over it. I feel really great about the fact that weve run a really excellent campaign," Balint said. I wish they werent involved because I want my team to get the full credit for everything that we have done here." There are four Democrats on the ballot Tuesday for U.S. House; one has dropped out and the fourth is a South Burlington physician. Three candidates are vying for the Republican nomination. Voter Christy Hudon of Stowe said she hadnt decided whether to vote for Balint or Gray, though she is leaning toward Gray. In one of her ads, Gray highlights the challenges she and her family have faced with her mother's chronic health problems. Hudon said her own family is dealing with issues related to aging relatives. I definitely feel like she understands where peoples needs are at that time a little bit better, Hudon said. Voter Annie Greenfelder of Middlesex noted that there doesnt appear to be much policy difference between Gray and Balint. She said she voted for Balint because of the endorsements she has received from environmental activists but would like to see Gray run for another office if she loses. We need more politicians down the pipe, Greenfelder said. HUDSON, Wis. (AP) The attorney who helped Kyle Rittenhouse get acquitted on murder charges says he will represent a Minnesota man accused in the stabbing death of a teenager during a tubing trip in western Wisconsin. Nicolae Miu, 52, is charged with first-degree homicide in the death of 17-year-old Isaac Schuman after Miu scuffled with several people last month on the Apple River. Police say Miu wounded four other people. Miu says he was defending himself. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CIVITANOVA MARCHE, Italy (AP) Two marches Saturday in a well-to-do Italian Adriatic beach town both sought justice in the brutal daylight killing of a Nigerian man at the hands of an Italian stranger but were divided by one word: Racism. One march by Nigerians living in Italy's Macerata province was led by victim Alika Ogorchukwu's tearful widow and joined by two of his brothers. Organizers of that march said they did not want the search for justice to be clouded by accusations of racism that they feel cannot be proven. The second march, along same route an hour later, was led by Black Italians from all over Italy who demanded that Italian authorities reverse themselves and recognize the role that race played in the July 29 killing. Not naming racism won't help us understand how to defeat it. Because racism exists in Italy,'' Selam Tesfaye, a Milan-based immigrant activist, told the second crowd of about 100 people. If someone in Civitanova wants to explain why this is not racism, we are here. A widely circulated video shows the Italian man wrestling Ogorchukwu to the ground and strangling him. One man's voice can be heard shouting for the attacker to stop, but no onlookers intervened physically, adding a layer of public outrage over their apparent indifference. Police arrested an Italian suspect, Filippo Ferlazzo, 32, but quickly ruled out a racial motivation for the attack. The finding was confirmed by prosecutors who did not include racial motivation in the charge sheet, according to Ferlazzo's lawyer, Roberta Bizzarri. According to police, Ferlazzo first struck Ogorchukwu with a crutch the vendor used after pursuing the Nigerian 200 meters (yards) down a shopping street lined with high-end boutiques. Some accounts said Ogorchukwu had complimented Ferlazzos companion while trying to make a sale or ask for spare change. Others said he had touched the companion's arm. Townspeople have accepted the official version of events, attributing the Nigerian man's death to an insistent street-seller unfortunately clashing with a man who has a court-documented history of mental illness. This is not a racist city, newsstand owner Domenico Giordano said. This is an open city. If you behave well, you are welcomed and even helped." People have left flowers and condolences on the sidewalk where Ogorchukwu was killed, in front of a beachwear boutique that was closed for lunch at the time. Store owner Laura Latino said she has received negative comments from as far away as Houston, accusing her of standing by and doing nothing when she wasn't even there. Be careful about judging a city of 45,000 people, Latino said, adding that false rumors were ruining the reputation of the city. City officials have expressed concerns that the killing was being politicized ahead of Italys early parliamentary election on Sept. 25. Samuel Kunoun, a Nigerian union activist who organized the march with the victim's family, said he does not believe the attack was racially motivated. Still, the role of race in the case is so charged that he kept the word racism off banners in the march that attracted 200 people, mostly Nigerians. We dont have to mix it with racism. What happened is that someone who is not normal killed our fellow Nigerian, Kunoun said. We want this boy to pay for what he has done, to be in prison for life. That is our justice. But a manifesto for the second march, billed as Italy's first-ever organized by Black Italians, lists the recognition of the role of race in Ogorchukwu's killing as chief among 11 demands. Some 30 organizations said they would seek to join the prosecution as civil complainants. Ogorchukwus widow, Charity Oriakhi, is reluctant to say the killing was racially motivated. It is just someone who is wicked, Oriakhi told The Associated Press. She said both she and her husband had always felt welcome in Italy and that he never recounted negative interactions when he was out selling. In fact, she said, he often came home with gifts from Italians for the couple's 8-year-old son. The pair met in the Tuscan town of Prato about a decade ago, shortly after Ogorchukwus arrival in Italy, and later resettled in the Marche region in an apartment above a marble workshop in the small hillside town of San Severino. The Nigerian government has condemned Ogorchukwus death and its foreign ministry has urged Italian authorities to bring the perpetrator of the heinous act to book without delay. Not all Nigerians in Macerata province are denying a racial element. The word racism cannot be minimized because it exists, said Daniel Amanze, who arrived in Italy from Nigeria as a student 40 years ago. He said he saw racism becoming more obvious in recent years as some politicians scapegoat immigrants to cover for their poor administration. Amanze said Ogorchukwus killing renewed a sense of fear among Africans living in the Marche region that had started to dissipate following two other racially motivated attacks. One was a 2018 shooting spree by a far-right political activist targeting Africans in Macerata that wounded six. The other was the 2016 death of a Nigerian man, Emmanuel Chidi Nnamdi, who was attacked after defending his wife from racial abuse in the town of Fermo. Ogorchukwu used a crutch because a car struck him while he was on a bicycle a year ago, leaving him with a limp. The familys lawyer, Franceso Mantella, said the street vendor continued to hawk wares, from tissues to straw hats, even after an insurance settlement provided a bit more financial security along with Oriakhis job cleaning a train station. The widow said she last saw her husband when he gave her a sandwich at the train station on the day he died. She is haunted by the video and keeps the TV at home off so their son doesnt see such images. I saw the video, she said, mimicking the attacker's stranglehold on her husband. What hurts me most is there are people circled. They do a video. No one to help. I wish someone rescued him. Maybe he would not be dead." ____ Chinedu Asadu in Lagos, Nigeria and Gianfranco Stara in Civitanova Marche contributed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BOSTON (AP) A former dean at a Boston high school known affectionately by students as Rev has been ordered by a federal judge to pay more than $10 million in damages to a former student he was convicted of trying to kill in a dispute over drug sales. The default judgment Friday against former English High School Dean Shaun Harrison includes $7.5 million in damages for pain, suffering and emotional distress; $2.5 million in punitive damages; and more than $80,000 for the victim's medical bills. Harrison was convicted in state court in 2018 of assault and other charges, and sentenced to up to 26 years in prison. Harrison, who had a background as a community organizer and youth minister, was dean of academics, a job that required keeping order and mentoring students, according to testimony at trial. But he was leading a double life, authorities said. He had ties to the violent Latin Kings gang, recruited students to sell drugs for him, and kept a gun at his apartment. Harrison denied the charges, telling a Boston television station that he never lived a double life. The victim, who had been recruited by Harrison to sell marijuana, was 17 when he was shot in the back of the head at point-blank range on a snowy Boston street in March 2015. The bullet barely missed the victims brain stem and carotid artery, but shattered his jaw. He underwent two surgeries, had his jaw wired shut for nine months, remains paralyzed on half of his face, suffers from facial neuropathy, hearing loss, and requires weights on his eyelids to help with opening and shutting his eyes, according to court documents. He continues to experience pain from the bullet that remains lodged in his head and developed an addiction to opioids prescribed for the pain. No attorney was listed for Harrison in the civil case filed by the victim in 2019. It's unclear whether the victim will ever get any money from Harrison. The judgment against Mr. Harrison as an individual will ensure that he is never able to profit from any endeavors when he is released from prison, including selling the rights to this story for publication, the plaintiff's attorney, John Martin said in an email Saturday. The Boston Public Schools was also named as a defendant, but the judge dismissed claims against the system. That ruling is being appealed, Martin said. Boston Public Schools was absolutely dismissive of student safety and grossly negligent when it allowed a predator to have a position of trust and authority at that school after multiple incidents that should have resulted in his termination, he wrote. Scientists at the Oregon Institute of Technology were recently awarded a $1 million grant from the federal government that could result in research that improves health outcomes in Southern Oregon due to wildfire smoke. Since 2019, a team of Oregon Tech scientists has been studying the capacity of hospitals in the Rogue Valley to handle patients arriving with respiratory problems during wildfires when air quality plummets due to wildfires. If its in what we call the purple, which is the really bad air quality, the likelihood that a hospital is going to exceed their capacity goes up to about 70 percent, Kyle Chapman, an associate professor of sociology and population health at the Oregon Institute of Technology, told Oregon Public Broadcasting. Chapman and his colleagues will now expand their focus to include admissions due to heart conditions experienced during wildfires in addition to respiratory illnesses such as asthma, which wildfire smoke can exacerbate. We have a feeling that some of these other conditions related to heart disease, which is much more widespread than chronic respiratory diseases, are also a big player here, he said. Chapman said looking at how hospital admissions change during wildfires could lead to changes in staffing levels, similar to what is already done during the summer when emergency room visits increase. The federal grant will also allow the scientists to install new monitors outdoors and inside homes in Klamath Falls that can reveal the chemicals in wildfire smoke, a new area of study that has taken on increasing importance as wildfires grow more intense and spread beyond forests to threaten homes and businesses. Instead of only looking at the bulk measurement of how much smoke is in the air what its made up of gives us an indication of where it came from, what sort of things burned in the fire that created the smoke and potentially, how dangerous that smoke is to human health, said Adelaide Clark, a former associate professor of chemistry at Oregon Institute of Technology who is now on faculty at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. Last year, Klamath Falls had 38 days where the air quality was found to be unhealthy for all groups of people, tying a record set in 2018 for the city, according to a newly released report on wildfire smoke trends from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. If climate change is making wildfires more intense, extreme heat conditions more common and droughts more prolonged, new policies may need to be crafted to protect public health from wildfire smoke. We have all through the state with the heat wave, a much heavier use of our cooling centers, said Chapman. It might be a good idea to make sure that those cooling centers are also clean breathing centers. MILWAUKEE (AP) Milwaukee police say four men suffered non-life threatening injuries in a shooting on the city's north side. The incident was reported shortly before 6 p.m. Friday. The four men, ages 31, 20, 28 and 27, were transported to a local hospital, police said. Authorities said they are seeking the public's help in finding unknown suspect or suspects. No further information was immediately released. Researchers at the University at Buffalo have been awarded nearly $3 million in federal funding to study the impacts of climate change. The $2.9 million grant was awarded by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced Friday Schumer said the grant will fund research on how rapid climatic shifts affect species and the environment and broaden understanding of the impacts of global warming. It also bolsters UBs goal to achieve $1 billion a year in research funding by 2030. A UB team of scholars with expertise across the biological and geological sciences will examine how the Southeast Alaskan ecosystems responded to Ice-Age environmental change and use that to inform a new paradigm for understanding the impacts of climate change. The project will also invest in interdisciplinary STEM training and career-building to educate the next generation of climate scientists, including training of post-doctorate researchers, graduate and undergraduate students in different disciplines. It will also offer seminars and continuing education programs for science teachers in Buffalo City high schools and an outreach program targeting K-12 students in Southeast Alaska. FISHERS, Ind. (AP) A young Indiana police officer who was killed during an early morning traffic stop was remembered Saturday as a man focused on a career in law enforcement. Noah Shahnavaz, 24, an officer with the Elwood Police Department 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Indianapolis, was shot in the head just after 2 a.m. July 31, before he could even get out of his patrol car. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) For the past three decades, South Carolina lawmakers have chipped away at abortion access, requiring ultrasounds, parental consent and 24-hour waiting periods, and banning the procedure early in the pregnancy: first after 20 weeks, then after six. But now that the U.S. Supreme Court has cleared a path to ban abortion entirely in the state, some are taking a step back. Politicians, mostly Republican, are noting what happened this month in Kansas, where nearly 60% of voters rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the state's conservative Legislature to ban abortion. Republican Donald Trump received 56% of the 2020 presidential vote in Kansas. Trump won 55% in South Carolina. The Kansas vote affirms what most of us know," said Sen. Sandy Senn, the only Republican senator to vote against the six-week abortion ban that passed 18 months ago. Its the people in my party, most all of them men, yelling the loudest that women should have zero choice from the moment of conception. Senn says that while she personally believes all babies should be born, she also thinks people should be able to decide for themselves whether to continue a pregnancy during the first few months. South Carolina lawmakers are also watching other Republican-dominated legislatures. Indiana passed a nearly total abortion ban Friday after several days of debate, while West Virginias House and Senate couldnt immediately agree on further restrictions. A total abortion ban with exceptions only if the life of the mother is in danger has just started its way through the South Carolina General Assembly. Committee hearings and floor debates in the House and Senate will have to take place before any bill lands on Republican Gov. Henry McMaster's desk. Republican legislative leaders agreed to the special session after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. But instead of a rehash of the arguments lawmakers had in early 2021, when they passed a ban on abortions after cardiac activity is detected at about six weeks some Republicans have begun to reevaluate their positions. Its like you are playing with live ammunition right now. What you are deciding is going to have immediate effect on a lot of South Carolinians, said Republican Rep. Tom Davis, who voted for the cardiac-activity abortion ban last year after exceptions were added for pregnancies caused by rape and incest and those that put the pregnant person's life at risk. Davis said he is now rethinking the whole issue, weighing the rights of a fetus to live against the rights of someone to control their own body. He says he also will consider the views of people in his well-off coastal district around Hilton Head Island. And he plans to introduce measures to improve prenatal care and give people more emotional and financial support during and after pregnancies. Rep. Bill Taylor stood just behind McMaster as he signed the six-week ban into law. Last month he sent an email to his constituents with the all-caps title WHATS THE RUSH, saying South Carolina shouldnt hurry to pass a full ban now. Instead, the state should step back for a few years to see how its new law banning the procedure after six weeks works, the Republican lawmaker said. South Carolina should also examine what happens in states that now have a total ban and others that allow abortions later into pregnancies and study the foster care and other social service programs to see what can be done to help them handle an influx of births, he said. About 6,300 abortions were performed in South Carolina in 2021. So many questions, so few answers, and solutions, Taylor wrote in the email, which also included the statement: "I treasure Gods amazing gift of life. I readily accept the label pro-life. One reason some abortion opponents don't want to wait to pass a stricter abortion ban is McMaster, who is up for reelection in November. His Democratic opponent, Joe Cunningham, has promised to veto any bill restricting abortion further. Republicans are a few votes short of the two-thirds needed to override vetoes in both the House and Senate. Abortion opponents have followed a long path to get South Carolina where it is. Lawmakers first rallied in a significant way in the late 1980s, then ramped up their actions even further in the following decades. In 1990, they passed a bill requiring the consent of either a parent or judge before a minor could have an abortion. In 1994, they enacted strict requirements for abortion clinics. And in 1997, they passed a law banning partial birth abortions, which are rare. In 2008, a law required mothers to sign a form that they were told they could look at an ultrasound before an abortion and in 2010, a 24-hour waiting period was passed. A ban on abortion after 20 weeks, which proponents say is the point that a fetus can feel pain, passed in 2018. Prior to its June ruling, the Supreme Court had never allowed states to ban abortion before the point at roughly 24 weeks when a fetus can survive outside the womb. Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who has made ending abortion one of the biggest issues of his 25 years in the Senate, said he wants a full ban because his goal is to save every life he can but he isnt going to demand a certain bill because when you make it all or nothing, you can end up with nothing. Every pro-life bill weve passed over the past 25 years has helped people understand the humanity of the child, Grooms said. Democrats in the legislature say its too late for reflection, given the Supreme Court's decision and the fact that the state has already restricted abortion so severely. They fear anything is on the table, including criminalizing women who seek abortions in some way. I think we will land between crazy and insane," Democratic House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford said. Where that line is wont make any sense. And we shouldnt be in this position in the first place. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. CAIRO (AP) Sudan has accused neighboring Chad of a cross-border attack earlier this week that a top commander says killed at least 18 nomads in Sudan's western Darfur region. According to Sudans ruling sovereign council, armed Chadian assailants crossed into West Darfur province and attacked a group of nomads staying in an open area near the border towns of Beir Saliba and Ardeiba last Thursday. Apart from those killed, several nomads were also wounded in the attack and their livestock was looted and taken to Chad, the council said Friday. There was no immediate comment from Chad on the accusations. A Sudanese outlet, Darfur 24 news, reported a minor clash Friday between Chadian and Sudanese forces in the area, saying three Sudanese troops were wounded. Senior Sudanese Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, the deputy head of the sovereign council, had travelled to Chad before the attack for a previously scheduled meeting Thursday with Chads acting president and head of the countrys ruling transitional military council, Mahamat Idriss Deby. He then returned to Darfur where he has resided for weeks to help defuse tribal tensions and violence that has rocked the troubled region in recent months. Dagalo attended the funerals of the slain nomads on Friday and urged tribal leaders and residents in West Darfur for restraint. On Saturday, he met with a Sudanese-Chadian joint committee and held talks with local officials and tribal leaders to prevent a further escalation. Sudan has called on Chad to find the attackers and return the looted livestock. BEIJING (AP) A 48-year-old Chinese man suspected of killing four people in an attack at a private kindergarten in southern China earlier this week died from injuries sustained during an accident while on the run, police said. The man, Liu Xiaohui, carried out the suspected knife attack Wednesday morning at a kindergarten in Jiangxi province, killing two people on the spot. Two others later died from their injuries in the hospital. Several other people were injured. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) The head of Amnesty Internationals Ukraine chapter has resigned, saying the human rights organization shot down her opposition to publishing a report that claimed Ukrainian forces had exposed civilians to Russian attacks by basing themselves in populated areas. In a statement posted Friday night on Facebook, Oksana Pokalchuk accused her former employer of disregarding Ukraines wartime realities and the concerns of local staff members who had pushed for the report to be reworked. The report, released Thursday, drew angry denouncements from top Ukrainian officials and criticism from Western diplomats, who accused the authors of making vague claims that appeared to equate the Ukrainian military's defensive actions to the tactics of the invading Russians. It is painful to admit, but I and the leadership of Amnesty International have split over values, Pokalchuk wrote. I believe that any work done for the good of society should take into account the local context, and think through consequences." Russia has repeatedly justified attacks on civilian areas by alleging that Ukrainian fighters had set up firing positions at the targeted locations. Pokalchuk said her office had asked the organizations leadership to give the Ukrainian Defense Ministry adequate time to respond to the report's findings and argued that its failure to do so would further Kremlin misinformation and propaganda efforts. "I am convinced that our surveys should be done thoroughly, bearing in mind the people whose lives often depend directly on the words and actions of international organizations, she said. In a news release that accompanied the report's publication, Amnesty International Secretary-general Agnes Callamard said the organization had documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas. Being in a defensive position does not exempt the Ukrainian military from respecting international humanitarian law," she said Thursday. Russian state-sponsored media quoted the report to support Moscows claim that Russia has only launched strikes on military targets during the war. The spokesperson for Russia's Foreign Ministry cited the Amnesty International assertions as proof that Ukraine was using civilians as human shields. Multiple Western scholars of international and military law went on social media to reject the human shield claim. They said the report contained poor phrasing that muddied legal distinctions and ignored the combat conditions in Ukraine. United Nations war crimes investigator Marc Garlasco, tweeting in a personal capacity Friday, accused Amnesty International of getting the law wrong and said Ukraine was taking steps to protect civilians, such as helping them relocate. Ukrainian authorities at the national and regional level have repeatedly urged residents of frontline areas to evacuate, although tens of thousands of people who left their homes since Russias invasion have returned after running out of support or feeling unwelcome. Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the countrys foreign and defense ministers, have been scathing in their condemnation of the report, which they said failed to provide context on Russias bombardments of populated areas and documented attacks on civilians. Callamard, Amnesty's secretary-general, posted a tweet Friday that defended the organizations work and took aim at its critics. Ukrainian and Russian social media mobs and trolls: they are all at it today attacking Amnesty investigations. This is called war propaganda, disinformation, misinformation. This wont dent our impartiality and wont change the facts, she wrote. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba issued an angry response to Callamard in which he accused her organization of fake neutrality and playing into the Kremlins hands. Apparently, Amnestys Secretary General calls me a mob and a troll, but this wont stop me from saying that its report distorts reality, draws false moral equivalence between the aggressor and the victim, and boosts Russias disinformation effort. This is fake neutrality, not truthfulness, Kuleba wrote on Twitter. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine UNITED NATIONS (AP) U.N. experts said in a new report that Malian armed forces allegedly carried out an operation with white-skinned soldiers near the border with Mauritania in March, shooting and burning at least 33 civilians in one of several operations where the countrys ruling military appeared to work closely with likely Russian mercenaries. In the first three months of this year, they said 543 civilians were killed and 269 injured, according to the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali. In the grim and wide-ranging report obtained Friday by The Associated Press, the panel of experts said the political situation remains tense and warned that the 2015 peace agreement between Malis government and non-extremist armed independence groups is threatened by a potential risk of confrontation between the parties for the first time since July 2017. They said 12 million people need humanitarian assistance, a sharp increase from 5.9 million last year, including 1.9 million people facing the threat of acute malnutrition during the current lean season which lasts through August. Mali has struggled to contain an Islamic extremist insurgency since 2012. Extremist rebels were forced from power in Malis northern cities with the help of a French-led military operation, but they regrouped in the desert and began launching attacks on the Malian army and its allies. Insecurity has worsened with attacks on civilians and U.N. peacekeepers. In August 2020, Malian President Boubacar Ibrahim Keita, who died in January, was overthrown in a coup that included Assimi Goita, then an army colonel. Last June, Goita was sworn in as president of a transitional government after carrying out his second coup in nine months and later in the year it reportedly decided to allow the deployment of Russias Wagner group. Wagner passes itself off as a private military contractor but its long believed commitment to Russian interests have become apparent in Ukraine, where its mercenaries are among the Russian forces currently fighting in the countrys separatist eastern regions. In sub-Saharan Africa, Wagner has gained substantial footholds for Russia in Central African Republic and Sudan as well as Mali, where analysts said its role goes beyond merely providing security services. The 78-page report by the U.N. experts doesnt name Wagner in connection with any incidents, but it describes several operations where Malian forces were joined by white soldiers, including one on March 5 in the town of Robinet El Ataye in the Segou region near the border with Mauritania. According to testimony the experts said, a group of white-skinned soldiers arrived in the town, which has a water well frequented by Mauritanians who cross the border in search of pasture for cattle, rounded up men and boys, tied their hands behind their backs and blindfolded them. Women and children were told to go home and the soldiers that reportedly stripped houses of all possessions including bedding, cellular phones, jewelry, cooking utensils and clothing, they said. Later in the morning, the panel said, Malian soldiers arrived in the village started beating the bound and blindfolded men with heavy sticks used by the herders on their flocks. The women heard screams but were blocked by soldiers from leaving their homes, and the Malian forces then released some younger men and carried off at least 33 men, 29 Mauritanians and four Malians who were ethnic Tuaregs, it said. The women waited for the return of the men, but the panel said they were notified by relatives a day later that the mens bodies had been found about 4 kilometers away, and they had been shot and then burnt, the experts said. The panel said a similar pattern of pillage and beatings occurred at five other locations, but the only place civilians were killed was at Robinet El Ataye. In two other locations visited by the Malian Armed Forces, a helicopter carrying `white-skinned soldiers allegedly landed at the beginning of the operations it said. On the political front, the experts said the 2015 peace agreement is stalled, none of the political and institutional reforms in the agreement have been finalized, a high-level decision-making meeting on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration quotas for combatants initially planned for Feb. 9, 2021 has yet to take place, and there is a perceptible lack of trust between the government and the signatory armed groups. SEATTLE (AP) A white woman was recorded while calling police to report a Black man who was standing outside his home just south of Seattle in White Center. The woman, who is not identified, is seen talking on the phone with police dispatch after confronting Dayson Barnes, who is Black, The Seattle Times reported. If you guys have a lease, Id just like to see the lease, the woman told Barnes and his partner in the video. The video was posted on Reddit on Wednesday by Barnes partner and has been circulating on social media. The recorded interaction is similar to other incidents depicting white women calling police on people of color for mundane activities. In 2020, a video of a white woman calling the police on a Black bird-watcher in New Yorks Central Park went viral, with many viewing the incident as a reflection of the daily racism and life-threatening situations faced by people of color. About 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Barnes said a woman he recognized from down the street drove by his house as he was standing in the backyard. Barnes and his partner had moved into the home about three weeks ago, and said other neighbors noticed their U-Haul truck. Barnes said he and the woman waved to each other, as a normal neighbor would, but she came back and parked in front of the house. Barnes said that when he approached her to ask if she needed something, the woman said she knew who lived in the home and accused him of not being a resident there. The woman told him he shouldnt be at the property, and called 911, he said. Barnes then went into the house to retrieve his phone to film the interaction, and to tell his partner about the dispute, he said. Barnes said the womans demeanor changed when she saw his partner, who is white. Im a Black man, and me being out there alone and for me to go inside to get my white boyfriend, she felt she was in the wrong I guess and that there was a misunderstanding, Barnes said Friday. I did get the sense of her trying to save face for herself and brush it under the rug. Shortly after, King County Sheriffs Office deputies arrived to respond to reports of a potential residential burglary, spokesperson Zoe Birkbeck told the newspaper. Dispatch advised responding deputies that the caller said that it was a misunderstanding however now a verbal disturbance had ensued, Birkbeck said. In the video, Barnes partner can be heard accusing the woman of calling the cops because she saw a Black man walk in the house. The woman can be heard responding, Oh my gosh this has nothing to do with race. Barnes, however, said It was obviously a race thing. I was wearing a hoodie because its cold that morning, a black hoodie, and she thought I shouldnt be there, I was stealing from the house, he said. Arriving deputies checked Barnes identification and left after about five minutes. No official report was taken, according to Birkbeck. Barnes and his partner moved to Seattle from Texas, where he said he was frequently racially profiled. White people called the cops on him a number of times when he was walking or running through certain neighborhoods, he said, an experience that always made him fearful of possible police interactions. I didnt think Id have to experience this outside of the South, Barnes said. On April 16, 2022, the Midland Reporter-Telegram kindly published an op-ed regarding Midland College's closure of the Aviation Maintenance Technology Program, located at Midland International Air and Space Port. Aug. 3 is the date the program will end, unless the board of trustees of Midland College vote to renew it. This article will attempt to bring MRT readers up to date on our community's efforts to reinstate the program, and the importance of your involvement. During the May meeting of the MC trustees, the board graciously heard from many persons who had an interest in keeping the school open. A parade of representatives from the City of Midland, MAF and the aviation industry told the board that they need Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) now, they will need them in the future, and they need the AMT school to remain open to fill such requirements. As of this writing, there are 22-24 available positions for AMTs in Midland, Odessa and Andrews. This number is the result of a survey taken last month among nine aviation related companies. For privacy reasons, the names of these entities and their particular requirements will not be published, but all those polled agreed to send confirmation of these numbers to the MC board of trustees. In addition to the current needs, several of those responding indicated the necessity for an equal number of AMTs in the future. We have a fast developing aviation and aerospace industry in Midland, but we have competition. One Permian Basin company recently lost AMTs to Blue Origin, located in Van Horn. In addition to filling the vacancies in the local work force, what else might a resurrected AMT school accomplish by expansion? Across the street from the AMT school at MAF is the former Army Reserve Training Center, which includes a dormitory. Former, because there is a new Training Center west of the Permian Basin Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The General Services Administration (GSA), an arm of the Federal Government, largely controls all "excess" federal buildings. In a letter from the GSA dated Nov. 14, 2018, the GSA responded to my inquiry raising the possibility of acquisition of these buildings for the AMT school. The GSA said in part: "As stated in your letter [dated Nov. 8, 2018 concerning the subject property], the U.S. Army Reserve Center in Midland has not been reported excess to the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for disposal. "In the event that the U.S. Army reports this property excess to GSA, our disposal process begins with a 30-day federal screening period. If no federal agencies express interest in acquiring the property, GSA would determine the property to be surplus to the needs of the United States. At that time, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) would make a determination of whether or not the property is suitable to support the homeless. If HUD makes a suitable determination, GSA would screen for public benefit uses, such as education, homeless and public health. This screening notice would be published on our homepage at www.disposal.gov." A recent review of the GSA website indicated the U.S. Army has not declared the former Reserve Training Center "excess." However, the process of acquiring the Reserve Training Center for student housing, eliminating the need for long commutes from cities in the Permian Basin to MAF to attend the AMT school, could be started. Results from working with the GSA might be a dormitory for students, and acquisition of other buildings for storage and/or expansion into continuing education for the aerospace industry. There are several high-hurdle, logistical problems that would have to be resolved prior to incorporating the AMT school into Midland High School and Legacy High School, but if issues, such as transportation, time away from the MHS and LHS campuses, and facilities for instruction can be answered, AMT training could begin at the high school level. A revitalized AMT school has interesting potential that invites exploration and imaginative consideration, but all of the above depends on one thing: reinstatement of the AMT school by the Midland College board of trustees. The next meeting of the board is 4 p.m. Aug. 16. in the boardroom at Midland College. Hopefully, the board will vote on renewal of the AMT school at that time. You can help. How important is it for the board to hear from you? In the not-to-distant past, a close friend who is an AMT boarded a Southwest Airlines flight to attend a meeting in Las Vegas. The flight sat at the gate for no apparent reason. After some time had passed, one of the flight crew announced that the flight was grounded because four double-A batteries in the hand-held megaphone were dead and had to be replaced. Such megaphone is for emergency use if aircraft-generated electric power is lost. (There are many redundant systems aboard commercial aircraft). You are probably thinking, why didn't the flight crew replace the batteries and get going. The general (private) and commercial aviation industries in the United States are closely, at times claustrophobically governed by the Federal Aviation Administration. Nothing moves without their approval, including the replacement of double-A batteries in hand held megaphones. The flight crew, including pilots and flight attendants, cannot do so, unless they are FAA licensed AMTs. So, there the flight to Las Vegas sat, waiting on an AMT to replace the batteries until my friend's buddy pushed the overhead call button and announced to the steward that, "He's (pointing to my friend) an AMT." Problem solved, right? No. Southwest had no double-A batteries on board. My friend left the aircraft, went to the gift shop, bought four batteries, came back on board, and replaced the batteries. Then the flight left. None of the commercial carriers at MAF have AMTs stationed there. They rely solely on AMTs employed at local aviation maintenance companies for solving maintenance problems, "call-outs" as they are known in the industry. You, as a passenger, are going to be grounded until a certificated Aircraft Maintenance Technician fixes the call-out problem on your aircraft. AMTs are highly educated and trained. You can call them mechanics, but they are technicians. In Canada they are called, "engineers." We all know how difficult it is to convince skilled professionals to move to Midland. We must produce our AMTs locally. Over the last five years, according to the school's records, approximately 80% of the graduates of the program remained in the Permian Basin for their first employment in the aviation industry. Hopefully you are feeling personally affected by the closure of the AMT school. If so, you can help. All of the trustees on the board at Midland College are at-large elected officials. If you don't know who they are, they have a website showing their names, pictures and contact information. Please let them know you feel it is important that Midland College keeps the AMT program. You can also write to them at: Midland College Board of Trustees, 3600 North Garfield, Midland, Texas 79705. You can also attend the upcoming meeting in August to show your support. Please do so. It is not often that President Biden follows through on his promises. However, there is one he is determined to deliver on: his campaign pledge to end fossil fuels and his continuing down this path despite the high energy prices that are driving up costs on everything from gas to groceries, wreaking havoc on the budgets of all Americans. Biden is dead serious about his attack on fossil fuels. Most recently, the Biden administration, through the Environmental Protection Agency, is pursuing sleight-of-hand policies that will further aggravate the global market and jeopardize industry access to the Permian Basin, a key supply of oil and natural gas. I am fortunate to represent the Permian Basin, the largest secure supply of crude oil in the world and a critical tool for American national security. The region delivers more than 40% of the oil and 16% of the natural gas produced in the U.S. If the federal government slows down production in the Permian Basin, Americans will be deprived of the energy our economy and our allies desperately need. Regrettably, his administration is continuing its attempts to cripple the region by announcing that the EPA may redesignate parts of the Permian as nonattainment zones in violation of 2015 ozone standards, meaning the state must work to lower pollution in the region. This nonattainment designation could significantly slow down production in the Permian impeding one of the most productive shale plays in North America and completely devastate local economies in the process. If redesignated, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality will develop plans to lower ozone levels across the Permian and effectively extend federal oversight to private lands with regulatory burdens on permitting, transporting, processing and more. As oil drilling often produces ozone precursors, restrictions on exploration and production are likely to be included in nonattainment restrictions. It is no coincidence that this discretionary and unfounded proposal comes after an environmental group, WildEarth Guardians, petitioned EPA for the redesignation in March 2021. Roughly six months later, the organization warned the agency it intended to sue to force action. No other stakeholder groups I know of including local health care providers provided input regarding the necessity of a nonattainment redesignation. Clearly, the Biden administration is prioritizing the satisfaction of radical green groups over affordable and reliable energy. Air quality also continues to improve nationwide. Between 1990 and 2019, ozone concentrations in the U.S. decreased by 25 percent, and emissions of ozone precursors, such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides, have dropped by 47% and 65% respectively according to a 2020 EPA report. Federally overhauling local communities will be counterproductive to the ongoing efforts to maintain satisfactory air quality in the Permian Basin. In rural America, the energy industry generates high-paying jobs for working families and is the driver of the Texas economy. The industry annually contributes over $15 billion to state and local coffers to fund public education, emergency responders, hospitals, conservation projects and more. If the EPA finalizes this redesignation, many rural communities will face substantial and irreversible economic hardship. An even more sinister reality of this additional layer of red tape is that big producers will weather the storm while local independents built by entrepreneurs will be the ones facing the most significant burden. The workers employed by these small businesses should not be forced to default on their monthly mortgage payments or give up saving for their childrens college tuition because of President Bidens green dream. While the Supreme Court recently delivered a win in the effort to rein in the climate activists running the EPA, those who champion American-made energy cannot underestimate the ability of a dead snake to bite. Unelected bureaucrats at the EPA will only get more creative in their attempts to throttle reliable energy production. President Biden may think that Americans are not paying attention to these backdoor policies, but Texans, especially those in the Permian Basin, are on full alert. For us, the stakes have never been higher. Our livelihoods, communities and national security depend on it. -- August Pfluger is the U.S. representative for 11th Texas congressional district. A five-bedroom Cape in Edgartown, MA, is the oldest property to hit the market this week on Realtor.com. On the island of Martha's Vineyard is this gray-shingled gem, which has been updated over the years. Even so, several interior spaces offer a look back at the home's 17th-century history. Other historic homes that landed on the market this week include a former general store in Pennsylvania, a New Hampshire house built by a sea captain, and a full-on fixer-upper in New York. For a full look at the week's 10 oldest homes, just scroll on down. Price: $2,950,000 Year built: 1682 Coming soon: This five-bedroom Cape with gray shingles on Martha's Vineyard offers a variety of expansion opportunities. Located in Edgartown's historic district, this gem of a residence sits on nearly an acre of land. Period details include arched ceilings, hardwood floors, and built-ins for storage. The patio and terrace overlook the lot, which also features a guesthouse and pool. Edgartown, MA Realtor.com Price: $899,000 Year built: 1693 Former general store: This five-bedroom home is in the final stages of a total restoration. It awaits a buyer to make the selections for the finishing touches. It features a a new HVAC system, an open chef's kitchen, and two wooden fireplaces. Media, PA Realtor.com Price: $1,675,000 Year built: 1717 Coventry Forge Farm: This three-bedroom stone farmhouse sits on 23.4 rolling acres and features a two-bedroom cottage, studio, and nine-stall barn. Located along the banks of the trout-filled French Creek, the home was once the first iron forge in Chester County. The home's history is still visible in its original root cellar, walk-in fireplace, deep windowsills, and hardwood floors. Pottstown, PA Realtor.com Price: $650,000 Year built: 1730 Built by a sea captain: This four-bedroom home has been updated over the decades, but it still features many original details, from the multiple staircases and fireplaces to the built-in closets. Updates over the years have included a new roof, septic system, furnace, and water purifier. The 3.31-acre lot includes a private pond, an outbuilding for storage, and mature fruit trees. Laconia, NH Realtor.com Price: $3,450,000 Year built: 1731 40-acre farm: This stone farmhouse features modern conveniences combined with historic details. The spacious 5,653-square-foot home presents a step back in time with its period stone walls, wide-plank floors, and walk-in fireplace. The private lot features an eight-stall bank barn, a spring-fed pond, and mature landscaping. There's also an attached one-bedroom apartment with a separate entrance, which could be used for guests or income potential. Kennett Square, PA Realtor.com Price: $4,250,000 Year built: 1740 Island beauty: Located on the island of Nantucket, this bright and airy three-bedroom home features reclaimed wood floors and hand-hewn beams throughout. There are four working fireplaces, wide-plank floors, arched ceilings, and cozy nooks. The 2,487-square-foot house has been updated over the years to now include a custom kitchen and four modern bathrooms. Nantucket, MA Realtor.com Price: $549,000 Year built: 1740 Fixer-upper: This five-bedroom Colonial will need some TLC. From the exposed beams and rounded staircases with ornate woodworking to the seven fireplaces with original hearths and mantels, this 3,465-square-foot home needs a buyer to bring back its natural beauty. With 3.5 stories of living space, the historic home features a walk-out kitchen with service stairs, a second-floor balcony, wide-plank flooring, and exposed beams. New City, NY Realtor.com Price: $550,000 Year built: 1740 Stone elegance: This four-bedroom home has been carefully preserved and updated over the years. Highlights include exposed stone walls and polished pumpkin pine floors. You'll also find deep-silled windows, a walk-in stone fireplace, arched ceilings, and exposed beams. Seven outbuildings are on the 1.49-acre lot, including a potting shed with a workshop and a second-floor she shed. Upper Macungie Township, PA Realtor.com Price: $875,000 Year built: 1746 Colonial farmhouse: This three-bedroom home is believed to have been a former dairy farm complete with a silo. The home's history is visible in the dark wood wall panels, built-ins, and wide-board pine floors. Throughout the 2,552 square feet of space, you'll find five fireplaces, the original kitchen, and a central chimney in the living room. The 1-acre lot overlooking the Sudbury Reservoir comes with a two-story barn with horse stalls and a separate screened-in area for entertaining. Southborough, MA Realtor.com Price: $1,295,000 Year built: 1747 The original Wiltshire Estate: This five-bedroom stone farmhouse has been updated and expanded over the years. Original details include the double staircases, crown molding, and multiple fireplaces. Modern highlights offer heated floors, built-in lockers, and an updated kitchen. The bright and airy layout is highlighted by a sweet primary suite with a private balcony. There's also a detached two-car garage with space on the second floor that could be transformed into a studio or home office. West Chester, PA Realtor.com The post 1682 Gem on Martha's Vineyard Is the Week's Oldest Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Pelosi wraps up Asia trip, leaves disastrous legacy, massive mess for Biden, Taiwan By Chen Qingqing, Liu Xin and Liu Xuanzun (Global Times) 14:14, August 06, 2022 Civic groups, politicians, and business and industry representatives on the island of Taiwan on Tuesday protested against US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's potential visit. Photo: Fan Lingzhi/Global Times US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrapped up her high-profile and destructive trip to Asia after the final stop Japan on Friday and was put on the official sanctions list by the Chinese government for seriously trampling on the one-China principle. With the curtains falling on the political stunt of the 82-year-old, who will always be remembered as a reckless and egocentric troublemaker, Pelosi's tour in the region - widely considered as a "graduation trip" as she is likely to lose in the upcoming midterms - left nothing but a mess for the Asia-Pacific region and the world, as well as incurred a huge damage to the US' national interests. Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, a blatant violation of the one-China principle and intrusion of China's sovereignty, prompted China's necessary countermeasures that are defensive in nature. As the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) drills surrounding the island continue, the world is clearly seeing where China's red line is and has realized better that the US cannot protect "Taiwan independence" secessionists, even through the very military strength that the US has been proud of in maintaining its global hegemony, experts said. The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday that it plans to sanction Pelosi and her immediate family members because she disregarded China's serious concerns and firm opposition and insisted on visiting China's Taiwan region. This seriously interfered in China's internal affairs, undermined China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampled on the one-China principle, and threatened peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, the ministry said. Trip a failure Mainstream media outlets in the US ran stories questioning Pelosi's provocative trip, which appeared to deviate from the US' intention of enhancing the Indo-Pacific strategy but instead created more rifts among Asian countries. Some scholars and strategists called her visit to Taiwan unnecessary and unwise, which only served her own interests but created a potential global military crisis for no reason at all. The New York Times said in an article that this visit risked undermining US efforts with Asian allies, leaving allies to wonder what damage had been done, and there's a sense among them that they were "left out in the cold to watch" and the handling of the visit was worrisome. The Washington Post said in an opinion article that "the damage from Pelosi's unwise Taiwan visit must be contained" while CNN said Pelosi's Taiwan visit risked creating greater instability between the US and China. Ignoring the collective opposition and rising concerns in the US about this provocative visit, the White House tried to defend the act of Pelosi and to shift the blame to China -- the defender in this clash. White House national security council spokesperson John Kirby on Thursday accused China for launching live missiles near the island, saying that "Beijing's provocative actions are significant escalation and its long standing attempt to change the status quo." The US is the provocateur and troublemaker, and the essence of the Taiwan question is not about democracy, it's about China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, Hua Chunying, spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a routine press conference on Friday. "If one of the states in the US tries to separate itself from the country, and another country constantly provides it with arms sales and political support, will the US government and American people allow it?" she asked. Pelosi's visit to Taiwan overshadowed the original purpose of her Asia trip, as the US intended to enhance strategic cooperation with its Asian allies through its Indo-Pacific strategy, but the whole trip was only a political stunt of hers, Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Friday. "Pelosi's personal performance contradicts the US' national strategy, as it only adds more security uncertainties to the region," he said. Asian countries like South Korea are carefully striking a balance between China and the US in their geopolitical wrestling, and when it comes to the Taiwan question, their attitude would be even more cautious, Yang noted. Such considerations could explain why South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol snubbed Pelosi during her visit to Seoul on Thursday, he added. A missile is launched by the rocket force of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), targeting designated maritime areas to the east of the Taiwan Island, Aug 4, 2022. The Eastern Theater Command on Thursday conducted joint combat exercises and training around the Taiwan Island on an unprecedented scale. Photo:Xinhua Absolute red line Pelosi's trip left a huge mess not only for the Taiwan Straits but also for the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities in Taiwan, as her trampling on the one-China principle - the absolute red line of China - caused the decisive response by Beijing, which also made the world see that the reckless provocation is leading the secessionists into a dead end and the US won't stand with them, experts said. Originally deployed in waters southeast of the island of Taiwan in an apparent mission to escort Pelosi's flight to land in Taiwan on Tuesday, the US Navy's Ronald Reagan carrier strike group retreated hundreds of kilometers eastward overnight, after the PLA announced live-fire exercise zones east of the island, Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the Naval Research Academy of the PLA, told the Global Times. This fully reflected the PLA's far-reaching deterrence capabilities, Zhang said. Zhang's remarks are supported by open-source intelligence, which showed that the USS Ronald Reagan carrier was in waters east of the Osumi Strait, about 1,200 kilometers away from the Taiwan island, on Thursday, when the live-fire part of the PLA drills started. It shows that the US military acknowledges that the carrier strike group that it has been proud of is no match for the PLA's anti-access and area denial capabilities, or at least the US is not committed to protecting the "Taiwan independence" secessionist forces at such a high cost in facing the PLA, as the PLA is firmly determined, fully confident and completely capable of safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity over the Taiwan question, a core interest of China, analysts said. The live-fire conventional missile launches of the PLA Rocket Force into designated sea areas to the east of Taiwan island demonstrated area denial capabilities, said Senior Colonel Shi Yi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, in a statement on Thursday. The PLA Army's long-range artillery drills also highlighted the fact that the Taiwan island is so close to the Chinese mainland, and low-cost rockets fired from the mainland can cover the island. Compared with that, the US has to deploy warships and warplanes far away from its homeland as well as maintain overseas bases, all of which are of high cost and at risk of being attacked with PLA anti-access and area denial capabilities should they intervene, analysts said. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, the United States, April 22, 2021. Photo:Xinhua Anti-China troublemaker Not only did Pelosi leave a huge mess for the secessionist DPP authorities and rising tensions in the Taiwan Straits, she also caused greater divisions in US politics, especially on how to handle the Taiwan question in the future, experts said. "Probably when the Biden administration was close to making any agreement with China on the question of tariffs, Pelosi made the provocative move, and such a clash will make it difficult for China and the US to communicate in the near future, which will be a huge blow to US interests," Lu Xiang, an expert on US studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday. Since Pelosi started her career as a lawmaker in 1987, she has been an anti-China voice on almost every aspect related to China's security and bottom line, from Taiwan to Hong Kong to Xinjiang, but unfortunately, she has put her energy and capability into the wrong areas, Lu noted. "Rather than making efforts in improving the US' development and its external environment, she focused on creating more divisions in her own country, which is very pathetic," he said. "I think Pelosi is an adventurer, a speculator and a peacebreaker. She clearly knew about the possible consequences of this visit but decided to make this trip, which reflects the true characteristics of a political figure who chases certain interests by ignoring the warning of the risks and consequences, " Wu Yongping, director of the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Friday. The status quo of the Taiwan Straits has entered a new stage and the current military drills play an important role in advancing our national reunification process, Wu said, noting that this also serves as an education about where China's red line is and how strong the country's ability and willpower are in terms of safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity to achieve reunification. "Maybe Pelosi herself didn't realize that one day, she would contribute to China's national reunification process in this way," Wu said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) A double shooting late Thursday night on West Utica Street left one man dead and another wounded, Buffalo police said. The shooting took place just before midnight in the block just west of Main Street. The victims were outside when someone opened fire on them. One man, identified as a 41-year-old Buffalo resident, died at the scene. The other victim, a 54-year-old Buffalo man, was shot in his left foot. He taken to Erie County Medical Center where he was listed in stable condition. The death marks the 41st shooting homicide in Buffalo so far this year. Police reported 117 shootings as of July 24, according to Buffalo Police Department. Police asked anyone with information about the double shooting to call or text the police confidential tip line at 716-847-2255. Sand Harbor, with its long beach, turquoise water and white granite boulders, is undoubtedly one of Lake Tahoes most iconic destinations, a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Because its so popular, getting here is not easy. Unless you pull up to the gates as soon as they open at 7 a.m. sharp, your chances of getting inside Sand Harbor State Park are slim to none. When the parking lot fills up which often happens in a manner of minutes Nevada State Park officials close the gate. And the parks entrance stays closed for the rest of the day, with a line of orange traffic cones blocking the beachs entrance. But theres another way to get into Sand Harbor, one that allows for hours of glorious sun-drenched beach time and warm waters to swim in and you dont have to load your beach gear in the car first thing in the morning. My secret? The theater. Sand Harbor isnt just a beach. Its also a stage for a 50-year-running theatrical event called the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. Joy Strotz/Courtesy of Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Last week, I drove to Sand Harbor and pulled up to the gate just a few minutes after 5 p.m. I showed the state park employee our pre-paid parking pass and he waved us right in. We found a parking spot close to the beach entrance. A few minutes later, I was sitting in my beach chair, drinking a Spindrift, watching the light dance on the water and letting the sun warm my skin. In the summertime, Lake Tahoe serves as a backdrop while actors bring Shakespeare to life. The setting is what really makes the performance stand apart from other theater experiences, but thats not at all to diminish the on-stage talent. The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival is part of an alliance with two other theater groups in Boise, Idaho, and Cleveland, Ohio, bringing a steady stream of seasoned stage actors to the Sierra. The Sand Harbor performances have become one of my favorite summertime traditions in Tahoe. Its a unique must-do experience that actually lives up to its hype. Rachid Dahnoun/Getty Images/Aurora Open 'Bard on the Beach' The Shakespearean tradition at Lake Tahoe began in 1972, when a troupe performed in front of the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion at Sugar Pine Point State Park on the West Shore. They called it Bard on the Beach. A few years later, the performances moved to Skylandia Park, in Tahoe City. But the growing popularity and steady rise in attendance quickly outgrew that location, too. Sand Harbor opened its doors to the festival in 1978 and has been the host ever since. Shakespeare might sound fancy, but in Tahoe, the festival has always had a pretty grounded and rootsy vibe. Picnics are encouraged and the show is BYOB, so pack your cooler and mix your own margaritas. The stage is set at the foot of an amphitheater, with seats rising up a sandy hill. For a long time, most of the seating was first come, first served. My first experiences at the Shakespeare festival were with a group of friends. We showed up early, set out blankets, popped open some wine and ate a potluck dinner before the show started. Now, the entire amphitheater has reserved seats, set up in rows. Given the popularity of Sand Harbor and the shows, thats a good thing. I bought tickets months ago. Prices for adult tickets range from $35 to $100. We went to a midweek performance and, when we pulled into Sand Harbor the day of, I saw signs stating the show was sold out. Flash Parker/Getty Images I wouldnt say that Im a Shakespeare aficionado, not even close. I havent read his work since my high school English teacher required it. Though, Im of the age to say seeing Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes in Romeo + Juliet launched my adolescence. Still, I had no idea that Shakespeare could actually make me laugh so hard Id be crying when I saw A Midsummer Nights Dream on a live stage. Maybe its the setting on the beach that makes the whole experience feel lighter. But Ive got a clear preference for Shakespeares comedies at Sand Harbor. This year, the festival is hosting two performances, including Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing. For the second show, the festival unveiled a twist a play thats not at all Shakespearean, but is a perfect fit for the setting with Lake Tahoe as the backdrop. In a rare but welcomed departure from tradition, the festival is also hosting a musical, Mamma Mia! ABBA was calling, and I made haste. The dancing queen After a couple of hours of blessed beach time, we took our seats when the evenings shadows were growing longer. A bell rang when the show was about to start. Mamma Mia! is about a woman, about to get married, who is determined to find out who her father is. She reads her mothers journal (gasp!) and focuses on three eligible men who were in the right place around the right time. She decides to invite all three to her wedding on a Greek isle, where her mother runs a guest house. Theres one more big detail: She doesnt tell her mom that three of her exes are coming to town. For a musical set near the water in Greece, Mamma Mia! felt like a perfect fit for Tahoe. The costumes, the characters I thought this exact narrative could have easily taken place in Tahoe City in the 1990s. I loved the singing, the choreographed dancing. But my eyes kept looking up, behind the stage, as the lake shifted colors from a turquoise to a sunset orange to a deep navy. Jen Schmidt/Courtesy of Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Its been a while since Id seen the sunset on Lake Tahoe. Most intermissions, people take breaks in the theater lobby or maybe a busy city sidewalk. At Sand Harbor, I ran up the sandy hill along with everyone else in the audience and caught the last rays of light stretching across the basin. Looking around at all the families and groups of friends enjoying this exact same moment felt sweet, and everyone, myself included, was snapping lots of sunset selfies. When we took our seats before the second act, the Village Peoples YMCA played over the speakers, and one of the festival employees led the audience in round after round of those universally known dance moves. It wasnt Shakespeare, but the mood felt absolutely right for a perfect day at Sand Harbor. WFO ALBANY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, August 5, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albany NY 728 PM EDT Fri Aug 5 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY... SUNDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values between 95 and 100 Saturday, and up to 104 on Sunday. * WHERE...Portions of eastern New York and northwestern Connecticut. * WHEN...For the first Heat Advisory, from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday. For the second Heat Advisory, from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Sunday. * 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. * WHERE...In New York, the Capital District, Mid Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, Taconics, and Lake George Saratoga Region. In Connecticut, Litchfield County. In Massachusetts, southern Berkshire County. In Vermont, Bennington and eastern Windham Counties. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO ALBANY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, August 5, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albany NY 728 PM EDT Fri Aug 5 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY... SUNDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values between 95 and 100 Saturday, and up to 104 on Sunday. * WHERE...Portions of eastern New York and northwestern Connecticut. * WHEN...For the first Heat Advisory, from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday. For the second Heat Advisory, from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Sunday. * 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. * WHAT...For the first Heat Advisory, heat index values up to 98 expected. For the second Heat Advisory, heat index values up to 99 expected. * WHERE...In New York, Southern Herkimer, Southern Fulton, Montgomery, Northern Saratoga, Northern Washington, Eastern Columbia, Southeast Warren and Southern Washington Counties. In Vermont, Bennington and Eastern Windham Counties. * WHERE...In New York, the Capital District, Mid Hudson Valley, Mohawk Valley, Taconics, and Lake George Saratoga Region. In Connecticut, Litchfield County. In Massachusetts, southern Berkshire County. In Vermont, Bennington and eastern Windham Counties. ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southwestern Madison, northeastern Cortland and southeastern Onondaga Counties through 800 PM EDT... At 729 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Cuyler, or 16 miles northeast of Cortland, moving east at 10 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 40 mph and pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Cuyler, Deruyter, De Ruyter and Keeney. Frequent cloud to ground lightning and heavy downpours are also occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 4273 7580 4272 7589 4270 7589 4267 7599 4280 7610 4284 7591 TIME...MOT...LOC 2329Z 258DEG 7KT 4276 7595 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO NEW YORK CITY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, August 8, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service New York NY 1257 PM EDT Sat Aug 6 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values of 95 to 97 this afternoon, and up to 100 Sunday and Monday. * WHERE...New York (Manhattan), Bronx, Richmond (Staten Island), Kings (Brooklyn), Northern Queens and Southern Queens Counties. * WHEN....For the afternoon and early evening hours today, Sunday, and Monday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... New York City residents should call 3 1 1 to identify cooling center locations and obtain 'Beat the Heat' safety tips. A Heat Advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees for two or more consecutive days, or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time. Seniors and those with chronic health problems or mental health conditions are at an increased risk. Homes without air conditioning can be much hotter than outdoor temperatures. Use air conditioning to stay cool at home or go to a place that has air conditioning. Check on vulnerable friends, family members and neighbors. 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! In cases of heat stroke call 9 1 1. * WHAT...Heat index values of 95 today, and up to 99 Sunday and Monday. * WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York. * WHEN...For the afternoon and early evening hours today, Sunday, * WHAT...Heat index values of 95 today, and up to 97 Monday and Tuesday. * WHERE...Northeast Suffolk and Southeast Suffolk Counties. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO PORTLAND Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, August 8, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Portland OR 1015 PM PDT Fri Aug 5 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON SUNDAY TO 8 PM PDT MONDAY... * WHAT...High temperatures 97 to 102. Low temperatures 65 to 70. * WHERE...In Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Area, Upper Hood River Valley, Western Columbia River Gorge and Central Columbia River Gorge. In Washington, Greater Vancouver Area, Western Columbia River Gorge and Central Columbia River Gorge. * WHEN...From noon Sunday to 8 PM PDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures 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. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WASHINGTON Work will begin soon on a series of highway safety improvements at the four-way intersection nearest to the Western New York National Cemetery in Pembroke but the work didn't start soon enough to prevent two more crashes at the crash-prone crossing in the past three months. This month, the State Department of Transportation will install larger stop signs on Indian Falls Road at the intersection of Route 77, including a placard that says: "CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP. Also this summer, the state will install larger INTERSECTION signs on Route 77, a spokesman for the state DOT said last week. Then, by early fall, DOT will eliminate the passing zones on Route 77 at the Indian Falls Road intersection, install rumble strips on Route 77 and add "STOP" pavement markings on Indian Falls Road. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will seek bids in September for work to be done by December on sign-mounted flashing warning signals on both roadways, a VA spokesman confirmed. Neither agency would say how much those changes will cost. The changes stem from a traffic study the two agencies released in June, nine months after two Lockport veterans Arnold Herdendorf and Christopher Rowell were killed in a crash at the intersection. Both the veterans cemetery's manager and the planner leading development of the facility had raised concerns about visibility issues at the intersection and pressed for safety improvements more than a year before that fatal crash, only to be ignored and reprimanded by the VA for their push for safety. Local veterans advocate Patrick W. Welch said he was glad to see safety improvements at the intersection, adding that the state and the VA should have made changes much sooner. "One of the things I'm most upset about is that they really knew this years ago, and they took no action and now we've lost lives and had other accidents," he said. Those other accidents occurred on May 24 and July 15. Both of those crashes occurred on the opposite side of the four-way intersection where the two Lockport veterans were killed: on Gabbey Road, which becomes Indian Falls Road on the east side of that intersection. In the first of the two crashes, a man driving a pickup truck stopped at the stop sign on Gabbey Road, then proceeded through the intersection only to collide with a vehicle heading north on Route 77. According to a report from the Genesee County Sheriff's office, the man told officers that he didn't see the vehicle that hit him, whose driver suffered minor cuts on her arms in the crash. Then on July 15, according to a sheriff's report, a nearly identical accident happened. A veteran involved in that crash was uninjured, but a woman in the other vehicle in the collision was sent to the hospital with minor injuries. With accidents at the intersection occurring regularly over the years, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, a New York Democrat, and some others pressed for a roundabout to be installed at the intersection. But that proposal prompted some opposition from the community. "The VA received 90 responses to its traffic analysis and safety study, which did not demonstrate overwhelming public support for the roundabout," said Joseph Morrissey, a state DOT spokesman. "While there are no current plans to construct a roundabout at this intersection, NYSDOT will continue to monitor the intersections safety and work with the VA and local stakeholders as needed to implement traffic enhancements at the intersection." Welch said he and other veterans advocates will continue to monitor what's happening at the intersection as well. He said he's not certain that a roundabout is the right fix for the intersection, but he offered another possible solution: a traffic light that would turn solid red only at times of high traffic. As for the changes that are being implemented, Welch said: "I'm happy something is happening. Something is better than nothing. But you know, we're going to continue to watch and hopefully this will solve the issue." Rep. Chris Jacobs, an Orchard Park Republican who convened a public hearing on the controversial intersection in May, said he was pleased with the changes the state and the VA are making. "Additional signage, markings, rumble strips and flashing lights were safety enhancements that enjoyed wide support among the community," Jacobs said. "I am heartened the VA and NYSDOT are moving swiftly to implement additional safety measures." To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! But the event itself was far from sombre. This was a celebration of First Nations talent, both past and present. Yolngu rapper Baker Boy (real name Danzal Baker) was the big winner of the night, being named artist of the year and also taking out the award for album of the year. His debut album Gela, a vibrant and self-assured celebration of survival, reached number three on the ARIA charts on its release in October. This is the third time the 25-year-old has been recognised as best artist (he won in 2019 and 2020, but lost out to The Kid Laroi in 2021). Yolngu rapper Baker Boy was the big winner at the 2022 National Indigenous Music Awards. Unfortunately Baker Boy was not present at the awards as he was overseas (a fact that host Steven Oliver should be celebrated, because hes bringing his music to the world). He was one of four winning artists to send an acceptance speech via video. Other notable absences from the event included Jessica Mauboy and Thelma Plum both of whom were originally slated to perform, but had to pull out due to sickness. The award for song of the year also went to a Yolngu act, with surf-rockers King Stingray winning for their infectious hit Milkumana. They accepted the award in their first language, which prompted a lot of love from the crowd. The five-piece band (who easily got the biggest cheers of the night), also performed a lively set to close out the ceremony featuring tracks from their self-titled debut album which dropped on Friday. Milkumana was a fitting choice for best song in the end; as guitarist Roy Kellaway (son of Yothu Yindi bass player Stuart Kellaway) has previously said, its about role models and the importance of setting good examples for the new generation. As these awards show, that new generation is a particularly exciting one. Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung indie-pop artist Jem Cassar-Daley, the 21-year-old daughter of country legend Troy Cassar-Daley, won the award for new talent of the year. And Malyangapa and Barkindji rapper Barkaa, who was also nominated in the category, took home the prize for best film clip. Barkaas winning video was for King Brown, which was also nominated in the category of best song. The clip shows off her incredible stage presence think: Australian Missy Elliot and explains why shes been dubbed the new matriarch of Australian rap. I couldnt do this without black women, she said, via video message in her acceptance speech. But at the same time [I want to] pay homage to the greatest: Uncle Archie Roach, who gave us this voice, who gave us this pathway to do what we do today. Filipino-Aboriginal rapper Dobby also received the Archie Roach Foundation Award for emerging artists and performed his own version of We Wont Cry via pre-recorded video. It was a timely reminder of how the much-loved songmans legacy lives on. When Roach set up the foundation in 2014, he said he hoped to be a signpost for others, to walk alongside and empower them to tell their story through the arts to point them in a deadly direction. China urges Australia to show 'understanding and respect' Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss A Sydney high school has seen a dramatic decrease in behavioural issues and a boost in physical activity and students talking to each other just two months after it tightened restrictions on mobile phone usage. Davidson High School principal David Rule said there had been significant changes since students in years 7 to 10 were banned from using mobile phones at school. Davidson High School year 10 students Daniel Kenny and Annika Hore with the pouches used by the school to limit phone usage during school hours. Credit:Janie Barrett Classrooms have effectively become phone-free and this has allowed staff to focus on educating students, he said in a school newsletter. Finally, in eight weeks of the policy, there has been a 90 per cent reduction in behavioural issues related to phones in the school. The high school in Frenchs Forest requires students to put phones in a pouch that, once closed, cannot be reopened without breaking a lock. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Republican hopes to reclaim a crucial governors seat in swing-state Wisconsin this year long appeared to rest on Rebecca Kleefisch, a former TV news anchor who spent eight years as former Gov. Scott Walkers heir apparent and vowed to continue his sharply conservative policies. Then a wealthy construction company owner jumped in, dumped $12 million of his own money into the race and won Donald Trumps backing. Now Tim Michels is in a competitive race against Kleefisch heading into Tuesdays primary to decide who will face Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in November. The contest is part of a deepening proxy fight between Trump and his estranged former vice president, Mike Pence, who has thrown his support to Kleefisch. And it could ultimately have implications for 2024, when Trump has dangled the possibility of another White House bid and has shown his willingness to pressure elected officials, including those in Wisconsin, to overturn election results. Michels has focused on shaping an outsider candidacy bolstered by the Trump endorsement while Kleefisch has embraced her establishment support as evidence that shes a more reliable GOP choice. Trump appeared with Michels at a Friday night rally in Waukesha, the heart of Milwaukee's conservative suburbs. Trump called Kleefisch a career politician and a political insider. Ive known her for a long time. Shes the handpicked candidate of the failed establishment, the RINOs. That's a derogatory term standing for Republican in name only." Rebecca Kleefisch does not have what it takes to beat Tony Evers," Trump said. Hes going to win if he runs against Rebecca." Michels appeared on stage with Trump, but did not call for overturning the 2020 election. Kleefisch and Michels have both questioned President Joe Bidens victory over Trump in Wisconsin in 2020 an outcome that has withstood recounts, lawsuits and reviews but neither has taken up Trumps pressure campaign to have those results decertified. Kleefisch has called the 2020 election rigged but said she wont consider decertification because its not constitutionally possible. Michels initially called decertifying Bidens 2020 win in Wisconsin not a priority and then later said everything will be on the table. Both Michels and Kleefisch want to do away with the current bipartisan commission that runs elections in the state. A third Republican candidate for governor, state Rep. Tim Ramthun, has repeatedly called for decertification and made it the centerpiece of his longshot campaign. Bidens win in Wisconsin has withstood two partial recounts, numerous lawsuits, a nonpartisan audit and a review by a conservative law firm. Republican legislative leaders have repeatedly said decertification is impossible. Kleefisch has racked up support not only from Pence, but also her former boss Walker, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, GOP leaders of the Legislature, 56 lawmakers, the state chamber of commerce, the Tavern League and a majority of the states county sheriffs. I am the one who is tested and proven and ready to go, Kleefisch said after Pence touted her at a stop in suburban Milwaukee on Wednesday. I am the one who has won statewide four times. Michels claims that he is not a politician, but hes been a power player largely behind the scenes for decades and previously ran for U.S. Senate in 2004, losing to then-Sen. Russ Feingold. Hes been a regular donor to Republicans, including both Walker and Kleefisch. People want an outsider, people want a veteran, people want a businessman, Michels said in a candidate debate. Wisconsin is the third state where Pence and Trump have been on opposite sides in governor's races that highlighted deep divisions about the GOPs future. In Georgia, Pence-backed Gov. Brian Kemp thumped Trumps choice, former Sen. David Perdue, by more than 50 percentage points. In Arizonas governor primary, Trump-backed former TV news anchor Kari Lake and Pence-backed businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson were in a race that was too early to call on Thursday. The territory that drew Pence and Kleefisch on Wednesday is the heart of Republican Wisconsin and home to the key suburban Milwaukee voters who will likely decide the fall election. Its also Kleefischs home turf. Trump, whose support in the area declined from 2016 to 2020, held his Friday rally for Michels just three miles from where Pence came for Kleefisch. There is no candidate for governor in America who is more capable, more experienced, or a more proven conservative than Rebecca Kleefisch, Pence said in touting Kleefisch without mentioning Trump or Michels. Kleefisch is a former Milwaukee television news anchor and teenage beauty pageant contestant who got into politics in 2010 and won a five-way primary for lieutenant governor. After Evers beat Walker in 2018, Kleefisch started laying the groundwork for her own run. She has reminded Republicans about the fights she went through with Walker, when his proposal effectively ending collective bargaining led to massive protests in 2011 and eventually a failed attempt to recall both him and Kleefisch from office. This cycle, she has focused on issues like instituting a flat income tax, expanding school choice programs and investing more in law enforcement. Michels co-owns the states largest construction company, Michels Corp., along with his brothers, and has spent nearly $1 million a week of his own money since getting into the race. Though he uses the Trump endorsement as evidence of his outsider status, hes also backed by Wisconsins ultimate Republican political insider four-term former Gov. Tommy Thompson, who briefly flirted with his own run. Michels has stumbled at times. He flip-flopped this week when asked whether he would back a Trump run in 2024, first refusing to say, then 24 hours later saying he would back Trump for president. At an earlier debate, he didnt appear to know what DACA Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, a highly contentious immigration program stood for. And hes faced criticism for purchasing $30 million in properties in New York and Connecticut between 2015 and 2020 and splitting time between Wisconsin and the East Coast, where his children attended and graduated from high school. Michels positions on the boards of various transportation-related industry groups have caused him some heartburn, with Kleefisch seeking to tie him to those groups past support for raising the state gas tax. Michels says he opposes an increase. He is also running ads taking a strong anti-immigrant position, even though he headed the board of directors of a transportation group that opposed an anti-immigrant bill that would have prevented companies that employ illegal aliens from getting state contracts. While the Republicans battle, Evers has raised more than $11 million this year and is casting himself as the only block against Republicans who want to overhaul elections for the 2024 presidential campaign and keep in place an 1849 state law banning abortions. Both Kleefisch and Michels support the ban and the law, which is being challenged in court by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul. I have a good record, Evers said, highlighting the states 2.8% unemployment rate, increased funding for public schools, expanded rural broadband access, emphasis on repairing roads and a 15% cut in income taxes. Let them bring it on. Liquidators are investigating after F45 co-founder and celebrity trainer Luke Istomins gym company went bust owing more than $2.6 million, including an estimated $363,000 to employees. Liam Bailey, a partner at OBrien Palmer insolvency and business advisory firm, is examining the circumstances that led to the downfall of Re:Union Operations, including whether there is any evidence of insolvent trading and breaches of directors duties. Celebrity trainer Luke Istomin set up Reunion Training after leaving F45, the company he co-founded. He told creditors he intended to report any evidence he had identified to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Bailey is also investigating whether Istomin, the sole director of Re:Union Operations, engaged in phoenix activity by creating a new company to avoid paying creditors, including the wages and superannuation of employees. The Australian Federal Police says it has seized 700 kilograms of cocaine worth $280 million and branded with the word Netflix from a container ship at Port Botany. The Singaporean vessel Maersk Inverness docked in Sydney last month, where Australian Border Force officials uncovered 700 kilograms of the drug concealed in denim bags inside a container marked as containing wood products. Twenty-eight denim bags containing 25-kilogram bricks of cocaine were seized. Credit:Australian Border Force Twenty-eight denim bags, each containing a 25-kilogram brick of cocaine branded with the word Netflix and the numerals 5 and 365, were seized by authorities on July 22. The ship had docked in ports in South and Central America before arriving in Sydney. Premier Dominic Perrottet offered to create a parliamentary trade role for Transport Minister David Elliott as a sweetener for dumping him from cabinet and on another occasion also spoke to him about the agent-general position in London, in revelations likely to heap immense pressure on Perrottets leadership. A febrile atmosphere has taken hold within the government as the premier enters a politically dangerous sitting week after the furore over John Barilaros New York posting, resignation of deputy NSW Liberal leader Stuart Ayres for his part in the affair and sacking of another minister for allegedly bullying staff. Transport Minister David Elliott and Premier Dominic Perrottet. Credit:Louise Kennerley Barilaro, who was forced to withdraw from the $500,000-a-year trade commissioner role amid a public backlash, will appear before a parliamentary inquiry tomorrow and Liberals believe the former deputy premier and Nationals leader has the potential to badly damage the premier. MPs told The Sun-Herald of deep unease within the backbench and ministry over the premiers handling of the saga. A tussle over whether Elliott or Treasurer Matt Kean will replace Ayres as deputy party leader has also stoked tensions. Maralyn Schofield loved living in North Lismore the village-like feel of the place, the beautiful old houses and the easy walk across the bridge into town. The suburb was flood-prone but, in her elevated house, she felt she and her disabled son were safe. That all changed on February 28. North Lismore resident Maralyn Schofields home was destroyed by flooding. She wants to be part of the buyback scheme to let her move out of the flood zone. Credit:Elise Derwin Standing neck deep in water, in a house 13 metres in the air, waiting for the SES to come, changed my view somewhat, she noted dryly. Now shes ready to leave, and eager to take advantage of a buyback and land swap scheme the NSW government has flagged will be part of its response to the record floods that hit the Northern Rivers in February and March, damaging almost 11,000 homes and leaving 4055 uninhabitable. A hard hat-wearing, high vis-sporting opal miner isnt the first person youd expect to spot running up Heartbreak Hill. But James Caruana is ready to defy expectations. The 25-year-old miner, who normally works on opal fields at White Cliffs in northwest NSW, will be one of tens of thousands of runners at the City2Surf fun run next week. And hell do it all in his full mining uniform: thick boots, a safety helmet, and a long sleeve high visibility shirt. James Caruana hopes doing something hard will encourage fans to do something easy and donate. Credit:Wolter Peeters He admits running 14 kilometres in such a uniform is an odd choice but his motives are as pure as the gemstones he finds in the ground. Hes running to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, the free air service that transports patients in remote parts of the country to medical care. Ive kind of always had a passion for wanting to help people in my life ... and Ive always wanted to raise money, but I havent really ever known how to do it, he said. Nielsen said she was fortunate, as she could clean for herself if she did a little bit every day, but she was concerned for residents who needed assistance showering and with personal care. Im more likely to fall over the vacuum cleaner, she said. I can wheel it around, but Im a bit clumsy with it so thats why I appreciate having somebody else to do it for me. I do feel sorry for people who are in more dire straits than I am. Megan Peniston-Bird, 77, is disabled with arthritis and her 84-year-old husband has emphysema. The couple has received in-home care from Boroondara council for 10 years, assisting with cleaning. She was also expecting someone to provide in-home care on Tuesday, but nobody turned up. Its a complete balls-up, she said. It has been absolutely negligent. This is a council that should know better. This is all supposed to be us living in the community and not costing the government a fortune by being in care. Boroondaras decision to exist aged care services was opposed by many elderly residents at the time, who said they were not properly consulted and did not want to change carers. Loading A spokesman for Boroondara said mecwacare had advised the council and the government it needed six weeks to transition the elderly residents in Boroondara to its services, and the council had worked to this time frame. Mecwacare never disclosed any concern regarding staffing shortages and possible impact to services to council prior to commencing the transition of this Commonwealth government service, the spokesman said. If there are service issues, this is a matter for the Commonwealth government as the owner of the service and mecwacare as its provider. Boroondara said it made the switch because of the introduction of the governments Support at Home program, which requires providers to offer specialist services such as occupational therapy and physiotherapy. A Department of Health and Aged Care spokesman said when Boroondara made the decision to no longer provide aged care services, the government undertook a rigorous process to select a new provider. It is a matter for both the outgoing and incoming providers to manage the organisation and staffing requirements involved in the transition, the spokesman said. The department notes there has been some disruption to services as mecwacare on-boards staff. Mecwacare is actively recruiting additional aged care staff to manage the increase in client numbers. He said it was unfortunate, but disruptions could occur due to the competitive environment for staff at the moment. Australian Services Union secretary Lisa Darmanin said Boroondaras decision to stop providing in-home aged care services had put the welfare of elderly residents at risk. Local councils are trusted, reliable providers of in-home aged care services and should not abandon vulnerable elderly residents by ending their role in aged care, she said. Privatisation of in-home aged care services is not just a policy failure, it is a risk to elderly people who rely on essential in-home aged care service. Darmanin said the privatisation of aged care services was an issue across the state. Loading The ASU is looking into the continuity of aged care services where other councils have recently made the misguided decision to privatise in-home aged care, she said. Every councillor elected to a council still providing in-home aged care services needs to look very closely at whats happened in Boroondara and consider if thats what they want [to happen to] elderly people in their community. The Municipal Association of Victoria said 23 councils around the state were discontinuing their aged care services or had already done so. Reeves said even if the letters prompted just 30 people to rent their houses long-term, it would be worthwhile. He said the council had no power to compel property owners, but he hoped the letters, to go out in the coming weeks, would appeal to their sense of community obligation. The problem is particularly severe on the Bass Coast, which includes Phillip Island, with more than 10,000 properties vacant on census night, accounting for just over 39 per cent of the total. Bass Coast Shire chief executive Ali Wastie said there was plenty of housing in the municipality, but many people either leased houses on short-stay sites or left them completely vacant. She also hoped the letters would encourage non-resident property owners in the shire to act in the interests of the local community. They may not be aware that businesses cant get staff because theres no housing for them to live in, she said. Bass Coast ratepayers are expected to receive the letters next week. The letters will ask property owners to put their homes on the rental market for 12 to 24 months. There are many reasons houses remain unoccupied, including a switch from permanent rental to short-term rentals, but this potential under-utilisation presents a housing opportunity, the letter says. Our communities will not thrive unless they can sustain a permanent population. Gippsland Lakes Complete Health chief executive Anne-Maree Kaser moved to Lakes Entrance last year and struggled to find a rental property. Here I am a professional woman, good income, great history, she says. I couldnt even get a look-in. After three months, she found a house to rent through a colleague, but that agreement ends in December and Kaser dreads having to find another place to live. Anne-Maree Kaser struggled to find a rental property when she moved to Lakes Entrance despite earning a good income. Credit:Paul Jeffers In Lakes Entrance and surrounding areas, almost 24 per cent of private dwellings were unoccupied on census night, equating to almost 1450 properties. Kaser said her service desperately needed more allied health professionals and general practitioners. But several times, she said, great candidates were unable to take the jobs because they could not find anywhere to live. She said other regional health services were reporting similar problems. Many businesses along the main drag of Lakes Entrance are short-staffed and some have notices plastered in their windows seeking workers. Matt ODonnell, who owns the cafe, convention centre and catering business Albert & Co, said he was about 15 workers short. Matt ODonnell has had to restrict operating hours because his hospitality business is short-staffed. Credit:Eddie Jim ODonnell has slashed operating hours due to staff shortages. He has advertised for staff in Melbourne and interstate and even considered finding accommodation for workers himself. But theres nowhere around here we could do that, he said. Local hairdressing salon manager Jacqui McInnes said she could easily hire another two hairdressers but could not find workers. I dont know why, she said. McInnes said the town remained popular with tourists, but businesses could not meet the demand. Lakes Entrance hair salon manager Jacqui McInnes said she could easily hire another two workers. Credit:Eddie Jim At Christmas when the towns full, these businesses are closing at 7 oclock at night. Tourism industry groups have asked the state government to follow the lead of other states and cap the number of days owners can lease their properties on short-stay sites, in an effort to encourage more long-term rentals. The state government confirmed it would review short-stay accommodation laws and investigate whether the regulations needed further amendments. Elders Lakes Entrance principal Rachael Newman said her real estate agency received at least two walk-ins every day, in addition to phone calls with people seeking rental properties. Newman said houses that did become available were snapped up quickly and rent typically started at $380 a week. The latest Domain data revealed rents have soared by up to 20 per cent in some regional towns over the past year. And census figures showed that 36.2 per cent of renters in Lakes Entrance were making rental payments greater than 30 per cent of their household income, putting them in rental stress. Newman has worked in local real estate for nine years and said the relatively affordable rental market had vanished as desperate buyers pounced on properties during the depths of lockdown. Business operators and real estate agents say they have never seen the rental market so tight in Lakes Entrance. Credit:Eddie Jim Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has joined her American and Japanese counterparts to lash China for firing five missiles into the ocean in Japans economic zone, hours after China halted all dialogue with the United States on major issues including climate change and military relations. In a sign that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan will continue to reverberate long after she has left, Beijing announced it was ending all dialogue between senior-level military commanders and talks on climate change action. In this photo released by Chinas Xinhua News Agency, a projectile is launched from an unspecified location in China during long-range live-fire drills on Thursday. Credit:Xinhua It followed China firing five missiles over Taiwan which landed in the ocean in Japans economic zone, bringing Tokyo directly into the dispute. Taiwans defence ministry said on Saturday morning multiple Chinese ships and planes conducted missions in the Taiwan Strait, with some crossing that divides the democratically governed island from its superpower neighbour. Affected people, the opposition and Greens only learned about it when contacted by The Sunday Age. While the Victorian government is not considering making ex gratia payments for those Victorians who were unable to travel home during this period, it does acknowledge the distress and disruption that the border restrictions generally created, the government said in response to the ombudsman. It also acknowledges the frustration and challenges that people experienced when attempting to obtain an exemption. The government did not directly respond to questions from The Sunday Age. A spokesman said the border closure was necessary because of the ferociousness of the Delta outbreak in NSW, the risk of incursion, and low vaccination rates at the time. The government had also warned against travelling to NSW. We did everything we could at the time to remind Victorians of the risk we were facing ... but we also acknowledge that it was a very difficult time for many Victorians interstate. Cars line up at the Victorian border. Credit:Jason Robbins Garcias application to enter Victoria was repeatedly rejected, or expired, with nobody to contact for proper guidance. Residents applying for a permit had to specify the date they planned to cross the border. The date often passed before the application was processed, nullifying it. What would make me happy is if they said: We got it wrong, the processes need to be improved, we acknowledge there was no empathy shown to people, and in future this will never happen again, Garcia said. Thats all, Im not putting my hand up for money. I dont want compensation. He has not received an apology from the government, although some others have by email. The ombudsman is still considering the governments response. Once it is finalised, as part of a two-year review into the governments progress on recommendations in all her reports, it will be tabled in parliament. Glass declined to comment until then. In her report last year, Glass said discretion under the blunt system was unnecessarily narrow. Staff had 30 to 60 seconds to deal with applications, most of which did not even make it to a decision-maker, with only 8 per cent of exemptions approved. The government gave people only 12 hours to cross the border before it closed on July 20, a restriction that remained in place even once Victorias infection rate eclipsed NSWs. Loading The opposition has long criticised the government during the pandemic. Labor has since changed its tactics with the more infectious new strains of COVID-19 and high two-dose vaccination rates, acknowledging in the lead-up to the November state election that public acceptance of mandates has waned. Shadow health spokeswoman Georgie Crozier on Saturday said the border closure was the most cruel and inept of many kneejerk decisions and had caused unnecessary suffering. Greens spokesman for health Dr Tim Read said residents did not need to be kept out of Victoria once the virus was spreading in the state. An apology and compensation, particularly for those on low incomes who were paying rent in two states, would be the least the government could do. Melbourne father Clint Fisher ended up living in a caravan park, away from work, for six weeks in Scotts Head, on the NSW mid-north coast, after his car broke down when the Delta variant first cut loose. He applied to return home which everyone described as a confusing process when his car was fixed, but his application repeatedly expired before it was seen to. I was lucky enough to be in a beautiful spot and surfing and stuff. I was probably one of the lucky ones and I still found it incredibly frustrating and distressing because I didnt know when Id see my family again. Fisher did not participate in the ombudsmans investigation and did not receive an apology which he was satisfied with, accepting the need to close the border. Melbourne woman Jo Howard, who was on a working holiday in northern NSW when the state was cut off, has received an apology from the government. She waited for a permit for weeks at the border in a cheap studio cottage. Double-vaccinated, and with a negative PCR result every two days, Howard was frustrated she couldnt drive home with no stops to quarantine alone. The problematic thing was the bureaucracy, Howard said. The difficulty for everyone was just not knowing ... Not knowing where its going to end, I think thats what started to get to me, at the end. Howard, who did not participate in the ombudsman investigation, has left those feelings behind her. She said she did not expect more than the apology email she received. We had this property on the market for two and a half weeks and our initial price guide was $1.5 million and our buyer feedback was construction costs are too expensive, the house is in such a bad state, its not worth $1.5 million, Tsavalas said. We were making it quite clear it was a deceased estate, it had to be sold at auction, it had to trade, and I think buyers are very critical of vendor motivation. So if its an investment property, or they are looking to upsize or downsize and havent bought yet, buyers are a bit more sceptical. But when the motivation is there like a deceased estate, if a property is priced right, buyers will bite. The run down home needed significant renovation to fix water ingress, rising damp, the balcony and roof. Credit:Rhett Wyman The home, which was in disrepair, needed significant renovations that could cost from $250,000 (for a quick tidy up) to $1.5 million (to add a garage, a studio and change its layout), he said. The balcony needs to be replaced, the roof needs attention, there was water ingress in the brickwork, it needed urgent attention. It was left to deteriorate, Tsavalas said. He also said it needed subfloor ventilation, gutters, down pipes and waterproofing injections to fix rising damp and water damage. The buyers who are buying it are buying it with the intention of raising their children. What its worth in two or three years is irrelevant. Whoever plays the long game in real estate in Sydney wins. The ecstatic couple the moment the hammer fell at Darlington. Credit:Rhett Wyman It was one of 447 auctions scheduled in Sydney on Saturday. By evening, Domain Group recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 56.6 per cent from 281 reported results, while 80 auctions were withdrawn. Withdrawn auctions are counted as unsold properties when calculating the clearance rate. The sale bucked July auction trends in Sydney, where a little more than half of properties sold under the hammer, a quarter were withdrawn and about another quarter sold prior. The city has the largest proportion of sold prior and withdrawn auctions of the capitals, Domains July Auction Report revealed. Sydney also posted an annual drop in auction house prices for the first time since September 2019, falling 2.5 per cent to $1,662,000 in the year to July. The monthly change was -7.7 per cent. Meanwhile in Ultimo, nine buyers registered to bid on a four-bedroom terrace at 20 Henry Avenue, which originally had a price guide of $1.7 million and had the same reserve price, although the guide was later adjusted to $1.5 million. The auction opened at $1.5 million and rose in varying increments as four of the buyers placed bids. The competition halved at $1.7 million when two bidders fought it out until it sold for $1.84 million to a Brisbane father who has children in boarding school in Sydney. Selling agent Matthew Carvalho of Ray White Surry Hills, Alexandria, Glebe and Erskineville said the home had very little interest during most of the campaign. We had a buyers guide of $1.7 million and we had very little traffic through the home. We pushed the auction out a week and reduced the guide to $1.5 million, Carvalho said. Loading I didnt think it would get that high, when we initially had hopes of that level, but the market was there. We had to take a step back to get two steps forward. He said that buyers ultimately needed to see value and social proof at auctions as there was a fear of overpaying. The big thing at the moment is there is reduced supply. Buyers who thought they would be spoilt for choice are no longer going to be. In Longueville, one of the last waterfront homes that has yet to be redeveloped sold for $9.16 million to a family upgrading from the upper north shore. Fourteen buyers registered to bid on 11a Norfolk Road, a four-bedroom house on 1382 square metres with its own private jetty and slipway. The auction opened bang on the price guide of $7 million, rising in $200,000 and $100,000 bids before slowing down to $50,000 and $20,000 as five buyers participated. The home eventually sold for $9.16 million, surpassing the $7.5 million reserve. It sold through Kerrie Robertson and Stewart Kirkby of LJ Hooker Lane Cove. In Chiswick, a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit at 42/54a Blackwall Point Road passed in on a vendors bid of $940,000. Two parties a first-home buyer and an investor registered to bid on the property, which was guided at $900,000 and opened at $880,000. Selling agent Mario Carbone of Ray White Drummoyne said the vendor was motivated to sell. America, when it comes to the sins of its history, has lacked a "never again" moment. Five years ago, white supremacists descended upon Charlottesville, Va., to oppose that city's attempt to remove Confederate statues. But anyone who witnessed the torch-carrying marchers chanting "Jews will not replace us!" had to realize that the so-called Unite the Right march was about more than monuments. Today, the political right is united in its extremism, barely distinguishable from hate groups. "The Great Replacement" a conspiracy theory that nonwhite people are being brought to America to "replace" and disempower white people has become the common fodder of Tucker Carlson, the most popular cable news show host in the nation. Events in Charlottesville on Aug. 11-12, 2017 culminating with a neo-Nazi plowing his car into a crowd of counter-protesters, killing Heather Heyer should have been a "never again" moment. But when then-President Donald Trump surveyed that wreckage and saw "very fine people, on both sides," white supremacists in America knew they had a friend in the White House. Trump later sealed this deal with a shoutout to the Proud Boys "stand back and stand by." Following an attempted coup to keep Trump in office on Jan. 6, 2021, he described the insurrectionists as "great people." A broad swath of America has embraced creeping fascism and autocracy in a manner that would bring a knowing smile to Adolf Hitler. The Civil War is still going on. It's still to be fought, and regrettably it can still be lost, historian Barbara Fields said in Ken Burns' documentary "The Civil War." We are perilously close to losing what might be described as a war over memory. Since June, I have been the co-host of a five-part podcast, "Memory Wars," on how Germany society confronted its sins after an incomprehensible atrocity. Radio IQ reporter Mallory Noe-Payne spent a year in Germany doing research and interviews that she hoped might provide a blueprint for how we might tackle the legacy of our painful past in the former capitol of the Confederacy. Remembrance, we concluded, was essential to this task in a city where Lost Cause monuments lionized 19th century insurgents while one of the largest burial grounds for free and enslaved Black people was erased from a landscape now occupied by an abandoned gas station. I'd always assumed that this sort of erasure happened out of our avoidance of our uncomfortable history. But the dearth of remembrance runs deeper than America's unwillingness to confront its own past. In 2020, a 50-state survey on Holocaust knowledge among Millennials and Gen Z showed "a worrying lack of basic Holocaust knowledge," according to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. According to its survey, 63% of respondents did not know that 6 million Jews were murdered and 36% thought that 2 million or fewer Jews were killed during the Holocaust. Additionally, 48% of the respondents could not name a single one of the more than 40,000 camps and ghettos in Europe during the Holocaust. At times, we appear to be literally blind to this history. Take Hanover County Public Schools. The school district, as part of its Unified Professional Learning conference last week, distributed T-shirts with a logo that immediately brought to mind a swastika to nearly everyone who glanced at it. The school district apologized amid staff and public outrage and said it would stop distribution of the shirts, which Superintendent Michael Gill said were designed by a teacher. But the context leading up to the T-shirts had to be unnerving to the district's Jewish employees, who must already feel under duress from a school board majority whose recent actions evince demonstrable Christian bias whether it's a new member vowing to approach curriculum and policy with a "biblical worldview" or the board taking legal advice from a faith-based anti-LGBTQ outfit. Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League reports that Virginia had the nations second-highest number of incidents involving white supremacist propaganda last year, and a 27% rise in anti-Semitic messaging. Charlottesville definitely set off a pattern, so it is possible that hate has just continued to have a stronger presence since the Unite the Right rally, ADL regional director Meredith Weisel told the Virginian-Pilot newspaper. Just as the Confederate States of America lost the Civil War but "won the peace" with effective Lost Cause propaganda, the KKK members, Nazis and other hatemongers in Charlottesville lost the battle over Confederate monuments in Charlottesville but could win their ideological war. This is not a past we can "move on" from. This history not only informs our present, but threatens our future as a multiracial and pluralistic democracy. Charlottesville must not become shorthand for the resurgence of hate, but rather, the emergence of a resolve to repair centuries-old wounds. The war of memory cannot be lost. Singapore: A senior Indonesian minister has taken aim at Pauline Hanson over her claims that Australian tourists could bring foot and mouth disease into the country from Bali because cattle roam the streets there and s--t on the ground. The One Nation senator has joined the opposition in attacking the Australian governments response to the outbreak of the livestock virus in Indonesia. One Nation senator Pauline Hanson in the Senate. Credit:James Brickwood In an outburst in the Senate on Thursday she said Bali was totally different to other countries when it came to disease control. Cattle roam the streets, cattle s--t on the ground, people walk in that s--t, she said. Taipei: The deputy head of Taiwan defence ministrys research and development unit was found dead on Saturday morning in a hotel room, according to the official Central News Agency. Ou Yang Li-hsing, deputy head of the military-owned National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology, was found dead in a hotel room in southern Taiwan on Saturday morning, CNA reported. It said authorities were looking into the cause of death. A Taiwan self-made anti-ship Brave Wind II or Hsiung Feng II missile. Credit:AP Ou Yang was on a business trip to the southern county of Pingtung, CNA said, adding that he had assumed the post early this year to supervise various missile production projects. Tudor Gold Obtains Interim Order and Provides Transaction Update Tudor Gold Corp. (TSXV: TUD) (FSE: TUC) (the aCompanya or aTudor Golda https://www.commodity-tv.com/ondemand/companies/profil/tudor-gold-corp/ ) announced today that, further to its news releases dated July 13, 2021, February 1, 2022 and July 8, 2022 (the aInitial News Releasesa), the Company obtained an interim order from the Supreme Court ofA British ColumbiaA (the \Court\) onA August 3, 2022, authorizing the holding of its annual general and special meeting (the \Meeting\) and matters relating to the conduct of the Meeting, including approval of the Arrangement (as defined below). At the Meeting, shareholders of the Company (the \Shareholders\) as of the record date, being August 3, 2022 (the aRecord Datea), will be asked, among other things, to consider and, if deemed advisable, pass a special resolution (the \Arrangement Resolution\) to approve a spin-out transaction (the \Arrangement\) in accordance with the terms of the arrangement agreement entered into by the Company and Goldstorm Metals Corp. (aGoldstorma), its wholly-owned subsidiary, onA July 6, 2021, as further amended and restated on January 31, 2022, July 8, 2022 and July 28, 2022 (the \Arrangement Agreement\) by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under section 288 of theA Business Corporations ActA (British Columbia). Pursuant to the Arrangement, among other things: Shareholders as of the Record Date will receive approximately 0.251 of a common share of Goldstorm (a aGoldstorm Sharea) for every one common share of Tudor Gold held; and Goldstorm will acquire the Companya?s six contiguous Golden Triangle Area mineral properties, being the Mackie East, Mackie West, Fairweather, High North, Delta and Orion and Electrum properties in consideration for Goldstorm issuing 49,847,967 Goldstorm Shares to the Shareholders as of the Record Date. For further information on the Arrangement, please refer to the Initial News Releases. Additional details of the Arrangement will be included in the Companya?s information circular prepared in connection with the Meeting, which will be mailed on or before August 11, 2022 to Shareholders as of the Record Date. The Meeting will be held onA September 7, 2022A atA 10:00 a.m.A (VancouverA time) at 10th Floor, 595 Howe Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 2T5. Assuming no adjournment or postponement to the Meeting, the cut-off time to vote by proxy will beA 10:00 a.m.A (VancouverA time) onA September 2, 2022. The Arrangement isA anticipated to be completed during the week of September 12, 2022, subject to obtaining Court, Shareholder and regulatory approval and the satisfaction of conditions set forth in the Arrangement Agreement. About Tudor Gold TUDOR GOLD Corp. is a precious and base metals exploration and development company with properties in British Columbiaa?s Golden Triangle (Canada), an area that hosts producing and past-producing mines and several large deposits that are approaching potential development. The 17,913 hectare Treaty Creek project (in which TUDOR GOLD has a 60% interest) borders Seabridge Gold Inc.a?s KSM property to the southwest and borders Pretium Resources Inc.a?s Brucejack property to the southeast. In April 2021 Tudor Gold published their 43-101 technical report, aTechnical Report and Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of the Treaty Creek Gold Property, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia Canadaa dated March 1, 2021 on the Companya?s SEDAR profile. The Company also has a 100% interest in the Crown project and a 100% interest in the Eskay North project, all located in the Golden Triangle area. 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. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information All statements, trend analysis and other information contained in this press release about anticipated future events or results constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as aseeka, aanticipatea, abelievea, aplana, aestimatea, aexpecta and aintenda and statements that an event or result amaya, awilla, ashoulda, acoulda or amighta occur or be achieved and other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, statements regarding the completion of the Arrangement and the results of the Meeting are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements since the Company can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Companya?s periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, and assumptions made with regard to: the Companya?s ability to complete the proposed Arrangement on the terms and conditions contemplated, or at all; the Companies\- ability to secure the necessary shareholder, Court and regulatory approvals required to complete the Arrangement; the estimated costs associated with the Arrangement; the timing of the Meeting and the Arrangement, and the general stability of the economy and the industry in which the Company operates. Forward-looking statements are subject to business and economic risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results of operations to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company expectations include risks associated with the business of the Company; risks related to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions to the closing of the Arrangement; non-completion of the Arrangement; risks related to the Company failing to obtain the requisite shareholder approval required for the Arrangement; risks relating the number of dissenting shareholders requiring fair value for their securities in connection with the Arrangement; risks related to exploration and potential development of the Company projects; business and economic conditions in the mining industry generally; fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties, and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; and other risk factors as detailed from time to time and additional risks identified in the Company filings with Canadian securities regulators on SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com). Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the date the statements are made. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. El Aaiun (Refugee Camps), 6 August 2022 (SPS) - The 4th Congress of the Sahrawi students Union of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (UESARIO) was kicked off Friday in the Wilaya of El Aaiun, the Sahrawi refugee camps, with participation of more than 400 delegates from UESARIO's branches, a delegation from the occupied territories of Western Sahara, and more than 150 guests representing international student organizations which maintain working relations and cooperation with UESARIO. The participants in UESARIOs 4th Congress will work on developing a strategy for the union's action for the next four years, as well as electing a leadership, Secretary General and members of Executive Office. The Congress, which bears the name of the martyr Bakkar Laghdaf, and held under the theme "Sahrawi Students, Soldiers for Liberation and Force for Construction," will culminate in several recommendations. (SPS) 062/T There may be worse times to hold an election than during the dog days of August February comes to mind but not many. Voters are already distracted without having to accommodate the unusual scheduling of not just a primary election, but a special election, as well. Both are important. Nevertheless, those are the facts as New Yorkers deal with the aftermath of a contested political redistricting plan and the overlay of an unexpected resignation. Heres whats happening: AUG. 23 PRIMARIES Yes, New York party members already voted in a primary election, on June 28. But because a judge threw out some proposed new districts, some primaries were delayed. Thus, on Aug. 23, registered Republicans and Democrats face additional primary elections, this time for members of Congress and the New York State Senate. The races: 23rd Congressional District: In this newly drawn district, which includes parts of Erie Countys Southtowns and then sprawls south, east and west, two Republicans are vying for the partys nomination. They are New York State Republican Chairman Nicholas Langworthy and former gubernatorial nominee Carl Paladino. The winner will face Democratic candidate Max Della Pia, a retired Air Force officer, in the November general election. Note: This election is in the newly reconfigured 23rd District. In the still-existing 23rd District, a special election will also be held on Aug. 23. It covers different geography. See further down. 26th Congressional District: While the race in the 23rd Congressional District has been sucking up most of the oxygen, Democrats need to know that an important primary will also be held in this Buffalo-centric district. Rep. Brian Higgins, seeking a 10th term, faces Emin Eddie Egriu, a contractor who has tried three previous times to get on the ballot. Democratic voters need to be aware of this race, but the confusion that permeates this years primaries and the political noise emanating from the adjoining 23rd District may keep some voters from even knowing they have a choice to make. The winner will face retired Army Sgt. Steven Sams II of Getzville, a Republican, in the November election. 61st State Senate District: At one time, both Democrats and Republicans faced choices in this district, but former Erie County Executive Joel Giambra dropped out of the Republican contest. Although his name will remain on the ballot, incumbent Edward A. Rath III will prevail. Democrats, meanwhile, must choose between State Sen. Sean Ryan and challenger Benjamin S. Carlisle, an attorney. Ryan is the incumbent in the 60th Senate District, but with redistricting, he is running in the 61st District. The winner will face Rath in November. AUG. 23 SPECIAL ELECTION With the unexpected resignation of Rep. Tom Reed, R-Corning, voters of the existing, differently configured 23rd Congressional District will choose a successor to complete the final few months of Reeds term. The candidates are Republican Joe Sempolinski, the Steuben County party chairman who was a top aide to Reed, and Democrat Max Della Pia, who is also running in the general election in the newly configured 23rd District. Sempolinski is not seeking election in the new district. Note: Because this is a special election, and not a primary, all registered voters in the district may cast ballots. HOW TO VOTE In the primaries, only registered party members may vote. Find polling places on the website of your countys elections board. In Erie County, the website is elections.erie.gov. Voters can still request absentee ballots for the elections but, at this point, only in person. Acceptable reasons for voting absentee include fear of Covid-19 infection. Completed ballots can be turned into the elections office as late as 9 p.m. on Election Day. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Aug. 23 and received by Tuesday, Aug. 30. Early voting begins on Saturday, Aug. 13 and continues through Sunday, Aug. 21. Voting hours are noon-9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on weekends. Polling places can be found on the elections board website. PARTY AFFILIATION There is at least one more possible pitfall for voters. Those who want to change their party affiliation before the Aug. 23 primary must do so by this coming Thursday, Aug. 11. Thats a change. Until a court ruling on Wednesday, voters could have changed their affiliation as late as the date of the election. Act fast or stay in your lane. But, most of all, vote. Well offer some endorsements next weekend. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. Washington (USA) 6 August 2022 (SPS)- The US Senate Appropriations Committee has taken new decisions brushing aside Moroccos expansionist claims on Western Sahara, and forbidding to Department State to use any funds in the opening of a consulate in occupied territories. The US Senate Appropriations Committee addressed the Western Sahara issue from three extremely important angles. The first angle contained in the explanatory memorandum of the budget bill, sees the committee deals separately with the Western Sahara as a distinct territory aside from Morocco, brushing thus the Moroccan dream to see the US recognizing its illegal occupation. The second angle consisted in urging the Secretary of State to promote the establishment of a monitoring and reporting mechanism on the issue of human rights within the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. While the third and last angle, consists in this committee recommending that none of the funds allocated or made available by the 2023 finance law or previous laws can be used to support the construction or operation of an American consulate in Western Sahara. A measure that puts an end to Moroccos ambitions to see the United States join the list of countries that have opened a consulate in the occupied Saharawi territories. Following is the full paragraphs on Western Sahara in Page 76 of the Explanation Statement issued by the Committee: Western Sahara.The Committee urges the Secretary of State to promote the establishment of a human rights monitoring and reporting mechanism within the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. The Committee recommends not less than the prior fiscal year level, within funds provided for the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative, for programs to improve education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and for other assistance for the Western Sahara, and directs the Secretary of State to consult with the Committees on Appropriations on the planned uses of such funds. None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the act or prior acts may be used to support the construction or operation of a U.S. consulate in the Western Sahara. (SPS0 090/500/60 (SPS) Quito (Ecuador), 6 August 2022 (SPS) - The Ecuadorean Foreign Minister, Mr. Juan Carlos Holguin, received Friday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the designated Sahrawi ambassador, Mr. Ahmiduha Ahmed, who presented a copy of his credentials, as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Sahrawi Republic to Ecuador. The Sahrawi diplomat conveyed to the head of Ecuadorian diplomacy the greetings of the Sahrawi Government and people and the President of the Republic, the Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, expressing his appreciation and satisfaction for this work of great importance to the Sahrawi people and bilateral relations between the two countries. The Ecuadorean Foreign Minister affirmed, "It is our pleasure to see the close friendship and cooperation relations established by the Sahrawi Republic with the Ecuadorean state and its institutions, through the multiple agreements signed with universities, municipalities and public and private institutions in Ecuador". 062/T This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LaPLACE, La. (AP) Enthusiastic church volunteer Sonia St. Cyr lost something she treasures during the blackout caused by Hurricane Ida her independence, afforded her by the electric wheelchair she expertly maneuvers over bumpy city sidewalks. After Ida I was housebound, said St. Cyr, who has multiple sclerosis. She did her best to conserve power on her wheelchair, going only to the end of her block or sitting on her porch after the storm made landfall last August 29. It took 10 more days before all of the habitable homes in New Orleans had electricity again. With the lights out and nothing open in her Broadmoor neighborhood of New Orleans, It was not fun. A project launching in southeast Louisiana aims to help people like St. Cyr who are especially vulnerable during extended power outages as the warming climate produces more extreme weather including bigger and wetter hurricanes. Community Lighthouses, outfitted with roof solar panels and a battery pack to store energy, can serve as electricity hubs after a disaster, enabling neighbors to recharge batteries, power up phones or store temperature-sensitive medications. They're being sponsored by Together New Orleans, a non-partisan network of churches and groups that tries to fix community problems. Organizer Broderick Bagert said they felt "impotent and powerless as the city struggled to deliver basics like collecting garbage in Idas aftermath. They realized that local governments couldnt handle everything alone. You can spend a lot of time saying... Why dont they? said Bagert. But you start to realize the real question is Why dont we? More than just energy hardware, each lighthouse needs a team of volunteers to study their areas, learn who has health problems and who needs medication refrigerated or depends on electric wheelchairs for mobility. While people with means can evacuate ahead of a hurricane, about one in four people live in poverty in New Orleans, and not everyone can afford to flee. Hurricanes are also forming more quickly due to climate change, making it more likely that people can find themselves stuck in a disaster zone. Each lighthouse should be able to connect with all of its neighborhoods vulnerable people within 24 hours of an outage, Bagert said. This is not all about batteries and and solar panels. There are some other batteries and solar panels made by the hand of God. And that is called the human personality, the Rev. JC Richardson, pastor of Cornerstone United Methodist Church, said during an event announcing one of the locations. The pilot phase anticipates 24 sites 16 in New Orleans and eight elsewhere in Louisiana. Theyve raised nearly $11 million of the anticipated $13.8 million cost with help from the Greater New Orleans Foundation, the city, federal funding and other donations. Jeffrey Schlegelmilch, director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, said systems that can operate independent of the power grid often referred to as microgrids are becoming more popular as businesses and communities address climate change by trying to reduce their carbon footprint or secure backup electricity. Were expecting more extreme weather. Were expecting more stress on the grid, he said. It's particularly important to have such hubs in places with high levels of chronic disease, where outages can take an outsized toll, he said: Keeping them powered up could mean fewer people in ambulances. An Associated Press analysis found that weather-related outages doubled over the last two decades. Louisiana is one of three states experiencing a 50% increase in outage duration. Pastor Neil Bernard anticipates helping many more people at his New Wine Christian Fellowship in the New Orleans suburb of LaPlace. The church is a designated shelter of last resort in St. John the Baptist Parish, which was hard-hit during Ida. The roar of generators is a common sound after a hurricane, and the parish government provided one to the church, but they are noisy, carbon monoxide fumes are dangerous and fuel can be scarce when storm damage impedes transportation. Keeping New Wines generator fueled and maintained was a challenge after Ida. Now the church will benefit year-round: Once the lighthouse is installed, Bernard anticipates saving $3,000 a month in energy bills. Hurricanes arent the only extreme weather triggering interest in microgrids. Experts say theres growing interest in California, where utility companies sometimes preemptively de-energize power lines when conditions are ripe for wildfires so that their equipment doesn't spark a fire. Ice and wind storms as well as tropical weather can cause blackouts in places like Baltimore, which launched a similar project in 2015. The city has four locations fully outfitted with solar power and battery backup systems, and aims to have 30 in three years, the citys climate and resilience planner, Aubrey Germ, said in an email. A number of the systems have performed well during power outages, enabling the Hubs to provide continuity of essential services such as cell phone charging, cooling, and information to residents in need of support, Germ wrote. CrescentCare lost $250,000 in medicines and vaccines in Ida's aftermath. The New Orleans-based health care center had two generators when Hurricane Ida hit, but one failed and they couldnt get enough fuel to run the other, said CEO Noel Twilbeck. Now, the center will serve as one of the first Lighthouses in the area. The solar panels are designed to withstand 160-mph winds, said Pierre Moses, the president of 127 Energy, which finances and develops renewable energy projects. He's also a technical consultant to the Community Lighthouse effort. Direct Relief, one of the donors financing the lighthouse project, didn't aim to be an energy provider it began funding microgrids after being asked repeatedly to pay for generators and fuel after hurricanes. The humanitarian aid group's president and CEO, Thomas Tighe, sees the value now that medical records are computerized and more people need energy-dependent devices at home such as dialysis machines and oxygen. Youve set things up presuming there will always be power and that presumption is no longer valid in a lot of places, he said. HELENA, Mont. (AP) A day after the federal government declared a public health emergency to respond to monkeypox, the Montana health department on Friday reported the state's first suspected case of the virus. Wyoming is the only state in the country that hasn't reported a case, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Montana health department and the Flathead City-County Health Department confirmed a presumptive case of monkeypox in an adult living in the county. The sample will be sent to the CDC for confirmation, officials said. The health departments and the patient's health care provider are working to identify people who may have been in contact with the patient while they were infectious. The patient is isolating at home, officials said. The virus spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, including hugging, cuddling and kissing, as well as sharing bedding, towels and clothing. Symptoms can include fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph notes, chills, exhaustion and a rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appear on the face, inside the mouth and on other parts of the body. The illness can last 2-4 weeks and most people get better on their own without treatment. Because the virus is similar to smallpox, antiviral drugs such as tecovirimat and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be effective to treat or prevent monkeypox. The health department has ordered a supply of tecovirimat, officials said. The federal government declared a public health emergency on Thursday to improve its response to the outbreak, which at that point had infected more than 7,100 Americans in 48 states. A total of 7,500 cases had been reported by Friday, the CDC said. Under the emergency declaration, the Department of Health and Human Services can draw from emergency funds, hire or reassign staff to deal with the outbreak and take other steps to control the virus. The federal government should also be able to seek more information from state and local health officials about who is becoming infected and who is being vaccinated. That information can be used to better understand how the outbreak is unfolding and how well the vaccine works. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate STAMFORD In an auto shop classroom near the loading docks at Westhill High School, a collection of incoming sophomores were hard at work last week building their own drones. Leading the way inside were Jesse Glaude, a wood shop teacher at the school, and Adam Scianna, director of early college studies at Stamford High School. The summer workshop was not meant to help students recover credits or catch up on material like typical summer school classes, but rather to introduce a new manufacturing course the district hopes to build in to the curriculum starting this fall. What we really want to build this into is a manufacturing career pathway, teach students what types of jobs are out there, Glaude said. Manufacturing is just one component. The districts recently created Career Pathways, Workplace Learning & Apprenticeship system is meant to help guide students interested in a number of topics so that they can enter career fields after graduation or use the experience to better inform their college studies. The program is designed so Stamford students with an interest in agri-science, culinary arts, finance, marketing, STEM and other areas can follow a progression of classes to gain experience and knowledge in each. Claudia Berlage, a former assistant principal at Stamford High School, is heading the Career Pathways department. The idea for the program originated during talks to rebuild Westhill High School and how best to secure more funds from the state to pay for the new structure. Officials came up with the idea of creating the pathways program and making it regional, something state officials have valued in the past and rewarded with more funding. Their work was on point: 80 percent of the price tag for the new Westhill will be covered by the state. Luckily for Berlage, she wont have to build the pathways system from scratch, as many of the classes that fit into the pathways mold are already offered at the high schools. But one big component she is working to grow is internship and apprenticeship opportunities. So far, she has helped establish a pre-apprenticeship with a local carpenters union that allows students to earn a first year credit for a four-year program, and is trying to establish internships at fintech company FinTron. An apprenticeship or internship before college, she argued, can give students a sense of the field they are pursuing and what a career in it would look like. What she hopes to accomplish is better preparing students for the decision to attend college, she said. Many, she argued, go into college with little idea of what to study or what career to pursue. Shed like to see students attend college with more of a purpose, with a clearer idea of how a post-secondary education will help them achieve career goals. College is another pathway that ultimately leads to a career, Berlage. But not everyone goes to college, she said, and the career pathways program of courses and opportunities is also meant to better prepare those students who will enter the workforce once they graduate high school. I dont want to discourage people to go to college and find out who they are, Berlage said. But not everyone has that luxury. Berlage was raised in a suburb of Zurich, Switzerland, and moved to the United Stated in 1998. In the Swiss school system, high school students enter an apprenticeship program at the age of 15. That means that by the time they can go to college they already have workplace experience, a system Berlage argued is better geared toward setting young people up for success. For Glaude, next semester will be a pilot for two pathways classes he is introducing, both of which come with prerequisites. One is called power and mechanics, which students who finished introduction to automobiles can take. The other is general construction and emerging technologies, which will include the aforementioned carpenter pre-apprenticeship, and is designed to be taken after woodworking. The summer workshop on drone-making, a three-week course of three-hour classes, was a sort of informal kickoff of the new pathways, its teachers said. The idea is that if they took part in this this summer, then we could build upon this next summer and then their junior and senior year, they could take pathways courses in the manufacturing pathway, Sciana said. On Monday of last week, students from Westhill and Stamford High were soldering together components of a drone. The frame and arms of the drone were created using 3D printers in the classroom. This is really getting them interested in manufacturing and its getting them interested in engineering as well, Glaude said. The drones they were working on were called eVTOL, which stands for electric vertical takeoff and landing. Matthew Carpenter, a Westhill student, said the class was the first time he ever practiced soldering. Its a lot harder than I thought it would be, he said. The incoming sophomore said the class was a lot of fun. I enjoy this a lot and its something to just do in the middle of summer when you usually dont have something to do, he said. Its actually teaching me a lot about something that I didnt think Id learn this summer. Sky Gill, a Stamford High student, said the key to soldering and building her drone was being patient. The whole making your own drone thing sounded pretty cool, like how you get to use your hands and actually do it yourself, she said, when describing her excitement about the class. Olivia Cieciwa, a Westhill student, was far along in building her drone. As to whether it would work or not, she wasnt positive: Until I build it and test it out, I dont know. she said. It could work, it could not work. As Glaude stood in the adjacent woodworking classroom and looked at the students soldering wires and putting together their own drones, he said he wanted the class to be as hands-on as possible. Were working in there, he said. ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com A waterfront home in Florida where Swedish supergroup ABBA used to soak up the sun has hit the market. Located in Tierra Verde, it's available for $3.95 million. It took a bit of sleuthing to make the connection to the pop music legends. We found the architect and spoke to him on the phone. He said he was in a trailer on the site before the home was built with both couples, all four members of the band, face to face, designing the home, says listing agent Lisa Farmer, with Premier Sotheby's International Realty. At the time, he didnt realize it was ABBA until a few days later when he got a call from a reporter in London who apparently got wind of it," Farmer continues. "He said he met with two Swedish couples and thats how he found out it was ABBA. The unique 4,527-square-foot home was built in 1982 and met the needs of the two couples in the group, Agnetha Faltskog and Bjorn Ulvaeus, as well as Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. They specifically requested a Swedish longhouse design, and that's how it was designed. It's got a really neat central, common living area thats big and open with a really nice stone fireplace, Farmer says. What's kind of unique is that the two wings on both sides of the house are exactly identical and symmetrical. Aerial view Bear Karry Productions Exterior Living and dining area Bear Karry Productions Sitting area Bear Karry Productions Bathroom Bear Karry Productions Bedroom Bear Karry Productions Interior Bear Karry Productions Bedroom Bear Karry Productions Kitchen Bear Karry Productions Dining area Bear Karry Productions Each wing includes a primary suite with a water view, a loft area, and two additional bedrooms with a shared bathroom. While there are a total of six bedrooms, theres only one kitchen area. From what I understand, they wanted to build two kitchens also, but apparently permitting wouldn't allow that, Farmer explains. The space where they were going to do the other smaller kitchen in became a half-bath and laundry room. The foursome used the house for just a few years. After a string of chart-topping hits, the group stopped performing together the same year the house was built as intraband relationships collapsed. A couple bought the home in 1986 and lived in it until they recently passed away. They didnt change the house much after ABBA's tenure, Farmer says. What's super cool is there were some things left behind in the house from ABBA. There's some stereo equipment that the people that bought it never removed. They never even used it. It's in this one area where [ABBA] might have done some recording. There's an actual ABBA cassette that was left inside the cassette player, says Farmer. Office with stereo equipment Bear Karry Productions Porch Bear Karry Productions Hot tub Bear Karry Productions Pool Bear Karry Productions Dock Bear Karry Productions In addition to the large living area and the two wings, there's a large porch with a hot tub overlooking the pool. There's also a boat dock with access to the Gulf of Mexico. There are new solar panels on a new roof, but the home could use a few updates, a decor refresh, and perhaps some work to open up the kitchen. There are so many different options that somebody could do, Farmer says. The layout of the home is pretty special and just makes for a great house for somebody who would like to entertain or has a big family. It took a while to confirm the home's connection to the group known for such hits as "Dancing Queen," "Take a Chance on Me," and "Mamma Mia." Andante Music purchased the lot and the groups financial manager, John Spaulding, is on the original deed. The neighbors have talked about how they would see them in the backyard and how they played volleyball in the pool," Farmer says. "They were seen there. There was also plenty of speculation about the home's lineage on Reddit threads. Its fact now. I knew it was real. The children of the current owners knew it was real. The neighbors knew it was real, but [talking to the architect] was the final fact, Farmer says. I think it would be pretty cool for somebody to own a property with that kind of past and history. Bathroom sink Bear Karry Productions Aerial view Bear Karry Productions Interior Bear Karry Productions The post Mamma Mia! Florida House That ABBA Built Now Available for $3.95M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. WFO ALBANY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, August 5, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Albany NY 310 PM EDT Fri Aug 5 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY... ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values between 95 and 100 today and Saturday, and up to 104 on Sunday. * WHERE...In New York, the Capital District, mid Hudson Valley and southern Taconics. In Massachusetts, southern Berkshire County. In Connecticut, Litchfield County. * WHEN...For the first Heat Advisory, until 8 PM EDT this evening. For the second Heat Advisory, from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Saturday. For the third Heat Advisory, from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Sunday. * 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. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO NEW YORK CITY Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Friday, August 5, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service New York NY 303 PM EDT Fri Aug 5 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Heat index values in the middle 90s. * WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut and southeast New York. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...High temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A Heat Advisory is issued when the combination of heat and humidity is expected to make it feel like it is 95 to 99 degrees for two or more consecutive days, or 100 to 104 degrees for any length of time. Seniors and those with chronic health problems or mental health conditions are at an increased risk. Homes without air conditioning can be much hotter than outdoor temperatures. Use air conditioning to stay cool at home or go to a place that has air conditioning. Check on vulnerable friends, family members and neighbors. 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! In cases of heat stroke call 9 1 1. * WHERE...In Connecticut, Southern Middlesex, Southern Fairfield, Southern New London and Southern New Haven Counties. In New York, Southeast Suffolk, Southwest Suffolk, Southern Nassau, Northeast Suffolk, Northern Nassau and Northwest Suffolk Counties. ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central Fairfield County through 330 PM EDT... At 306 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Gaylordsville, or near Sherman, moving southeast at 5 mph. HAZARD...Pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Sherman, Brookfield and New Fairfield. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. LAT...LON 4165 7349 4164 7350 4153 7345 4151 7344 4150 7344 4150 7343 4151 7339 4148 7346 4157 7352 4165 7352 4166 7351 4166 7349 TIME...MOT...LOC 1906Z 326DEG 5KT 4163 7350 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN MAX WIND GUST...<30 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather News columnist Rod Watson recently took aim against a proposed outpatient treatment center for those suffering from opioid addiction. He also took a blatant swing at the Native American community. Hopewell Center is being developed by the Seneca Nation to serve everyone, not just the areas Native American population. There continues to be a glaring need for treatment in Western New York. Hundreds of people in Erie County are currently seeking help but are unable to access services. Hopewell Center will help fill that need by serving anyone in the community looking for treatment. Most troubling about the column, however, was Watsons obvious stay on your land tenor. The Seneca Nation, and all Native people and communities, recognize this dog whistle all too well. History is filled with governments and individuals who took our land and then told us to stay on the reservations where they allowed us to be. Clearly, that mentality persists today. Implicit in Watsons column is that communities want to keep Native Americans out, and that alone justifies opposition to a Seneca-owned project. Not only is this attitude harmful to Native Americans, it perpetuates animosity towards Native Americans in a manner that reflects just how far we still have to go to achieve a just and equal society. The Seneca Nation isnt confined to the lands we fought to keep over the centuries. We are very much an integral part of this community. More than 600 Seneca and hundreds of other Native individuals live in Buffalo, and more throughout Western New York. We are dedicated to being good neighbors, and hope that our efforts to promote health and well-being are not clouded by regressive and antiquated ways of thinking about indigenous people. Matthew Pagels President Seneca Nation of Indians D.G Yuengling & Son Inc. on Tuesday unveiled what it says is the worlds largest QR code and its grown from crops. Its a one-of-a-kind version of the Stars and Stripes QR code currently appearing on special camouflage cans of Yuengling Lager that support Team Red, White & Blue, a veterans advocacy group. Yuengling said that in recognition of the farming community, which plays an integral role in the beer industry, it partnered with Chalfant Family Farms in Farmland, Indiana, to create the unique symbol, which is one-quarter mile square. The crops were grown starting in May. With the QR code on Team RWB cans, customers can donate to Team RWB, watch Stars & Stripes brand ambassador Lee Brices More Beer music video; enter to win tickets to see Brice on tour this summer and shop in the brewerys virtual gift shop. Yuengling sponsored a free concert by Brice in its hometown of Pottsville on July 9, with a portion of the proceeds going toward the $50,000 Yuengling pledged to Team RWB. We wanted to offer up a unique and fun reminder to support Team RWB and have some fun with Lee Brice, Sheryl Yuengling, sixth generation family member, was quoted in the news release. (The) unveiling further highlights the brewerys year-round campaign dedicated to supporting our nations heroes. Yuengling says it has donated more than $800,000 to charities focused on supporting active-duty servicemen, veterans and their families since 2016 through the Yuengling Stars and Stripes program. Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (134) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (347) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (440) Jan 2014 (545) Feb 2014 (475) Mar 2014 (525) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (470) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (441) Oct 2014 (471) Nov 2014 (496) Dec 2014 (535) Jan 2015 (535) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (579) Apr 2015 (657) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (921) Nov 2015 (801) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (864) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (966) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (934) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (848) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (787) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (811) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (704) Aug 2022 (380) For quite some time, the American white population has stopped growing, with more white deaths than births. This is a natural progression from a declining fertility rate and a boomer generation which is decreasing through death. We have stopped replacing ourselves. The replacement theory, which I had never heard of until a gullible young man murdered several Black people while they were just shopping at a grocery store, is another big lie. The facts are that the white population is experiencing lower birth rates and higher death rates, and the face of America just plain alters, in part due to those changes. In some states, deaths of despair have contributed to the decrease in white populations: alcohol deaths, suicide, accidental drug overdose, and drug-induced deaths. As much as some would like to see things return to the 1950s, where our own apartheid practices ruled, its not going to happen. You just have to adapt to these changes and accept the idea that were not even replacing ourselves. There is no great uprising, no plot to out-baby us so that we are the minority. We are the minority already and, instead of looking at it as a problem, see it as a welcome opportunity to continue stirring the melting pot, but with better educated kids who can make us successful. Your European ancestors, coming to this country, were ostracized and limited to the worst housing, subjected to mistreatment and unfair labor practices, called filthy and drunks and greasy, but now you wouldnt know it. Not with Italian festival days, and St Patricks Day parades, Juneteenth, people celebrate their heritage and not ashamed of them. But theres evil among us. Dont let the devil get into your ear. And dont vote for him either. Becky Arcese Depew HONOLULU (AP) The campaign committee of former Hawaii Democratic state Rep. Ty Cullen, who pleaded guilty earlier this year after taking bribes, donated to two candidates for the state House of Representatives last month. State Campaign Spending Commission data says Friends of Ty Cullen has donated $2,000 to the campaign of Jamaica Cullen on July 26. She is running in the Democratic primary for parts of Waipahu and Hoopili, the area Ty Cullen used to represent. A voicemail message left for Jamaica Cullen wasnt returned. Campaign Spending Commission data shows Friends of Ty Cullen on July 8 donated $2,000 to Rachele Lamosao, who is running in the Democratic primary to represent central Waipahu. A report filed by Friends of Ty Cullen said he bought two fundraiser tickets for that amount. Lamosao, in an emailed statement received after this article was first published, said she donated $2,000 the same amount she received from Friends of Ty Cullen to the Campaign Spending Commission, which will help fund other campaigns seeking public financing. She said she accepts all contributions to her campaign. "However, under these circumstances, I felt it was most appropriate to donate this amount to the Campaign Spending Commission fund. I will always put my community first in every decision, regardless of any contributions made to my campaign, she said. State law says $2,000 is the most an individual may give to a House candidate in one election period. Friends of Ty Cullen had a cash balance of more than $133,000 as of June 30, according to a report filed with the commission. Cullen did not return a voicemail message seeking comment. Ty Cullen resigned from the state House of Representatives in February shortly before federal prosecutors announced charges against him and former Senate Majority Leader J. Kalani English. Court documents said they took bribes in exchange for shaping legislation that would benefit a company involved in publicly financed cesspool conversion projects. Cullen agreed to forfeit $23,000 the amount he received in bribes as part of a plea agreement. He's due to be sentenced on Oct. 20. English was sentenced to three years and four months in July. Corey Rosenlee, who is running in the Democratic primary against Jamaica Cullen, questioned whether Ty Cullen should continue to control his remaining campaign funds. It should be automatic that if you admit guilt or are found guilty for bribery, that money should go back to the donors and not be set up as some sort of slush fund, which you can use for however you want to, Rosenlee said. And in this case, helping out a family member. Maurice Morita, who is running in the Democratic primary against Lamosao, said if he received money from Ty Cullen he would give it back. The money is tainted. Whatever you get from him, or English, said Morita. Tony Baldomero, associate director of the Campaign Spending Commission, said Hawaii law doesn't address whether an individual loses control of their campaign funds after a conviction. A lawmaker is disqualified from holding office for 10 years after a conviction. Ty Cullen last ran for office in 2020, which means he can use the balance of funds up through 2024, Baldomero said. Hawaii law authorizes eight uses for such money, including purchasing candidate fundraiser tickets. The money may also be used to donate to charity, public schools, libraries and to award scholarships. DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) Record rainfall Friday trigged flash floods at Death Valley National Park that swept away cars, closed all roads and stranded hundreds of visitors and workers. There were no immediate reports of injuries but roughly 60 vehicles were buried in mud and debris and about 500 visitors and 500 park workers were stuck inside the park, officials said. The park near the California-Nevada state line received 1.46 inches (3.71 centimeters) of rain at the Furnace Creek area. Thats about 75% of what the area typically gets in a year and more than has ever been recorded for the entire month of August. Since 1936, the only single day with more rain was April 15, 1988, when 1.47 inches (3.73 centimeters) fell, park officials said. Entire trees and boulders were washing down," said John Sirlin, a photographer for an Arizona-based adventure company who witnessed the flooding as he perched on a hillside boulder where he was trying to take pictures of lightning as the storm approached. "The noise from some of the rocks coming down the mountain was just incredible, he said in a phone interview Friday afternoon. Park officials didnt immediately respond to requests for an update Friday night. The storm followed another major flooding event earlier this week at the park 120 miles (193 kilometers) northeast of Las Vegas. Some roads were closed Monday after they were inundated with mud and debris from flash floods that also hit western Nevada and northern Arizona hard. Friday's rain started around 2 a.m., according to Sirlin, who lives in Chandler, Arizona, and has been visiting the park since 2016. It was more extreme than anything Ive seen there, said Sirlin, the lead guide for Incredible Weather Adventures who started chasing storms in Minnesota and the high plains in the 1990s. A lot of washes were flowing several feet deep. There are rocks probably 3 or 4 feet covering the road, he said. Sirlin said it took him about 6 hours to drive about 35 miles (56 kilometers) out of the park from near the Inn at Death Valley. There were at least two dozen cars that got smashed and stuck in there, he said, adding that he didnt see anyone injured "or any high water rescues. During Friday's rainstorms, the "flood waters pushed dumpster containers into parked cars, which caused cars to collide into one another. Additionally, many facilities are flooded including hotel rooms and business offices, the park statement said. A water system that provides it for park residents and offices also failed after a line broke that was being repaired, the statement said. A flash flood warning for the park and surrounding area expired at 12:45 p.m., Friday but a flood advisory remained in effect into the evening, the National Weather Service said. This story has been corrected to show that the National Park Service now says 1.46 inches of rain fell, not 1.7 inches as it previously reported. Bill McClellan Bill McClellan is a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Bill McClellan 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 Like lizards on a hot rock, the endangered Missouri Moderates gathered at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 36 Union Hall on Chouteau Avenue on Tuesday night to bask in the warmth of Trudy Busch Valentines victory in the Democratic senatorial primary. Her chief opponent had been Lucas Kunce, a populist. Two days before the election, I attended a Kunce rally in Bridgeton. He had a microphone but didnt need it. He shouted about the perfidies of the ruling class. His message was angry and impatient. I felt like I was listening to Huey Long in some small Louisiana town in 1928. Kunce wanted to shake things up. Valentine wants to settle things down. That message resonates with Mo-Mods, who are, by nature if not political label, conservative. They like things the way they are, or, more accurately, the way they once were. I mean, its fine to fiddle around the edges of things lets give more people more rights but overall, life is good. The Mo-Mods are generally middle-aged and older. Valentine, for instance, is 65. The populists and the Wokes represent the younger sets of Democrats. Kunce is 39. Congresswoman Cori Bush of the Wokes is 46. By the way, one of the Woke leaders Mayor Tishaura Jones was at Valentines gathering. That kind of solidarity was nice to see. At 50, Jones wasnt the youngest person in the room, but she was probably well below the median. Or maybe I tend to gravitate toward older people. I ran into a Teamster I know who used to be a state representative from Jefferson County. A Democrat who was elected in Jefferson County. That wasnt yesterday. A friend who accompanied me on election night was wearing a Nixon-Agnew campaign button. The Teamster reminded us that the union had had a good relationship with Nixon, who pardoned Jimmy Hoffa five years into his 13-year sentence. As is so often the case when Mo-Mods reminisce, the talk turned to What the heck happened to us? Losing the Chrysler plant definitely hurt us in Jeff County, said the Teamster. The mood at the gathering was celebratory but muted. Yes, Valentine was winning the primary, but the day had not unfolded as Mo-Mods had hoped. Attorney General Eric Schmitt was winning the Republican primary. The Mo-Mods, of course, wanted a different Eric, and it looked, briefly, like Eric Greitens might end up being the beneficiary of a last-minute endorsement by Donald Trump. On Sunday, a friend who follows these things had sent me a link to a story from the right-wing Breitbart website. Fake Missouri Poll Underestimated Trump Support in 2024 Primary, proclaimed the headline. A poll connected to Schmitt had not only shown Schmitt with a lead in his primary, but had shown Trump with a comfortable lead in a 2024 presidential primary. Comfortable, but not overwhelming. It was an unintended insult to Trump. Unnamed Republican insiders slammed the poll as faulty, and Trump himself quickly followed with a message on social media. Wow, great dishonesty in politics, Too bad, the former president said. Under the message was Schmitts photo. So Trumps subsequent decision to make an endorsement had to mean didnt it? that hed be endorsing Greitens. Trumps oldest sons girlfriend was running Greitens campaign, and Donald Jr. had appeared in ads with Greitens, shooting it up and scaring liberals and RINOs. A Greitens endorsement seemed imminent. Instead, Trump backed off and endorsed Eric. Greitens must have been devastated at the generic endorsement, but he didnt flinch. He immediately sent out a tweet. Im honored to receive President Trumps endorsement. To some extent, all politicians lie. Thats because things are never as bad as they seem. Theyre always worse. Complete disaster is right around the corner. We dont want to be reminded. How could we carry on? So politicians avoid the complete truth. But Greitens has a commitment to dishonesty that borders on admirable. To send out that tweet, knowing that everybody would immediately know it was untrue, speaks to that commitment. To his credit, Schmitt sent out a similar dishonest announcement. But he had reason for taking a triumphant tone. No news was good news. The transformation from moderate Republican legislator to MAGA litigator had worked. Schmitt had joined the Texas lawsuit to overturn the election. He had sued China. He had sued school districts. He had been mocked by his detractors, but he had sued his way to the nomination. He will be a formidable opponent for Valentine. Why sugarcoat things? He will be unbeatable. Senator Schmitt. Senator Schmitt, Senator Schmitt. Say it with me. Get used to it. This is not a knock on Valentine or the Mo-Mods. The Democratic Party holds no statewide offices except lame-duck auditor Nicole Galloway. In rural Missouri, it is more respectable to be a meth cook than a Democrat. Huey Long himself would likely have to change parties to get elected in bright red Missouri. Even had Greitens gotten the nomination, Dems probably could not have won. But at least there would have been a chance. Perhaps I am missing something. That is often the case. People like the brewery. Have you ever seen the holiday commercial with Clydesdales galloping through the snow? Its wonderful. Nurses are admired. As the ad guys would say, there are things to work with. A nurse in a sled pulled by Clydesdales? Maybe the announcer talks abut health care. Or Dems could take a page out of Claire McCaskills playbook and employ reverse psychology. I remember when a McCaskill-aligned PAC ran ads supposedly attacking Todd Akin. Too conservative for Missouri. Valentine could have a PAC attack her. The ad would show a picture of her being crowned Queen at the Veiled Prophet Ball. Then a shot of the brewery and her father, Gussie. Segregated parties. Beer. Not Missouri values, the announcer would say. That might get some votes. Hope is not lost. Besides, it was fun to see old friends at the gathering. And if you are one of them and I didnt get a chance to talk with you, let me ask now: What the heck happened to us? He arrived at the hospital just before 3 a.m. Police said he told them he was "somewhere downtown" when he heard gunshots but was otherwise uncooperative. ST. LOUIS After numerous interactions with law enforcement, Jose L. Gonzalez was arrested once more in March 2020. This time there was a federal warrant in connection to two meth cases in Jefferson County. In one, hed overstayed his time at a hotel in November 2017. When officers showed up, they allegedly found drugs in partially opened bags in his room. One month later, responding to a suspicious person call, police found him hiding behind a business with a duffel bag. Gonzalez was charged in federal court here with two counts of possession with intent to distribute meth. But since then, his federal case has been slowed by the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and poor access to mental health treatment. After many setbacks, Gonzalez, 43, of south St. Louis County, was deemed incompetent in April, which brought his case to a halt. Hes currently held as a federal detainee at the Dent County Jail in the Ozarks. Treatment to potentially get him on track is backlogged at the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. Jail officials wouldnt comment about Gonzalez, referring questions to the U.S. Marshals office in St. Louis, which didnt return telephone messages left over the past week. His public defender, Eric Selig, was getting concerned about Gonzalez being stuck in the system. The reason we talk every week is because hes saying, Whats going on? Why havent they moved me? said Selig. The U.S. Bureau of Prisons, or BOP, told the Post-Dispatch on Friday theres an eight-month delay for treatment to begin after a court order for competency restoration is issued. Thats crazy, said Selig, soaking in the information. Gonzalez is one of about 135 people awaiting competency restoration services in Springfield, one of three BOP facilities nationwide that provide the treatment. Given the complexity of these services, the facilities that complete competency restoration can only take a specific number of cases each month, BOP spokesman Scott Taylor said by email. This ratio is based on current staffing levels as well as the need to ensure the facility is able to maintain a safe and secure environment by allocating only the number of defendants they can safely accommodate. He added: The BOP is using innovative solutions to address these issues, including the creation of additional restoration programs. Since the 1960s, competency evaluation requests have doubled to about 50,000 a year for adults, according to a 2019 review of literature in the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law. The article noted that treatment is usually successful yet some states have resource problems that cause defendants to spend considerable counterproductive time in jails awaiting the availability of a hospital bed. Missouris state system is also backlogged. There are 201 people in jail with court orders for competency restoration at Missouri Department of Mental Health hospitals. State officials said they are looking at ways to expand capacity, including at the St. Louis Forensic Treatment Center. People like Gonzalez, seemed to raise a lot of red flags before he ended up in the federal system. Responding to a trespassing call, St. John police arrested Gonzalez in April 2017 for possession of a controlled substance. Later that year, in September, he was accused of trespassing and drug possession after he returned to the High Ridge Walmart following an argument with store representatives. Less than two weeks later, Ste. Genevieve County deputies came across him, responding to a burglary in progress call. The subject was rapid in his speech and difficult to understand, Deputy Lance Pippin wrote in a report that supported a misdemeanor drug possession charge. Deputy Pippin said he also found a BB gun, similar to a firearm, tucked in Gonzalezs waistband. The subject asked if I could keep the BB gun a secret because he didnt want people knowing it was fake, Pippin wrote. The two incidents that led to his federal indictment followed in November and December 2017. Though he spent some time in the St. Louis County Jail, its unclear what Gonzalez was doing until his March 2020 arrest for the federal case. But he seemed to be struggling, according to Nanci McCarthy, a previous federal public defender who represented Gonzalez. According to June 2020 court records, she requested more time to prepare his case because Gonzalez had mental health and intellectual limitations that hindered his ability to adequately understand the allegations against him. By the end of that year, McCarthy requested further assistance from a cognitive expert to find better ways to communicate with and help Gonzalez. In a previous matter, McCarthy noted in court records, Gonzalez had been held in a state psychiatric facility for over six months while he was treated and restored to competency before his criminal case could move forward. Court records say Gonzalez suffers from a severe head injury and has very limited intellectual capacity. In September 2021, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to the federal meth case. Sentencing was set for Jan. 2, 2022, but that never happened. He underwent a thorough mental exam. Based on the results, on April 20, the court ordered that he be committed to treatment to restore competency. If the backlog is indeed eight months, Gonzalez should by transferred from the Dent County Jail to the U.S. Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri, in December five years after the meth crimes in question took place. ST. LOUIS A 19-year-old Florissant man was killed, and a 16-year-old was injured after a double shooting Friday in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood. Cameron Carroll, 19, was shot in the face just before 3 p.m. in the 3400 block of North 22nd Street. He died at a hospital. The boy also showed up at a hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach. Police said he is in critical condition. Carroll lived in the 10 block of Alandale Court. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. FENTON Firefighters on Friday morning tried to rescue a man from the Meramec River who didn't want to be rescued. The man was fleeing from St. Louis County police shortly after 9:30 a.m. when he jumped into the river near Buder Park, just east of Highway 141 and Interstate 44, said Fenton Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Chris McCarthy. Officers called firefighters and asked them to bring their rescue boats. With help from West County EMS and Valley Park fire protection districts, Fenton firefighters put three boats a police officer in each into the river at different points. At around 10:30 a.m., police told firefighters the man had swum out of the water on his own. Firefighters called off the search. It wasn't immediately clear why the man was fleeing police or if they arrested him. It's not the first time something like this has happened, but it's not typical either, McCarthy said. "When you think of a water rescue, you're usually thinking about someone who cant swim," McCarthy said. The Fenton fire district has two boats: an aluminum jet boat and an inflatable boat. They're ideal for transporting quickly and navigating rivers with varying depths. Two people have drowned in the Meramec River this year, and a third person died after their boat capsized, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol. ST. LOUIS MetroLinks management is recommending the hiring of HNTB, a national engineering firm based in Kansas City, to design long-debated fare collection gates at the light rail systems 38 stations. The board of the Bi-State Development Agency, Metro Transits parent agency, is expected to vote Thursday on a resolution contracting with HNTB for $6.9 million. HNTB was the only company to submit a bid for the work, Bi-State CEO Taulby Roach said in a memo to the board. Roach said HNTB initially proposed a price of $8.1 million, almost twice as much as the $4.29 million estimated cost. Negotiations resulted in reducing the cost to $6.9 million. Five subcontractors, mainly local firms, also will be involved. In a major reversal of policy, Bi-State decided last fall to install the gates following a series of high-profile crimes and complaints about rowdy behavior on the line in recent years. The move came even though its security consultant recommended against turnstiles, concluding that fare evasion had little correlation with more serious crime. Roach has said ridership decreased sharply because of the pandemic and that a major effort is needed to restore and attract new riders. He has said he hopes that the turnstile project will signal to the public that Bi-State is committed to responding to their safety concerns. Private donors are expected to pay a significant share of the projects estimated $52 million cost. As of early May, the agency said it had about $10.7 million in private commitments. Since MetroLink started in 1993, riders have been required to produce their tickets or passes when asked on the trains by fare inspectors and police. HNTB, which has a St. Louis office, has worked for Bi-State/Metro previously, including on the MetroLink line from Forest Park to Shrewsbury and the Cortex station, which opened in 2018. Among its other local projects have been the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge. ST. LOUIS Mayor Tishaura O. Jones and the citys Black police officers association got into a fight on social media this week after Jones said the group lied about its role in negotiating a plan to overhaul civilian oversight of the department. The back-and-forth followed Jones signing of a bill creating a new civilian-run agency to investigate allegations of police misconduct, which have traditionally been handled by the police departments internal affairs division. The legislation is consistent with Jones campaign promise to rethink public safety in the city and hold police to a higher level of scrutiny when theyre accused of wrongdoing. But it has drawn the opposition of city police associations, who say they worry the agency will be weaponized against officers good and bad by people who are anti-police. The Ethical Society of Police, which represents a few hundred minority police officers and endorsed Jones campaign for mayor last year, was one of the groups that was worried. The society complained that the bill gave the new agency too broad of a mandate and excluded current and former officers from key investigatory positions. And after Jones signed the bill Wednesday, the association posted a statement to Facebook complaining that its members were never brought to the table to discuss the legislation. That set Jones off. Thats not true and is a bold-faced LIE, Jones wrote in reply. She said her administration started working on the bill nearly a year ago, and the association never brought it up in quarterly meetings with the mayors office. Moreover, the association had skipped all three public aldermanic hearings on the bill. She also questioned why the group would oppose greater accountability for police given its history of calling out misconduct. If youre a good officer, you have nothing to worry about, she wrote. In its reply, the Ethical Society said it wasnt looking for a public debate and called Jones response unprofessional. It said it was just trying to ensure thoughtful implementation of the bill. This should be welcome, not controversial, the union wrote. Jones was not feeling welcoming. You dont want to publicly debate this but you made a public statement on a public platform and didnt attend any of the public hearings to publicly express your thoughts and insight about the bill when it was being debated in public, she wrote. On Friday, the association replied that the mayor was the one in the wrong, saying it didnt know about the bill until a month before it passed and that it was never told about public hearings. It said Alderman Shameem Clark-Hubbard, who sponsored the bill, reached out three days before the final vote, but that was too late. The union also expressed confusion about the mayors hostility to its statement, pointing out that its members endorsed her run for office last year. When Jones replied, she said she still disagreed with the unions assertion that it was excluded from discussion. She said it was welcome to come to the table now to help implement the new plan. Have a blessed day, she wrote, and thank you for your continued service to the city of St. Louis. The Summer Lake Ontario Counties (LOC) Trout, Salmon and Walleye Derby was held during the entire month of July (less one day). With its completion comes some crazy fish stories, odd sets of circumstances and unusual happenings that led to hope, regret, excitement and despair, depending on how a persons fish story transpired. For example, Joe Snook, 27, of Sterling, overcame a brief lapse of memory to win the $10,000 grand prize in the LOC Derby with his 31-pound, 3-ounce Fair Haven fish that also earned him $1,000 for big fish of the week in the Salmon Division. However, there was a certain amount of luck involved when he forgot he was letting the copper line out. We were fishing Big Fish Friday in the Sodus Pro-Am Tournament and I was letting out a spin doctor with an A-Tom-Mik meat rig behind 400 feet of copper off our planer board, Snook said last Sunday at the awards ceremony. I turned around to do something else and then I remembered the line was still going out. I panicked when I saw the spool was almost empty. As I grabbed the rod, the release on the planer board line went off and I needed to reel as fast as I could to gain as much line as possible. Fishing with his father William Snook, of Sterling, and Rod Fortune, of Saratoga Springs, on their 29-foot Tiara named Silver Rush, the younger Snook battled the fish for a half-hour before they finally netted the winning king salmon. They caught the fish at 6:40 a.m. and won big fish for the day in the Sodus event and the LOC. As far as the LOC prize money, Snook said they were going to make some upgrades on their boat, which was new to them. First place in the Salmon Division was Terry Wilson, of Pine Plains, with a 29-pound, 9-ounce king salmon while fishing out of Sodus Bay with Capt. Ryan Williamson, of Fishin Magician, and his 12-year-old son Parker. Also on board sharing in the excitement was Wilsons husband, George. Fishing out of Sodus with a homemade cut bait rig behind a Spin Doctor, the Wilsons worked their magic by placing a rigger at 72 feet down over 350 feet of water. The fish hit at 8:30 a.m. and 20 minutes later, Terry Wilson had her biggest king ever in her first-ever derby. Yes, her first derby. Winner of the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association $750 prize for largest salmon caught by a LOTSA member was Jason Hayes, of Grosse Ile, Mich., with a 27-pound king salmon he caught out of Wilson the second day of the derby. It placed 10th overall. In the battle for top steelhead, Tom Christen, of Depew, earned the honors with a 15-pound silver bullet he caught while fishing out of Wilson with Tom Martek, of Depew. Yes, it was another personal best as well. This one had a unique twist. Fishing out of a 24-foot Sea Swirl named Catch and Release, they were running a white and black Moonshine spoon that they caught a few days before. Fishing in shallower water earlier in the week, they somehow snagged the lure and brought it in. On the day they caught the winner, they threw it on a wire diver set back 180 feet on a No. 2 setting over 400 feet of water. The diver went off at 11 a.m., and they had their winning fish in the boat 10 minutes later. Second-place steelhead went to Marty Polovick, of Lockport, with a 13-pound, 6-ounce fish he caught off Olcott on a Mixed Veggies Michigan Stinger spoon, 55-feet down on a rigger over 500 feet of water. It was probably a little heavier than that, but the circumstances didnt allow for them to run in and weigh the fish right away. He caught the fish at 7 a.m. aboard the Reel Lucky, a 21-foot Parker owned by Bill Crouse of Pittsburgh. Also on board were Nick Sheldon, of Horseheads, and Merle Seville, of Pennsylvania. We had a fantastic day on the water, Polovick said at the awards ceremony. We caught over 40 fish, including numerous 12- to 15-pound Coho salmon. Unfortunately, the steelhead was in the bottom of the cooler looking very flat. Overall, it was a team effort and everyone on the boat deserves some credit. There was a fish ahead of Polovick on the leaderboard, but they didnt save the fish as the rules require for the top fish. In the competitive Walleye Division, Capt. Wally Blake, of Niagara Falls, managed to overtake the leader of the division with an impressive fish caught on the Niagara Bar a 12-pound, 15-ounce walleye caught on a homemade jig during the final week of the contest. Theres more to the story. The previous leader was an 11-pound, 10-ounce Niagara River fish weighed in by Capt. Arnie Jonathan, of Lockport. He caught his fish on a homemade jig early in the morning during the first week while fishing with Capt. Joe Srouji, of Ransomville. They had to work through heavy moss earlier in the month to get the jigs to work properly. Getting back to Blakes fish, he was fishing out of his 20-foot Sea Ark named Fowl Waters (his fishing and hunting service) with his girlfriend, Samantha Rew, of Sanborn and Capt. Arnie Jonathan. Yes, they are close friends. I even netted the fish for him at the back of the boat, and I couldnt have been happier for him, said Jonathan. There is no truth to the rumor that he tried to knock Blakes fish off with the net. In the Brown Trout Division, Craig OBrien, of Rochester, caught the fish of his life to win with an 18-pound, 5-ounce Rochester lunker. He was fishing with Kevin Eletto, of Irondequoit, aboard OBriens Unreel boat, a 25-foot Pursuit. They were fishing out of Irondequoit Bay and targeting 70 feet of water with their trusty black-white-silver Northern King 28 spoon behind a wire diver set back 144 feet on a 1 setting. The big brown hit at 10:30 a.m. It took him 15 minutes to bring in. I couldnt see the fish in the water because it stayed down, OBrien said. When Kevin netted it and pulled it into the boat, he shouted this is the biggest brown weve ever caught. Yes, it was. Some big lake trout were caught in the summer contest, too. Leading the way was Capt. Jason Smola, of North Syracuse, with a 29-pound, 3-ounce fish he caught out of Henderson Harbor the first day of the derby fishing with his friend Capt. Mike Grimshaw, of Henderson. It was a personal best for Smola aboard his Salmon Hunter, a 28-foot Aqua Sport. We ran about 15 miles out and it was near the end of our trip, Smola said. We were fishing the bottom in 164 feet of water with a watermelon spin-n-glo behind cow bells when I was in the process of dropping the lure back down. It went off in my hand. It took him 20 minutes to bring into the boat. The next event on the derby docket is the Fall LOC contest slated for Aug. 19 thru Sept. 5. Nearly $68,000 in cash will be up for grabs, including $25,000 for the grand prize salmon. For a full leaderboard check out loc.org. Two marches have taken place through one of Italy's Adriatic beach towns, both seeking justice in the brutal daylight killing of a Nigerian man at the hands of an Italian stranger. But the marchers Saturday were divided by one word: Racism. One march organized by Nigerians living in Italy's Macerata province was led by the victim's tearful widow and joined by his brothers. Organizers of that march said they did not want the search for justice clouded by accusations of racism that they feel cannot be proven. The second march, along same route, was led by Black Italians from all over Italy. They demanded that Italian authorities reverse themselves and recognize the role that race played in the July 29 killing. A central Illinois jury has found a man guilty of killing his wife, son and neighbor on Christmas Day 2019. The Livingston County jury convicted 55-year-old Clifford Brewer of Cullom of murder in the three slayings. It returned the verdicts Tuesday a few hours after receiving the case. The 55-year-old Brewer told police he woke up to find his wife, 48-year-old Shirley Brewer; his son, 27-year-old Christian Brewer, and his neighbor, 51-year-old Norman Walker, dead in his home. They were all found with single gunshot wounds to their heads. Prosecutors described Brewers deteriorating relationship with his wife and his desire for a divorce. LONDON Ive seen grown men cry, says Captain Tejinder Singh, who hasnt set foot on dry land in more than seven months and isnt sure when hell go home. We are forgotten and taken for granted, he says of the plight facing tens of thousands of seafarers like him, stranded at sea as the Delta variant of the coronavirus wreaks havoc on shore. People dont know how their supermarkets are stocked up. Singh and most of his 20-strong crew have crisscrossed the globe on an exhausting odyssey: from India to the United States then on to China, where they were stuck off the congested coast for weeks waiting to unload cargo. He was speaking to Reuters from the Pacific Ocean as his ship now heads to Australia. They are among about 100,000 seafarers stranded at sea beyond their regular stints of typically 3-9 months, according to the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), many without even a days break on land. Another 100,000 are stuck on shore, unable to board the ships they need to earn a living on. The delta variant devastating parts of Asia home to many of the worlds 1.7 million commercial seafarers has prompted many nations to cut off land access to visiting crews, in some cases even for medical treatment. Just 2.5% of seafarers one in every 40 have been vaccinated, the ICS estimates. The United Nations describes the situation as a humanitarian crisis at sea and says governments should class seafarers as essential workers. Given ships transport around 90% of the worlds trade, the deepening crisis also poses a major threat to the supply chains we rely on for everything from oil and iron to food and electronics. Bulk carrier master Singh, from northern India, is not optimistic of going ashore anytime soon; his last stint at sea lasted 11 months. He said his crew of Indians and Filipinos were living out of cabins measuring about 15-foot by 6-foot. Being at sea for a very long time is tough, he says, adding that he had heard reports of seafarers killing themselves on other ships. The most difficult question to answer is when kids ask, Papa when you are coming home?, he said from his vessel, which was recently carrying coal. India and the Philippines, both reeling from vicious waves of COVID-19, account for more than a third of the worlds commercial seafarers, said Guy Platten, secretary general of the ICS, which represents over 80% of the worlds merchant fleet. We are seriously disturbed that a second global crew change crisis is looming large on the horizon, he told Reuters, referring to a months-long stretch in 2020 when 200,000 seafarers on ships were unable to be relieved. People are desperate In a snapshot of the situation, this month almost 9% of merchant sailors have been stuck aboard their ships beyond their contracts expiry, up from just over 7% in May, according to data compiled by the Global Maritime Forum non-profit group from 10 ship managers together responsible for over 90,000 seafarers. The maximum allowed contract length is 11 months, as stipulated by a U.N. seafaring convention. In normal times, around 50,000 seafarers rotate on and 50,000 rotate off ships per month on average but the numbers are now a fraction of that, according to industry players, though there are no precise figures. The new crew crisis stems from restrictions imposed by major maritime nations across Asia including South Korea, Taiwan and China, which are home to many of the worlds busiest container ports. Requirements range from mandatory testing for crews who come from or have visited certain countries, to outright bans on crew changes and berthing operations. Asia really is struggling and the only countries you can go about routine crew changes to some extent are Japan and Singapore, said Rajesh Unni, chief executive of Synergy Marine Group, a leading ship manager responsible for 14,000 seafarers. The issue is that we have one set of people who desperately want to go home because they have finished their tenure, and another set of people onshore that are desperate to get back onboard to earn a living. Global brands, beware The crisis has led to almost half of commercial seafarers either considering leaving the industry or being unsure whether they would stay or go, according to a survey by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) in March. This suggests a looming labor crunch that would strain the worlds 50,000-strong merchant shipping fleet and threaten the integrity of global supply chains. A shortage of container ships carrying consumer products and logjams at ports around the world are already rippling through the retail industry, which has seen freight rates spike to record levels, driving up prices for goods. You dont have enough crew anyway. The shipping industry was working on a very lean model, said Mark ONeil, CEO of leading ship manager Columbia Shipmanagement and also president of the international association for ship and crew managers. But now we have all of these problems and we have a large number of seafarers taken out of that available crewing pool, he said, adding that the result could be vessels unable to sail. Stephen Cotton, general secretary of the ITF, said seafarers were being pushed to their physical and mental limits. Some in the industry estimate that as many as 25% fewer seafarers are joining vessels than pre-pandemic, he added. We have warned that global brands need to be ready for the moment some of these tired and fatigued people finally snap. Shots for seafarers While COVID-19 infections in India have retreated from their peak, countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia are grappling surging cases and imposing new lockdowns. If it gets worse, which it could well do, or if Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, Ukraine other crewing centers experience the same problem, then the wheels would really come off, ONeil added. The gravity of the assessment was echoed by Esben Poulsson, chairman of the board of the ICS. In my 50 years in the maritime industry, the crew change crisis has been unprecedented in the devastating impact it has had on seafarers around the world, he told his board in June. Most seafarers come from developing nations that have struggled to secure adequate vaccination supplies, leaving many in the maritime industry low on the priority list. Governments with significant access to vaccines have a moral responsibility towards seafarers, said the ICSs Platten. They must follow the lead of the U.S. and the Netherlands and vaccinate non-native crews delivering goods to their ports. They must prioritize seafarer vaccination, he added. A total of 55 member countries of the U.N. shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), have classed seafarers as essential workers, said David Hammond, chief executive of the charitable organization Human Rights at Sea. This would allow them to travel more freely and return to their homes, and give them better access to vaccines. But what about the other 119 member states and associate members? asked Hammond. Collectively, the global shipping industry is part of a $14 trillion maritime supply chain that cannot seemingly look after its 1.7 million seafarers. Jonathan Saul reported from London. Roslan Khasaneh from Singapore. Additional reporting by Muyu Xu in Beijing, Mayank Bhadrwaj in New Delhi and Enrico Dela Cruz in Manila. Lets begin with one of the safest political predictions possible in Missouri today: Trudy Busch Valentine is, almost without a doubt, toast. The brewery heiress and newly crowned Democratic nominee to the U.S. Senate may still be too much of a novice to know it, but in winning Tuesdays primary, she signed on for a political suicide mission. That fact has less to do with her or her opponent, Republican nominee Eric Schmitt, than with political reality today in a red state like Missouri. Had the GOP nominated a less-normal candidate (a certain mistress-binding ex-governor comes to mind), this mightve been a contest. But since that didnt come to pass, all that Valentine is probably getting out of this trip are some lousy campaign T-shirts. If there was ever a time for a political hail-Mary, this is it. Valentines campaign, which has so far been a mish-mash of forgettable center-left platitudes on a numbing array of issues, should instead focus, laser-like, on just one and make this election a referendum on abortion rights. What happened in neighboring Kansas last week should be a bright flashing beacon to Valentine and other red-state Democrats around the country. On the same Election Day that Valentine likely sealed her own political doom by becoming Missouri Democrats standard-bearer, Kansas overwhelmingly Republican population came out in droves to tell the Republican Legislature that, no, they arent going to let them impose draconian abortion bans of the kind that Missouri and other Republican-controlled states have imposed since the fall of Roe v. Wade. What was so striking about Kansas referendum rejecting an attempt to strip abortion rights from the state constitution is that it wasnt a matter of Democrats overwhelming Republicans at the polling places. There are barely enough Democrats in Kansas to stage a decent barbecue, let alone a pro-choice revolution. In a primary election dominated by registered Republicans, almost 60% of the voters considered the anti-choice movements goal of returning Kansas to the backalley dark ages and said no. (No, in fact, was very specifically what they said. The referendum was worded in what appeared to be a deliberately confusing way, so that to support abortion rights, you had to vote no. You have to wonder what that subterfuge says about anti-choice activists true if unspoken understanding of just how unpopular their extremism is in the wider population. Even in Kansas.) Political analysts act like abortion is on the ballot whenever voters decide between pro-choice and anti-choice candidates. But in fact, most candidates stand for a range of issues. Often, theres no way to know if theyve won because of, or in spite of, their stance on abortion or any other given topic. In Kansas last week, though, there was no mystery about the voters message. They were specifically asked to remove abortion-rights constraints from an anti-choice Legislature that was ominously coy about what it would do with that power. And by an 18-point margin, Kansans said, loudly, No. That tracks with national polling that has long shown strong, cross-party support for abortion rights, within reasonable parameters which is what Roe provided, notwithstanding right-wing red-herrings about late-term abortion and other virtually non-existent bogeymen. Democrats are and always have been in the mainstream on this topic. Though they often seem to be the only ones who dont know it. Valentine is a case in point. She nods at abortion rights on her Twitter feed and in public statements. Yet the issues page of her main campaign website trumpets practically every national issue except abortion. (It gets one word, tucked discreetly under the Healthcare banner.) Yes, she believes in biological self-determination for women, this approach seems to say, but she doesnt want to get any fence-sitters all upset, so she downplays it. Schmitt, who is currently Missouris attorney general, suffers no such trepidation on the topic. Literally minutes after the Supreme Court struck down Roe on June 24, Schmitt formally certified Missouris near-total ban on abortion, then crowed about how Missouri was the first state in the nation to do so. As if he was abolishing slavery or something, rather than helping create a new form of it. In short, Schmitt can be perfectly cast as the forced-birth candidate if only Valentine would take the opposing position. And loudly, instead of whispering it. Imagine if, instead of the bland smorgasbord of issues currently crowding her campaign site (Standing with seniors! Strengthening the middle class! Accountability and values!), Valentine offered just one: Defending women who dont want a bunch of glowering men in suits telling them what to do with their uteruses. And then let Schmitt defend his stance in favor of the glowerers. If Valentine would stop trying to be a jack of all issues and position herself as the champion of one arguably the most crucial one today she would possibly (probably) still lose. But it would focus the race, giving Missouri voters the kind of clear-cut choice that their Kansas neighbors had last week. And it would throw down a gauntlet to those who think choice is a dirty word. Kevin McDermott is a Post-Dispatch columnist and Editorial Board member. On Twitter: @kevinmcdermott Email: kmcdermott@post-dispatch.com The Supreme Courts ruling in June overturning Roe v. Wade immediately ushered in massive changes in American life, especially in Republican-controlled states. But it didnt alter the constitutional principle that federal law supersedes state law, even on this most contentious issue. That, in a nutshell, is the valid position of the Biden administration in suing Idaho over its imminent anti-abortion law, saying it violates a federal requirement that doctors provide women with medically necessary treatment during medical crises. The federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act of 1986 simply requires hospitals to provide medical care when a pregnant womans life or health is at stake. That care includes abortion, if thats what is medically necessary. Who would argue with that standard? Idahos controlling Republicans, thats who. The states law banning abortion that goes into effect there on Aug. 25 does contain exceptions for the health of the woman. But critics say the standards are so vaguely written as to be useless to doctors trying to figure out whether a given prognosis for a pregnant woman would justify ending the pregnancy under the terms of the law. The issue is especially dicey because, in an unusual construct, the Idaho law begins with the presumption that any abortion is illegal, then puts the burden of proof on the doctor to show that it was medically justified. Consider how that applies to, say, ectopic pregnancies, in which a fertilized egg attaches outside the uterus. Such pregnancies, which can never result in live birth, dont threaten the womans life early on but will definitely pose a danger to her as the doomed fetus grows. Doctors who reasonably decide its safer to end such pregnancies early, before the medical crisis begins and when the abortion procedure is simpler, will be rolling the dice and risking prison time based on the competence, ideology or mood of local prosecutors. These are the kinds of real-life quandaries that anti-choice extremists tend not to consider when they construct these laws. But unlike Idahos upcoming state law, the federal law is clear: Hospitals that accept Medicare meaning, the vast majority of them are required to provide life-saving treatment to the patient at hand, including abortion services, if medically necessary. Idaho officials are fighting the suit, saying, in the words of Republican Gov. Brad Little: Our nations highest court returned the issue of abortion to the states to regulate end of story. Wrong. Justice Samuel Alitos majority opinion overturning Roe returned the abortion question to the people and their elected representatives. By definition, that includes Congress and the superseding laws it passes. But then, if the risk of women suffering and dying because of a poorly drafted and ideologically extreme state law doesnt move anti-choice Republicans to reason, why would they respect the clear constitutional imperative of federalism that the GOP once venerated? Regarding St. Louis mayor backs Valentine for Senate with one caveat (July 28): I am disappointed that Trudy Busch Valentine believes that transgender children should wait until they are 18 to undergo gender-reassignment surgery. I believe her position is contrary to her campaign theme of sending a nurse to the U.S. Senate. I would have thought a nurse would be tired of legislators interfering in the health care decisions made by people in consultation with physicians and nurses. After all, Valentines television commercials voice her support for a womans right to choose with regard to abortion. Russian political and military leaders seem surprised at the extent to which Russian soldiers are refusing to fight in Ukraine. Perhaps someday these leaders will realize that this should not have been a surprise. While Russian leaders earlier made much of reforming the military and upgrading its equipment, they ignored fundamentals like willingness to fight. In modern war the infantry is a minority (10 to 25 percent of troops) but comprise over 80 percent of the casualties. After more than a century of lies, deceit, poor leadership and heavy losses, the young Russian men who end up in the infantry, as well as their families, are refusing to be killed in another unnecessary war in Ukraine. This attitude began to develop over a century ago when Russian troops and warships were defeated in the Russo-Japanese war. The fighting was about who would control Manchuria (northeastern China) and Korea. The Russian army and navy suffered heavy losses and lost to upstart Japan. The Russian defeat was real and it forced the Russian monarchy to make concessions. That did not include staying out of major wars Russia could not win. Russia got dragged into World War I in 1914, where heavy losses led Russia to admit defeat and leave the war in 1917. Fighting did not stop inside Russia as a civil war broke out over what would replace the monarchy; a democracy or a secular dictatorship. The democracy was more popular but the communists were more ruthless and better at using propaganda to promise what they had no intention of delivering. The new communist government sought to eliminate features of the military that might lead to another revolution. NCOs, who were often rebel leaders, were eliminated and replaced by junior officers and political officers whose job was to prevent disloyalty and report any problems in that area. General conscription was re-introduced and a separate elite force of KGB troops was organized to ensure that the conscript soldiers remained loyal, or at least pretended to be. This worked during World War II, when Russia lost ten million soldiers in combat and nearly 20 million civilians to exposure, disease and widespread violence against civilians. Russia kept the extent of those losses a secret until the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union. The post-Soviet collapse Russian government began as a democracy but after a decade ended up as another dictatorship. The new dictator was Vladimir Putin, a KGB officer before the Soviet Union collapsed. Putin wanted to restore the Russian empire. He seemed surprised when the Russian people did not share his enthusiasm for such efforts. This lack of enthusiasm for another major war became painfully obvious when Putin ordered a second invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Putin realized there might be problems if his troops did not win a quick victory. There was no victory, quick or otherwise. The Ukrainians fought back and forced the Russian troops trying to quickly take the Ukrainian capital to withdraw to Russia and redeploy to eastern Ukraine and Crimea, areas Russia had seized in 2014 but were stopped there by unexpected Ukrainian resistance. These setbacks hurt Russian troop morale and inspired more Ukrainians to volunteer for military service to preserve their national independence. The defeated Russian forces reacted differently to their defeat and accused their government of sending them up against a formidable enemy that they were told did not resist. Many Russian troops were angry over the fact that they were not told they were invading Ukraine, leaving them to discover that when they came under heavy fire after crossing the border they were not told about. After a few months of fighting Putin acted surprised as many Russian soldiers refused to go to Ukraine and many of those in Ukraine refused to fight. As word spread inside Russia about what was going on in Ukraine, parents of conscripts backed their sons who were trying to stay out of the army and most definitely out of Ukraine. Putin apparently did not appreciate the fact that he was facing over a century of earlier heavy losses and bad leadership that had killed millions of Russians, in addition to those killed by enemy troops. The Rodina (the Russian people) had not forgotten because it was the Rodina that died, not their leaders. The bill for over a century of such attitudes came due on Putins watch. This situation was not unique to Russia. After World War I Britain, France and other European democracies had to deal with popular resistance to another bloodbath. France was quickly (by 1940) defeated in World War II, in part because of its overreliance on static defenses and a general lack of enthusiasm for another major war. The British kept fighting but the elected government realized that the voters would not tolerate heavy losses. Measures were taken to keep casualties down. That meant less use of infantry and much more use of tanks and other armored vehicles. During World War II most tanks destroyed or disabled by enemy action resulted in most of the tank crew surviving, although some might be wounded. Because of this and an emphasis on keeping infantry losses low Britain suffered the fewest losses for any nation that was involved in the war from the beginning (1939) to the end. Other European nations that suffered heavy World War I losses, like Germany, also had to be careful about high casualties. By 1939 the German democracy had turned into a Nazi dictatorship that still had to present its war efforts as low-casualty operations. The impact of this was noted by American (which was still neutral) journalists in Germany during September 1939. On the day the war began with the invasion of Poland, the public attitude in Berlin and the rest of Germany was somber, with a sense of dread about what was to come. By 1940, after the low German casualties during the rapid conquests of Poland and France, German attitudes changed. This only lasted for about two years. The 1941 invasion of Russia, entry of the U.S. in war and huge casualties suffered in Russia and at home because of the growing use of U.S. and British bombers to attack civilians stalled the advances and caused heavy military and civilian casualties. Because of those losses German attitudes changed by late 1942. All nations that suffered heavy losses in World War II came out of the war less confident about the use of military force. There was one exception; Russia. Dictator Josef Stalin had been responsible for the exceptionally high Russian losses during the war. This was because of his 1930s purges of suspected disloyal officers and troops in the military. Civilians suspected of disloyalty were also killed in large numbers, or sent to labor camps that few survived. Subordinates were unwilling to tell Stalin the truth about the degraded state of the military in 1940 because Stalin tended to execute anyone delivering bad news. Russia was victorious in World War II despite, not because of Stalin. That was a state secret in Russia until early 1953 when Stalin died. Soon after that Stalins key functionaries were killed or arrested. There followed a secret speech to key communist officials that outlined the many mistakes Stalin had made during his two decades in power. This came as a shock to many of those who heard the admissions, which did not remain secret for long. Stalins official reputation went from hero to zero at least until Putin gained power. Russians could now discuss, or complain about the heavy losses during and before the war because of Stalin. Unlike most other dictators (including Hitler and the military government that ran Japan during the war), most absolute rulers stay in power by paying some attention to public sentiment. Stalin did not and was one of the few to die of old age. His methods did not survive his passing as the communist dictators who succeeded him realized that their large military could not be trusted in a major war. Russian-occupied East European nations experienced uprisings from the 1950s through the 1980s that demonstrated why the Russian reluctance to fight was real. While most of these uprisings were quickly suppressed by local security forces and some additional Russian special operations troops, there were some exceptions. In 1956 the Hungarians rebelled and the local security forces could not handle it, nor could the initial Russian use of their troops and tanks. The Russians had to retreat and come back with a larger force to put down the uprising. The Russian troops were not particularly enthusiastic about fighting the Hungarians but sheer numbers overwhelmed Hungarian resistance. In 1969 there was a six-month long border war with China. Despite the numbers involved (650,000 Russian and over 800,000 Chinese troops) there were only a few hundred casualties and Russia refrained from using its more numerous artillery, armored vehicles and warplanes to kill a lot of Chinese. After months of negotiations the confrontation ended with China getting most of what it wanted, mainly because the Americans refused a secret Russian request to join in or at least condone a Russian plan for a major nuclear attack on China. Without the nukes, Russia could not risk heavy infantry losses from prolonged fighting with China. At the same time China was appalled when they found out about the Russian plan to go nuclear. The Chinese were pleasantly surprised by the more measured attitude of the United States in refusing Russian requests to participate in a nuclear war, even against communist China. This led to China and the U.S. resuming diplomatic relations in a few years. Russia now had another potential invader; the angry Chinese. Russia also realized its military age population was not as willing as earlier generations to tolerate a major war, especially one that did not involve an invasion of Russia. During the next twenty years Russia received more reminders of the fragility of the morale in its combat forces. There was the very real problem in 1956 Hungary and a similar situation in Poland, where the uprising was avoided by a compromise. This meant some Russian troops were withdrawn from Poland and economic reforms tolerated. The Hungarians got a larger Russian garrison and a more oppressive local government. By the 1980s Russian occupied Eastern Europe was once more suffering from growing unrest. At the same time (1980) Russia had a large invasion force in Afghanistan. Lack of ports, railroads and few roads in Afghanistan meant Russia could not support more than 150,000 troops there and that was not enough to win. The Afghans kept resisting and often taking and distributing videos of successful attacks on Russians. Even without the Internet, the still pictures reached Russia on a wide scale, though the videos were less widely distributed. In a now (2022) familiar pattern, conscripts and their parents gradually and soon openly protested the war and the number of Russians killed. By the time the last Russian troops left Afghanistan in early 1989, about 15,000 Russian troops had died. Most enemy casualties were caused by Russian special operations troops and airpower. That suddenly declined in 1986 as the Americans supplied the Afghan irregulars with their new (since 1981) Stinger MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense System), which was easy to learn to use and fatal to low flying Russian helicopters and other aircraft. With the end of their airpower and special forces (which moved by air) advantage Russia withdrew. The 2014 attack on Ukraine was carried out by special forces troops and surprise. There was also a large Russian garrison because Russia had a long-term lease for its Crimean naval base at Sevastopol. The Russian special operations effort was less successful in eastern Ukraine (Donbas) and in 2022 Putin ignored decades of experience (and some recent advice) and attempted a large-scale attack on Ukraine. History was right and Putin was wrong, but so far Putin is seeking a way around that. The Ukrainians claim they have killed over 30,000 Russian troops in six months of fighting. Russia will not say exactly what its losses were, in part because so many of the dead were left behind when Russian troops were forced to retreat. At the same time, some of those retreating Russian troops deserted as soon as they were out of Ukraine. Those who deserted inside Ukraine were treated well by the Ukrainians, who helped them get in touch with their families. Much like Afghanistan, the Russians are unable to maintain as many troops as they want in Ukraine. The Russians only have about 200,000 troops in Ukraine, largely because of the heavy losses during the initial (first month) of fighting that ended in a disastrous retreat. The Russians were more successful in the south, where they made some gains in the first few weeks. But now those newly occupied territories, as well as the ones occupied since 2014, are a source of growing unrest and violence against the Russians. Ukrainians in the areas taken in 2014 have been waiting for an offensive to liberate them. Now they have it and are responding more violently than the Russians ever expected. Many Russians and some foreigners are paying closer attention to Vladimir Putin and speculating on who, or which faction, might replace him. Award-winning Middle East education group chooses PowerSchool as its primary education technology provider FOLSOM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC), the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America, today announced Liwa Education in the United Arab Emirates has selected PowerSchool Student Information System (SIS), PowerSchool Enrollment, PowerSchool Unified Classroom, PowerSchool Unified Insights, and PowerSchool Unified Talent solutions to support its ongoing growth in the Middle East. Once all the PowerSchool solutions are implemented, Liwa Education will be able to manage student information, course enrollment, personalized learning, advanced analytics, recruitment and talent operations through a unified interface. Further, Liwa Educations new PowerSchool additions will help the organization simplify future reporting and analytics-based initiatives to better support student outcomes. We love that the PowerSchool suite expertly integrates various PowerSchool solutions and data into a unified and accessible interface, said May Saqqa, Director of Marketing and Enrollment, Liwa Education. Implementing PowerSchools products will give us the opportunity to modernize our e-learning platforms without compromising student outcomes. The comprehensive reporting features will provide great insights on all aspects of learning for our various stakeholders, and we look forward to utilizing PowerSchool to support our continued growth and expansion in the future. Previously, Liwa Education utilized over ten different technology solutions to facilitate regular instruction, assessments, learning support, standards mastery, and other academic needs. While functional, key information was spread across the various solutions and was difficult to quickly access when needed. As Liwa Education expands its footprint in the UAE by opening additional K-12 schools and nurseries in the United Arab Emirates, it selected PowerSchool based on the companys integrated solutions that were scalable for a variety of real-world education scenarios. As one of the leading education institutions in the Middle East, Liwa Education needed a trusted and unified suite of education technology solutions capable of managing all aspects of its administrative and learning operations, said Craig Greenseid, Chief Revenue Officer, PowerSchool. Were proud to provide Liwa the solutions they need as they open their newest schools, plan for continued expansion, and continue offering a world-class education to students across the UAE. Liwa Education is an established educational leader, recognized in providing an accessible, high-quality, American curriculum education in the United Arab Emirates for the past three decades. Its schools and nurseries across Al Ain and Abu Dhabi offer a challenging American curriculum education, combining the essence of Emirati values with a rich set of core competencies that produces confident, resilient, and courageous young leaders. Initially founded as Liwa Private School in 1992, the institution has seen tremendous business growth and received numerous accolades for its program offerings in the region. Among the awards earned over the years, notable acknowledgements include receiving the His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashed Al Maktoums Award for Distinguished Academic Performance and the His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award. Liwa Education will begin offering classes featuring its American curriculum for the 2022-23 school year at the Liwa International School Al Qattara (LISQ) in Al Ain. For more information on the full PowerSchool suite of technology solutions visit, https://www.powerschool.com/solutions/. About PowerSchool PowerSchool (NYSE: PWSC) is the leading provider of cloud-based software for K-12 education in North America. Its mission is to power the education ecosystem with unified technology that helps educators and students realize their full potential, in their way. PowerSchool connects students, teachers, administrators, and parents, with the shared goal of improving student outcomes. From the office to the classroom to the home, it helps schools and districts efficiently manage state reporting and related compliance, special education, finance, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, funding, learning, instruction, grading, assessments and analytics in one unified platform. PowerSchool supports over 45 million students globally and more than 14,000 customers, including more than 90 of the top 100 districts by student enrollment in the United States, and sells solutions in more than 90 countries. Visit www.powerschool.com to learn more. PowerSchool. PowerSchool and other PowerSchool marks are trademarks of PowerSchool Holdings, Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others. PWSC-C View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220804005754/en/ WE Communications for PowerSchool [email protected] (503) 443-7155 Source: PowerSchool Holdings, Inc. Nanotechnology start-up prepares to launch mass manufacturing of unique sensors SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A rising star in the Seattle tech scene, nanotechnology innovator Somalytics Inc., announced today it has signed a lease for a new office in Redmond, which will be its global headquarters and manufacturing facility for producing the worlds smallest nano-based capacitive sensor. The companys new address is 2525 152nd Ave. NE, Redmond, Washington 98052. We are thankful for the great support from CoMotion, University of Washingtons collaborative innovation hub, which provided us with a strong foundation from which to launch, said Barbara Barclay, CEO of Somalytics. After years of research and months of product development, our new capacitive paper-based sensors are now ready for mass manufacturing. This is a major milestone for us in our growth journey, and we are thankful to our team for their talent and incredibly hard work that has made it possible. The patent-pending carbon-nanotube paper composite (CPC) capacitive sensors, which can feel human presence, will revolutionize human-machine interfaces, wellness monitoring and safety applications. Eye tracking, consumer electronics, the Internet of Things, health and wellness, and transportation are just a few of the industry categories that will be transformed by Somalytics eye, gesture, touch and fluid monitoring sensors. Since spinning out of the University of Washington in November 2021, with support from hard science investment firm IP Group Inc., Somalytics has quickly gained national recognition for its innovative technology. The company was recently featured in the Summer 2022 issue of Fast Company as one of 13 finalists On the Rise. Also, in January at CES 2022, Somalytics was celebrated as a Best in Show from Android Central and was covered by Wired, ZDNet, Printed Electronics World, Innovation in Textiles and others. Stay tuned to Somalytics on LinkedIn and Twitter for updates! For more information, go to www.somalytics.com. IMAGES: For photos and video of Somalytics, please go to ces.vporoom.com/Somalytics. About Somalytics Somalytics is bringing better sense to the digital world. The nanotechnology start-up is commercializing a patent-pending carbon-nanotube paper composite (CPC) capacitive sensor, which is a new technology developed by University of Washington researchers in collaboration with CoMotion. Somalytics eye, gesture, touch and fluid monitoring sensors are miniature and highly sensitive to the human body. They are designed to improve the human experience through innovations in eye tracking, consumer electronics, AR/VR, the Internet of Things, health and wellness, and transportation. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. www.somalytics.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220804005441/en/ Media: Kristina Messner [email protected] +1-703-716-3181 Source: Somalytics Inc. The technology fills a present gap in diagnostic testing and could contribute to extending the four walls of the health system for COVID-19 and beyond Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University, Aug. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (BOSTON) Today, the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University and 3EO Health Inc.announced that the company has signed a worldwide, exclusive licensing agreement with Harvards Office of Technology Development (OTD), granting 3EO Health the rights to commercialize a portable, ultrasensitive, PCR-grade nucleic acid detection technology developed by Wyss Core Faculty member Peng Yin, Ph.D., and his research team at the Wyss Institute. With a portable COVID-19 test as an intended first product, the company aims at using the technology and additional components to build a digital platform that could empower patients with access to self-testing, results, information, and doctors to enable faster and more effective self-care. In order to optimize the value of testing, tests should be simple to use, affordable, rapid, and accurate. When it comes to COVID at-home tests, existing antigen tests lack sensitivity, and molecular tests are expensive. We have developed a simple and rapid test platform that promises to deliver PCR-level accuracy at antigen level cost, said Peng Yin, Ph.D., Core Faculty member at the Wyss Institute, lead of the Wyss Molecular Robotics Initiative, and founder of 3EO Health. We hope this platform will help to address the diagnostic needs in the present pandemic, as well as find broad applications for other infectious disease and beyond. Yin is also Professor of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School (HMS), and previously co-founded the startups Ultivue Inc., NuProbe Global, Torus Biosystems Inc., Spear Bio Inc., and Digital Biology Inc., all companies which launched to commercialize technologies his group developed at the Wyss Institute. At 3EO, were interested in improving the future of health systems and the path to health and care. Technological advances like at-home testing may enable new models to emerge that have the potential to address inequities in access and care, said Jeremy Schubert, M.B.A., M.P.H., the CEO of 3EO Health. Schubert has held several commercial and leadership positions across multiple divisions of Abbott, and has expertise in health system performance improvement, social determinants in public health, and building healthier communities. To help advance the Wyss technology toward clinical validation and commercialization, several researchers from Yins team who were closely involved with its development have now joined 3EO Health. Thomas Schaus, M.D., Ph.D., who led a number of DNA-nanotechnology-driven projects as a former Senior Scientist in Yins group and Staff Lead at the Wyss Molecular Robotics Initiative, is now Director of Research at 3EO. Nikhil Gopalkrishnan, Ph.D. and Jiyoun Jeong, Ph.D., both experts in DNA nanotechnology with training in computer science and physics, respectively, were also essential to the technology development. Our core nucleic acid detection technology evolved as a combination of biochemical and mechanical inventions, said Schaus. The team invented an innovative molecular assay to detect SARS-CoV-2 or other pathogens with high speed, sensitivity, and specificity. To allow the molecular assay to be performed with minimal user input at home, the researchers devised a reusable base unit, and pathogen-specific, one-time-use consumables, and then prototyped the combined technology at the Wyss Institute. Subsequent work at 3EO Health fully integrated the assay and device components, improved the speed and signal output of the evolved assay method, and transformed the prototypes into an inexpensive, reliable and manufacturable detection system. COVID-19 had us pivot and re-focus our efforts to develop breakthrough technologies that can solve imminent problems for the benefit of public health during this pandemic. Now, the same technologies are beginning to be applied to help conquer many other areas of medicine and health care. The diagnostic platform created by Peng Yins team in the Wyss Molecular Robotics Initiative, now to be commercialized by 3EO Health, is a compelling example with incredible potential, said Wyss Founding Director Donald Ingber, M.D., Ph.D., who is also the Judah Folkman Professor of Vascular Biology at Harvard Medical School and Boston Childrens Hospital, and the Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Bioinspired Engineering at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Harvard initially granted 3EO Health access to this technology on a non-exclusive basis, for a limited term, in accordance with the Universitys commitment to the COVID-19 Technology Access Framework. The Framework enables broad access to emerging technologies to incentivize rapid innovation in pursuit of solutions to combat the pandemic. Beyond the first COVID-19 application, 3EO Health aims to augment the portable, highly sensitive nucleic detection platform with a digital health environment that will enable more comprehensive telehealth applications to improve decision-making processes related to doctor and hospitals visits, as well as prescriptions. PRESS CONTACTS Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University Benjamin Boettner, [email protected], +1 617-432-8232 Harvard Office of Technology Development [email protected] 3EO Health Inc. Jeremy Schubert, [email protected], (224) 723 3240 ### The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University (www.wyss.harvard.edu) is a research and development engine for disruptive innovation powered by biologically-inspired engineering with visionary people at its heart. Our mission is to transform healthcare and the environment by developing ground-breaking technologies that emulate the way Nature builds and accelerate their translation into commercial products through formation of startups and corporate partnerships to bring about positive near-term impact in the world. We accomplish this by breaking down the traditional silos of academia and barriers with industry, enabling our world-leading faculty to collaborate creatively across our focus areas of diagnostics, therapeutics, medtech, and sustainability. Our consortium partners encompass the leading academic institutions and hospitals in the Boston area and throughout the world, including Harvards Schools of Medicine, Engineering, Arts & Sciences and Design, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston Childrens Hospital, DanaFarber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston University, Tufts University, Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin, University of Zurich, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. About Harvard Universitys Office of Technology Development Harvards Office of Technology Development (OTD) promotes the public good by fostering innovation and translating new inventions made at Harvard University into useful products that are available and beneficial to society. Our integrated approach to technology development comprises sponsored research and corporate alliances, intellectual property management, and technology commercialization through venture creation and licensing. To further bridge the academic-industry development gap, Harvard OTD manages the Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator and the Physical Sciences & Engineering Accelerator. For more information, please visit https://otd.harvard.edu . 3EO Health Inc. is a Point of Life diagnostic company leveraging novel diagnostic technology to power a digital wellness engine. We enable people to thrive by extending the four walls of the health system into the home, work, and community. Our passion is to create a world where every person is empowered to optimize their health. Wherever life happens, our work: Enables people to lead wellness for themselves and their families Improves collaboration between people and their clinicians Connects people to valuable community resources that underpin health Protesters gather in downtown Louisville, Ky., on Saturday, March 13, 2021, to commemorate anniversary of the killing of Breonna Taylor in a botched raid by Louisville police officers. (Xavier Burrell/The New York Times) On the day before police officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor in her apartment in Louisville, Kentucky, a detective tried to persuade a judge that a former boyfriend of Taylor could be using her home to stash money and drugs. The detective, Joshua Jaynes, said the former boyfriend had been having packages sent to Taylors apartment, and he even claimed to have proof: a postal inspector who had confirmed the shipments. Jaynes outlined all this in an affidavit and asked a judge for a no-knock warrant so that officers could barge into Taylors home late at night before drug dealers had a chance to flush evidence or flee. The judge signed off on the warrant. But this week, federal prosecutors said Jaynes had lied. It was never clear whether the former boyfriend was receiving packages at Taylors home. And Jaynes, the prosecutors said, had never confirmed as much with any postal inspector. As outrage over Taylors death grew, prosecutors said in new criminal charges filed in federal court, Jaynes met with another detective in his garage and agreed on a story to tell the FBI and their own colleagues to cover up the false and misleading statements police had made to justify the raid. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Amid protests over Taylors killing, much of the attention has focused on whether the two officers who shot her would be charged. But the Justice Department turned most of its attention on the officers who obtained the search warrant, highlighting the problems that can occur when searches are authorized by judges based on facts police may have exaggerated or even concocted. It happens far more often than people think, said Joseph C. Patituce, a defense lawyer and former prosecutor in Ohio. We are talking about a document that allows police to come into the homes of people, oftentimes minorities, at all times of night and day. Taylor is far from the first person to die in a law enforcement operation authorized on what prosecutors said were police misstatements. Story continues In Houston, prosecutors accused a police officer of falsely claiming that an informant had purchased heroin from a home in order to obtain a search warrant in 2019; officers killed two people who lived there during a shootout when they tried to execute the warrant, and only after that did the police chief at the time, Art Acevedo, say there were material untruths or lies in an affidavit for the warrant that led to the raid. The officer pleaded not guilty, and the case is still pending. In Atlanta, police officers barged into a home and fatally shot a 92-year-old woman, Kathryn Johnston, in 2006 after an officer lied in a search warrant affidavit about an informant buying drugs from her home. And in Baltimore, a federal judge sentenced a detective to 2 1/2 years in prison last month after prosecutors said he had lied in a search warrant affidavit about finding drugs in a mans truck in order to justify a search of the mans motel room. Judges often rely solely on the sworn narrative of police officers who apply for warrants, meaning police can carry out potentially dangerous searches targeting innocent people before their affidavits are ever challenged. The Supreme Court has ruled that when police knowingly or recklessly include false statements in search warrant affidavits in cases in which there would otherwise be insufficient cause, any evidence recovered cannot be admitted in court. False statements often come to light if arrests are made, as defense lawyers challenge search warrants in court. A number of deficient affidavits may never be closely scrutinized, legal analysts say, because defendants have agreed to plead guilty for other reasons. In Louisville, Thomas Clay, a lawyer connected to the Breonna Taylor case, knows the issue from both sides. Clay and a colleague, David Ward, once represented Susan Jean King, an amputee with one leg and a slight build who was accused of fatally shooting a former boyfriend at her home and then throwing his body into a river. This was his theory, Ward said of the detective who took on the investigation as a cold case some eight years after the killing. It was physically impossible for her to commit the homicide, drag his body out of her home and into her nonexistent car, and then take this large, 189-pound man and toss his body over a bridge and into the Kentucky River. Kings lawyers claimed that the detective falsely implied in at least one of the search warrant affidavits that a .22-caliber bullet found in the floor of Kings home was one of the rounds that killed the man. But it had already been established that the man died of .22-caliber bullets that lodged in his head without exiting, Kings lawyers noted, and they argued that the detectives assertion was implausible. A judge agreed, saying that the detective had omitted exculpatory evidence from his search warrant affidavits. Nonetheless, King entered an Alford plea to second-degree manslaughter in which she pleaded guilty while maintaining her innocence and was serving more than five years in prison when a man admitted the killing. She was ultimately exonerated. In 2020, the state agreed to pay King a $750,000 settlement for malicious prosecution. Through his lawyer at the time, the detective, who had retired from the force by then, denied any wrongdoing. Now, Clay is representing Jaynes, the detective accused of lying to obtain the search warrant for Taylors home. Search warrants are always fair game to be scrutinized, and they should be scrutinized, Clay said, though he declined to discuss Jaynes case. Jaynes pleaded not guilty to the federal charges Thursday and has said that he was relying in part on information from another officer when he prepared the affidavit. Officers who provide false information under oath when preparing search warrant affidavits may take shortcuts, Clay said, because they believe they already know the outcome of the case but do not yet have enough evidence to support the warrant. The most extreme example is when they are just dishonest, even though they are under oath, Clay said. Ed Davis, a former Boston police commissioner, said the consequences of lying on a search warrant could be severe. Its tragic when you see police falsify information to obtain a search warrant, and it is also dumb, Davis said. Every one of those search warrants can turn into a disaster. In Taylors case, the prosecutors said that another detective, Kelly Goodlett, whom the department moved to fire Thursday, had also added misleading information to the affidavit, saying that Taylors former boyfriend had recently used her address as his current home address. Prosecutors charged Goodlett with conspiring with Jaynes to falsify the warrant. Jaynes has admitted that he did not personally verify the information about the packages with a postal inspector. He has said he was told by a sergeant about the packages and believed that was enough to back up his claims in the affidavit. I had no reason to lie in this case, he told a police board in Louisville that was considering his firing last year. In the federal indictment against Jaynes, however, prosecutors charged that this claim, too, was false, and that the sergeant had actually told Jaynes twice that he did not know about any packages being sent to Taylors home for her former boyfriend. The judge who signed off on the warrant for Taylors apartment, Judge Mary Shaw, declined to comment through an assistant Friday, noting that she could be called to testify in the criminal case against the officers. Shaw is up for reelection in November, and The Louisville Courier Journal reported that she was the only one of 17 incumbent Jefferson Circuit Court judges to face a challenger for her seat. 2022 The New York Times Company The Competition Authority has given permission for the merger of Geenius Meedia OU and OU RMP Eesti. On June 16, 2022, AS Ekspress Grupps 100% subsidiary Geenius Meedia OU and OU RMP Eesti signed an agreement to aquire the business activities of the RMP.ee portal in Estonia. The accounting and tax information portal RMP.ee has been operating for almost 18 years. The portal has more than 50,000 registered users and more than 25,000 newsletter subscribers. The portal collects an average of 80,000 unique users per month. The merger of RMP to Geenius products increases the amount of information offered to the business user and is an important addition to the content of Arigeenius and DigiPRO. Organizing of trainings and conferences forms an important part of RMP's activities. Together with the RMP team, Geenius Meedia plans to expand the training activities to the other topics. The acquisition of operations of RMP.ee portal is an organic step in our strategy. The parties have agreed neither to disclose the price nor any other terms of the transaction. The transaction is scheduled to be completed in the 3rd quarter 2022. Mari-Liis Ruutsalu Chairman of the Management Board +372 512 2591 [email protected] Geenius Meedia is a fast-growing company that builds precisely targeted media whose content is fact-based, understandable and valuable. Geenius is a noise-free and independent platform for talented authors, valued experts and ideas that make life better through science and technology. From December 2021, the owner of the company is AS Ekspress Grupp, the largest media group in the Baltic States, listed on the Tallinn Stock Exchange. AS Ekspress Grupp is the leading media group in the Baltic States whose key activities include web media content production, publishing of newspaper, magazines and books. The Group also manages the electronic ticket sales platform and ticket sales sites in Latvia and Estonia. Ekspress Grupp that launched its operations in 1989 employs 1,400 people, owns leading web media portals in the Baltic States and publishes the most popular daily and weekly newspapers as well as the majority of the most popular magazines in Estonia. NEW YORK, Aug. 05, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized shareholder rights law firm, reminds investors that class actions have been commenced on behalf of people who purchased securities from TerraForm Labs Ptd. Ltd., Solana Labs, Inc., and Celsius Network LLC, and the companies respective Co-Defendants. Those who purchased securities have until the deadlines below to petition the court to serve as lead plaintiff. Additional information about each case can be found at the link provided. TerraForm Labs Ptd. Ltd. and Co-Defendants Class Period: May 20, 2021 May 25, 2022 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: August 19, 2022 TerraForm Labs Ptd. Ltd. (TFL) is a company that operates the Terra blockchain and its related protocol, which hosts, supports, and funds a community of decentralized financial applications and products known collectively as the Terra ecosystem. On May 25, 2022, the price of the UST hit a low of $0.07 per token, down from $1.00, which it has not been able to recover. The price of UST and LUNA tokens dropped by 91% and 99.7%, respectively, between May 7, 2022 and May 12, 2022 and has not recovered. The complaint alleges that defendants violated provisions of the Exchange Act by carrying out a plan, scheme, and course of conduct that TFL intended to and did deceive retail investors and thereby caused them to purchase Terra Tokens at artificially inflated prices; endorsed false statements they knew or recklessly should have known were materially misleading; and made untrue statements of material fact and omitted to state material facts necessary to make the statements not misleading. The complaint alleges that TFL and the individual Defendants also violated provisions of the Securities Act by participating in TFLs failure to register the Terra Tokens. The complaint further alleges non-securities claims, such as California common law claims for aiding and abetting and for civil conspiracy. Finally, the complaint alleges that all Defendants violated provision of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) by conducting the affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity. The complaint further alleges that the Defendants violated provisions of California Common Law by possessing the monetary value of Terra Tokens at inflated value which rightfully belongs to the Plaintiff and members of the class. For more information on the TerraForm Labs class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/TERRA Solana Labs, Inc. and Co-Defendants Class Period: March 24, 2020 Present Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 6, 2022 According to the lawsuit, Solana issues securities that are required to be, but are not, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Throughout the Class Period, Defendants promoted SOL securities (SOL tokens) and sold them to investors, who has suffered losses from purchasing SOL securities. For more information on the Solana Labs class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/SOL-TOKENS Celsius Network LLC and Co-Defendants Class Period: February 9, 2018 July 13, 2022 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: September 13, 2022 Celsius is a financial services company that generates revenue through cryptocurrency trading, lending, and borrowing, the sale of its unregistered securities, as well as engaging in proprietary trading. The price of CEL Tokens went from a high of $7.73 on June 3, 2021, to a low of $0.28 just over a year later on June 12, 2021, in the wake of the June Crisis and Celsius freezing its investors accounts. The complaint alleges that Defendants violated provisions of the Exchange Act by carrying out a plan, scheme, and course of conduct that Celsius intended to and did deceive retail investors and thereby caused them to purchase Celsius Financial Products at artificially inflated prices; endorsed false statements they knew or recklessly should have known were materially misleading, and made untrue statements of material fact and omitted to state material facts necessary to make the statements made not misleading. The complaint further alleges that Celsius and its affiliates, along with the Individual Defendants, also violated provisions of the Securities Act by selling non-exempt securities without registering it. The complaint alleges that Celsius and Individual Defendants violated provisions of the Securities Act by also participating in Celsius failure to register the Celsius Financial Products. The complaint alleges that the Defendants violated provisions of the New Jersey Common Law by possessing the monetary value of Celsius Financial Products of inflated value which rightfully belongs to the Plaintiff and members of the Class. For more information on the Celsius Network class action go to: https://bespc.com/cases/CELSIUS About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Contact Information: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Brandon Walker, Esq. Melissa Fortunato, Esq. (212) 355-4648 [email protected] www.bespc.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 5, 2022) - Miramis Mining Corp. (the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement consisting of the issuance of up to 10,000,000 common shares (each, a "Share") at a price of $0.05 per Share for gross aggregate proceeds of up to $500,000 (the "Offering"), pursuant to which it has closed an initial tranche of 3,700,000 Shares for total gross aggregate proceeds of approximately $185,000 (the "First Tranche"). The proceeds of the First Tranche are expected to be used for general working capital purposes. All Shares issued in connection with the First Tranche are subject to a hold period of four months and one day from closing. No finder's fees were paid in connection with the First Tranche. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Morgan Good" Morgan Good Chief Executive Officer T: 604-715-4751 E: [email protected] Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release related to the Company are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events, and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "may", "should", "could", "intend", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "expect", "believe" or "continue", or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the anticipated use of proceeds of the First Tranche. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Company's plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information, including: adverse market conditions, general economic, market or business risks, and other factors beyond the direct control of the Company, including those related to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic and those other risks more fully described in the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis and other filings made by the Company with Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or events and, accordingly, are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements. Accordingly, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and, unless required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133026 Civil rights group also calls on the Biden administration to order an 'all hands on deck' federal response and ensure law enforcement has sufficient resources to stop the attacks. WASHINGTON, Aug. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today responded to the murder of another Albuquerque Muslim by a serial shooter who has allegedly been targeting Muslims for nine months by raising its reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible to $10,000. SEE: Muslim men in Albuquerque were murdered. Police are investigating possible ties to same killer https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/05/us/albuquerque-muslim-murders/index.html Muslim men likely targeted and killed in New Mexico, police say https://www.reuters.com/world/us/muslim-men-likely-targeted-killed-new-mexico-police-say-2022-08-06/ CAIR also called on the Biden administration to take a direct role in responding to the shooting spree and ensure that law enforcement receives all the resources needed to immediately identify and stop the serial shooter. During a press conference this afternoon, the Albuquerque Police Department and federal law enforcement officials announced that a Muslim man was murdered in Albuquerque last night. The murder comes in the wake of three murders targeting Muslim men over a nine-month period, which investigators say could be connected. Law enforcement authorities also said the men may have been targeted because of "their race and religion." During today's press conference, law enforcement urged the Muslim community to be vigilant, announced an increase in police patrols near Muslim institutions, and called on members of the public to report any suspicious activity or any information they feel might be relevant to the case. WATCH THE NEWS CONFERENCE: https://www.facebook.com/KOBTV/videos/1144401712783272/ "This tragedy is impacting not only the Muslim community - but all Americans," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We must be united against hate and violence regardless of the race, faith or background of the victims or the perpetrators. We urge anyone with information about these crimes to come forward by contacting law enforcement." In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said: "The lives of Albuquerque Muslims are in danger. Whoever is responsible for this horrific, hateful shooting spree must be identified and stopped now." "We thank local, state and federal law enforcement for their ongoing work on this crisis, and we call the Biden administration to ensure that authorities all of the resources needed to both protect the Albuquerque Muslim community and stop those responsible for these horrific crimes before they claim more innocent lives. "We offer our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed, and we pray that God enters them into Paradise as martyrs. We encourage Muslim communities and institutions across our nation to exercise vigilance and enhance their security while continuing to fearlessly and confidently live our faith." CAIR also announced today that is now offering an increased reward of $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murders. To submit a tip: Call (505) 843-STOP or visit the Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers website. An FBI representative at today's news conference asked anyone with information about the murders to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). Residents of Albuquerque were urged to call 242-COPS (2677). CAIR's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. La mision de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprension del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos. Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/CAIRNational Subscribe to CAIR's Email List https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed http://twitter.com/cairnational Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/cairtv Follow CAIR on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cair_national/ Donate to CAIR https://action.cair.com/a/donate Do you like reading CAIR press releases and taking part in our action alerts? You can help contribute to CAIR's work of defending civil rights and empowering American Muslims across the country by making a one-time contribution or becoming a monthly donor. Supporters like you make CAIR's advocacy work possible and defeating Islamophobia an achievable goal. Click here to donate to CAIR. If you would like join CAIR's media list, please sign up here: https://action.cair.com/a/newsletters. For more information, email: [email protected], CC [email protected] CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cair-raises-reward-for-info-leading-to-arrest-of-new-mexico-shooter-targeting-muslims-to-10-000-after-another-murder-overnight-301601147.html SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) SEATTLE, Aug. 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Four years ago, conference attendees in Chicago could revisit and discuss Filipino-American history. Now, the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) is determined to restart its 2022 national conference by combining in-person and virtual offerings Aug. 11-13 at Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue. The 19th biennial national conference and general membership meeting in Seattle is the marquee event of FANHS, a historical society with 41 chapters in the U.S. "It's truly an intergenerational conference," said Emily P. Lawsin, historic preservation specialist at 4Culture, a sponsor of many FANHS projects in Seattle. "Intergenerational meaning from first-generation immigrants to third-, fourth-, fifth-generation Filipino Americans whose families have been here for 100 years or more." "FANHS 40: Past, Present, Future" is the conference theme. This year, FANHS celebrates its 40th anniversary. "I think it's really important to know your history and where you come from so you know where you're going," Lawsin said. "Mel Orpilla, who is FANHS' president emeritus, coined the saying 'No history, no self. Know history, know self.'" About 320 people are expected to attend the hybrid conference both online by using the Whova app and in-person. Highlights of the conference also include an appearance by retired Army Major General Antonio Taguba and a reading by award-winning novelist Peter Bacho, author of "Uncle Rico's Encore: Mostly True Stories of Filipino Seattle." The Opening Plenary speaker is Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap, and the Banquet Keynote Speaker is writer Jen Soriano. For more information about the 2022 FANHS Conference, visit fanhs-seattle.org/conference/. About the Filipino American National Historical Society The Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) is a volunteer-based, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its mission is "to promote understanding, education, enlightenment, appreciation and enrichment through the identification, gathering, preservation and dissemination of the history and culture of Filipino Americans in the United States." For more information on FANHS, visit fanhs-national.org/filam/. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/filipino-american-national-historical-society-to-hold-conference-in-seattle-301601088.html SOURCE Filipino American National Historical Society SEATTLE, Aug. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines' airport customer service agents, stores, cargo, ground service and reservations agents, who are represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), have ratified a two-year contract extension. The contract passed overwhelmingly and includes increased pay with market reviews to ensure wage rates stay competitive, as well as increases in longevity pay. Job security has also been extended until Sept. 27, 2028. Alaska's airport customer service agents, stores, cargo, ground service and reservation agents are responsible for assisting guests with upcoming and day-of travel, managing aircraft material and parts, loading cargo and readying aircraft for departures and arrivals. "IAM negotiators strongly advocated for employees' needs, which included significant improvements to the wage structure," said Jenny Wetzel, vice president of labor relations at Alaska Airlines. "I'm glad we were able to reach an agreement that improves our employees' quality of life and is good for our company's long-term success. We are all very proud of this new agreement." "This newly ratified IAM agreement at Alaska Airlines has raised the bar for the entire airline industry," said IAM General Vice President Richard Johnsen. "After keeping our world moving during the pandemic, our members at Alaska Airlines deserve the absolute best agreement possible. Today, the IAM has made that a reality." The previous contract became amendable on Sept. 27, 2024. Contracts in the airline industry do not expire. Once they become amendable, the current contract remains in effect until a new agreement is ratified. About Alaska Airlines Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica and Mexico. We emphasize Next-Level Care for our guests, along with providing low fares for our guests, award-winning customer service and sustainability efforts. Alaska is a member of the oneworld global alliance. With the alliance and our additional airline partners, guests can travel to more than 1,000 destinations on more than 20 airlines while earning and redeeming miles on flights to locations around the world. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK). View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iam-represented-employees-at-alaska-airlines-ratify-two-year-contract-extension-301601142.html SOURCE Alaska Airlines A retired Air Force major declared online victory against the services senior enlisted leader this week, after he was blocked from her Facebook page in 2020 for criticizing military policies in the comments section. In a court settlement filed Wednesday, the Air Force agreed to reinstate the veterans access to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne Bass official Facebook page and to stop deleting comments and banning users from its sites based on their opinions. The Center for Individual Rights, a conservative public interest law firm based in Washington D.C., filed suit against Bass office for viewpoint discrimination in violation of the First Amendment in August 2021 after her page banned Richard Lee Rynearson III the year before. The center alleged Bass violated the former Air Force pilots right to free speech by excluding him from an official government Facebook page based solely on opinions he expressed in the online forum. The settlement requires the Air Force to amend the pages comment policy to include the following provision: Posts will not be removed, and users will not be banned, based on the viewpoint expressed in any comments. The decision sets an important precedent for military public affairs offices of all services, which frequently operate multiple social media platforms open to comments and may block vocal critics or attacks on their official pages. The conflict started on Nov. 22, 2020, when Bass page posted a Thanksgiving-themed post that said, ... theres not a day that goes by that Im not thankful for each of YOU. The people, Airmen and families, that make up the strongest Air Force in the world. Rynearson replied in the comments that he was thankful that other branches of the military were concentrating on warfare so that the Air Force could concentrate on making sure we all feel good about ourselves and that nobody is offended or feels like a victim. He attached a link to an image of a Care Bears cartoon and closed with, I am thankful the phrase air power has now been replaced with #CarePower. Within hours, Rynearson was banned from the Facebook page, according to a CIR statement. Comments were removed in November 2020 in compliance with the CMSAF Facebook comment policy in effect at that time, an Air Force spokesperson told Stars and Stripes by email Friday. The decision was made in an effort to encourage meaningful dialogue that does not detract from the Air Forces efforts to prioritize taking care of the Airmen who are executing the Air Forces garrison and warfighting missions. In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Thursday, CIR president Terence Pell said Rynearson first tried to contact Bass office to have the ban rescinded. After repeated attempts to reach out to the Pentagon directly to alert Sgt. Bass that blocking him from an official government Facebook page violated the First Amendment, Rynearson decided to pursue legal action, Pell wrote. Pell said Rynearson had become concerned that the Air Force is embracing identity politics, that leadership has prioritized sensitivity to a degree that it is corrupting the strength of the Air Force, and that leaders have become hostile to critics. He was critical of some of the Air Forces policies, Pell told Stars and Stripes. And thats fair. It was a legitimate opinion. The Air Force cant treat him differently because he raises questions about Air Force policy. Though the government is free to use big-tech platforms such as Facebook, it is not free to silence speech that it finds objectionable, Pell said. Pell called Rynearson a concerned citizen who follows, documents, and at times, criticizes Air Force policy. Rynearson received a Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism after successfully defending his aircraft from numerous anti-aircraft artillery attacks as a C-130U co-pilot during a March 20, 2003, night mission in Iraq. He and the rest of the aircrafts crew supported outnumbered special operations forces in a battle for an Iraqi petroleum pipeline, according to the award citation online. Even before leaving the uniform, Rynearson stood up for what he perceived was his constitutional obligations as a military officer. In a YouTube video posted to his blog, pickyourbattles.net, Rynearson, who also piloted the unmanned MQ-9 Reaper drone for Air Force Special Operations Command, said 15 years into his career he attempted to resign his commission after he refused an unconstitutional order to assassinate an American citizen outside of a war zone, without charge or trial. Rynearson has since become somewhat of an activist, regularly blogging about civil liberty issues such as the constitutionality of indefinite detention, police actions and the expansion of executive authority. His activism led him to file lawsuits and even resulted in accusations of cyberbullying. Bass and her team have been prolific users of Facebook, posting almost weekly to her pages more than 206,000 followers. Bass started facing online criticism soon after taking office in 2020 when an airman asked in a comment whether the enlisted leaders name was pronounced like the musical instrument or the fish a post that launched copycat troll posts asking the question repeatedly on various comment threads. Her response challenged the airman to contact her directly to clear up any confusion and prompted criticism that the senior enlisted leader overreacted to a harmless joke. Bass Facebook pages updated comment policy still allows comments to be removed if they constitute harassment or cyberstalking. Mr. Rynearson was interested in the Air Force recognizing that the First Amendment does not permit the government to discriminate or treat individuals different based on the points of view they express, Pell told Stars and Stripes Friday. The outcome of this lawsuit affects the ability of any citizen to express their view on a government run website without fear of retaliation for a point of view they express. And I think that is a good thing for everybody. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The head of Chad's military government met Saturday with Qatar's ruling emir after months of talks between Chadian forces and rebel factions, hosted by the Arab country. Chad's Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby spoke with Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Footage from the Qatari royal court, or diwan, showed Sheikh Tamim with Qatar's foreign minister, while a Chadian delegation accompanied Deby. A later statement on the state-run Qatar News Agency quoted Sheikh Tamim as backing a "comprehensive national reconciliation in Chad," saying the ongoing negotiations between the military and the rebels represented a first step toward that. Sheikh Tamim also reportedly wished Deby luck in an upcoming national dialogue planned in the Chadian capital of N'Djamena on Aug. 20. The talks had earlier been set for May. Talks between the rebel factions and the military began in March in Doha, the Qatari capital. Deby's visit comes as diplomats hope the military government and the rebel groups would sign an agreement in Doha ahead of the Aug. 20 talks. But it remains unclear whether the Front for Change and Concord in Chad, the main rebel group in the country, will sign a deal. That shadowy group, known by the French acronym FACT, is blamed for the 2021 killing of Chad's longtime President Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled the country since 1990. Mahamat Idriss Deby is the 38-year-old son of the slain president who leads Chad's Transitional Military Council. Other rebel groups involved in the Qatar talks included the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development and others. They have called for Deby to declare he would not run in any coming elections, though the military junta has insisted that can only be decided in the national dialogue talks. A planned 18-month transitional period in Chad is to end in the coming months, putting renewed pressure on the sides to reach an agreement. Already, Chad had grown frustrated by the 30 years of rule by Deby's father, leading to years of rebel uprisings in the former French colony that borders Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan. In July, Qatar's satellite news network Al Jazeera reported that over 20 rebel groups had withdrawn from the Doha talks. They had accused the military government of "harassments, intimidation, threats and disinformation" amid the negotiations. FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii Attorneys representing hundreds of Hawaii residents sickened by petroleum-tainted tap water are urging the Navy to permanently relocate families after University of Hawaii scientists this week unveiled sampling data suggesting that water in some homes could still be tainted with jet fuel. The circumstances are dire and immediate, the attorneys wrote in a letter Thursday to the Navys Office of the Judge Advocate General. Please provide alternative safe housing off the water line or offer compensation to families for their move, wrote the attorneys from the Austin-based firm Just Well Law. Many affected families have spent their entire life savings to move off the Navy water line, or off the island. But many of the families who remain are desperate to leave and have no recourse to do so. The law firm represents nearly 150 families who have experienced illnesses some long-lasting and other hardships stemming from jet fuel contamination discovered in late November at about two dozen military communities on and near Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Thousands of residents were temporarily relocated to hotels this winter. The contamination was traced to jet fuel leaking from the Red Hill underground fuel storage facility. State and federal officials are in the process of emptying those tanks and permanently closing the facility. In their letter, the attorneys cited results of water testing released this week by the University of Hawaii Red Hill Task Force, which was formed in December in response to the contamination. The task force uses a testing method called fluorescence spectroscopy, which provides rapid, preliminary screening of a large number of samples. The caveat is that fluorescence-based methods are not specific to petroleum products, the University of Hawaii said in a news release Friday. Rather, it is measuring the fluorescence produced by one or more chemicals typically present in fuel. The task forces test results found positive indications in samples taken at homes in several military communities as late as May about two months after the Navy and Hawaii Department of Health declared the water supply to be safe for consumption on March 18 after extensive flushing. The task force recommends that residents of homes with positive detections follow up with more detailed testing from labs certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A positive detection using fluorescence spectroscopy is like getting a report of a shadow on an X-ray, the universitys news release said. The Navy said Friday it stands by the monitoring testing protocol it put in place in the affected communities. Since the Navy began long-term monitoring of its water distribution system in March, there have been no detections of JP5 [jet fuel] contamination in the system, the Navy said in a statement provided to Stars and Stripes. The Navy will continue to use established laboratories employing EPA-authorized and validated testing procedures, equipment, and reporting standards in the testing of our drinking water, the statement said. The Navys water has been and is consistently safe to drink since the EPA, Hawaii Health Department and Navy determined it safe on March 18, the statement said. One of the attorneys representing the families, Kristina Baehr, said about two-thirds of the families she represents have either moved back to the mainland or elsewhere on Oahu where water was never affected. But about a third of my clients are still on the water line, and they would move if they had a safe alternative, a safe and affordable alternative, Baehr said during a phone interview Friday. But their leases are precluding them from moving and then there is the expense of finding an alternative safe place. Baehr pointed out that the U.S. Army announced Thursday it was evacuating about 1,200 soldiers from barracks at Fort Bragg, N.C., that were so infested with mold that they must be demolished. We know how to provide people safe housing and to evacuate people when we need to, right? she said. I'm not suggesting that [the Navy] evacuate 93,000 people. Just let the people who want to leave to leave and provide them the resources to do it. SEOUL, South Korea North Korea on Saturday called U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi the worst destroyer of international peace and stability, accusing her of inciting anti-North Korea sentiment and enraging China during her Asian tour earlier this week. Pelosi traveled to South Korea after visiting Taiwan, which had prompted China to launch military exercises including missile strike training in waters near the self-governed island. China views Taiwan as part of its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. While in South Korea, Pelosi visited a border area with North Korea and discussed the Norths nuclear program with South Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin Pyo. According to Kim, the two agreed to support their governments push for denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula based on strong, extended deterrence against the North and diplomacy. On Saturday, Jo Yong Sam, director general at the North Korean Foreign Ministry's press and information affairs department, slammed Pelosi over her visit to the border and discussion of anti-North Korean deterrence. Pelosi who had come under a volley of due criticism from China for destroying regional peace and stability by visiting Taiwan, stirred up the atmosphere of confrontation with North Korea during her stay in South Korea, Jo said in a statement carried by state media. Calling Pelosi the worst destroyer of international peace and stability, Jo argued Pelosis behavior in South Korea clearly showed the Biden administrations hostile policy toward North Korea. It would be a fatal mistake for her to think that she can go scot-free in the Korean Peninsula, Jo warned. The U.S. will have to pay dearly for all the sources of trouble spawned by her wherever she went. Pelosis visit to the Joint Security Area at the Korean border on Thursday made her the highest-profile American to go there since then-President Donald Trump visited in 2019 for a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Located inside the worlds most heavily fortified border, the area is jointly controlled by the American-led United Nations Command and North Korea. U.S. presidents and other top officials have previously traveled to the area to reaffirm their security commitment to South Korea in times of animosities with North Korea. During her JSA visit, Pelosi didnt make any strong public statements against North Korea. She uploaded several photos from the JSA on Twitter and wrote: We conveyed the gratitude of the Congress and the Country for the patriotic service of our servicemembers, who stand as sentinels of Democracy on the Korean Peninsula. Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remain high following North Koreas torrid run of missile tests earlier this year. U.S. and South Korean officials said North Korea is ready to carry out its first nuclear weapons test in five years. North Korea has said it would not return to denuclearization talks and instead focus on expanding its nuclear program unless the United States drops its hostile policies, in an apparent reference to U.S.-led international sanctions on the North and its regular military drills with South Korea. After Pelosi visited Taiwan and reaffirmed Washingtons commitment to defending democracy on the self-governing island, North Korea on Wednesday issued a statement berating the U.S. and supporting China, its main ally and biggest aid benefactor. Pelosi was the the first House speaker to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - August 5, 2022) - City View Green Holdings Inc. (CSE: CVGR) (OTCQB: CVGRF) ("City View" or the "Company"), trading through the facilities of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") under the symbol "CVGR" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "CVGRF", announces the resignation of Stephen McNeill as a director of the Company. The Company would like to thank him for his efforts and wish him well in his future endeavors. For further information contact: City View Green Holdings Inc. Rob Fia, CEO & President Email: rob@cityviewgreen.ca Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulations services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About City View City View is a leading consumer packaged goods company focused on the development of cannabis-infused edibles. With the receipt of its Cannabis Act processing licence on April 30, 2021, City View will incorporate cannabis-infused food production at its Brantford, Ontario high-capacity facility. In addition, City View owns a 27.5% stake in Budd Hutt Inc. ("Budd Hutt"), a retail-focused cannabis company with access to cannabis cultivation and production licences in Alberta and other retail opportunities across Canada. Through its relationship with Budd Hutt, the Company anticipates securing shelf space, product placement, and distribution opportunities for our white label partner products. For more information visit: www.cityviewgreen.ca. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements which are not composed of historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our 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. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". 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Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include, among others, availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, delays in the development of projects, and ability to predict or counteract potential impact of COVID-19 coronavirus on factors relevant to the Company's business. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such 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. Story continues THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS 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 LAWS. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/133058 MANILA, Philippines U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that China should not hold hostage talks on important global matters such as the climate crisis, after Beijing cut off contacts with Washington in retaliation for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this week. Blinken spoke in an online news conference with his Philippine counterpart in Manila after meeting newly elected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other top officials, as relations between Washington and Beijing plummeted to their worst level in years. Pelosi's trip to the self-governed island outraged China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. China on Thursday launched military exercises off Taiwan's coasts and on Friday cut off contacts with the U.S. on vital issues, including military matters and crucial climate cooperation, as punishments against Pelosi's visit. "We should not hold hostage cooperation on matters of global concern because of differences between our two countries," Blinken said. "Others are rightly expecting us to continue to work on issues that matter to the lives and livelihood of their people as well as our own." He cited cooperation on climate change as a key area where China shut down contact that "doesn't punish the United States it punishes the world." "The world's largest carbon emitter is now refusing to engage on combatting the climate crisis," Blinken said, adding that China's firing of ballistic missiles that landed in waters surrounding Taiwan was a dangerous and destabilizing action. "What happens to the Taiwan Strait affects the entire region. In many ways it affects the entire world because the Strait, like the South China Sea, is a critical waterway," he said, noting that nearly half the global container fleet and nearly 90% of the world's largest ships transited through the waterway this year. China shut "military-to-military channels, which are vital for avoiding miscommunication and avoiding crisis, but also cooperation on transnational crimes and counter-narcotics, which help keep people in the United States, China and beyond, safe," he said. Despite China's actions, Blinken said he told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Friday in Cambodia, where they attended an annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, that the U.S. did not want to escalate the situation. "We seek to deescalate those tensions and we think dialogues are a very important element of that," he said, adding the U.S. would "keep our channels of communication with China open with the intent of avoiding escalation to the misunderstanding or miscommunication." Blinken is the highest ranking American official to visit the Philippines since Marcos Jr. took office on June 30 following a landslide election victory. In his brief meeting with Blinken, Marcos Jr. mentioned he was surprised by the turn of events related to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan this week. "It just demonstrated it how the intensity of that conflict has been," Marcos Jr. said based on a transcript released by the presidential palace. "This just demonstrates how volatile the international diplomatic scene is not only in the region," he added. Marcos Jr. praised the vital relationship between Manila and Washington, which are treaty allies, and U.S. assistance to the Philippines over the years. Blinken reiterated Washington's commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines and "to working with you on shared challenges." Blinken told journalists he also discussed with Marcos Jr. strengthening democracy and U.S. commitment to work with the Philippines to defend the rule of law, protect human rights, freedom of expression and safeguard civil society groups, "which are critical to our alliance." Describing the Philippines as "an irreplaceable friend," he said he reiterated to the president that an armed attack on Filipino forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea "will invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments." Blinken arrived Friday night in Manila after attending the ASEAN meetings in Cambodia, where he was joined by his Chinese and Russian counterparts. ASEAN foreign ministers called for "maximum restraint" as China mounted war drills around Taiwan and moved against the U.S., fearing the situation "could destabilize the region and eventually could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers." In Manila, Blinken visited a vaccination clinic, met with groups helping fight coronavirus outbreaks and went to a clean energy fair. He also met U.S. Embassy staff before flying out Saturday night. Shortly before Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, as speculation rose that her aircraft might stop over briefly at the former U.S. Clark Air Force base north of Manila for refueling, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said in a TV interview he hoped "the Philippine side will strictly abide by the one-China principle and handle all Taiwan-related issues with prudence to ensure sound and steady development of China-Philippines relations." Huang's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from opposition Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who said "the ambassador shouldn't pontificate on such policies, especially considering that his country stubbornly and steadfastly refuses to recognize a decision rendered by an international arbitral court and ignores and flouts international law in the West Philippine Sea when it suits her interest." Hontiveros was referring to a 2016 arbitration ruling on a Philippine complaint that invalidated China's vast territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. She used the Philippine name for the disputed waters. China has dismissed that ruling, which was welcomed by the U.S. and Western allies, as a sham and continues to defy it. Associated Press journalists Andrew Harnik and Kiko Rosario in Manila, Philippines contributed to this report. KYIV, Ukraine Russian forces began an assault Saturday on two key cities in the eastern Donetsk region and kept up rocket and shelling attacks on other Ukrainian cities, including one close to Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine's military and local officials said. Both cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka had been considered key targets of Russia's ongoing offensive across Ukraine's east, with analysts saying Moscow needs to take Bakhmut if it is to advance on the regional hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. "In the Donetsk direction, the enemy is conducting an offensive operation, concentrating its main efforts on the Bakhmut and Avdiivka directions. It uses ground attack and army aviation," the Ukrainian General Staff said on Facebook. Russian shelling killed five civilians and injured 14 others in the Donetsk region in the last day, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote Saturday on Telegram, saying two died in Poprosny, and one each in Avdiivka, Soledar and Pervomaiskiy. The governor of the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region said three civilians were injured after Russian rockets fell on a residential neighborhood in Nikopol, a city across the Dnieper River from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station. The nuclear plant has been under Russian control since Moscow's troops seized it early in the war. "After midnight, the Russian army struck the Nikopol area with (Soviet-era) Grad rockets, and the Kryvyi Rih area from barrel artillery," Valentyn Reznichenko wrote on Telegram. Ukrainian authorities also said a Russian missile attack overnight damaged unspecified infrastructure in the regional capital of Zaporizhzhia. On Thursday, Russia fired 60 rockets at Nikopol, damaging 50 residential buildings in the city of 107,000 and leaving residents without electricity. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned this week that the situation was becoming more perilous day by day at the Zaporizhzhia plant. "Every principle of nuclear safety has been violated" at the plant, he said. "What is at stake is extremely serious and extremely grave and dangerous." He expressed concern about the way the plant is being operated and the danger posed by the fighting going on around it. Experts at the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War said they believe Russia is shelling the area intentionally, "putting Ukraine in a difficult position." The Ukrainian company operating the nuclear power station said Saturday that Russian troops are using the plant's basement to hide from Ukrainian shelling and have barred its Ukrainian staff from going there. "Ukrainian personnel do not yet have access to these premises, so in the event of new shelling, people have no shelter and are in danger," Enerhoatom, a Ukrainian state enterprise, said on its Telegram channel. Enerhoatom said Friday that Russian rockets had damaged the plant's facilities, including a nitrogen-oxygen unit and a high-voltage power line. Local Russian-appointed officials acknowledged the damage, but blamed it on alleged Ukrainian shelling. In Ukraine's south, two civilians were seriously injured Saturday after Russian forces fired rockets on the Black Sea port of Mykolayiv before dawn, according to regional authorities. That followed a Friday afternoon attack on Mykolayiv that killed one person and wounded 21 others. In the north, Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv and its surrounding area also came under Russian rocket fire again overnight, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. A 18-year-old in Chuhuiv, a town near Kharkiv, had to be hospitalized Saturday after he picked up an unexploded shell. Both Chuhuiv and Kharkiv have endured sustained Russian shelling in recent weeks, due to their proximity to the Russian border. The neighboring Sumy region, which also borders Russia, has also seen near-constant shelling and missile strikes. Its regional governor said Saturday the province was hit more than 60 times from Russian territory over the previous day, and one wounded civilian had to be hospitalized. On the ammunition front, Russia has begun using Iranian combat drones in the war, Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said in a YouTube address, adding that Tehran had transferred 46 drones to the Russian army. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Israeli airstrikes flattened homes in Gaza on Saturday and Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel persisted for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict. Gaza's health ministry said 24 people had been killed so far in the coastal strip, including six children. The fighting began with Israel's killing of a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group in a wave of strikes Friday that Israel said were meant to prevent an imminent attack. So far, Hamas, the larger militant group that rules Gaza, appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained. Israel and Hamas fought a war barely a year ago, one of four major conflicts and several smaller battles over the last 15 years that exacted a staggering toll on the impoverished territory's 2 million Palestinian residents. Whether Hamas continues to stay out of the fight likely depends in part on how much punishment Israel inflicts in Gaza as rocket fire steadily continues. The Israeli military said an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants killed civilians late Saturday, including children, in the town of Jabaliya, in northern Gaza. The military said it investigated the incident and concluded "without a doubt" that it was caused by a misfire on the part of Islamic Jihad. There was no official Palestinian comment on the incident. A Palestinian medical worker, who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the blast killed at least six people, including three children. An airstrike in the southern city of Rafah destroyed a home and heavily damaged surrounding buildings. The Health Ministry said at least two people were killed and 32 wounded, including children. A teenage boy was recovered from the rubble, and the other slain individual was identified by his family as Ziad al-Mudalal, the son of an Islamic Jihad official. The military said it targeted Khaled Mansour, Islamic Jihad's commander for southern Gaza. Neither Israel nor the militant group said whether he was hit. The Civil Defense said responders were still sifting through the rubble and that a digger was being sent from Gaza City. Another strike Saturday hit a car, killing a 75-year-old woman and wounding six other people. In one of the strikes, fighter jets dropped two bombs on the house of an Islamic Jihad member after Israel warned people to evacuate the area. The blast flattened the two-story structure, leaving a large rubble-filled crater, and badly damaged surrounding homes. Women and children rushed out of the area. "Warned us? They warned us with rockets and we fled without taking anything," said Huda Shamalakh, who lived next door. She said 15 people lived in the targeted home. Among the 24 Palestinians killed were six children and two women, as well as the senior Islamic Jihad commander. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 200 people have been wounded. It does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. The Israeli military said Friday that early estimates were that around 15 fighters were killed. The lone power plant in Gaza ground to a halt at noon Saturday for lack of fuel as Israel has kept its crossing points into Gaza closed since Tuesday. With the new disruption, Gazans can get only 4 hours of electricity a day, increasing their reliance on private generators and deepening the territory's chronic power crisis amid peak summer heat. Throughout the day, Gaza militants regularly launched rounds of rockets into Israel. The Israeli military said Saturday evening that nearly 450 rockets had been fired, 350 of which made it into Israel, but almost all were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile-defense system. Two people suffered minor shrapnel wounds. One rocket barrage was fired toward Tel Aviv, setting off sirens that sent residents to shelters, but the rockets were either intercepted or fell into the sea, the military said. Sunday could be a critical day in the flare-up, as Jews mark Tisha B'av, a somber day of fasting that commemorates the destruction of the biblical temples. Thousands are expected at Jerusalem's Western Wall, and Israeli media reported that the Israeli leadership was expected to allow lawmakers to visit a key hilltop holy site in the city that is a flashpoint for violence between Israelis and Palestinians. The violence poses an early test for Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who assumed the role of caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in November, when he hopes to keep the position. Lapid, a centrist former TV host and author, has experience in diplomacy having served as foreign minister in the outgoing government, but has thin security credentials. A conflict with Gaza could burnish his standing and give him a boost as he faces off against former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a security hawk who led the country during three of its four wars with Hamas. Hamas also faces a dilemma in deciding whether to join a new battle barely a year after the last war caused widespread devastation. There has been almost no reconstruction since then, and the isolated coastal territory is mired in poverty, with unemployment hovering around 50%. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory since the Hamas takeover in 2007. Egypt on Saturday intensified efforts to prevent escalation, communicating with Israel, the Palestinians and the United States to keep Hamas from joining the fighting, an Egyptian intelligence official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The latest round of Israel-Gaza violence was rooted in the arrest earlier this week of a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the occupied West Bank, part of a monthslong Israeli military operation. Israel then closed roads around Gaza and sent reinforcements to the border, bracing for retaliation. On Friday, it killed Islamic Jihad's commander for northern Gaza, Taiseer al-Jabari, in a strike on a Gaza City apartment building. An Israeli military spokesman said the strikes were in response to an "imminent threat" from two militant squads armed with anti-tank missiles. Hamas seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew from the coastal strip. Its most recent war with Israel was in May 2021. Tensions soared again earlier this year following a wave of attacks inside Israel, near-daily military operations in the West Bank and tensions at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. Iran-backed Islamic Jihad is smaller than Hamas but largely shares its ideology. Both groups oppose Israel's existence and have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years. Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Ontario contributed to this report. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan this week heightened tensions between China and the United States. Behind the recent developments, including Beijings show of force in response, are a long history of shifting ties and frictions. Heres what to know about the United States policies, communiques and assurances regarding China and Taiwan. Q: What is the one-China policy? A: Under the policy, the United States acknowledges that there is only one China, without considering Taiwan a separate entity - with the understanding that Washington remains opposed to the use of force against Taiwan. China views the one-China policy as official U.S. acknowledgment that Beijing is the only legitimate government in charge of both China and Taiwan. Q: What is the Taiwan Relations Act? A: The act was signed by President Jimmy Carter in April 1979, after the United States announced it would formalize diplomatic relations with Beijing. It was aimed at reassuring Taiwan and deterring China from invading the self-ruled island, while also maintaining de facto economic and diplomatic relations between the United States and Taiwan. The act states that Washington will view aggression and economic sanctions against Taiwan as a threat to peace in the Pacific and a grave concern to the United States, but it doesnt guarantee U.S. military intervention should China invade Taiwan. Instead the United States promises to make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability. The act also laid the legal groundwork for the creation of the American Institute in Taiwan, a nonprofit that functions as Washingtons de facto embassy. Q: What are the three U.S.-China communiques? A: The United States inked the first of three communiques with China regarding Taiwan in 1972, known as the Shanghai Communique. In that document, the United States acknowledged that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China, and does not challenge that position. The United States also expressed interest in a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question by the Chinese themselves. In the second communique, dated January 1979, the United States explicitly accepted Beijing as the sole legal Government of China. It set out the establishment of full diplomatic relations between the two countries, after which the United States also cut its long-standing mutual defense treaty and diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The third communique, in August 1982, saw the United States repeat its acknowledgment of Beijing as the sole legal government of China, and that Taiwan was part of China. Although the two sides agreed to disagree regarding U.S. arms sales to the island, the United States said it would gradually reduce its sale of arms to Taiwan. Q: What are the United States six assurances to Taiwan? A: As relations between Beijing and Washington improved, Taiwan grew anxious about continued support from the United States. In 1982, President Ronald Reagan instructed U.S. officials to reassure Taiwan by making six pledges, according to declassified cables. The exact phrasing of the six assurances has changed over the years, but they essentially state that the United States will not set a date for ending arms sales to Taiwan; will not mediate cross-strait relations; will make no attempt to pressure Taiwan into entering negotiations with China; will not alter its stance on Taiwans sovereignty; will make no changes to the Taiwan Relations Act; and will not consult China on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. In 2016, the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate passed resolutions containing the pledges. The RCMP executed a search warrant at Jeremy Barton's residence, the former Coles Island School, where they seized more than 100 cannabis plants that were part of a grow-op Barton was operating. (Catherine Harrop/CBC - image credit) The RCMP have formally apologized to a New Brunswick man for how the force tracked and returned items seized during a raid on his cannabis grow-op in 2019. In a letter to Jeremy Barton of Coles Island, the RCMP acknowledged a report from the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, which determined Const. Peter Marshall failed to generate a comprehensive list of personal property seized from Barton's home. The commission also determined the RCMP delayed returning Barton's property once it was not required for an investigation or for evidence. "These actions were contrary to RCMP policy," Supt. Dan Austin, district commander for the South East District RCMP, wrote in the letter shared with CBC News. "On behalf of the RCMP, I would like to apologize to you for this unreasonable accounting of your personal property and any distress that this may have caused you." Barton is one of four men suing the RCMP, claiming officers wrongfully raided their cannabis grow-op located in the former Coles Island School, about 88 kilometres east of Fredericton, in September 2019. The complainants are suing the RCMP for damages, alleging officers seized and later destroyed 60 mature plants. A judge has yet to rule on that case, which is separate from the public complaint. Barton filed the complaint with the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP on March 11, 2020. In it, he alleged that on Sept. 30, 2019, at about 8 a.m., Const. Marshall executed a search warrant at his home, along with eight to 10 other officers. He said that despite having a Health Canada permit to grow "a certain number" of cannabis plants, Marshall authorized the seizure of a portion of them, along with the deed to his home, his house key and his Health Canada paperwork. Property not returned after charges dropped Although Barton was arrested and charged, those charges were later dropped, Barton said. His plants, however, were still not returned to him. Story continues "I would like to be compensated immediately for my plants that were seized," Barton wrote in the complaint. "Being deprived of what was meant for medical purposes has certainly placed a financial hardship upon myself. I would like to have my other property returned immediately as well." RCMP Insp. Marc Maillet wrote to Barton on March 15, 2021, informing him that Cpl. Julie Rogers-Marsh had conducted a thorough investigation into his allegations that RCMP seized cannabis plants for which he had a licence to grow, and that RCMP mishandled his property and did not return it. Inspector rejected complaints Based on Rogers-Marsh's findings, Maillet wrote he did not support either of the two allegations by Barton. "In summary, Constable Marshall legally executed the search warrant allowing him to seize the marijuana plants from your property," wrote Maillet in the report, which was shared with CBC News. "Upon the seizure of the drugs, Health Canada requires the completion of a Seizure and Disposition Report. Through this report, Health Canada authorized the destruction of the plants." According to documents filed by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission, Barton requested a review of the RCMP's report on May 6, 2021. Commission recommended apology After its review, the commission found that Const. Marshall unreasonably failed to generate a comprehensive list of the personal property seized from Barton's home, as required by the RCMP's policy on investigators' notes. Details of that review are contained in a report signed off by chair Michelaine Lahaie, which was shared with CBC News. It also found Marshall unreasonably failed to complete a report to a justice, as required by the Criminal Code and RCMP policy. The RCMP failed to address the crux of Mr. Barton's concerns: the fact that he still does not know exactly what was seized from his home. - Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP The commission recommended an "appropriate member of the RCMP" extend an apology to Barton for the unreasonable accounting of his personal property. It also recommended Marshall receive operational guidance regarding the requirement to take detailed and accurate notes, as well as regarding the documentation and reporting requirements for judicially authorized search warrants. "As it recognized in its report, the RCMP unreasonably delayed returning Mr. Barton's property to him once it was no longer required for investigative or evidentiary purposes, which was contrary to its policy on exhibit disposal," the commission wrote. "However, the RCMP failed to address the crux of Mr. Barton's concerns: the fact that he still does not know exactly what was seized from his home, or whether all of his property was returned." CBC has asked Barton to comment. In a letter dated July 5, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki agreed with the commission's findings and recommendations. Lucki also said she would direct that Marshall's supervisor, Const. Robert Driscoll, also receive operational guidance regarding the documentation and reporting requirements for judicially authorized search warrants. In an emailed statement sent Friday, the New Brunswick RCMP confirmed that "operational guidance was given to the member and supervisor involved regarding the documentation and reporting requirements for judicially authorized search warrants, as per RCMP policy." Michael Conway, a father-of-six with an address at Dermot ODwyer House, Dublin 1 had pleaded guilty to burglary Michael Conway (43), a council caretaker who was in Dublins Mater Hospital for treatment, rendered the machine useless when he took the tablet in a burglary, a court heard. He was suffering ongoing PTSD after finding the body of a shooting victim in an underground car park in the course of his work for a local authority. Judge Bryan Smyth applied the Probation Act at Dublin District Court. Conway, a father-of-six with an address at Dermot ODwyer House, Dublin 1 had pleaded guilty to burglary - entering a premises as a trespasser with intent to commit an offence. The court heard gardai were made aware of the incident at the Maters Accident and Emergency department on February 10 this year. The accused had entered staff-only offices, took a Samsung tablet and concealed it in his trousers. This tablet was used to control the hospitals decontamination machine, which was rendered useless without the tablet. CCTV was viewed, a search was carried out and the tablet was retrieved undamaged, the court heard. Defence solicitor Yvonne Bambury said the accused was suffering from mental health issues and was awaiting treatment at the time. Conway, who had no previous convictions, had immediately handed over the tablet. Cartel believed to have orchestrated delivery of drugs to midlands The 120kg haul was seized by gardai at two locations in the Lough Owel area of Co Westmeath. Photo: Gardai Gardai have seized cocaine worth 8.4m after it was flown into Co Longford in a scenario straight out of crime series Narcos. A private light aircraft used in the operation, which is believed to have been orchestrated by the Kinahan cartel, was also seized. The plane confiscated by gardai on Thursday is the second found this year by officers investigating drugs trafficking another was taken in Waterford last February. The Kinahan cartel are being described as the controllers behind what was one of the biggest cocaine seizures of the year. Gardai said the plane that landed at a Longford airfield had been under surveillance in an intelligence operation mounted by specialist detectives. They believe it is highly likely the cartel had previously used airfields in rural parts of the country to smuggle in large quantities of drugs. This is very unlikely to be the first time that the cartel used this method of trafficking drugs into the country, a source saidlast night. In fact, international investigations have shown that the Kinahan cartel are frequently using light aircraft at different locations, including in Africa, for smuggling drugs. The private plane used to transport 8.4m worth of cocaine into Ireland set out from a tiny airport in northern France on Thursday afternoon before landing at the remote Abbeyshrule Aerodrome in Co Longford. Undercover gardai were watching as the drugs were moved from the aircraft into a single vehicle that was then driven away with another car in convoy at about 5.30pm. The two vehicles were monitored, and around half-an-hour later officers intercepted them on back roads in the Lough Owel area near Mullingar, Co Westmeath. Two men, aged 54 and 40, were arrested. Both have addresses in Ireland in Waterford city and in Naas, Co Kildare and one of is said to be an eastern European. They were still being questioned last night at Ashbourne garda station in Co Meath. All the drugs were discovered in one car, where it was distributed between six holdalls and one large suitcase. The suspects were driving on back roads to avoid detection but were being monitored all the time, a source said. Hailing the success of the Operation Tara seizure, gardai said more than 50m worth of drugs had now been seized during similar raids in Ireland so far this year. A garda source said yesterday they had worked with international police partners as part of their investigation. This is the latest major setback for the Kinahan cartel after cannabis valued at nearly 7m was seized in a separate operation last month. A garda spokesperson said of Thursdays raid in Longford: In the course of this operation, 120kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of 8.4m, subject to analysis, was recovered, along with several communications devices. Follow-up searches were conducted at residential premises in Naas, Co Kildare, and Waterford city, and at a commercial airfield in Co Longford where a light aircraft has been seized. Two males, age 54 and 40 years, were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking contrary to section 15 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977 and are currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. Following Thursdays seizure, Assistant Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly, the head of the Organised and Serious Crime Unit, said: This operation has prevented a considerable quantity of dangerous drugs from making it on to our streets and causing significant harm to our communities. An Garda Siochana is committed, under Operation Tara, to disrupting and dismantling the organised criminal networks who profit from drug trafficking and impact so negatively on our society. Earlier this week, the Irish Independentrevealed that the Kinahan cartel is continuing to operate multi-million-euro drug shipments despite sanctions being imposed on the leaders. An investigation is trying to determine whether Spanish-based members of the cartel organised for the 8.4m worth of cocaine to be flown into Ireland after it was first brought to continental Europe from South America. The man walked straight out the shop with the goods on a trolley People have said the man is the spitting image of the Hollywood actor, Bradley Cooper Police in Georgia, USA are on the hunt for a Bradley Cooper lookalike who allegedly stole a laser kit from a hardware store in Henry County. Taking to Facebook, local police shared a Be the On Look Out (BOLO) alert with the public. The message, which featured CCTV images of the man, states that he is wanted for theft by shoplifting on July 23rd. On 07/23/22, the unidentified white male stole a Bosch Rotary Laser Kit from the Home Depot in McDonough, GA. Anyone with information on the identity of the suspect, please call Detective Sergeant J. Holisky at 770-288-8252, the Henry County Non-Emergency Dispatch at 770-957-9121, or text us tips, photos, and videos to 770-220-7009. Bradley Cooper WireImage Taking to the comment section, social media users were quick to notice the similarities between the wanted man and Hollywood actor Bradley Cooper. Bradley Cooper has seen better days, one person said. Naw, that's Bradley Cooper from Wish, another added. A third quipped: That's his stunt double Cradley Booper. Another commenter couldnt get over the similarities between the shoplifter and the A Star Is Born actor, writing: I came to comment that it looked like Bradley Cooper. Glad I wasnt alone. But seriously is this not a prank!? Is it not BC!? The image, which shows the man walking straight out of the store with the goods on a trolley, left people baffled at the thief's brazenness. Looks like yall let him walk out with it to me. I say its his, one person said. A second quipped: Its amazing to me how time after time people walk in somewhere and freely walk out with stolen goods!! Im trying see how he just walked passed that employee and didnt get asked for a receipt or nothing, another said. A renewed focus has been put on the possibility that the victims were caught in a rip current A councillor in Ballybunion where a brother and sister died in a double-drowning tragedy has asked the local council to erect signs warning of rip currents in the area. While the strand is ranked as one of the most picturesque in Ireland it is known for a strong tide and powerful currents which sweep past the north Kerry coast. A renewed focus has been put on the possibility that the victims were caught in a rip current, or a powerful fast current of water from a beach, which is one of the factors investigators are believed to be examining. It is believed that Desmond Dessie Byrne and his sister Muriel Eriksson went for an afternoon swim off Ballybunion shortly after 4pm on Thursday. Mr Byrne's son was playing on the beach at the time. It has been reported that when 62-year-old Muriel got into difficulty while swimming offshore, Desmond, who was also swimming, bravely went to her assistance. However, he quickly fell victim to the same currents and also got into difficulty. Sinn Fein councillor Robert Beasley who lives near where the tragedy unfolded on Thursday evening said while locals would be aware of a risk of rip currents at certain times, visitors to the beach would not. I asked the council on Friday morning to consider erecting signs on the beach, Cllr Beasley said. Its a well-policed stretch of beach but at certain times there are a risk of rip currents. Cllr Beasley revealed than the stretch of the beach where the tragedy happened was busy again on Saturday afternoon but that locals were very aware of what had just happened. I was in the town again today and it is at the forefront of everyones minds, he said. However, this is the first tragedy to occur here in more than 30 years, he added, referring to a previous double fatality in mid-August 1992. On that occasion, a father and his son from Co Clare were drowned after being trapped by the tide while exploring local caves. Tony McCarthy (50) and his son, Aidan (10), of Tulla, Co Clare, were on the last day of their holiday when they died. Over the past ten years, five children were rescued from near tragedy off Ballybunion's beach in three separate incidents as the combination of strong tides and treacherous currents almost resulted in disaster. Twice children had to be rescued in the open sea off Ballybunion after being swept out while playing with inflatable boats and toys. In 2010, two children were rescued when they were swept away. In 2013, a ten-year-old and an eight-year-old had to be rescued in the open sea after being dragged out by the current while using a ring-buoy. Three years ago a young boy was rescued after getting into difficulty while swimming. Meanwhile, following the tragedy that occurred on the Mens beach last Thursday, a book of condolences has been placed at the porch of SuperValu Ballybunion for the Byrne and Eriksson families. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences continue to go to both families, Ballybunion Rescue said in tweet alongside the message regarding the book of condolences. Funeral arrangements have also been announced for the tragic siblings who had only arrived in Ballybunion days before the tragedy. Mr Byrne, who is originally from Athlone, has been based in Lecarrow in Roscommon for many years and worked as a carpenter and carpet-layer. His older sister had been living in Malmo in Sweden over recent years but maintained very close links to Ireland. Ms Eriksson will repose alongside her brother Dessie, at his home in Roscommon on Monday evening from 4pm until 8pm before removal on Tuesday morning to St John's Church, Lecarrow, arriving for Mass of the Resurrection at 12 noon. Mr Byrne will be buried afterwards in the local cemetery while Ms Eriksson will be cremated on Wednesday at 4pm in Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan. A funeral notice on RIP.ie said Ms Eriksson died tragically, alongside her brother Dessie. The notice read: Sadly missed by her heartbroken husband Kris, son John, daughter-in-law My, grandson Liam, brothers Kenny, Donal, Justin and Colm, sisters-in-law Maggie and Nong, Dessie's partner Paulette, aunts Kathleen and Kay, uncle John, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and his many good friends. Mr Byrnes funeral notice said he died tragically, alongside his sister Muriel. Sadly missed by his heartbroken partner Paulette, sons Dean and Josh, Paulette's daughter Regina and her sons Blake and Jace, brothers Kenny, Donal, Justin and Colm, brother-in-law Kris (Sweden), sisters-in-law Maggie and Nong, aunts Kathleen and Kay, uncle John, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and his many good friends. The Eriksson and Byrne Families thank you for your support at this time. Gardai will prepare a file for a Kerry coroner's inquest next year. Desmond 'Dessie' Byrne (52) and his sister Muriel Eriksson (62) died in the incident on Thursday afternoon Funeral arrangements have been announced for the brother and sister who tragically died while swimming off Ballybunion beach in north Kerry. Desmond 'Dessie' Byrne (52) and his sister Muriel Eriksson (62) died in the incident on Thursday afternoon. The two siblings died after getting into difficulty while swimming. The holidaymakers had only arrived in Ballybunion days before the tragedy. Mr Byrnes teenage son was on the beach as the tragedy unfolded, and he was treated for shock afterwards, before being reunited with relatives. Mr Byrne, who is originally from Athlone, has been based in Lecarrow in Roscommon for many years and worked as a carpenter and carpet-layer. His older sister had been living in Malmo in Sweden over recent years but maintained very close links to Ireland. Ms Eriksson will repose alongside her brother Dessie, at his home in Roscommon on Monday evening from 4pm until 8pm before removal on Tuesday morning to St John's Church, Lecarrow, arriving for Mass of the Resurrection at 12 noon. Mr Byrne will be buried afterwards in the local cemetery while Ms Eriksson will be cremated on Wednesday at 4pm in Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan. A funeral notice on RIP.ie said Ms Eriksson died tragically, alongside her brother Dessie. The notice read: Sadly missed by her heartbroken husband Kris, son John, daughter-in-law My, grandson Liam, brothers Kenny, Donal, Justin and Colm, sisters-in-law Maggie and Nong, Dessie's partner Paulette, aunts Kathleen and Kay, uncle John, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and his many good friends. Mr Byrnes funeral notice said he died tragically, alongside his sister Muriel. Sadly missed by his heartbroken partner Paulette, sons Dean and Josh, Paulette's daughter Regina and her sons Blake and Jace, brothers Kenny, Donal, Justin and Colm, brother-in-law Kris (Sweden), sisters-in-law Maggie and Nong, aunts Kathleen and Kay, uncle John, nephews, nieces, relatives, neighbours and his many good friends. The Eriksson and Byrne Families thank you for your support at this time. Gardai will prepare a file for a Kerry coroner's inquest next year. The tragic incident occurred on Friday evening The little girl passed away in University Hospital Sligo Tributes have poured in for a four-year-old girl who died at a caravan park in Enniscrone, Co Sligo yesterday evening. It is believed that the young girl was struck by a vehicle in the tragic accident. She was rushed to University Hospital Sligo where she later passed away. Absolutely devastating such heartbreaking news. My thoughts and prayers with her family, god give them strength somehow, rest in peace little angel, one person said. Heartbroken for this little girl and her family and for the community of Enniscrone, added another. A third shared: Everyone's worst nightmare. R.I.P. little girl. Something so tragic can happen in a split second. The poor family and driver, their lives will never be the same again. So unbelievably heartbreaking condolences to her family. Rest in peace little one, another said. Another added: Such devastating news to hear this eve, absolutely heartbreaking for her family, may the little angel rest in peace. God look over her family, you all are in my thoughts and prayers. One person offered their blessings with all who worked to try and save the young girl. "Hard to know what to say when something like this happens, they wrote. I hope her family are surrounded by loving and caring people. God bless all involved today, the driver, anyone who saw it happen, ambulance crew and nurses involved in trying to save her life. Local Sligo County councillor Michael Clarke said: Its a holiday town and there are thousands of people here every weekend, its a terrible shock. At a time when a lot of people are enjoying themselves, its very upsetting for a lot of people. Condolences to the family, are thoughts are with them. He also told Ocean FM: Its an awful tragic situation for the family involved. A loved, beautiful four-year-old girl, lost. How they are going to cope with it, is nobodys understanding. "The whole community is in deep shock and sadness for the family and our condolences go direct to them and all the people involved. The incident occurred at a caravan park overlooking Killala Bay. A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said: Gardai and emergency services attended the scene of an incident in Enniscrone, Co Sligo. A four-year-old child was injured during the incident. She was taken to University Hospital Sligo where she has since passed away. A family liaison officer has been appointed to support the family at this time. At first he frightened me, admitted Tracey, whose father Jackie was shot dead in a loyalist feud in 2000. Tracey Coulter is heartbroken at the loss of her dear friend and confidant Sam Skelly McCrory. In an interview with the Sunday World this week, Belfast-born and reared Tracey revealed he had known the infamous loyalist leader since school days. Skelly was the main triggerman in the UDAs fanatical Shankill Road C Coy, who police Special Branch believe murdered 57 people in a matter of a few short years. Almost all were innocent civilians. Sources say Skelly personally killed more than 10 people, although those secrets went to the grave with him. But Tracey remained one of Skellys most loyal friends throughout the years. At first he frightened me, admitted Tracey, whose father Jackie was shot dead in a loyalist feud in 2000. For the last 20 years despite the long miles between Scotland and the Shankill Tracey and Skelly had remained in close contact, speaking nearly every day on the phone. So when word came through that Sam had passed away after an accidental fall outside his home in Ayr, Tracey fell to pieces. Back on the streets where she grew up, the 43-year-old mum of four spoke at length about her dear friend Skelly, who was almost unique among loyalist terror gangs in that he was gay and came out as such while a loyalist prisoner in the Maze, where his boyfriend would visit him. Tracey Coulter, photographed on the lower Shankill where once Sam McCrory ruled with an Iron fist And Tracey expressed her apprehension about facing the future without him. Struggling to hold back tears, Tracey reflected on the friendship she lost last weekend: She said: Of course I know what Skelly did in the past. And I fully understand loss as a result of violence. Everyone knows I lost my daddy during one of those awful loyalist feuds. But I will love and miss Skelly for ever. Ill miss his voice, his guidance and his kindness. The past is the past and Skelly often said he had moved on. But he also said, he genuinely hoped others could forgive him and do the same, said Tracey. She said Skelly was rocked when he recently lost his only son. Businessman Samuel McCrory Jnr died in Belfast last year after a short illness. He was 34. Sam Skelly McCrory Samuels mum Edie and his 35-year-old daughter Nikita will travel to Scotland with Tracey next month to attend the funeral. Said Tracey: Im in touch with Sams family. And Im really delighted they are travelling to Scotland for his funeral. Despite bitter differences in political strategy and deep divisions caused by murderous feuds, Skelly remained a figure of unity among loyalists right up until his death. People from all shades of loyalism are devastated about Skelly. Anyone who served time with him in prison can speak about how he kept everyones spirits up, Tracey told us this week when we visited her on the Shankill. Despite the floods of tears streaming down her face, Tracey managed to raise a smile when she recalled a recent trip to Scotland to visit Skelly. Sam Skelly McCrory I got off the boat and I couldnt see Sam. I had travelled over with some lads who were on their way to see Rangers. Suddenly Sam came running from nowhere. He grabbed me and he hoisted me up in the air. The Rangers lads were all cheering, but I was really embarrassed, said Tracey. She added: My heart is just so very sore right now. Ill get through it I know, but its so very, very hard. Skelly and Johnny Adair were lifelong pals playing in the same punk band Offensive Weapon and famously being photographed at a National Front march in Belfast where pals openly sniffed glue. It wasnt long before they were both side by side in a loyalist death squad. One pal said: It was clear that all through the years Skelly idolised Adair. You can see it in every picture it wasnt Johnny looking up at big Skelly, but Skelly hero-worshipping Johnny. And they brought that relationship into the terror gang. They became blood brothers and Skelly was happy to pull the trigger if it meant he went up in Johnnys estimation. Theyve had to swallow their pride as theyve watched people who had no role in taking on violent republicanism, growing rich on drugs and hiding under the UVF flag Anger is growing over the failure of the terror groups top brass to move against drug dealers within the organisation. Chief of Staff John Bunter Graham is facing increasing demands for action and, despite assurances that he is determined to weed out drug dealers, he has failed to prevent his organisation becoming more deeply involved in the drugs trade. The Sunday World can reveal there has been a series of meetings involving brigade staff and a list of demands has been presented to veteran chief Graham. They include questions over the circumstances surrounding the arrest and charge on guns charges of alleged B Company commander Winston Winkie Irvine, but also the failure to stem the tide of drugs in loyalist communities. Winston 'Winkie' Irvine As previously reported, the UVF leadership gave the green light for guns to be broken out of dumps in readiness for a campaign of disruption over the Irish Sea border, but now angry members have warned if action is not taken they will turn the guns on drug dealers. Sources have told us that while there is no suggestion that any type of vigilante activity is likely, there is genuine fury over the drugs issue. They have guns in their hands, said our source they are genuinely furious at the way the organisation has been allowed to drift into being little more than a drug gang. Theyve had to swallow their pride as theyve watched people who had no role in taking on violent republicanism, growing rich on drugs and hiding under the UVF flag. Jim Spence Richard Sullivan It comes as concerns continue to grow over the increasing influence of East Belfast UVF which is now regarded as the largest drug gang in the North. The organised crime gang has extended its operations beyond its natural hinterland and is now working in partnership with drug gangs in the south and west of the city. Allegedly headed by top loyalist Stephen Matthews, it is understood he has forged ties with the leader of the South Belfast UVF and has formed an alliance with UDA kingpin Jim Spence in the west of the city. Stephen Matthews Their expansion has heaped more pressure on beleaguered Chief of Staff Graham. He has failed to deliver on repeated pledges to move against Matthews. Despite repeated raids by the Paramilitary Crime Task Force, Matthews mob has continued to run a highly lucrative drugs racket. The Sunday World understands East Belfast has settled long-running dispute with the Kinahans over an unpaid bill. It is believed the money was due in relation to a huge drug seizure in Belfast docks earlier this year. In February police intercepted a 3 million drugs shipment in Belfast docks in what was one of the largest hauls ever detected. A large slice of the consignment was destined for East Belfast UVF and is believed to have been shipped by the Kinahan cartel. It is not clear if the entire debt has been cleared or if a compromise amount was agreed, but it is business as usual. The gang has also forged links with West Belfast UDA. Woodvale commander Jim Spence who has overseen the terror groups drug operations is also believed to be working with Matthews, tapping into the Kinahan supply line. Spence has been spotted in the east of the city on a number of occasions. We can also reveal that disgraced UVF brigadier Den Elliott is also back on the scene. Bunter busted him three years ago when he discovered Elliott was running a lucrative sideline. The UVF chief stripped him of his rank and fined him 50,000 but the Sunday World understands he is back to his old ways and is in cahoots with East Belfast. Long-standing members already disturbed by events around the arrest of Winkie Irvine are demanding he take action against the drug dealers. Some of these guys literally dont have a pot to p**s in, theyve been to jail, and yet the current crop are running about in big cars and raking in a fortune off the back of the drugs, one source told us. Bunter has been telling us for years hes going to clean up the organisation yet East Belfast just gets stronger and stronger. He said Graham deserves a degree of credit for moving against Elliott and cleaning up the notorious Mount Vernon unit, but he has failed to take on Matthews. Matthews, who is facing criminal charges in relation to an alleged UVF show of strength in the Pitt Park area of east Belfast in 2019, has adopted a more low-profile approach in recent months but, according to sources, still has total control of the east Belfast operation. Members are deeply suspicious over the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Irvine who is facing a raft of arms charges after guns and ammunition were found in his car. He has been released on bail after it was claimed in court he was involved in a process that would have significant implications for wider society. Legal representatives for the Irvine stated their client was working with police a claim which has alarmed the UVF membership. Last night, a spokesman for Spence and Matthews said his clients deny any involvement in criminality. My clients individually robustly and firmly reject any allegations of membership of any proscribed organisation or involvement in any criminal activity. Mr Spence and Mr Matthews all individually particularly reject allegations of involvement in the nefarious drugs trade which they each condemn without reservation. He added: The broader allegations being advance are utter nonsense with no basis in reality whatsoever and is another example of a concerted effort to demonise and criminalise loyalism collectively. richard.sullivan@sundayworld.com I am particularly concerned about the impact on children. Ireland calls for everybody to act with restraint and reduce tensions Palestinians inspect a house hit in an Israeli air strike, amid Israel-Gaza fighting, in Gaza city, August 6, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Mohammed Salem REUTERS Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has called for a de-escalation in tension between Israelis and Palestinians amid two days of violence in the region. At least a dozen people have been killed by Israeli rocket attacks on Gaza, the Palestinians Health Ministry said, while hundreds of rockets have been fired towards Israel from Gaza. The flare-up of violence came after a year of relative calm and was in response to an Israeli operation against the Islamic Jihad militant group. I am deeply concerned about the escalation in and around Gaza and the impact of Israeli strikes on civilians. I also condemn the indiscriminate firing of rockets from Gaza affecting civilians, Mr Coveney said. Ireland calls for de-escalation and the protection of civilians, which is an obligation under international humanitarian law. I am particularly concerned about the impact on children. Ireland calls for everybody to act with restraint and reduce tensions, Mr Coveney added. On Friday Isreal killed one of the group's senior commanders in a surprise daytime air strike on a high-rise building in Gaza City which drew rocket salvoes in response. On Saturday, Israel said it struck Islamic Jihad militants preparing to launch rockets. Additional bombings targeted three houses, witnesses said, flattening at least one as the sounds of more explosions rocked Gaza City. Palestinian militants fired at least 160 rockets across the border, setting off air raids sirens and sending people running to bomb shelters as far as the central Israeli city of Modiin, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Most of the missiles were intercepted and there were no reports of serious casualties, according to the Israeli ambulance service. Egyptian, UN and Qatari efforts to end the fighting are underway. Further escalation would largely depend on whether Hamas, the Islamic militant group which controls Gaza, would opt to join the fighting. The Israeli strikes killed 12 Palestinians, including at least four more Islamic Jihad militants and a child, and have wounded at least 84 people, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Islamic Jihad did not provide precise details on how many of its members had been killed and signalled no immediate ceasefire. "The time now is for resistance, not a truce," a group official told Reuters. Overnight, the Israeli military said it had apprehended 19 Islamic Jihad militants in raids in the Israeli-occupied West Bank while targeting the group's rocket manufacturing sites and launchers in Gaza. Around 2.3 million Palestinians are packed into the narrow coastal Gaza Strip, with Israel and Egypt tightly restricting movement of people and goods in and out of the enclave and imposing a naval blockade, citing security concerns. Israel stopped the planned transport of fuel into Gaza shortly before it struck on Friday, crippling the territory's lone power plant and reducing electricity to around eight hours per day. The frontier had been largely quiet since May 2021, when 11 days of fierce fighting between Israel and militants left at least 250 in Gaza and 13 in Israel dead. With additional reporting from Reuters. In March the couple announced they were expecting their first child together The star posted a video this evening on Instagram of what appears to be him celebrating in a room at St Thomas hospital overlooking the House of Commons at the Thames in London. Beside a bunch of white flowers theres a congratulatory message from Gucci, saying : Dear Barry and Alyson, Wishing you both a huge congratulations on the birth of your newborn baby! From all your friends at Gucci xx. Barry (29) wrote: Thank you [Gucci] , posting alongside a baby face emoji and three red love hearts. Little is known about the Dubliners girlfriend Alyson Sandro, and they have been dating for just over a year. In March the couple announced they were expecting their first child together. At the time Barry posted a photo at a baby shower jumping for joy, with the caption: "I dont know why others have there opinions. WE ARE HAPPY HERE." It sounds like despite his privacy about the nature of his and Alyson's relationship, there are a few voices of dissent. Earlier this year he posted a picture of himself and Alyson posing in the mirror together, with his arms wrapped around his partners tummy as she showed her baby bump. Barry and Alyson made their red carpet debut together at the premiere of Eternals last October. The actor previously had a long relationship with Kerry makeup artist Shona Guerin, who he once told Lucy Kennedy on a TV programme: "Id be lost without her. Im telling you that. I wouldn't be the man I am now without her." Barry also pointed out that his co-stars, Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy, once gave him some words of relationship advice. "Any of the lads I work with, Colin [Farrell], Cillian [Murphy], they're always like, 'Don't mess this up. They see how important she is." Last August the Sunday World reported how Barry had been the victim of a mystery assault in Galway, after being found battered and bruised outside the G hotel. He was rushed by ambulance to Galway University Hospital, where he was treated for his wounds and later released. The young star first sprang to fame in 2013 as the cat killer Wayne in RTEs crime series Love/Hate, having started his acting career in 2011 after answering an advertisement for Between the Canals when he saw a casting notice in a local shop window. He grew up in the Summerhill area of north inner city Dublin, close to where Olympic gold medallist Kellie Harrington hails from. Barry also briefly featured in Fair City, but 2014 saw him win his cinema breakthrough role in the Northern Ireland set flick 71, which starred Jack OConnell in the lead part He then featured as George Mills in Dunkirk and started as Martin Lang in The Killing of a scared deer, alongside Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman and for which he won an IFTA awards for Best Supporting Actor. The following year he was in Black 47, as Hobson, an English soldier stationed in Ireland. The MMA star is to make his acting debut in the Amazon remake of the action flick The Dubliner is set to feature in the Amazon Studios remake of the 1989 action flick that starred Patrick Swayze in the original. The fan-made poster shows McGregor and Gyllenhaal and features a fake quote from UFC president Dana White that reads: Road House was one of my favourite f**king movies. I love it. Itll be fun. Im ready to see another Road House. The image, which was shared by McGregors website The Mac Life on Instagram, was captioned: Dana White is excited to see what Conor McGregor will do in the new Road House movie. Road House will follow a former UFC fighter, played by Gyllenhaal, who takes a job as a bouncer at a rough-and-tumble roadhouse in the Florida Keys, but soon discovers that not everything is what it seems in the tropical paradise. It remains unknown who McGregor will be playing in the project, but sources have made it clear that he would be playing an original character and not himself. Insiders said that when McGregor heard there was interest for him to join the Road House cast, he watched the original film for the first time and enjoyed it so much he wanted to get in on the action. Sources add that after a meeting with producer Joel Silver, Conor was sold on the project and loved the idea of where the new story was headed compared to the original. The Amazon Original Movie is set to go into production in the Dominican Republic this month and will stream on Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide when it is released. While McGregor is excited about his Hollywood debut, for some fight fans they believe that his new departure marks the end of his fighting career. Well never see him in the octagon again, one tweeted while another added: This guy is not serious about fighting anymore, when will you Conor fans understand that?" Other movie fans objected to a remake of a classic that they appear to hold close to their hearts. One stormed: Cool beans, now thats TWO reasons not to watch it, while another added: This film looks suckier by the day. nobody asked for it. One irate fan stormed: A remake of Roadhouse with McGregor? Talk about adding insult to injury. One stated: You can't improve on perfection, let Roadhouse stay where it is. McGregor has yet to make a return to the Octagon after breaking his leg in a crushing defeat by Dustin Poirier last July. The Ministry of Health are reporting 4790 new community cases of Covid-19 and 648 current hospitalisations today. There are 19 people in ICU. The ministry is reporting 25 more deaths from the last 24 hours. Of the 4790 new community cases 213 are from the Bay of Plenty and 115 from the Lakes region. There are 26 people in Bay of Plenty hospitals and 15 people in Lakes hospitals. There are also 104 new cases of Covid-19 that have recently travelled overseas. Of the 25 people whose deaths we are reporting today, two were from Northland, five were from Auckland region, four were from Waikato, three were from Bay of Plenty, one was from Lakes, one was from Taranaki, one was from MidCentral, two were from Whanganui, one was from Wellington region, two were from Nelson Marlborough, two were from South Canterbury, one was from Southern, says a Ministry of Health spokesperson. Four were in their 60s, six were in their 70s, nine were in their 80s and six were aged over 90. Of these people, 15 were women and nine were men. The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 5,608 last Saturday, it was 7,405. There are now a total of 1,638 deaths confirmed as attributable to Covid -19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor. The seven-day rolling average increase in total deaths attributable to Covid-19 is now 14. Covid-19 hospitalisations Covid-19 Cases in hospital: total number 648: Northland: 34; Waitemata: 51; Counties Manukau: 51; Auckland: 133; Waikato: 60; Bay of Plenty: 26; Lakes: 15; Hawkes Bay: 24; MidCentral: 25; Whanganui: 7; Taranaki: 23; Tairawhiti: 2; Wairarapa: 5; Capital & Coast: 20; Hutt Valley: 11; Nelson Marlborough: 18; Canterbury: 91; West Coast: 4; South Canterbury: 21; Southern: 27. Weekly Covid-19 Hospitalisations - 7 day rolling average: 703 (This time last week it was 797) Average age of current Covid-19 hospitalisations: 64 Cases in ICU or HDU: 19 Vaccination status of new admissions to hospital*: Unvaccinated or not eligible (58 cases); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (2 cases); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (80 cases); received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (306 cases). * These are new hospital admissions in the past 7 days prior to yesterday who had COVID at the time of admission or while in hospital, excluding hospitalisations that were admitted and discharged within 24hrs. This data is from Districts with tertiary hospitals: Auckland, Canterbury/West Coast, Southern, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Capital & Coast/Hutt, Waitemata and Northland. Covid -19 vaccinations administered Vaccines administered to date: 4,029,370 first doses; 3,982,238 second doses; 34,086 third primary doses; 2,709,392 first booster doses: 366,335 second booster doses: 266,163 paediatric first doses and 145,688 paediatric second doses Vaccines administered yesterday: 26 first doses; 25 second doses; 28 third primary doses; 546 first booster doses; 9,972 second booster doses; 26 paediatric first doses and 120 paediatric second doses More detailed information, including vaccine uptake by District, is available on the Ministrys website. Tests Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 2,774 Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 10,239 PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 3,179 Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last seven days as of 4 August 2022): 1.9 million Covid -19 cases Total number of new community cases: 4,790 Number of new cases that have recently travelled overseas: 104 Seven day rolling average of community cases: 5,608 Seven day rolling average of community cases (as at same day last week): 7,407 Number of active cases (total): 39,244 (cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered) Confirmed cases (total): 1,639,058 New cases by District and other more detailed case information. Please note, the Ministry of Healths daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a District or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO. Covid -19 deaths There are now a total of 1,638 deaths confirmed as attributable to Covid -19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor. This is the number that will be reported to the World Health Organization as it provides the most accurate assessment of Covid -19 related mortality in New Zealand. In the past seven days there have been an average of 14 deaths confirmed each day as being attributable to Covid-19. This is a very sad time for whanau and friends of those who have died, and our thoughts and condolences are with them. Information on the number of new deaths of people with Covid -19 reported to the Ministry of Health in the last 24 hours, and the seven-day rolling average, is available on the Ministry of Health website. This includes information on the age band and location of these newly reported deaths. Covid-19 case data These newly reported deaths have not yet been categorised as to whether they are attributable to Covid -19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor or are unrelated to Covid -19. As this categorisation is made over coming days, the attributable deaths will be added to the total reported above. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Former President Donald Trump visited southeastern Wisconsin on Friday ostensibly to stump for Tim Michels, his chosen candidate in Tuesdays GOP gubernatorial primary, but spent much of his speech focusing on his baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Trump traveled to the Republican stronghold of Waukesha County to support Michels, the millionaire co-owner of Brownsville-based construction company Michels Corp., who is in a close race with Rebecca Kleefisch heading into Tuesdays primary. Kleefisch has been endorsed by Mike Pence once a close Trump ally who, like the former president, is mulling his own 2024 prospects in the latest proxy battle between Trump and his former vice president. After arriving about 90 minutes late due to weather delays, Trump spent much of his speech touting the accomplishments of his term as president and taking aim at President Joe Biden and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, and promoting the lie that the 2020 election was rigged and stolen. I ran twice, I won twice ... now we may just have to do it again and bring our country back, Trump said, hinting to his prospects of a 2024 presidential campaign. About 30 minutes into his speech, Trump turned the topic to Michels, who he touted as a businessman, veteran and America First patriot. Tim you better win, youre going to win, Trump said, pointing to Michels. Hes gonna win. Trump also took aim at Kleefisch, describing her as the handpicked candidate of the failed establishment, the RINOs. RINO is an acronym for Republican in name only, a derogatory term for party members deemed insufficiently loyal. Kleefisch does not have what it takes to beat Tony Evers, Trump said. Tony Evers is close to incompetent, but hes going to win if he runs against Rebecca. The winner of the Aug. 9 primary will go on to face Evers, who is seeking a second term, on Nov. 8 in what is expected to be one of the most hotly contested gubernatorial races in the country. State Rep. Timothy Ramthun, R-Campbellsport, and business owner Adam Fischer are also running in the GOP primary. Kenosha and more Michels focused much of his roughly 20-minute speech on Biden and Evers, criticizing the latter for how he responded to protests that turned violent in Kenosha following the shooting of a Black man, Jacob Blake, by a white Kenosha police officer. Kenosha was burning and where was he? He showed up days later, Michels said. Im the kind of guy who would be there on the first evening, in the first hour, providing leadership. Its what Ive done my whole life. Michels said his first action if elected governor would be to ensure election integrity by banning private grants for elections, requiring a photo ID to request an absentee ballot and eliminating the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission. While Kleefisch and Ramthun have called for dismantling the six-member commission, which was created by Legislative Republicans six years ago, Michels wants to replace it with what hes called WEC 2.0, an agency made up of appointees from each of the states eight congressional districts. Michels has not provided specifics on who would appoint the new agencys members. Michels also reiterated campaign talking points including a call for universal school choice and more funding for police. He did not mention decertification of the 2020 presidential election, a legal and constitutional impossibility. Michels earlier this week said everything will be on the table when asked if he would consider decertifying the election, marking a shift from his comments a week earlier that decertification was not a priority. Michels has embraced Trumps election lies at every turn, saying hes open to overturning election results and dismantling our bipartisan elections system, Evers campaign spokesperson Sam Roecher said in a statement. Race heats up While Michels didnt mention his primary challenger Kleefisch by name during his speech, the two have been sparring over the last few weeks leading up to the primary. An ad put out by Michels campaign this week takes aim at Kleefisch for not initially backing Trump in 2016, though records show that Michels himself did not vote in that years primary. Michels told The Associated Press he missed the primary because of a sudden, unforeseen major issue on the big Michels Corporation construction project in New York. Michels did not commit to supporting a Trump presidential run in 2024 when asked at a town hall on Monday, but said the following day he would proudly endorse him. Trumps baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election have become a rallying cry for his supporters, including Adam Steen, a Trump-backed candidate for the state Assembly seat currently held by Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester. Vos, the states longest serving Assembly speaker and one of the most influential Republicans in the state, has fallen out of favor with Trump for not supporting his repeated calls to back the legally impossible decertification of the 2020 election. Theres a huge roadblock in the 63rd (Assembly District) and it must be removed from power, Steen said in a brief speech Friday. Some call him a RINO, others a treasonous traitor, Im partial to the latter, but no matter what you call him its time to do one thing on Aug. 9 Its time to toss Vos. More on Gableman Trump said former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who was hired by Vos last summer to review how the election was run, has endorsed Steen in the Aug. 9 primary, though Gableman has not formally announced an endorsement in the race. Gableman was hired a cost of $676,000 after pressure from Trump, though legal fees and other court costs have pushed the price tag to more than $1.1 million all of which will ultimately fall on taxpayers. While Trump spoke highly of the investigation, Gableman himself reversed his position on decertification just weeks after proposing it. In releasing an interim report of his inquiry on March 1, Gableman told state lawmakers they should take a very hard look at decertifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. But just two weeks later, on March 16, the former justice concluded that decertification was a practical impossibility. A recount, court decisions and multiple reviews have affirmed that Biden defeated Trump by about 21,000 votes in the states 2020 presidential election. Only 24 people out of nearly 3.3 million who cast ballots have been charged with election fraud in Wisconsin. Michels, who has also been endorsed by former Gov. Tommy Thompson, has spent nearly $12 million on his campaign since entering the race in late April the most a Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate has spent on their campaign. Kleefisch has raised more than $7.5 million since entering the race in September, while Evers has raised more than $11 million so far this year. In addition to Pence, who campaigned in Pewaukee for Kleefisch just two days before Trumps visit, the former lieutenant governor has been backed by U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a fierce Trump rival turned close ally, who won Wisconsins 2016 presidential primary. She also has been endorsed by former Gov. Scott Walker, with whom she served for eight years, and more than 50 Republican state lawmakers, including Vos and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg. The Associated Press contributed to this report. RahulNagaraj BHPian Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 877 Thanked: 9,165 Times Stellantis overtakes Tesla in BEV sales in Europe; To challenge VW for No.1 spot Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, stated that the company is now looking to fight for the top spot in BEV sales in the European market. The conglomerate managed to register sales of 105,413 units in the first six months of 2022, compared to Volkswagen, which sold 116,307 units. Tesla, however, sold 78,227 units during the same period. The success of Stellantis was led by their electric Fiat 500 offering. The small electric hatchback managed to register sales of 32,315 units in the first half - a 72% increase compared to the same period last year. The electric Fiat 500 was also the best-selling EV in Italy & Germany during the second quarter of 2022. Other important models for Stellantis were the Peugeot e-208 and Opel Corsa-e, both of which, managed to sell 21,918 units and 13,380 units, respectively. Tesla's quarterly sales figures fell to their lowest in two years. The reason for the drop in sales was mainly attributed to the lockdown in China during the early part of the year. Having said that, the Tesla Model Y with 39,969 units has managed to retain its title of being the best-selling EV in Europe. The Tesla Model 3, on the other hand, registered a 25% drop in sales with 38,280 units. With the lockdown in China now lifted, Tesla is said to make a comeback in the second half of 2022. However, Stellantis has a number of new products lined up, which could help boost its sales. Source: Link to Team-BHP news Stellantis is said to have overtaken Tesla in electric vehicle sales in Europe during the first half of 2022. According to reports, Stellantis managed to slot itself in the second position, easily beating Tesla in terms of sales volume, while trailing behind Volkswagen, which continued to dominate the EV segment.Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, stated that the company is now looking to fight for the top spot in BEV sales in the European market. The conglomerate managed to register sales of 105,413 units in the first six months of 2022, compared to Volkswagen, which sold 116,307 units. Tesla, however, sold 78,227 units during the same period.The success of Stellantis was led by their electric Fiat 500 offering. The small electric hatchback managed to register sales of 32,315 units in the first half - a 72% increase compared to the same period last year. The electric Fiat 500 was also the best-selling EV in Italy & Germany during the second quarter of 2022. Other important models for Stellantis were the Peugeot e-208 and Opel Corsa-e, both of which, managed to sell 21,918 units and 13,380 units, respectively.Tesla's quarterly sales figures fell to their lowest in two years. The reason for the drop in sales was mainly attributed to the lockdown in China during the early part of the year. Having said that, the Tesla Model Y with 39,969 units has managed to retain its title of being the best-selling EV in Europe. The Tesla Model 3, on the other hand, registered a 25% drop in sales with 38,280 units.With the lockdown in China now lifted, Tesla is said to make a comeback in the second half of 2022. However, Stellantis has a number of new products lined up, which could help boost its sales.Source: Automotive News Last edited by RahulNagaraj : 4th August 2022 at 15:48 . A hot potato: Keyless car theft has become a growing issue recently, as carjackers have learned how to hack wireless key fobs. Safety measures to fight these new techniques exist, but recent comments from a British car association president bring them into question. Since the rise of fobs that automatically unlock and start cars, car thieves have developed ways to circumvent their digital locks, and security measures have evolved in response. The situation resembles the cat-and-mouse game between hackers and security throughout the IT world. Recently, cheap electronic devices have emerged that let thieves duplicate a fob's proximity sensor signal from within a few meters. They can then boost that signal to an accomplice standing next to the car, allowing them to open and start it. Expensive luxury cars more likely to use proximity sensors are obvious targets. Police and manufacturers suggest car owners keep their fobs far away from their vehicles and away from doors and windows when not using them, ideally in a metal or aluminum container to block the signal. Sellers also offer pouches lined with metal or wire mesh which block signals when storing fobs. However, current measures are not enough for the president of Britain's Automobile Association (AA), Edmund King. This week, King told The Telegraph that thieves stole his wife's 50,000 GBP Lexus despite her fob being in a bag in a metal box in the part of their house farthest from the car. In response, King has begun storing the fob, bag, and box in his microwave oven. Even if this solution works, it is certainly impractical. A more robust shielding material for containers is a logical step, although that may be more expensive. King has also resorted to an older car security measure that was quite popular in the 1990s a steering wheel lock. He's considering installing a security post and a gate at the entrance to his driveway, which for most is prohibitively expensive. The core of the problem is the driver's need to expose the fob when entering or exiting the vehicle. King suspects someone caught the signal from his wife's fob as she parked the car after observing their daily routine. The ultimate solution may be to disable the proximity sensor, which many fobs allow. King thinks car manufacturers should always inform customers of this option. Why it matters: In 2019, a paper leaked claiming physicists at Google used their quantum computer, Sycamore, to run a calculation that would overwhelm the world's most powerful supercomputer. Chinese scientists recently challenged that claim by successfully running the identical computation in a matter of hours using the computing power of today's GPUs. Their results prove a supercomputer using today's technology could likely beat Sycamore's previous record. Google's quantum computing researchers originally ran the complex calculation in 200 seconds (just over three minutes), a feat they claimed would have taken the fastest supercomputer upwards of 10,000 years. Based on this result, the team claimed they had reached a significant milestone known as quantum supremacy. Quantum supremacy is the point at which a quantum device can solve problems that otherwise cannot be solved by classical technology in any reasonable amount of time. Not everyone was a believer in Google's self-proclaimed supremacy in 2019. Another major player in the quantum computing space, IBM, challenged Google's claims from the start. Researchers there claimed the same task could be performed in a matter of days with the right amount of available resources, invalidating Google's claim of quantum supremacy. Chinese scientists successfully proved IBM's point by attacking the original problem using advanced algorithms and compute power from today's GPUs to complete the calculation. A report in Science notes that the effort used 512 GPUs a number that is far from unfathomable when considering how many units cryptocurrency mining operations sometimes use. Also see: What is Quantum Computing? The GPU compute power combined with advanced algorithms completed the same calculation within several hours. The results, which were unthinkable according to the leaked 2019 research findings, provide evidence to back claims that a large enough supercomputer could, in fact, rival Sycamore's earlier achievement. Conventional computing relies on bits, the most basic information units in computing. These bits can exist as only one of two values, either a 0 or 1. Quantum computing relies on quantum bits, or qubits, comprised of a superposition of 0 and 1. Like a bit, a qubit can equal 0 or 1. However, it has the added property of equaling 0 and 1 simultaneously, resulting in vastly increased computing potential. The achievement does not invalidate Google's previous quantum achievements, nor does it mean that standard processing hardware can "catch up" to quantum's capabilities. Google Quantum AI's principal scientist, Sergio Boixo, said the original 2019 paper acknowledged the likely future improvement to classical algorithms but doesn't believe today's classical computing approach can keep pace with quantum technologies. Boixo's statement is accurate given the rate of quantum growth since 2019. Google's original Sycamore was a 53-qubits processor. In 2021 IBM unveiled their 127-qubit Eagle, and their quantum roadmap looks to break the 1,000-qubit barrier sometime in 2023. Why it matters: An email-focused security firm released a blog post detailing a phishing attack targeting unsecured American Express and Snapchat sites. The identified exploit uses a known open redirect vulnerability that allows threat actors to specify a redirect URL, driving traffic to fraudulent sites designed to steal user information. Maryland-based security firm Inky Security tracked attack activity related to the vulnerability from mid-May through mid-July. The phishing attack relies on a known open redirect vulnerability (CWE-601) and popular brand recognition to deceive and harvest credentials from unsuspecting Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 users. The attacks targeted unsecured sites from Snapchat and American Express. Snapchat-based attacks resulted in more than 6,800 attacks over a two-and-a-half-month period. The American Express-based attacks were much more effective, affecting over 2,000 users in just two days. Malicious actors have taken advantage of open-redirect vulnerabilities affecting AMEX & Snapchat domains to send #phishing emails targeting Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 users." https://t.co/bTG2b7dLWY INKY (@InkyPhishFence) August 4, 2022 The Snapchat-based emails drove users to fraudulent DocuSign, FedEx, and Microsoft sites to harvest user credentials. Snapchat's open redirect vulnerability was initially identified by openbugbounty more than a year ago. Unfortunately, the exploit still appears to be unaddressed. American Express appears to have remediated the vulnerability, which redirected users to an O365 login page similar to the one that the Snapchat-based attacks used. This specific phishing attack uses three primary techniques: brand impersonation, credential harvesting, and hijacked accounts. Brand recognition relies on recognizable logos and trademarks to create a sense of trust with the potential victim leading to the user's credentials being entered into and harvested from the fraudulent site. Once harvested, hackers can sell the stolen information to other criminals for profit or use the information to access and obtain the victim's personal and financial information. Open redirect vulnerabilities don't tend to get the same level of care and attention as other identified exploits. Additionally, most risk exposure is on the user rather than the site owner. The blog post provides additional background and guidance to help users stay safe and keep their data out of the wrong hands. These tips help users identify key terms and characters that may indicate if a redirect is occurring from a trusted domain. FCC's latest decision can lead to more satellite productions. On Friday, Aug. 5, the Federal Communications Commission decided to open a proceeding on all the policy and potential economic questions connected to space-based manufacturing, assembling, and servicing. (Photo : Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP) ia's Soyuz MS-13 spacecraft carrying the members of the International Space Station (ISS) expedition 60/61, NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, Russian cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov and Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano of ESA. The communications agency explained that this is needed to promote U.S. leadership in the rising space industry. FCC further explained that the newest "Notice of Inquiry" will observe the challenges and opportunities of space missions. These include spacecraft repairs, satellite refueling, debris removal, and other space activities. FCC's Decision Can Lead To More Satellite Productions? According to Engadget's latest report, FCC commissioners decided to vote in favor of the so-called ISAM (In-Space Servicing, Assembly, and Manufacturing). (Photo : Photo credit should read YURI KADOBNOV/AFP via Getty Images) A full-scale replica of the world's first artificial satellite Sputnik, launched by the Soviet Union from a testing range in Kazakhstan on October 4, 1957, is on display at the Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics (or Memorial Museum of Space Exploration) in Moscow on October 3, 2017. When the Soviet Union launched the first artificial satellite 60 years ago. Also Read: First South Korean Lunar Orbiter Takes Off to the Moon Thanks to SpaceX Critics believe that this move will provide more understanding of the demands and risks of in-space productions. On the other hand, the vote favoring ISAM will also benefit space companies that are working on space satellites and stations. However, they are still required to find new solutions to prevent rising debris in orbit. "Today's action continues this modernization effort as in-space servicing, assembly, and manufacturing capabilities - or "ISAM" - has the potential to build entire industries," explained FCC via its official press release. The agency added that ISAM could help create new jobs and find mitigation solutions for climate change. Why FCC's Decision is Important As of press time, NASA and other space agencies have a set of rules that they need to follow. However, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel explained that the existing policies were made for different eras. She said that existing rules were implemented during the period when space programs were completely handled by government bodies. Now, the space industry is seeing more independent aerospace companies, such as SpaceX. With ISAM, FCC can soon adapt to the rising space tourism, increasing commercial space missions, and the growing satellite constellations. Meanwhile, the first SpaceX moon launch will bring Korea's lunar orbiter into space. On the other hand, a luxurious space balloon is expected to be launched. For more news updates about the space industry and other related topics, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: SpaceX's Starlink Design Change To Reduce Brightness; 2nd-Gen Satellites To Use Three Light Mitigations This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new code found in the Google TV app reveals that there could be 50 free TV channels that could come soon. The information was found in texts inside the software code. Google TV Could Potentially Add 50 Free Channels as Found in Code According to the story by The Verge, it would be quite good if there were free streaming TV channels that users could check out without needing to download an app or even through signing into a new device. It seems like Google is planning a solution to this problem with the help of Google TV. As per the publication, users might be able to get free streaming TV channels soon with the help of Google TV. An article by 9to5Google revealed how they were able to decompile the latest version of the software. New Feature's Main Goal Seemed to be 'Google TV Channels' After they decompiled the software, they reported that the company's TV streaming platform includes texts that hint towards the inclusion of 50 live TV channels. While the company's previous TV streaming platform was Android TV, it is now better known as Google TV. The main goal of the new feature seems to be to add "Google TV Channels," which were based on the text that was reportedly found on the launcher app. There was reportedly also an image that hints towards what channels might be included in the brand new service. Here's What Channels You Might Find on the Google TV The Verge notes that it is still quite the usual lineup of internet-streamed free channels, including NBC News, ABC News Live, and USA Today. There are, however, other channels that are commonly used as background noise, including American Classics, Divorce Court, and Deal or no Deal. Other inclusions include the Hallmark Movies channel, the Reelz channel, and more. It was reportedly noted that a lot of the channels that were mentioned are already available on other streaming TV services, both free and affordable. Google TV In Comparison to Smart TVs and Other Streaming Services The streaming services that have the channels are Philo, Pluto TV, and even Sling TV. The services, however, are ones that users will still have to sign in for. Google, on the other hand, is taking a different approach, just like some other TV manufacturers like Samsung and LG. Both Samsung and LG reportedly give their users access to something to watch in the span of just a few clicks with their Smart TVs. Read Also: Discovery Plus, HBO Max Set to Conjoin by 2023 as CEO David Zazlav Rewrites the Firm's Image How Google TV is Different The article by The Verge notes that the 50 channels available on Google are still quite small when compared to LG channels which result in over 175 or Samsung TV Plus, which includes over 200 channels. The benefit of Google's offering, however, is that users will no longer need to buy a new TV or even download an app in order to start watching something. Related Article: HBO Max, Discovery Plus to Merge to One App-Warner Bros Discovery CEO Confirms for Summer 2023 This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Eagles are incredibly commonplace along the Platte River, but it is rare to encounter one on the ground, causing a commotion. Mike Becher, of Columbus, was meeting with a representative from Cornhusker Power District on the morning of Aug. 1 to talk about moving a power pole on a piece of property Becher and some friends lease for hunting. That was where he saw the bamboozled bird of prey. "When I pulled onto our property there was this eagle. He just sort of hopped around, you could tell he had a bad wing, this was an area with a lot of trees," Becher said. Becher said he got out of his truck and the eagle immediately started down a trail toward the river. Becher finished his business with the power company and went home to tell his wife about his encounter. "When I came back, I was telling my wife about this and she said we should call Game and Parks. We did and they gave us the name of the Raptor Conservation Alliance (RCA), and that lady said they would send someone to check on it," Becher said. That someone was Platte County Game Warden Kyler Prochaska, who normally calls the alliance himself, but no volunteers were available so Prochaska stepped in to secure the animal for later transfer that afternoon. "In this instance they called raptor recovery, then they (RCA) contacted me because they couldnt get ahold of a volunteer. Its a good thing too, because he was lively enough that it took a little bit of work to capture it," Prochaska said. By the time Prochaska arrived on scene, the bird had made its way closer to the water, in a particularly muddy area, Becher said. "We met on the river, and Kyler and I were talking while he was getting his gear when my wife said, 'There he is!' He was standing on the edge of the sandbar by the water, we didn't even have to look," Becher said. The trio formed a plan that involved Becher and his wife guiding the eagle to where Prochaska could come up behind it and take it by surprise. The bird, however, noticed Prochaska and launched into water, which hindered its movement. "He couldn't get any lift or do any jumping, and Kyler netted him," Becher said. "He said he'd seen a lot worse and they'd had good recoveries, so we hope this one does the same." Becher added that he hopes he and his wife can be there when the bird is released back into the wild. While eagles are common in the area, especially during duck season, Becher said, it's the first time he's seen one on the ground in that spot. "It's kind of like your backyard. You drive in there a lot and its not a place you see an eagle, maybe an owl or a smaller bird of prey but not an eagle," Becher said. Prochaska said the individuals caring for the eagle indicated it was doing well and does not appear to be injured, though they suspect the heat took some toll on it, hence it being on the ground. "Theyre not sure what was wrong with it but think that it may have been dehydrated or overheated," Prochaska said. Prochaska urged others who encounter injured eagles or animals in general to call the local game warden or the 1-800 number for the Raptor Conservation Alliance, as trying to apprehend the animal can injure it or those trying to get it. "I wouldnt touch it because the chance of disease transfer is a possibility. Last year we saw some avian flu, we havent seen much of it lately, but theres a chance of that or West Nile (virus), so let us handle it.," Prochaska said. If you encounter an injured raptor, call 866-888-7261 for the Raptor Conservation Alliance or 402-471-0641 for Game and Parks. Meta announced that there is a new system from Facebook, and it is the BlenderBot 3, the latest AI chatbot from the company that will be going to life on the social media platform. Being a young system, it will be taking baby steps to bring its features to all, with Facebook asking for the help of users to train the new bot as it "improves through conversations." Meta: Facebook BlenderBot 3 is the new AI Chatbot (Photo : BlenderBot ) An AI chatbot is a significant trend or craze at first and then dies down after its initial fame. However, some chatbots have the design to search the internet for different information, with their role being like AI assistants on the web. It is what Meta and Facebook are rolling out now, and the service is dubbed the "BlenderBot 3," the latest AI chatbot from the social media platform that would be available for all. However, it is important to note that it is not yet the full release of the chatbot, as it would need training from the public and Meta wants everyone to help improve the AI by talking to it. The Blender Bot 3 is a chatbot where users may converse in any form of conversation, may it be casual or formal, and it will be a feature that may bring answers to different queries from a person. Read Also: Meta: Facebook News US Publishers to No Longer Receive Compensation for Uploads Online Facebook Wants Users to Help Train BlenderBot 3 The company is opening a public website for US adults, and it will be geo-locked in the country for users to talk and converse with the chatbot. Any conversation would do, and any topic is up for grabs for all wanting to try the new experience. Meta said that talking to it and asking it for different information would help train it, soon available for the world to experience the features it would soon bring for all. Meta and Facebook's Offers for the World Facebook is one significant platform in the world that offers a place for users to go to view their News Feed for followed and liked pages, see friends and families' posts, communicate via Messenger, and more. However, it is also a platform where different information is available, and its importance was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the company is now changing its policies on posts, and instead of removing those who violated it, it will only be demoting and labeling them in the timeline. The company also offers the world a chance to view the posts in their feed in chronological order, something which Instagram brought back to its timeline and posts seen online. Nevertheless, it is an age where previous features are available to the world yet again. Meta's Facebook is still one of the largest social media platforms in the world, despite the many boycott and declines that the company faced in the past. Now, it is bringing a chatbot available for the public to enjoy, and it aims to bring a significant experience for the world to enjoy and talk to regarding different topics and conversations. It aims to debut a chatbot that users may talk to whenever they need and have it search the internet for any query of the users, but first, it needs training from the public. Related Article: Meta To Release A Live Streaming Platform Dedicated For Influencers Called 'Super' This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Current drone-vs-drone systems today entail the defending drone firing a net at its enemy, this will trap the drone in the net, and it ceases to spin until it falls to the Earth. However, there are chances that this ensnared drone could fall on someone's head or even damage buildings and properties, depending on its size. Hence, there is a need for drone systems to innovate and prevent unwanted accidents. As reported first by New Atlas, the European AUDROs (AUtonomous DROne System) project is crafting cutting-edge drone systems to ensure that falling drones will not harm anyone. The Autonomous Octocopter In the system's present iteration - an Eagle One octocopter, produced by the Czech business Fly4Future, is operated out of a docking station for charging batteries, which was created by Polish firm Dronehub. The Eagle One is autonomous, and when it finds an enemy drone, it automatically flies to its location, hovers above it, and then releases a series of dangling ropes that are extended from two fold-out booms on its underside. New Atlas reports that the propellers of the enemy drone become ensnared in those cords, which is similar to how it would look if it was trapped in a net. But the catch here is that the caught drone hangs beneath the Eagle One until it lands since the ropes are still connected. This will ensure that the drone will not fall and harm anyone. Read also: QinetiQ Delivers Successful Demo of 'World's First Laser-Controlled Drone!' Seizing Two Drones Per Flight New Atlas further emphasized that in at least one current drone-netting system, the captured drone doesn't simply fall to the ground since the net is kept connected to the defending drone by a tether after being sent out. However, Eagle One can seize two drones per flight because it has enough wires for two booms. In comparison, most net-shooting drones only have one net, so after taking out just one other drone, they must return to their base. Recently, the system was successfully demonstrated in the Czech Republic in close collaboration with the Czech jail service. One potential use for the technology would be to prevent drones from being used to smuggle goods into or out of prisons. Related Article: BAE Unveils An 'Unmanned Bullet Drone' That Can Fly at 0.75 Mach And Load 1,100 Pounds! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. SpaceX's Falcon 9 Rocket was on its way to completing its first stage as it gears for sending astronauts to the Internet Space Station (ISS). However, this plan was unfortunately upended. The rocket crashed into a bridge during transport acquiring serious damages that ultimately delayed the space company's next human launch. Launch Delayed As reported first by Space.com, the Falcon 9 rocket's first stage was damaged, which meant that the Crew-5 mission's launch would be delayed in late September. The mission will send four people on a Crew Dragon for a trip to the ISS. In the live-streamed NASA briefing, Benjamin Reed, senior director of SpaceX's human spaceflight program, confirmed that the booster stage made contact with a bridge along its route. The rocket stage was on a tractor-trailer traveling between a SpaceX production plant in Hawthorne, California, and a testing site in McGregor, Texas, during the incident. "We assessed that damage. It was a fairly minor incursion, but it still caused some damage," Reed said. "We decided to replace the composite interstage and some of the other components on that first stage," he added. Reed also said that SpaceX had undertaken a process to ensure that the stage will be ready to go and completely safe to fly the crew. Read also: Elon Musk Called Out by ABC Reporter After SpaceX Debris Damage Farmer's Property All About the Crew-5 Mission This recent setback comes after SpaceX revealed that it is still battling hardware problems and that they need to replace an already used heat shield for the next launch. The members of Crew-5 are Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, and NASA astronauts Nicole Mann and Josh Cassada. A seat-swap agreement secured Kikina's spot and will keep NASA astronauts traveling aboard the Russian Soyuz spacecraft, something they have done for years. The inclusion of Kikina on an American commercial spacecraft, a first for any Russian state space agency cosmonaut, is cited by NASA as proof that Crew-5 represents an unparalleled prospect for international space collaboration. The joint operation was announced earlier this year and looked to be moving forward at full speed, despite continued hostilities between the US and Russia due to the latter's invasion of Ukraine. Russia has also announced that it will stop participating in the ISS "after 2024" in order to focus more on developing its own space station. Related Article: Eutelsat and OneWeb Join Forces For $3.5 Billion Deal To Compete With Elon Musk's SpaceX This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A crypto heist worth $190 million has forced crypto "bridge" service Nomad to offer millions of dollars as a bounty to anyone who recovers the stolen money, as reported first by The Washington Post. Specifically, Nomad is announcing a payout of up to 10% for Nomad Bridge hackers, with Nomad classifying any party who returns at least 90% of the total assets they stole as a "white hat." The company said in a Medium post that they will not be pursuing any legal action against white hats. "White Hat and Ethical Researcher Friends" It is worth noting that white hackers are people that investigate networks for businesses, often accepting cash in exchange for finding security holes. Nomad asked individuals who had obtained some or all of the stolen cryptocurrency to transmit it immediately to a certain wallet address in a post on Twitter addressed to its "white hat and ethical researcher friends." "Nomad will also identify you as a white hat to any third parties who may be considering legal action," the company writes on a Medium post. Update: Nomad Bridge Hack Bounty (see below for details) Please send the funds to the official Nomad recovery wallet address on Ethereum: 0x94A84433101A10aEda762968f6995c574D1bF154 https://t.co/8gO1xVl5IC pic.twitter.com/8D7SvbDQlO Nomad () (@nomadxyz_) August 4, 2022 The crypto firm also said they are "working closely" with law enforcement and will encourage no criminal charges when white hats send back the stolen funds. Hackers were able to steal approximately $190 million worth of tokens thanks to a flaw in Nomad's programming, which made the heist possible. As of Friday morning, more than $20 million had been retrieved, according to blockchain analysis site Etherscan. Read also: Thousands of Solana Users Lose Funds After an '$8 Million Crypto Heist' Greatest Cryptocurrency Theft in History Nomad performs the role of a blockchain bridge, enabling users to transfer assets between blockchains, such as from bitcoin to Ethereum. However, that also leaves individuals exposed to both sides, or flaws on either blockchain, as security experts refer to it. According to the blockchain analytics firm Elliptic Connect, the Nomad breach was the eighth greatest cryptocurrency theft in history and the sixth significant incident involving a crypto bridge in 2022. Ronin, a different cryptocurrency bridge, was the victim of a $625 million heist earlier this year. In that incident, hackers gained access to the blockchain that underlay the well-known video game Axie Infinity and stole at least 174,000 Ethereum. Since anyone could duplicate the initial hacker's code, anyone could get involved and withdraw money, giving rise to the "free-for-all" nature of the Nomad attack. According to Elliptic Connect, more than 40 "exploiters" have been found, including one hacker who acquired slightly less than $42 million by automating the withdrawal procedure. Related Article: Crypto's Collapse Threatens North Korea's Stolen Cryptocurrencies Amid Its Nuclear Tests This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Atomic clocks and precise astronomical observations have demonstrated that days are abruptly growing longer and it has left several scientists confused, according to a report by SciTechDaily. This change has a significant influence on our ability to keep accurate time as well as other precision technologies like GPS that are necessary for our daily living. Strange Slowdown Over the past few decades, the rate of Earth's rotation around its axis has increased. Our days have been getting shorter because of this pattern, which influences how long a day is. If you can recall, we have already broken the record for the shortest day in the last 50 years, in June 2022. Despite this record, the progressive speedup that began in 2020 has strangely turned into a slowdown. Earth days have become longer again, and the cause is still unknown. Due to friction from the tides caused by the Moon, Earth's rotation has slowed over millions of years. This process lengthens each day by around 2.3 milliseconds per 100 years. The relationship between the interior and surface of the Earth is also important. In fact, the duration of the day can be altered by powerful earthquakes, but usually only slightly. For instance, the magnitude 8.9 Great Thoku Earthquake in Japan in 2011 is thought to have accelerated Earth's rotation by only 1.8 microseconds. The "Chandler wobble," a little variation in the Earth's rotating axis with a period of around 430 days, is another theory believed by scientists to be responsible for the planet's recent enigmatic change in rotational speed. According to SciTech Daily's report, radio telescope observations indicate that the wobble has recently decreased. Hence, there could be a connection between the two, but for now, it remains a theory. Read Also: Earth is Spinning Faster. Lately, Atomic Clocks Find: What Does it Mean? How Does This Affect Technology? Ever since scientists at the National Physical Laboratory in England recorded the shortest day they experienced, there have been concerns about how the Earth's rotation change would affect the environment. However, tech companies are also worried because leap seconds can affect their online platforms. Recently, Meta decided to join other tech companies in calling for the elimination of leap seconds. Leap seconds have already been used 27 times in recent years. According to Meta, this is sufficient. Numerous internet platforms have already been impacted by the most recent leap seconds rule. A lot of websites were offline in 2012 as a result of the abrupt time change around the world. These include the Australian airline Qantas, Reddit, and Gawker. However, Cloudfare also faced issues with the 2017 leap second. As a result, numerous internet platforms created technology that enables them to change their time if there are unexpected leap seconds instantly. However, these methods only work for positive leap seconds (longer time changes). "The impact of a negative leap second has never been tested on a large scale; it could have a devastating effect on the software relying on timers or schedulers," Meta wrote in a blog post. Related Article: Facebook BlenderBot 3: Meta's AI Chatbot Now in the Works-Wants Help from Users to Train it This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The truth is, however, that there is nothing very normal about nature. Once upon a time there were no flowers at all Loren Eiseley, The Immense Journey It is that time of summer where Nebraska largest flowering plant is coming to full bloom in our own Platte County backyard. Flowers in the group that whisper the secret of creation definitely should include Nelumbo lutea, American lotus. This is one of our local natural spectacles that should not be missed in August at Lake Babcock. Lake Babcock, is the storage water body for Loup Power District's Columbus Power House. This once historically sought after water body for all kinds of recreation has been accumulating sediments for over 80 years now and provides perfect depth and subsurface soil and hydrology conditions for one of natures most beautiful aquatic plants, the American lotus. Many other emergent species thrive there, but when the lotus is flowering, it provides a spectacular site. Lotus can be found in Missouri River backwaters (like Carter Lake) and near Calamus Reservoir, otherwise Lake Babcock supports one of the largest lotus communities in our region. The Babcock plant community consists of a growing and expanding colony of two emergent species, broad and narrow leaf cattails, with varying hybrids of the two species. Another common emergent is arrowhead, Sagittaria latifolia which grows prolifically along the canal banks and quiet backwaters. Less obvious is a plant called Alisma. These aquatic plant communities provide a unique combination of aquatic plants that stabilize sediment, improve water quality and provide a home to a multitude of aquatic animals. Most purely aquatic species in Nebraska and the Great Plains are difficult to find in flowing waters. As this summer marks the 25th anniversary of Bob Kaul and I officially documenting lotus in Babcock with a voucher specimen categorized and preserved in a herbarium cabinet in Bessey Herbarium in Lincoln, I reminisce about the plant collecting Dr. Kaul and I were fortunate to do together across the state of Nebraska spanning 4 decades. His teachings and demeanor meant enough to me to dedicate a book to him describing the most common and unusual aquatic plants remaining in our state, to be published, hopefully in early 2023 on aquatic plants. We recently helped Loup Power District with an America the Beautiful Challenge grant through The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to convert some of the sediment filled portions of Lake Babcock that are choked with cattails and restore the area with more open water habitats for greater recreational and wildlife use. Some of our intent is to develop boardwalks and observation piers to improve fishing, but also allow residents to get real close to all plants and animals of the area. And in closing, Mr. Eiseley also said, If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in water. Have a great week! Michael P. Gutzmer, PhD is principal and owner of New Century Environmental LLC and provides environmental consulting services in the Great Plains. NCE works with water, wetlands, habitat development threatened and endangered species and pollution problems. Please email me at mgutzmer@newcenturyenvironmental.com. Both Russia and Ukraine said that there will be a "major breakthrough" in the war situation, and the "Battle of Donbass" is coming to an end? Japanese Crypto Industry Urges Tokyo to Reform Tax Laws Source: iStock/mura Japanese cryptoasset-related firms have urged the government to make tax reforms claiming that the current system is out of sync with tax rules in other countries. The proposals come from the Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA) and the Japan Virtual Currency Exchange Association (JVCEA), which, per CoinPost, released a joint report calling for tax reform in 2023. The bodies also addressed the press and spelled out their aims, which chiefly centered on the need to simplify the crypto tax filing process. It also pointed out inconsistencies within the existing system. And, as well as noting that Japans policy is out of step with overseas cryptoasset tax systems, the bodies insisted that crypto has a key role to play in the world of Web3. The latter point may well catch the eye of senior lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which has launched a Web3 taskforce. The taskforce, too, has spoken of the need to reconsider Japans crypto tax rules amid claims that overly restrictive protocols are forcing companies, talent, and capital abroad. Opposition leaders have also become vocal in their own calls for change. The crux of the issue is that crypto is currently classified as other income in tax declarations. This is quite unlike the picture in other countries, where crypto is usually subject to capital gains tax rules. In many nations, crypto-related profits are not taxed at all until coins are converted to fiat. But in Japan (and under current rules), the rate at which crypto-related income is taxed depends on the total income of an individual. This means that crypto tax payments in the case of higher earners can rise to around 50%. Foreign exchange trading, by contrast, is subject to a flat 20% capital gains tax levy. The JBCA stated that it had conducted an investor survey, speaking to over 26,000 people and claimed that data from this survey showed that the tax reforms it was suggesting would actually lead to an increase in the number of taxpayers and would not necessarily lead to a decrease in national revenue from crypto tax. The body further claimed that it had conducted trial calculations on the basis of a 20% capital gains tax levy and found that tax revenue would actually increase under this system by about 20%. However, these calculations appear to have taken into account the fact that there would likely be an increase in demand for crypto should the tax reforms take place. The body, which mainly represents crypto-related firms claimed that if things continue in the status quo, the taxation system will become a bottleneck for the spread of cryptoassets. This would hamper the development of products and services in Japan and leave the country lagging behind Asian, European, and American counterparts in the Web3 era, the body said. It further added that the level of regulation that the crypto sector was now conforming to in Japan was inconsistent with the existing tax rules suggesting that the industry was becoming even more sound than the world of traditional finance. As such, the JBCA suggested, a more lenient tax system was now appropriate. The JVCEA represents domestic and international crypto exchanges that are either registered with the regulatory Financial Services Agency or are in the process of applying for an operating permit. ____ Learn more: - Bitcoin ATMs Return to Tokyo, Osaka for First Time Since 2018 - Stop Your Crypto Operations in Russia, Washington Tells Japanese Exchanges & Miners - Japanese Trust Banks Likely to Gain Permission to Handle Crypto from Autumn - Japanese Crypto Exchanges Want to Ditch Restricting Token Listing Protocols - Japans Prime Minister Reportedly Open to Idea of Crypto Tax Reform - Two Crypto Tax Proposals Defeated in Portugal, but Govt Likely to Follow up With Own Bill Earlier this week, the New York Giants placed offensive lineman Matt Gono on the exempt/left squad list. At the time, it was reported that Gono was dealing with an undisclosed injury and would visit a specialist to determine the severity. Unfortunately for Gono and the Giants, the results were not positive. Jordan Raanan of ESPN reports that Gono felt good earlier in camp but that his surgically repaired neck began hurting as the physicality in practice ramped up. Its likely that the issue is career-ending. Giants OT Matt Gano likely has career-ending neck injury, per source. Felt good early @ camp but started feeling symptoms in neck (which needed surgery last yr) when hitting started this week. Gono left team to see doctor who performed surgery. Hence exempt/left squad designation Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 4, 2022 The Giants signed the 26-year-old Gono after he was released by the Atlanta Falcons this past January. He had missed the 2021 season with the aforementioned neck injury. Gono was originally signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Wesley in 2018 and played in 21 games for Atlanta over two seasons (2019 and 2020), starting four. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Gono was born in Liberia and played his high school ball at Cinnaminson in Burlington County, New Jersey. Related Giants' Daniel Jones, Andrew Thomas cash in on roster bonuses Wan'Dale Robinson excited over potential of Giants' dynamic offense 'Competitive' Tyrod Taylor preparing to start for Giants if needed List Giants training camp: 10 takeaways from Day 7 Story originally appeared on Giants Wire Senator John Kennedy speaks during the Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System completion event at the IHNC-Lake Borgne Surge Barrier in New Orleans, Friday, May 27, 2022. The Army Corps of Engineers completed the $14.5 billion post-Katrina project and handed it over to the state of Louisiana for operation and maintenance. (Photo by Sophia Germer, NOLA.com, The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate) Autism is known as a spectrum disorder because every autistic person is different, with unique strengths and challenges. Varney says many autistic people experienced education as a system that focused on these challenges, which can include social difficulties and anxiety. Many autistic children found education focused on their deficits rather than their strengths. Credit:Rodger Cummins He is pleased this is changing, with recent reforms embracing autistic students strengths. But the unemployment rate of autistic people remains disturbingly high. ABS data from 2018 shows 34.1 per cent of autistic people are unemployed three times higher than that of people with any type of disability and almost eight times that of those without a disability. A lot of the time people hear that someones autistic and they assume incompetence, says Varney, who was this week appointed the chair of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council. But we have unique strengths, specifically hyper focus, great creativity, and we can think outside the box, which is a great asset in workplaces. In Israel, the defence force has a specialist intelligence unit made up exclusively of autistic soldiers, whose skills are deployed in analysing, interpreting and understanding satellite images and maps. Locally, organisations that actively recruit autistic talent include software giant SAP, Westpac, IBM, ANZ, the Australian Tax Office, Telstra, NAB and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Chris Pedron is a junior data analyst at Australian Spatial Analytics, a social enterprise that says on its website neurodiversity is our advantage our team is simply faster and more precise at data processing. He was hired after an informal chat. (Australian Spatial Analytics also often provides interview questions 48 hours in advance.) Pedron says the traditional recruitment process can work against autistic people because there are a lot of unwritten social cues, such as body language, which he doesnt always pick up on. Australian Spatial Analytics founder Geoff Smith (right) with data analyst Chris Pedron. Credit:Glenn Hunt If Im going in and Im acting a bit physically standoffish, Ive got my arms crossed or something, its not that Im not wanting to be there, its just that new social interaction is something that causes anxiety. Pedron also finds eye contact uncomfortable and has had to train himself over the years to concentrate on a point on someones face. Australian Spatial Analytics addresses a skills shortage by delivering a range of data services that were traditionally outsourced offshore. Projects include digital farm maps for the grazing industry, technical documentation for large infrastructure and map creation for land administration. Pedron has always found it easy to map things out in his head. A lot of the work done here at ASA is geospatial so having autistic people with a very visual mindset is very much an advantage for this particular job. Pedron listens to music on headphones in the office, which helps him concentrate, and stops him from being distracted. He says the simpler and clearer the instructions, the easier it is for him to understand. The less I have to read between the lines to understand what is required of me the better. Australian Spatial Analytics is one of three jobs-focused social enterprises launched by Queensland charity White Box Enterprises. It has grown from three to 80 employees in 18 months and thanks to philanthropist Naomi Milgrom, who has provided office space in Cremorne has this year expanded to Melbourne, enabling Australian Spatial Analytics to create 50 roles for Victorians by the end of the year. Chief executive Geoff Smith hopes they are at the front of a wave of employers recognising that hiring autistic people can make good business sense. In 2017, IBM launched a campaign to hire more neurodiverse people. Credit:AP Rather than focus on the deficits of the person, focus on the strengths. A quarter of National Disability Insurance Scheme plans name autism as the primary disability, so society has no choice theres going to be such a huge number of people who are young and looking for jobs who are autistic. There is a skills shortage as it is, so you need to look at neurodiverse talent. In 2017, IBM launched a campaign to hire more neurodiverse (a term that covers a range of conditions including autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, and dyslexia) candidates. The initiative was in part inspired by software and data quality engineering services firm Ultranauts, who boasted at an event they ate IBMs lunch at testing by using an all-autistic staff. The following year Belinda Sheehan, a senior managing consultant at IBM, was tasked with rolling out a pilot at its client innovation centre in Ballarat. IBM is very big on inclusivity, says Sheehan. And if we dont have diversity of thought, we wont have innovation. So those two things go hand in hand. Eight things workplaces can do for autistic employees Recruit differently. Send applicants interview questions in advance or use work trials and practical assessments Offer flexible hours Provide noise cancelling headphones and quiet spaces Give clear and direct instructions and feedback Have mentors or a buddy system Dont make assumptions about autistic people Provide managers with autism training Partner with autism employment experts Sheehan worked with Specialisterne Australia, a social enterprise that assists businesses in recruiting and supporting autistic people, to find talent using a non-traditional recruitment process that included a week-long task. Candidates were asked to work together to find a way for a record shop to connect with customers when the bricks and mortar store was closed due to COVID. Ten employees were eventually selected. They started in July 2019 and work in roles across IBM, including data analysis, testing, user experience design, data engineering, automation, blockchain and software development. Another eight employees were hired in July 2021. Sheehan says clients have been delighted with their ideas. The UX [user experience] designer, for example, comes in with such a different lens. Particularly as we go to artificial intelligence, you need those different thinkers. One client said if they had to describe the most valuable contribution to the project in two words it would be ludicrous speed. Another said: automation genius. IBM has sought to make the office more inclusive by creating calming, low sensory spaces. It has formed a business resource group for neurodiverse employees and their allies, with four squads focusing on recruitment, awareness, career advancement and policies and procedures. And it has hired a neurodiversity coach to work with individuals and managers. Sheehan says that challenges have included some employees getting frustrated because they did not have enough work. These individuals want to come to work and get the work done they are not going off for a coffee and chatting. Increased productivity is a good problem to have, Sheehan says, but as a manager, she needs to come up with ways they can enhance their skills in their downtime. There have also been difficulties around different communication styles, with staff finding some autistic employees a bit blunt. Loading Sheehan encourages all staff to do a neurodiversity 101 training course run by IBM. Something may be perceived as rude, but we have to turn that into a positive. Its good to have someone who is direct, at least we all know what that person is thinking. Chris Varney is delighted to see neurodiversity programs in some industries but points out that every autistic person has different interests and abilities. This is it its the last cake time: Natalie Paull, owner of cult North Melbourne bakery Beatrix Bakes, called last cakes on Saturday, as hundreds of her loyal customers queued outside. First in line was Belinda Allen, who had travelled almost an hour and a half from Eynesbury, a country town west of Melbourne, arriving at 6.30am to secure a final slice of blackberry crumble cheesecake. Beatrix Bakes owner Natalie Paull with customers Arielle and Andrea Kwon. Credit:Justin McManus It was the fifth time she had made the journey since last month, when Paull announced the closure of the bakery. They are the most beautiful cakes Ive ever had, but theyre more than just cakes, Allen said. Its for the memories. Its that simple. And yet we have conservatives such as Tony Abbott starting their no campaign by falsely suggesting it could somehow have veto over decisions of the parliament ( Rudd hits out at Abbott over Voice , The Age, 6/8). The intention of the Voice to Parliament is to provide advice on laws and policies that affect our Indigenous people. We have lived with this type of destructive, poisonous and fear-based type of politics for too long, yet Abbott will continue to be quoted as it gives a headline to a news article. But it does not give him relevance on an issue that looks to the future. Doug Shaw, Sunbury Ill get to it ... soon, really Well done, Kathy Lette, for a refreshing commentary on mens egregious failings (You talking my language?, Sunday Life, 31/7). In less competent hands it might have been an iteration of what we blokes have come to call The Litany, and have heard a fair bit about in recent years. And at the risk of being presumptuous, she may have included (in ascending order of outrage) the Lists, the Last Toothpaste, and that infamous Lid up or Lid Down debate. But the wit and grace of a good writer have prevailed and no offence has been taken. Just one thing, could we hold off working on it until after the grand final its only a few weeks away. John Margetts, Grovedale Righting the wrongs ... In its first few months the Albanese government has had its hands full righting the many wrongs of the previous government. The granting of permanent visas for the Nadesalingam family is another step on that journey and demonstrates that compassion and fairness have prevailed (Biloela family finally home, The Age, 6/8). Gin maker Holly Klintworth has a problem with her Heartbreak gin which is made with pinot noir. She cant get enough pinot noir to meet demand for the Bass & Flinders gin because of a low pinot noir harvest this year coupled with increased demand for the variety from wine drinking consumers. The season was getting later and later and the weather was becoming more challenging as the days progressed, Klintworth says. Were really proud of the product that weve put forward this year, even though in volume it was a lot less than we were hoping for. Gin distiller Holly Klintworth cannot get enough pinot noir for her pinot noir gin. Credit:Simon Schluter Last year Bass & Flinders, based in Dromana, sold out of 1500 bottles of its pinot noir gin and while it doubled its production to 3000 bottles this year Klintworth says if she could have got her hands on more pinot she could have made a lot more. Thank you for reading! To read this article and more, subscribe now for as little as $1.99. Kyiv: Russia and Ukraine accused each other on Friday of shelling Europes biggest nuclear power plant as fighting raged again in the crucial border region of the Donbas and three more ships left ports carrying previously blockaded Ukrainian grain. Shells hit a high-voltage power line at the Zaporizhzhia plant, prompting operators to disconnect a reactor despite no radioactive leak being detected. The plant was captured by Russian forces in early March in the opening stage of the war but it is still run by its Ukrainian technicians. This image from a video released by the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine shows a bright flaring object landing in the grounds of the complex in March 2022. Credit:AP Earlier this week, the United Nations nuclear watchdog appealed for access to the plant, which Washington says Russia is using as a battlefield shield. Ukraines state nuclear power company Energoatom blamed Russia for the damage at the power station. A Lebanon city councilor has filed to run for mayor and two incumbents will have their positions challenged in November. Gamael Nassar, a council appointee, insurance broker, and booster of the communitys annual Strawberry Festival turned in paperwork for the mayoral race, effectively ending his tenure representing Ward 2 with the end of his term on Dec. 31. Kenneth Jackola, a former sergeant major who served in the U.S. Army and Oregon Army National Guard, and previously the owner of Snow Peak Industries a company that operated a gas station and deli near Lebanon that went defunct in 2017, has also filed for a run for mayor. Both candidates are on the citys list of certified filings headed to the Linn County Clerks office next week, City Recorder Kim Scheafer said. Whoever wins will be sworn in at the first meeting in January, Scheafer said. Wards 1, 2 and 3 Cassie Cruze, a program manager at Lebanon Downtown Association; a U.S. Navy veteran named Ryan Newby; and city planning commissioner David Workman filed to run for Nassars seat. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. In Ward 1, incumbent Wayne Rieskamp faces competition in Tami Cockeram, a retired Washington County and City of Hillsboro employee, and Oregon Department of Corrections employee and Army veteran Carl Mann. Rieskamp took 606 votes to win by more than 10 points in a race against Ralph Gaston in 2010 and ran unopposed in 2014 and 2018. Michelle Steinhebel will run unopposed as the incumbent for her Ward 3 seat. Voters sent Steinhebel to the council with 1,119 votes, more than two and three times the points of opponents Duston Denver and Greg Nervino. The council selected Steinhebel to serve as its president after Ward 3 co-councilor Jason Bolen resigned in April. Write-ins a possibility Oregon begins mailing ballots to voters Oct. 19. No paperwork is required for anyone who wants to run a write-in campaign, Scheafer said. But anyone elected running a write-in campaign must sign a form that ensures they meet the same requirements to run as their opponents do. So if someone lived outside the city limits but ran a write-in, they still wouldnt qualify for office, Scheafer said. In this courtroom sketch, Aydin Coban is pictured at B.C. Supreme Court, in New Westminster, B.C., on June 6, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jane Wolsak) Accused in Amanda Todd Harassment Case Found Guilty by Jury NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C.A Dutch man accused of tormenting British Columbia teen Amanda Todd via online threats has been found guilty of all charges he faced in connection with the case, a jury ruled on Saturday. Aydin Coban was accused of extortion, harassment, communication with a young person to commit a sexual offence and possession and distribution of child pornography. The jury presiding over his trial in the B.C. Supreme Court handed down its unanimous verdict one day after deliberations got underway. Todd was 15 when she died by suicide in 2012 after posting a video that described being tormented by an online harasser. The harrowing account, seen by millions of viewers since her death, saw her using flash cards to describe the torment from her anonymous cyberbully. Her plea and subsequent death shone a light on the issue of online harassment and cyberbullying. At the start of the trial in June, Coban pleaded not guilty to all charges he faced. He was not charged in relation to Todds death. Candles are seen in front of a picture of Amanda Todd during a memorial for her in Surrey, B.C., on Oct. 19, 2012. (The Canadian Press/Jonathan Hayward) Crown lawyer Louise Kenworthy told the jury in closing arguments that two hard drives seized from the Dutch mans home had connections to Amanda Todd, including a deleted bookmark to child pornography depicting the girl. At the beginning of the trial she said Todd had been the victim of a persistent campaign of online sextortion over three years before her death. An RCMP officer testified he found actual fragments of chat between Todd and several of the online aliases used to harass her on a device seized from Cobans home. After piecing together the evidence in closing arguments, Kenworthy said the only inference the jury could draw was that Coban was guilty. His defence didnt call any witnesses in the case and his lawyer Joseph Saulnier told the jury in closing arguments that fragments of data cited by police at the trial could not link Coban to the extortion or harassment of Todd. A Dutch court approved Cobans extradition to Canada after his trial there on similar allegations. Coban was sentenced to almost 11 years in prison after a trial in Amsterdam in 2017 for cyberbullying dozens of young girls and gay men. He was convicted of fraud and internet blackmail and given the maximum sentence of 10 years and eight months, for what Dutch legal authorities said was the devastating consequences of his behaviour on the lives of his victims. That court heard that Coban pretended to be a boy or girl and persuaded his victims to perform sexual acts in front of a webcam, then posted the images online or blackmailed them by threatening to do so. He was accused of abusing 34 girls and five gay men, behaviour the court called astonishing. In some cases, the abuse lasted years. By Hina Alam After Supreme Court Win, Camp Constitution Raises Christian Flag at Boston City Hall Plaza BOSTON, Mass.After five years of legal battles, Camp Constitution was finally allowed to raise its Christian flag at the Boston City Hall Plaza. The flag-raising ceremony was held on Wednesday morning with about 200 people in the audience. Harold Shurtleff, co-founder of Camp Constitution, together with Mathew Staver, chairperson of the Liberty Counsel, raised the flag with a red cross amid music and cheers. Its almost five years in the making, but were very excited about it today, Shurtleff said. In September 2017, City of Boston, citing separation of church and state, rejected Camp Constitutions application for raising a Christian flag at the City Hall Plaza. Shurtleff sued the City, but lost his case in a U.S. district court and then the Court of Appeals. However, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously on May 2 this year that Bostons decision to allow national flags and flags about historic events, causes, and organizations to fly outside its city hall while refusing to raise a Christian flag is an unconstitutional example of government censorship. This case concerns a flagpole outside Boston City Hall. For years, Boston has allowed private groups to request use of the flagpole to raise flags of their choosing. As part of this program, Boston approved hundreds of requests to raise dozens of different flags. The city did not deny a single request to raise a flag until, in 2017, Harold Shurtleff, the director of a group called Camp Constitution, asked to fly a Christian flag. Boston refused, Justice Stephen Breyer said in the courts opinion. Flags that were allowed to be raised at the City Hall Plaza included the Pride flag and communist Chinas flag. Under our precedents, and in view of our government-speech holding here, that refusal discriminated based on religious viewpoint and violated the Free Speech Clause, Justice Breyer said. Big Win for Freedom of Speech and Religion For attendees at the Aug. 3rd ceremony, like Sophia, the Supreme Courts ruling was a big win for the freedom of speech and religion. In America right now, everyones freedom, you can do everything, except when you have the name of Jesus. So I think this is a huge win for us, to show that Christians arent going to be shut down anymore and that the love we have for everybody can be shown out, Sophia said. Attorneys from the Liberty Counsel represented Shurtleff in the litigation against the City of Boston. The case Shurtleff v. Boston was later cited by the Supreme Court as part of the reasons to overturn the Lemon Test, which effectively banned prayers in public schools. We have a great constitution, and we have a wonderful First Amendment, but just like when it comes to muscles, if you dont use it, it gets weak, Shurtleff said. He said it was his experience in the Army that urged him to keep fighting in the face of challenges. I took a note of office when I went into the Army to uphold the Constitution. That all stays with me till the day I die, so I had no choice, he said. Boston Updating Flag Raising Policy Meanwhile, the City of Boston is changing its flag-raising policy to comply with the Supreme Courts decision. According to the Citys announcement, Mayor Michelle Wu and members of the Boston City Council filed an ordinance on Tuesday to update the Citys process for raising flags on the City Hall Plaza. Under the new process, private groups who apply for flag raising will be required to get a City Council resolution or a mayoral proclamation. Im glad we have a clear way to resolve these legal issues and bring back the beloved traditions weve been missing during these proceedings, Wu said. The flags that we raise at City Hall Plaza should reflect and celebrate our Citys values, and this ordinance lays out a formal process that will allow us to do that, said City Council President Ed Flynn. AG Bonta Announces $5 Million to Aid in Gun Seizures From Prohibited Individuals California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently announced that his office is allocating $5 million to assist sheriffs departments across the state in seizing weapons and ammunition from people who had previously purchased a firearm and have since become legally prohibited from possessing them. In the United States in 2022, there have been more mass shootings than days in the year, Bonta said in an Aug. 3 statement. Gun violence is the number one cause of death of children and young adults in our nation. This is unacceptable. Sheriffs departments utilize whats called the Armed and Prohibited Persons System, a database of information from the U.S. Department of Justice that tracks gun owners to identify those who are no longer permitted by law to own them. As of January, there were nearly 25,000 of these armed prohibited individualsless than 1 percent of the 3.2 million known firearm owners recorded in the database, according to Bontas office. The $5 million in state grants, dubbed the Gun Violence Reduction Program, will be made available to county sheriffs departments that apply now through Sept. 2. The grants range between $250,000 and $1 million and will be issued starting in January 2023. The grants were made possible by the California Budget Act of 2021, which provided the state with $10 million in Gun Violence Reduction Program funding. Priority will be granted to counties with the highest populations of these armed prohibited individuals, counties without a Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms field office, and county proposals with the best tactical plans for removing these firearms. America Faces Greatest Threat Ever From Militant Left: Sen. Scott Florida and Texas senators speaking at CPAC say conservatives must act Two Republican senators gave back-to-back speeches to conservatives in Texas Friday warning that America is under attack from socialists. Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) continued to sound the alarm over the far-left taking hold in America at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas. At the events kickoff on Thursday, Victor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister, told conservatives that his country defeated communism and now America must do the same. Orban said progressives and globalists were just other names for communists. Scott is chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committees efforts to gain control of the U.S. Senate. He told thousands of attendees at CPAC that America faces the most significant threat of a lifetime from the militant left. We survived the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Cold War, but now, today, we face the greatest danger weve ever facedthe militant left-wing in our country has become the enemy from within, Scott said. Socialists have seized control of the culture, the economy, and the country, he said, adding America today no longer resembles the country it was just a few short years ago. Are you worried for your family? Scott asked. Are you worried for your freedoms? The Woke Left Scott said the woke left now controls the Democratic Party, the government, media, academia, big tech, Hollywood, most corporate boardrooms, and even some of the top U.S. military leaders. Socialists are destroying the America created by the Founding Fathers to rebuild it into something unrecognizable, he said. The socialists want to erase history, patriotism, gender, capitalism, free speech, gun ownership, and the nuclear family. The goal of socialists is to end the American experiment and replace freedom with control. They want to tell people what to think and do. They want to silence all opposition, he said. Socialism leads to two things: poverty and oppression, he said, adding that the left in America acts as though they have just discovered socialism. But history teaches that it has been around for decades and has resulted in the deaths of 100 million people, he said. Its not simply wrong; its evil, Scott added. Its evil, and the results are evil. Time to Rescue America President Joe Biden has pushed radical left-wing policies that have resulted in empty shelves, an overrun border, attacks on police, and escalating spending, he said. To save the United States, vote Republicans back in control, he said. But once won, conservatives need to stop the left in its tracks. I believe its time to rescue America, he said. Its time to take our country back. Scott laid out an 11-point plan to rescue the country on Rescueamerica.com. The plan starts with children in schools being taught the Pledge of Allegiance and that America is the greatest country in the world. Conservatives must end the lefts racial politics that immorally judge a person based on skin color. The United States needs to treat communist China as a foreign adversary and end our relationship with them, he said. Other steps include ending voter fraud and making sure prosecutors do their job to punish criminals under the law or get fired. Nations need borders, so America must finish the wall, he said, adding it should be named after Donald J. Trump, which won a roar of approval from the crowd. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) speaks at CPAC Dallas at the Hilton Anatole, Dallas, Texas, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Bobby Sanchez/The Epoch Times) Cruz, too, focused on the woke policies of socialists and complemented conservatives packing the room for their patriotism. It occurred to me that the Biden FBI believes this is a room of dangerous radicals, he said. And you know what? Theyre right. There is nothing more dangerous to a bunch of abusive, power-hungry, totalitarian dimwits than a free, empowered, energized American people taking our country back, Cruz added. Cruz said America is in crisis, from the out-of-control border in Texas to the price of gasoline. But while Scott took a serious approach, Cruz worked the crowd with humor. Its so bad that Eric Swalwell cant afford Chinese dinners, he said to a roaring crowd. It is so bad that AOC cant afford fake handcuffs. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) talks with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (L) before boarding a plane at Taipei Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 3, 2022. (Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Reuters) Cruz touched on how Chinese-state-run media stated that if Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi flew to Taiwan, her plane could come under attack. The White House press secretary responded that the administration had no position on the threat. Cruz said hes no fan of Pelosis, but the only correct answer to Chinas threat would be to call it an act of war. But even with all the woke threats to America, Cruz said a revival was coming. He predicted a tsunami in November, not just a red wave because people are now aware of the threat. Cruz praised the young conservatives in the crowd, saying many must endure woke, communist professors who force them to introduce themselves using pronouns. Well, my name is Ted Cruz, and my pronouns are: Kiss my ass, he said to wild cheers. It is powerful how peoples eyes are open. Dumbass Ideas Cruz said conservatives need to stand up to every dumbass idea that Biden and the Democrats come up with. Part of fighting the socialists is campaigning for real conservatives nonstop, he said, adding that winning control of the Senate and House of Representatives is vital. Cruz predicted that deep-blue South Texas would turn red when three Latino RepublicansMayra Flores, Cassy Garcia, and Monica De La Cruzwon in November. Republicans need to talk to youths, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans to help the party succeed. He fired up the crowd by telling them that they were a threat to Democrats. You are the dangerous radicals like the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, he said. Like the Framers, like those who died at the Alamo. And Im here to tell you that together we are going to restore that shining city on the hill that is the United States of America, Cruz said. Health officials have been making headlines in the news for their recent comments that seem to be reversing previous COVID-19 public health messages. Both Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and former White House COVID-19 advisor Dr. Deborah Birx, admitted that the COVID-19 vaccines are not particularly capable at preventing infection, reversing previous COVID-19 narratives that asserted the vaccine prevented disease acquisition and transmission. Birx said on Fox News July 22, that she knew these vaccines were not going to protect against infectionI think we overplayed the vaccines. This is a significant fallback considering that she promoted Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines when both were granted emergency use authorization in late 2020. This is one of the most highly-effective vaccines we have in our infectious disease arsenal. And so thats why Im very enthusiastic about the vaccine, Birx said on an ABC podcast at the time. On that podcast, she made no mention of concerns the vaccines might not protect against infection. Fauci and Birx also made statements showing their open minds regarding a laboratory leak as a possible explanation for the original source of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It appears that the messaging around COVID-19 health policies is opening up, or is it? Dr. Anthony Fauci, left, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases speaks next to response coordinator for White House Coronavirus Task Force Dr. Deborah Birx, during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on April 29, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Changing Narrative Around COVID-19 Vaccines Public health messaging regarding effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines has shifted throughout the two years of the pandemic. I think the whole COVID-19 vaccine program was over promised and it was too broadly applied. No vaccine against respiratory illness has been very effective in the history of medicine, Dr. Peter McCullough, cardiologist and co-author of The Courage to Face COVID-19 told The Epoch Times during a phone call. He reasoned that the reversals by Fauci and Birx were to negate the broad claims health officials made at the start of the pandemic. McCullough said that there were three major false claims in the overall COVID-19 vaccine narrative. The first claim was that the vaccine would stop the virus and people wouldnt get sick if they got the virus. Thats never happened with an influenza vaccine or pneumococcal vaccine, McCullough said. Even the American President Joe Biden claimed that the vaccine stopped people from getting COVID-19. His comments were later fact-checked by the Associated Press for exaggeration. The next false claim is that the vaccines would stop transmission, said McCullough. In a statement released on March 2021, a few months after the initial vaccine rollout, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the vaccination program interrupted chains of transmission. However, papers were soon published showing that the amount of virus detected in vaccinated and unvaccinated people was the same. Since viral load is analogous to infectiousness, this finding indicated that transmission rates would be same regardless of vaccination status. The director of the CDC Rochelle Walensky later released a statement in June 2021 stating that vaccines do not stop transmission. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, answers questions during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing to examine the federal response to COVID-19 and new emerging variants at Capitol Hill in Washington, on Jan. 11, 2022. (Greg Nash/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) McCullough said that health officials are now down to their last few false claims including that the vaccines prevent hospitalization and death. In the approval announcement for the Pfizer Comirnaty vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration wrote that the vaccine is effective in preventing COVID-19 and potentially serious outcomes including hospitalization and death. In New South Wales, a state in Australia, over 96 percent of people over 16-years-old have received two COVID-19 vaccine doses, of which, 69 percent have received a third dose. However, the states health statistics show that the majority of hospitalization, ICU admissions, and deaths have occurred in the vaccinated demographic (pdf), with the majority occurring in people who had three or four vaccinations. Theres never been a randomized trial where hospitalization and death have been reduced by the vaccinethe only thing weve had is a series of biased papers that dont account for prior immunity or for early treatment [which reduces hospitalization and death], said McCullough. Despite findings from other countries that indicate that the vaccine may not be reducing hospitalization and mortality risks, this claim has persisted in the United States. Dr. Pierre Kory, a pulmonologist and critical care specialist, and the president and chief medical officer of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance, gave an anecdotal explanation for why the hospitalization agenda is still going strong. When a patient enters a hospital and they show their [COVID-19] vaccine cardalthough they (the hospital) will enter the data of the vaccine card, its (the vaccination status is) buried in a nursing note. On the main screen, which categorizes them as vaccinated or unvaccinated, in many of the systems they go in as unknown, Kory told The Epoch Times. The few patients that do get submitted as vaccinated are those that got vaccinated by a doctor in that healthcare system. So I will tell you that the vast majority of patients in the hospital have an unknown vaccination status, and thats interpreted as unvaccinated, and that is why the CDC is constantly pumping out this data showing all this protectionI cannot prove that, although Ive seen that with my own eyes, and I have colleagues whove seen it. A major narrative of COVID-19 vaccines that has seen changes is vaccine efficacy. When initially released, both Pfizer and Moderna promised over 95 percent efficacy, with over 90 percent efficacy in stopping COVID-19 transmission and symptomatic infection 6 months after the second dose. However, once the Delta and Omicron variants emerged, the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines waned dramatically. Studies found that up to 6 months after the second dose, the efficacy of the Pfizer vaccine against symptomatic infections dropped to 80 percent. Moderna dropped from 74 percent efficacy against the Alpha variant to 67 percent for Delta. Once the Omicron variant arose, studies showed that efficacy against symptomatic infections fell to negative values six months after receiving two doses of either Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. Comparing immunity between previous infection and Moderna vaccination, blue is previous infection, green is two doses, and red is three doses, according to data Weill Cornell MedicineQatar (The Epoch Times) Comparing immunity between previous infection and Pfizer vaccination, blue is previous infection, green is two doses, and red is three doses, according to data Weill Cornell MedicineQatar (The Epoch Times) Backtracking on COVID-19 Messaging Apart from vaccine usage, Faucis recent media commentary also contradicted previous messages on vaccine safety and COVID-19 immunity. Both Fauci and Birx recently made news when they conceding that the vaccines were not very effective at preventing infection. Fauci admitted that the vaccines do not protect overly well, against infection, though he argued that it offered good protection against severe disease. Birx implied that the researchers knew from the beginning that the vaccine was not very effective at protecting against infection. Kory said he was surprised at Birxs admission, calling her concession a small crack in their very consistent narrative. Theyve employed multiple narratives, but this actually does backtrack on one of the original narrativestheyve been saying for several months that the vaccines protected [against the virus], and now to hear that they knew that they werent, I think thats pretty remarkable. Fauci also acknowledged the menstrual irregularities observed in vaccinated women. Well, the menstrual thing is something that seems to be quite transient and temporary, thats one of the points, Fauci said in an appearance on Fox News on July 25. We need to study it more. His comments drew criticisms from obstetricians and gynecologists who have been observing severe cases of menstrual irregularities. Dr. Christiane Northrup, a former fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists accused Fauci of discounting the experience of thousands of women, by dismissing the cases with we need to study it more. Unfortunately the menstrual problems we are seeing are far from transient and temporary. Many women have been bleeding daily or having heavy, irregular, painful periods for an entire year. And some of these are well past menopause. Something is way off here, she told The Epoch Times. Kory speculated that Faucis small admissions are tactical, and dismissive rather than a sign to engage in open, and honest scientific discussion. I still think its in the service of covering up this catastrophe. Theyve been dead wrong on innumerable policies, Kory said. I dont see this as any concerted effort to be more honest or to show more integrity. McCullough speculated that officials are backtracking because they know that the data are overwhelming refuting the false claims, and that public opinion has turned against the vaccines. Congress and Senate inquiries into vaccine safety have also exerted pressure on the health agencies. Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) released a statement on March 24, 2022 announcing that he had sent 36 letters to the federal health agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), FDA, CDC, and NIAID health officials on vaccine oversight. McCullough disclosed that Johnson has since sent many more letters but has been stonewalled by the health agencies. The same day the interview with Fox News was released, Fauci was also seen making a surprising acknowledgement on The Hill that natural immunity indeed protects against COVID-19, despite strong assertions from the CDC presenting vaccinated immunity as preferential and better. We were always aware that if you get infected, you have a degree of protection against reinfection, Fauci remarked in the video released on July 25. He later said that the protection afforded by natural immunity and vaccination wanes over a period of time, which is very, very different from other infections like polio, smallpox, and measles. Fauci claimed that individuals who have been infected and vaccinated have the best protection, describing that phenomenon as hybrid immunity. However, a study published on the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) has shown very little difference between infection reduction in hybrid immunity and natural immunity. Dr. Tracy Heg, a physician based in California and an consultant epidemiologist for the Department of Health in Florida, tweeted on June 23, 2022 that the NEJM shows that natural immunity (A) provides greater protection than vax (B) against future infection, but it [the study] calls into question the very idea of hybrid immunity; an extra vax dose (C) doesnt seem to add much to nat[ural] immunity. Yes, @dockaurG, this @NEJM article is great not only bc it shows natural immunity (A) provides greater protection than vax (B) against future infection, but it calls into question the very idea of "hybrid immunity": An extra vax dose (C) doesn't seem to add much to nat immunity https://t.co/3EB0ETKJuB pic.twitter.com/L2xZWv9BRo Tracy Heg, MD, PhD (@TracyBethHoeg) June 14, 2022 Kory argued that despite Faucis shift in narrative from vaccinated immunity to hybrid immunity, the messaging hasnt changed. [Rochelle] Walensky and Fauci have long been saying they believe that vaccination plus natural immunity is better than natural immunity. Thats not new. Laboratory technicians speak while working on samples to be tested for COVID-19 at a BGI laboratory in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 6, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Opening Up to Lab Theory and Lockdown Contradictions Fauci also made other contradictory statements about keeping an open mind over claims that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may have leaked from a Chinese lab, despite long-standing assertions that the virus was of natural origin. We have an open mind but it looks very much like this was a natural occurrence, but you keep an open mind, Fauci told Fox News on July 23. Similarly, Fauci also claimed that he never recommended lockdowns on The Hills Rising program. First of all, I didnt recommend locking anything down, Fauci said on the show, suggesting it had been a recommendation from the CDC. However, in October 2020, Fauci publicly recommended that former President Donald Trump shut the whole country down, although its not clear what he meant, as presidents dont have the authority to enact sweeping lockdowns. When it became clear that we had community spread in the country I recommended to the President that we shut the country down, he said in an event with students at the College of the Holy Cross in October 2020. Fauci also publicly suggested multiple times in 2020 that bars and restaurants should remain closed, then arguing that there was a binary choice between opening schools or bars. You have a choiceeither close the bars or close the schools. Because, if you have people congregating in bars, its likely youre going to stay red, the longtime head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said in November 2020. Parents, teachers, and students protest mask and vaccine mandates in Temecula, Calif., on Feb. 22, 2022. (Courtesy of Stephanie Dawson) Shift in Public Opinion and Policies For the Future McCullough says he is observing changes in both public and professional discourse surrounding COVID-19 health policies and is hopeful that more changes are coming. I dont see any celebration of the vaccines. None. Theres health freedom rallies going on all over the United States where people are advocating for their civil libertiesNo one is out there advocating for the vaccines, McCullough said. Though vaccine uptake for adults has been strong with over 77 percent of Americans over 18 years old vaccinated, the recent vaccination for under-five-year-olds has seen very poor uptake. The very low uptake of childhood and young adult vaccination, I think is a proxy for Americans being very concerned about the lack of safety and the lack of justification for these vaccines, said McCullough. He also observed shifts in public opinion and guidelines on early treatment. Since the start of the pandemic, McCullough and Kory have been active advocates for using ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine as early treatments to prevent COVID-19 disease. Despite the CDC and the FDA pronouncing these drugs unsafe and not beneficial, emerging studies from other countries have found these off-label use drugs are remarkably beneficial in controlling COVID-19. The message on early treatment has gotten out. It largely was responsible for taking us off that big peak that we had in January of 2021, said McCullough. The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons is now coming up on two years of having a home treatment guide (pdf). However, McCullough argues that it may be too early to see big changes in health policies and reversal of previous decisions. This is very similar to the relationship between smoking and lung cancer. There was data that existed for about 40 years as originally proposed by Sir Austin Bradford Hill, an epidemiologist, who said, by good criteria, that smoking is causative for lung cancer. It was about 40 years before there was finally capitulation recognition, said McCullough. The same is true with the vaccine program. Were into our second year of it; its a complete failure. Its causing great harmand I anticipate its just too early for recognition and stopping the public harm. McCullough expected a shift in talking points as health agencies rollout second generation COVID-19 vaccines, stating that the second generation vaccines are going to be better and safer than the first. Kory, however, was not optimistic for major changes. [Healthcare] agencies are largely working in the service of vaccine manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. So repurposed drugshave long been the natural enemy, essentially of the pharmaceutical industry, and they have spent decades attacking repurposed drugs, Kory said. I have no evidence that that system is going to changeI would be shocked to see that the agencies support a repurposed drug. McCullough said that doctors are also catching wind of the inconsistencies in public health messaging. A survey conducted on 737 primary care physicians in the United States in May 2021 found that 10 percent of physicians were not confident in vaccines in general and less than 10 percent reported somewhat to no confidence in Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Physicians reporting low confidence at around 30 percent for the J&J vaccine. Nonetheless, a survey by the American Medical Association (AMA) showed that over 96 percent of doctors have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. The vast majority of doctors were tricked into taking the vaccine. They want to believe that its safethat its effectiveso the doctors are having a hard time recognizing vaccine injuries because of the psychological fear of them understanding that the vaccine is in their body, concluded McCullough. Zachary Stieber, Jack Phillips, Enrico Trigoso, and Rita Li contributed to this report. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Epoch Health welcomes professional discussion and friendly debate. To submit an opinion piece, please follow these guidelines and submit through our form here. A man wearing a face mask walks by a flight information board at the Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Japan, on Dec. 28, 2020. (Koji Sasahara/AP Photo) Asian Airlines Cancel, Reroute Flights to Avoid Taiwan Airspace Amid Chinas Military Drills Asian airlines have canceled or rerouted their flights to avoid Taiwans airspace as China continues to conduct live-fire drills around Taiwan in a diplomatic tit-for-tat move against the United States. Malaysia Airlines Bhd said on Friday that it would cancel flights to and from Taipei on Saturday, and reroute its flights to Japan and South Korea to avoid the airspace affected by Chinese military drills. The reroute will incur additional flight time on particular sectors, the airline told local news outlet The Edge, adding that it would continue to avoid any restricted area listed in the Notice of Air Missions (NOTAMS). Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways International (THAI) have also canceled flights to Taipei to avoid Chinas military drills. THAI said it rerouted flights to Japan and South Korea by flying over the Philippines airspace. The Civil Authority of Vietnam said that 118 flights operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air were delayed or rerouted due to the military drills, but their flights to Taiwan remain operational, according to local reports. Japanese carriers continue to operate flights to Taipei but avoid the affected airspace on those flights, as well as on routes to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Hong Kongs Cathay Pacific Airways and Philippines Airlines have also followed suit. China Warns Airlines China reportedly warned Asian airlines on Tuesday to avoid flying in areas designated as danger zones, following Pelosis visit to Taiwan, which has angered the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In response, Taiwans Taoyuan International Airport announced that it would cancel 51 international arrival and departure flights scheduled for Thursday. Chinese military began live-fire drills in the seas surrounding Taiwan on Thursday, in what were the largest military drills ever conducted by the Chinese across the Taiwan Strait. They have included joint naval, air, and missile forces, operating in six areas surrounding Taiwan. The Rocket Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) fires live missiles into the waters near Taiwan, from an undisclosed location in China on Aug. 4, 2022. (Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters) Taiwan lawmaker Wang Ting-yu said that such maneuvers would constitute an invasion of Taiwans territorial waters if Chinese forces were to travel the full breadth of the exercise areas. If they send in their fighters or their warships to enter our territorial sea, that means China invaded our territory and we will have our standard operation procedure to respond to that, Wang told Axios. We dont want to provoke any conflict here, but whoever dares to invade our country, our home, we have our obligation to defend our home. Andrew Thornebrooke and Reuters contributed to this report. The Rocket Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) fires live missiles into the waters near Taiwan, from an undisclosed location in China, on Aug. 4, 2022. (Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters) Australia Urges Restraint Amid Chinas Destablizing Military Drills Near Taiwan Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Aug. 5 called out China for its disproportionate and destabilizing live-fire drills near Taiwan, noting that Australia will monitor the situation closely. Australia is deeply concerned about the launch of ballistic missiles by China into waters around Taiwans coastline, Wong said in a statement. These exercises are disproportionate and destabilizing. The foreign minister said both Australia and its close strategic partner Japan see Chinas military drills as a serious matter for the region. We urge restraint and de-escalation, Wong said. It is in all our interests to have a region at peace and not in conflict. Australia does not want to see any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Wong also noted that there is no change to Australias bipartisan one-China policy. Australia does not officially recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, but rather as part of China. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which rules mainland China, has never ruled Taiwan. Wong, who is currently in Cambodia for the ASEAN summit in Phnom Penn, and the leaders of other ASEAN countries raised their concerns with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the summit. We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely, and we are talking to allies and partners, she said. Australia does not want to see any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. Australian Sen. Penny Wong reacts during the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on March 24, 2021. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Campaign of Military Coercion Wongs comments come after China launched live-fire military drills in the seas surrounding Taiwan on Aug. 4, seen as a campaign of military coercion against the island in apparent retaliation for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-Calif.) visit. The CCP declared six exclusion zones encircling the island for the war games. Warplanes and vessels crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait that separates Taiwan from mainland China. Calling the military drills highly provocative, Taiwans defense ministry said Chinese military jets and warships had been seen in waters near Taiwan on Aug. 4, with some crossing the median line. Also known as the Davis Line, the median serves as an unofficial air and maritime buffer between China and Taiwan. In response, Taiwan deployed aircraft, patrolling naval vessels, and land-based missile systems to monitor the situation. We seek no escalation, nor do antagonize others, Taiwans defence ministry said on Twitter, adding that the Taiwanese armed forces are committed to defending the self-governing island. A map shows the locations of Chinas military drills that are set to run in six zones around Taiwan from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7. (Screenshot by The Epoch Times via Reuters) According to Reuters, the military drills are the biggest ever held by the CCPs military wing, the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), in the waters around Taiwan. The PLA has launched 11 ballistic missiles into the waters around Taiwan since the drills began. Five of the missiles were said to have landed in Japans exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from that countrys coast. Of the five missiles, Japans defense ministry said four had likely flown over Taiwan. The PLA also deployed 22 Chinese fighter jets, which crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and unmanned aerial drones on Aug. 4. Taiwanese troops fired warning flares to drive away four drones that flew above the area of Taiwans Kinmen islands, which are located about 1.3 miles from the Chinese coastline. Earlier, three drones flew over waters off Taiwans east coast, according to an announcement (pdf) from Japans defense ministry. Frank Fang contributed to this report. People walk through the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, the heart of New York's LGBT community in New York City, on July 29, 2022. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) CDC Issues Dire Warning to Gay and Bisexual Men The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday updated its monkeypox advice to suggest people most at risk, namely men who have sex with men, take a temporary break from those behaviors to help contain the outbreak. Among the updates are suggestions that people take a temporary break from sexual activity until considered vaccinated; limit their number of sexual partners; avoid spaces for anonymous sex with multiple partners; use condoms; and wear gloves during particular sexual activities. These five suggestions to reduce the chance of spread were added to the seven that appeared on the webpage when it was updated on July 12. In that previous update, the CDC offered suggestions for sexual activities for people who have (or think they have) monkeypox and decide to have sex. Fridays update contains stronger messaging, with the CDC now saying the best way to protect yourself and others is to avoid sex of any kind while you are sick. People should especially avoid touching any rash. Public Health Emergency The updates come a day after the Biden administration declared a public health emergency for monkeypox in a bid to unlock funding and more powers to deal with the virus. Some states, including New York, California, and Illinois, have declared their own public health emergencies for similar reasons. The stages of Monkeypox. (UK Health Security Agency) The updated advice appears on the CDCs Safer Sex, Social Gatherings, and Monkeypox webpage which contains detailed and specific information tailored to lowering the risk of transmission during particular sexual activities. While CDC works to contain the current monkeypox outbreak and learn more about the virus, this information can help you make informed choices when you are in situations or places where monkeypox could be spread, reads a statement on the webpage which wasnt there in July. Monkeypox is not considered a sexually transmitted disease, but it is often transmitted through close, sustained physical contact, which can include sexual contact. The CDC has also advised people to consider the chances of skin-to-skin contact when attending festivals or raves. Festivals, events, and concerts where attendees are fully clothed and unlikely to share skin-to-skin contact are safer. However, attendees should be mindful of activities (like kissing) that might spread monkeypox, the CDC webpage reads. A rave, party, or club where there is minimal clothing and where there is direct, personal, often skin-to-skin contact has some risk. Avoid any rash you see on others and consider minimizing skin-to-skin contact. The CDC especially noted the increased risk of spread at these events in enclosed spaces where people go for intimate, often anonymous sexual contact with multiple partners. LGBT Community Outreach The White House has identified a vital need for education about monkeypox and outreach to the LGBT community, which is most affected by the outbreak, in order to combat the virus. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Monday that there is a need to make sure the LGBT community and public health officials know exactly what to look for and what the treatment is. The CDCs updated suggestions come three days after President Joe Biden picked Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, who runs the CDCs HIV prevention division, as one of two officials to lead the nations response to the monkeypox outbreak. Daskalakis, who will be deputy to FEMAs Robert Fenton, has expertise with issues that impact the LGBT community, making him an appropriate pick, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White Houses chief medical adviser. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis speaks at the press conference for New York City Pride on June 27, 2021. (John Lamparski/Getty Images) The 2022 monkeypox outbreak has so far primarily spread via the sexual activity of gay and bisexual men, a major study has found. The virus can also spread through contaminated bedding, clothing, towels, according to the CDC and World Health Organization. After the United States fifth pediatric monkeypox case was reported in Long Beach on Thursday, a Californian health department has also said transmission can occur via household items such as cups and utensils. The CDCs updated webpage for safer sex amid the monkeypox outbreak noted that vaccines will be an important tool in preventing the spread of monkeypox. But given the current limited supply of vaccine, consider temporarily changing some behaviors that may increase your risk of being exposed, the webpage reads. These temporary changes will help slow the spread of monkeypox until vaccine supply is adequate. CORRECTION: This article has been updated with the correct states that have declared public health emergencies. The Epoch Times regrets the error. People watch as a parade to celebrate 400 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations makes its way through Chinatown in Toronto on Aug. 6, 2022. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times) Celebratory Parades Held in Canada to Mark the Milestone of 400 Million Chinese Cutting Ties to CCP Hundreds of people participated in a parade through Torontos Chinatown on Aug. 6 to celebrate the milestone of 400 million Chinese people having renounced their ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its affiliated organizations. Falun Gong adherents take part in a parade through Chinatown in downtown Toronto on Aug. 6, 2022, to celebrate 400 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times) Falun Gong adherents take part in a parade through Torontos Chinatown to celebrate 400 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations, on Aug. 6, 2022. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times) SanTui, a Chinese phrase meaning Three Withdrawals, was seen emblazoned on banners as Falun Gong adherents and supporters marked the occasion in Toronto. Similar parades were held in Montreal and Calgary. The Three Withdrawals, which refers to withdrawing from the CCP, the Communist Youth League, and the China Young Pioneers, aims to give the Chinese people a way to disassociate themselves from the CCP, which has long history of killing and deceit. The movement began in 2004, sparked by the release of The Epoch Times book Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, which details the history of the CCP and their crimes against the Chinese people. On Aug. 3, the date the 400 million milestone was reached, Rong Yi, president of the U.S.-based Global Service Center for Quitting the Chinese Communist Party, commended the 400 million brave Chinese who severed their ties to the communist regime. The Three Withdrawals is the largest grassroots movement in Chinese history. The truth it exposes helps awakened hundreds of thousands of Chinese people, Yi said at a press conference in Flushing, New York City. An estimated 80 million Chinese people have died of unnatural causes due to the CCPs various political campaigns since it took power in 1949, Yi said. The more recent campaigns she pointed to include Tiananmen Square in 1989, the ongoing persecution of adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong, the imprisonment of millions of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet, and the crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong. The most important mission for mankind is the disintegration of the CCP, she said. Only by ending the tyranny of the CCP can the Chinese people embrace freedom, peace, and prosperity. People watch a parade in downtown Toronto to celebrate 400 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations, on Aug. 6, 2022. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times) More events will be held in Canada throughout the month of August, including over 100 car parades that will take place in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. A spokesperson at the Toronto event told The Epoch Times that the number of people disassociating themselves from the CCP and its affiliated organizations continues to grow by an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 per day. Mina Comtreras and her husband Wadelfoxelo, who are visiting Toronto from Pennsylvania to celebrate their wedding anniversary, stopped to watch the parade. [We learned] pretty much what the world knows that China is a communist country and a lot of things have to change, Mina said. Its really sad, she added, upon hearing about the CCPs persecution campaigns against the Chinese people. Mina Comtreras and her husband Wadelfoxelo, who are visiting Toronto from Pennsylvania to celebrate their wedding anniversary, stopped to watch the parade. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times). Survivor of CCP Persecution Cathy Lin, a university teacher from Chinas Shandong Province now living in Toronto, said the Chinese people are victims of the CCPs propaganda campaigns, and the Three Withdrawals movement gives them a chance to take a step back and discern for themselves. Cathy Lin, a teacher in Toronto, joined the parade to celebrate 400 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations, on Aug. 6, 2022. (Andrew Chen/The Epoch Times) Lin joined the thousands of students who gathered on Tiananmen Square in Beijing in June 1989 to call for democracy. She didnt witness the brutal massacre of the students, however, and says state propaganda led her to doubt there were any killings. I grew up under the influence of CCPs propaganda, and I had a blind faith in the Party, she told The Epoch Times. When I heard that the military opened fire on the students, I remained skeptical, because my father was also military personnel. [I thought], how could the military open fire on the students? That was news that we didnt have access to. In 1995, Lin began practicing Falun Gong, known as Falun Dafa, a traditional Chinese practice that involves meditative exercises and moral teachings based on the tenets of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. Made public in 1992, the practice had 70 million to 100 million adherents in China by the late 1990s. Such popularity was perceived by the CCP as a threat to its authoritarian rule, and on July 20, 1999, the regime launched a far-reaching persecution campaign aimed at eradicating Falun Gong. Hundred of people march in a parade in downtown Toronto on Aug. 6, 2022, to celebrate 400 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times) The Tian Guo Marching Band takes part in a parade in downtown Toronto to celebrate 400 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations, on Aug. 6, 2022. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times) Traditional Chinese drum and lion dance performances are part a parade in downtown Toronto to celebrate 400 million Chinese people quitting the Chinese Communist Party and its affiliated organizations, on Aug. 6, 2022,. (Evan Ning/The Epoch Times) In October 2000, Lin was arrested when she went to Beijings National Petition Bureau to urge the government to end its persecution campaign and allow Falun Gong adherents to practise freely. She was sentenced to three years in prison in the following year. Her husband was also jailed several times. During those times, my kids would find that their parents were gone all of a sudden. Their grandparents took care of them, but they dared not ask where mom and dad were, because they didnt want to make their grandparents sad, Lin said. The CCPs persecution of Falun Gong finally made me realize its evil nature, she added. And after all weve gone through, my family are really supportive of this movement to quit the CCP. Lin fled to Canada in 2013. She said the Three Withdrawals movement is also important for Chinese people living in Canada. The reason that we tirelessly clarify the truth to the Chinese people is to give those kind people, who are capable of critical thinking, a chance to disassociate from the CCP, she said. The [movements] greatest purpose is to allow more people around the world understand the evil nature of the regime, and let them know that the regime is destroying the culture and corrupting the morality of the entire human society. Eva Fu contributed to this report. Chinese-Made Portable Power Banks Can Spy on Users: Report Mainland Chinese media recently revealed that China-made portable power banks can eavesdrop on and locate users. They are available on the Chinese market and are not regulated by the regime. The periodical Ban Yue Tan reported on July 27 that in recent years, power banks that can eavesdrop, position individuals, and have other functions that spy on users, are sold on the market. Just by modifying a built-in communication SIM card, the power bank can be transformed into a listening device and a tracker, enabling remote monitoring and precise positioning anytime, anywhere. According to the report, when a resident, surnamed Wang in Guiyang city, took his power bank in for repair, the technician found eavesdropping and positioning equipment in it. The technician told him that once someone uses the function remotely, Mr. Wangs life will be live broadcast without him knowing it. These types of power bank vary in color and style, but most of them have functions such as remote monitoring and recording and precise positioning, and can be customized. The price ranges from 300 yuan to 600 yuan (about $45 to $89), and they are sold on some Chinese online marketplaces. The Ban Yue Tan reporter ordered such a power bank, followed the instructions to download an app called GPS365 to a cellphone, and used the login information provided by the seller to see all the functions such as positioning, trajectory, electronic fence, contacts, and messages on its webpage on the cellphone. The reporter clicked on Location and found that the movement trajectory of the power bank carrier can be clearly detected and recorded, even in subways, parking lots, and other places. Location does not affect the accuracy of the positioning function. The seller also told the reporter that if the Voice-activated chat function is set up in the app, the recording function will be activated to record all the sound around the power bank that is 50 decibels or higher, and automatically transmit it to the cellphone. Customized Spying Device Most of the sellers on the online marketplaces promise that customers can choose functions, color, and style of the power banks. A Chinese-made power bank that has positioning and recording functions. (A Chinese website/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Xia Guijun, a senior product manager at the network center of China Mobile Guizhou Company, told the media that its very easy to convert a power bank into a listening device and tracker. Just put in a communication SIM card powered by the battery in the power bank, which is connected to the internet through wireless signals, and the data will be transmitted to the designated server. The person who uses it to spy on an individual who carries the power bank sends a request to the server with a specific mobile app to obtain the precise positioning and recording data through the SIM card. Besides power banks, Bluetooth speakers, power plugs, lighters, and other daily use devices are often converted into listening devices and trackers to spy on individuals in mainland China. Many sellers market such spying devices under the pretext of anti-theft and preventing the elderly and children from getting lost. At present, the Chinese communist regime does not require products such as GPS trackers to have certification, and there are no regulations against adding recording functions to devices. Chen Yun (Front) walks past Dr. Liu Jiaen (Rear) as she arrives for vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment at a hospital in Beijing on April 24, 2016. Chinas decision to allow married couples to have two children is driving a surge in demand for fertility treatments. (Andy Wong/AP) Chinese Women Look Abroad for Sperm Donors Amid Chinas Shortage Now that Beijing allows couples to have more than one child, the shortage of sperm donors is highlighting the need for more sperm donors amid a fertility crisis and short supply of sperm in China. In 2015, Shanghai-based Xinmin Evening News reported that local couples may have to wait two to three years for donor sperm. The human sperm bank in Chinas Fujian Province began trial operation on July 13. It is the 28th registered sperm bank in China. Although Chinas sperm banks are not rare, there is a severe shortage of sperm donors. In March 2021, Chongqing sperm bank was in a state of emergency and urged the public to donate sperm. In 2018, sperm banks in Zhejiang, Shandong, and Jiangxi provinces were again in an emergency state. Earlier, sperm banks in Shanxi, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Henan, Guangdong, Hubei and almost every other province had made similar announcements. According to the regulations of Chinas Ministry of Health, the commercialization and industrialization of sperm banks are strictly prohibited. Therefore, sperm banks in each province cannot buy sperm, but can only accept donations from volunteers, with a subsidy of several thousand yuan at most. However, Shanghainese came up with a solution. In July 2021, Shanghai held a sperm competition to select the invincible sperm with the highest concentration, vitality, maximum semen volume, and lowest deformity rate. The winner of each category was awarded 7,500 yuan (about $1,100). There was also a subsidy if the contestants semen was accepted by the sperm bank. The competition attracted a lot of college students with no income. Inspired by Shanghai, Chongqing Sperm Bank also held a 30-day sperm quality competition in April. The competition was divided into three categories, with each winner receiving 5,000 yuan (about $740). Jiang Hui, director of the department of andrology at Peking University Third Hospital, said infertility affects about 30 million couples in China, with an incidence of 10 to 15 percent, of which 50 percent is due to a low sperm count in the male partner, The Beijing News, a Chinese Communist Party-owned newspaper, reported in early 2021. Sperm banks do not sell the sperm to single women. They send it to hospitals that are treating couples seeking artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization (IVF). The Shortage In the face of such a huge market, there are relatively few sperm donors in China, and the pass rate of donated sperm is getting lower and lower. The Zhejiang sperm bank announced in April 2021 that the bank was able to achieve a pass rate of 40 percent when it first opened, but three years later the pass rate was less than 27 percent. The cumulative number of sperm donors at the Sichuan Sperm Bank as of the end of 2019 was 5,370, but only 957 were qualified for inclusion, a qualification rate of less than 20 percent. The sperm bank was established in 2012. The sperm bank in Shaanxi Province had about 800 sperm donors in 2015, but only 106 met the quality standards. Zhang Zhou, chief physician of the human sperm bank at Northwest Womens and Childrens Hospital in the province, said the quality of sperm is getting worse, yet demand grows every year. When market demand couldnt be met, two results emerged: one is the underground market, the other is getting sperm from abroad. The underground market is unregulated, has more risks, and carries the possibility of contracting a disease. Obtaining sperm from overseas sperm banks was once favored by high-class Chinese women and even formed an industrial chain. Sperm banks in western countries are mostly commercial and the donor can be selected via the internet. The frozen sperm can be delivered internationally. One Chinese lady said she was dazzled by the selection of the elite donors from overseas sperm banks, who are so varied that they range from Ivy League students to doctors and models. However, the majority of sperm seekers looking abroad are single women, and the subsequent babies are more likely to be of mixed race. The ensuing ethical concerns are discussed and even debated by the Chinese public. Security guards man a residential area under a lockdown in Beijing on May 11, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) CCP Used COVID-19 for Biological Warfare, Research Group Says The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) used COVID-19 for biological warfare, according to a new report by nine experts with the Washington-based Center for Security Policy (CSP). Generals, medical experts, and foreign policy experts including former U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Pete Hoekstra and retired Army Lt. Gen. William Jerry Boykin, a former deputy undersecretary of defense, contributed to the report, which is available in book form on Amazon. The report, titled The CCP is at War with America, asserts that theres no evidence that COVID-19 was a natural virus, arguing that theres significant evidence it emerged from a government biological weapons lab in China. It also states that the CCP deliberately allowed the virus to spread worldwide by allowing international flights while locking down movement within China. The CSP describes its report as an exercise in competitive analysis that strongly challenges the Director of National Intelligences September 2021 conclusion. The Plague War While U.S. intelligence experts in 2021 concluded that they might never know for certain where COVID-19 originated, the CSP puts the blame squarely on the Chinese regime. The preponderance of evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 was lab-manufactured, the report states. In any event, Beijing acted with murderous intent in spreading the disease beyond Chinas borders. As proof of these claims, the report points to genetic features of COVID-19 that arent found in natural viruses. It noted that Chinas military has a biological warfare program. Finally, it highlights that the Chinese regime restricted internal travel to stop the spread of COVID-19, but kept its international borders open. At the same time, it bought up global supplies of personal protective gear. Even if the original release of the virus was accidental, its worldwide spread was intentional, the report states. The likely motive was to ensure that the rest of the world would be set back economically by the virus to the same degree as China. The cover of The CCP is at War with America report on Amazon. Screenshot taken on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) Chinese leader Xi Jinpings regime clearly saw the imperative need to ensure that it would not suffer economic privation alone, to the advantage of its enemies, especially the United States, the report states. Actively spreading the virus was, thus, a means of waging economic warfare, and the Chinese Communists applied themselves to doing so with a vengeance. According to the report, the CCP worked to spread its COVID-19 quarantine policies around the world so it could weather the pandemic at an advantage. The damage COVID-19 measures did to the U.S. economy put the CCP ahead. A principal beneficiary of such economic trauma would be the Chinese Communist Party, the report reads. Weapons of Choice The report also states that the Chinese regime has a history of biological warfare. In the early 1990s, Gen. Chi Haotian told Chinas biological weapons program that it should seek to depopulate the United States through the use of non-destructive weapons so that China could take it over, according to the report. But China kept that plan secret. Right now, it is not the time to openly break with [America], Chi said. Our reform and opening to the outside world still rely on their capital and technology. Biological weapons could be Chinas road to world domination, the report states. Chinese military journals have openly published articles about genetically targeted biological warfare. China has collected genetic data on foreigners while keeping a close guard on the genetic profiles of Chinese people, it added. If Chinese scientists succeed in designing pathogens targeting only foreigners, the next germ, virus, or microbe from China could end non-Chinese societies, the report states. Xi will be the first supremo to possess a weapon making worldwide Chinese rule possible, it reads. The report suggests that COVID-19 fatalities outside China should be considered murder victims. The paper offers several conclusions, including that the CCP and any who colluded with it must be held accountable for the pandemics results; the government shouldnt impose vaccine mandates on the vulnerable; the United States should develop deterrents against Chinese bioweapons; and future public health measures shouldnt follow Chinese totalitarian lockdown advice. We must never again allow our constitutional freedoms to be denied on the pretext of a public health emergency, especially at the insistence of foreign powers, let alone our mortal enemy. An employee makes a chip at a factory of Jiejie Semiconductor Company in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, on March 17, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Eight Chinese Officials Sacked in Semiconductor Chip Industry At least eight senior officials in Chinas semiconductor chip industry were sacked in the past months. The Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) watchdogCentral Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI)announced most of the cases in late July, while state-run media announced some other cases. Both CCDI and the media said the eight officials were under investigation. Under investigation has a specific meaning in the CCP system, that is, the regime detains an official or officer in a secret place, tortures him/her to get information, and forces him/her to confess to a crime. MIIT and CICF These eight leaders lead or controlled the nations semiconductor chip business. Six of them were related to the Industry and Information Technology Ministry (MIIT) and the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund (CICF). CCDI announced on July 28 that Xiao Yaqing, 62, Chinas minister of Industry and Information Technology, was under investigation. The MIIT minister is the big boss of Chinas semiconductor chip industry. Chinese leader Xi Jinping ordered the minister to lead the industry to compete with the United States. Xiao was named MIIT minister in August 2020, when his predecessor Miao Wei retired. Xiao Yaqing, Chairman of State-Owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission, answers questions about the reform of state-owned enterprises at the Oriental Media Center in Beijing, China on March 12, 2016. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) Then CCDI announced on July 30 that Ding Wenwu, general manager of CICF, was under investigation. Ding, 60, had worked at MIIT for decades. He was appointed to lead the newly set-up CICF in 2014 when he was the director of MIITs Electronic Information Department. CICF is a state-run investment company that invests in integrated circuit chip manufacturing, design, and testing. Lu Jun, president of Huaxin Investment, was under investigation, announced CCDI on July 15. Huaxin is CICFs only direct fund manager and only works for CICF. Lu, 53, had worked for China Development Bankone of three policy banks in Chinasince the 1990s. He was named president when the regime set up Huaxin investment in August 2014. Chinese state-run Caixin reported on July 29 that Wang Wenzhong, co-founder of Hongtai Fundfund manager of CICFs Shenzhen subsidiarywas put under investigation on July 14. The report said it confirmed the detention from several sources. Wang and Lu were classmates, Caixin said. Yang Zhengfan, 41, deputy general manager of the third investment department of Huaxin Investment, was under investigation, Caixin reported on July 30. Gao Songtao was the first sacked official from the CICF system. CCDI announced on Nov. 19, 2021 that Gao was detained for investigation because he was suspected of serious violations of the law. Gao, 52, had also worked for MIIT for decades. He was appointed deputy president of Huaxin Investment in 2014. In November 2019, he was promoted to general manager of the state-run National Manufacturing Transform and Upgrade Fund. A worker handles copper lead frames inside the production chain at Renesas Electronics in Beijing, China on May 14, 2020. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images) Tsinghua Unigroup Zhao Weiguo, 54, was the Chair of Tsinghua Unigroup from 2009 to 2021 when Tsinghua Unigroup went bankrupt. Caixin reported on July 25 that Zhao was detained from his home in Beijing and was under investigation at some secret location. Four days later, privately owned semiconductor chips industry media IC Time reported that Diao Shijing, chair of Unigroup Guoxin Micro from 2018 to 2020 and then board member until 2021, was under investigation. Diao, 60, had worked at MIIT for decades, and Ding was a co-worker. Tsinghua Unigroup was Chinas largest technology conglomerate before it went bankrupt. Its subsidiary, UNISOC, used to be Chinas largest mobile phone chip designer. From 2015 to 2020, CICF invested in Tsinghua Unigroup. The first investment was 10 billion yuan (about $1.48 billion) in February 2015. The last investment was 2.25 billion yuan (about $330 million) in March 2020. In November 2020, Tsinghua Unigroup couldnt pay the matured debt and announced a debt crisis. In July 2021, the conglomerate applied for bankruptcy. An employee watches chip making at a factory of Jiejie Semiconductor Company in Nantong, Jiangsu Province on March 17, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) State-run Cailianshe, Caijing, and Caixin reported in the past days that the aforementioned eight officials should be involved in the same case and be charged with bribes and corruption. A photo of an electricity pylon in Cheshire in the north of England, taken on Oct. 11, 2021 (PA) Electricity Thefts Hit Record Levels as Cost of Living Crisis Worsens A record number of people stole electricity in England and Wales last year, according to new figures released by the Home Office. Police forces received 3,600 reports of dishonest use of electricity in the 12 months to March 2022, an increase of 13 percent on the previous year and the highest level since records began in 2013. It comes after a protest website launched recently urging people not to pay their electricity bills from October. The average annual UK gas and electricity bill rose from 1,400 in October 2021 to 2,000, after the government removed a price cap, which limited how much suppliers could charge customers. Another hefty rise is expected in October 2022. It was originally predicted average energy bills could reach 2,800 in the autumn but the latest forecast is 3,358. Rishi Sunak Promises to Scrap VAT on Fuel Bills Last month former Chancellor Rishi Sunak, who is battling Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to become the new leader of the Conservative Party, promised to scrap VAT on domestic fuel bills next year if he becomes prime minister. He said: With the price cap expected to rise above 3,000 in October, I will move immediately to scrap VAT on everyones domestic energy bills for the next year, saving the average household 160. Truss has not spelled out any concrete measures on the cost of living crisis but said this week: As Prime Minister, Id use an emergency Budget to kickstart my plan to get our economy growing and offer immediate help to people struggling with their bills. Peter Smith, the director of policy and advocacy at the National Energy Action campaign group, said: This is not only illegal but dangerous too, and its horrifying if the crisis is forcing households to try this to keep the lights on. And this is happening now, before winter and the cold weather hits. Almost a third1,100of the thefts occurred between January and March, double the number recorded over the previous two winters. Smith said: More support is desperately needed to close this gap and help the most vulnerable keep themselves warm and safe this winter. Electricity theft is usually carried out by tampering with the supply or bypassing a meter, and it is extremely hazardous. The maximum punishment in law is five years in prison but in 57 percent of cases last year no suspect was identified and only seven percent resulted in someone being charged or summonsed. A spokesman for the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets said: Under no circumstances should consumers attempt to connect electricity meters themselves. A government spokesman told PA it was providing 37 billion to help households with the cost of living and added: We are committed to cracking down on crime, including the criminal theft of electricity, which causes serious injury to people and damage to property. PA Media contributed to this report. Ma Chun-man, also called "Captain America 2.0" had his sentence reduced to 5 years from 5 years and 9 months on Aug. 3, 2022. (Big Mack/The Epoch Times) Hong Kong Protester Captain America 2.0 Wins Appeal Court reduce sentence from 5.9 years to 5years Captain America 2.0, a 2019 Hong Kong Protester, had his jail sentence reduced to five years on August 3, winning his appeal in the Court of Appeal of the High Court in Hong Kong. Ma Chun-man, also called Captain America 2.0 since he used to carry a superhero shield during protests, was jailed for five years and nine months for inciting secession for chanting slogans such as Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times on various public occasions. The application to appeal his sentence was the first appeal case involving the Hong Kong National Security Law. The verdict from the Court of Appeal of the High Court mentioned that the sentence adopted by District Court judge Stanley Chan Kwok-chi was too severe. The appeal was arguing that the circumstances of the case are not of serious nature. The appellant said that even though Ma shouted slogans such as Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times, he did not have any plan to commit a crime, and the slogan was vague without actual action. Representative of the Department of Justice Hong Kong said that Ma had committed multiple crimes without any remorse, and believed that the circumstances of the case were of a serious nature. In the verdict, the Court of Appeal stated that although the case was classified serious, it remained at the lower end of that classification. The sentencing should be close to the minimum sentence of five years. It considered the District Court Judges punishment of six years excessive. The Court of Appeal adopted five years and three months as the starting point for sentencing. And the District Court Judge had deducted three months from the sentence as a discretional discount because the District Courts time was saved by the ways in which the defendant defended. The Court of Appeal did not intervene, so the final sentence was five years. The Court of Appeal stated that the legislative intent of the Hong Kong National Security Law and its relevant penalty provisions is to be compatible and complementary with local laws. The Hong Kong National Security Law does not define serious or minor for the case of inciting secession, therefore the local legal principles of sentencing apply. The Court of Appeal said that when defining the seriousness of the case, it should be determined by the actual circumstances of the case as a whole, and incitement in the common law should be used for reference. What matters is the offenders actions and their substantial consequences, potential risks, and possible impacts. In addition, the Court of Appeal said that it was wrong that the District Court Judge used lack of remorse as a reason for assigning the circumstances of the case as serious, and believed that there was no relationship between remorse and the seriousness of the case. Indiana State Senators meet in the Senate chamber in the Indiana State Capitol building in Indianapolis, Ind., on July 25, 2022. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images) Indiana Becomes First State to Pass Ban on Most Abortions After Fall of Roe Indiana on Aug. 5 became the first state in the country to approve and pass a bill into law banning most abortions, following the overturning of the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in late June. The legislation, SB1, bans all abortions, except in the case of incest, rape, a diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly, or in circumstances where abortion is determined necessary to protect the life and physical health of the mother. The rape and incest exceptions are limited to 10 weeks after fertilization; in such cases, victims would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack. The legislation headed to Republican Gov. Eric Holcombs desk, who signed it into law late on Aug. 5. Following the overturning of Roe, I stated clearly that I would be willing to support legislation that made progress in protecting life. In my view, [Senate Enrolled Act 1] accomplishes this goal following its passage in both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly with a solid majority of support, Holcomb said in a statement on Aug. 5. These actions followed long days of hearings filled with sobering and personal testimony from citizens and elected representatives on this emotional and complex topic. Ultimately, those voices shaped and informed the final contents of the legislation and its carefully negotiated exceptions to address some of the unthinkable circumstances a woman or unborn child might face. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb in East Chicago, Ind., on April 19, 2017. (Scott Olson/Getty Images) He thanked state Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange and state Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville, both of whom are sponsors of the bill, for their brave authorship. Each of you demonstrated a steady hand and uncanny poise while carrying this once-in-a-generation legislation, he said in his statement. Holcomb had issued a statement shortly after the June 24 U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe. v. Wade, saying he would call on Indiana lawmakers to work on abortion legislation in the state. I have been clear in stating I am pro-life. We have an opportunity to make progress in protecting the sanctity of life, and thats exactly what we will do, he also said at the time. The legislation was transmitted to the Senate on Aug. 5 after it was amended in the House earlier in the day. Indiana House members advanced the bill in a 6238 vote, and Indiana Senate members approved the ban by a 2819 vote. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates-East held a protest late on Aug. 5 at the Indiana statehouse against the legislation. On Twitter, the ACLU called the legislation a cruel and dangerous attack on liberty and freedom. McNamara told reporters after the House vote that the legislation makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation. Too often these days we are exposed to much violence and death, McNamara said before the House vote, according to CNN. This bill restores faith in humanity and faith that human life has value. Indonesia Urges Cambodia to Cooperate Against Human Trafficking Indonesia has sought closer cooperation with the Cambodian government to eradicate human trafficking after dozens of Indonesians were trafficked to Cambodia through employment scams. Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi met with Cambodian Interior Minister Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng in Phnom Penh on Aug. 4 to discuss efforts to eradicate human trafficking, which has been rife in Cambodia. The two sides agreed on the need to expedite their agreement on the eradication of cross-border crimes. Cambodia also agreed to expedite the repatriation of rescued Indonesian victims. A total of 62 Indonesian nationals were rescued from an online scam company in Sihanoukville last week. Cambodia has agreed to repatriate them in stages depending on flight availability, with 12 returned to Indonesia on Aug. 5. There are indeed flight limitations, but we can [start the repatriation] as early as today by prioritizing vulnerable groups, women, and children, Sar Kheng said as saying by an Indonesian news agency. At least 298 Indonesians fell prey to fraud and human trafficking in Cambodia as of July, an increase from the 119 Indonesians last year, according to data from the Directorate for the Protection of Indonesian Citizens. Marsudi also met with the Cambodian national police chief on Aug. 2 to discuss cooperation in the management of victims who havent been rescued, as well as in law enforcement and prevention of similar cases. Cooperation to prevent human trafficking must be strengthened between Indonesia and Cambodia, she said, according to Indonesias Foreign Affairs Ministry. Slavery Conditions Anis Hidayah, an activist for Jakarta-based Migrant Care, said that Indonesian workers were enticed by job listings on social media offering a $1,000 monthly salary to work in Cambodia. They were initially offered jobs as clerks and call-center agents, but later were forced to work for online scam companies for $500 per month or not paid at all. Workers were also subject to heavy fines if they failed to meet targets or quit. They were subjected to physical violence. The conditions are similar to slavery, she said, according to Benar News. One of the victims, who spoke to the news outlet on the condition of anonymity, said that workers were beaten and given electric shocks if they didnt fulfill their targets and had their passports burned by the employers. In February, the Beijing Youth Daily reported on a Chinese national who claimed to have been victimized by a fraudulent internet job post. He was trafficked to Sihanoukville in Cambodia by a criminal gang, and then coerced into working for numerous telemarketing fraud schemes. His captors began extracting blood from him after he refused to work, which put his life in danger. The Chinese embassy in Cambodia later revealed his surname as Li and confirmed parts of the report. Reuters contributed to this report. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chair of the House Jan. 6 panel, delivers closing remarks alongside Vice Chair Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) during the sixth hearing on the Jan. 6 investigation in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington on June 28, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Jan. 6 Panel May Try to Influence Pennsylvania Governors Race: Mastriano Attorney Won't allow recording of meeting with Mastriano Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, the Republican gubernatorial nominee, is scheduled to meet on Aug. 9 with the Houses Jan. 6 committee. While it was to be a voluntary interview, the committee is now demanding a compelled deposition. Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano, following his win in the Pennsylvania Republican primary, gives a victory speech at his election night party at The Orchards in Chambersburg, Pa., on May 17, 2022. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Your committee is not legally able to conduct compelled depositions, which is why all of my clients have all offered to participate in voluntary interviews, Mastrianos attorney, Timothy C. Parlatore, wrote in an Aug. 5 letter to the committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach. Although Senator Mastriano is happy to cooperate with your committee, as he has nothing to hide, I do have concerns that are particular to him, given the conduct of the committee up to this point. Parlatore believes the Jan. 6 committee may try to influence Pennsylvanias election. Given the committees demonstrated propensity for releasing edited clips of interviews without the requisite context to support a false partisan narrative, Parlatore wrote, I am concerned that there is a risk that your committee will do the same to Senator Mastriano. Members of your party like Sean Patrick Maloney, Democratic Campaign Chair, have openly admitted that the goal of the hearings you are conducting is intended to paint the Republican party as irresponsible and power hungry ahead of the midterms. For this reason, my client has legitimate concerns that your committee may attempt to influence the outcome of the Pennsylvania state elections through the dissemination of disinformation. A spokesperson for the Jan. 6 committee didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Parlatores letter indicates that hes willing to allow the meeting if he can make his own recording of the interview, which could be released if the committee releases edited recordings of Mastriano that need more context. I was informed by your staffer that you rejected this proposal and refused to make any counterproposals because you wish to retain sole dominion over the public narrative, the letter says. Obviously, your refusal to even discuss this is concerning, as there is no downside to me holding a second recording of the interview, unless the committee does, in fact, intend to engage in disinformation with Senator Mastrianos interview and is afraid of any accountability for that disinformation. The lack of a truly bipartisan committee infringes on the rights of the witnesses and serves no legitimate investigative purpose, Parlatore said. My client has significant concerns that he is being set up for sanctions due to the Committees refusal to respect the bounds of privilege and lack of any opposing viewpoints to act as a counterbalance, the letter states. Parlatore said Mastriano would appear for a deposition if the committee gets a ranking minority member designation from the Republican steering committee. But before Mastriano would testify in that scenario, Parlatore said he would review the Regulations for Use of Deposition Authority to determine if all provisions had been met. If not, he and Mastriano would leave the session and return only in the event that all provisions in the rules are met the by committee, a judge rules that the committee doesnt need to comply with the rules, or they agree to a voluntary interview. Mastriano attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally in Washington with numerous other people. He has cooperated with the committee so far, providing documents that have been requested. President Joe Biden signs two bills aimed at combating fraud in the COVID-19 small business relief programs at the White House in Washington on Aug. 5, 2022. (Evan Vucci/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Tests Negative for COVID: White House Physicians Letter President Joe Biden tested negative for the first time after seven straight days of positive tests in the so-called rebound COVID-19 case. This morning, his SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing was negative, White House physician Dr. Kevin OConnor wrote in a statement. In an abundance of caution, the President will continue his strict isolation measures pending a second negative test as previously described. OConnor didnt mention in the update whether the president still has a cough, which the presidents physician said on Friday has almost completely resolved. The White House announced that Biden will travel to eastern Kentucky on Monday to survey the damages caused by the Appalachia floods along with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. The announcement caused quite a stir among the reporters as Biden still tested positive on Friday morning. You have announced the travel for Monday to Kentucky, but you did not indicate whether that is contingent on the Presidents COVID status. And you said the pool would be covering that as well, a reporter questioned White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. So will he be going to Kentucky regardless of his COVID status, and will a full pool accompany him? Jean-Pierre later clarified that Biden will not travel unless he is negative. He would not do that, she added. Paxlovid and Rebound COVID-19 Biden tested positive again on July 30 after he recovered from his previous COVID-19 infection. OConnor said what the president had is a rare rebound case usually observed in a small percentage of patients treated with Paxlovid. Paxlovid is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for early-stage treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 among high-risk patients. COVID-19 rebound has been reported to occur between two and eight days after initial recovery and is characterized by a recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or a new positive viral test after having tested negative, CDC said in a health advisory in May. No evidence shows that additional treatment is needed in the so-called COVID-19 rebound cases. Researchers from the University of CaliforniaSan Diego School of Medicine said the rebound may be caused by insufficient exposure to the drug. However, the researchers said more information is needed to determine if adjustments are necessary for treatment plans with Paxlovid. Read the full letter from the White House physician: In this courtroom sketch, Aydin Coban is pictured at B.C. Supreme Court, in New Westminster, B.C., on June 6, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Jane Wolsak) Jury Now Deliberating in Online Extortion Case of British Columbia Teen Carol Todd said she wants her daughters legacy to live on past a verdict as the jury began its deliberations Friday at the trial of Amanda Todds alleged tormentor. Fighting back tears, Todd said she is hopeful the jury finds Dutch national Aydin Coban guilty on all five counts he is charged with, but is trying to be realistic because nothing is a guarantee. No matter the verdict, Todd said she will continue being a voice for her daughter. Her story wont bring her back, but it can save others, other kids, and thats the whole goal. I hope Amandas story will go on and her legacy will go on, Todd said in an interview outside the court. Coban pleaded not guilty to extortion, harassment, communication with a young person to commit a sexual offence and possession and distribution of child pornography at the start of the trial two months ago. Crown attorney Louise Kenworthy told the jury in her opening statements that Amanda Todd had been the victim of a persistent campaign of online sextortion before her death by suicide at age 15. She wrapped up her closing arguments Tuesday saying there was a treasure trove of information linking Coban to the harassment and extortion of the teen. Defence lawyer Joseph Saulnier told the jury in his closing arguments that fragments of computer data cited by police cannot link the Dutch man to the harassment and extortion of the teen. He said the main issue in the trial is the identity of the person behind the messages, and extortion cannot be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Jury members will be sequestered until they reach their verdict. Justice Martha Devlin provided instructions to the jury before deliberations began on Friday, telling them to take special care with the teens statements. Devlin said because Amanda Todd died in October 2012 and didnt testify or wasnt able to be cross-examined at Cobans trial, the jury needs to be aware of the limitations of evidence given. Devlin said jury members should carefully examine the statements Todd gave to her parents, police officers and in her electronic communications when they consider Cobans verdict. Do not place Amanda Todds statements on the same footing as the statements of a witness who testified for you in this trial, she told the jury. Give her statements special care and the weight you think they deserve. Before summarizing the evidence and testimony given in the 38-day trial, Devlin was careful to say that Coban was not charged in the girls death. You have heard evidence in this trial that Amanda Todd died on Oct. 10, 2012. Mr. Coban is charged with five offences, all of which are alleged to have occurred between November 2009 and February 2012. Amanda Todds death and the circumstances of her death are not part of this trial, Devlin said. About a month before her death, the teen posted a video where she used flash cards describing the harassment from her anonymous cyberbully. Her plea brought attention to the issue of cyberbullying to the mainstream, and since the video was posted, it has been watched millions of times. If it wasnt for that video, people wouldnt know our story, I dont even know if wed be standing here in court, because that video went viral and then her story has changed the landscape on conversation, Carol Todd said after the jury began its deliberations. She said she hopes that her daughters legacy brings change for others who have been victimized in a similar way. You tell a real-life story and people sit up and listen, she said. I wish Amanda had known she wasnt alone in the exploitation partthat others in the world were being exploited just like her. I think if she was here and felt supported, she would be able to be OK. By Brieanna Charlebois Alex Jones during trial at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 3, 2022. (Briana Sanchez/Pool via Reuters) Jury Orders Alex Jones to Pay $45.2 Million in Punitive Damages in Sandy Hook Trial Jones was also ordered to pay $4.1 million in compensatory damages A Texas jury has determined that Alex Jones, host of the show Infowars, must pay $45.2 million in punitive damages in a defamation lawsuit over his false claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook mass shooting was a hoax. Jones was not in the courtroom to hear the verdict, which came a day after the same 12-member jury determined that Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems LLCInfowars parent companymust pay $4.1 million in compensatory damages in the case, bringing the total Jones was ordered to pay in damages in the lawsuit to $49.3 million. Federico Andino Reynal, Joness lead attorney, told the judge immediately after the verdict that he will appeal and ask the courts to drastically reduce the size of the verdict. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis are separated parents of slain 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis, who perished alongside 19 other children and six adults on Dec. 14, 2012, in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. The parents had sought $150 million in damages in the lawsuit against Jones, Infowars, and Free Speech Systems. Heslin filed the lawsuit in April 2018, suing Jones for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Heslin and Lewis had testified on Aug. 4 that people who believed the claims spread by Jones that Sandy Hook was a hoax had harassed them and sent them death threats over the years, in the false belief that they were lying about their sons death. Compensatory damages are awarded to cover a plaintiffs suffering and losses. Punitive damages are awarded to punish a defendants actions. A high punitive award in a lawsuit is a way for jurors to send a wider societal message to deter others from similar conduct in the future. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble presides over the lawsuit in state court in Austin, Texas, where Joness radio show and webcast Infowars are based. Gamble in September 2021 had issued a rare default judgment in the lawsuit, finding Jones liable for defamation, after he failed to turn over documents and evidence as ordered by the court. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble at the Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 2, 2022. (Briana Sanchez/Pool via Reuters) Jones Tried to Correct His Hoax Claim Attorneys for Heslin and Lewis had urged jurors to decide on an amount that could force Infowars to shut down. You have the ability to stop this man from ever doing it again, Wesley Ball, an attorney for the parents, told the jury on Aug. 5 before they began deliberations on punitive damages. Send the message to those who desire to do the same: Speech is free. Lies, you pay for. We ask that you send a very, very simple message, and that is: stop Alex Jones. Stop the monetization of misinformation and lies, he also said. Jones conceded during the trial that the Sandy Hook mass shooting was 100 percent real and told jurors that it was crazy of him to repeatedly make the false claims about the shooting. Specifically, he had previously spread the false claim that the mainstream media and gun-control activists worked together to fabricate the mass shooting, and that crisis actors were involved in staging the shooting. Reynal previously said during his closing argument on Aug. 4 that while Jones and Infowars had reported irresponsibly on Sandy Hook, Jones was not responsible for the harassment the parents faced. Jones had said during his testimony that he had tried to correct his hoax claims, but [the media] wont let me take it back. Joness attorneys on Aug. 5 asked for lenience and asked jurors to return a punitive amount of $270,000, based on the number of hours Infowars devoted to Sandy Hook coverage. Youve already sent a message, Reynal told the jurors. A message for the first time to a talk show host, to all talk show hosts, that their standard of care has to change. After the hearing, Reynal said he thinks the punitive amount will be reduced to $1.5 million. We think the verdict was too high. Alex Jones will be on the air today, hell be on the air tomorrow, hell be on the air next week. Hes going to keep doing his job holding the power structure accountable, Reynal said. Its unclear how much money Jones and Infowars parent company, Free Speech Systems, have. Bernard Pettingill, an economist hired by the plaintiffs, testified on Aug. 5 that Jones and the company are worth up to $270 million. But Jones testified earlier in the week that any award over $2 million would sink us. Meanwhile, Joness media company, Free Speech Systems LLC, declared bankruptcy last weekone week into the trial. During a broadcast on Aug. 1, Jones said that the filing will help the company stay on the air while it appeals. Jones has two other separate defamation lawsuits filed against him by Sandy Hook families in Texas and Connecticut. He was set to stand trial in the Connecticut suit in September, but the case is now on hold while the bankruptcy proceeds. The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report. Correction: A previous version of this report incorrectly stated the amount of punitive damages. The correct amount is $45.2 million. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Nick Kyrgios (AUS) hits a forehand against Frances Tiafoe (USA) (not pictured) on day five of the Citi Open at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Washington, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters) Kyrgios Saves Five Matchpoints to Tame Tiafoe in Washington Australian Nick Kyrgios saved five matchpoints during a dramatic second-set tie-breaker to edge local hope Frances Tiafoe 6-7(5) 7-6(12) 6-2 and reach the semi-finals of the Citi Open in Washington. The Wimbledon runner-up appeared set for an exit when Tiafoe set up an opportunity to serve for the win during the second set tiebreaker, but Kyrgios won the point and saved four more chances on his own serve to frustrate the American. The mercurial Australian won the last three points of the tiebreaker to force a deciding third set, which he dominated with his precise heavy service to seal the contest at around 1 a.m. local time. Frances put himself in every position to win the match, Kyrgios said. In those moments I wasnt really thinking too much. I was just trying to stay in the match and I survived. Then I felt like physically I was really fresh in the third set and served well. I was extremely lucky at times, but it was just a great match. After both men held their serve during the first two sets, Kyrgios broke his opponents delivery two times in the deciding set and converted his first match point when Tiafoe hit a return into the net. It was the second victory on Friday for Kyrgios, who had to return in the morning to complete his rain-interrupted match against big-serving American Reilly Opelka. The 27-year-old needed just 14 minutes to close out a 7-6(1) 6-2 victory against Opelka and will meet Swedens Mikael Ymer for a place in the final. It wasnt easy, to be honest, Kyrgios added. Playing Reilly this morning in the heat was not ideal. Came out fast and strong, got it done. Then I was able to just get some rest and eventually just pull through. The impact of Thursdays thunderstorm on the scheduling also meant that top seed Andrey Rublev, ranked eighth in the world, had to play two matches on Friday at the ATP 500 event. Rublev defeated American Maxime Cressy 6-4 7-6(8) in the morning and then followed it up with a 6-2 6-3 win over another local hope in J.J. Wolf. The Russian will next face Yoshihito Nishioka in the semi-finals. By Sudipto Ganguly Liz Truss Vows to Crack Down on Unfair Protests After Climate Activists Disrupt Hustings UK Conservative Party leadership contender Liz Truss has vowed to clamp down on unfair protests after she was heckled by a group of climate activists during a meeting with party members. Truss speech at a party leadership hustings in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was disrupted when five protesters shouted shame on you and called for a Green New Deal. Tory party members in the audience could be heard chanting out, out, out before the activists were led out of the venue. A protester interrupts Liz Trusss speech during a hustings event in Eastbourne, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Gareth Fuller/PA Media) Calling them infiltrators, the foreign secretary said, if she becomes party leader and prime minister, she will take action against the militant people who she said are trying to disrupt Britains democratic process and essential services. She said: I would legislate immediately to make sure that we are standing up to militant trade unions who stop ordinary commuters getting into work. And I would legislate to protect our essential services. And I will make sure that militant activists such as Extinction Rebellion are not able to disrupt ordinary people who work hard and do the right thing and go into work. I will never ever, ever allow our democracy to be disrupted by unfair protests, she added. When another protester was later escorted out during the question and answer session, Truss said: I take it as a compliment that Im so popular with Extinction Rebellion. Disruptive Protests In recent years, climate activists in the UK have staged increasingly disruptive protests around the country. Members of Insulate Britain, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, have repeatedly blocked traffic on the UKs motorways and busy streets, demanding the government insulate all British homes by 2030 to help decarbonise the economy. Just Stop Oil, another group linked to Extinction Rebellion, has disrupted traffic on motorways and blockaded oil terminals in England and Scotland. A group which calls itself Tyre Extinguishers claims to have deflated tyres of SUVs in cities including Bristol, Edinburgh, and Dundee. The activists have cited last months heatwave as evidence of worsening climate change and have vowed to escalate their protest actions. Protest groups claimed they will band together on Oct. 1 to bring Westminster to a standstill and drive the police to a breaking point. Groups including Insulate Britain, Stop the War, Just Stop Oil, and former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyns Peace and Justice Project want to force the government to reduce energy bills while banning the extraction of fossil fuels. PA Media contributed to this report. Travelers check in at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on Dec. 26, 2021. (Jeenah Moon/Reuters) More Than 1,500 US Flights Canceled Due to Bad Weather for Second Day For two consecutive days, airlines canceled thousands of U.S. flights scheduled for Thursday and Friday after thunderstorms hit the East Coast. According to the tracking service FlightAware, 1,532 flights, either arriving, leaving, or traveling within the United States, had been canceled as of late Friday, while another 8,803 had been delayed. The three major airports in the New York City area and Ronald Reagan National Airport outside Washington recorded the most cancellations. American Airlines scrubbed about 250 flights, or 7 percent of its schedule. Republic Airways, which operates smaller planes for American Eagle, Delta Connection, and United Express, canceled a similar number, about 25 percent of its flights. Thunderstorms were stopping or delaying early-evening flights in New York, Boston, the Washington area, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Denver, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It was the second straight day of major disruptions for airline companies and the worst day for cancellations since mid-June. On Thursday, airlines canceled about 1,200 flights nationwide, or 4.6 percent of all those scheduled. About 9 percent of flights scheduled by Southwest Airlines were canceled on its Thursday schedule. The airline company delayed another 1,800 flights, or 46 percent of all those scheduled. Weather in the northeastern U.S. is resulting in multiple disruptions and Customer Service wait times may be longer than usual, Southwest Airlines said in a statement on Friday, apologizing to travelers for the inconvenience. A Southwest Airlines plane approaches the runway at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Va., on April 2, 2022. (Daniel Slim/AFP via Getty Images) Besides bad weather, strikes and staff shortages have also forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights and caused hours-long queues at major airports, frustrating holidaymakers keen to travel after COVID-19-related lockdowns. During Memorial Day weekend, thousands of flights were canceled across the United States, while in June, more than 21,000 flights were canceled. In July, airlines did better, canceling about 14,000 flights, or 1.8 percent. Travel bounced back faster than expectedto about 88 percent of pre-pandemic levels in Julyand airlines werent able to increase staffing fast enough. They have been cutting back on schedules in an attempt to make remaining flights more reliable. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News Ambulance staff at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on Oct. 17, 2014. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) Nurse Accused in Fiery Windsor Hills Crash Still Hospitalized, Awaits Charges LOS ANGELESA registered nurse suspected of speeding a Mercedes-Benz through a Windsor Hills intersection, sparking a fiery crash that killed six peopleincluding an infant, a pregnant woman, and her fetusremained hospitalized and under arrest Aug. 5 on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter. The Mercedes driver, Nicole Lorraine Linton, 37, of Los Angeles, survived the Aug. 4 afternoon crash and was hospitalized with moderate injuries at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, according to the California Highway Patrol. She was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, according to the authority. There was no immediate word if drugs or alcohol factored into the crash. A final determination of charges will be made by the District Attorneys Office. District Attorney George Gascon issued a statement Friday saying his office will be working with law enforcement throughout the weekend, and the investigation could be presented to his office for consideration of charges as early as Monday. Preliminary investigation indicates Nicole Lorraine Linton was driving a dark colored Mercedes, traveling southbound on La Brea Avenue at a high rate of speed, according to a California Highway Patrol statement. While driving the Mercedes, Linton proceeded through a red light and collided into multiple vehicles traveling eastbound and westbound on Slauson Avenue. As a result of this collision, multiple parties were ejected and two vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. Following the collision, involved parties were transported to [Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center] by ambulance and six individuals were declared deceased on scene, the highway patrol reported. The make and model of the involved vehicles are unknown due to the extensive fire damage, the highway patrol reported. The Los Angeles Times reported Linton is a traveling nurse from Texas. A LinkedIn page for Nicole Lorraine Linton states she is a traveling nurse employed by a health-care staffing agency and has been working in the intensive care unit at Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center. Kaiser Permanente issued a statement Friday saying, Everyone at Kaiser Permanente is deeply saddened by Thursdays horrific crash. Its impossible to imagine the pain those involved are experiencing. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy. At this time, we are not able to comment on what has been reported as a criminal investigation. The pregnant woman who died in the crash was identified Friday by the coroners office as 23-year-old Asherey Ryan of Los Angeles. She and her male fetus were among the victims killed in the crash Thursday. According to Ryans family, the womans year-old son, Alonzo Quintero, was also killed, along with Ryans boyfriend, who was the father of her unborn son. Ryans boyfriend was driving the car when the crash happened. Ryans sister, Shaseana Kerr, posted a video online, in the video, Kerr said Ryan was 8 1/2 months pregnant, and she was on her way to a doctors appointment when the crash occurred. She left the house at 1:30. She woke me up, Kerr said. She woke me up and told me she was going to go to her doctors appointment, that she loved me and shell be right back. She said that 15 minutes later, she saw the video of the car crash. And for some reason, as soon as I saw that video, it hit me. It felt different. I felt connected, she said. Kerr said she cried throughout the night. I didnt sleep one bit, she said. Im all cried out. A GoFundMe page established on behalf of the family had already raised nearly $16,000 as of Friday afternoon. Dramatic surveillance video from the scene showed the Mercedes plowing through the 35 mph zone on La Brea at a speed authorities estimate neared 100 mphspeeding through a red light at Slauson and broad-siding a vehicle. The crash ignited an inferno as the sedan struck by the Mercedes was pushed into at least one other vehicle, and both wound up against a gas station sign on the corner. A trail of fire was left burning in the intersection as the vehicles struck by the speeding driver were engulfed in flames. The California Highway Patrol reports indicate eight vehicles, including Lintons, were involved in the collision. The heavily damaged Mercedes ended up near a bench down the street. According to the fire department and the highway patrol, three adults and one infant died in the collision, and there were multiple ejections due to the crash. Ryans male fetus was also being counted among the deceased. The highway patrol reported a sixth victim was later found dead in the burned wreckage of one vehicle, but further information about that person was not immediately available. Eight others were injured in the collision, including seven occupants of a Chevrolet Traverse. The 33-year-old driver, a year-old boy, and three teenagers suffered moderate injuries, while two other teens inside the vehicle had only minor injuries. The eighth victimthe 19-year-old driver of an Audi A3also suffered minor injuries in the collision. Community activists gathered at the intersection Friday, adding to a growing memorial of candles and flowers for the victims of the crash. This is a catastrophic situation that has taken place in our community, activist Eddie Jones told reporters. I cried all night, because someone innocent who did not deserve to lose their life, lost their life. Earl Ofari Hutchinson, a nearby resident and president of the Los Angeles Urban Policy Roundtable, told reporters the intersection has been historically dangerous with speeding vehicles, as well as the scene of occasional street takeovers. Veronica Esquivel, 40, told the Daily News she was about to pump gas at one of the intersections four stations when the crash occurred. I heard the collision. I saw the fire you see the fire at a gas station I just immediately thought explosion, Esquivel said. I saw things flying in the air I didnt know if something was going to come through and hit me. The intersection of La Brea and Slauson avenues reopened around 3:30 a.m. Friday. Outdoor Medicine: Annual Fishing Event a Boost for Youth Two parents whose sons life came to an early and unfortunate end remember him each year by giving youth the joy of fishing. On July 30, two dozen children, most from the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program, took a few hours to cast from the shores of Echo Lake, about an hour east of Regina. It was all part of the third annual Wishin I was Fishin event, put on by David and Sara Gillis and volunteers. My son passed away in 2016 at the age of 27. He had mental health issues, and he got into some bad drugs, David Gillis said. Gillis enjoyed fishing with his son, Brad. Three years after his passing, he decided he would honour Brad by giving children a day of fishing who might not get a chance otherwise. David and Sara Gillis at the third annual Wishin I was Fishin event at Echo Lake, Saskatchewan, on July 30, 2022. (Lee Harding/The Epoch Times) I was just planning on bringing out four or five kids out fishing just for a day, and I was just gonna give them a used rod and some tackle. So I went on Facebook and I said, anybody got an old tackle box? Gillis recalled. And it just went crazy. People started to donate all kinds of stuff. Like this years event, the inaugural one in 2019 was hosted on the shores across from a fish hatchery. They only got like four fish the first time but they had a good time. They all went out and they got to fish for a couple hours. They all got a fishing rod and tackle box and we had a big barbecue and they all got T-shirts and they were pretty excited, Gillis recalled. Anybody I ever talked to with mental health issues that goes fishing find it very relaxing and calming. So I figured if I can get kids from the city out there fishing, then Im getting them off the streets, and theyre not causing any troubles. And, if they have any issues, well, this is a good way of working through them. The pandemic cancelled the 2020 event, but the Gilliss hosted it again in 2021 with a novel mix of youth and adults. We joined up with the Royal Canadian Legion, and we brought out the army vets that have mental health issues and suffer from that post traumatic stress disorder. So we had 15 army guys come out and we had 15 kids from Regina North Central Community Center. North Central Regina was dubbed Canadas worst neighbourhood by Macleans in 2007. Gilliss wife, Sarah, believes children from there and anywhere else can benefit from learning to fish for a day and return home with the equipment to do it for life. A lot of single parents cant afford fishing rods and tackle boxes, so this way, they start off. Theyve got their one little kit and rod, and mom can take them out, or dad, just for the fun of it, she said. Its getting them outdoors and teaching them something new. We have conservation officers that come out also, and the kids get a small little explanation on the fishes. This year roughly two dozen children aged 3 to 17 bused in from Regina, accompanied by a big sibling or parent. The youth get top-notch equipment now, thanks to corporate sponsors. Twins Terrence and Ashton Macdonald, who recently turned 13, fished in both last years and this years event. Terrence said the lake had walleye and pickerel and he enjoyed being there very much. I like that we can fish every year. Yeah, I think its very cool that they do this for us, Terrence said. Ashton said he put leeches and worms on his hook, and one fish got away with his bait. One took mine. I had him on the line, he said. Its nice and calm. Theres also a lot of people here to make new friends. The weathers always nice. The day meant all the more to their father, Trevor Macdonald. Ive known Dave for the last 20-some years. I was actually good friends with his son Brad. I had a lot of fun volunteering for it last year and just couldnt wait to get back to it again, he said. [Brad] loved fishing. Dave has always been a fisherman so they always used to go out. So this is why this was the perfect event to do in his honour. Honestly, fishing doesnt seem to be a common thing nowadays with kids, he adds. So its just nice for them to get out, just be able to spend the day outdoors, learning to fish, getting the experience of it. They seem to really enjoy it. And once you get that first bite, thats what keeps bringing you back. Its Just a Magical Thing Volunteer Steven Gloade said he was drawn to help because of the Gilliss genuine hearts. Dave told me his story, and its a tragic thing. But yet, sometimes out of a burnt forest comes the best of the forest, the most beautiful things. And when you start here seeing these kids, its a no-brainer. Ill be here next year if he wants me, Gloade said. Steven Gloade and David Gillis at the third annual Wishin I was Fishin event at Echo Lake, Saskatchewan, July 30, 2022. (Lee Harding/The Epoch Times) Its just a magical thing, right? It takes all of us away from whatever were dealing withrun away from things for a few hours and get lost in the moment. Its hard not to be in the moment. You feel the heat, hear the people talk and laugh. Yeah, its pretty cool. Gloades smile and enthusiasm betray no indication of the PTSD he suffered in 2015 after a long career with the RCMP. Over the 27 years, I did a lot of general duty front-line policing in a lot of tough places. Things caught up to me, I just ran out of ways of dealing with them. Its like when youre shoving stuff in a box and close the lid, but sooner or later the box gets too full and you cant close that lid anymore, he explained. Gloade believes outdoor medicine helped his healing and can benefit anyone. Its not got to fix anybody, but its another tool in the tool belt, right? I like hunting and fishing, but someone can do just walking, sitting, reading a book outside, he said. When I broke [down] of PTSD back in 2015, a couple buddies dragged me out bear hunting. I didnt want to go. I was what they call bunkering down. I just wanted to stay in the house. Gloade said he grew up hunting and fishing in Nova Scotia, and that hunting trip to Northern Alberta reminded him how wow of an experience it can be. Since, then, he makes a point of bringing out veterans and other wounded warriors for healing in the great outdoors. It would be too smart to actually try to establish a charity, he joked, [but Ill] take guys out deer hunting or whatever on my own dime. This year, I was fortunate. I ran into just a bunch of average people, a few of them own businesses, and they sponsored bows to take veterans bow fishing. Theres something about helping people thats a beautiful thing. It brings a lot of life back. Students are back in school in Arizona, but it feels a little different this year. Now, every parent in the state has the option to either keep their child in public school or spend their $7,000 in taxes on educating them another way. The new law affects 1.1 million K-12 students, making Arizona the gold standard in school choice, according to our two guests. Corey Deangelisnational director of research for the American Federation for Children and executive director at Educational Freedom Institutesays this is part of a growing trend: School choice candidates are winning. This is becoming a litmus test issue for Republicans in particular. Jenny Clark, an Arizona mother of five, explains everything about how Arizonas Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) work. She runs a non-profit Love Your School that helps families navigate their school choice options. Next, the infant formula shortage isnt over yet. In America Q&A, we ask if youre aware of the current baby formula supply situation. Finally, in our second America Q&A, we ask people across the country if they think Jeffrey Epsteins client list should be made public. * Click the Save button below the video to access it later on My List. Follow EpochTV on social media: Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Bottle of pills sit on shelves at Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah on May 20, 2020. (George Frey/AFP via Getty Images) Pharmacist Who Refused Woman Morning-After Pill Did Not Violate Rights, Rules Minnesota Jury A jury in Aitkin County, Minnesota, ruled on Aug. 5 that a pharmacists decision to refuse a woman a morning-after pill was not discrimination. In January 2019, Andrea Anderson, a mother of five children, sought to buy the morning-after pill Ella from the McGregor Thrifty White Pharmacy in her town. She carried a prescription from the doctor, but after arriving at the pharmacy, she was told by pharmacist George Badeaux, a local pastor, that he would not be able to fill her prescription due to his beliefs. Anderson then had to make a 100-mile round trip to another pharmacy to purchase the pill. On behalf of Anderson, advocacy group Gender Justice filed a lawsuit against Badeaux in 2019, arguing that denying the prescription amounted to illegal sex discrimination and violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA). In the ruling, the jury said that Badeauxs refusal to provide Anderson with the morning-after pill based on his beliefs did not violate her civil rights under state law. However, the jury admitted that the incident had caused Andrea emotional harm, and thus, she is entitled to $25,000 in damages. In an Aug. 5 statement, Gender Justice Legal Director Jess Braverman said that they will appeal the decision and wont stop fighting until Minnesotans get the health care they need without providers putting their own personal beliefs ahead of their legal and ethical obligations to their patient. Attorney Charles Shreffler, who is representing Badeaux, said that they were incredibly happy about the jurys decision. Medical professionals should have the freedom to practice their professions in line with their beliefs, he said, according to NBC. With regard to the $25,000 compensation, Shreffler does not believe Badeaux will have to pay the amount as the jury has concluded that Anderson was not discriminated against due to her sex. Testimony During his court testimony, Badeaux insisted that he was not trying to block Anderson from getting the pill. I wasnt seeking to interfere with what she wanted to do I was asking to be excused, the pharmacist said, according to Star Tribune. As there is evidence of Ella potentially affecting the lining of the uterus and thereby preventing a fertilized egg from implanting, providing the pill will amount to interfering with life, he said at the court. Im a Christian I believe in God. I love God. I try to live the way He would want me to live. That includes respecting every human being. The complaint against Badeaux admitted that while he did reject providing Anderson the prescription, he informed her about another pharmacist working the next day who might be willing to give her the medication. Risk of Heart Inflammation Remains Elevated After COVID-19 Booster: Study The risk of heart inflammation following receipt of a COVID-19 booster shot remains elevated, according to a new study. The primary series of the messenger RNA-based vaccines, made by Pfizer and Moderna, have already been linked to heart inflammation, but not as much research has been done on whether booster doses also present heart-related risks. In the study, French researchers analyzed 4,890 myocarditis cases admitted to hospitals in the country between Dec. 27, 2020, and Jan. 31, 2022. They used 48,900 controls from the general population, matching for gender, age, and area of residence. Receipt of a COVID-19 vaccine booster was found to result in an elevated risk of myocarditis, a type of heart inflammation, particularly receipt of a Moderna booster. The adjusted risk after a Pfizer booster was three times higher among the boosted, and four times higher after a Moderna booster. For people aged 12 to 29, the risk was 4.9 times higher for Pfizer booster recipients. Data for young Moderna booster recipients was not available because France suspended use of the vaccine in October 2021, and only made it available again the following month for those over 30 years old. For those aged 30 and above, a Pfizer booster was associated with a 2.4 times higher risk of heart inflammation, while Modernas booster brought a 4.1 times higher risk. The risks were more elevated if a person received the third dose within 170 days of the first dose. A booster is the third dose because a primary series is comprised of two doses. Similarly, the risk of myocarditis after the second dose is higher in cases where a person receives the dose within 27 days of the first dose. U.S. authorities have advised young people to get their second shot up to eight weeks after the first, primarily because of the heart inflammation risk. The earlier guidance was three weeks or one month after the first. We found that the risk of myocarditis remained elevated after the booster dose and that longer intervals between each consecutive dose (including booster doses) may decrease the occurrence of vaccine-associated myocarditis, the authors of the new study wrote. The paper was posted ahead of peer review on the medRxiv preprint server. The authors work for the French government and several universities. Jump in Myocarditis Hospitalization In a separate study also conducted by French researchers, authors examined the risk of hospitalization for a number of diseases in 2021, the first full year of the pandemic, versus 2019, the last full year before the pandemic, and 2020. They found a decreased risk for nearly all diseases when comparing data from 2021 to 2019, except for a 28 percent increased risk of myocarditis and a 10 percent increased risk of pulmonary embolisms. They also found an increase in myocarditis in 2021 compared to 2020 that coincided with the vaccination campaign in young individuals, particularly among young men aged 10 to 29, a group at elevated risk from heart inflammation following COVID-19 vaccination. COVID-19 itself can also lead to heart issues. Researchers, sponsored by Nimes University Hospital, said that adverse vaccine events likely explain at least a part of the jump in myocarditis cases leading to hospitalization. Another part could stem from the difficulty in accessing hospital care in the early part of the pandemic, when many countries imposed strict measures to try to combat the illness. Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting on the development of the country's metallurgical sector, via a video link at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on Aug. 1, 2022. (Sputnik/Pavel Byrkin/Kremlin via Reuters) Russia Bans Western Investors From Selling Banking, Key Energy Stakes MOSCOWRussia has banned investors from so-called unfriendly countries from selling shares in key energy projects and banks until the end of the year, stepping up pressure in the sanctions stand-off with the West. Western countries and allies, including Japan, have piled financial restrictions on Russia since it sent troops into Ukraine in late February. Moscow retaliated with obstacles for Western businesses and their allies leaving Russia. The decree signed by President Vladimir Putin and published on Friday, immediately bans investors from countries which supported sanctions on Russia from selling their assets in production sharing agreements (PSA), banks, strategic entities, companies producing energy equipment, as well as in other projects, from oil and gas production to coal and nickel. Putin could issue a special waiver in certain cases for the deals to go ahead, the decree said, and the government and the central bank should prepare a list of banks for the Kremlins approval. The decree mentioned no investors by name. Taking the Hit The ban covers almost all big financial and energy projects where foreign investors still have stakes, including the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project. On Thursday, Russian state oil champion Rosneft blamed ExxonMobil for falling output at the Sakhalin-1 group of fields, after the U.S. energy major said it was in the process of transferring its 30 percent stake to another party. A general view shows the Sakhalin-2 projects liquefaction gas plant in Prigorodnoye, about 70 km (44 miles) south of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Oct. 13, 2006. (Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters) Separately, a government decree signed on Aug. 2 gave foreign investors at the Sakhalin-2 liquefied natural gas (LNG) projectRoyal Dutch Shell and Japanese trading houses Mitsui & Co. and Mitsubishi Corp.a month to claim their stakes in a new entity which will replace the existing project. The new decree does not cover the Sakhalin-2 project, it said. Shell was looking for options to withdraw from the project while Japans government reiterated its wish for the Japanese companies to maintain their stakes there. Italys UniCredit and Intesa, U.S. group Citi and Austrias Raiffeisen continue to search for options to exit Russia, while others such as Societe Generale and HSBC have found a way out. Citigroup declined to comment on Friday, but on Thursday, the bank said in a filing it will continue to reduce its operations and exposures to Russia. Citigroup has ceased soliciting any new business or new clients in Russia, it said. Citigroup disclosed $8.4 billion in Russia exposure as of June 30, compared with $7.9 billion at the end of the first quarter. The exposure rose due to a rise in the value of the ruble. San Clemente Blocks Abortion Ban Proposal A proposal that would have made San Clemente a Sanctuary For Life, blocking abortion access within the city limits, will not go forward. The city council voted 31 on Aug. 6 to remove a resolution from its Aug. 16 meeting that sought to ban abortions in the city, after hearing from mostly outraged citizens during a public comment period that lasted about two hours. The majority of residents who addressed the council during Saturdays special meeting criticized Councilman Steve Knoblocks proposal, accusing Knoblock of over-reaching and seeking to impose his personal religious beliefs on the citys women. Many also expressed concern about the effect of such a move on the citys reputation and business interests. A smaller number expressed support for the resolution and praised Knoblock for his courage in bringing it forward. The resolution would have called for the city to become a Sanctuary For Life, and blocked the zoning or permitting of any facility that would provide an abortion in the city. Knoblock, the lone vote against pulling the resolution, offered a fiery defense of his actions. There was a lot of discussion today about the can of worms being opened. This resolution didnt open a can of worms. The issue of abortion is a public policy issue that is now at the forefront of society, he said. In the state of California, the Democrat-controlled legislature and governor has put on the agenda the unfettered constitutional right for a woman to kill her baby clear up any time through delivery, through the entire 10 months That can of worms has been opened. Thats why I suggested this city take an action to oppose that. It is a slippery slope, and its one that this society is going to have to deal with, Knoblock added. Major Gene James took responsibility for holding the special meeting on short notice. We did rush this, and the reason why we rushed it was many of you wrote to us wanting it rushed, James said. The mayor added that the council received threats over the divisive issue that had to be referred to the Orange County Sheriffs Department and the District Attorneys Office. I will take responsibility to say I wanted to do this today. As the mayor, I did have the authority to call for a meeting with 24 hours notice. That was not intended to silence anyone it was an attempt on my part to put this behind us. The imbroglio showed how the abortion issue has become a hot-button topic in local governments across the United States in the weeks since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned 1973s Roe v. Wade decision that made abortion legal throughout the country, sending the issue back to each individual state. Councilwoman Laura Ferguson told City News Service earlier this week that she was approached by James to introduce the resolution last month, but declined. She said Knoblock brought it up at the July 19 meeting. Ferguson said she has high regard for Knoblock and added, Hes been a friend for years, but I just disagree with him on this one. Knoblock told the Los Angeles Times that he wanted to send a message to the rest of California that we think life is important, and we think 60 million unborn babies that have been killed in the womb is a sad thing and shouldnt be continued. California Attorney General Rob Bonta and a local law school professor called the potential resolution unenforceable earlier this week. In California, the right to choose remains fully protected, and abortion remains fully legal within our state, a spokesperson for the Attorney Generals Office told City News Service on Wednesday. Attorney General Bonta is committed to defending reproductive freedom and state law. Calling the resolution a distraction from the citys homelessness, Ferguson said it would be a symbolic, non-binding resolution. It has no teeth. It clearly just states the position of someone on the council. Chapman University law professor Mario Mainero pointed out that the issue of whether a city can act independently of state law has already been addressed in recent years when Huntington Beach failed in its lawsuit to stop the states sanctuary state policy for immigrants living in the country illegally and when the county failed to try to enforce a law to prohibit registered sex offenders from all parks. Legal precedent was set in the appellate courts on the question. Under state law abortions are legal at least to the point that the standard Roe had, Mainero said. State law preempts local law in most cases. Certainly on matters like this because even if San Clemente were a charter city this is not an item where a charter city could violate the state constitution. So if San Clemente passes something like this its void. A Unit Crew conducts planned ignitions above Yellow Lake near Olalla this recent handout photo. (The Canadian Press/HO/BC Wildfire Service) Shifting Winds Keep Villages on Edge as Fire in BCs Okanagan Forces Evacuations Shifting wind patterns are keeping communities on edge in British Columbias southern Okanagan, where an out-of-control wildfire forced the evacuation of the village of Olalla and residents of nearby Keremeos were told to prepare to leave. Winds in the area are known for their unpredictability, which has firefighters and emergency officials preparing for the worst, Tim Roberts, the areas elected regional director, said Friday. We are always under the risk of Mother Nature, so its always good to be preventive, prepared for the worst and hope for the best, he said in an interview. He said the Indigenous name for Keremeos was valley of the three winds, so you can tell, winds change hourly. But after northerly and southerly gusts of 50 km/h late Thursday, conditions turned favourable Friday and winds subsided, allowing firefighters to try to halt the advance of the wildfire approaching Olalla. So far, it hasnt been as challenging a day, which is obviously fantastic, said BC Wildfire Service spokesman Bryan Zandberg. He said firefighters worked to build protection areas outside Olalla, located about 40 kilometres southeast of Penticton. Again, were focusing on Olalla and structural protection, Zandberg said. He said about 400 firefighters were battling the 51-square-kilometre Keremeos Creek blaze that forced Olallas complete evacuation. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said almost 550 homes were on evacuation order as of Friday afternoon due to the unpredictable nature of the fire. More than 1,000 other properties are on evacuation alert, including those in the nearby village of Keremeos. Much of the wildfire was concentrated in steep, mountainous terrain on Friday, and was less threatening to Olallas estimated 400 properties, but that could change, Roberts said. Its a very unpredictable fire in regard to winds and terrain, he said. Youre looking at very steep inclines, bluffs, heavy timber clustered up in the mountainside. The evacuation orders and alerts were issued late Thursday by the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen as winds caused the wildfire to flare in a problematic corner, Zandberg said. What we were experiencing was quite challenging. Things did get pretty hairy along the 3A, Zandberg said during a briefing on Friday. Winds have been pushing flames downhill toward the communities, forcing the closure of Highway 3A, which passes through Olalla and Keremeos. The fire is one of 146 that the BC Wildfire Service reported over the past week, although new fire starts have dipped in the last two days due to slightly cooler, calmer conditions. Environment Canada is forecasting a return to temperatures in the 30s this week, with gusty winds that could complicate firefighting efforts, but theres no sign of the lightning storms that have kindled many recent wildfires. The BC Wildfire Service said this week that the province is expected to experience sustained wildfire activity in August and September, especially in southern regions, with a long-range forecast of hot, dry weather. The wildfire service said six blazes are currently ranked as wildfires of note, but overnight rain helped crews contain two of them. Wildfire service spokeswoman Roslyn Johnson said 10 millimetres of rain drenched the three-square-kilometre fire burning in grassland just north of Kamloops, reducing it to a smoulder. The roughly 10-square-kilometre fire not far outside Pavilion near Lillooet also received about 16 millimetres of rain Thursday, which the wildfire service said would tamp down flames until at least Tuesday. Other fires of note include a 37-square-kilometre blaze west of Lytton, where the wildfire service said cooler weather has diminished its activity. The wildfire service said late Friday that the Weasel Creek wildfire, which was discovered July 30 northeast of Eureka, Mont., has crossed the border into Canada. It said the Canadian portion of the blaze covered about 6.2 square kilometres in the Flathead Valley west of Frozen Lake. Another fire in the Southeast Fire Centre grew after creeping into inaccessible terrain south of Cranbrook, but the other, south of Kaslo, has seen little change in the last day. By Dirk Meissner People watch a television screen showing a live footage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launching with South Korea's first lunar orbiter Danuri onboard from Cape Canaveral in Florida, at a railway station in Seoul, South Korea, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images) South Korea Launches First Lunar Orbiter as Space Bid Gathers Pace SEOULSouth Korea launched its first lunar orbiter on Friday as it doubles down on its space programs, aiming to land a probe on the moon by 2030. The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, nicknamed Danuri, meaning enjoy the Moon, was launched on SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket from Floridas Cape Canaveral U.S. Space Force Station at 8:08 a.m. on Friday, South Koreas science ministry said. The 678-kilogram (1,495-pound) Danuri separated from the projectile about 40 minutes after launch and began communicating with a ground station around 9:40 a.m. Analysis of the received information confirmed Danuri was operating normally, Vice Science Minister Oh Tae-seog told a briefing, announcing that the orbiter had established a trajectory toward the moon. It will enter the moons orbit in December before starting a yearlong observation mission, including searching for a landing site and testing space internet technology, the ministry said. If it succeeds, South Korea will become the worlds seventh lunar explorer and the fourth in Asia, behind China, Japan, and India. The launch was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was delayed because of a maintenance issue with the SpaceX rocket. South Korea has been accelerating its space program, with the goal of sending a probe to the moon by 2030. It has also joined the Artemis project aimed at returning to the moon by 2024. In July, South Korea held a second test launch of its domestically produced Nuri rocket and reported its first successful launch of a solid-fuel space-launch rocket in March as part of efforts to launch spy satellites. Space launches have long been a sensitive issue on the Korean peninsula, where North Korea faces international sanctions over its nuclear-armed ballistic missile program. In March, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for expanding its space rocket launch site to advance its space ambitions, after South Korea and the United States accused it of testing a new intercontinental ballistic missile under the guise of launching a space vehicle. South Korea says its space program is for peaceful and scientific purposes and any military use of the technology, such as in spy satellites, is for its defense. By Hyonhee Shin Stand-up Comedy Clashes With Woke Culture Stand-up comedyhistorically known for pushing boundariesfaces a clash in cultural taboos around subjects such as COVID vaccines, gender ideology, and race. Before COVID-19, a rebellious instinct was a factor that lead some comedians to achieve mainstream success. Todays comics, however, face very different attitudes from audience members, and comedy clubs that are terrified of being canceled. The UK, in some regards, has followed the United States where people have become more polarised over issues such as racism, identity, diversity, and the legacy of history, with social justice-style politics becoming more prominent. The Epoch Times sat down with four stand-up comedians in Britain who have made conscious decisions not to self-censor in their performances. Steve Hughes Once I did a gig where all the people shut down like a herd because I started to do jokes supporting men. I watched them shut down. I told them, they just shut down like a mass. And then I walked off stage saying they were brainwashed, Steve Hughes told The Epoch Times. Steve Hughes says woke ideology is like a psychological trojan horse. (Courtesy of Trudy Stade) The Australian-born Hughes, who has two decades of performing, is an internationally renowned stand-up comedian. He called out the rise in woke culture in his now famous Im offended routine in 2009. (I wanna live in a democracy but I never wanna be offended again. Well, youre an idiot!') In the early 2000s when someone complained they were offended, the manager explained, hey its a comedy club, man. Then the manager would come back into the back and boast to the comedians what they did. Now they fall one knee and beg for forgiveness and will find the comedian and ban them, he said. Hughes said that woke ideology is like a psychological trojan horse which turns people into Agent Smith-style characters from the film The Matrix. They are like psychological footsoldiers. And they are all ready to go off like landmines and attack their citizens in the name of morality and compassion and inclusion, he said. A sense of what he called PC/critical race theory post-modernist whatever is going on in your head is real [expletive] is putting British comedy clubs in between a rock and a hard place. If you have 250,000 invested in a comedy club, do I abide by the pressure which is coming down from me from the law, the media, the state, and the psychology from the general public? Do I accommodate this or do I just not do it and go under the threat of what could come down on me, he said. Hughes, a former heavy metal drummer, said that many have been sold what he called a franchised rebellion, a mainstream corporate cloak that reels in the outliers, but at the same time makes them beg for acceptance. Harking back to the early days of punk, when it was about authentic resistance and rebellion, Hughes says now this is exactly where we are at. I did a tour in Ireland last year. I did two in peoples front rooms, 50 people came to each gig. It was some of the best gigs I ever did on the tour. I didnt do any comedy clubs, I did rock bars, rooms in hotels, I even did a castle, he said. Abi Roberts Theres a groupthink thats descending into comedy, the comedian Abi Roberts told The Epoch Times. I was the only red-pilled comedian. (Courtesy of Abi Roberts) I am not sure how long its been building, but theres very much an in group and an out group, which of course happens with any authoritarian situation and regime, she said. I actually cant believe that I am calling it an authoritarian regime living in Great Britain in 2022, but thats exactly what is happening, she said. Roberts was banned from Twitter after she criticized COVID-19 vaccines in several tweets. Though she often used humour to laugh at media efforts to push the jab. I did Comedy Unleashed [a club which is run by GB News presenter, free speech advocate, and comedian Andrew Doyle] and I was the only red-pilled comedian. I was prepared to talk about the vaccines or as I like to call them the treatment. I do not apologise for taking the pin out of the grenade, because what has happened for the past two years is so abhorrent, she said. I am puzzled as to why there are not more comics like me, she said adding that there is a handful of us who I think of being on the frontline. Roberts has often castigated communism and argues that there are a lot of parallels with the regimes of Stalin and Mao in terms of people not daring to say something so as to not be persona non grata. Though she added that people will come back to comedy, in the same way listening to Mozart was a political crime during The Cultural Revolution. Though the comedian had a warning for stand-ups playing what she called the woke game. The problem is they think that feeding the woke crocodile, that it wont come for them, but it will. The woke crocodile, nothing will ever satisfy it. Its a zero-sum game. The fool is what the king has always relied on for truth, as soon as the king says to the fool shut up then its over, said Roberts. Craig Campbell Craig Campbell, a Canadian comic who lives in England, told The Epoch Times the last thing a stand-up wants is prison bars in your own mind. Campbell has had high-profile stints at Michael McIntyres Comedy Roadshow, Russell Howards Good News and Daves One Night Stand, and more. My imperial sense of free speech, particularly as performers on stage, is that we should be able to say wherever comes out of my mind, because we are on the soapbox, he said. He was recently kicked off Twitter for what he believed was for joking about transgenderism. He said that transgender ideology is a total third rail in the public consciousness. If you touch it, you wont have an account in the near future and that in itself is a tyranny of the mind, he said. In the past two years, he has observed a change in some audiences which he described as a ubiquity of conformity. You are looking at a completely different complexion of the audience, he said, adding that it is like a corporate audience. The only sort of game on the field is essentially going underground, said Campbell, ie doing more clandestine gigs for a more clandestinely-approved audience. Sean Collins In 2020, Sean Collins, a veteran Canadian stand-up living in England, told The Epoch Times that certain subjects are almost treated like a religion. If I went to London and do a show with a whole bunch of 18- 19-year-olds, you can see the difference in reaction because theyre, they seem a little bit more nervous about if you do a joke about men not being able to get pregnant, said Collins. You can see them just looking at you like youre crazy not realising that, actually, no, nothing I said there was crazy, men cant get pregnant. But the way we live in a society today is that people will argue that they can, which I find baffling, he said. They seem a little bit more nervous about if you do a joke about men not being able to get pregnant. (Sean Collins/Chris Inman) Collins said that despite this he loves comedy clubs still but he has gained a loyal audience that is simply less offended by things. He also got kicked off Twitter, not for jokes, but for questioning the COVID-19 narrative. Having lost a major chunk of revenue during the lockdown, he made a documentary called Another Way, which explored why Sweden stayed open, unlike other countries. Though he said that this affected his work after. Once he was told by a club, where he had been successful many times with the audience, that we dont put conspiracy theorists on. Ive closed his club and rescued shows and I just got that from him. It really kicks you in the teeth, he said. No Taboos But Collins, Roberts, Campbell, and Hughes are free to pursue any subjects they like, unlike comedians wanting to pursue a career in the mainstream or on TV. They will say things like we need to get Labour back in and we need to get Tory back in. But will you ever see them on the Daily Mash [a left-wing British satirical comedy show] talk about the fact that all of the candidates are in the World Economic Forum website? he asked. A Chinese aircraft flies over the 68-nautical-mile scenic spot, one of mainland China's closest points to the island of Taiwan, in Pingtan island, Fujian province, China, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Aly Song/Reuters) Taiwan Says Chinese Warplanes and Ships Conduct Attack Simulation Exercise TAIPEITaiwan officials said Chinese aircraft and warships rehearsed an attack on the island on Saturday, part of Beijings retaliation for a visit there by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that has also seen it halt talks with the United States on issues including defense and climate change. Pelosis brief visit this week to the self-ruled island infuriated the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and prompted military drills that are unprecedented in scale around Taiwan and have included ballistic missiles fired over the capital, Taipei. The CCP claims the island as its own, despite Taiwan being a de facto independent country, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused the CCP of taking irresponsible steps by halting key communication channels with Washington, and said its actions over Taiwan showed a move from prioritizing peaceful resolution towards use of force. Taiwans defense ministry said multiple Chinese ships and planes conducted missions in the Taiwan Strait on Saturday, with some crossing the median line, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides, in what the Taiwan military described as a simulation attack on the island. The ministry said later that Taiwan scrambled jets to warn away 20 Chinese aircraft, including 14 that crossed the median line. It also detected 14 Chinese military ships conducting activities around the Taiwan Strait, the ministry said in a statement. Chinas Eastern Theater Command said it had continued to conduct sea and air joint exercises north, southwest and east of Taiwan. It said its focus was on testing the systems land strike and sea assault capabilities. An air force aircraft under the Eastern Theatre Command of the Chinese army gets refueled mid-air during military exercises in the waters around Taiwan on Aug. 4, 2022, in this screengrab from video. (Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters) The Chinese exercisescentered on six locations around the islandbegan on Thursday and are scheduled to last until midday on Sunday. Chinese warships and aircraft continued to press into the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday afternoon, a person familiar with security planning said. Off Taiwans east coast and close to Japanese islands, Chinese warships and drones simulated attacks on U.S. and Japanese warships, the person added. Taiwans army broadcast a warning while deploying air reconnaissance patrol forces and ships to monitor and putting shore-based missiles on stand-by. The islands defense ministry published a photo of a Taiwanese sailor on a frigate looking at a nearby Chinese warship off Taiwans east coast. Absolutely not photoshopped!, the caption said. It also said it fired flares late on Friday to warn away seven drones flying over its Kinmen islands and unidentified aircraft flying over its Matsu islands. Both island groups are close to Chinas coast. Chinas military drills have unilaterally changed the current situation in the region and seriously damaged the peace in the Taiwan Strait, the Taiwan defense ministry said. Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday in the highest-level visit to the island by a U.S. official in decades, despite the CCPs warnings. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) (center L), poses for photographs after receiving the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon, Taiwans highest civilian honor, from Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen (center R) at the presidents office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 3, 2022. (Chien Chih-Hung/Office of The President via Getty Images) Shortly after her delegation left Japan on Friday, the final stop of a week-long Asia tour, the CCP announced that it was halting dialogue with the United States in a series of areas including contacts between theatre-level military commanders and on climate change. Speaking during a visit to the Philippines, Blinken said the United States had been hearing concern from allies about what he called the CCPs dangerous and destabilizing actions around Taiwan, but Washington would remain steady in its handling of the situation and sought to avoid escalating the situation. He said the Chinese regimes cessation of bilateral dialogue in eight key areas were moves that would punish the world, not just the United States. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi denounced Blinkens comment Provocative Military Exercises White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said on Friday that the CCP can go a long way to taking the tensions down simply by stopping these provocative military exercises and ending the rhetoric. The Chinese regime has not mentioned a suspension of military talks at the senior-most levels, such as with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. While those talks have been infrequent, officials have said they are important in the case of an emergency. Kirby said it was not atypical for the CCP to shut down military talks at times of tension but not all channels between military leaders had been cut. Speaking in Japan after meeting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Pelosi said her Asia trip was not about changing the status quo in Taiwan or the region. Japans defense ministry reported that as many as four missiles flew over Taiwans capital, which is unprecedented. It also said that five of nine missiles fired toward its territory landed in its exclusive economic zone. Kishida told visiting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that he strongly condemned the CCPs missile launches as a serious issue concerning Japans security and the safety of Japanese people, the foreign ministry said. The Chinese Embassy in Australia, meanwhile, said Beijing hoped that Australia will be prudent on Taiwan issues and avoid being led by others which could cause fresh trouble for ties between the two countries. Taiwan has been self-ruled since 1949, when Mao Zedongs communists took power in Beijing after defeating Chiang Kai-sheks Kuomintang nationalists in a civil war, prompting their retreat to the island. The Chinese regime says its relations with Taiwan are an internal matter and that it reserves the right to bring the island under its control, by force if necessary. Taiwan rejects the CCPs claims saying only Taiwans people can decide their future. Tennessee Congressional Candidate Who Participated in Epoch Times Debate Wins Nomination Commentary Perhaps Im being self-serving here, or Epoch Times-serving, but good reason exists to believe the new-style debate in the Republican primary in Tennessees 5th Congressional Districtwhich allowed viewers to be truly informed on key issuesis the reason for the results of that election on Aug. 4. It was that debateabout which I have written before, as some readers will recallthat was the first anywhere, to our knowledge, to use domain (subject matter) experts like Gordon Chang, Hans von Spakovsky, Carol Swain, and Jeffrey Tucker to ask the questions in lieu of the oftenactually, usuallybiased reporters. Judging by the many comments on my articles and on the live stream, the audience seems to have appreciated this novel and ideally more instructive approach we were testingtheir intelligence, for once, was not being insulted. Some five hundred came out to attend personallyvastly more than any other debate in the Metro Nashville area. The Epoch TV Livestream of the debatecalled A New American WayThe Future of Political Debategarnered over 51,000 views across the country. The three leading Republican candidates in this congressional district, it was widely and correctly assumed, were Andrew Ogles, Beth Harwell, and Kurt Winstead. The election was said to be a toss-up between Harwell and Ogles with Winstead not out of the picture because he was lending himself a considerable sum for the campaign. Indeed both Harwell and Winstead were better funded than Ogles, though he had his backers. All three leaders were invited to participate in the debate as well as two others, Jeff Beierlein and Tres Wittum. (To have accommodated all nine candidates in this format would have been impossible.) Winstead, after assuring us personally he would appear, backed out at the last minute. Bluntly, he lied to us. Harwell, an experienced politician and the former Speaker of the Tennessee House as well as a director of the vaunted Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), never told us she wasnt coming, but dithered instead, obviously conflicted. It was clearin fact, we knewshe was getting contradictory advice, local friends telling her to participate and her hired-gun political consultants in D.C. advising her to sit it out, as they conventionally do. She was too far ahead. Ultimately she went with the pros and demurred. It may be when you have paid a lot for things, you think you have to go along with their advice. (For the record, I think Harwell, who spent several years teaching an advanced political science program at Middle Tennessee State University, would have done perfectly, possibly exceptionally, well at the debate.) Who was right? The most recent and near-complete tally tells the story. Former Maury County Mayor Ogless victory by over 10 percent in a field of nine was far better than expected. I was hearing all over that this election would be a one- or two-point squeaker. Now, I dont attribute this solely to him showing up debating the key issues at the debate, but it certainly played a great part in such a spread. Ogles handily won the straw poll of those in attendance. There was also the usual, often unpleasant, campaign flotsam and jetsam, including endorsements, advertising (often negative), infusions of money (with strings?), and so forth. You have to include all that somewhere, but the debate remains something that never happened before anywhere. The motivation behind The Epoch Times debate was never isolated to the 5th Congressional District of Tennessee but, as we never ceased to repeat, as a pilot or beta for possible future debates across our country. These results lend credence to the thought we might just have been on to something. If youll excuse me, once more, the self-promotionokay, wife promotion in this instanceall began in the Simon-Longin household, when my wife, Sheryl Longin, first vice-president of the Nashville Republican Women, had the thought of replacing journalists in our tiresome and biased debates with experts who might actually know something. Yes, they could be biased too but, properly selected, their allegiance to the truth would likely prevail. I thought this was a great idea, but wondered aloud if anyone would ever possibly do such a thing, logical as it may have been. Then I realized I worked at the one place that wouldThe Epoch Times. So I picked up the phone and called senior editor Jan Jekielek and the restafter the usual twists and turns and last-minute freakouts endemic to television productionis history. Did we do it perfectly? Not even close. How could we? Me, especially, as moderator. It was a beta. And the next and the next will be betas also, as far as the eye can see. (An argument can be made that life itself is a beta, but Ill spare you that.) Still, kudos to all those involved in this pioneering effort with special mention to the Young Republicans of Davidson and Williamson counties who one-upped their stodgy elders, combining forces with the Nashville Republican Women and the excellent Epoch Times technical staff to stage the event. Big winners in the 5th: The People (for once). Big losers: Political pros. Are we ready for the next debate? Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. People sit in front of the Bangkok skyline on the observation deck of the King Power Mahanakhon skyscraper on Oct. 25, 2021. (Jack Taylor/AFP via Getty Images) Thailand to Introduce Lower-Tax, 10-year Visa for Foreign Professionals Thailand will offer a 10-year visa to foreign professionals residing in the country starting in September to advance its economy and foreign investment, according to a government official. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, the Thai Board of Investment deputy secretary-general, said the visa is targeted at foreign human resources with high potential and skills, particularly those with expertise in automobile, electronics, and biotechnology. The long-term visa would also be available to foreigners working remotely in Thailand, as well as individuals with more than $1 million in assets and retirees with a stable pension. Eligible applicants will receive a digital work permit and have their personal income tax reduced to 17 percent, as opposed to the current 35 percent, while businesses will be exempt from rules requiring the hiring of local people. Therdsteerasukdi said that Thailand aims to attract a million people from Japan, South Korea, China, the United States, and Europe through the scheme, which is projected to contribute $27.6 billion to the economy. We expect the visa holders to spend 1 million baht (around $28,000) per person, Therdsteerasukdi was quoted as saying by Nikkei Asia. Land Ownership for Foreigners The new long-term visa is part of Thailands efforts to boost its economy by attracting more international residents. The Interior Ministry said last month that it would draft regulations to offer land ownership to eligible foreigners. Under the proposed scheme, foreigners would need to invest 40 million baht ($1 million) in Thailand for three years to be eligible for land ownership, according to government spokesman Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana. Thanakorn said the scheme would allow foreigners to buy up to 1 rai of land (about 0.4 acres), including some tax incentives and a 10-year visa, which is aimed at skilled professionals and pensioners. The scheme, which will be reviewed after five years, is expected to contribute one trillion baht (around $27 billion) to Thailands economy and increase investment by 800 billion baht ($21.8 billion). But local organizations worried that it could result in foreigners taking up more land in Thailand. Sanan Angubolkul, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the government should impose additional requirements for foreigners to buy land, such as allowing land purchases only in designated zones. Foreigners with the privilege must purchase first-hand land and property only and resell it to Thai nationals only, and purchases must be made in designated zones, Sanan said. Under current legislation, foreigners are only allowed to own at most 49 percent of a condominium building and rent land in Thailand. Its hard to view sugar as a vice. Consumption is legal and often encouraged by friends and family. Its available everywhere. Its enjoyed by young and old alike and sweet treats have been a pivotal part of our celebrations and get-togethers for generations. Simply put, sweetness provides a pleasurable experience. A few nibbles of a cookie or sips of a soda delivers a delicious rush of temporary gratification. But sweetness also has a bitter side that is becoming harder to ignore. For decades, studies have revealed a close association between excess sugar consumption and disease. At the same time, we also possess a powerful drive that can be even more difficult to ignore. We naturally seek sweetness. It tastes fantastic and nothing delivers quicker energy to our cells than a simple monosaccharide sugar known as glucose. Since long before mankind understood anything about nutrition, our tongue led us to sweetness. We sought things like berries, peaches, melons, or some other locally available fruit whenever it came into season. Over the last century, however, our access to sweetness has increased tremendously. Today, finding a sweet fix has never been easier. But rather than seasonal fruit, our world is saturated with refined sweeteners which are added in bulk to an enormous portion of our food supply. The bulk sweetener most of us are familiar with is table sugar, also known as sucrose, which is a more complex molecule than glucose. When we digest sucrose, it breaks down into glucose and another monosaccharide sugar known as fructose. But you dont have to be a food chemist to understand why table sugar is so popular. It not only tastes great, its also very cheap. In a world of rapidly rising food prices, a dollar will buy a lot more granulated sugar than it will fruit. These refined sweet crystals also dont rot like fruit, giving it a much longer shelf life. But there is another even cheaper shelf stable sweetener that has become nearly as popular as sugar in the United States (although it has never received much attention in the rest of the world). Its called high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). A Familiar Taste for Less Our first taste of HFCS probably started with a Coca-Cola in 1980. Coke was the first beverage manufacturer to swap pure cane sugar for HFCS in its signature soda. Then other soda manufacturers began to follow suit. One by one, the United States food and beverage industry pulled away from sugar, and turned its attention toward corn-based HFCS. United States government subsidies on corn prices in 1970 definitely sweetened the deal. It drove down the price of the nations corn, incentivizing the agriculture industry to increase production and to find new ways to utilize the crop. Corn growers looked to a 1958 invention that chemically altered cornstarch to boost its fructose content. The procedure was tweaked and refined over the course of the 1970s and within a few years HFCS was born. Its not that consumers were looking for a better tasting sweetener. The processed food industry found it attractive because it delivered a glucose/fructose taste profile similar to cane sugar, but for less money. Fructose is the same type of sugar found in fruit, but HFCS turns up the volume (some formulations contain more than 50 percent fructose). This high-volume fructose content is a big reason that HFCS gets so much flack. When HFCS began flooding the food supply, never before had so many people consumed so much fructose. The rise of HFCS also happened to correlate in a rise of diabetes, obesity, and other chronic health problems. The body breaks down fructose differently than glucose. Researchers note more insulin resistance with high fructose consumption. Fructose also alters our hunger and satiety hormones in ways glucose does not. As a result, HFCS has developed a sinister reputation. Although the American Medical Association stated in 2008 that high fructose syrup does not appear to contribute to obesity more than other caloric sweeteners, some studies suggest otherwise. For example, a 2010 study from Princeton University found that HFCS consumption prompts considerably more weight gain in rats than table sugar. While there is still no scientific consensus on the issue, public perception increasingly favors plain old sugar. In 2014, the National Business Journal conducted a survey to find which food ingredients consumers most tried to avoid. HFCS topped the list, followed by hydrogenated oils. This unfavorable impression among consumers has inspired the food and beverage industry to rebrand HFCS, with names such as corn sugar, fructose isolate, or maize syrup. But this name game has just made consumers more suspicious. Some manufacturers have simply switched back to cane sugar amid the HFCS controversy. Labels proudly boast No High Fructose Corn Syrup. The message is that cane sugar is a healthier alternative. But according to Dr. Eric Potter, an internal medicine specialist near Nashville Tennessee, all concentrated sweeteners can profoundly impact our health. Potter says whether its table sugar or HFCS, they both increase inflammation and suppress immune function, leading to a variety of health problems. Thats why he encourages all his patients to reduce their intake, no matter which sweetener they favor. A lot of our patients come in with inflammatory conditions, whether its arthritis, infection, toxicity, and their bodies are often inflamed. And while were trying to fix those root causes, sugar can throw a little more gasoline on the fire, Potter said. By cutting that down, their symptoms get better. When their immune system is not so suppressed, their body can heal faster and they can recover a lot quicker even with things theyre not getting treated for. The demonization of HFCS has even prompted some to avoid fruit, because it is also a rich source of fructose. But Potter explains that whole fruit contains other virtues that keep it from causing the problems associated with HFCS. For example, fresh fruit is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes that nourish your cells in addition to providing a sweet jolt of energy and pleasure. Fruit is also full of fiber, which means it doesnt flood your system with sugar as quickly as table sugar or HFCS. Take away the fiber, however, and fruit can become problematic. With fruit, you have to digest the fiber, the peel of the apple or peach, the pulp of an orange. But when you get juice, all the structure that slows things down is removed. So, youre drinking something that is just pure flavor and sugar, Potter said. It is a fruit sugar, but orange juice is going to send your blood sugar up just as fast as eating a cookie in terms of the sugar content. Even honey, considered by many to be a health food because of the vitamins, enzymes, and nutritional features it possesses, can also trigger health issues. Potter says for all its advantages, a heavy helping of honey can cause the same inflammatory issues that sugar and HFCS inflict. Another big drawback for HFCS is that its not just concentrated sugarit also contains industrial chemicals. In addition to the process of turning cornstarch into HFCS, there are also the chemicals involved in growing the corn. The vast majority of corn grown in the United States is genetically modified to survive heavy spraying of a herbicide known as glyphosate. Of course, sugar beets may also be genetically modified. However, it requires a lot more corn to make HFCS than it takes beets to make sugar. High fructose corn syrup is not going to be organic, and youre processing a ton of corn to make a sweet substance from something that wasnt originally sweet, and youre using a lot of chemicals, Potter said. Whereas if you go out and get organic beet sugar, coconut sugar, and some of these other alternativesyes, youre still getting the sugar part, but youre not getting a lot of other chemicals, whether its pesticides, herbicides, industrial chemicals used to process high fructose corn syrup. Cutting Back No matter which concentrated sweetener you consume, reducing your intake can make a big difference in your health. Potter says cutting back on sugar can reduce your inflammation, which in turn can lower blood pressure. Also, less sugar in your blood means you reduce your chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Plus, it will give your liver a break. When your liver has to process excess sugar, it will turn it into a type of fat called triglycerides. When that fat builds up you get fatty liver, Potter said. Some research also suggests a correlation between high sugar intake and an increase in cancer, though causation is not so clear. Still, there are many unmistakable benefits to eating less sugar. However, this can be a lot easier to say than to do. Sugar is a highly craved substance. Some studies suggest it may almost be as addictive as cocaine. But there are some strategies that can make sugar reduction a little easier. First, look at labels, and develop a sugar radar. Sugar and HFCS can be found in a lot of foods you might not expect, like bread, crackers, tomato sauce, and much more. And if youre trying to stay away from HFCS in particular, get familiar with its alternative monikers such as natural corn syrup, maize syrup, fructose syrup, fructose isolate, fructose, glucose syrup, and cystalline fructose. Potter says the better patients get at rooting out these hidden sugars, the better they tend to feel and, over time, the less sugar you eat, the less you need in order to feel satisfied. As you work to whittle down your taste for sweetness, you can try sweeteners that dont cause the inflammatory issues that sugar and HFCS do. Potters top picks include stevia and monk fruit. These are natural, no-calorie sweeteners that are minimally processed. However, keep in mind that they dont taste nearly as good as sugar and they can be a bit pricey. Other examples of natural sugar substitutes include a category known as sugar alcohols. Examples include xylitol, erythritol, and other strange words ending in -ol. Sugar alcohols dont have the bitter aftertaste of monk fruit and stevia, but they may cause gas and diarrhea. Synthetic sugar substitutes such as aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose aim to bypass the problems associated with sugar sweetness, but Potter warns that some can do more harm than good. There are some artificial sweeteners that can actually worsen your craving and worsen some of the metabolic impacts of sugar. The longer these have been available the more studies show that they are not as health promoting as we originally hoped they would be, Potter said. In a processed food world filled with sugar and HFCS, it can be nearly impossible to avoid inflammatory sweeteners entirely. But how you consume them can reduce their negative effects. For example, Potter urges that when you do eat something sweet, dont eat it on an empty stomach. Make sure you eat plenty of fiber and protein beforehand. When you do eat sugar, make sure you eat it last, Potter said. When you eat sugar on an empty stomach, youre going to get a lot more of the adverse effects because its going into your bloodstream a lot faster. Whereas if you eat protein, a salad with some fiber in it, then a small cookie isnt going to have the same negative impact as it would if you had it on an empty stomach. Major Nick Harwood and his wife Meghan Harwood. Major Harwood was recently disciplined over his refusal to comply with the Pentagon's vaccine mandate on religious grounds. (Heather Rae Photography) They Were Trying to Force Him to Violate His Religious Beliefs: Marine Punished For Refusing Vaccine Mandate Wife of a Marine Corps major disciplined for refusing to get vaccinated on religious grounds speaks out. A Marine Corps major selected for promotion to lieutenant colonel recently went through a Board of Inquiry process and was found guilty of conduct unbecoming of an officer for maintaining his religious conviction and refusing to get vaccinated for COVID-19. The Epoch Times spoke with Meghan Harwood, the wife of the officer in question, Major Nick Harwood. While her husband will soon be separated from the Corps after 15 years of honorable service, Mrs. Harwood said, his case represents an excellent example of the farce that is the military legal system. She said his religious beliefs and Constitutional rights were trampled on, explaining that he is not being afforded the rights of every other American in this country. His request for religious accommodation was denied, as well as his subsequent appeal. Major Harwood was given 48 hours to take the shot after receiving the denial of his appeal in December 2021. They were trying to force him to violate his religious beliefs, but according to his wife, he maintained his religious conviction. And as a result, he was relieved of his position and assigned to work elsewhere. Over six months after the denial of religious accommodation, he met with his Board of Inquiry on July 18. Mrs. Harwood described it as an administrative court, one absent the strict legal proceedings of a standard court. Theres no judge, she said. Instead, there are three high-ranking officers that vote whether to keep him or separate him [from the Marine Corps]. One of the points the government prosecutor argued, she said, is that when a person joins the military, they also limit their rights. He then tied this point to limiting free speech, giving the example that you cant go into work and tell your commanding officer off. He also tied it to the Second Amendment, noting that you cant just bring a gun into some workplaces. Both points, according to Mrs. Harwood, are extremely asinine examples of limiting someones rights. Limited Testimony While Major Harwoods wife was able to testify at his Board of Inquiry, her speech was limited. While the prosecutor objected to me testifying for my husband, I was told that I could testify as long as I dont talk about our religious beliefs, she explained. In the end, Major Harwood was charged with conduct unbecoming of an officer, as well as multiple counts of failing to obey an order or regulation, according to Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). His wife considers each charge to be an assault on his Constitutional rights, as she said, Article 90 specifically states that any order that goes against Constitutional or statutory rights is deemed unlawful, [explaining that] theyve ignored an important Constitutional First Amendment right in the matterthe freedom of religion. Mrs. Harwood added that they are violating statutory law under the Religious Freedom Act of 1993. The manual for court martials says that the lawfulness of an order is a question of law to be determined by a military judge, but with the Board of Inquiry, no one is standing before a military judge, she said. Discrimination In my husbands case, Mrs. Harwood said, two of the three board members are commanders, [emphasizing that] they are actually some of the Marines tasked with ordering people to get the shot. She questions how her husband is receiving a fair trial from three Marines who are vaccinated, while two of the three are giving orders to take the vaccine. They are also responsible for negatively endorsing religious accommodations, she added. If [Major Harwood] was actually able to attend a court martial hearing in front of a military judge, she said, he would have more of a fair chance. And according to Mrs. Harwood, they know they would lose in an actual court of law. Two courts have issued preliminary injunctions barring the Navy and Air Force from punishing servicemembers who have sought religious exemptions to the vaccine mandate. Major Harwood also submitted for early retirement. His wife said his paperwork was never forwarded up the chain of command. We were told that they were going to keep it for his board, so that if they were going to separate him, then they could offer him early retirement, she said, adding that they never did. 7 Religious Exemptions As of July 6, the Marine Corps has approved seven religious exemptions, 602 administrative or medical exemptions, and has separated 3,069 people. Why are some afforded their Constitutional right [to freedom of religion] while my husband and thousands of others are not? Mrs. Harwood questioned. Its discrimination and its not equal opportunity. Others that have been granted administrative or medical exemption slip through the cracks in the name of military readiness, she said, adding that her husband has missed zero days for a positive COVID test. All the while, she said, others that have been vaccinated have missed many days. United States Marines queue to receive the Moderna coronavirus vaccine at Camp Hansen in Kin, Japan on April 28, 2021. (Carl Court/Getty Images) Weakening the Military This is not about the health of a unit or military readiness, Mrs. Harwood continued. Its about discrimination, [and] Christians are being labeled with conduct unbecoming of an officer. According to Mrs. Harwood, our military is single-handedly being dismantled by leaders who swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution against enemies, both foreign and domestic. Rather than supporting and defending the freedom of religion, she said, senior leaders are choosing to not approve religious accommodations. Their decisions are weakening the military, she said. She prays that our leaders would have the courage to end this mandate before the damage to our military is beyond repair. She admitted that her family has made so many sacrifices for her husbands service. Its not just a job; it is a lifestyle, she explained. We understand Nicks calling, so we make those sacrifices. Today, she is saddened that the military is not even willing to come to a common ground. But when its all said and done, she said, her family will continue to trust in God, knowing that [Major Harwood] could be called [by God] to do something outside the military. Mrs. Harwood offered a favorite quote from former president Ronald Reagan to the American people: Freedom is a fragile thing and its never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again. The Epoch Times has reached out to the Marines Corp for comment. Rescuers work at the scene where a bus with Polish license plates slipped off a road near Varazdin, northwestern Croatia, on Aug. 6, 2022. (Antonio Bronic/Reuters) 12 Poles Killed, 31 Injured in Croatia Bus Crash VARAZDIN, CroatiaTwelve people were killed and 31 injured, 18 of them seriously, when a Polish bus filled with religious pilgrims slipped off a road and crashed near Varazdin in northwestern Croatia early on Saturday, authorities said. Police, firefighters, and medical teams were deployed to the site of the accident that occurred at 5:40 a.m. near Breznicki Hum in the direction of the capital Zagreb, the police said. We have 43 injured people, of them 12 deceased, said Maja Grba-Bujevic, the director of the Croatian Emergency Medicare Institute. All the victims are Polish citizenswe can at this point confirm this, a Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman told Polish private broadcaster TVN24. The bus has Warsaw registration plates. The passengers were adult pilgrims who were traveling to Medjugorje, a Roman Catholic shrine in southern Bosnia, Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic told reporters. An investigation into the cause of the accident was under way. What Will Replace TikTok? Commentary The year 2021 was a good one for Bytedance, a problematic company with close ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). TikTok, its main cash cow, was the most downloaded app of the year. Althoughand this is a point of considerable importancecompared to 2020 figures, total downloads decreased by 194 million. TikTok is still popular, just not as popular as it was a couple of years ago. Its losing its grip, slowly but surely. Every social media platform, even one as big as TikTok, comes with an expiry date. Very soon, the video-sharing app will find itself dethroned by something even bigger and more powerful. Before discussing TikToks replacement, we must first discuss cable TV. More specifically, the death of cable TV. Interestingly, Netflix, the company responsible for killing cable, is also dying a quick death. Between April and June, it lost almost 1 million subscribers. Rather ironically, Netflix became the very thing that it set out to replace. How so? As the writer Andrew Laurence so brilliantly put it, beyond a handful of titles, there isnt much keeping viewers tuned into Netflix besides habitwhich is pretty much where many of them were with cable before they cut the cord and downloaded the app. Once cool and edgy, Netflix became too comfortable with its power. Because of this, according to Laurence, Netflix went from being slim and streamlined to fat and dull, with an outsized appetite for increasingly low-calorie content. So, you ask, what will replace Netflix? Its replacement is already here. In fact, it has been around for the better part of 20 years. Founded in 2005, YouTube has more than 2 billion active users per month (more than a quarter of the global population). By 2025, it will have close to 3 billion active users. As most people know, YouTube is much more than music videos and Joe Rogan clips. Today, there are more than 51 million YouTube channels in existence (but only 33,000 TV channels). Mr. Beast and PewDiePie, two of the most popular YouTubers on the planet, have a ridiculous amount of subscribers. The former has 97 million; the latter has 111 million. T-Series, the first YouTube channel to surpass 200 million subscribers, has more than 383 million subscribers and more than 718 billion unique views. TV cant compete with YouTube, and Netflix cant compete, either. YouTube took social media influencers and gave them a platform to create their very own TV channels. A simple idea, yet a truly genius one. A picture shows the logo of Youtube social media displayed on a tablet and a smartphone in Toulouse, France, on Oct. 5, 2021. (Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images) In September 2020, obviously concerned (and perhaps inspired) by the popularity of TikTok, YouTube created YouTube Shorts, a short-form video-sharing platform that limits pieces to 60 seconds in length. Like TikTok, YouTube Shorts is a product of the TL;DR (too long; didnt read) age we now find ourselves in. With diminishing attention spans, younger users want rapid bursts of content, repeatedly. With more than 5 trillion views in less than two years, Shorts appears to have hit the mark. In June, YouTube announced that Shorts attracts 1.5 billion unique eyeballs each month500 million more than TikTok. Juggernaut of Epic Proportions This is good news, many will say. After all, TikTok appears to have close ties with Beijing. Anything that can disrupt its influence should be celebrated. However, we must also remember that Google, a highly problematic company with a history of weaponizing data and spying on users, owns YouTube. A juggernaut of epic proportions, Google is worth $1 trillion. With great power, as they say, comes great responsibility. Google is indeed powerful, but its far from responsible. In July, Denmarks Data Protection Agency announced a ban on Googles services in schools. The announcement came shortly after Danish specialists were asked to assess the ways in which Google processes personal data. Clearly unimpressed with the results of the risk assessment, the agency revealed that the likes of Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive were in direct violation of the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation data privacy regulations. The agency ruled that Google services should be immediately removed from classrooms across the country. If Google cant be trusted with Gmail and Google Docs, why should it be trusted with the way it controls YouTubes data? Remember, Google is the company that removed the Dont Be Evil clause from its code of conduct. This is a company that does the bidding of the Saudi Arabian government. So although TikTok is losing its power and this loss of power is a positive for society, we should be wary of what takes its place. In truth, when it comes to big tech and insanely popular social media platforms, there are no good options. YouTube Shorts is better than TikTok in the same way that a punch to the stomach is slightly better than a kick to the groin. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Paramedics and ambulances are seen outside the emergency department at Burnaby Hospital in Burnaby, B.C., on May 30, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck) Why Our Health System Treats Canadians Poorly For our population of 35 million, we have 11 public health bureaucrats for every one in Germany. And their system outperforms us in every way Commentary Former B.C. deputy minister of health Lawrie McFarlanes July 24 commentary on the Cambie Surgery Centre ruling (a descriptive that ignores two cancer patients and three children who were co-plaintiffs) contained some valid commentary. The crisis we now face in our health system is there for all to see and observe. Notably, McFarlane offers no solutions. For those whose memory is short, the government of his erahe was a deputy minister in the early to mid-1990stheorized too many doctors and nurses were treating too many patients and that was responsible for rising health costs. Their solutions were simple. Close beds, cut back medical schools (10 to 30 percent nationally) and close many nursing schools. In the 1990s, not a single hospital was built in B.C., and 1,600 full-time nursing positions were eliminated. We now have a shortage of hospital beds, doctors, and nurses. IndexMundi data show Canada ranks 69th in the world in doctors per population. In the 1970s, we varied between fourth and eighth. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) tables show we rank 31st in hospital beds on a population basis. McFarlane repeats his prior claims that the reason for our legal challenge to the status quo is based on a wish for doctors to boost their income, repeating former attacks where he described excessive compensation demands by various health professions and statements that our health service has fallen victim to the desire of a group of specialists to stuff their mouths with gold. The B.C. Court of Appeal refuted those claims, and our five patient plaintiffs had nothing to gain by increasing doctors incomes. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Canada now spends 12.7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health care. Thats more than any other country that offers universal care. For our population of 35 million, we have 14 ministries of health that include 11 public health bureaucrats for every one Germany has. And their public health system outperforms us in every way. Every country in the world allows a non-government option, while Canada operates a state monopoly in hospital and physician care. I am not aware of any monopoly that serves its users well. Statistics Canada reports that low-income Canadians suffer from the worst access and outcomes and, among 10 developed countries with universal care, Canada ranks last in equity. The Appeal Court confirmed wait lists were dangerously long, with many B.C. patients dying because of poor access. The court appeared to condone the current system because of a theoretical negative impact that a non-state safety valve might have on disadvantaged citizens. That fear ignores the governments ability to fund private insurance or care for lower-income patients, just as they do for prescription drugs, dentistry, ambulances, etc. Inequality has always existed in our system for groups like WorkSafeBC and other exempted groups, including non-residents, prisoners and federal employees (including judges). The 89,000 patients treated in private B.C. clinics each year leave the public system and increase hospital capacity. They add resources to the public system, and our government contracts out care to the clinics. The surgeons who work in clinics have rationed access to operating time in our public hospitals. The nurses who work in private clinics include many who would otherwise leave Canada because of the toxic workplace that the government has created in our public hospitals. The following quotes from the B.C. Court of Appeal judgment confirm that this was not a clear victory for the government. We are not examining what objectively would be the best, most efficient, or socially just means of delivering health care to British Columbians. That is beyond our mandate and our expertise and jurisdiction. Wait times in considerable measure flow from government rationing of health care. Irremediable harm and increased risk of death in order to preserve a public health-care system that is intentionally under designed in order to achieve fiscal sustainability. When the province assumes a monopoly power over the provision of medical services it is under a constitutional duty to ensure that the service is provided in a timely fashion. We have found that the judge understated the scale and impact of the Charter infringements on thousands of patients. The court recognizes that the provincial law is upheld at the cost of real hardship and suffering to many for whom the public system is failing to provide timely and necessary care. The provisions effect of eliminating the availability of timely private care comes at too high a cost to the life and security of those individuals who cannot access timely care in the public system, but who would be able to access private care. Both politicians and the courts are deferring responsibility to each other. The B.C. government ignores the fact they have made the provision of timely access to medical care a legal requirement they are required to honour. Its surely unacceptable that, having failed to meet that obligation, they then seek to enforce another law that prevents individuals from stepping in and caring for themselves and their loved ones. It begs the question: Do we or the government own our bodies? This commentary was provided by the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Troy Media Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Writer Shi Shan Shares a Place Called Home After Trekking Around the World for Almost 20 Years If you meet Shi Shan for the first time, you will not have guessed he is from mainland China, as he doesnt carry himself so. Curiously, I asked him once where he was from, and where his home was. Shi was a bit stunned, but his response probably resonates with more people than he realized. Where am I from? I have been trying to figure that out myself. I was born in Guangzhou, then shortly afterward I moved to Beijing. He did not stop there. He continued moving around to different areas in China, such as Sichuan and Tibet before ending up in Hong Kong. After his Asian adventure, his ship set off again but this time to the UK and America. When you ask me where I am from. I really dont know the answer. That is part of a trait of being a global citizen. Here Today Gone Tomorrow Hi, I am Shi Shan, a politics media expert, also a self-proclaimed seasoned trekker. Thats how he introduces himself jokingly on his podcasts. Somehow, from the second he stepped foot into the world, Shi was destined to be a wanderer. To Shi, home had always been wherever he settled. His wandering lifestyle was not full until he finally built something for himself: a career and a family. He has four children. Shi often says that his experience around the world made him fluid and adaptable. When I am in northern China, Im regarded as southern Chinese. When Im in southern China then I am regarded as northern Chinese. In Hong Kong, I am a mainlander. In Europe, Im a Hongkonger. Overseas Im Chinese but in China, Im a foreigner. He explained. Interestingly, Shi has benefited from the Chinese culture that is inherited overseas. In his early years, when he migrated to the UK, he worked as a taxi driver. Shi recalled, There were plenty of crimes of robberies, muggings, and ride and run passengers in East London. Fortunately, I never got robbed once in the two years of driving a taxi. People were heavily influenced by Kung Fu movies overseas, by martial-art artists such as Jacky Chan and Bruce Lee. So when it was rumoured within the community that Shi Shan knew martial arts, no one wanted to mess with him. In fact, everyone in the neighborhood was very respectful of him. Shi Shan left the mainland at the age of 26, shortly after the June 4 movement in Tiananmen Square in 1989. Shi Shan enjoys a sunny day in Hawaii. (Courtesy of Shi Shan) Feeling of Butterflies When he arrived in Hong Kong, he only had HK$500 (US$64). He had nothing, nobody, no shelter, no direction. Feeling confused and overwhelmed, however, Shi immediately fell in love with the neon-light city. He says the feelings were indescribable, but they gave him butterflies. He didnt know what it was until a long time later. That joy he felt was freedom. Shi Shans feelings at the time were similar to Yu Ying-shih, a Chinese-American historian, sinologist, and scholar. Yu was a Chinese studies professor at Harvard, Yale, and Princeton Universities. Yu received the lifetime achievement award in humanity studies from John W Klug Prize in 2006. In his memoir, he depicted an experience he had while crossing the Lowu Bridge between Shenzhen, China, and Hong Kong. It was a spiritual epiphany. The weight above my shoulders suddenly became feather-light, and my body was like water in a state of stillness and calm. Although the spiritual feeling dissipated within a second, that was the most unforgettable sensation Yu has ever had in his lifetime. And like Shi, what Professor Yu experienced was freedom. According to Princeton Universitys website, Professor Yu was known for his mastery of and insight into Chinese intellectual, political, and cultural history with an emphasis on his profound research into the history of public intellectuals in China. Finding Peace by the Sea Shi Shan loves traveling when he is not working. Shi once took a large group of friends to Grass Island in Hong Kong. They all sat on the wide green meadows, overlooking the endless sea merging with the sky. Some cattle were relaxing on the other side of the slope. As cold air gently breezed through, Shi immersed in the bliss and his music. While the views on Grass Island merrymaking will never replace Shis favorite, which is the breathtaking night view from The Peak, overlooking Hong Kong. Shi loves the sea. Having traveled around the globe, his favorite ocean can be seen in America. Shi has been living in Washington for many years. He sees the ocean from the highway, whenever he drives to work. To him, the ocean is tough and raw, particularly as seen from the Pacific Coast Highway in California. Perhaps the reason why he loves it so much is that it resembles his character. Sunset at the sealine in Hong Kong. (By The Epoch Times) The Ones Who Chase Freedom Recently, Shi Shan has been traveling back and forth between Hong Kong and America for work. In the early summer of 2021, after his return to Hong Kong from the United States, Shi purposely visited Hong Kongs outlying islands to bask in the sun. Shi prefers Hong Kongs climate to the United States. He thought he would be able to stay in Hong Kong for a long while. Sadly, nothing worked in his favor. In June 2021, Apple Daily was forced to cease operation due to Hong Kong National Security Law. After that, the media industry deteriorated quickly. Numerous news outlets also shut down one by one. What Shi didnt realize at the time, was that being able to tell the truth was a luxury, especially since journalists had been squeezed between two tight walls. When he had to leave for America again, he was unwilling. He was pulling his hair, and said, I am a wanderer. This time the departure felt different: no one knew how long it would be before he could return again. People Who Seek Freedom Shi Shan remembers a brief encounter with the national security police on a train platform in Hong Kong one day before July 1997. Cold and grim, the national security police scanned the entire train station and everyone who crossed their paths. Shi had chills down his spine and throughout his body. Familiar yet unsettling, the chills Yu felt were identical to what he felt living in China. They were reactions to fear. Later, once he became an American citizen, he realized something: The meaning of freedom. We are born with the right to seek freedom and freedom from fear. When there is freedom, we rid ourselves of fear. When you harbor fear, you lose freedom. To Shi, the message was clear. Home is wherever there is freedom. Shi is not the only one who seeks freedom. In June 2021, Shi went to the UK for interviews. He met many talented Hongkongers, who had migrated to the UK. These recently landed Hongkongers are carrying a significant amount of responsibility. They are now to share and pass on Hong Kong culture, art, language, and history. Shi believes that Hongkongers carry a unique Hong Kong spirit and value, despite being stuck in difficulty. As more Hongkongers flee their home as if they are running from a war zone, due to political uncertainty and National Security Law, Annie Zhang Jieping, Hong Kong reporter and columnist said in one of her interviews, Be it Taiwan, Hong Kong or China, we are still living in the shadow of the Chinese Communists 20th-century war. Right now it is a state of ceasing fire, not peace. Shi Shan treks to another favorite spot, Lamma Island in Hong Kong. (Courtesy of Shi Shan) Home Kong? From the way Shi Shan shares his life and travel experience, one can tell that he is a blend of the east and the west. When he talks about Hong Kong history, you can sense the passion he has for Hong Kong and Chinese culture. Hong Kong is no longer the same after the 25th anniversary of the Handover. Perhaps through the shattering of Hong Kong, Shi finally finds his answer, All my life, I am a person without a home. But the joy freedom brought me in Hong Kong, has made it clear that Hong Kong is my Home Kong. Hong Kong: A Haven for Chinese Traditions, a Heritage That Has Never Been Fully Explored Chinese leader Xi Jinping is seen during the Second Plenary Session of the Fifth Session of the 13th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China on March 8, 2022. (Andrea Verdelli/Getty Images) Xi Jinping Faces Critical Challenges Over Pelosis Trip to Taiwan U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ended her visit to Taiwan on Aug. 3, delivering a message of Americas determination to preserve democracy in the self-ruled island. According to a China expert, Pelosis visit posed an unprecedented challenge to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as he is betting on his Taiwan card as he seeks a third term in the fall of this year. Xi and the other six members of the Politburo Standing Committee did not make public appearances after July 31 and had not been seen by the time Pelosi left Taiwan on Aug. 3. The Politburo is the most powerful body in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with the Politburo Standing Committee at the top of the power pyramid. In previous years, the CCP regularly held a secret summer meeting at the seaside in the Beidaihe district of Qinhuangdao City, Hebei Province, attended by not only the current Politburo Standing Committee but also a number of retired political elders. This years Beidaihe meeting is even more critical, as it will determine the power structure of the CCP for the next five years and set the tone for the regimes upcoming 20th National Congress, at which Xi is expected to seek re-election. Hyping up Anti-Foreign Sentiment China expert Ji Da told The Epoch Times that the timing of Pelosis visit to Taiwan, which coincided with the Beidaihe meeting, deterred Xi from overreacting, as any inappropriate action would have become an opportunity for his political opponents to force him from power. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks after receiving the Order of Propitious Clouds with Special Grand Cordon, Taiwans highest civilian honor, from Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen (R) at the presidents office in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 3, 2022. (Handout/Getty Images) Since Xi came to power in 2012, he has often played the Taiwan card to enhance nationalist sentiments, Ji said. In January 2019, Xi delivered a strongly worded speech on the Taiwan issue, claiming that the unification of Taiwan is the focus of the CCPs regimes work in the future, and told the Taiwanese people to cherish peace as much as cherish their own eyes and that independence is a dead end. In other words, Xi was threatening that if the people of Taiwan reject the so-called peaceful reunification proposed by the CCP, what awaits them will be war, Ji said. The CCPs state-run media and propaganda authorities have been intensely hyping up nationalist and anti-foreign sentiment in recent years, turning a large group of citizens into hyper-nationalists, who echo the regimes slogan of unifying Taiwan by force if Taiwan refuses to return to its motherland. A woman uses her mobile phone as she walks in front of a large screen showing a news broadcast about Chinas military exercises encircling Taiwan, in Beijing on Aug.4, 2022. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Following Pelosis trip to Taiwan, the CCPs peaceful unification of Taiwan is now history. The main card of Xis re-election is unification of Taiwan, so Pelosis visit has shaken the foundation of Xis continued rule, Ji said. As a totalitarian regime, the CCPs power change has always lacked recognition from society, and there has been an unspoken rule within the CCPhaving an outgoing leader designate a successor who is to take office after the immediate successor completes his term, which is extremely unstable, Ji continued. He believes that if Xis response to Pelosis visit is too aggressivesuiting the nationalist sentiment of some Chineseits very dangerous as the CCPs military strength is far less than that of the United States. However, if the response reveals the CCPs weakness, Xis authority within the Party will be greatly damaged, which will give his political opponents the opportunity to challenge him and force him out. After Pelosis departure from Taiwan, the furious CCP started its largest ever live-fire military drills in the waters around the island, which included firing ballistic missiles and deploying fighter jets. According to Taiwans Defense Ministry, numerous warships and fighter aircraft had crossed the Taiwan Straits median line. The Rocket Force under the Eastern Theatre Command of Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) fires live missiles into the waters near Taiwan, from an undisclosed location in China on Aug. 4, 2022. (Eastern Theatre Command/Handout via Reuters) The Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Osun State Command, Agboola Adisa Sunday was at the office of DAAR Communications in the State capital on Thursday 4th August 2022, the visit was aimed at strengthening the Corps' relationship with the broadcasting organization in the fight against fake news. The Commandant in his address appreciated the management of Africa Independent Television (AIT) and Ray Power FM for their professionalism. He reiterated that disinformation is one of the major causes of concern in the country. According to him: behind false news or fake news, strategies are often articulated to manipulate public opinion and erode the stability of States and their institutions. The Commandant urged the Organization to promote news literacy and professional journalism in the State. In his words: news industry must provide high-quality journalism in order to build public trust and correct fake news and disinformation without legitimizing them. Mrs Folashade Oshodi, Head of Station, Ray Power FM in her response commended the Commandant for his visit to the Station. She stated that the visit was at the appropriate time due to the nagging insecurity situation in the country. She further emphasized the need for Nigerians to brace themselves in the fight against misinformation and fake news serving as catalyst to insecurity. In addition, Mrs Oshodi while soliciting for a robust synergy between the two organisations lauded the Corps for its efforts in combating crimes in the state. She stressed that the visit would strengthen the existing relationship between DAAR Communications and the Corps. The visit was rounded off with an interview of the Osun State NSCDC boss on Ray Power FM where the Commandant confirmed his commitment to combat crimes in State and protect Critical National Assets and Infrastructure. E-SIGNED. ASCII ATANDA OLABISI, FHNR, FWIP PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER NSCDC, OSUN STATE COMMAND. The Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, disclosed that the Academic Staff Union of Universities should be blamed for the ongoing and prolonged strike. He therefore urged the Nigerian parents to appeal to ASUU to end its months-long strike action. Festus Keyamo made this disclosure on Friday while speaking on Channels Television programme. Nigerian public universities have been on strike since February this year, with demands on the withdrawal of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel information system, IPPIS, and adoption of the University, Transparency and Accountability Solution, UTAS. The union equally seek the University Peculiar Payroll and Payment System, U3PS or UPPPS for the non-academic unions, among others. Nigerian parents whose children have been at home for about 170 days, have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to end the strike. While speaking, the state Minister said, The moment ASUU went on strike we intervened. What is the manner again beyond that? The moment they declared the strike even when the strike began, we called them to a meeting. What manner is more than that? Its not that we left them, to go on strike first and we were sleeping. And three months later we said okay can we start talking. The moment they declared, we immediately called them and said let us start talking. And as the talk started they still went on strike. You cannot allow one sector of the economy to hold you by the jugular and then blackmail you to go and borrow N1.2 trillion for overheads when our total income would be about N6.1 trillion. And you have roads to build, health centres to build, other sectors to take care of. Asked what he would tell parents whose children are with them at home for about 170 days? He said, Go and beg ASUU. Like the President said the other time, those who know them, appeal to their sense of patriotism. Do you want me to knell down as a parent also? I can knell down on air and beg them. It has come to that point, let them go back to classes. They are not the only one in Nigeria. They are not the only ones feeding from the federal purse. The nation cannot grind to a halt because we want to take care of the demands of ASUU. Lets go to more critical issues while I am here. China scraps cooperation with US over Taiwan spat BEIJING: China said yesterday (Aug 5) it was ending cooperation with the United States on a litany of key issues including climate change, anti-drug efforts and military talks, as relations between the two superpowers nosedive over the island of Taiwan. Chineseviolenceenvironmentmilitarypoliticspollution By AFP Saturday 6 August 2022, 07:28AM China fired ballistic missiles and deployed fighter jets on Thursday (Aug 4) as it held its largest-ever military exercises around Taiwan. Photo: AFP Beijing has reacted furiously to a visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island, which it claims as its territory and has vowed to retake, by force if necessary. It has since Thursday encircled the self-ruled, democratic island with a series of huge military drills that have been roundly condemned by the United States and other Western allies. And yesterday saw its foreign ministry hit back further against the United States, suspending talks and cooperation on multiple agreements between the two - including on fighting climate change. The worlds two largest polluters last year pledged to work together to accelerate climate action this decade, and vowed to meet regularly to address the climate crisis. But that deal looks shaky as relations sink to some of their lowest levels in years, as do agreements on everything from talks on military matters to anti-drug cooperation. Pelosi - who was also hit with sanctions by Beijing for the visit - has defended her trip to Taiwan, saying yesterday that Washington would not allow China to isolate the island. Taiwan has also condemned Beijings furious response to the visit, with premier Su Tseng-chang calling for allies to push for de-escalation. (We) didnt expect that the evil neighbour next door would show off its power at our door and arbitrarily jeopardise the busiest waterways in the world with its military exercises, he told reporters. Our motherland is powerful Beijing has said its military exercises will continue until midday tomorrow, and Taipei reported that Chinese fighter jets and ships crossed the median line that runs down the Taiwan Strait yesterday morning. As of 11 am, multiple batches of Chinese warplanes and warships conducted exercises around the Taiwan Strait and crossed the median line of the strait, Taipeis defence ministry said in a statement. AFP journalists on the Chinese island of Pingtan saw a fighter jet flying overhead, prompting tourists to snap photos as it flew along the coast. A Chinese military vessel was also visible sailing through the Taiwan Strait, they added. Chinas drills involved a conventional missile firepower assault in waters to the east of Taiwan, the Chinese military said. And state broadcaster CCTV reported that Chinese missiles had flown directly over Taiwan - a major escalation if officially confirmed. On the Chinese island of Pingtan, local tourists proudly extolled their countrys military might against its much smaller neighbour. Our motherland is powerful. We are not afraid of having war with Taiwan, the US or any country in the world, Liu, a 40-year-old tourist from Zhejiang province, told AFP. We hope to unify Taiwan soon. We are not scared of anyone, he added. Our country is powerful. We dont want to start a war, but we are not afraid of others. Significant escalation Chinas ruling Communist Party views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to one day take it, by force if necessary. But the scale and intensity of the drills have triggered outrage in the United States and other democracies. These provocative actions are a significant escalation, Blinken said after talks with Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Phnom Penh. The fact is, the speakers visit was peaceful. There is no justification for this extreme, disproportionate and escalatory military response, he added. Japan lodged a formal diplomatic complaint against Beijing, with five of Chinas missiles believed to have landed in its exclusive economic zone. And Australia - which has a troubled relationship with China, its largest trading partner - condemned the drills as disproportionate and destabilising. The manoeuvres are taking place along some of the worlds busiest shipping routes, used to disseminate the global supply of vital semiconductors and electronic equipment produced in East Asia. Predator makes a comeback in Prey The idea of a Hollywood re-boot normally doesnt sit too well with serious movie lovers. The reason for that is that often over the past few years cinema goers have been subjected to some pretty lame re-boots that pay little respect to the original source material that they are borrowing from. There have been some though that have bucked the trend, Halloween comes to mind straight away, and now it seems that after 35 years of trying Hollywood has finally managed to create a film worthy to carry on the Predator legacy. World-Entertainment By David Griffiths Saturday 6 August 2022, 11:00AM Amber Midthunder is outstanding as Comanche hunter Naru in Prey (2022). Image: IMDb Prey, directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane), is actually a prequel to the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger cult classic. It chronicles the events of what happens when the original Predator (Dane DiLiegro American Horror Story) travels to Earth and finds himself in the Comanche Nation 300 years ago. Here he finds himself coming face-to-face with a fearsome tribe of Comanchies who destroy all foes that stand in their way. Part of that tribe is a gifted young hunter named Naru (Amber Midthunder Hell Or High Water) who is constantly being told by her male dominated tribe that she cant become one of the tribes warriors because she is female. As other tribe members, including Taabe (first time actor Dakota Beavers) and Wasape (Stormee Kipp Sooyii), hunt what they believe is a mountain lion or very large bear Naru starts to realise what they are actually about to face is something much more deadly. It seems a little strange to say but the reason that Prey ends up being such an enjoyable watch is the fact that it is such a simple film especially when it comes to the plot. For once a Hollywood re-boot doesnt try to introduce an over-the-top premise that in no way links to the original film nor does it try to re-invent the wheel and seemingly ignore the plots or stories that have already been seen in the franchise. Instead Prey tells a riveting story that is basically Human vs Predator with a little bit of world history thrown in for a good measure. When you realise that director Dan Trachtenberg also delivers some pretty decent action sequences, the right amount of suspense and a plot that makes some poignant comments on what it is like for a young woman living in a patriarchal society you are left with a film that seems to be a lot better than most will be expecting it to be. In fact perhaps the most disappointing thing about Prey is the fact that a majority of the world will only see this film on a television screen. As someone who was lucky enough to see this in a cinema I can attest that Trachtenberg and his cinematographer, Jeff Cutter (Orphan), clearly made this film to be seen on the big screen. From shots that showcase the picturesque Comanche Nation through to battle sequences taking place in atmospheric marshland mist this is a film that despite its content has an eerie beauty to it. Prey also shows the acting ability of Amber Midthunder. It sadly is an urban myth that she was plucked from obscurity for this role, she has a fairly decent body of work behind her including the brilliant Hell Or High Water, but nonetheless she is brilliant in this film. She carries the film and excels no matter whether a scene demands physical action or emotional drama. It is very easy to see that from here on in she will be finding herself in much bigger film roles. There may be some fans of the Predator franchise out there that are still wondering whether they will give Prey a chance or not. To put it simply they need to let go of any of those fears because Prey is the best film in the franchise since the original. Prey is now available on Disney+. 4/5 Stars David Griffiths has been working as a film and music reviewer for over 20 years. That time has seen him work in radio, television and in print. You can follow him at www.facebook.com/subcultureentertainmentaus Israeli airstrikes have flattened homes in Gaza and Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel are persisting for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict The Hoppin Hill Reservoir in North Attleboro, which supplies water to Attleboro, is looking mighty dry. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A Texas jury on Friday ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages to the parents of a child who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, adding to the $4.1 million he must pay for the suffering he put them through by claiming for years that the nations deadliest school shooting was a hoax. The total $49.3 million is less than the $150 million sought by Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis was among the 20 children and six educators killed in the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut. But the trial marks the first time Jones has been held financially liable for peddling lies about the massacre, claiming it was faked by the government to tighten gun laws. Afterward, Lewis said that Jones who wasn't in the courtroom to hear the verdict has been held accountable. She said when she took the stand and looked Jones in the eye, she thought of her son, who was credited with saving lives by yelling run when the killer paused in his rampage. He stood up to the bully Adam Lanza and saved nine of his classmates lives," Lewis said. "I hope that I did that incredible courage justice when I was able to confront Alex Jones, who is also a bully. I hope that inspires other people to do the same. It could be a while before the plaintiffs collect anything. Jones' lead attorney, Andino Reynal, told the judge he will appeal and ask the courts to drastically reduce the size of the verdict. After the hearing, Reynal said he thinks the punitive amount will be reduced to as little as $1.5 million. We think the verdict was too high. ... Alex Jones will be on the air today, hell be on the air tomorrow, hell be on the air next week. Hes going to keep doing his job holding the power structure accountable. Jones' companies and personal wealth could also get carved up by other lawsuits and bankruptcy. Another defamation lawsuit against Jones by a Sandy Hook family is set to start pretrial hearings in the same Austin court on Sept. 14. He faces yet another defamation lawsuit in Connecticut. Plaintiffs' attorney Mark Bankston said he believes he can challenge any attempt to reduce the damages. But he said even if the award is drastically cut, its just as important to take the big verdict into the bankruptcy court for the family to claim against Jones estate and company. Jones testified this week that any award over $2 million would sink us. His company Free Speech Systems, which is Infowars' Austin-based parent company, filed for bankruptcy protection during the first week of the trial. Punitive damages are meant to punish defendants for particularly egregious conduct, beyond monetary compensation awarded to the individuals they hurt. A high punitive award is also seen as a chance for jurors to send a wider societal message and a way to deter others from the same abhorrent conduct in the future. Barry Covert, a Buffalo, New York, First Amendment lawyer with no connection to the Jones case, said the total damages awarded amount to a stunning loss for Jones. With $50 million in all, the jury has sent a huge, loud message that this behavior will not be tolerated, Covert said. Everyone with a show like this who knowingly tells lies juries will not tolerate it. Future jurors in other pending Sandy Hook trials could see the damages amounts in this case as a benchmark, Covert said. If other juries do, Covert said, it could very well put Jones out of business. Attorneys for the family had urged jurors to hand down a financial punishment that would force Infowars to shut down. You have the ability to stop this man from ever doing it again, Wesley Ball, an attorney for the parents, told the jury Friday. Send the message to those who desire to do the same: Speech is free. Lies, you pay for." An economist testified that Jones and the company are worth up to $270 million. Bernard Pettingill, who was hired by the plaintiffs to study Jones net worth, said records show that Jones withdrew $62 million for himself in 2021, when default judgments were issued in lawsuits against him. That number represents, in my opinion, a value of a net worth, Pettingill said. Hes got money put in a bank account somewhere. But Jones' lawyers said their client had already learned his lesson. They argued for a punitive amount of less than $300,000. Youve already sent a message. A message for the first time to a talk show host, to all talk show hosts, that their standard of care has to change," Reynal said. Friday's damages drew praise from the American Federation of Teachers union, which represented the teachers at Sandy Hook. Nothing will ever fix the pain of losing a child, or of watching that tragedy denied for political reasons. But Im glad the parents of Sandy Hook have gotten some justice," union President Randi Weingarten said in a tweet. Lawyers for the Sandy Hook families suing Jones contend he has tried to hide evidence of his true wealth in various shell companies. During his testimony, Jones was confronted with a memo from one of his business managers outlining a single day's gross revenue of $800,000 from selling vitamin supplements and other products through his website, which would approach nearly $300 million in a year. Jones called it a record sales day. Jones, who has portrayed the lawsuit as an attack on his First Amendment rights, conceded during the trial that the attack was 100% real and that he was wrong to have lied about it. But Heslin and Lewis told jurors that an apology wouldnt suffice and called on them to make Jones pay for the years of suffering he has put them and other Sandy Hook families through. The parents told jurors theyve endured a decade of trauma, inflicted first by the murder of their son and what followed: gunshots fired at a home, online and phone threats, and harassment on the street by strangers. They said the threats and harassment were all fueled by Jones and his conspiracy theory spread to his followers via Infowars. A forensic psychiatrist testified that the parents suffer from complex post-traumatic stress disorder inflicted by ongoing trauma, similar to what might be experienced by a soldier at war or a child abuse victim. Throughout the trial, Jones was his typically bombastic self, talking about conspiracies on the witness stand, during impromptu news conferences and on his show. His erratic behavior is unusual by courtroom standards, and the judge scolded him, telling him at one point: This is not your show. The trial drew attention from outside Austin as well. Bankston told the court Thursday that the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has requested records from Jones' phone that Jones' attorneys had mistakenly turned over to the plaintiffs. Bankston later said he planned to comply with the committee's request. By Friday, Bankston said, he had "a subpoena sitting on my desk' from the Jan. 6 committee. But he said he needed to tamp down expectations that it might reveal texts about the insurrection since it appears to have been scraped for data in mid-2020. Bankston said hes also had law enforcement interest in the phone data, but he declined to elaborate. Last month, the House committee showed graphic and violent text messages and played videos of right-wing figures, including Jones, and others vowing that Jan. 6 would be the day they would fight for Trump. The committee first subpoenaed Jones in November, demanding a deposition and documents related to his efforts to spread misinformation about the 2020 election and a rally on the day of the attack. ___ Associated Press writer Michael Tarm in Chicago and Susan Haigh in Norwich, Connecticut, contributed to this report. ___ Find APs full coverage of the Alex Jones trial at: https://apnews.com/hub/alex-jones DAKAR, Senegal (AP) Senegal's government has signed a peace agreement with separatist rebels from the southern Casamance region that aims to end more than four decades of conflict. Senegal President Macky Sall announced the agreement, which was signed Thursday in Guinea Bissau between government officials and the Provisional Committee of Political and Combatant Wings of the Movement of Democratic Forces of Casamance. It calls for the laying down of arms. Westerly, RI (02891) Today Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 60F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Motorists are being hit by a new wave of pay-by-phone ripoff charges with sneaky extras as much as doubling the cost of using a car park in some cases. While many holidaymakers are opting to spend their summer vacation in Britain rather than abroad, pay-by-phone providers are taking advantage of motorists to the tune of an estimated 20million by levying these additional charges. This is all being made easier because many drivers struggling to find a space are forced to use a phone app. This is because traditional cash or card payment machines are no longer being provided or are being left out of order. Campaigners are calling for tougher regulation of the burgeoning pay-by-phone market and for car park users to be told before they pay of the fee to be taken from their bank account, plus any extra costs they might incur for receiving texts confirming payment or telling them their paid-for time is nearly over. Pay and dismay: Christopher Godfrey says he accepted an offer of 2.49 for parking only to find the cost had risen 60 per cent on completion The latest payment ruse is being carried out by the app YourParkingSpace. It is demanding an extra 1.50 for drivers who use a car park without pre-booking a space. This is on top of a 49p 'service charge' for using the app. Some customers say that they are finding out they have paid an extra levy only after pressing a button to make a payment on their phone. Other pay-by-phone parking apps are also demanding extra money to use their service with the fees taking a variety of guises. For example, RingGo can include a 'convenience charge' of 12p on top of the normal parking tariff. In addition, it demands up to 20p for a 'summary charge' text confirming you have paid and a further 20p 'reminder charge' text sent ten minutes before your car park session ends, inviting you to extend your stay via your mobile. Competitor PayByPhone also demands up to 20p for a texted 'receipt' as well as 20p for texting a 'reminder'. JustPark has a 49p 'transaction fee' for parking for less than two hours 99p if longer. The apps wriggle out of providing a clear explanation of the sneaky fees in their terms and conditions by varying the costs they levy at different car parks. Christopher Godfrey is among the millions of motorists who have fallen foul of small-print app tricks. A few days ago, he agreed to pay 2.49 to park his blue Volkswagen Polo at a Morrisons supermarket in Norwich for 3 hours while he went to watch the Tom Cruise movie Top Gun: Maverick at the cinema. Christopher says: 'The car park had a sign that showed it was free for the first two hours, but if you wanted to stay longer you had to log on to the YourParkingSpace app to find out what you must pay.' He adds: 'The charge was clearly shown as 2.49. But as soon as I pressed the payment button on the app, I got a message to thank me for my payment of 3.99. I felt cheated because at no point beforehand was I warned of the extra 1.50 fee. Additional fees almost doubled the cost of parking.' Christopher confronted YourParkingSpace. It confirmed the charges were correct as he had not 'pre-booked the space'. But it said that it would refund the 1.50 'as an exception'. He says it failed to explain why details of the charge for not pre-booking weren't provided prior to payment being taken. He added: 'I have asked Apple Pay, my credit card issuer and Trading Standards to look into it.' Motoring and consumer groups believe tough new regulations need to be introduced to stamp out the sneaky ways motorists are being hit with extra charges in car parks. Luke Bosdet is spokesman for motoring organisation the AA. He says: 'When the pay-by-phone apps were first introduced, there was an expectation that parking charges would fall rather than rise. 'This was based on the fact that there would be savings for car park operators such as local councils which would no longer have to maintain and collect money from payment machines. But charges haven't fallen. They've risen.' He adds: 'We now need a clear and uniform charging structure throughout the pay-by-phone industry so that no car park user is misled or left confused over the charges they are paying. 'It is not right that a motorist ends up paying far more for a car park spot than expected, or gets charged for simply receiving a receipt.' The AA calculates that 200,000 people a day pay for parking using a phone app. It conservatively estimates that each pays on average an extra fee of 25p, adding up to 50,000 a day, or more than 18million a year. Consumer campaigner Martyn James says the number of complaints relating to parking apps and extra fees has doubled in the past year but are still relatively low because of the way the charges are levied. He explains: 'They are using a horrible manipulative trick known as micro-charging. The extra they charge is not enough for most people to complain.' James says the apps 'exploit' drivers and he believes charges should be clearly signposted in a car park and not hidden within the small print of a mobile phone app. The additional fees vary widely as they are often set after an agreement has been struck between a local council or private operator and the pay-by-phone firm. Last week, The Mail on Sunday contacted all the main parking app providers so that they could defend their charges. YourParkingSpace has more than a million motorists signed up to rent spaces at public and private car parks, as well as off-street locations, such as driveways. Referring to cases like that of Christopher Godfrey, it said: 'Users booking in advance may get a cheaper rate, as advance bookings help space owners guarantee rental. Our service fee helps cover costs related to a driver's booking. The driver will never have to pay any additional costs after placing their booking.' JustPark was the only other company prepared to make a comment. It said: 'We charge the same flat fees for pre-booking a parking slot or paying by app at the car park to provide clarity and avoid confusion. Fees are clearly shown on the app at the time of purchase.' Dutch firm RingGo is one of the most popular parking apps with 18million motorists signed up in Britain and it is favoured by many local authorities too. The Mail on Sunday found that in Leatherhead, Surrey, customers are being charged a 12p 'convenience charge' by RingGo plus 10p for a 'summary text message' giving details of their charge. There is also a 10p 'reminder' text for when the parking time is about to end, though this one can be cancelled by changing app settings. But in the busy Central London district of Westminster RingGo charges 20p for summary or reminder texts though it imposes no extra convenience charge. PayByPhone is another big app operator, owned by Volkswagen Financial Services, an offshoot of the German car giant. PayByPhone's head office is in Canada and serves 'nearly 1,300 cities'. On its website the 'optional text message' rates start from free in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, rising to as much as 20p in the West London borough of Ealing. These rates are for both 'receipt' and 'reminder' texts. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. In the dog house: Advanced Pets fails to give its address and key data on its website Mrs E.E. writes: I ordered and paid for pet food from Advanced Pets in Gloucester, but received nothing. Emails were not answered and the phone was answered by an outside company advising that lines were busy. The firm asks for details and say someone will get back to you, but nobody ever does. The company issues invoices without any contact details. The Trustpilot review website has several people suggesting positive reviews are fake. Luckily, I was able to reclaim my money from my credit card. Tony Hetherington replies: The invoice you received from Advanced Pets is a mess. It charges VAT without showing a VAT number, and the closest it gets to an address is very small print which says 'Advanced Pets United Kingdom'. Trustpilot displays lots of detailed complaints, with 66 per cent of reviewers rating the business as bad, while curiously 27 per cent say it is excellent. And one does say she was offered a 20 per cent discount if she submitted a five-star review. Advanced Pets is a website-based business, but its website is as poor as its service. Some of its terms and conditions refer to the US. Others refer to the laws of the United Kingdom, which is confusing in itself since business terms covering firms in England normally say they are covered by the laws of England and Wales, as Scotland and Northern Ireland may be different. Even the usual privacy statement is absurd. It refers to 'Advanced Pets doing business as advanced pets', but since there is no such registered company, this is legally meaningless. Some of the firm's sales terms have blank spaces that have never been completed, and there is a whole section devoted to California state law. Who in California is likely to order dog biscuits or chewy toys from thousands of miles away in Gloucester? At the heart of all this is one very basic offence. Customers are legally entitled to know who they are dealing with. The details of limited companies are free to view in Companies House records, but Advanced Pets is not a limited company. Anyone carrying on a business in a name that is not their own must disclose their full name and address at which they can be contacted and where legal documents can be served. This information is not on the Advanced Pets website or on invoices, but I can tell you that the man behind it is Aaron Price. When I asked him why there were so many complaints he said: 'Since opening our website, we have gone from 10 to 15 orders a day to 100 to 150 orders, which our infrastructure was not quite prepared for. 'I am personally still shocked at the vast amount of orders we are getting.' And he added: 'One matter I am sure you won't mention in your report is that we are currently offering families around our Gloucestershire area completely free monthly dog or cat medication or pet food to support low income families.' Price did not offer any comments about his firm's terms and conditions or his failure to give customers the information that is legally due, but he did tell me that his address is 37 Naunton Road, Gloucester GL4 4RD. If his name and this address do not appear soon on his website and invoices, I trust that Trading Standards officials in Gloucester will step in. Meanwhile, unhappy customers do now know who to contact and where. Taxman won't let me use my online account A.C. writes: I was registered to use the Revenue & Customs online service via the Government Gateway scheme for managing my personal tax account. But I found I was locked out as I had not used it for three years. Trying to renew my registration has proved impossible due to questions about my identity. A.C. was registered to use the Revenue & Customs online service via the Government Gateway scheme Tony Hetherington replies: Part of the process of renewing your registration meant you had to supply information about your passport and your credit record. You are sure you answered questions accurately and honestly, but the system rejected you, claiming some information you provided was not accurate. You contacted the Revenue but officials would not help. As they pointed out, if they told you the 'right' answers, they could easily have been helping someone impersonate you. I asked staff at the Revenue headquarters what you should do, and they suggested you call for assistance. But when I looked at the instructions, it stated: 'Make sure your personal details and address are up to date in your personal tax account or you could fail telephone security.' Since your very problem was that you were denied access to your tax account, how could you possibly make sure its details were up to date? Happily, officials have managed to shift the goalposts. One told me: 'Customers can now use GB driving licences as one of the two forms of ID needed to verify their identity on the Government Gateway.' Bizarrely, until a few weeks ago only Northern Ireland driving licences were accepted. You have now had a call from the Revenue guiding you through the renewal process successfully. Debt collector got wrong door Mrs S.M. writes: I am 80 years old, widowed, and have been at the same address since 2013. I am sending you a letter I have received from Moorcroft Debt Recovery Ltd, showing my address but someone else's name, and demanding 1,013. I am concerned that my address might get a bad credit rating, and I am really worried that Moorcroft might send recovery agents to my door. Mrs S.M. is concerned that her address might get a bad credit rating, and really worried that recovery agents may turn up at her door Tony Hetherington replies: You told me that you and your husband, who you lost in 2018, always paid your bills on time, so let me start by reassuring you that your credit rating is safe as records of debt are linked to individuals and not just their addresses. That said, it took me fewer than ten minutes to trace the person targeted by Moorcroft. I am not identifying her today as she may have no idea that there is a claim against her, and she may not be a debtor at all. I will just say that she does live near you, though her name is nothing like yours. I asked Moorcroft whether all this was just a mistake or had the other woman allegedly used your address to get credit? The answer is that it was a mistake by an outside firm that traces debtors for Moorcroft, and your address has now been wiped from its records. Moorcroft apologises for the distress and inconvenience, and you will be receiving 100 to make up for this. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. The serene Oak Flat upland lies in the heart of Arizona. With its beautiful peaks and forest, it is a beloved spot for campers, hikers and rock climbers. Above all, it is the centre of the San Carlos Apache tribe's religion, a place of devotion where their gods dwell and they still perform traditional ceremonies. But it is now at the centre of a dispute between the tribe and FTSE 100 giant Rio Tinto. It is also shaping up to be an acid test of the mining group's claims that it is determined to respect sacred sites. Wendsler Nosie Sr of the Apache Stronghold a coalition of Apaches and non-Apache supporters that is bringing the case describes it as the 'most sacred site where we connect with our creator, our faith, our families and our land'. Clash: Wendsler Nosie of the Apache Stronghold is fighting Rio Tinto and BHP He says: 'It is a place of healing that has been sacred to us since long before Europeans arrived on this continent.' Members of the tribe, which was famously guided by Geronimo in the 19th Century, have referred to it as their equivalent to Mount Sinai and describe rock paintings and carvings as the footprints and spirit of their ancestors. In 1955 President Eisenhower signed an order declaring Oak Flat, which is in the Tonto National Forest 60 miles from state capital Phoenix, off-limits for mining. But since 2004 there has been a bitter struggle by Rio Tinto and fellow mining group BHP through their Resolution Copper joint venture to access the metal lying under Oak Flat, in opposition to locals. The project is now set to be at the centre of a Supreme Court battle that threatens to tarnish Rio's already damaged reputation. The company was the target of global outrage after it blew up two 46,000-year-old sacred Aboriginal caves in Western Australia two years ago to expand a lucrative iron ore mine, despite knowing their archaeological and religious value. The destruction resulted in an Australian parliamentary inquiry, a re-evaluation of heritage laws and a boardroom clearout which included then-chief executive Jean-Sebastien Jacques. Paying tribute: The Apache tribe was guided by Geronimo in the 19th Century Chairman Simon Thompson promised that the company would 'never again' destroy sacred sites, and new boss Jakob Stausholm has made a point of investigating toxic culture and practices. But the plight of the Apache tribe seems in direct contradiction to these aims. Resolution Copper, by its own admission, says the type of mining it plans to use could result in an almost two-mile-wide crater in Oak Flat, destroying the land. Roger Featherstone, director of campaign group the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition, says: 'One cannot forget Rio Tinto and BHP both promised the world they would never again allow the destruction of an indigenous sacred place after Rio Tinto blew up sacred rock shelters in Australia for a mine expansion the Resolution Copper mining plan would do exactly that.' Locals also insist the huge amount of waste created and water required for the project could imperil the state's resources. Featherstone adds: 'With Arizona in the middle of the worst drought we've faced in 1,200 years, there is not enough water for this project unless farmers, communities, our public lands, and other industry give up water to allow it.' Resolution Copper's attempt to get hold of the land has involved a complicated legal process hinging on a land swap with the National Forestry Service. That was waived through in January 2021 under the Trump administration. The Apache tribe immediately filed an injunction to halt the project altogether on the grounds that it would harm their religious freedom. In June, a federal court rejected this injunction in a 2-1 ruling with the dissenting judge Marsha Berzon calling the conclusion 'absurd'. However, the controversial land swap is on pause and still the subject of a federal investigation. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court appeal, expected to be lodged next month, will again make the case that the Apaches' religious freedom will be crushed by the mining plans. The case is between the Apache Stronghold and the US government but Rio could be called in as a witness. Luke Goodrich, vice president and senior counsel at the Apaches' legal group Becket Law, said: 'In law, principle and common sense this is one of the most straightforward cases I've ever worked on. 'Legally, for the Apaches themselves, this is a matter of life and death, it is about whether their tribe as a people could continue to exist for centuries.' A Rio spokesman said the company has already scaled back its plans and excluded some sensitive areas. Rio added: 'We respect the sovereignty of tribal communities. Resolution Copper is committed to preserving Native American cultural heritage while developing partnerships and bringing lasting benefits to our communities.' Hong Kong: HK logs 4.3k virus cases The Centre for Health Protection today said it is investigating 4,322 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 1,468 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 2,854 via verified rapid antigen tests. Separately, 280 imported cases were reported. Two schools have been advised to suspend face-to-face lessons for specific classes for one week. Furthermore, six residential care homes reported infection cases involving residents. The centre added that four more patients passed away. Meanwhile, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Block 3, Harbour Place in Hung Hom, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline. As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several estates of Sai Kung, Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun, North and Southern districts, the Housing Department will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Governments dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2022-08-06. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. I have always loved mail, so much so that I often think Id have made a good postal carrier. I could have one of those big leather pouches, a vehicle with the steering on the wrong side, and a day off on every holiday. Postal workers are unappreciated and unfairly criticized, but after decades of working for the newspaper, Ive long been accustomed to that. However, postal workers have quite a grind. Years ago, I spent a day with a postal carrier, Mr. Metcalf, and I learned quickly that theres far more to it than a leisurely walk through the neighborhoods each day. For every dime they earn, they deserve a quarter. I get my own daily dose of mail wrangling each morning when I open my work email interface. Each morning there are a couple hundred unread messages, and I spend more time than I should going through them to decide which two or three I actually need to see. Most are junk. Some are spam. A few are merchandising from places Ive done business. I always open Col. Littletons Leather Emporium messages in case some expensive bison bag I covet has been marked down 80%. (It hasnt yet, and Im not holding my breath). I get a daily digest from an outfit called 1440, a digest from the New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor, a short reading from Daily Stoic, and another called Delanceyplace.com. Among my favorites is Anu Gargs A.Word.A.Day, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in building their vocabulary. And then there are the pitches, which Ive always known as over-the-transom pieces, although nobody calls them that anymore, or even remembers transoms. Those get about three seconds before they head off to the Microsoft trash bin. The emails that I find the most interesting are the hoaxes; they keep me abreast of the latest trends in scammery. I know my Paypal account has not been frozen. Nobodys done anything with my Amazon account, Netflix, or any of a half-dozen other accounts I dont even have. But one I got the other day broke new ground for me. I got an email from some guy named Jason, who said he had taken over my computer and made a video of me doing something embarrassing while looking at nekkid women on the internet. It was clear by the way he wrote that it was unlikely that he was a native English speaker. There was something about the syntax that didnt ring true, even when he referred to me as mate and used other idioms with the hope of sounding British or Australian. The tone of his prose bounced from profane to formal and back, and he eventually got to the point: Send him 1,014 Bitcoin or hed send the video to everyone in my contact list. I did a quick calculation based on the days valuation of Bitcoin: $22,853,227.80, up a million or so from the day before. Like Ive just got that lying around. But the jokes on him; had he really taken over my computer, hed know my webcam is covered by a Chiquita banana sticker. The prices of plane tickets, tour packages, hotel rooms, and tourism services have all started falling as the peak summer travel season winds to a close. In June Linh Chi of Hanoi booked a ticket to Da Nang for traveling this week for VND4.2 million ($180). She recently booked a ticket on the same route for a friend who will accompany her, and the fare had fallen by nearly 20 percent to VND3.5 million. On the Vietnam Airlines website, the fares from Hanoi and HCMC to Da Nang, one of the busiest tourist hotspots this summer, have declined by 50-60 percent since late June. On Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways, the fares are VND1.6-2.5 million. A month ago a return trip from Hanoi to Phu Quoc cost VND7 million, but has now fallen by nearly half. Airfares on the Hanoi-HCMC route, one of the world's busiest, were up to VND6 million last month but are now no more than VND5 million. A Vietnam Airlines spokesperson said with travel demand showing signs of slowing down and the summer tourism season coming to an end, airfares are coming down. As children prepare to return to school after nearly three months and families wrap up their vacations, tourism services have also started to become cheaper. Vu Thi Huong Giang, manager of Alma Resort Cam Ranh in Khanh Hoa, said the number of people booking rooms at high-end resorts has decreased this month. The resort is preparing end-of-summer promotion offers such as discounts and freebies to stimulate demand, she said. Thu Trang, who sells tour packages, said prices have decreased by 20 percent from the last two months. "Children prepare to return to school and many families limit traveling this month. In addition, some tourist attractions such as Phu Quoc and Nha Trang are also entering the storm season, which impacts travel demand." According to surveys on leading online room booking platforms such as Booking and Agoda, hotel room prices have started falling this month. Many hotels are no longer full unlike in previous months. Earlier tourists were complaining they had to catch early morning flights to avoid airport crowds, struggle to find a restaurant and wait for hours to get on a ferry as most tourist destinations were overloaded during the peak travel season. Tourist destinations across Vietnam attracted over 23 million domestic tourists in the last two months, or over two thirds of the total number in the first six months of the year. There were 60.8 million domestic tourists in the first half, exceeding the full-year target of 60 million. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) addresses reporters during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., July 29, 2022. Photo by Reuters China announced on Friday it was halting dialogue with the U.S. in a number of areas, including between theater-level military commanders and on climate change, in a furor over U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan. Chinas foreign ministry said it was also suspending exchanges with Washington on countering cross-border crime and drug trafficking, all moves Washington called "irresponsible." Enraged when Pelosi became the highest-level U.S. visitor in 25 years to the self-governed island that Beijing regards as its territory, China launched military drills in the seas and skies around Taiwan on Thursday. The live-fire drills, the largest ever conducted by China in the Taiwan Strait, are scheduled to continue until noon on Sunday. Taiwans defense ministry said on Friday it scrambled jets to warn away Chinese aircraft that it said entered the islands air defense zone, some of which crossed the Taiwan Strait median line, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides. A total of 68 Chinese military aircraft and 13 navy ships had conducted missions in the strait, the ministry said. Chinas Eastern Theater Command of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) said in a statement it conducted air and sea drills to the north, southwest and east of Taiwan on Friday "to test the troops joint combat capabilities". U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington has repeatedly made clear to Beijing it does not seek a crisis over Pelosis visit to Taiwan, which took place on Wednesday during a congressional tour of Asia. "There is no justification for this extreme, disproportionate and escalatory military response," he told a news conference on the sidelines of ASEAN regional meetings in Cambodia, adding, "Now, theyve taken dangerous acts to a new level". Blinken emphasized that the United States would not take actions to provoke a crisis, but it would continue to support regional allies and conduct standard air and maritime transit through the Taiwan Strait. "We will fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows," he said. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told a media briefing after the ASEAN meetings: "I heard that U.S. Secretary of State Blinken held his news conference and spread some misinformation and was not speaking truthfully." "We wish to issue a warning to the United States: Do not act rashly, do not create a greater crisis," Wang said. Jing Quan, a senior Chinese Embassy official in Washington, echoed that, telling a briefing: "The only way out of this crisis is that the U.S. side must take measures immediately to rectify its mistakes and eliminate the grave impact of Pelosis visit." He said Washington should "avoid pushing China-U.S. relations down the dangerous track of conflict and confrontation." Diplomatic front White House national security spokesperson John Kirby countered that Chinas move to suspend some communication channels was "fundamentally irresponsible." "Theres nothing here for the United States to rectify. The Chinese can go a long way to taking the tensions down simply by stopping these provocative military exercises and ending the rhetoric," Kirby told reporters. China has not mentioned a suspension of military talks at the senior-most levels, such as with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. While those talks have been infrequent, officials have said they are important to have in the case of an emergency or accident. Kirby said it was not atypical for China to shut down military talks at times of tension, but that "not all channels" between the two countries military leaders had been cut off. Beijing separately announced that it would impose sanctions on Pelosi personally and her immediate family in response to her "vicious" and "provocative" actions. Speaking at a news conference in Japan after meeting Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Pelosi said her trip to Asia was "not about changing the status quo in Taiwan or the region." Stay calm Taiwans defense ministry said on Friday the islands military had dispatched aircraft and ships and deployed land-based missile systems to monitor ships and aircraft that briefly crossed the Taiwan Strait median line. On Thursday, China fired multiple missiles into waters surrounding Taiwan. Japans defense ministry, which is tracking the exercises, first reported that as many as four of the missiles flew over Taiwans capital, which is unprecedented. It also said that five of nine missiles fired toward its territory landed in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), also a first, prompting a diplomatic protest by Tokyo. Later, Taiwans defense ministry said the missiles were high in the atmosphere and constituted no threat. Some Taipei residents, including Mayor Ko Wen-je, criticized the government for not putting out a missile alert, but one security expert said that could have been done to avoid stoking panic and playing into Chinas hands. "It counteracted the effect of the Chinese Communist Partys psychological warfare," said Mei Fu-shin, a U.S.-based analyst. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen urged residents not to panic, saying in a Facebook post: "Please rest assured, stay calm and live as normal." Bonnie Glaser, a Washington-based Asia security specialist at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said China may be rehearsing for a blockade, "demonstrating it can block Taiwans ports and airports and prevent shipping." Taiwan has been self-ruled since 1949. Beijing has said its relations with Taiwan are an internal matter, and that it reserves the right to bring Taiwan under Chinese control, by force if necessary. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SCHAGHTICOKE Pat M. Casale, one of the Capital Regions most popular politicians who served seven terms in the state Assembly and was Rensselaer County clerk, died Friday at home. He was 87. Casale was considered a solid Republican, having been a member of the Young Republicans, a Troy GOP committeeman, a City Council member and mayor. But he also would buck the party as he did in 2003 when he voted with the Democrats to override budget vetoes by former Gov. George Pataki, with whom he had often differed. He was the most popular elected official in the area. The public loved him, Rensselaer County Clerk Frank Merola, who served as Casales deputy clerk, said Saturday. He was genuine. He was eager to learn about you and not shake hands and walk away, Merola said. Casales obituary describes him as bipartisan and willing to cross party lines to serve his constituents and the public. Casale retired from the Assembly in 2006 after opting not to seek re-election. He had friends on both sides of the aisle, said Merola, who described Casale as his mentor and that he treated him as a son. Former Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari, D-Cohoes, recalled serving with Casale and agreed with the assessment. He wasnt partisan at all, Canestrari said. He was a good person. He cared about people. He wanted to do the best for everyone." Casales budget override vote cost him his extra pay for his committee work, known as a lu-lu. Casale made up with his party leadership with an affable touch, continuing to win support in his district that at times included parts of Rensselaer, Saratoga, Columbia, Greene and Albany counties. In a 2006 Times Union article, Blair Horner, the legislative director for the New York Public Interest Research Group, said Casale was known for his willingness to break with the Republican party on issues. "He was known as a maverick who was often willing to vote against the wishes of (Pataki)," Horner said. "That's kind of in his reputation as someone who marched to the beat of his own drum." Even in his sprawling district, Casale seemed to know everyone, Merola said. The two once went to a wake in the town of Berlin in eastern Rensselaer County. Inside the funeral home, Casale was greeted as a friend by the family, delighted that he'd come to pay his respects, Merola said. He knew everybody. He knew who their family was, Merola said identifying a common trait among long-time Troy politicians who can discuss family trees when it comes to connecting with constituents. Casale was honored with the Uncle Sam Citizen of the Year Award, the LaSalle Institute Distinguished Alumni Award, the Brunswick Lincoln Award, the Father Flanagan Award, and the Lansingburgh Boys and Girls Clubs Frank P. Kennedy Award. Casale played a role in bringing the landmark statute of Uncle Sam to downtown Troy. Casale was born in North Adams, Mass. to the late Frank Casale and Margaret Amlaw Casale. The family moved to Troy where Pat M. Casale grew up and graduated from LaSalle Institute. After serving in the U.S. Army and being deployed overseas during the Korean War, Casale came home, married Mary Soldani and put himself through Hudson Valley Community College by working as a butcher at an A&P supermarket. Casale also worked at Nabisco Foods and Service Liquor and Wine Merchants as a salesman before opening Pat Casales Wine and Liquor. Assemblyman John T. McDonald, D-Cohoes, said that before he was elected to the Assembly he met Casale when he went to Albany to speak about business issues. McDonald is a pharmacist and owner of Marras Pharmary in Cohoes. He was always very kind and considerate. He understood small business concerns, McDonald said. In addition to being survived by his wife of 63 years, Casale is survived by their three children, Daniel and his wife Darlene, Lisa Fane and her husband Donald and Frank and his wife Carol, 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, two brothers, a sister and many nieces, nephews and cousin. Calling hours will be held from 3 to 7 p.m.. Tuesday at Transfiguration Parish, where Casale was a communicant, 50 Hillview Drive. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. The committal service will be held with military honors at St. Marys Cemetery, Troy. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BETHLEHEM - In January, Gov. Kathy Hochul and other prominent government officials, including Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, were at the Port of Albany to celebrate a $350 million economic development project with the potential to turn the Capital Region into a major hub for renewable energy. The Port of Albany had been officially chosen to host the United States' first-ever offshore wind manufacturing center. The massive facility would employ up to 500 workers trained to assemble large offshore wind turbine towers to be shipped down the Hudson River for two large wind farms being built off the coast of Long Island by private developers under a program with NYSERDA, the state's renewable energy agency. The plan is designed to help reduce New York's dependence on electricity produced by fossil-fuel power plants as required under the state's new climate change law, which mandates that New York's electric supply be "carbon-free" by 2040. "This mighty deep river will enable us to be the epicenter of offshore wind manufacturing that will serve the entire eastern seaboard," Tonko told the crowd. "That's a great opportunity. So we need to do this right." But what may not have been evident listening to Tonko and others that day was that the massive project - one of the most ambitious and complex in the port's history - would not be built in the city of Albany but on a 82-acre waterfront site known as Beacon Island located just south of the city in Glenmont, a hamlet in the town of Bethlehem. The Port of Albany purchased Beacon Island three years ago, when it began seeking site plan approval and zoning variances for the project from the town of Bethlehem. That slow and deliberative process continued even when the pandemic hit in early 2020. As a result, a large portion of local review of the project by the town's planning and zoning boards took place via video rather than at Town Hall, which was shut down under emergency orders from the state. Final approvals from the town were granted earlier this year. But residents in Glenmont who live near Beacon Island say all of this was news to them back in the spring when a contractor hired by the port began clear-cutting Beacon Island of all its trees in preparation for the construction of four large buildings with smokestacks totaling more than half a million square feet of space. Beacon Island is a piece of land created by landfill dumped on the shores of the Hudson over decades. During the 1950s and 60s, it became a dumping ground for coal ash from a nearby power plant that now runs on natural gas. Although the port has yet to obtain nearly all of the state and federal environmental permits that are required before it can start construction on Beacon Island, the state Department of Environmental Conservation granted the port a special waiver at the end of March that allowed it to cut trees from the site and begin compaction of the soil, a process that takes up to six months. Joanne Maier and her husband Dan can see Beacon Island from their home on Anders Lane, a short and narrow winding road up the hill from River Road.. "We could see the dust clouds from here," Maier said, who like her neighbors believes they were watching toxic fly ash being released into the air. That sparked fear in other residents as well, including Sylvia Rowlands, who lives on Halter Road and says there are mounds of loose fly ash all across the site. "There's no way to contain it," Rowlands said. "It is a dangerous place." Fly ash is a common byproduct of coal-burning power plants, most of which no longer operate in New York state or have been switched over to using natural gas. Fly ash is often used as an additive in construction materials. However, fly ash is also considered a health hazard if it is allowed to get into the air or the water supply since it can contain other dangerous chemicals such as arsenic, lead, and mercury that can cause serious health issues and even cancer. A 2008 spill of a massive pond filled with liquid fly ash in Tennessee that contaminated homes and local waterways is considered one of the worst environmental disasters ever in that state, sickening hundreds of workers. Officials with the DEC and the town, including Bethlehem supervisor David VanLuven, say the site has been deemed safe and that fly ash is contained at the site, which is monitored by the town and the state on a regular basis. After a recent Town Board meeting where residents expressed their frustration with town leaders over Beacon Island, VanLuven said he always will make time to hear people's concerns, while adding that the wind tower turbine project is very important to the town's economy and to the state's climate change reversal goals. "My door is always open," VanLuven said. "That's the collaborative community government we have in Bethlehem." Despite that, dozens of residents who live near Beacon Island signed a petition in June asking the town to rescind its approvals, which included a variance that allows the project to be built on a floodplain and closer to the shoreline than the town's zoning laws allow. Led by attorney Chris Dempf, a longtime Glenmont resident who also lives on Hartman Road, the group is now suing to have a judge overturn the town's approvals in what's known as an Article 78 proceeding, hoping to force the port to go through the public approval process once more. The suit alleges that residents within a 2-mile radius should have been notified in writing about the project before approvals were granted. Minutes of meetings of the town's zoning and planning boards indicate that no one spoke at public hearings held to give residents an opportunity to weigh in on project. "Petitioners were not provided adequate notice of the public meetings and were not noticed with an opportunity to comment and provide input for the development of the environmental impact statement," the lawsuit states. "Written notice should have been provided to all residents impacted by this project." In fact, documents that the Port of Albany provided to the town of Bethlehem show that its community outreach for the Beacon Island was focused almost exclusively on residents in Albany's South End near the port's existing operations. The port's public participation plan filed with the town specifically singles out the Ezra Prentice public housing complex, located 1.7 miles from the Beacon Island site, since "disadvantaged communities" are often "disproportionately" impacted by emissions from manufacturing operations. Although the focus on the South End and Ezra Prentice homes is part of the state's focus on addressing social justice issues as part of its new climate change law, there is no mention of homeowners in Glenmont who may also be affected. Their lawsuit, however, says there are serious concerns over not only the fly ash but also increased traffic as well as noise and visual changes that will negatively impact their children and their property values. Nathaniel Gray, who lives next door to Maier and her husband, said he and other Glenmont residents are fully supportive of the state's climate change and social justice goals. "That's important," Gray said. But he said at some point, there has to be consideration for the local impact on residents, even if the area is less populated and zoned for industrial use as compared to the hamlet of Delmar where Town Hall is located. He said he remembers coming across several sick or dead small animals after the tree-clearing took place and wonders if there was a connection, although he knows its almost impossible prove any connection. "Why did I find a row of dead baby moles in my yard?" Gray said. Meanwhile, the port suddenly stopped site work such as stump removal and grading and soil compaction at Beacon Island that is allowed under the DEC waiver. But that didn't happen because of the lawsuit. Rich Hendrick, CEO of the Port of Albany, said nothing will be done at the site until the port obtains its state and federal permits, putting the project months behind the construction schedule outlined in a contract with Equinor, a Norwegian wind energy development firm that needs the towers for its two wind farms it is building off Long Island in partnership with the British energy firm BP. That sudden pause has led to speculation that the Beacon Island project as well as nearly $30 million in federal funding awarded to the port to pay for preparing the site could be in peril, an idea that Hendrick and other supporters say is unlikely. Mark Eagan, the CEO of the Center for Economic Growth in Albany, says his organization has been working on establishing offshore wind power manufacturing in the Capital Region for four years now, and interest is as high as it has ever been after NYSERDA issued its latest solicitation to developers last month to add even more offshore wind energy to the state's electrical grid. Delays aren't out of the ordinary, especially when dealing with a relatively new industry. Most offshore wind turbine components are made overseas in places like Europe where offshore wind farms are more common. "There are unique challenges that come when youre the first," Eagan said. "But they can be overcome." SARATOGA SPRINGS Investigators declared a report of a possible bomb threat at SUNY Empire State College to be unfounded on Friday, calling it part of a recent surge of similar incidents at colleges around the country. City police received the call of the purported bomb threat on the West Avenue campus of the college at 1 p.m. At the time, a subject reported observing a suspicious device in the building, the department said in a news release, adding: This incident mimics similar incidents reported to college campuses nationwide since June. City officers and State Police using bomb-sniffing dogs searched the campus, finding no explosive device. The department forwarded its information to the FBI to help it investigate similar reports. In 2018, the FBI said on its website that the bureau and law enforcement around the country had been investigating a number of threats or hoax threats of violence against schools and other public places. On Friday, State Police in Plattsburgh responded to a suspicious package report at a Clinton Community College building which was cleared with no suspicious packages located. The investigation has deemed the call was not credible and police confirmed it was part of similar calls being reported around New York and the U.S. "These threatsoften issued via text message or posted on social mediaare taken very seriously," the FBI website said."Hoax threats are not a joke, and they can have devastating consequencesboth for the public and for the perpetrators," the site stated, noting it is a federal crime to make threats over social media, via text message, or through e-mail. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY A federal judge ordered oral arguments in an $8 million federal civil rights case Friday, not for the attorneys to argue their cases, but for them to answer specific questions about alleged fabricated evidence thats the key issue in the lawsuit filed against the special prosecutor in the 2009 Troy ballot fraud case. Its very difficult for the court to see what the claimed fabricated evidence was, said U.S. District Court Judge Mae. A. DAgostino. Fabricated evidence is seen in alleged police misconduct cases, DAgostino explained, when evidence is planted. The judge said theres nothing like that in the current case which began in her court and eventually went to the U.S. Supreme Court on appeal in 2019 before being sent back to her court in the Northern District of New York. Rensselaer County Democratic Elections Commissioner Edward G. McDonough filed the lawsuit alleging fabricated evidence against Special Prosecutor Youel C. Trey Smith III that grew out of the Rensselaer County grand jury indictment of McDonough for his alleged role in a Working Families Party 2009 primary election absentee ballot fraud scheme carried out by Troy Democrat office holders and party operatives. McDonough was acquitted at his second trial after a mistrial was declared in his first trial when the jury couldn't reach a unanimous decision. The U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the lawsuit in 2019 when it ruled McDonoughs case was properly filed when he was acquitted in December 2012 and that it did not have to be filed when allegedly fabricated evidence was brought against him. McDonoughs lawsuit also originally alleged malicious prosecution, but that claim wasnt allowed due to the absolute immunity prosecutors receive in criminal cases. What was at issue was McDonoughs claim that Smith allegedly fabricated evidence against him. DAgostino ordered the Friday afternoon hearing for both sides to address her questions as she weighs the motion filed by Thomas J. OConnor, the attorney for Smith, to dismiss the lawsuit. The judge said she expects to rule next week. OConnor told the judge in response to her questions that the McDonough claims dont point to any specific fabrication of evidence. The argument from Brian Premo, the attorney who successfully represented McDonough in the criminal case and is handling the federal lawsuit, is that Smith stepped outside of his role to function solely as a prosecutor and was involved in investigating the case. My problem is that I cant seem to find any fabricated evidence in the case, DAgostino repeated to Premo when she began questioning him. Premo argued that the fabricated evidence came from the testimony delivered by witnesses cooperating with Smith, who as special prosecutor first called them to testify before a Rensselaer County grand jury and then at the two criminal trials against McDonough. Premo also said that Smith has admitted to having an investigatory role. DAgostino noted that none of those who testified have come forward to say their testimony was not accurate. Premo explained that a person wouldnt have to do that, but that a trial jury should decide. McDonough and former Councilman Michael LoPorto, who died earlier this year, had a joint trial in the case that ended in a mistrial when the jury couldnt reach a unanimous verdict. At their separate retrials, each was acquitted. Smith secured guilty pleas from five Democratic officials and operatives in the case. Charges were dismissed against two other Democratic councilmen in the interest of justice. Rensselaer County continues to see allegations of voter fraud. The FBI has been investigating absentee ballot fraud allegedly committed by Republican elected officials and party workers in the 2021 elections. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York obtained a guilty plea in June in federal court by former Troy Councilwoman Kim Ashe-McPherson, who resigned from office. The federal agents continue to investigate the case. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SARATOGA SPRINGS Ready to Purrform lived up to his name when he took an early lead and then galloped home to win Saratogas Friday feature, the $200,000, Grade II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. He defeated seven rivals in the one-mile race over the Spas Inner Turf Course in 1 minute, 33.99 seconds on a course rated firm. That clocking was 1.99 slower than the course record set by Get Stormy three years ago. Ready to Purrforms margin at the finish line was 1 1/4 lengths over Wit. Celestial City was another 1 1/2 lengths back in third. After a start in which Ready to Purrform was bumped by Double Clutch, the eventual fifth-place finisher, who was in turn pressured by Celestial City, Ready to Purrform and rider Joel Rosario were in a comfortable rhythm after the first quarter-mile. The rider asked for more from the son of Kittens Joy as they passed the quarter pole and got it. Wit and Jose Ortiz were a case of too-little-too-late when their charge from sixth place to second came up short. Running on the front was a new tactic for Ready to Purrform. In his past three starts trainer Brad Cox has told the rider to try to come from behind. The result was the colts third win in six lifetime starts. His previous win was Laurel Parks Futurity last October. Rosario apparently liked what the change in strategy for Ready to Purrform. He showed a different style going to the lead. But, he was able to keep going with that speed. Cox agreed and then went looking for longer distances for the colt. He showed the new dimension of being forwardly placed. Well start talking about races at a mile and an eighth and beyond that, he said. Ready to Purrform has earned just more than a quarter of a million for Jerry Crawfords Donnegal Racing. At the betting windows, Ready to Purrform paid $9.80, $4.70 and $3.40 across the board. Wit paid $5.20 and $4.00. Celestial City paid $4.90. Golden Pal wins Troy The co-featured $300,000, Grade III Troy Stakes, a 5 1/2-furlong sprint on the Mellon Turf Course, turned out to be a tooth-and-nail battle between the 3-10 favorite Golden Pal and the 11-1 outsider True Valor. The Irish-bred True Valour got away quickly and set the pace around the Union Avenue turn. Golden Pal, with Irad Ortiz Jr., was slightly tardy coming away from the start and had to settle for third place in the backstretch. Golden Pal went after True Valor and joined the fray inside the eighth pole, where he tried to lug in. Ortiz got that situation corrected and went to a vigorous hand ride to the wire, where a photo-finish image showed Golden Pal to be the winner by a head over True Valour, who was a neck to the good of 30-1 shot Thin White Duke. The running time of 1 minute, 0.92 seconds was just 0.71 seconds off the course mark. According to trainer Wesley Wards postrace comments, Golden Pal will be pointed toward the Grade I Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland in early November. Im glad he showed a little versatility today, the trainer said. When you get to the Breeders Cup, there are so many fast horses 14 of them in the race you just want to be tactical. Golden Pals status as the favorite meant some very low payoffs. He paid $2.60 and the minimums of $2.10 and $2.10 to place and show. True Valour paid $5.10 and $4.60 with Thin White Duke returning $6.90 to show. The Golden Pal-True Valour exacta paid $7.10. Leparoux wins Venezia Award Julien Leparoux, a jockey who moved his tack from California back to New York recently, will receive the Mike Venezia Memorial Award for 2022 at ceremonies scheduled for the winner's circle next Friday. The award is named in memory of the jockey who died as a result of a riding accident in 1988. The 13-inch bronze sculpture is awarded annually to the rider who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified Venezia. Leparoux has a career record of 2,880 wins during which the horses amassed $183 million in earnings. Those wins include seven Breeders Cup victories and the Shoemaker Award in 2007 that is presented to the rider who wins the most Breeders' Cup races during the two-day event. Participants affirmed the ARF is the most important forum of ASEAN to promote dialogue and mutual understanding. They reviewed the operation and proposed development orientations of the forum in the time to come. The attending foreign ministers welcomed the implementation of trust-building activities and preventive diplomacy, through which trust was enhanced and cooperation expanded. At the meeting between Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and his US counterpart Antony Blinken (Photo: VNA) They agreed to give priority to cooperation in the areas of disaster relief, terrorism and transnational crime combat, maritime security, defence, peacekeeping, counter-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and disarmament, and agreed on a list of activities for the 2022-2023 period. Vietnam will co-chair a number of activities related to the implementation of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), health security, security, and nuclear safety. Participants spent much time discussing many regional and international issues. Sharing common concerns, FM Bui Thanh Son emphasised the importance of dialogue, goodwill cooperation and responsible contributions for the common goal of peace, security, stability and development. Affirming ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea issue, the Vietnamese FM stressed the importance of ensuring peace, security, stability as well as safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the waters. He called for the building of the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability and cooperation. ASEAN and China should continue to make efforts to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon achieve an effective, efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS 1982, he said. Regarding the recent developments in the region, Son reiterated the stances of ASEAN and Vietnam, calling on all parties to exercise restraint, avoid complicating the situation, and resolve differences and disputes by peaceful means in compliance with international law, the UN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). The Vietnamese FM said that ASEAN will maintain its engagement with Myanmar, promote the implementation of the Five-Point Consensus reached by the ASEAN Leaders for the benefit of the people of Myanmar and for peace, stability and development in the region. The event closed with the adoption of ARF Declarations on promoting peace and stability through trust-building measures and preventive diplomacy, maintaining the nuclear-weapons-free Southeast Asia , along with an ARF Framework Document on inclusive processes for preventive diplomacy and conflict resolution. The 29th ARF is the last activity of Foreign Ministers of ASEAN and partners within the AMM-55 and related meetings in Phnom Penh. Also on August 5, FM Bui Thanh Son had meetings with his counterparts from Russia, the US, the Republic of Korea, Australia and Timor Leste. At his meeting with Russian FM Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his wish that Russia continues to actively participate and make responsible contributions to regional cooperation forums, including ASEAN-led mechanisms such as ARF, EAS, ADMM+. He affirmed that Vietnam will continue supporting Russia to strengthen the strategic partnership with ASEAN. At their meeting, FM Bui Thanh Son and his US counterpart Antony Blinken highly valued the outcomes of meetings between leaders of the two countries, which they said created an impetus for the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership. They agreed to work closely in organising activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties. They also agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels and to strengthen the exploitation of trade and investment potential of each side, and foster partnership in overcoming war aftermaths. The two ministers pledged to coordinate at regional and international forums on issues of shared concern, including cooperation with the ASEAN and Mekong sub-region, the settlement of disputes in line with international law, maritime capacity building and human rights promotion. FM Bui Thanh Son reached agreement with the Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Park Jil on the focus of cooperation in the time ahead, which is exchanging delegations at all levels, especially high-level and upgrading the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two sides affirmed to strengthen cooperation at international forums and in regional security issues such as the East Sea, water security of the Mekong River, and climate change. Son suggested that the two sides restart bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the strategic dialogue on politics, security and defence. Meanwhile, Son and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong affirmed during their meeting that they will work closely together for the celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations. The Vietnamese FM proposed that the two sides increase cooperation in high-quality infrastructure, sustainable use and management of water resources, climate change response, high-tech agriculture and human resources development. The Australian side affirmed that it will continue to cooperate with Vietnam and ASEAN to promote sustainable development of the Mekong sub-region, initially through the Vietnam - Australia - Laos tripartite cooperation project. FM Son confirmed that he will make an official visit to Australia and co-chair the fourth Vietnam - Australia Foreign Ministers' Meeting. Meeting with Timor Leste's Minister of Foreign Affairs Adaljiza Albertina Xavier Reis Magno, Son agreed to coordinate with Timor Leste in implementing agreements such as the Framework Agreement on Technical and Economic Cooperation, the Trade Agreement, and those on cooperation in agriculture, health care, small and medium-sized enterprises development, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. FM Son suggested Timor Leste create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses, especially Viettel/Telemor to do business in the country. He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to share experiences with and support Timor Leste in joining the ASEAN./. WFO BOSTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, August 7, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 307 AM EDT Sat Aug 6 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values up to 99. * WHERE...Northern Connecticut, all of Massachusetts east of the Berkshires except for Nantucket, and all of Rhode Island except for Block Island. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT Sunday. * 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. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather 34992 Once again we take a peek at local news items from across the metro that might not be debatable but certainly deserve a glimpse. Check TKC news gathering . . . KC-area school districts looking to make more hires ahead of school year KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In just a few short weeks, school will be back in session. With the summer coming to an end, many districts across the Kansas City area are trying to make last minute hires before students return. Over in Independence, the Independence School District is in dire need of bus drivers. Show Me KC Schools, Samuel U. Rodgers Host Second Bounce Back to School Event Back for its second year, Show Me KC Schools and Samuel U. Rodgers will host the Bounce Back to School ... Buck O'Neil Hall of Fame plaque to be displayed in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The legacy of the man responsible for one of Kansas City's iconic attractions will once again be on display. The Kansas City Royals announced Friday that the Hall of Fame plaque of Buck O'Neil will make its way from Cooperstown, New York, to the City of Fountains next weekend. Overland Park teen holds mental health-focused music festival OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - An Overland Park native is channeling his love for music and personal experience with mental health into a musical festival called the "You Matter Festival." This is the fifth year of the festival, which was started by Will Gurley. Gurley is open about his struggles with depression and anxiety. 249: Homeless Prevention Coordinator Josh Henges This week we're hearing from Kansas City's Homeless Prevention Coordinator, Josh Henges, as he talks about upcoming plans in the ... Kansas City area teachers take lessons on trade skills, manufacturing KANSAS CITY, Mo. - As students of all ages get set to return to the classroom this month, some teachers are already getting a head start. On Thursday, a group of area teachers took part in an "externship" program with the Grandview C-4 School District at the Kansas City National Security Campus. When is the first day of school at Kansas City-area districts? KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City-area students and teachers are gearing up to return to school this month. For kids on the Kansas side, school starts as early as this coming week. But on the Missouri side, districts can't start classes until two weeks before the first Monday in September, so students get a little more summer time. Kansas City area parents, students gear up for return to school KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Maria Pinon and her daughter Eva, were out shopping for back-to-school supplies on Friday night. The pair told KSHB 41 News they wanted to get a jump on their shopping. "Start early, we are trying to beat the crowds," Maria Pinon said. Spring Hill High unable to offer standard meal service due to staff shortage SPRING Hill, Kan. - School meals are going to look different at Spring Hill High School at the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. Spring Hill Schools sent a notice to parents this week that due to a staff shortage at the high school kitchen, it is currently unable to offer standard meal service and that temporary changes were being made. Kansas City Police Regional Academy entrant officers honor slain officer Danny Vasquez KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Entrant officers from the 174th class of the Kansas City Regional Police Department honored fallen North Kansas City officer Danny Vasquez on Friday. The entrant officers, which KSHB 41 has followed since February, ran three miles in memory of Vasquez. Developing . . . This might be the last, great freebie distributed by Prez Biden's administration as the so-called midterm "red wave" approaches. And speaking of outdated leadership . . . Check the protestations of local dead-tree media . . . "Likely young voters Republicans and Democrats age 18 to 34 overwhelmingly support canceling student debt, regardless of whether they have such debt themselves, according to the latest polls by the Student Borrower Protection Center . . . "We agree: Biden must keep this promise." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . A few news items to consider for our fellow insomniacs, night owls, early birds and news junkie denizens of the local discourse . . . Check TKC news gathering . . . KANSAS CITY WORKS THE POLE FOR FITNESS!!! Laura Martin elevates pole dancing in KC with Alchemy Space Laura Martin of Alchemy Space Pole & Fitness. // Courtesy Laura Martin Every athlete has their gear, and for Laura Martin of Alchemy Space Pole and Fitness, seven-inch heels are the last step in prepping for her game. Located in the River Market, Alchemy Space is an exposed brick studio with windows overlooking the city and light pouring in, creating... Summer Road Work Reminder Weekend road construction planned around Kansas City KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Drivers on both sides of the state line will want to avoid certain areas of the metro this weekend. Crews plan to close lanes on Interstate 435 in Johnson County beginning Friday evening. The work will impact the stretch of highway between Metcalf Avenue and State Line Road. View From Below How to watch the Perseid meteor shower near Kansas City - KCtoday Have you ever seen a shooting star? What about 100? The Perseid meteor shower - aka the Perseids (PER-see-ids) - is predicted to take place throughout July and August. The shower happens when Earth passes through the trail of Comet... Rocker Talks Politics Melissa Etheridge believes in Kansas She says in her long life, the only constant is change, and she knows important changes are coming in Kansas. She's faced battles/discrimination and stood up for LGBT+ rights throughout her life, and she's ready to keep fighting, and encourages fellow Kansas folks to keep fighting for what's right Melissa Etheridge is feeling more in-sync... Fishy Spending At Money Pit Sneak peek: Kansas City Zoo's new aquarium under construction KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Members of the Kansas City Zoo can get a sneak peek tour this weekend the construction and progress of the Kansas City Zoo's new aquarium. The facility is expected to open in the fall of 2023. KSHB 41 News got its sneak peek on Friday. Classic Hottie Proves Brave Gabrielle Union, 49, goes NUDE after hinting at secret 'struggle' Gabrielle Union is feeling comfortable in her own skin. The 49-year-old star shared a completely nude snap to her 20.6million Instagram followers on Friday, but also hinted that she has 'struggled mightily' over the past few months, though she did not say why. 'Naked & Unafraid. Conspiracy Cash Out Alex Jones ordered to pay $45.2M more over Sandy Hook lies AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A Texas jury on Friday ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages to the parents of a child who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre , adding to the $4.1 million he has to pay for the suffering he put them through by claiming for years that the nation's deadliest school shooting was a hoax. Holy Land Hot Mess Endures Israel launches strikes on Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza The Israeli military launched strikes on Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza on Friday, a statement from the Israeli army said. La Migra Hobbled?!?! Pentagon denies plea to help with migrant buses to Washington The Pentagon has rejected a request from Washington DC's mayor for help in dealing with thousands of undocumented migrants who have been transported to the city from border states. Arizona and Texas say the buses are being routed to the US capital and New York City to spread out the burden of unprecedented migration. RECESSION GUARANTEE Danger ahead: The U.S. economy has yet to face its biggest recession challenge You'd be hard-pressed now to find a recession in the rearview mirror. What's down the road, though, is another story. There is no historical precedent to indicate that an economy in recession can produce 528,000 jobs in a month, as the U.S. did during July. GOP Vs. MAGA Again Rep. Liz Cheney questioned if US can be a 'nation of laws' if DOJ does not prosecute former President Donald Trump if there's evidence Rep. Liz Cheney said on CNN that there are "facts and evidence" to prosecute Donald Trump. If the DOJ doesn't prosecute, Cheney said there could be doubts that the US is a "nation of laws." Cheney, a Republican, co-chairs the House committee investigating the Capitol attack. GOP Rep. White House COVID Cont'd Biden tests COVID-19 positive for seventh straight day President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 again on Friday and his cough is "almost completely resolved," his physician, Kevin O'Connor, said. Biden "continues to feel very well" despite his rebound COVID-19 infection, O'Connor wrote. Such rebound infections have been seen in some patients who take the antiviral treatment Paxlovid. Talkers Still Embittered Tucker Carlson's Attempt At Revenge On Jon Stewart Backfires Spectacularly Fox News host Tucker Carlson is apparently still stinging from an encounter he had with Jon Stewart nearly 20 years ago in which Stewart called him a "dick" and urged him to go to journalism school on his own show. Public Lax About Vaxx Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine rollout off to sluggish start with just 7,000 doses in arms Following its emergency authorization last month, just 7,300 doses of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine have been administered to Americans across the country, newly updated data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals. Blow-Up Commemoration Hiroshima prays for peace, fears new arms race on atomic bombing anniversary TOKYO, Aug 6 (Reuters) - Bells tolled in Hiroshima on Saturday as the city marked the 77th anniversary of the world's first atomic bombing, with officials including the United Nations Secretary General warning of a new arms race following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. Far East Flex Cont'd China cuts ties with US on climate and military issues after firing missiles over Taiwan - live news US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with the new Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos Jr this morning in Malacanang palace in Manila. Blinken reportedly said that relations between their two countries were extraordinary, founded in friendship, and said Washington was committed to their joint defence pact. Unsatisfying To Americans Snickers maker apologises for advert suggesting Taiwan is a country BEIJING, Aug 5 (Reuters) - Mars Wrigley, makers of the Snickers candy bar, apologised on Friday for a Snickers product launch which Chinese social media users said suggested that Taiwan was a country. Local Bull . . . KC's professional bull riding team hosts first event in new PBR format KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City's first ever professional bull riding team is in town this weekend hosting an all new competition format for the PBR. The new league is made up of eight teams including the Kansas City Outlaws. They are competing Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Telcom Building Tax Breaks Offered Bernstein Cos. wins planners' approval to turn vacant AT&T offices into apartments - Kansas City Business Journal A Washington developer hopes to start cleaning up blight this year in a long-vacant downtown office building it looks to convert to apartments in an $82.2 million adaptive reuse project. The Bernstein Cos. on Tuesday won the City Plan Commission's recommendation for its development plan to refurbish AT&T Inc.'s 13-story former headquarters at 500 E. Head Check Working KC mental health professionals receiving more calls since launch of 988 Lifeline number It has been three weeks since the nationwide launch of the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.In the Kansas City area, mental health professionals help people 24 hours a day, seven days a week.Dr. Kristin Feeback leads CommCARE, a local 988 call center. It covers 22 counties in northwest Missouri. Local Artsy Tradition Endures Mid-America Arts Alliance turns 50, keeps its focus on the future - Kansas City Business Journal The Mid-America Arts Alliance is celebrating its 50th anniversary, a half-century in which it has delivered millions of dollars to artists and reached millions of Missourians and Kansans with its programs. In Missouri, the nation's first regional arts organization has given more than $12 million to artists and arts organizations since 1972, and its programs have reached more than 600,000 children and 5 million adults. Hotness This Weekend Temps will be in the upper 90s this weekend Hide Transcript Show Transcript ABOUT THEM, TOO. THEY WILL NOT BRING US ANY RAINFALL. IF YOU GOING TO THE BALLPARK, IT WILL BE HOT AND HUMID. 88 BY THE FIRST PITCH. A LIGHT BREEZE BY THE IN NINTH-INNING -- BY THE NINTH-INNING. LOWS ONLY GETTING INTO THE 70'S. And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Activists confront consequences despite election victory . . . Here's a surprising bit of investigation following tagging . . . The Lawrence Police Department said officers reviewed a video showing a suspect. They got a search warrant and made an arrest Friday morning . . . Leaders at Victory Baptist Church told Lawrence police vandals spray-painted messages on the church walls. The messages included phrases such as protect choice, and vote no. The vandalism happened sometime after midnight, just a day before the election. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . The shortage of children's Tylenol is one sign that the latest wave of Omicron variant of COVID is hitting children harder than the previous waves. - Paige Taylor White / Toronto Star Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh receives Governor of Gunma Prefecture Yamamoto Ichita (4th from left). (Photo: VGP) The Permanent Deputy Prime Minister expressed his pleasure to see Governor Yamamoto Ichita again less than three months after the meeting in Tokyo; highly praised the fact that Yamamoto Ichita is one of the first local leaders of Japan to visit Vietnam since 2020, marking the start of an exciting exchange of local delegations between the two countries in the post-COVID-19 period. He said that the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan has developed strongly, comprehensively and substantively in recent years, including the relationship between localities of the two countries. Gunma Prefecture is one of the Japanese localities that has the closest exchange and cooperation relations with Vietnam in all fields of economy, culture, education and training, labor and tourism. Especially in the field of education, at the proposal of Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh at the meeting in May, Gunma Prefecture signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Diplomatic Academy during this visit to Vietnam by Governor Yamamoto Ichita. Affirming that Vietnam attaches great importance to enhancing cooperation between localities of the two countries, the Deputy Prime Minister suggested that the authority of Gunma Prefecture and Governor Yamamoto Ichita continue to pay attention to promoting delegation exchanges, cultural exchanges and people-to-people exchanges on the occasion of the two countries' 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2023; encourage enterprises of the prefecture to invest more in Vietnam in the fields that Vietnam has needs and Gunma Prefecture has strengths; strengthen cooperation in human resources, expand the reception of trainees and Vietnamese workers on the basis of agreements signed with ministries and branches of Vietnam. The Permanent Deputy Prime Minister also suggested that Gunma Prefecture create favorable conditions for the community of nearly 10,000 Vietnamese people living and studying in the prefecture. On this occasion, he once again expressed his condolences and conveyed his deep condolences to the Government, the Liberal Democratic Party and the family of the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Governor Yamamoto Ichita expressed his appreciation for the love of the Vietnamese leaders and people after the death of the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. Mr. Yamamoto Ichita affirmed that Gunma Prefecture attaches importance to relations with Vietnam, so after meeting with the Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Prime Minister in Tokyo, Governor Yamamoto Ichita quickly decided to visit Vietnam with many activities in Hanoi and Da Nang. Gunma Prefecture, home of four Japanese Prime Ministers, has a population of 2 million, with a GDP of about USD81 billion in 2021, with strengths in the manufacturing industry of transport equipment, components, food, chemicals and plastics./. The meeting reviewed the commission's performance in 2021 and the first six months of 2022, and defined orientations and tasks for the rest of the year. According to Deputy General Director of the General Department of Vietnam Customs Mai Xuan Thanh, as of June 30, 249 out of 261 administrative procedures of 13 ministries and sectors had been connected to more than 55,000 businesses. Meanwhile, 25 out of 35 administrative procedures that needed to be completed by the first quarter of this year had been implemented. At the meeting (Photo: VNA) Vietnam has launched official connections of the ASEAN Single Window to exchange information on electronic certification of origin form D with all other ASEAN member countries. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has coordinated with the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN countries to complete the connection and exchange of customs declarations for all ASEAN countries in accordance with the common plan and roadmap. With non-ASEAN countries, the ministry is processing the opening of an official connection channel. The ministry is Finance also coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to prepare to pilot the exchange of phytosanitary certificates. ASEAN countries are also discussing the design of solutions and roadmaps to connect and exchange electronic documents between ASEAN and its partners of Japan, China, and the Republic of Korea. The ministry has completed the exchange of information on the experimental customs declaration through a secure connection channel with the Eurasian Economic Union, said Thanh. The Ministries of Finance, and Industry and Trade are coordinating to negotiate a protocol, of which an annex of technical requirements for the upgrade of the National Single Window to exchange electronic C/O information with the Republic of Korea has been agreed. The Ministry of Finance is also coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries to build a technical system for the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement between Vietnam and New Zealand. Regarding trade facilitation, Thanh said that many trade facilitation solutions have been implement, speeding up the clearance of goods, especially agricultural products, fruits and vegetables. Regarding the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Vietnam has followed the schedule of TFA commitments with the WTO with significant progress, with over 80% of the commitments realised. As scheduled, Vietnam's TFA implementation rate will reach 94.5% on December 31, 2023 and 100% on December 31, 2024. At the meeting, participants gave many opinions on trade facilitation, especially in the field of logistics. Addressing the meeting, Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh, who is also Chairman of the Commission 1899, lauded the achievements in the implementation of the National Single Window, the ASEAN Single Window and specialised inspection and trade facilitation, thus creating favourable conditions for businesses and people in import and export, trade, entry and exit activities of people and vehicles. He asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade to continue reviewing legal basis for logistics development, while requesting all ministries, sectors and localities to review all administrative procedures to minimise overlapping and waste of time for customs clearance, and report to the commission on unnecessary procedures. He underlined the need to quickly develop a decree on information connection and sharing in the field of export, import and transit of goods, as well as the exit, entry and transit of people and means of transport under the National Single Window to suit the reality. He directed the Ministry of Finance, from now until the end of the year, to allocate funds for the activities of the Commission 1899, ensuring the implementation of the National Single Window, the ASEAN Single Window, specialised inspection and trade facilitation are carried out smoothly, contributing to the economic development process and creating maximum convenience for people and businesses./. Italy is providing Ukraine with a preferential interest-free loan of EUR 200 million which will be transferred to the national budget to pay salaries to teachers at secondary education establishments. Ukrainian Minister of Finance Serhiy Marchenko has signed respective loan agreement on Friday, August 5, according to the Ministry of Finance. The loan will be issued for a period of 15 years with a grace period of seven and a half years. "The government of Italy was one of the first to support Ukraine after the start of the full-scale invasion. And today I am pleased to sign a new loan agreement that will help the Ukrainian government maintain financial stability and continue to provide priority social spending," the ministry quoted Marchenko as saying. Russia has stopped concealing the fact that it is forming a 3rd Army Corps to be deployed in Ukraine, staffed with male servicemen aged 18 to 50 without prior military experience. Thats according to the experts with the Institute for the Study of War, Ukrinform reports. ISW has previously reported that Ukrainian officials believed that Russian forces were forming a 15,500-person-strong 3rd Army Corps within the Western Military District (WMD) based out of Mulino, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, but did not have official confirmation of its formation from Russian sources. On August 5, Russian propagandist Sasha Kots announced recruitment for the Samara volunteer battalion in Samara Oblast and noted that the battalion will join the 3rd Army Corps of the Russian armed forces. The battalion is recruiting men between the ages of 18 and 50 who have completed at least middle or high school education, without required prior military experience, the report says, adding that Kots announcement also indicates that the Kremlin is likely planning to compose the 3rd Army Corps at least in part from volunteer battalions. Omsk Oblast Governor Aleksandr Butkov reported on August 5 that Omsk Oblast is continuing to form three volunteer battalions - Irtysh, Avangard, and Om to deploy to Donbas to provide engineering, medical and logistical support. It should be recalled that Russia has been forming across Novosibirsk, Saratov, Ulyanovsk, and Kurgan Oblasts volunteer battalions to take part in the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military has engaged two command-and-control posts of the Russian 76th Airborne Assault Division and 49th Army in Chornobaivka. Thats according to Operational Command South, Ukrinform reports. Also, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the command and observation post of the enemy battalion tactical group in Bruskinske and the area where weapons and equipment were amassed in Oleshky, Kherson region. Six ammunition depots in the Berislav and Kherson districts, as well as the command and observation post of the enemy battalion tactical group in Bruskinske were destroyed by artillery fire. Ukrainian rocket and artillery units performed a number of fire missions, the report adds. Confirmed Russian losses over the past day include: 79 servicemen, four T-72 tanks, two Msta-S self-propelled howitzers, artillery system, radar, command and staff vehicle, 10 armored combat vehicles, and 11 military trucks Meanwhile, nine Russian warships and cutters are maneuvering off the Crimea coast in the Black Sea, while the rest are sheltering at their bases. On combat duty remain two warships and two submarines, all carrying Kalibr cruise missiles, as well as a large landing craft. Since the full-scale invasion began, the troops of the Russian Federation have killed 361 children and injured 702 children in Ukraine. "As of the morning of August 6, 2022, more than 1,063 children were affected as a result of Russias full-scale armed aggression. According to the official information of juvenile prosecutors, 361 children were killed and more than 702 children received injuries of varying degrees of severity," the Prosecutor General's Office posted on Telegram. It is noted that these numbers are not final as efforts are ongoing to establish casualties in the areas of active hostilities, in temporarily occupied and liberated territories. Most children were affected in Donetsk region 371, Kharkiv region 197, Kyiv region 116, Chernihiv region 68, Luhansk region 61, Mykolaiv region 58, Kherson region 55, Zaporizhzhia region 40. In particular, on August 5, a 13-year-old boy was injured in the enemy strike on the city of Mykolaiv. On July 28, a minor boy was injured in the Russian shelling of the village of Chornobayivka, Kherson region. In Kharkiv region, on March 22, a six-year-old boy received fatal injuries in the Russian attack on Izium, and a 12-year-old boy died of injuries received in the enemy strike on the village of Mali Prokhody on June 21. The armed forces of the Russian Federation have already damaged 2,211 educational institutions by bombing and shelling, 230 of them were completely destroyed. Photo credit: AA ol The European Commission has drafted a new proposal that would provide EUR8 billion in financial aid to Ukraine through a mix of grants and loans. Thats according to Politico, referring to two EU officials, Ukrinform reports. The EU would disburse up to EUR5 billion as long-term loans leveraged on the back of guarantees provided by EU countries, according to their contribution to the blocs budget. Interest payments would be subsidized by the EUs budget. The remaining amount, around EUR3 billion, would be provided as grants, the officials said, according to the report. The new proposal comes after Germany refused to provide guarantees to support EUR9 billion in loans for Ukraine. Berlin argued that grants are better suited to help the embattled nation, which is already heavily in debt. Earlier, Germany provided its own grant of EUR1 billion. While there's no timeline yet, the Commission is aiming to obtain approval by the European Parliament and EU countries in September so that disbursement can start in October, one source said. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in his latest video address blasted the EU for the delay in aid. Back in May, EU leaders pledged to provide up to EUR9 billion in macro financial assistance to Kyiv. But so far, the Commission has only been able to disburse EUR1 billion in loans backed by the EUs budget. Kyiv has been running a budget deficit of around $5 billion per month since Russias invasion. It has called on international donors for help so it can cover basic costs like pensions and public sector wages. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky says the food crisis can be overcome via the implementation of the Grain Initiative. "Three vessels with grain for export left our ports today from Odesa and Chornomorsk. Almost 60,000 tonnes of corn are on board, which are expected by consumers in Turkey, the UK, and Ireland. The first new vessel since February 24 is heading to the port of Chornomorsk for loading," he said in a daily video address on Friday night. "The main thing now is the constant increase in exports. Every adequate world player is interested in this," Zelensky said. According to the head of state, "the more our grain will be on the global market, the smaller will be the harvest of political chaos in countries, primarily in Africa and Asia, but not only there. We must remember that this year the demand for imported food in Europe is much higher than expected. European harvests are smaller because of the heat." "But the Ukrainian harvest of grain and oilseeds will most likely meet the forecasts more than 65 million tonnes are expected. Therefore, if the partners do their part of the obligations under the Grain Initiative, the security part, and do not allow new Russian provocations in relation to our exports, then the food crisis, which has been so threatening to the world, can be overcome," the president said. Russia is not seeking to find a diplomatic solution to put the war it is waging against Ukraine to an end. Thats according to Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, who spoke in Ghana on Friday during her tour across Africa. Ive also heard from some that Africans dont really want to be pressured to pick a side or take a certain position. I understand that. None of us want to repeat the Cold War. And Africans have the right to decide their foreign policy positions, free of pressure and manipulation, free of threats, the envoy said. She also made it clear that it is due to Russias actions, not those of Ukraine, that dozens of millions in Africa are now facing a threat of famine. Ive heard many African leaders say they want diplomacy to end the war, and we could not agree more. Moscow and Kyiv will need to find ways to live together in peace. Its always better to solve disagreements at the negotiating table and not on the battlefield. Unfortunately, weve seen no indication that Russia is prepared to accept a diplomatic solution, said the ambassador. The diplomat also noted that good-faith dialogue and negotiations must be held on terms the Ukrainians themselves decide. President Volodymyr Zelensky has held a special meeting to consider the issue of compensation for damage and losses caused to Ukraine by Russias military aggression. The relevant report was published on the presidents website, Ukrinform reports. Zelensky at the meeting noted that the issue of compensation for damages caused by the Russian invasion is an important element of the responsibility that the aggressor state must bear. To develop and implement the compensation mechanism, the President created an ad hoc working group chaired by Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, consisted of representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers and leading Ukrainian and foreign specialists on international law, the report reads. The officials discussed the progress of the negotiation process regarding the forced withdrawal of assets of the Russian Federation in favor of our state and coordinated steps in this direction. Work on the creation of an ad hoc compensation commission through the conclusion of a multilateral international agreement with Ukrainian partners continues. This commission will be able to consider applications seeking for compensation for damage caused by the war, the report reads. In addition, an important step to ensure the international legal basis for this mechanism was the adoption of a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on June 22, 2022, which states that the Council of Europe will promote and ensure the implementation of a comprehensive system of accountability for aggression against Ukraine by implementing an institutional compensatory mechanism for our state . Similar work is being done in the OSCE, the European Parliament, the UN and other organizations. The Presidents Office also noted that Ukraine is also negotiating with partners on how Russian assets, which are currently frozen in various jurisdictions, can be recovered and used for reparations for the damage caused by the war. iy The relatives of the Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs), who were defending Mariupol-based Azovstal steelworks against Russian invaders, have held a rally near Lviv National Opera. They called on the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to come to the correctional facility in Donetsk Regions Olenivka and inspect the confinement conditions of Ukrainian defenders, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. This day a week ago, Russia committed a terrorist attack in Olenivka, where our relatives are held. They killed many heroes we had been waiting for at home. Today we have come here, because Olenivka cannot be kept silent, cannot be ignored and is simply impossible to forget. Our defenders are still remaining there. Today we have gathered to urge the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the international community not to ignore the crimes committed by the Russian Federation and to recognize it as a terrorist state, the organizers of the rally said. The rally participants insist that the UN and the ICRC representatives immediately gain access to the POWs held in Olenivka, check their health and inspect their confinement conditions, as this is exactly what they guaranteed when the defenders of Mariupol left the Azovstal steelworks to be held captive. More than 100 people of different age groups women, children, mothers and grandmothers joined the rally with posters: Bring Heroes Back Home, Olenivka 07/29/2022, Russia is Terrorist State, Azov Heroes, Bring My Father Back. These slogans, as well as Azov is Entire Ukraine, were chanted by the rally participants. We believe the world should unite to help Ukraine in our struggle for statehood, to provide the necessary weapons; and in our struggle as the relatives of Azovstal defenders in order to bring our servicemen back home, Iryna, mother of one of Ukrainian POWs, said. Similar rallies are expected to be held in different European cities. A reminder that, on the night of July 29, 2022, a powerful explosion took place within the former correctional facility situated in Donetsk Regions Olenivka, where Russians kept Ukrainian POWs. At least 50 Ukrainian defenders were reported killed and over 70 seriously injured. mk Pope Francis has met with Ukraines Ambassador to the Vatican, Andrii Yurash, having discussed the pontiffs possible visit to Ukraine before the scheduled trip to Kazakhstan. Thats according to a tweet the Ambassador posted on Saturday, August 6. Moments of communication with Holy Father are always inspirational. Especially when there is a chance to discuss and promote subjects that is on table for a long time, like Popes visit to Ukraine: Ukraine wants to meet and greet His Holiness as quick as possible, even before his trip to Kazakhstan, the envoy wrote. The diplomat noted the Popes words that he is very close to Ukraine and wants to express this closeness through his visit. As reported earlier, Pope Francis intends to fly to Kazakhstan to take part in the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions on September 13 through 15. Earlier, in an interview with Reuters, the pontiff expressed hope that following his Julys visit to Canada, he could also make trips to Moscow and Kyiv. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has extended the invitation to Pope Francis, stressing that the visit would strengthen the Popes role in restoring peace on the Ukrainian land. | By Mary Therese Phelan About 30 members of the University of Maryland, Baltimores (UMB) administrative and academic units recently gathered to participate in an interactive kickoff of the first-ever UMB Strategic Diversity Planning Process. Tyrone Roper, holding microphone, provides input during a strategic diversity planning session while tablemates Hershaw Davis Jr. and Nicole Palmore, and Reetta Gach (standing) listen. As you and I know, based on your experience, your insights, and your expertise, equity, diversity, inclusion, and anything related to organizational change requires a systemic, sustainable, and strategic approach, Diane Forbes Berthoud, PhD, MA, UMBs first chief equity, diversity, and inclusion officer and vice president (CEDIO/VP), told the participants assembled in the Elm Ballroom in the SMC Campus Center, as well as those watching virtually. The event was aimed at providing: An update on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) leadership, collaborations, and partnerships An overview of the diversity strategic planning process and an opportunity to discuss and offer feedback about that process A preview of the upcoming institutional EDI dashboard and a chance to provide feedback on the dashboards development. The institutional dashboard will map hires, recruitment, promotion, retention, and other major institutional indicators. Participants were asked to answer the following questions: What are the most critical issues to address related to diversity, equity, and inclusion at UMB? Why? What would a diverse, equitable, and inclusive UMB look, sound, and feel like? Which EDI indicators/performance measures are most important to track and report in an institutional dashboard? Why? Table discussions were held while attendees wrote their answers on large pieces of posterboard and then shared their ideas with the group as a whole. The input from participants affirmed the needs related to recruitment, retention, promotion, advancement, and accountability, said Forbes Berthoud, who was appointed last year by UMB President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS. The involvement of all these different people is important because we want everything were doing around creating a more equitable, diverse, and inclusive university to be a collective effort. It needs to be collective; it needs to be integrative and holistic. So we need people from Administration and Finance and from the law school and from police, from communications, from the presidents office, so we can hear all the perspectives from the academic units and the administrative units, on how we can make this University even greater and more inclusive than it is. Hershaw Davis Jr., MSN, BSN 09, RN, clinical instructor, Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, was glad he came. I wanted to participate not only as an alum and a faculty member, but also as a Marylander. I have a vested interest in how we serve the people of Maryland, he said. And to do that, diversity, equity, and inclusion are a part of the service that we provide to our citizens in the state. Added Tyrone Roper, MSW, director of UMBs Community Engagement Center, I just think that any work around diversity, equity, and inclusion is important because it really helps to ensure that the goals and values of the University are upheld. And it also creates a level of support and encouragement for the folks who have otherwise not been treated fairly across campus. In the fall, UMBs Office of EDI will host more sessions in person and virtually to provide updates on the strategic planning process. In addition to the quantitative data from the dashboard and EDI-administered surveys, the office will coordinate with academic and administrative units to conduct focus groups and other meetings to listen and learn about UMBs needs and priorities related to EDI. Roper said he plans to participate in future strategic planning sessions, focus groups, or in any other way he possibly can. Im committed to the process. Im committed to the end, he said. This is a process that we see as iterative and ongoing, Forbes Berthoud added. Were open to growing and growing. Afterward, Forbes Berthoud called the event a great success. Part of what makes equity, diversity, and inclusion leadership work is partnership and collaboration with the entire UMB community. And this was the beginning of that conversation, formally, with many of our key constituents, she said. Also, I was very moved by the excitement and the hope, especially when they saw the data about the University on a big graph that says, Heres how were doing, and heres where we need to improve. And I think people are all in for that change. The Center for Counteracting Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has explained what the Russian invaders are probably using the territory of Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) for. "Today the Russian occupation forces use the largest nuclear power plant in Europe as a military base to shell Ukrainians, knowing that the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot and will not fire back, since in this case there is a high probability of hitting the nuclear reactor or highly radioactive waste in storage," it said in a statement on Facebook. The center recalled that since March 4 Zaporizhia NPP and the city of Enerhodar have been occupied by the Russian troops, turning the machine room of the first power unit of the plant into a military facility, where there are about 500 Russian soldiers, heavy weapons, tanks and explosives. "The entire arsenal of imported heavy weapons with ammunition is currently located in the same premises with the equipment that ensures the operation of the turbine generator. The military equipment of the invaders made it impossible for specialized fire and other equipment to enter the engine room of the first power unit, which increases the risk of fire and makes extinguishing extremely problematic," it said. Also, the NPP is completely out of control of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Additionally, shelling attacks on Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region, using Grad systems from the territory around the NPP and Enerhodar have been recorded. Casualties, damage to houses, industrial enterprises and a hospital have been reported as a result of the attacks. Also, the center believes that "the Russian troops use Zaporizhia NPP to increase fear in Europe of the possibility of a nuclear catastrophe and reduce the desire of the western countries to provide military assistance for the Ukrainian counteroffensive." On Saturday, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has held a meeting on compensating Ukraine for the damage caused by the armed aggression of Russia. The head of state said that the issue of compensation for damages caused by the Russian invasion is an important element of the responsibility that the aggressor state must bear. To develop and implement the compensation mechanism, the president created an ad hoc working group chaired by Head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak, consisted of representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers and leading Ukrainian and foreign specialists on international law. The meeting participants discussed the progress of the negotiation process regarding the forced withdrawal of Russia's assets in favor of Ukraine and coordinated steps in this direction. In particular, work on the creation of an ad hoc compensation commission through the conclusion of a multilateral international agreement with Ukrainian partners continues. This commission will be able to consider applications seeking for compensation for damage caused by the war. An important step to ensure the international legal basis for this mechanism was the adoption of a resolution by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on June 22, 2022, which states that the Council of Europe will promote and ensure the implementation of a comprehensive system of accountability for aggression against Ukraine by implementing an institutional compensatory mechanism for Ukraine. Similar work is being done in the OSCE, the European Parliament, the UN and other organizations. In addition, Ukraine is negotiating with partners on how Russian assets, which are currently frozen in various jurisdictions, can be recovered and used for reparations for the damage caused by the war. At the meeting, it was noted that today the partners of Ukraine do not doubt that this should be done, and the only question is to find a legal avenue. (@Abdulla99267510) The Prime Minister has made a fervent appeal to the people, especially the philanthropists, to generously help the people affected by the floods. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Aug 6yh, 2022/ Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a relief fund for assistance of flood affected people. The Prime Minister made a fervent appeal to the people, especially the philanthropists, to generously help the people affected by the floods. Alluding to the devastation caused by floods due to unprecedented rains, he said there has been an extraordinary destruction in Balochistan whilst immense losses have also been caused in Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The Prime Minister said despite difficult economic situation, the government has immediately released five billion rupees for the flood victims. He said there is a need to help the flood affected brothers, sisters and children with the spirit of 'Ansar-i-Madina'. The cash assistance for the flood victims can be deposited in Prime Minister's Relief Fund 2022 Account No. 'G-12164' The Federal government has already declared emergency in the flood ravaged areas while the provincial governments have also been asked to declare the affected areas as calamity hit so that relief activities can be further accelerated. A fire at a fuel depot in western Cuba sparked by a lightning strike has injured more than 60 people, three of them critically, officials said Saturday Havana, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Aug, 2022 ) :A fire at a fuel depot in western Cuba sparked by a lightning strike has injured more than 60 people, three of them critically, officials said Saturday. The official newspaper Granma attributed the fire, which began Friday evening, to an "electric discharge" that struck a tank at the depot outside the city of Matanzas, 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Havana. The fire spread early Saturday from one fuel tank to a second, sending a huge plume of black smoke into the sky. The Faustino Perez provincial hospital reported that 67 people had been injured, with 15 in serious or very serious condition. And the Cuban presidency said 17 others, primarily firefighters, are listed as missing. And some 800 people had been evacuated from the area, according to regional officials. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero were supervising rescue efforts. Upon hearing a first explosion, Yuney Hernandez and her family left their home just two kilometers from the depot, the 32-year-old mother told AFP. They returned a few hours later. But then around 5am Saturday (0900 GMT) they heard more explosions, "like pieces of the tank were falling," she said. The journal Granma quoted a senior official of state-owned Cubapetroleo as saying that the fire was due to "a fault in the lightning-rod system, which could not withstand the energy from the electrical discharge." The depot supplies the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, but service to the plant has not stopped, the official said. The fire occurred at a time when the island -- with an outdated energy network and persistent fuel shortages -- has faced mounting difficulties in meeting increased energy demands amid severe summer heat. Since May, the authorities have imposed energy blackouts of up to 12 hours a day in some regions -- sparking at least 20 protests across the island's interior. (@Abdulla99267510) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the Israeli air strikes on Gaza. ISLAMABAD: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News- Aug 6th, 2022) At least ten Palestinians including a Commander of the Islamic Jihad group have been martyred in Israeli air strikes in Gaza this morning. The attacks follows the arrest of senior Palestinian leader Bassam al-Saadi in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin. The latest reports said that a five years old girl also martyred in Israeli attack. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack, if the barbarism had any face it was that of Israel which was carryong out attacks inside Gaza. PTI chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan also strongly condemned Israeli attack on Gaza. Many other international leaders from around the world have strongly condemned Israeli attack on Gaza. Hamas has termed this attack as a brutal crime and massacre done by the Israeli occupation against Palestinians. A senior official for Hamas Ghazi Hamad said there is no justification for the attacks and Palestinian factions have the right to defend themselves and protect their people. A joint Rwandan military contingent, with their Mozambican counterparts and forces of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), have liberated more than 600 hostages in the Province of Cabo Delgado, in northern Mozambique. Vatican News. According to a statement released by Rwandas Defence Force this week, the hostages were liberated in an offensive carried out by the three armed forces operating in Mozambiques Cabo Delgado Province. The joint forces destroyed terrorist bases in the Catupa forest, northeast of the Macomia District. Islamic State affiliated militants operating in the area are known as IS-Mozambique (IS-Moz). The terrorist groups of IS-Moz have been forced to flee towards the localities of Nkoe and Nguida in the same district. They are still being pursued by the joint forces, read the Rwandan statement. Insecurity on Cabo Delgados main highways However, rebel formations continue to threaten villagers and motorists in the area and create insecurity along the main roads. On 1 August, terrorists attacked a column of vehicles from the Oasse area travelling on the stretch between Nova Zambezia and Vida Nova. The convoy was travelling without a military escort usually provided by the countrys Defence and Security Forces (FDS). The terrorist attack resulted in the death of one of the drivers of the vehicles. In the weeks between 1 June 1 to 21 July 21, close to hundred rebel attacks were recorded, almost two per day. The number of displaced people who have fled their homes due to the war now stands at 946 508. The number represents an increase of 161 944 since February this year. Of these, 83 983 people fled attacks in the Ancuabe and Chiure districts in June as the war spread south, leading to a worsening of the humanitarian situation in southern Cabo Delgado. IS-Moz wants to be seen as spearheading a religious conflict According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 138 231 Internally Displaced Persons returned to their villages liberated by the joint forces, notwithstanding a fragile security situation. The propaganda of the Islamic State in Mozambique insists on turning the insurgency into a religious conflict. After the 26 July assault on the village of Nangade, IS-Moz claimed responsibility, stating that they beheaded three Christians. (Agenzia Fides) The ecclesial body representing the Churches of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM) joins in expressing solidarity to the Church in Nicaragua, as it faces growing harassment by the Sandinista regime. By Lisa Zengarini The Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) has expressed its solidarity and closeness to the Church of Nicaragua, as tensions with President Daniel Ortegas Sandinista Government reached a new high this week when a bishop was prevented by the police from celebrating Mass. The incident took place on August 4, the day feast of St. John Vianney, patron of parish priests, when Bishop Rolando Alvarez of Matagalpa, along with six priests and six lay Catholics, was not allowed to leave the diocesan offices to preside over the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the local cathedral. The scene was captured in a video widely shared on social media, in which the bishop is seen kneeling down with his hands up and explaining that authorities hadnt given permission to go to the cathedral. A second video shows Bishop Alvarez holding a monstrance with the Eucharist in the street and a policeman blocking him. Five Catholic radio shut down this week Bishop Alvarez coordinated a network of five Catholic radio stations that the Nicaraguan government shut down earlier this week, because of their allegedly critical views of the administration of President Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, who has indirectly attacked Bishop Alvarez as a manipulator of religious symbols. According to the Nicaraguan Institute of Telecommunications y Correos (TELCOR), the media outlets, including Radio Hermanos in Matagalpa, lacked the necessary licence, though the diocese of Matagalpa claims that the documentation required for the authorization was submitted to the competent authorities in 2016 by Bishop Alvarez himself. International outcry The closure has been strongly condemned by the European Union, the United States, and the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights (CIDH). Meanwhile, CELAM issued a statement on Friday to express its solidarity with the suffering Church and people of Nicaragua, saying it is deeply saddened by the latest events, including the harassment of priests and bishops, the expulsion of religious orders, the profanation of churches and the closure of radios. Closeness of CELAM We accompany our brothers who in different ways seek to give voice to those who dont have voice in order to build a dialogue for unity and peace, the statement reads. Nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in the hearts of the Church, which is is truly linked with mankind and its history by the deepest of bonds. Latin America and the Carribean bishops, therefore, call on all the faithful to join in prayer for the Nicaraguan people, its leaders, authorities and the Church, because, they say, if one part suffers, every part suffers with it (1Cor. 12, 26). Strained relations between Church and Government Relations between the Sandinista Government and the local Church have been tensed since 2018, when Nicaraguan authorities clamped down on protests against a series of controversial reforms to the social security system. Despite attempts to mediate in the crisis, bishops were ultimately banned from the dialogue and relations further worsened after the controversial 2021 elections which confirmed President Ortega, amid allegations of fraud and the political persecution of rival presidential candidate. Since the outbreak of the crisis, the Church has been the target of nearly 200 attacks and desecrations, as well as harassment and intimidations of bishops and priests. In 2019, Managua Auxiliary Bishop Silvio Jose Baez was forced to leave the Diocese of Managua at Pope Franciss request after receiving several death threats. Read also 01/07/2022 Nicaragua. Government orders Missionaries of Charity to shut down According to the Nicaraguan authorities the Missionaries of Mother Teresa of Calcutta operating in the Central American country have failed to comply with their obligations. The ... Expulsion of Missionaries of Charity and Nuncio Early in July, the Government expelled the Missionaries of Charity (MC), after closing down a charity run by the nuns, alongside other 100 NGOs, including a number of Catholic organizations, on the grounds that they failed to comply with law obligations. In March this year, Managua declared the Apostolic Nuncio to Nicaragua, Polish Archbishop Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, persona non grata and expelled him. The Holy See expressed surprise and regret at the notification, saying the measure is incomprehensible because in the course of his mission Archbishop Sommertag worked with profound dedication for the good of the Church and the Nicaraguan people always seeking to foster good relations between the Apostolic See and the authorities of Nicaragua." Ten years after a white supremacist gunned down six Sikh worshippers at a temple in Wisconsin, the White House is calling for a sharp increase in funding for a federal program that provides security grants for houses of worship. But a Sikh-American advocacy group says many Sikh temples, known as gurdwaras, have not been able to take advantage of the 6-year-old funding program because of a complicated application process and tight deadlines. "Too many gurdwaras are not getting funding, and that's a real challenge," said Sim Singh Attariwala, senior policy and advocacy manager for the Sikh Coalition in Washington. "We do think that more needs to be done to ensure that houses of worship across the nation are able to take advantage of some of the federal resources that would provide additional funding, which would then be used to harden security [and] to improve training, Attariwala said. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program, managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state agencies, provides financial support for the physical security of non-governmental organizations, including houses of worship. To make it easier for Sikh temples and other smaller houses of worship to apply to the program, a group of 89 U.S.-based gurdwaras sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Thursday urging his support for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) Improvement Act. "We believe that every community should have access to these resources even those that do not want to bring law enforcement agencies into their houses of worship," the group wrote in a letter to Biden. The program was created by Congress in 2016, nearly four years after Wade Michael Page, a radicalized Army veteran, killed six people and critically injured a seventh at a Sikh gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin. Page was killed by responding police officers. The wounded victim died of his injuries in 2020. The massacre was the deadliest attack on Sikhs in the United States. In the years since the mass killing, Sikh temples have hardened their security by installing security cameras and taking other measures, Attariwala said. But the safety measures have been eclipsed by a steady stream of attacks against houses of worship in recent years, he said. "We are seeing more and more attacks happening that are fueled by violent white supremacist ideology, and thats really concerning. More needs to be done to protect our communities, Attariwala said. In a statement marking the 10-year anniversary of the massacre, the White House reiterated Biden's pledge "to do everything in his power to ensure that Americans can practice their faith without fear." The NSGP improvement act was introduced in February by Representative Bennie Thompson, Democratic chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Republican John Katko. The lawmakers introduced the bill weeks after a gunman held worshippers hostage at a synagogue in Texas, the latest in a string of attacks on houses of worship in the United States. On Wednesday, the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee voted to authorize the funding level for the program in line with the White House's request of $360 million. That is up from $250 million during the current fiscal year, and $180 million two years ago. In a statement to VOA, Thompson said he was "heartened" that the Senate panel is moving the legislation. "There's a lot of unmet need to protect nonprofits which [is] only going to grow as more come to understand their risk for terrorism and mass violence," Thompson said. By Zheng Ningsheng and Liu Xiaohong BEIJING, Aug.6 -- The 7th National Student Military Training Camp opened at the Army Engineering University (AEU) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Nanjing on July 30. The 10-day training camp is sponsored by the Ministry of Education and the National Defense Mobilization Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and hosted by the PLA Army. Altogether, more than 400 representatives of college and middle school students from different provinces, autonomous regions, municipalities and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), registered in the camp. Professors and experts will be invited to give lectures on military theories, so as to build up the students' awareness of national defense. The camp has also planned 12 subjects of military skill training for the students including formation training, light-arm shooting, basic tactics and self-protection skills and grenade throwing. In addition, the close-up watching of the Army weapons and equipment and military cultural activities will be organized for the students. The national student military training camp started in 2014. Since the 4th national student military training camp hosted by the PLA Navy and held at the Dalian Naval Academy in 2017, each training camp has been hosted by one service of the PLA and focused on one specific theme, in an effort to integrate students' military training with the construction of national defense reserve force. The theme of this year's training camp is "chasing dream in the Army, fighting in youth". The picture shows a flagman waving the camp flag at the opening ceremony. (AEU Wechat acount) On Friday, August 5, the Russian invaders mounted more than 60 shelling attacks on Sumy region, one person was wounded, Head of Sumy Regional Military Administration Dmytro Zhyvytsky has said. "Today, during the shelling of Shostka district, the Russian forces hit a house of civilians. A 52-year-old man was wounded and hospitalized. In total, more than 60 arrivals," he said on the Telegram channel. According to the regional governor, in total during the day, the enemy opened artillery fire five times on the territories of Seredyno-Budska, Esmanska, Hlukhivska communities. The power grid was also damaged 71 households in the district were blacked out. The emergency services are working, everything should be restored soon. Zhyvytsky also noted that the number of damaged houses is being established. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Saturday met with new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reaffirm ties with Americas oldest treaty ally in Asia amid rising tensions in the volatile region. Blinken said Americas relationship with the Philippines is extraordinary and assured the Philippines of its readiness to work with Southeast Asian nation in areas of defense, climate change and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. Blinken, the highest U.S. official to visit the Philippines since Marcos clinched a landslide victory in May, reaffirmed Americas commitment to its 1951 defense pact with the Philippines. Were committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty. Were committed to working with you on shared challenges, he told Marcos in brief remarks. Welcoming Blinken at the presidential palace, Marcos said the top U.S. diplomats visit was timely, as he expressed concern over increasing tensions between China and Taiwan over the recent visit of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the self-governing island. I did not think it raised the intensity; it just demonstrated how the intensity of the conflict has been, Marcos told Blinken before their private meeting. China launched retaliatory measures against Taiwan over Pelosis visit, conducting live-fire exercises. Taiwan is the Philippines closest neighbor and is a home to thousands of Philippine migrant workers. At home, though, the Philippines is dealing with Beijings increasing militarization and encroachment in part of the South China Sea that is claimed by the Philippines, where Chinese coast guard and militia vessels constantly harass Philippine fishermen and shadow research boats. Our relationship is quite extraordinary because it is really founded in friendship, its forged as well in partnership, and its strengthened by the fact that its an alliance as well, Blinken told Marcos. Evolution of treaty Marcos said the Philippines treaty alliance with the U.S. is a constant evolution. I hope that we will continue to evolve that relationship in the face of all the changes that we have been seeing and the changes that are between our bilateral relationship with the United States, he said. The Philippines is an important and strategic U.S. ally in Southeast Asia as it faces stiff competition with Chinas power around the world. Blinkens visit is the latest U.S. effort to woo the Philippines after relations soured during the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, whose pivot to China led to empty promises of infrastructure and investment from Beijing. In 2020, Duterte initially ordered the abrogation of the U.S.-Philippine Visiting Forces Agreement, an integral component of the treaty that allows U.S. soldiers on Philippine soil for routine visits. Duterte ordered its reinstatement a year later. Dialogue with China Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo, in a dialogue with Blinken, reiterated Philippines call on China and the U.S. to defuse the tension in the region. The Philippines continues, of course, to look at big powers, to help calm the waters and keep peace, Manalo told Blinken in a separate virtual meeting. We can ill afford any further escalation of tensions in the region, because we are already facing a number of challenges getting our economy back to work, especially because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he added. Afghanistan's Taliban found themselves confounded this week when Indian and Pakistani diplomats in Kabul almost simultaneously demanded the release of a foreign journalist they had arrested on charges of breaching regulations. Anas Mallick, a Pakistani reporter, along with his local producer and driver, were allegedly subjected to assault and interrogation after being taken into custody by the Taliban on Aug. 4, 2022. Mallick was held for 21 hours, while his two Afghan associates were released Saturday after more than 42 hours. VOA learned from sources in Kabul that shortly after reports of Mallick's disappearance emerged, diplomats from both Pakistan and India archrivals approached relevant Taliban authorities to demand safety and freedom for the journalist. Taliban sources blamed the delay in releasing Mallick on back-to-back phone calls they received from the Indian and Pakistani embassies, with both asking for his release. "We know he is a Pakistani. How come you say he is your man?" Taliban officials asked the Indian side, said sources who were aware of the conversation. The confusion ended when the Indian official went on to explain that Mallick works for an India-based news channel. Meanwhile, the Pakistan embassy kept calling Taliban officials and demanding the release of the journalist, according to sources. The Taliban released Mallick, who reports from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for Indian WION television, which is headquartered in New Delhi. The journalist was reportedly asked to leave Afghanistan and soon after crossing into Pakistan he told his news channel that they were "dragged" out of their car by Taliban forces while they were returning from a reporting trip to a posh Kabul neighborhood where the United States on Sunday killed al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a drone strike. Mallick later reached out to VOA and said that he was neither deported nor asked to leave Afghanistan by the Taliban. He added that the decision to exit the country was taken by his news organization. The Taliban have ordered journalists not to go near the area housing the residential compound where al-Zawahiri was hit by two Hellfire missiles fired from the drone. Mallick told WION on Friday that they had "duly accredited" their press credentials with the relevant department in Kabul after arriving in the country and they were recording "general visuals" when the Taliban intercepted them. "We were shifted from the place where we were intercepted to what we know is the intelligence unit of the Afghan Taliban. We were handcuffed, blindfolded, and faced the wildest accusations personal questions were also hurled at us." Taliban officials have not yet responded to allegations that they had seized the three men. Local and foreign journalists working in Afghanistan say Taliban authorities decline to comment on such detentions and allegedly use such tactics to deter media from critical reporting. Taliban officials reject the accusations, saying they have outlined rules and regulations for media teams to work in the country and violations would not go unpunished. The Indian embassy in the Afghan capital and New Delhi have not yet commented on Mallick's ordeal. However, the Pakistani foreign ministry, in an official statement Thursday, said it was in touch with Taliban authorities for the reporter's early and safe return to Pakistan. "Regarding reports about Pakistani journalist Anas Mallick, I have just talked to him on [the] phone briefly. He is in Kabul and safe. Embassy will remain in touch with him," Mansoor Ahmad Khan, the Pakistani ambassador to Afghanistan, later tweeted to confirm the reporter had been set free. Traditional acrimony between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan has sharpened in recent years, with military tensions running high and official bilateral engagements literally suspended. It is extremely rare under the circumstances for a Pakistani journalist to work for an Indian media outlet or the other way around. Pakistan and India routinely accuse each other of sponsoring subversive acts against their respective territories using diplomatic missions in Afghanistan. Indian officials have long alleged the Taliban is a proxy of Islamabad while Pakistani officials accuse New Delhi of funding and supporting anti-Pakistan militants operating on Afghan soil. Foreign ministers of nine Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members wrapped up their annual summit Saturday with a plea for peace in the South China Sea, warnings to Myanmar's junta and plans to bolster COVID-19-injured economies. Prak Sokhonn, the Cambodian foreign minister and host of this year's summit, was blunt in his assessment of the weeklong meetings, describing the sessions as frank, candid, lively and heated. "This is a critical time of great uncertainties for the region and the world," he told journalists at a Saturday morning news conference, when he lamented, "It was not easy even Superman cannot solve Myanmar's problems." However, ASEAN members did overcome some of their differences and, backed by most dialogue partners including the U.S., Japan and Australia, issued a 29-page communique covering a broad range of issues that put the military dictatorship in Myanmar on notice. It said recent developments in the conflict-ridden country, including the execution of four opposition activists shortly before the summit began and an inability of the military to make progress on a five-point peace plan, were extensively discussed. "We were deeply disappointed by the limited progress in and lack of commitment of the Naypyidaw authorities to the timely and complete implementation of the Five-Point Consensus," the communique said, adding that the "next steps" were being considered. ASEAN had been widely criticized for its soft response to last year's coup in Myanmar and a split emerged, with Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei forming a troika demanding a harsher response, while Thailand, Cambodia and Laos were accused of aiding the junta. But Cambodia's foreign minister said Myanmar's execution of four democracy activists last month had upset all ASEAN leaders and indicated a significant shift in attitudes, saying the military leadership, banned from attending ASEAN summits, had failed to build any trust within the bloc. "And without this trust, the fighting will continue and the political process will never start because no one will come if they fear for their life, so building trust is the most important," he said. Analysts said the "next steps" would be decided over the next three months and any further moves, which could include sanctions, recognition of Myanmar's opposition and total isolation of the junta, would be announced at the ASEAN leaders summit scheduled for November. China- Taiwan tensions Tensions in the South China Sea, another divisive issue among ASEAN's 10 member nations, spilled over as Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited Taiwan. China responded by declaring a seventh live-fire zone on Taiwan's east flank, deploying jets and firing rockets. In Phnom Penh, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi abandoned slated talks with his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi, after Tokyo signed on to a G-7 statement calling on Beijing to resolve tensions around the Taiwan Strait in a peaceful manner. Yi also walked out of a gala dinner, which a Chinese government spokesman said was due to his tight schedule and China's COVID-19 protocols. But sources said Yi, who waved as he entered, was irritated at the sight of Hayashi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and immediately left. In his opening remarks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov urged Yi to "take no notice of the problems and crises created by Washington and hope for the best." Blinken told a news conference the Chinese response to Pelosi was excessive and U.S. aircraft carriers remain on standby. "The world will see us continue to support the status quo in the Taiwan Strait and advance our shared goals throughout the Indo-Pacific," he said. "That is what the region expects of us to be steady and responsible." On the sidelines of the ASEAN meeting, Blinken met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi. The three expressed their commitment to deepening their trilateral partnership to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region, the three nations said in a statement. They also reaffirmed their countries' commitment to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and appreciated ASEANs statement about the importance of deescalating tension in the Taiwan Strait. The secretary and the foreign ministers expressed their concern about the Peoples Republic of Chinas (PRC) recent actions, including the use of large-scale military exercises. They condemned the PRCs launch of ballistic missiles, the statement said. They urged the PRC to immediately cease the military exercises, adding that there is no change in the respective one China policies, where applicable, and the basic positions on Taiwan from Australia, Japan, or the United States. Cambodia has been sharply criticized for acting as a Chinese proxy within ASEAN in return for aid and investment. When it last chaired ASEAN in 2012, no communique was issued for the first time in the group's history, after it was scuttled by Phnom Penh, creating a furor. Not so this year, although China was not mentioned by name in this week's communique. However, in a clear reference to Beijing, the communique said the South China Sea was discussed and some ministers expressed concern over "land reclamations, activities, serious incidents in the area, including damage to the marine environment." It added the issues had "eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region." The communique also noted the need to recognize the United Nations Convention on the Law and Sea (UNCLOS), another sore point with China. UNCLOS's "integrity needs to be maintained," it said, adding, "the convention sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out." In the lead up to the summit, the Philippines, under recently elected Ferdinand Marcos Jr., made it clear it would reassert the country's maritime claims under a 2016 landmark ruling in The Hague that rejected most of Beijing's claims over reefs and atolls under UNCLOS. Beijing rejected the court's decision. ASEAN summits are often derided as little more than a talkfest, but this year's earned praise for the bloc's desire to play a centrist role in resolving disputes in the South China Sea and for a shift in attitudes on Myanmar. "They're extremely concerned about this and you have almost unprecedented criticism of a fellow ASEAN member," said Bart Edes, a professor of practice at McGill University in Montreal, in regard to Myanmar. "You've heard this from Cambodia, you've heard this from Malaysia and I think that ASEAN countries are sensing the weakness behind the regime. They are facing an armed opposition from many different corners within the country. Their status quo can not last." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that China should not hold talks on important global matters such as the climate crisis "hostage," after Beijing cut off contacts with Washington in retaliation for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this week. Blinken spoke in an online news conference with his Philippines counterpart in Manila after meeting newly elected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other top officials, as relations between Washington and Beijing plummeted to their worst level in years. Pelosi's trip to the self-governed island outraged China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. China on Thursday launched military exercises off Taiwan's coasts and on Friday cut off contacts with the U.S. on vital issues, including military matters and crucial climate cooperation, as punishment for Pelosi's visit. "We should not hold hostage cooperation on matters of global concern because of differences between our two countries," Blinken said. "Others are rightly expecting us to continue to work on issues that matter to the lives and livelihood of their people as well as our own." He cited cooperation on climate change as a key area where China shut down contact that "doesn't punish the United States it punishes the world." "The world's largest carbon emitter is now refusing to engage on combatting the climate crisis," Blinken said, adding that China's firing of ballistic missiles that landed in waters surrounding Taiwan was a dangerous and destabilizing action. "What happens to the Taiwan Strait affects the entire region. In many ways it affects the entire world because the Strait, like the South China Sea, is a critical waterway," he said, noting that nearly half the global container fleet and nearly 90% of the world's largest ships transit through the waterway. China stopped "military-to-military channels, which are vital for avoiding miscommunication and avoiding crisis, but also cooperation on transnational crimes and counter-narcotics, which help keep people in the United States, China and beyond, safe," he said. Despite China's actions, Blinken said he told his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Friday in Cambodia, where they attended an annual meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, that the U.S. did not want to escalate the situation. "We seek to de-escalate those tensions and we think dialogues are a very important element of that," he said, adding the U.S. would "keep our channels of communication with China open with the intent of avoiding escalation to the misunderstanding or miscommunication." Blinken is the highest-ranking American official to visit the Philippines since Marcos Jr. took office on June 30 following a landslide election victory. In his brief meeting with Blinken, Marcos Jr. mentioned he was surprised by the turn of events related to Pelosi's visit to Taiwan this week. "It just demonstrated it how the intensity of that conflict has been," Marcos Jr. said based on a transcript released by the presidential palace. "This just demonstrates how volatile the international diplomatic scene is not only in the region," he added. Marcos Jr. praised the vital relationship between Manila and Washington, which are treaty allies, and U.S. assistance to the Philippines over the years. Blinken reiterated Washington's commitment to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines and "to working with you on shared challenges." Blinken told journalists he also discussed with Marcos Jr. strengthening democracy and U.S. commitment to work with the Philippines to defend the rule of law, protect human rights, freedom of expression and safeguard civil society groups, "which are critical to our alliance." Describing the Philippines as "an irreplaceable friend," he said he reiterated to the president that an armed attack on Filipino forces, public vessels or aircraft in the South China Sea "will invoke U.S. mutual defense commitments." Blinken arrived Friday night in Manila after attending the ASEAN meetings in Cambodia, where he was joined by his Chinese and Russian counterparts. ASEAN foreign ministers called for "maximum restraint" as China mounted war drills around Taiwan and moved against the U.S., fearing the situation "could destabilize the region and eventually could lead to miscalculation, serious confrontation, open conflicts and unpredictable consequences among major powers." In Manila, Blinken was also scheduled to visit a vaccination clinic and meet groups helping fight coronavirus outbreaks and then go to a clean energy fair and meet U.S. Embassy staff before flying out Saturday night. Shortly before Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, as speculation rose that her aircraft might stop over briefly at the former U.S. Clark Air Force Base north of Manila for refueling, Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian said in a TV interview he hoped "the Philippine side will strictly abide by the one-China principle and handle all Taiwan-related issues with prudence to ensure sound and steady development of China-Philippines relations." Huang's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from opposition Philippines Senator Risa Hontiveros, who said "the ambassador shouldn't pontificate on such policies, especially considering that his country stubbornly and steadfastly refuses to recognize a decision rendered by an international arbitral court and ignores and flouts international law in the West Philippine Sea when it suits her interest." Hontiveros was referring to a 2016 arbitration ruling on a Philippine complaint that invalidated China's vast territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea. She used the Philippine name for the disputed waters. China has dismissed that ruling, which was welcomed by the U.S. and Western allies, as a sham and continues to defy it. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in South Africa on Sunday in what analysts describe as an attempt to counter Chinese and Russian influence in the region. Relations between the U.S. and South Africa became strained during President Donald Trump's time in office. President Joe Biden has taken pains to repair them, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine has proved contentious. The secretary of state's second trip to Africa, and his first to South Africa the continent's most developed economy and a key democratic ally comes after a flurry of visits to the region by top Chinese and Russian officials. Analysts say that, after disregarding Africa for some time, the U.S. is now playing catch-up and trying to counter the growing influence of Beijing and Moscow in the region, in what some say has elements of a new "Cold War." Washington also wants to build support for Ukraine, as many African governments have been loath to condemn Russia's invasion, in part due to the Soviet Union's support for African liberation movements during the years when the continent threw off European colonial rule. Steven Gruzd, head of the African governance and diplomacy program at the South African Institute for International Affairs, said he doubted South Africa would be pushed into criticizing Russia, its partner, along with China, in the BRICS group of countries. "I think Secretary Blinken is not going to find a receptive audience for his message that South Africa must come down on the side of the West, and the U.S. in particular, on the Ukraine-Russian conflict," Gruzd said. Meanwhile, Bob Wekesa, director of the African Center for the Study of the United States at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg, noted that China's influence in Africa has grown considerably, and many African leaders look to Beijing for no-strings-attached infrastructure investments. Russia, too, to a far lesser extent, has made investments in the continent, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a four-country visit to Africa last month. "It's actually true that there's some form of Cold War, even if it's not the kind of Cold War we saw from the end of the World War II, but it's a form of geopolitical competition and the U.S. must, therefore, be prepared to be seen to be competing with other powers for influence in Africa," Wekesa said. Nontobeko Hlela, a researcher at the South African office of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, said negative comments about African and other developing countries by former U.S. president Donald Trump did nothing to improve relations. "The U.S. will have to work hard to walk back some policy decisions and statements made by the former occupant of the White House," Hlela said. While in South Africa, Blinken visited Johannesburg's famous Soweto township, once home to liberation icon and first democratic president Nelson Mandela. On Monday, Blinken will meet South African counterpart Naledi Pandor and launch the new U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa. Climate change, trade, health and food insecurity will all be topics of discussion. America's top diplomat then heads to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, which are in the middle of a conflict. Furious over the U.S. House speaker's visit to Taiwan this week, China says it is suspending talks with the United States on several issues. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with VOA about tensions in the region. Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports. Ethiopia's military says security forces killed more than 800 fighters from the Somali militant group al-Shabab after Shabab fighters launched a rare cross-border attack. General Tesfaye Ayalew, the head of deployment for Ethiopia's national defense forces, said more than 800 al-Shabab fighters, including 24 top leaders, were killed in recent operations against the group. He said al-Shabab tried to infiltrate Ethiopia through the country's eastern border but they have been "successfully thwarted by the joint efforts of the security forces." The president of Ethiopia's Somali state, Mustafe Omar, said in a Twitter statement Friday that another 100 al-Shabab fighters were captured in the recent clashes. He said the group's misadventure into Ethiopia ended with "a rout of the terrorists." VOA could not independently verify the figures from either official. Other security officials in Ethiopia's Somali state told VOA that there were heavy casualties on Ethiopia's side and several officials, including local administrators, were captured by al-Shabab. Late last month, hundreds of al-Shabab fighters crossed Somalia's border with Ethiopia and clashed with specially-trained counterterrorism forces known as the Liyu police. The group entered Ethiopia at several sites from Somalia's border regions of Hiran and Bakool. U.S. assessments suggest the Shabab fighters may have penetrated as far as 150 kilometers into Ethiopia before being stopped. The president of Ethiopia's Somali state announced last week that Ethiopian forces will establish a buffer zone inside Somalia to stop further al-Shabab attacks across the border. Authorities in Somalia's Bakool region welcomed the announcement and said it would help stabilize the region. Al-Shabab has been fighting the Somali government and African Union troops in Somalia for more than 15 years, carrying out attacks in Somalia and neighboring Kenya. Experts believe that the group's attack in Ethiopia was meant to show the group still poses a danger to Horn of African countries. Meanwhile, on Friday, a suicide truck bomb blast targeted a military base in the Hiran region, near the Somali-Ethiopian border, that houses Turkish-trained special forces. Officials in the region told VOA by phone that the bombing killed at least one soldier and wounded three. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack and said more than 40 soldiers were killed or wounded. Round-the-clock pumping slightly lowered the level of water inside the flooded shafts of a coal mine where 10 miners were trapped in northern Mexico, but two days after a collapse it remained too high for anyone to attempt a rescue, authorities said Friday. National Civil Defense Coordinator Laura Velazquez said it was "indispensable" to reduce the amount of water in the 200-foot-deep mine shafts before divers or any other specialized personnel could enter. Workers were simultaneously trying to block new water from entering the shafts. The mine in Sabinas, Coahuila, about 70 miles southwest of Eagle Pass, Texas, collapsed while 15 miners were inside working Wednesday afternoon. Five managed to escape with injuries. Authorities say the miners breached a neighboring space filled with water. There has been no contact with the miners since the collapse. Javier Martinez, the Coahuila state delegate of the National Mine Workers Union, said the area where the mine was operating is full of old abandoned mines that are often flooded. He said locals sometimes get small concessions and then contract groups of non-unionized miners to work, usually without safety measures like ventilation systems, emergency exit shafts and security equipment. Such operations are not supervised by the Labor Secretary, he said. Accidents in such shoestring operations are common because miners work without maps, often with pneumatic hammers that punch into old mine shafts filled with water, he said. In this case, the miners' chances of survival are "complicated," and would depend on the force of entering water, the amount of mud it carried, whether it swept away the wooden supports holding up the shaft's walls and if the miners could reach a nook with air. "I thank God because it's advancing, little by little it's advancing," said Elizabeth Vielma Moreno, a relative of one of the miners. In June and July of 2021, cave-ins at two Coahuila mines claimed the lives of nine miners. Mexico's worst mining accident also occurred in Coahuila on Feb. 19, 2006, when an explosion ripped through the Pasta de Conchos mine while 73 miners were inside. Eight were rescued with injuries including serious burns. The rest died and only two of their bodies were recovered. Mexican President Andres Lopez Obrador's administration promised two years ago to recover the remaining 63 bodies, a highly technical endeavor that has still not begun. Israeli airstrikes flattened homes in Gaza on Saturday and Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel persisted for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict. Gaza's health ministry said 24 people had been killed so far in the coastal strip, including six children. The fighting began with Israel's killing of a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group in a wave of strikes Friday that Israel said were meant to prevent an imminent attack. So far, Hamas, the larger militant group that rules Gaza, appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained. Israel and Hamas fought a war barely a year ago, one of four major conflicts and several smaller battles in the last 15 years that exacted a staggering toll on the impoverished territory's 2 million Palestinian residents. Whether Hamas continues to stay out of the fight likely depends in part on how much punishment Israel inflicts in Gaza as rocket fire steadily continues. Islamic Jihad commander targeted The Israeli military said an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants killed civilians late Saturday, including children, in the town of Jabaliya, in northern Gaza. The military said it investigated the incident and concluded "without a doubt" that it was caused by a misfire on the part of Islamic Jihad. There was no official Palestinian comment on the incident. A Palestinian medical worker, who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the blast killed at least six people, including three children. An airstrike in the southern city of Rafah destroyed a home and heavily damaged surrounding buildings. The Health Ministry said at least two people were killed and 32 wounded, including children. A teenage boy was recovered from the rubble, and the other slain individual was identified by his family as Ziad al-Mudalal, the son of an Islamic Jihad official. The military said it targeted Khaled Mansour, Islamic Jihad's commander for southern Gaza. Neither Israel nor the militant group said whether he was hit. The Civil Defense said responders were sifting through the rubble and that digging equipment was being sent from Gaza City. Another strike Saturday hit a car, killing a 75-year-old woman and wounding six other people. Warned to flee In one of the strikes, fighter jets dropped two bombs on the house of an Islamic Jihad member after Israel warned people to evacuate the area. The blast flattened the two-story structure, leaving a large rubble-filled crater, and badly damaged surrounding homes. Women and children rushed out of the area. "Warned us? They warned us with rockets, and we fled without taking anything," said Huda Shamalakh, who lived next door. She said 15 people lived in the targeted home. Among the 24 Palestinians killed were six children and two women, as well as the senior Islamic Jihad commander. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 200 people have been wounded. It does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. The Israeli military said Friday that early estimates were that around 15 fighters were killed. The lone power plant in Gaza ground to a halt at noon Saturday for lack of fuel as Israel has kept its crossing points into Gaza closed since Tuesday. With the new disruption, Gazans can get only four hours of electricity a day, increasing their reliance on private generators and deepening the territory's chronic power crisis amid peak summer heat. Day of fasting Sunday Throughout the day, Gaza militants regularly launched rounds of rockets into Israel. The Israeli military said Saturday evening that nearly 450 rockets had been fired, 350 of which made it into Israel, but almost all were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome missile-defense system. Two people suffered minor shrapnel wounds. One rocket barrage was fired toward Tel Aviv, setting off sirens that sent residents to shelters, but the rockets were either intercepted or fell into the sea, the military said. Sunday could be a critical day in the flare-up, as Jews mark Tisha B'av, a somber day of fasting that commemorates the destruction of the biblical temples. Thousands are expected at Jerusalem's Western Wall, and Israeli media reported that the Israeli leadership was expected to allow lawmakers to visit a key hilltop holy site in the city that is a flashpoint for violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Prime minister tested The violence poses an early test for Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who assumed the role of caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in November, when he hopes to keep the position. Lapid, a centrist former TV host and author, has experience in diplomacy having served as foreign minister in the outgoing government, but has thin security credentials. A conflict with Gaza could burnish his standing and give him a boost as he faces off against former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a security hawk who led the country during three of its four wars with Hamas. Hamas also faces a dilemma in deciding whether to join a new battle barely a year after the last war caused widespread devastation. There has been almost no reconstruction since then, and the isolated coastal territory is mired in poverty, with unemployment hovering around 50%. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory since the Hamas takeover in 2007. Egypt on Saturday intensified efforts to prevent escalation, communicating with Israel, the Palestinians and the United States to keep Hamas from joining the fighting, an Egyptian intelligence official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The latest round of Israel-Gaza violence was rooted in the arrest earlier this week of a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the occupied West Bank, part of a monthslong Israeli military operation. Israel then closed roads around Gaza and sent reinforcements to the border, bracing for retaliation. On Friday, it killed Islamic Jihad's commander for northern Gaza, Taiseer al-Jabari, in a strike on a Gaza City apartment building. Iran-backed Islamic Jihad is smaller than Hamas but largely shares its ideology. Both groups oppose Israel's existence and have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years. For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in Russia's war on Ukraine. All times EDT. 9:20 p.m.: As the United States and Russia prepare to discuss a prisoner swap just days after Moscow sentenced a U.S. womens basketball star to nine years in prison on drug smuggling charges, much remains unclear about who could be freed. If the U.S. and Russia do trade prisoners, for Russia the question may be whom to choose. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. 8:10 p.m.: Following months of fierce battles in the east, Russia's war in Ukraine is about to enter a new phase, with the heaviest fighting shifting along the Dnieper River to a nearly 350-kilometer front that stretches southwest from near Zaporizhzhia to Kherson, British military intelligence said on August 6, as Kyiv and Moscow traded blame for the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. In the east, Russian forces launched an offensive on Bakhmut and several other cities in Donetsk, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on August 6. The General Staff said in its morning report that that the Russian attacks were successfully repulsed in Yakovlivka, Vershyn, Kodem, and Zaitseve. The reports could not be independently verified, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports. 7:05 p.m.: A 45-year-old Ukrainian entrepreneur was arrested while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Mariupol. She was taken to the Olenivka detention facility where Ukrainian prisoners of war were also held. She describes what it was like in Russian captivity, The Observer reports. 6:22 p.m.: The Joint Coordination Center (JCC), the body set up under the Black Sea Grain Initiative to monitor its implementation, authorized the departure of five vessels. Four are to leave the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk and Odesa on Sunday carrying nearly 162,000 metric tons of corn, meal and sunflower oil. The JCC also authorized the movement of a fifth ship, the MV Osprey S, to travel from Istanbul to Chornomorsk. The MV Navistar, which sailed from Odesa on Friday with 33,000 metric tons of corn, has been inspected and cleared to sail on to its destination, Ireland. 5:10 p.m.: North Macedonia has agreed to supply tanks and planes to Ukraine to help fend off Moscow's ongoing invasion, senior Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said on Saturday, Reuters reported. "Many nations are showing more courage today than half of the G20 (Group of 20 major economic powers). Like North Macedonia, giving Ukraine a (supportive) shoulder in the form of tanks and planes," Podolyak wrote on Twitter. The defense ministry of North Macedonia, a small Balkan country, confirmed last week that it would supply Soviet-era tanks to Ukraine, but has said nothing about aircraft deliveries. 4:20 p.m.: A foreign-flagged ship arrived in Ukraine on Saturday for the first time since the war started in February and will be loaded with grain, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said, according to Reuters. Ukraine is starting to resume grain exports in an effort overseen by a Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul where Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and U.N. personnel are working. Kubrakov said the Barbados-flagged general cargo ship Fulmar S was in the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk. "We are doing (everything) possible to ensure that our ports can receive and handle more vessels. In particular, we plan to reach the level of at least three to five vessels per day in two weeks' (time)," he wrote on Facebook. Ukraine eventually aims to ship out 3 million metric tons a month from its Black Sea ports, he said. Roughly 20 million metric tons of grain from last year's crops are still stuck in the country. 3:15 p.m.: 1:57 p.m.: The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog released a statement Saturday expressing alarm after Friday's shelling at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia power plant, Agence France-Presse reports. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the strikes are "the latest in a long line of increasingly alarming reports." He added that there is a very real risk of "a nuclear disaster that could threaten public health and the environment in Ukraine and beyond." 12:01 p.m.: A pro-Russian official was gravely wounded in Ukraine's Kherson region on Saturday, Agence France-Presse reports. An anonymous official in Russia-occupied Kherson said the assassination attempt targeted Vitaly Gur, deputy chief of the Kakhovka district, located about 80 km east of Kherson city. 11:32 a.m.: Russian forces are attacking two key cities in eastern Ukraine, according to Ukraine military and local officials. The cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka, in the Donetsk region, were under assault on Saturday, the Associated Press reports. Meanwhile, Russian troops continued rocket and shelling attacks on other Ukrainian cities, including one close to the Zaporizhzhia plant, Europe's largest nuclear power plant, Ukraine officials said. Bakhmut and Avdiivka are prime targets for Russia. Analysts say Moscow must take Bakhmut in order to advance on the key regional hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. 11:16 a.m.: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that he offered to host talks between Russia and Ukraine, The Kyiv Independent reported. Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin met for several hours on Friday in Sochi. The Turkish leader offered to host talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkey, the Ukraine English-language newspaper tweeted. 10:14 a.m.: The European Union is condemning Russia for its military activity near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Agence France-Presse reports. The EU's foreign affairs chief demanded that Russia give the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), open access to the plant. "This is a serious and irresponsible breach of nuclear safety rules and another example of Russia's disregard for international norms," Josep Borrell said on Twitter. Ukraine has rejected past IAEA efforts to visit the plant, saying that would legitimize Russia's occupation of the plant in the eyes of the international community, Agence France-Presse reports. 9:49 a.m.: Parts of a Ukraine nuclear power plant were "seriously damaged" by military strikes that forced the shutdown of a reactor, the Zaporizhzhia plant's operator said on Saturday, according to Agence France-Presse. Ukraine and Russia are blaming each other for the attack. "There are still risks of leaking hydrogen and radioactive substances, and the risk of fire is also high," the plant operator said via the Telegram messaging service. Russian troops have occupied the Zaporizhzhia plant since the early days of the February invasion and Moscow has accused Ukrainian forces of targeting the plant. 8:44 a.m.: Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed that Turkey will pay for some Russian natural gas in rubles, the official currency of Russia, Agence France-Presse reports. The move is seen as a way to insulate Russia from Western sanctions. Payments in rubles would be protected from sanctions. The United States is spearheading international efforts to impose economic sanctions on Russia for its February invasion of Ukraine. Turkey is a NATO member, but has refused to take part in sanctions, in part because Turkey is heavily dependent on Russian energy. 8:09 a.m.: Ukraine's military is digging in, fortifying its positions around the strategic eastern city of Sloviansk ahead of an anticipated fresh Russian assault, the Associated Press reports. Sloviansk is a strategic target in Moscow's ambitions to seize the entire Donetsk region, a largely Russian-speaking area in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces and pro-Moscow groups control about 60% of the province. Russia last attacked the city on July 30. 7:45 a.m.: The head of Amnesty International in Ukraine resigned after the rights organization issued a report charging Ukraine with endangering civilians amid Russia's invasion of that country. Oksana Pokalchuk accused Amnesty International of parroting Kremlin propaganda in the report, which criticized Ukraine for establishing bases in schools and hospitals, and launching counterattacks from heavily populated areas. "If you don't live in a country invaded by occupiers who are tearing it to pieces, you probably don't understand what it's like to condemn an army of defenders," Pokalchuk said when she announced her resignation on social media, Agence France-Presse reported. 5:39 a.m.: From The Associated Press: Hiroshima is remembering the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing as officials, including the United Nations chief, warn against nuclear weapons buildup and as fears grow of another such attack amid Russias war on Ukraine. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Saturday that nuclear weapons guarantee no safety only death and destruction. Hiroshima Mayor Kazimi Matsui criticized nuclear powers for not taking more concrete steps toward a nuclear-free world. The Aug. 6, 1945, U.S. atomic bombing on Hiroshima killed 140,000. Another nuclear attack on Nagasaki killed 70,000 more. 4:44 a.m.: The latest intelligence update from the U.K. defense ministry said Russian forces are almost certainly massing in the south in anticipation of Ukraines counter-offensive or in preparation for a possible assault. Russian equipment is being moved southwest, away from Ukraine's Donbas region. The update said Ukrainian forces are focusing their targeting on bridges, ammunition depots, and rail links with growing frequency in Ukraines southern regions. It noted that Russias war on Ukraine is about to enter a new phase, with the heaviest fighting shifting to a roughly 350-kilometer front line stretching southwest from near Zaporizhzhya to Kherson, paralleling the Dnieper River. 3:40 a.m.: Greece has extradited a Russian money launderer to the U.S., hours after his release from a French jail, his lawyer said Friday. Zoe Konstantopoulou said Alexander Vinnik, 43, "was loaded onto a private plane to the U.S." without being allowed to lodge an asylum request in Greece. A source with knowledge of the case in France said Vinnik had been handed back to Greek authorities on Thursday afternoon, just weeks after the Court of Cassation in Paris confirmed his five-year sentence for money laundering. Vinnik's French lawyer, Frederic Belot, said Washington appeared to have exerted significant pressure to secure his extradition. He said his client was sent to San Francisco via Boston. He faces 55 years in prison in the U.S., Belot said. A U.S. indictment accuses Vinnik of 21 charges ranging from identity theft and facilitating drug trafficking to money laundering. 2:32 a.m.: The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S. think tank, said in its latest Ukraine assessment that Russian forces conducted unsuccessful ground assaults on settlements south of Bakhmut. They also conducted several limited ground assaults to the north, northwest, and southwest of Donetsk City. The update also noted that Russian occupation authorities are likely accelerating passportization and rubleization efforts and civilian data collection in occupied territories in preparation for the upcoming pseudo-referenda on the annexation of occupied Ukrainian territory into Russia. 1:27 a.m.: President Vladimir Putin and Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan adopted a statement on Friday pledging to boost political and economic cooperation including in energy and trade, Reuters reported. The talks between Putin and Erdogan came as Russia's isolation grows following its intervention in Ukraine. The statement said the two leaders agreed "to meet the expectations of the opposite side in the spheres of economy and energy." While Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine was not explicitly mentioned in the statement, the leaders stressed the resumption of Ukrainian grain shipments, pointing to the two countries' "constructive relations" that they stressed made the agreement possible. 12:02 a.m.: Russia's TASS news agency on Friday cited separatist forces as saying they and Russian troops had taken full control of Pisky in Donetsk region, a fortified village held by Ukrainian troops and close to Donetsk city, which is in the hands of Russian-backed separatist forces. But Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said: "There is very little evidence of any movement here. They (the Russians) made an attempt to advance but it was unsuccessful." Ukraine has turned the village into a stronghold, seeing it as a buffer against Russian-backed forces holding Donetsk city about 10 km to the southeast. TASS also said fighting was taking place in the city of Bakhmut, north of Donetsk and Russia's next main target. Arestovych said Ukrainian forces had recaptured two villages near Izyum in Kharkiv region, which borders Russia, and were advancing on a third. Reuters could not verify either side's assertions about battlefield developments. Some information in this report came from Reuters and The Associated Press. President proposes Verkhovna Rada to approve NSDC decision of Aug 5 on sanctions against Russia President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has submitted to the Verkhovna Rada a draft resolution on the approval of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) dated August 5, 2022 on the introduction of sectoral special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions) against the Russian Federation. Document No. 7640 was registered on August 6 and submitted to the committee for consideration. The text of the draft resolution has not yet been made public on the website of the parliament. Malawian state prosecutors have added charges against a Chinese national who was already facing five counts for allegedly exploiting children. A BBC investigation found 26-year-old Lu Ke selling exploitative videos of Malawian children, officials said. Malawis Senior State Advocate Serah Mwangonde told a court in Lilongwe on Thursday that the additional charges follow the completion of investigations into the matter. She later briefed reporters outside the court. We have also added money laundering, procurement of children to perform in public and we have added a cybersecurity crime, she said. Mwangonde said the new charges are in addition to five counts of child trafficking which Lu Ke was charged with earlier in July after his extradition from Zambia in June. Police arrested Lu Ke last month following his extradition from Zambia, where he fled after a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) investigation reported he was recording young villagers in central Malawi and making them say racist things about themselves in Mandarin. In one video, children, some as young as 9, are heard saying in Mandarin that they are a black monster and have a low IQ. The BBC reported he was selling the videos at up to $70 apiece to a Chinese website. The children in the videos were paid about a half-dollar each. Lu Ke's lawyer, Andy Kaonga, told the court Thursday that he was yet to be served with the amended charge sheet and other documents or disclosures. State prosecutor Mwangonde said her office was still perfecting the remaining documents. Kaonga said the documents and new charge-sheet would help him know how best he could advise the suspect to properly take a plea. This forced the presiding senior resident magistrate, James Mankhwazi, to adjourn the case to Aug. 19. Lu Ke is currently at Maula prison after a court last month refused him bail, saying he could easily flee the country considering that he fled to Zambia where he was arrested and sent back to Malawi. Early Europeans drank milk for thousands of years before they evolved the ability to fully digest it as adults, scientists say. New results published in the journal Nature suggest that being able to digest the lactose in milk wasnt usually much of an advantage for ancient people in Europe. Instead, the new study suggests that famine and disease made lactose intolerance deadly. The new discovery challenges the long-standing assumption that dairy farming spread through ancient populations alongside the genetic quirks that prevent adults from losing the ability to digest lactose. Like other young mammals, human children produce an enzyme called lactase that breaks down lactose. The gene for lactase usually turns off in adulthood because aside from humans, adult mammals dont drink milk. Without lactase, lactose from milk ends up feeding gut microbes that produce gas, which can cause uncomfortable digestive problems. You'll get some cramps. You'll get some diarrhea. Might fart a bit more. It might be unpleasant for you, said geneticist Mark Thomas of University College London, who led the genetics work for the new study. It might be embarrassing, but you're not going to die. But when our ancient ancestors suffered through plagues or famines, getting diarrhea from drinking milk was probably more than just uncomfortable, the authors suggest. Then were talking about a life-threatening condition, Thomas said. About one-third of people alive today have a genetic variant that keeps their lactase gene from turning off. This trait has evolved independently multiple times in the ancestors of people now living in parts of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Europe. Scientists long assumed that lactase persistence evolved alongside the spread of dairy farming, which happened over a few thousand years beginning around 7000 BC. However, earlier studies revealed that lactase persistence was vanishingly rare in Europe until about 3,000 years ago. But after that, it took only a few thousand years for the trait to become widespread the blink of an eye in evolutionary time. Why this trait would evolve so quickly was a mystery. Lactase persistence has been under enormous amounts of natural selection over the last eight to ten thousand years more than any other part of the genome in Europeans, said Thomas. It was, for a very long period of time, the one trait upon which life and death pivoted more than any other. It's insane. It just defies explanation. Searching for an explanation, the authors sought to reconstruct the history of milk use in the region over the past 9,000 years. They examined fat residues left on more than 7,000 pottery shards collected at 550 archaeological sites across Europe. When people were cooking fat liquefies and then penetrates into the pores of the pottery, said organic geochemist and study co-author Melanie Roffet-Salque of the University of Bristol. Its quite stunning, really. But thousands of years later when archaeologists excavate a piece of pottery that had been discarded and then we analyze the pottery, it's still there. The pottery shards showed that milk consumption was widespread across most of Europe for thousands of years before most Europeans became lactose tolerant. Studying health data on modern Britons, the researchers didn't find any evidence that drinking milk hurts the health of modern adults who dont produce lactase. Surprisingly, using data on ancient population fluctuations to approximate when and where ancient Europeans dealt with famine and disease, the researchers found that sickness and hunger might explain the evolution of lactase persistence better than milk consumption. Famine could have forced ancient people to drink more milk than usual as other food sources ran out. And both malnutrition and disease could have made lactose-induced diarrhea very dangerous. Severe diarrhea can kill it is still the second leading cause of death for children under 5 worldwide. Shevan Wilkin, a biomolecular archaeologist at the University of Zurich who reviewed the new paper, said the research was an important step forward but that shes not necessarily convinced that famine and disease alone can explain the evolution of lactase persistence. The reason I don't know if I think they're right, I also don't know if I think they're wrong, is before 2,000 years ago, there were absolutely times of famine, Wilkin said. Thomas said hed like to see similar studies done in Africa, where lactase persistence evolved independently three different times. Wilkin agreed, noting that Europe is over-studied, and that future research should focus on other regions, including central Asia, where people drink lots of milk despite lacking a genetic variant that keeps lactase from turning off in adults. I think it'd be really interesting to apply this [in] multiple places, said Wilkin. Its just such a cool and ambitious undertaking, and I think it's really going to spur a ton of new studies. Two journalists who went missing while on assignment in Afghanistan were released Friday. Anas Mallick, the Islamabad bureau chief for the Indian news channel WION, disappeared while on assignment in Kabul on Thursday. Media reported that he had been on his way to a hotel in Kabul when members of the Taliban detained him. Separately, an Afghan journalist and the person accompanying him also went missing in the capital on Thursday. Their identities are withheld for security concerns. Hujatullah Mujadidi, president of the Afghanistan Independent Journalists Association, told VOA that all three people were released on Friday. "They are back with their families, but they did not say where they had been," said Mujadidi. In Mallick's case, a short message was posted to the journalist's Twitter account on Friday, saying, "I am back." The post did not provide details of what had happened or where he had been held. Pakistan's ambassador in Afghanistan, Mansoor Ahmad Khan, confirmed that Mallick was released, saying on social media that he had spoken briefly with the journalist who is "in Kabul and safe." The Taliban's Foreign Ministry did not respond to VOA's request for comment about the disappearance and whether the journalist was detained. But media watchdogs and human rights groups have reported cases where journalists or activists are detained briefly and warned not to speak about their case. More than 180 cases of violence against journalists have been recorded in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, according to a member of local media watchdog. "In about 95% of the cases, perpetrators are the Taliban," the watchdog member said. The person requested anonymity for security reasons. The advocate said they were aware of many cases of journalists being detained, that are not made public. "The Taliban make them promise not to share their cases with the watchdogs. Journalists and media workers do not want to make their cases public for their safety," the advocate said. Some cases do become public. In July, the Taliban took the Australian journalist Lynne O'Donnell to its headquarters. The international correspondent told VOA that officials dictated an apology to her that she was forced to share on social media before being released. The Taliban said that O'Donnell was denied permission to work in Afghanistan and that she "lied about her presence in Afghanistan." O'Donnell denied that she was in the country illegally, saying the Afghan Embassy in London issued her a visa. She said she also applied for a media visa at Kabul International Airport. Pauline Ades-Mevel, a spokesperson for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), told VOA that the arrest of O'Donnell was "extremely worrying." She called it a "very serious intimidation" targeting international journalists and scaring others who are willing to go to Afghanistan for coverage. It is a "recent example of the shrinking of freedom of the press," Ades-Mevel said. Afghanistan's ranking on the RSF World Press Freedom Index dropped in 2022, coming in at 156 out of 180 countries and regions, where 1 has the best conditions for media. The Paris-based watchdog said the Taliban return "has had serious repercussions for the respect of press freedom and the safety of journalists." This story originated in VOA's Pashto Service. In mid-2017, in a remote area of Myanmar, senior Burmese military commanders held secret talks about operations against the minority Rohingya Muslim population. They discussed ways to insert spies into Rohingya villages, resolved to demolish Muslim homes and mosques, and laid plans for what they clinically referred to as "area clearance." The discussions are captured in official records seen by Reuters. At one meeting, commanders repeatedly used a racial slur for the Rohingya suggesting they are foreign interlopers: The "Bengalis," one said, had become "too daring." In another meeting, an officer said the Rohingya had grown too numerous. The commanders agreed to carefully coordinate communications so the army could move "instantly during the crucial time." It was critical, they said, that operations be "unnoticeable" to protect the military's image in the international community. Weeks later, the Myanmar military began a brutal crackdown that sent more than 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh. Ever since, the military has insisted the operation was a legitimate counter-terrorism campaign sparked by attacks by Muslim militants, not a planned program of ethnic cleansing. The country's civilian leader at the time, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, dismissed much of the criticism of the military, saying refugees may have exaggerated abuses and condemnations of the security forces were based on "unsubstantiated narratives." But official records from the period ahead of and during the expulsion of the Rohingya, like the ones in 2017, paint a different picture. The records are part of a cache of documents, collected by war crimes investigators and reviewed by Reuters, that reveal discussions and planning around the purges of the Rohingya population and efforts to hide military operations from the international community. The documents show how the military systematically demonized the Muslim minority, created militias that would ultimately take part in operations against the Rohingya, and coordinated their actions with ultranationalist Buddhist monks. For the past four years, these war crimes investigators have been working secretly to compile evidence they hope can be used to secure convictions in an international criminal court. Documents spanning the period 2013 to 2018 give unprecedented insight into the persecution and purge of the Rohingya from the perspective of the Burmese authorities, especially two "clearance operations" in 2016 and 2017 that expelled about 800,000 people. The documents were collected by the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA), a nonprofit founded by a veteran war crimes investigator and staffed by international criminal lawyers who have worked in Bosnia, Rwanda and Cambodia. Beginning work in 2018, CIJA amassed some 25,000 pages of official documents, many related to the expulsion of the Rohingya, who since fleeing their homes have been languishing in squalid refugee camps in Bangladesh with little hope of returning. Some of the documents relate to military actions against other ethnic groups in Myanmar's borderlands. The group's work has been funded by Western governments. CIJA allowed Reuters to review many of the documents, which include internal military memos, chain-of-command lists, training manuals, policy papers and audiovisual materials. Some documents contained redactions, which the group said were necessary to protect sources. The organization also asked Reuters not to disclose the location of its office for security reasons. 'Mass removal process' The documents do not contain orders explicitly telling soldiers to commit murder or rape such smoking-gun records are rare in the field of international justice. But key in the CIJA cache is the evidence of planning, said Stephen Rapp, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues who now sits on CIJA's board. "Everything in it points to this intention to engage in this kind of mass removal process," he said. Through interviews with former Burmese soldiers, Rohingya and Rakhine civilians and ex-government officials, and a review of social media and official statements, Reuters was able to independently corroborate many details in the documents. Myanmar's military junta didn't respond to questions from Reuters. The cache illustrates the obsession authorities had with reducing a population they viewed as an existential threat. In a private meeting with officials in Rakhine, which CIJA said was held around the time of the 2017 expulsion, the then-army chief and current junta leader, Min Aung Hlaing, told the Buddhist population to remain in place, and pointed to a demographic imbalance between Rohingya and the rest of the Rakhine population, the documents show. Some of the officers who spearheaded the Rohingya expulsion and whose names appear in the documents have since been promoted. Rohingya, who are mostly Muslim, trace their roots in Myanmar's Rakhine area back centuries, a reading of history supported by independent scholars. While they now comprise a slim majority in the north of Rakhine state, they are a minority overall compared to the ethnic Rakhine, a mostly Buddhist group. Nationalists from the country's Buddhist majority see the Rohingya as illegitimate migrants from neighboring Bangladesh. The August 2017 pogrom was carried out with a ferocity that stunned the world. Refugees described massacres, gang rapes and children thrown into raging fires. The nonprofit Medecins Sans Frontieres estimated at least 10,000 people died. Hundreds of Rohingya villages were burned to the ground. In March this year, the United States formally declared that the military's actions amounted to genocide. Many in Myanmar, where about 90% of people are Buddhist, supported the military, which denied committing atrocities and said the Rohingya had burned their own homes. Burmese rallied around Suu Kyi, whose political party came to power in 2015 after half a century of military rule, as she dismissed reports of atrocities as an "iceberg of misinformation." In 2019, she went to the Hague to defend Myanmar against charges of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). But the military early last year toppled the democratically elected government under Suu Kyi, who has been detained since her overthrow. The coup has altered views in Myanmar and opened an unexpected window on the 2017 atrocities. After the military seized control, the country plunged into worsening civil war, as new armed resistance groups joined forces with existing ethnic armed actors in an effort to topple the junta. More than 2,000 civilians have been killed by the army, according to the rights group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. The public outrage over the coup and the killings has led to mass defections in the military. Some soldiers are now shedding light on the army's practices for the first time. Looting of villages One soldier, Captain Nay Myo Thet, told Reuters he was in Rakhine in 2017, where he said he was involved in logistical support, including transport and supplies, for the military. He described the looting of Rohingya villages after they were emptied. Soldiers took cattle, furniture and solar panels the Rohingya used to power their homes. Large items were loaded onto trucks, under the watch of a senior officer, he said. He was tasked with catching three goats belonging to Rohingya for a dinner party for the troops, he said. Nay Myo Thet said he deserted in November and fled to a neighboring country. While the Burmese military faces grave allegations under international law, there is no easy road to convictions. Myanmar hasn't signed the Rome Statute that created the International Criminal Court (ICC), which has the power to try individual perpetrators for international crimes. As a result, the United Nations Security Council would typically have to refer allegations against Myanmar to the ICC. Such a move would likely be blocked by allies of Myanmar, say international law experts. But other paths to trial exist. The ICC set a legal precedent in 2019 by allowing its chief prosecutor to begin investigating crimes against the Rohingya population, including deportation, because they fled to Bangladesh, which is a party to the court. Also in 2019, majority-Muslim Gambia brought a case against Myanmar for genocide at the ICJ, on behalf of the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. In July, the court cleared the case to proceed, rejecting objections filed by Myanmar. The non-profit Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK also filed a lawsuit against both Min Aung Hlaing and Suu Kyi in Argentina under "universal jurisdiction," a legal principle that allows brutal acts to be tried in any court in the world. A spokesman for Suu Kyi's party said at the time that such a case would violate Myanmar's national sovereignty. Legal experts say the chances senior military leaders will be tried soon are slim. They rarely leave Myanmar, and then only to friendly nations like Russia and China, which arent parties to the ICC. Min Aung Hlaing didn't respond to questions sent to the military junta. Reuters was unable to contact Suu Kyi, who in June was moved from an undisclosed location where she had been held to solitary confinement in a prison in the capital Naypyitaw, the junta said. A spokesman for the newly formed civilian parallel government, which includes members of the former democratically elected administration who have escaped arrest, said it was their view that the Rohingya "were the victims of genocide." It was of "dire importance," the spokesman added, that the evidence of atrocities be presented to the ICJ. CIJA has had success securing some convictions in tough environments. In Syria and Iraq, its investigators smuggled out more than a million pages of documents that implicated insiders from the Bashar al-Assad regime and Islamic State. The documents formed the basis of convictions in Germany and the Netherlands, including of a former Syrian regime member and an Islamic State militant, who are both now in prison. CIJA has begun handing its Myanmar material to prosecutors in the Hague. The organization says the records implicate more than a dozen Burmese officials, most in the military. CIJA asked Reuters not to publish most of their names to ensure any future legal proceedings aren't jeopardized. Bill Wiley, the Canadian founder and director of CIJA, says he is confident the Myanmar material will help with prosecutions. "If anyone's ultimately convicted of genocide, it's going to be based on the CIJA-collected materials," he told Reuters. Wiley, a veteran of the Rwanda and Yugoslavia war crimes tribunals, is a former Canadian military officer. In his office, cloaked in a cloud of cigar smoke, Wiley, who is 58, recalled being contacted by Canadian officials at the height of the Rohingya exodus. The foreign minister at the time and current deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, set up a working group of people from different government departments to tackle the crisis, he said. The brief was to "do something," Wiley said. Because Canada helped fund CIJA in Iraq and Syria, the group asked him if he could replicate the model in Myanmar. Freeland's office confirmed the account but declined to comment further. This time, though, different methods were needed. In the early days of the Syrian uprising, CIJA had its investigators follow anti-Assad rebels as they took over government outposts. Their goal was to sweep up documents left behind by defeated forces. In Myanmar, though ethnic rebels were battling the military, such opportunities were few because the rebels weren't taking control of large swathes of territory. The focus was on working with insiders willing to leak information and documents. Bureaucracy of repression The Rohingya have long faced crushing discrimination and have had their citizenship rights stripped away. In the 1990s, authorities stopped issuing birth certificates for their children. Rohingya were forced to seek permits to marry or leave their villages. They had restricted access to university and were barred from holding government jobs. They were banned from having children out of wedlock, and married couples were barred from having more than two children. The CIJA documents provide a snapshot of this bureaucracy of repression, including the creation in 2013 of a new Border Guard Police, a force charged with preventing "the dominance of Indians and Bengalis." This new force was to be given upgraded weapons and vehicles to prevent immigration and implement "response plans in times of crisis," according to a 2014 document from a military-controlled department. The border police were also to enforce "population control activities" against the Rohingya and conduct an educational campaign that would "increase public knowledge about the danger of migration movement of Indians and Bengalis." The 2014 document emphasized the role of militias in various villages populated by taingyintha, members of officially recognized ethnic groups in Myanmar. These militias would serve as "the pillars for providing security to local ethnic people and the prevention of illegal immigration." The document advocates for a "national project" that would push "Bengalis" who want to avoid inspection by the authorities to leave the country. It calls for a campaign resembling an operation in 1977 that drove out hundreds of thousands of Muslims. Such an operation "should be implemented as before, when the rise of ethnic mixing is detected," the document says. An opportunity to implement these plans presented itself in the early hours of October 9, 2016. A group of Rohingya overran several border guard posts in northern Rakhine state, killing nine police officers. The army sealed off the area and began hunting the attackers. Nay Myo Thet, the soldier who deserted, said he and others in his battalion were told they were conducting "clearance operations" in Rakhine. But their superiors didn't give specific orders of what to clear. They should have given the soldiers a target "who was the leader, who were the followers, which weapons they had," he said. The military cleared out entire populations, he added. For months, security forces pillaged and burned villages across the north of Rakhine, according to human rights groups and the United Nations, which said about 70,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh in that purge. Security forces carried out killings and gang rape, according to a UN report. In February 2017, the military declared the operations over. But hostility towards the Rohingya continued. In July 2017, a group met in private to discuss operations in Rakhine, one record shows. Those present included Maung Maung Soe, the head of the Western Command, which had overseen the previous year's crackdown, and Thura San Lwin, the head of the Border Guard Police. There were also commanders from the Military Operation Command-15 division and several local administrators. One senior official said that at least 50% of the Rohingya population supported terrorism. A senior member of the security forces said Muslim villages were providing "protection" to militants. Maung Maung Soe expressed frustration about the intelligence-gathering capabilities of the security forces in Muslim villages. A MOC-15 commander spoke about recruiting "kalars as spies and underlings" to obtain the latest news. "Kalar" is another racial slur for Muslims. In the end, the group agreed to send health workers to villages to gather "valuable information." They also determined that the army's actions needed to be concealed from the outside world. Thura San Lwin and Maung Maung Soe didn't respond to questions sent to the military junta. 'Area clearance' At another meeting in August between a MOC-15 commander and local administrators, the commander complained there were too many Muslims living near a military detachment. The majority of "Bengali" villages had been "trained for terrorism," the group concluded. They resolved to demolish their homes and mosques, according to one record. Around this time, according to another record, national and state-level officials visited a group of ultranationalist Buddhist monks in northern Rakhine state, who told them "illegal migrant Bengalis" were killing ethnic people to occupy the region. One of the monks said action needed to be taken. Thura San Lwin, the border guard police chief, told the monks that forces were deployed for patrols and would carry out "area clearance" in cooperation with the military, according to the document. He didn't specify where the clearance would take place. The officials urged the monks and other locals to cooperate with the security forces and share information. By mid-August 2017, hundreds of troops had been flown into northern Rakhine, including two elite Light Infantry Divisions, the 33rd and 99th. The military said publicly it was trying to stabilize the situation there and that Muslim attackers had killed both Rakhine and Muslim villagers. Reuters couldn't confirm this. In the early hours of August 25, some 30 police posts were attacked by Rohingya men across the north of Rakhine state, killing 12 members of the security forces, authorities said. The men were largely untrained and carrying mostly sticks, knives and homemade bombs, according to the UN. A group called the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), which said it was seeking political rights for Rohingya, claimed responsibility for the attacks. ARSA didn't respond to a request for comment. Nay Myo Thet and another member of the security forces told Reuters they were surprised by the army's disproportionate response to what they said were small and poorly organized attacks compared with insurgencies conducted by well-equipped militias in other parts of the country. A log of army activities compiled by military authorities and obtained by CIJA records 18 attacks that morning by "Bengali insurgents," starting with several explosions from handmade bombs. The log doesn't record the deaths of any members of the security forces, though it does say militants killed Rohingya informers and several Rakhine civilians. The next morning, the burning of Rohingya villages began. The log describes "arson attacks" in the Rakhine township of Maungdaw, with lists of houses, shops, mosques and Arabic language schools destroyed. Hundreds of houses are recorded as burned after "a fire broke out." The arson continued for weeks. More than 7,000 structures are recorded in the log as having been burned to the ground between August 25 and mid-September. Sometimes the arson is ascribed to "Bengali insurgents." Sometimes no perpetrator is listed. Moe Yan Naing, a police captain who was stationed in Rakhine, told Reuters there were no attacks by ARSA after August 25, but his superiors ordered him and his colleagues to burn villages. There were many dead bodies in the villages, said Moe Yan Naing. "The troops shot into the village before entering," he said, referring to the village of Inn Din, where Reuters uncovered a massacre of civilians. "They shot and killed whoever they found in the village." Moe Yan Naing was the police captain who testified in the 2018 trial of Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, who were arrested after they uncovered the killings in Inn Din and spent 511 days behind bars. Moe Yan Naing undercut the official narrative in court, saying that the two reporters had been set up by the authorities. He fled the country after the coup, fearing arrest by junta forces. Approximately 392 villages were either partly or completely destroyed, largely by fire, according to UN investigators, who blamed the arson on the Myanmar security forces and local Rakhine residents. This amounted to 40% of all villages in northern Rakhine state. Army chief Min Aung Hlaing traveled to northern Rakhine around the time of the expulsion of the Rohingya, CIJA said. A CIJA document records previously unreported comments he made to officials in Rakhine during his trip. He ordered non-Rohingya locals to remain in their homes "instead of leaving," referring to a large discrepancy in population size between Muslims and other ethnic groups in Rakhine. He told the audience he understood they "do not want to keep Bengali villages near." During the expulsion of the Rohingya, troops were given instructions to delete photos that might be incriminating, said Nay Myo Thet. He and Moe Yan Naing, the former police captain, said security force members placed machetes beside the bodies of dead Rohingya and took photographs so it would look like they were insurgents. Sensitive orders from senior commanders were given by phone rather than in writing, said Nay Myo Thet. Fear of intervention Documents in the CIJA cache show how the military feared international retribution over the Rakhine operation. A 2018 presentation that CIJA said was shown in officer training sessions assessed the possibility of foreign intervention triggered by an invocation of the UN's "Responsibility to Protect" doctrine. R2P, as it's known, has been used to support international intervention in countries where rulers are committing atrocities. If R2P comes to Myanmar, the country will become "a failed state," reads one slide. The presentation concluded that international uproar over the military operation was creating "excessive pressure" and that could "harm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country." A 2018 internal report by military authorities that assessed the Rakhine operation said the Rohingya had been "eager to take over" northern Rakhine. Muslim religious scholars in Myanmar, the report said, were trying to implement a plan for the world to become Islamic in the 21st century and were "recklessly" accelerating birth rates to increase the Muslim population. The authorities, it said, may have had trouble policing in Rakhine because "many Bengalis have similar facial resemblance with each other." The report points to democratic reforms in the country as having emboldened the Rohingya. Control over "extremist Bengalis" had weakened, the report said, when two Rohingya became members of parliament after power was transferred to a semi-civilian government following an election in 2010. One of the two MPs, Shwe Maung, who had been critical of the authorities' treatment of the Rohingya, has been in the United States since 2015 for fear of being arrested if he returns to Myanmar. His advocacy for the Rohingya in parliament had made him "a target," he told Reuters. Rohingya weren't allowed to vote in the election that brought Suu Kyi to power in 2015, and Shwe Maung was barred from running. Since the purge in Rakhine, some people named in the CIJA documents have been promoted. Among them is the former head of the 33rd Light Infantry Division, Aung Aung, who was promoted to head the Southwestern Command, according to local media. Border Guard Police chief Thura San Lwin was transferred to a top police post in the capital Naypyitaw, according to local reports. Aung Aung didn't respond to questions from Reuters. A United Nations body also has been gathering evidence about the military's actions in Rakhine, and since the coup has expanded its work to cover the junta's actions. In March, the UN said the army's actions since seizing power including extrajudicial killings, air strikes and arson in populated areas could amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. CIJA wound down its Myanmar fact-finding operation in late April. Wiley said international criminal justice is a "long game," but he believes CIJA has amassed "really good evidence." "We get convictions," he added. "The challenge is arrests." In a move that shocked environmentalists, the government of Brazil's third-largest state has given up a legal fight over protecting a state park in one of the Amazon's most biodiverse areas. The upshot of that decision is that a man responsible for the deforestation of huge swaths of protected land wins with finality a lawsuit against the government. The park will cease to exist. Antonio Jose Rossi Junqueira Vilela has been fined millions of dollars for deforestation in Brazil and for stealing thousands of hectares of the Amazon rainforest. Yet it was a company linked to him that filed a lawsuit against the state of Mato Grosso, alleging it had improperly set the borders of the Cristalino II State Park. The park stretches for 118,000 hectares, larger than New York City, and lies in the transition zone between the Amazon and drier Cerrado biomes. It is home to the endemic white-fronted spider monkey (Ateles marginatus), a species endangered because of habitat loss. In a 3-2 decision, Mato Grosso's upper court ruled that the government's creation of the park in 2001 was illegal because it took place without public consultation. The state government did not appeal that decision, leaving it to become final. Now the park will be officially dissolved, the government press office confirmed to The Associated Press. The loss of the park is a measure of the state of the Amazon. Not only are environmental laws going unenforced, now a court has invalidated a major protected area. Scientists say not only are ecosystems being lost, but massive deforestation is damaging the forest's ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a crucial role it plays for the planet. Laying waste to forest Before he challenged the validity of Cristalino II park, Vilela's presence was well known there. In 2005, he was fined $27 million for destroying 11,000 hectares of forest inside the protected area, according to local press reports at the time. In 2016, the Vilela family made headlines in Brazil for being at the center of a landmark enforcement operation against deforestation in the Amazon, known as the Flying Rivers Operation, carried out by the Brazilian environment agency, Ibama, the federal police and the attorney general. Vilela was also indicted for deforesting 30,000 hectares of public forests in Para state, the equivalent of five Manhattans. Brazil's attorney general called Vilela the worst perpetrator of deforestation the Amazon had ever seen. Legal proceedings often stretch for many years in Brazil. If convicted in the Para case, Vilela could be sentenced to more than 200 years in prison. He could be fined more than $60 million. Attorney Renato Maurilio Lopes, who has represented both Vilela and an affiliate company, did not respond to messages left by The Associated Press Wednesday and Thursday. According to researcher Mauricio Torres, a geographer from Para Federal University, Vilela's family follows the "classic script of land grabbing in the Amazon." The way to steal land in Brazil is to deforest it and then claim it, he said. "It is through deforestation that the land-robbers concretely mark their ownership of the land and are recognized as 'owners' by other gangs," he wrote to the AP. According to official data, as of March 2022, Cristalino II had lost some 22,000 hectares to deforestation, even though it is a fully protected area. The area destroyed makes up almost 20% of the park. Mato Grosso, Brazil's largest soybean-producing state, is run by governor Mauro Mendes, a pro-agribusiness politician and ally of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly said Brazil has too many protected areas and vowed not to create more of them. Mendes' state secretary of the environment is Mauren Lazzaretti, a lawyer who made a career defending loggers against criminal charges related to the environment. During their tenure, Mato Grosso experienced one of the worst environmental disasters in Brazilian history. In 2020, wildfires burned 40% of the state's Pantanal biome, the world's most extensive tropical wetlands. Mendes signed a law Thursday that allows cattle raising in the Pantanals private preservation areas. Via email, Mato Grosso's Environment Secretary said it will proceed with the park's dissolution and did not appeal because "it was deemed technically unviable." The office noted that the adjacent Cristalino State Park I is still a protected area and covers 66,000 hectares (163,000 acres) of Amazon rainforest. In a statement, the Mato Grosso Socio-environmental Observatory, a nonprofit network, said that the park's extinction sets a "dangerous precedent" and the state government has shown itself incapable of protecting preserved areas. It said it is assessing legal options to maintain Cristalino II. "The public should not have to pay the price for the omission and incompetence of the state of Mato Grosso," Angela Kuczach, head of the National Network for Conservation Units, told the AP. A bus with Polish license plates skidded off a highway in northern Croatia early Saturday, killing at least 12 people, according to authorities. Officials say at least 30 people were injured. The bus was filled with religious pilgrims traveling to a Catholic shrine in Medjugorje, a town in southern Bosnia. Reuters reports that all the victims are Polish citizens. As Russia began an assault Saturday on two key cities in eastern Ukraine, the body that monitors ships in and out of Ukraine ports authorized five more vessels to sail. Four are to leave Sunday with nearly 162,000 metric tons of foodstuffs. Russian forces began Saturday with an assault on the strategic cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military and local officials. Bakhmut and Avdiivka are prime targets for Russia; analysts say Moscow must take Bakhmut in order to advance on the key regional hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Five civilians were killed, including in one in Avdiivka, and 14 others were injured in Russian shelling in the Donetsk region, Donetsk governor Pavlo Kyrylenko wrote on Telegram Saturday. Russia last attacked Sloviansk on July 30, but Ukrainian forces are fortifying their positions around the strategic eastern city ahead of anticipated fresh Russian attacks. Sloviansk is strategic in Moscows ambitions to seize the entire Donetsk region, a largely Russian-speaking area in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces and pro-Moscow groups control about 60% of the province. Grain shipments The Joint Coordination Center (JCC), the body set up under the Black Sea Grain Initiative to monitor its implementation, authorized the departure of five vessels. Four are to leave the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk and Odesa on Sunday carrying nearly 162,000 metric tons of corn, meal and sunflower oil. The JCC also authorized the movement of a fifth ship, the MV Osprey S, to travel from Istanbul to Chornomorsk. The MV Navistar, which sailed from Odesa Friday with 33,000 metric tons of corn, has been inspected and cleared to sail on to its destination, Ireland. Nuclear power plant attacks Kyiv and Moscow continue to blame each other for missile strikes on Ukraines Zaporizhzhia power station, Europes largest nuclear power plant. Russian troops have occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, located in southern Ukraine, since March. Ukraine has accused Russia of storing heavy weapons there, while Russia accused Ukraine of targeting the plant. "Three strikes were recorded on the site of the plant, near one of the power blocks where the nuclear reactor is located," according to a statement Friday from the operator of Ukraines state-run nuclear power plant. "There are risks of hydrogen leakage and radioactive spraying. The fire danger is high." However, plant operator Energoatom also said there were no signs of damage that would cause a radioactive leak. The European Union's top diplomat demanded that Russia give the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), open access to the plant. "This is a serious and irresponsible breach of nuclear safety rules and another example of Russia's disregard for international norms," Josep Borrell said on Twitter. Ukraine has rejected IAEA efforts to visit the plant in the last few weeks, saying such a visit would legitimize Russia's occupation of the plant in the eyes of the international community. Russia-Turkey cooperation Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Saturday that Turkey will pay for some Russian natural gas in rubles, the official currency of Russia. The move is seen as a way to help insulate Russia from Western sanctions. Payments in rubles would be protected from sanctions. The United States is spearheading international efforts to impose economic sanctions on Russia for its February invasion of Ukraine. Turkey is a NATO member but has refused to take part in sanctions, in part because Turkey is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Erdogan also said Saturday that he offered to host talks in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine. He said he made the offer when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday in Sochi, the Kyiv Independent reported. Some information in this report came from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Chinese aircraft and warships rehearsed an attack on Taiwan on Saturday, island officials said, in retaliation for a visit there by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that also saw Beijing halt talks on security and other issues with the United States. Pelosi's brief unannounced visit during the week to the self-ruled island claimed by China infuriated Beijing and has prompted unprecedented military drills that have included ballistic missiles fired over the capital, Taipei. The Chinese exercises -- centered on six locations around the island -- are scheduled to last until midday Sunday. Taiwan's defense ministry said multiple Chinese ships and planes conducted missions in the Taiwan Strait, with some crossing the median line, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides, in what the Taiwan military described as a simulation attack on the island. Chinese warships and aircraft continued to "press" into the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Saturday afternoon, a person familiar with security planning said. Off Taiwan's east coast and close to Japanese islands, Chinese warships and drones simulated attacks on U.S. and Japanese warships, the person added. Taiwan's army broadcast a warning and deployed air reconnaissance patrol forces and ships to monitor while putting shore-based missiles on standby. Its defense ministry also said it fired flares late Friday to warn away seven drones flying over its Kinmen islands and unidentified aircraft flying over its Matsu islands. Both island groups are close to mainland China's coast. On Friday, China's military said it conducted air and sea drills to the north, southwest and east of Taiwan to test its forces' "joint combat capabilities." Pelosi arrived in Taiwan late Tuesday, the highest-level visit to the island by a U.S. official in decades, despite Chinese warnings. Her trip has promoted a flurry of retaliation, including sanctions against Pelosi and her family. Shortly after her delegation left Japan on Friday, the final stop of a weeklong Asia tour, China announced that it was halting dialogue with the United States, including contacts between theater-level military commanders and on climate change. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking on a visit to the Philippines, said the cessation of dialogue on issues including narcotics and transnational crime, was "irresponsible," and security contacts were vital to ease tension. Blinken said China's stopping bilateral links on the climate, in particular, would punish the world. "Suspending climate cooperation doesn't punish the United States, it punishes the world, particularly the developing world," he told a news conference. "We should not hold hostage cooperation on matters of global concern." Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi told a media briefing Friday that Blinken was spreading "misinformation," adding: "We wish to issue a warning to the United States: Do not act rashly, do not create a greater crisis," Wang said. Jing Quan, a senior Chinese embassy official in Washington, echoed that, telling a briefing: "The only way out of this crisis is that the U.S. side must take measures immediately to rectify its mistakes and eliminate the grave impact of Pelosi's visit." 'Fundamentally irresponsible' White House national security spokesperson John Kirby countered that China's suspension of some communication channels was "fundamentally irresponsible." "There's nothing here for the United States to rectify. The Chinese can go a long way to taking the tensions down simply by stopping these provocative military exercises and ending the rhetoric," Kirby told reporters. China has not mentioned a suspension of military talks at the senior-most levels, such as with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. While those talks have been infrequent, officials have said they are important in the case of an emergency. Kirby said it was not atypical for China to shut down military talks at times of tension but "not all channels" between military leaders had been cut. "Part of this overreaction has been strictly limiting its defense engagements when any responsible state would recognize that we need them now the most," said acting Pentagon spokesperson Todd Breasseale. Speaking in Japan after meeting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Pelosi said her Asia trip was "not about changing the status quo in Taiwan or the region." Japan's defense ministry reported that as many as four missiles flew over Taiwan's capital, which is unprecedented. It also said that five of nine missiles fired toward its territory landed in its exclusive economic zone. Kishida told visiting U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that he strongly condemned China's missile launches as "a serious issue concerning Japan's security and the safety of Japanese people," the foreign ministry said. Taiwan has been self-ruled since 1949, when Mao Zedong's communists took power in Beijing after defeating Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang nationalists in a civil war, prompting their retreat to the island. Beijing says its relations with Taiwan are an internal matter and that it reserves the right to bring the island under its control, by force if necessary. Taiwan rejects China's claims, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Ukraine and Russia blamed each other Friday for shelling that hit Ukraines Zaporizhzhia power station, Europes largest nuclear power plant. "Three strikes were recorded on the site of the plant, near one of the power blocks where the nuclear reactor is located," Energoatom, Ukrainess state nuclear power company, said in a statement. Russia's Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces were responsible for damaging the plant. "Ukrainian armed units carried out three artillery strikes on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the city of Enerhodar," the ministry said in a statement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily address Friday that Russias shelling on the nuclear plant is not only another argument in favor of recognizing Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism and is an argument in favor of applying tough sanctions against the entire Russian nuclear industry. Energoatom said there were no signs that the damage had caused a radioactive leak. Three strikes Russia's Defense Ministry said Ukrainian forces were responsible for damaging the plant. "Ukrainian armed units carried out three artillery strikes on the territory of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the city of Enerhodar," the ministry said in a statement. "Fortunately, the Ukrainian shells did not hit the oil and fuel facility and the oxygen plant nearby, thus avoiding a larger fire and a possible radiation accident," it said. Russian troops have occupied the plant in southern Ukraine since March. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia on Monday of using the plant as a shield for its forces. An official with the Russian-backed administration in Enerhodar said earlier this week that Ukrainian forces had repeatedly attacked the plant, according to Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his daily video address on Friday that Russia was committing acts of "nuclear terrorism." "Russia must take responsibility for the very fact of creating a threat to a nuclear plant," he said. Corn shipments Three more ships carrying thousands of metric tons of corn left Ukrainian ports Friday in a sign that a deal to allow exports of Ukrainian grain, held up since Russia's invasion of its neighbor in February, is starting to work. The ships departed for Ireland, the United Kingdom and Turkey. Another ship, the Razoni, left Ukraine on Monday for Lebanon, carrying the first grain shipment through the Black Sea since the start of the war. In New York on Friday, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said another ship was headed toward the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk to pick up a grain shipment. The U.N. and Turkey recently brokered a deal, the Black Sea Grain Initiative, aimed at enabling Ukraine to export about 22 million metric tons of grain currently stuck in silos and port storage facilities. The deal is meant to ease a global food crisis marked by soaring prices and food shortages in some regions. Ukraine and Russia are key global suppliers of the wheat, corn, barley and sunflower oil that millions of people in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia rely on for survival. In another hopeful sign, Taras Vysotsky, Ukraine's first deputy minister of agriculture, said the country could start exporting wheat from this year's harvest through its seaports as early as next month. According to Reuters, Vysotsky said Ukraine hoped in several months to increase shipments of grain through the route from 1 million metric tons expected this month to between 3 million and 3.5 million metric tons per month. The initiative will run for a 120 day-period that ends in late November. A backlog of nearly 30 ships that have been stranded in Ukraine's southern ports because of the war has entered its sixth month. The Joint Coordination Center, or JCC, a body set up under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, says the ships need to move out so other ships can enter the ports and collect food for transport to world markets. The crews and cargo of the vessels that set sail Friday will undergo checks at the JCC inspection area in Turkey's territorial waters before moving on toward their destinations. The JCC says that based on its experience with the first ship that sailed Monday, it is now testing moving multiple ships in the safe corridor, both outbound and inbound. Erdogan in Russia Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Russia on Friday for talks with President Vladimir Putin that included the grain deal, prospects for talks on ending hostilities in Ukraine, and the situation in Syria. In a statement issued at the conclusion of the talks in Sochi, which lasted four hours, Putin and Erdogan emphasized "the necessity of a complete fulfillment" of the grain deal. They also said that "sincere, frank and trusting ties between Russia and Turkey" are important to global stability. In other developments Friday, the Biden administration prepared its next security assistance package for Ukraine. Reuters reported that the package was expected to be worth $1 billion, one of the largest U.S. military aid packages to Ukraine to date. On Thursday, Zelenskyy blasted human rights group Amnesty International for a report that said Ukrainian forces had put civilians in harm's way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas. The report "unfortunately tries to amnesty the terrorist state and shift the responsibility from the aggressor to the victim," Zelenskyy said. "There cannot be, even hypothetically, any condition under which any Russian attack on Ukraine becomes justified. Aggression against our state is unprovoked, invasive and openly terroristic." The head of Amnesty International's Ukrainian office, Oksana Pokalchuk, also took issue with the report. In posts on Facebook on Thursday, she said the Ukrainian office "was not involved in the preparation or writing" of the report and tried to prevent the material from being published. Pokalchuk on Friday announced her resignation from Amnesty International in a Facebook post. Amnesty International said its researchers investigated Russian strikes in Ukraine between April and July in the Kharkiv, Donbas and Mykolaiv regions. The organization said its "researchers found evidence of Ukrainian forces launching strikes from within populated residential areas as well as basing themselves in civilian buildings in 19 towns and villages in the regions." Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Journalists in Cambodia are facing increasing threats and being prevented from doing their jobs amid growing restrictions on press freedom and civic and political rights, the U.N human rights office there said this week. The U.N. agency's report, issued August 3, describes press freedom in Cambodia from January 2017 until local elections held this June. The findings reveal a steady deterioration of democratic rights in the country. The report's authors say the country's media is in a perilous state as Cambodia prepares for elections again this year and in 2023. They say journalists working in the country face harassment and pressure, mainly through the criminal justice system. Sixty-five journalists were interviewed and surveyed as part of the report. Human rights spokesman Jeremy Laurence told VOA that 80% of those surveyed said they had experienced surveillance and interference during their work. "For years now, the authorities in Cambodia have actively adopted legislation restricting civic space generally in Cambodia and press freedoms in particular," Laurence said. "Laws and other instruments have been adopted which are empowering the authorities to censor and place journalists and others under surveillance and extend the government's ability to target media workers and freedom of expression through the courts themselves." Laurence said the U.N. rights office in Cambodia has documented the cases of 23 journalists since January 2017 who have faced criminal charges for disinformation, defamation, or incitement because of their work. "The wide range in powers to block information and punish unspecific crimes, they should be scrapped," Laurence said. "What I am referring to specifically are the laws the law that was introduced around COVID-19 and the decree that was introduced earlier this year on the establishment of their internet gateway." The law on COVID-19 measures enables the government to impose restrictions to curb the spread of infectious diseases. It contains large fines and prison sentences of up to 20 years. Journalists who oppose the measure and report on it can be, and have been, fined and punished. The internet gateway decree, if implemented, would manage all internet traffic into and out of Cambodia. Human rights officials warn the decree gives the government wide-ranging powers to block information and punish unspecified crimes. The U.N. human rights office submitted the draft report to the Cambodian government for factual comments June 20. It says the government's response, which was received July 6, has been incorporated throughout the report. The authors of the report have not specified the changes requested by Cambodian authorities. The Russian occupiers are planning to arrange a show trial of captured Ukrainian military in the occupied city of Mariupol, Donetsk region, in September this year, Mariupol City Council has said on the Telegram channel on Saturday. At present, prison cages from reinforcing bars with a diameter of 20 mm are being assembled directly on the stage of the Mariupol Chamber Philharmonic. "I am addressing the world community, the UN and the Red Cross to intervene in the situation so that the rules for the treatment of military prisoners work. We must do everything so that our defenders return to Ukraine alive and prevent a second Olenivka in Mariupol," Mariupol Mayor Vadym Boichenko said. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield on Friday announced a $150 million package for Africa to help address food and humanitarian crises. Speaking before a gathering of over 500 participants at the University of Ghana in Accra, Thomas-Greenfield said the world is facing unprecedented food crises, requiring what she termed an "unprecedented global response." "For our part, the United States is committed to this work. But more funding is needed to address food security and to address crises that compound food security, like refugees and internally displaced people," she said. "I am proud to announce nearly $150 million in new, additional humanitarian funding and development assistance, pending Congressional approval, for Africa." She said the new package, if approved by Congress, will increase U.S. humanitarian assistance to Africa to $6.6 billion since the beginning of this year. The ambassador says worldwide food prices are 23% higher than a year ago, partly a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine the two countries combined provide over 40% of Africa's wheat supply. Thomas-Greenfield said the new U.S. funding will expand investments in fertilizer, grains and other crops in Africa to meet "the goal of increasing resilience to future shocks." It includes $2.5 million in new development assistance for Ghana and $20 million for Uganda, where Thomas-Greenfield stopped before visiting the West African country. She said the new funding includes more than $127 million in additional humanitarian assistance for Africa to provide "lifesaving support to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless persons and persecuted people across Africa." Condemning the war in Ukraine, she said the U.N. Security Council must be proactive to prevent food from being used as a weapon of war. "The world needs to see how food insecurity increases the risk of conflict. And the Security Council needs to do a better job of stopping food from being used as a weapon of war," she said. Thomas-Greenfield said Africa has the potential to become its own breadbasket and must take advantage of the current situation to forge partnerships with civil society and the private sector to build the food systems and structures of the future. As part of a push toward a green energy future for America, the Biden administration has unveiled plans to develop the oil-rich Gulf of Mexicos first offshore wind farms. Though still in their infancy, the initiatives could one day generate enough electricity to power more than 3 million homes, according to federal projections. Of course its something were excited about, Jason Ryan, senior media relations manager at American Clean Power, told VOA. The leasing plan shows the energy transition needs to take place and it needs to take place rapidly. Turbocharging a domestic offshore wind energy sector has become a central component of President Joe Bidens strategy to fight climate change. Unlike burning oil, natural gas or coal, wind-generated electricity produces zero carbon emissions. But the United States still has a long way to go. While land-based wind energy production has grown rapidly in recent years, offshore wind farms remain a rarity. Only two small wind farms are operational on the countrys Atlantic Coast in Rhode Island and Virginia. A larger farm was approved for Massachusetts last year and several wind energy areas are in various stages of consideration along Americas West Coast. Supporters of the administrations announcement hope developing wind energy infrastructure on parts of the proposed 283,000-hectare area in the Gulf will provide a much-needed boost to the industry while serving Americas growing energy needs. According to a 2020 study by the National Renewable Energy Lab, wind farms in the Gulf of Mexico could generate as much as 508 gigawatts of electricity a year, which is twice what U.S. Gulf states consume. Others, meanwhile, strike a cautionary note. There are definite pros to the Biden administrations announcement, especially since meaningful federal government investment is accompanying it, said Eric Smith, associate director of Tulane University's Energy Institute in New Orleans, but there are cons, as well. I dont think the public largely understands the embedded limitations of renewable energy. Boosting energy independence Since the oil crisis of the 1970s, the United States has been on a quest to achieve energy independence by attempting to shrink its reliance on foreign energy sources. This goal has proved difficult at times, a fact underscored most recently when Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine and resulting international sanctions on Moscow roiled global fossil fuel markets. Dramatically higher gasoline prices that only recently have begun to recede prompted outcries from U.S. consumers. I would speculate thats partly where were seeing this urge from the Biden administration, Smith told VOA. It likely has its roots in our insecurity about reliable energy supplies from international sources. And if the United States is looking to increase its domestic energy capacity, the Gulf of Mexico has risen to the challenge before, albeit with fossil fuels. The Gulf of Mexico has provided up to 15-17% of the nations domestic oil and gas production so theres extensive infrastructure in place with well-developed ports and a skilled workforce, said Ryan of American Clean Power. That expertise has been tapped for projects reaching across the country. Several Louisiana companies involved in offshore drilling were hired to help build the nations first offshore wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island. Similarly, New Orleans, Louisiana, is home to Americas first private testing facility for new offshore wind turbine blade technology. These opportunities will only continue, Ryan said, and theyll be significant as wind energy gets started and we build out our domestic supply chain. Pros and cons One site being explored for a wind farm is 40 kilometers off the coast of Galveston, Texas. The other lies 90 kilometers off the coast of Lake Charles, Louisiana. The sites are appealing because the Gulf of Mexico is known for having smaller waves and shallower waters than both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, making building the newly proposed projects potentially less costly. Of course, the Gulf of Mexico brings challenges, as well. Recent hurricanes have passed over the very waters where the proposed wind farms would be located. A record 2020 hurricane season, for example, produced five named storms that struck Louisiana. Hurricanes Laura and Delta devastated the states Lake Charles area. Its not only the potential for storms that worries some experts. Comparative costs are also a factor. In Rhode Island, for example, the cost of energy from natural gas is high, and that makes wind energy appealing, said Smith from Tulane University. In Louisiana, the economics are different. We can produce energy from natural gas at one-fourth what it would cost us to produce energy from wind. Smith added, The Rhode Island market pays 25-30 cents per kilowatt for wind energy, while Louisiana and Texas can produce a kilowatt of energy from gas for just 6 cents. Prioritizing the environment While advocates of renewable energy point to coming technological advances that will lower costs, financial considerations are among several factors the Biden administration is weighing. By reentering the Paris Climate Agreement in 2021, the U.S. has committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50% by 2030. Expanding the production and use of renewable energy is central to meeting that goal. Environmental activists along the Gulf Coast, and across the country, want America to honor the commitment. We think these wind farms are a very good development, Cynthia Sarthou, executive director of Healthy Gulf, told VOA. It provides clean energy, and it does it without the risk of spills or the same level of pollution associated with offshore oil and gas development. But Sarthou points out, as with any form of development, particularly energy production, there are risks to a fragile ecosystem that must be considered. The turbines can adversely impact sea birds and migratory birds, noise during construction can be harmful to dolphins and whales, and building new infrastructure has the potential to destroy marine habitats, she said. This all needs to be considered so we reduce impacts. New energy development projects in the Gulf of Mexico invariably affect the regions renowned seafood industry. This past week, the federal government sent representatives from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to meet with local shrimpers. Members of the Louisiana Shrimp Task Force expressed concerns that building wind farms in the Gulf could destroy productive shrimping areas and further damage a local industry already punished by environmental disasters and foreign competition. Task force member Rodney Olander said he and other shrimpers emerged from the meeting satisfied with what they heard from federal officials. If they would have come in here and said theyre building windmills on top of this productive shrimping area, we would have had a lot to say about that, Olander said, but instead it seems like theyre really listening to everyone. Theyre looking at where we shrimp and are staying clear of that, theyre looking at where birds migrate and staying clear of that, theyre looking at where the Coast Guard wants to keep open and theyre staying clear of that theyre balancing a lot. Not putting eggs in one basket Smith said even as progress is being made, its important to remain realistic about the limits of renewable energies like wind power. Data shows the wind isnt blowing approximately 55% of the time, and the sun isnt shining 75% of the time, he told VOA. Once events like ice storms in West Texas or droughts in California put stress on our energy systems, we see we cant yet maintain a system that is 40-to-50% renewable energy. Thats why California is currently investing in new gas power infrastructure and reversing decisions to shut down their last nuclear plant renewables are still too unreliable for our energy needs. Olander said, as a lifelong Louisianian, he would prefer not to see the oil industry disappear. He feels a loyalty to an industry he says has provided so many jobs in the region over the years. Oil has been such a big part of Louisiana and Texas for decades, he said, and people like to pretend wind and solar energy are going to completely replace oil. I dont see that happening, and to be honest with you I hope it doesnt happen. Still, he acknowledged, hes heard more and more about renewable energy over the years. Hes trying to keep an open mind to giving the growing technology a foothold in the local economy. Having some wind energy to go with our oil and gas is worth trying, he said. They say not to put all your eggs in one basket, right? KYIV, UKRAINE As Russia began an assault Saturday on two key cities in eastern Ukraine, Kyiv and Moscow blamed each other for a strike on Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia power station, Europe's largest nuclear power plant. Russian troops have occupied the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, located in southern Ukraine, since March. Ukraine has accused Russia of storing heavy weapons there, while Russia accused Ukraine of targeting the plant. "Three strikes were recorded on the site of the plant, near one of the power blocks where the nuclear reactor is located," according to a statement Friday from the operator of Ukraine's state-run nuclear power plant. "There are risks of hydrogen leakage and radioactive spraying. The fire danger is high." However, plant operator Energoatom also said there were no signs of damage that would cause a radioactive leak. The European Union's top diplomat demanded that Russia give the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), open access to the plant. "This is a serious and irresponsible breach of nuclear safety rules and another example of Russia's disregard for international norms," Josep Borrell said on Twitter. Ukraine has rejected IAEA efforts to visit the plant in the last few weeks, saying such a visit would legitimize Russia's occupation of the plant in the eyes of the international community. New attacks On Saturday, Russian forces began an assault on the strategic cities of Bakhmut and Avdiivka in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian military and local officials. Bakhmut and Avdiivka are prime targets for Russia; analysts say Moscow must take Bakhmut in order to advance on the key regional hubs of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk. Russia last attacked Sloviansk on July 30, but Ukrainian forces are fortifying their positions around the strategic eastern city ahead of anticipated fresh Russian attacks. Sloviansk is strategic in Moscow's ambitions to seize the entire Donetsk region, a largely Russian-speaking area in eastern Ukraine. Russian forces and pro-Moscow groups control about 60% of the province. Russia-Turkey cooperation Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan confirmed Saturday that Turkey will pay for some Russian natural gas in rubles, the official currency of Russia. The move is seen as a way to help insulate Russia from Western sanctions. Payments in rubles would be protected from sanctions. The United States is spearheading international efforts to impose economic sanctions on Russia for its February invasion of Ukraine. Turkey is a NATO member but has refused to take part in sanctions, in part because Turkey is heavily dependent on Russian energy. Erdogan also said Saturday that he offered to host talks in Turkey between Russia and Ukraine. He said he made the offer when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Sochi, the Kyiv Independent reported. Some information in this report came from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will launch a three-country tour of Africa on Sunday in South Africa. He is expected to deliver a major speech laying out the Biden administration's strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa. Experts tell VOA that human rights concerns will likely be high on the agenda. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports. Some Ukrainian refugees in Los Angeles were allowed to live in student dorms over the summer. But with the start of the school year just a couple of weeks away, theyre not sure what will happen to them. VOA Russian visited a dorm at the University of Southern California and spoke with refugees who are facing new hardships. Anna Rice narrates the story. Camera: Vazgen Varzhabetian Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Metal fragments of a missile, corresponding in their characteristics to S-300 missiles, were found at the site of a missile attack inflicted by the Russian occupation forces on Kharkiv on the night of August 6, the press service of Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office has said. A pre-trial investigation of the missile attack has been launched under Part 1 of Article 438 (violation of the laws and rules of war) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine under the procedural guidance of Slobidsky District Prosecutor's Office of Kharkiv and priority investigative proceedings are underway. "As a result of the attack by the occupiers, the warehouse of an enterprise was partially destroyed. There are no military facilities on this territory. During the inspection of the scene, metal fragments of a rocket, which in their characteristics correspond to S-300 missiles, were found," it said. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Its getting hard to keep count of Germanys exits. Im talking about those pertaining to nuclear energy. Lets see. I think were between three and four now, but closer to four. Nuclear exit number 1 began in 2000. The government back then consisted of the center-left Social Democrats and the Greens. The latter were in power for the first time, having grown out of the hippie counterculture of the 1970s, and in particular the German mass movement against nuclear energy. So Germany decided to phase out its nuclear power plants. Exit 2 happened in 2010. The government, by then consisting of the center-right Christian Democrats and the pro-business Free Democrats, decided to exit from the first exit and keep the remaining nuclear plants running. Exit 3 followed within a year, after the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, Japan. It spooked the government into exiting from its own exit of the preceding exit. That is, Germany again began phasing out nuclear power. Advertisement The countrys last three fission reactors are due to go offline at the end of this year. Bad timing, obviously. This is the year Russian President Vladimir Putin chose to attack Ukraine and declare economic war on the European Union. Hes already throttling the natural gas that used to gush from Russia to central Europe. Germany, in particular, relies on that gas. It mainly needs the stuff to fuel factories and heat homes. But gas was also supposed to fill the gap in power generation left by the nuclear energy being phased out which still accounted for 12% of electricity last year. The government dealing with this mess once again consists of the 2000 roster of Social Democrats and Greens, but now with the addition of the Free Democrats who were part of later exits. The result is cacophonous. Advertisement The Christian Democrats, now in opposition, are calling for an extension of the three nuclear plants still online. That could be done even without buying new fuel rods. The Free Democrats agree, but are treading carefully, lest they ruffle the tenuous coalition peace. Others want to restart the reactors already offline as well a group of 20 university professors is urging parliament to permanently exit all previous nuclear exits. An industry association even wants to invest in entirely new fission plants. Germanys European partners are also vociferous. They never understood Germanys nuclear hysteria in the first place. France relies on fission for most of its electricity and is investing in more reactors. Cutting-edge nations such as Finland view nuclear power as a small but crucial part in any resilient energy mix. Advertisement The EUs eastern members, from Poland to Romania and Slovakia, are especially annoyed. They spent decades urging Germany not to make itself dependent on Russian gas and vulnerable to Putins blackmail. The Germans either ignored them or smugly lectured them on Kremlinology, refusing to acknowledge any connection between their policies on Russia, gas and fission. Now those links are obvious. So the EU, trying hard to look united, is asking all member states to reduce gas usage by 15%. But some countries see that as bailing out the Germans for their own policy failures. As a Slovakian official puts it, why not start saving gas by firing up Germanys nuclear reactors first? The Dutch make a similar point. They have Europes largest gas field, in Groningen. But getting the hydrocarbons out of the ground causes earthquakes, so the Netherlands is phasing out production. Now Germany is asking its neighbor to rethink that exit, because it wants the Groningen gas to replace Putins. That would be easier to sell to Dutch voters if the Germans showed some flexibility on nuclear. Advertisement What many foreigners dont appreciate, however, is that the German controversy is less a policy debate than a religious war not unlike the American debates about guns or abortion, say. Many Germans have spent their entire lives protesting against the splitting of atoms. The Green Partys base, in particular, teems with zealots who consider all nuclear energy evil, and any attempt to nuance the discussion as tantamount to treason. But the Greens are in the government and have responsibility. They even run the relevant ministries those for the environment and for commerce and energy. So the partys leaders are dipping their toes into the discussion. Germany has a gas problem, not an electricity problem, they argue. True up to a point. Keeping the nuclear reactors going would probably save only 4% of the countrys overall gas consumption, a far cry from the 15% the EU stipulates. But nobody is suggesting that this should be the only step just that its one of several that Germans cant afford to forego. Advertisement Yes, nuclear fission has risks. One is the danger of accidents that leak radiation. Another is the problem of finding permanent repositories for the radioactive waste. But all forms of energy have risks. These have to be balanced against the risks of alternatives, and against benefits. Renewables such as the sun and wind are obviously the preferred option. But they fluctuate. And wind turbines sprawl over much more of the countryside and nature than reactors do. Gas and oil emit carbon and often come from unsavory vendors like Putin. Coal Germanys default in the absence of nuclear and gas is even dirtier. It bears most blame for accelerating climate change, the greatest risk of all. By contrast, the risks of fission energy seem manageable, especially with new technologies. Best of all, it emits no greenhouse gases. Nor does it stop when the sun goes down or the breeze dies. Thats why the International Energy Agency says that the world needs more, not less, of it. Advertisement Even religious wars eventually wear themselves out. My guess is that Germanys leaders, including those who head the Greens, are secretly yearning to make peace. Theyre just agonizing over how to communicate that to the public. Exit number 4 is getting closer. More From This Writer and Others at Bloomberg Opinion: Germany Drew the Wrong Nuclear Lesson From Fukushima: Andreas Kluth Germanys Switch to Diesel From Gas Comes at a Cost: Javier Blas Struggling to Stay Cool? So Is the Generator Powering Your Aircon: David Fickling This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Andreas Kluth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European politics. A former editor in chief of Handelsblatt Global and a writer for the Economist, he is author of Hannibal and Me. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Americas abrupt abandonment of Afghanistan a year ago precipitated a humanitarian crisis and was a debacle for the Joe Biden administration; the presidents approval ratings plunged and have not recovered. Watching Kabul fall to the Taliban has also been a difficult experience for veterans who fought there. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Elliot Ackermans forthcoming book, The Fifth Act: Americas End in Afghanistan, is a searing condemnation of both the conduct and abandonment of the war effort. Ackerman, a former Marine Corps and CIA officer who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, is one of the most prolific and powerful figures of the current renaissance of writing among American military veterans. (He also the co-author, with Bloomberg Opinion columnist Admiral James Stavridis, of the bestseller 2034: A Novel of the Next World War.)The Fifth Act weaves together the languor of his family vacation in Italy with the urgency of attempting to get people out of Afghanistan and the regretful ruminations on the meaning of his service and the wars he fought in. Below is a lightly edited transcript of a recent chat with Ackerman about the book: Kori Schake: I love the books opening line: The war has always been there, even though I dont go to it anymore. The idea of deciding to leave, of soldiers in wars of long duration having to negotiate their own separate peace, resonates throughout the book. Explain why thats such a weighty emotional burden. Advertisement Elliot Ackerman: Because theres always another deployment to go on. Every time I came back from Iraq or Afghanistan, there was the question of the next deployment. Are you going? Its tough to bow out, no matter how many deployments youve already done. These guys youre serving alongside are your best friends, so its tough to tell them that youre done, that they can go on the next one without you, that it might not be time for them to leave the war, but it is for you. That type of decision can weigh on friendships. It certainly weighed on some of mine. KS: Why did you title the book The Fifth Act? EA: As Kabul was falling, a friend of mine, Bari Weiss, asked me to contribute a brief article about Afghanistan to her Substack. I was, admittedly, feeling at a loss for what to write. I mean, what else was there to say about Afghanistan after 20 years of war? Advertisement She said: Elliot, most people havent been paying any attention to this for years. This is a tragedy, maybe you can just explain whats going on. It was that word, tragedy, that stuck with me. Going back to Horace and the ancients, in classic dramatic structures, tragedies are told in five acts. I then wrote Bari this short article that broke down the Afghan War in five acts: Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden and, as the denouement, the Taliban. I later realized that would be the structure for this book. KS: You write that never before had America engaged in a protracted conflict with an all-volunteer military that was funded by deficit spending. How has that changed the American way of war? EA: Successive Republican and Democratic administrations have deliberately anesthetized Americans to the wars being fought in their names. Our political class has done this by the way they structure our wars we dont pay a war tax because we place the cost in our deficit; an increasingly narrow band of Americans, that 1% of us who man our all-volunteer force, take up the burden. Advertisement The result is that war has become easy to wage because only a slim segment of society feels the pain. Wars used to be existential events in American society and generationally defining. Not anymore, and not for my generation. Ive often wondered if it would be better to be part of a Lost Generation than to be the lost part of a generation. KS: You write that choosing to build in plywood explains Americas failures in Afghanistan. Please explain. EA: If you traveled to Afghanistan, one thing you would note at most of the major American military bases, in places like Bagram or Kandahar, was that even after 20 years of war much of the construction of our headquarters were done in plywood, as though our occupation were temporary and at any minute we were going to leave. This decision, to build in plywood as opposed to more durable materials, spoke to the transient psychology of the American effort in Afghanistan. Advertisement We waged a 20-year war, but at any point in those 20 years we had one foot out the door, with a drawdown scheduled within months. In his book on Vietnam, A Bright Shining Lie, the journalist Neil Sheehan quotes John Paul Vann, a legendary military and foreign service officer, who said: The problem with Vietnam wasnt that we fought a seven-year war, but that we fought seven one-year wars. You could say the same of Afghanistan, and if you want a physical reminder of this truth, its our decision to build in plywood. KS: You write: In any year, we couldnt even agree on what victory even looked like. And so we lost. Please explain your thinking on what it takes to win a war. EA: A coherent strategic objective thats what it takes. We never had that in Afghanistan. Were we there to rebuild Afghanistan? To kill Osama bin Laden? To deny Afghanistan as a refuge for terrorists? All of the above? None of the above? Four presidents, Democratic and Republican, could never answer what winning meant. Advertisement If you look at the wars weve won, there has been a clear strategic objective: Preserve the Union; the unconditional surrender of the Axis powers; pushing Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait. The wars we lose, theres always a vague strategic objective. It also takes strategic patience, a belief by your enemy that your will is superior to his. A truism in Afghanistan was that the Americans had the watches but the Taliban had the time. We never convinced the Taliban or the Afghans that we had both the watches and the time. And so we lost. KS: You reflect on Americas war memorials, and how youd design a single memorial to all our wars. Talk about that, please. EA: The planning for a Global War on Terror Memorial has been going on for a number of years. The Global War on Terror, technically, isnt over, and it doesnt look as though the authorizations underpinning it are going to be rescinded anytime soon. This creates an interesting conundrum: How do you create a memorial to a war thats still going on? Advertisement The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, established in 1982, inaugurated an era of war memorial construction on the National Mall. Before then, the National Mall was a place where we commemorated individuals Washington, Lincoln, Grant not wars. But that has changed in the past 40 years, and with diminishing real estate on the National Mall at a premium, often there is a great deal of controversy about whether certain conflicts merit a memorial. I think we should abolish all these individual war memorials. Instead, we should have one single National War Memorial. I imagine it being a black trench like the Vietnam Veterans memorial, but it spirals underground like something out of Dante. A war memorial built into the earth as opposed to above it seems appropriate; if theres one thing you learn to do in the military its to dig. This spiraling trench would have all the names of Americas war dead, more than a million, beginning with Crispus Attucks, a freeman of African and Native descent who is counted as the first death in the American Revolution. Every time we fought a war, wed dig a little deeper to add the names. Down and down, wed go. We wouldnt have to debate real estate on the mall, wed just keep on digging. Advertisement Also, Id propose that Congress pass legislation that every time the president signs a troop deployment order, he or she can only do so with a special pen thats kept under guard on a special desk next to the last name on the American War Memorial. KS: So much of your fiction is about warfare, and you explore it from such various perspectives the sympathetic portrait of an Afghan who kills American soldiers in the Green on Blue; the desperate refugees in Dark at the Crossing. Whats your favorite book about war? EA: Thats a tough one. There are so many books that on the surface are about war but whose subject is much broader than war. There are also many books that dont seem to be about war at all but are in fact very much tethered to the subject. I guess Ill pick a favorite from the latter category: The Catcher in the Rye. J.D. Salinger landed on D-Day, fought in the Huertgen Forest, and helped liberate Dachau. But he never wrote much about the war, or at least not head-on. He handled the subject obliquely. Advertisement The Catcher in the Rye is the greatest novel about the Second World War and its long shadow. Holden Caufields voice, for which the novel is renowned, is the voice of a war veteran, to whom everyone is a phony and who wants to visit the ducks in Central Park, to recover an innocence that will never return and perhaps never was. The novels last line Dont ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody is one Ive often related to. More From Bloomberg Opinion: All Wars Are Culture Wars: Kori Schake Bidens Afghan Withdrawal Achieved Nothing But Disaster: Hal Brands In the End, the Afghan Army Was Always Doomed: James Stavridis This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Kori Schake leads the foreign and defense policy team at the American Enterprise Institute. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The Tory contest to replace Boris Johnson as British prime minister is turning into a coronation: Johnsons ally Liz Truss has taken a massive, 34-point lead in the recent YouGov poll over her rival, Rishi Sunak, the former chancellor of the exchequer. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight What explains this overwhelming Tory preference for Truss? Certainly, the great majority of the British electorate doesnt share it. The latest Ipsos Political Monitor reveals Sunak as the publics favorite; he is clearly the candidate that the opposition Labour Party fear most. But then the approximately 175,000 rank-and-file members of the Tory Party are not known for their political wisdom or moral discernment. According to YouGov, 53% percent of these hard Brexiteers still prefer Johnson over either Truss or Sunak, and 75% support Johnsons policy of deporting asylum seekers to Rwanda. Advertisement It is true that Sunak, educated at Winchester, Oxford and Stanford, and married to a rich Indian heiress, tries too hard to show his common touch, wearing, for instance, a hoodie over shirt and tie. His image was not helped by revelations that his wife didnt pay UK tax on her international income and that he himself held a US green card while working in Downing Street. Hes made political blunders, including bragging recently about diverting government funds from poor urban areas. Still, Sunaks flaws pale in comparison to Trusss. High on audacious rhetoric and short on intellectual gravitas, Britains likely next prime minister comes across as an English-accented Sarah Palin. As foreign secretary, she did not seem to know that the Baltic and Black Seas were two separate bodies of water. Her offer to support Britons who wanted to go fight in Ukraine had to be swiftly withdrawn by her own government. Her most insightful assertion thus far seems to be, I want to surf the zeitgeist to where its all happening. Accordingly, she surfed on the side of Tory Remainers when they were in power, then took her surfboard over to the Brexiteers after the latter won the referendum in 2016. Advertisement As a born-again Brexiteer, she is now threatening to tear up large parts of the Brexit agreement with the European Union, at the risk of igniting a trade war. Her personal attacks on Scotlands leader Nicola Sturgeon can only accelerate Scottish moves toward an independence referendum and the much-feared breakup of the United Kingdom. Dominic Cummings, Johnsons former chief adviser, claims that Truss was as close to properly crackers as anybody I have met in Parliament. By any measure, Sunak is the superior candidate, as is recognized by his own partys grandees. In public debates, he has briskly dismantled Trusss incoherent economic plan. In the eyes of Tory faithful, however, Sunak seems almost too rational and disconcertingly non-white. Xenophobia long ago entered the political mainstream in England. Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of London, had to overcome allegations from Tory leaders that he would embolden terrorists. Advertisement The Tory Partys grassroots are even more exposed to, and in tune with, Britains overwhelmingly right-wing media. It would be surprising if crude prejudice didnt at least partly determine their political choices. Sunaks supporters told the Times of London last month that their candidate was a victim of a bit of latent racism from party members. One was reported as saying, Im not ready for the brown one yet. Sunak himself joked about being complimented for his great tan on the campaign trail. The light-hearted remark of course hides a very awkward reality for Sunak. Like many socially mobile and economically successful children of immigrants, he has chosen to align himself with a party that protects the interests of the rich and powerful. Yet he could hardly be unaware of its contribution to racism. He admitted in an interview in 2020 that racist abuse stings in a way that very few other things have. Advertisement Trailing behind an obviously inept candidate, he could appeal to more liberal-minded Tories by underscoring his modest origins as the hardworking son of Indian immigrants; he could insist that Britain is an irreversibly pluralistic society. Broadening the political and moral horizons of his electorate would hardly ensure his victory but it would make easier the struggles for racial equality and dignity of other British people of color. Instead, Sunak has taken to attacking the straw men of leftwing agitators who are evidently bulldozing our history, our traditions and our fundamental values. Last week, he proposed to radically expand the definition of Islamist terrorism and focus on rooting out those who are vocal in their hatred of our country. There is something both pathetic and tragic about such newfound zeal for culture wars. Sunak finds himself, a highly educated technocrat, in a party whose members increasingly prefer fantasists as leaders. Yet by catering to the lowest common denominator of British politics, he is making it more arduous for people like him to thrive, let alone rise to the top. Advertisement More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Union Bashing Wont Win It for the Tories: Therese Raphael The Bank of Eeyore Grumbles the Truth. Whos Next?: John Authers Labour Cant Rely on the Tories to Self-Destruct: Martin Ivens This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Pankaj Mishra is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He is author, most recently, of Run and Hide. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load BRASILIA, BRAZIL Federal Police arrested three more suspects Saturday in a case arising from the slaying of a journalist and an Indigenous expert in the remote western reaches of Brazils Amazon rainforest in June. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight A police statement alleges the three were involved in the hiding of the bodies after the killing. It said they are relatives of Amarildo da Costa Oliveira, known as Pelado, a fisherman who is one of three men previously charged with murdering the victims. British journalist Dom Phillips, 57, and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, 41, were killed June 5 on their boat on the Itaquai river, near the entrance of the Javari Valley Indigenous Territory, which borders Peru and Colombia. A total of seven people have been arrested for alleged involvement in the killings or the attempted coverup. Advertisement Prosecutors have said the three men charged with murder in the case are fishermen who killed Phllips and Pereira because the pair asked to photograph the suspects. The area is a hotspot for illegal fishing and poaching. In an investigation that has grown out of the murder case, police also identified a man arrested in early July for allegedly carrying false documents as Ruben Dario da Silva Villar, known as the Colombian. A Colombian citizen, he was using a Brazilian identity card and also a Peruvian document,the statement said. The statement described him as the leader and financier of an armed criminal association dedicated to the practice of illegal fishing in the region of Vale do Javari, which was responsible for commercializing a large amount of fish that was exported to neighboring countries. In addition to the three people arrested for suspected involvement in hiding the bodies of Philips and Pereira, two other people were arrested in the investigation of illegal fishing, police said. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load ZAGREB, Croatia A Poland-registered bus carrying pilgrims to a shrine in Bosnia skidded from a highway in northern Croatia early Saturday, killing at least 12 people and injuring several others, police and officials said. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight Croatian police said on Twitter that in the skidding of a bus with Polish license plates, according to initial information from the field, 11 people died and several were injured. Officials said one more passenger died later in a hospital and that the bus was carrying 43 people. Croatias state HRT television reported that about 30 people were injured, many seriously. It said the most likely cause of the crash was the driver falling asleep. The broadcaster showed video of a smashed blue bus in a ditch next to the highway. The bus was traveling in the direction of Zagreb, Croatias capital. Advertisement Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the bus was taking pilgrims to the Catholic shrine in Medjugorje, a town in southern Bosnia. The shrine is Europes third-most popular pilgrimage destination after Lourdes and Fatima, although the Vatican has not verified any of the reported miracles that witnesses claimed to have seen there. This morning, I spoke about the details of the tragedy with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, who assured the full support of Croatian medical services, Morawiecki said on Facebook. I recommended our consular services to organize a support organization for the families of accident participants. Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinic said the bus originated from a place near Warsaw and that according to some information, it was carrying pilgrims to Medjugorje. The accident happened at 5:40 a.m. local time (3:40 a.m. GMT) some 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of Zagreb, on the A-4 highway, which is busy during the peak of the tourist season. Rescue teams were sent to the location of the accident that an investigation what caused the accident was ongoing, Croatian media reported. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The head of Chads military government met Saturday with Qatars ruling emir after months of talks between Chadian forces and rebel factions, hosted by the Arab country. Chads Gen. Mahamat Idriss Deby spoke with Qatars emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Footage from the Qatari royal court, or diwan, showed Sheikh Tamim with Qatars foreign minister, while a Chadian delegation accompanied Deby. A later statement on the state-run Qatar News Agency quoted Sheikh Tamim as backing a comprehensive national reconciliation in Chad, saying the ongoing negotiations between the military and the rebels represented a first step toward that. Sheikh Tamim also reportedly wished Deby luck in an upcoming national dialogue planned in the Chadian capital of NDjamena on Aug. 20. The talks had earlier been set for May. Advertisement Talks between the rebel factions and the military began in March in Doha, the Qatari capital. Debys visit comes as diplomats hope the military government and the rebel groups would sign an agreement in Doha ahead of the Aug. 20 talks. But it remains unclear whether the Front for Change and Concord in Chad, the main rebel group in the country, will sign a deal. That shadowy group, known by the French acronym FACT, is blamed for the 2021 killing of Chad's longtime President Idriss Deby Itno, who had ruled the country since 1990. Mahamat Idriss Deby is the 38-year-old son of the slain president who leads Chads Transitional Military Council. Other rebel groups involved in the Qatar talks included the Movement for Democracy and Justice in Chad, the Union of Forces for Democracy and Development and others. They have called for Deby to declare he would not run in any coming elections, though the military junta has insisted that can only be decided in the national dialogue talks. Advertisement A planned 18-month transitional period in Chad is to end in the coming months, putting renewed pressure on the sides to reach an agreement. Already, Chad had grown frustrated by the 30 years of rule by Debys father, leading to years of rebel uprisings in the former French colony that borders Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan. In July, Qatars satellite news network Al Jazeera reported that over 20 rebel groups had withdrawn from the Doha talks. They had accused the military government of harassments, intimidation, threats and disinformation amid the negotiations. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load MEXICO CITY Nicaraguas police said Friday they have begun an investigation against a Roman Catholic bishop who has been an outspoken critic of President Daniel Ortegas government. They accused Bishop Rolando Alvarez, leader of the Matagalpa diocese, of allegedly organizing violent groups and inciting them to carry out acts of hate against the population. The police statement Friday said the investigation would include a number of people and warned that they would not be allowed to leave their homes while the investigation was carried out. Alvarez had been inside his residence Thursday when police cordoned the area. Alvarez came out to pray in the street and approach them with an outstretched crucifix. Police blocked his attempt to go to the cathedral Friday so he instead celebrated Mass from home. Advertisement The police announced came just hours after first lady and Vice President Rosario Murillo criticized sins against spirituality and the exhibition of hate in an apparent reference to Alvarez. Earlier, Wilfredo Navarro, a congressional leader for Ortegas Sandinista National Liberation Front party, accused Alvarez of creating a media circus in front of police to again incite violence and disorder. Navarro accused Alvarez and others of directing what Ortega and his party consider a failed coup attempt in April 2018. Navarro said the churches were caves of delinquents and murderers and that Alvarez is transforming the church again into bases where they stockpile weapons and plan violence. He warned that Alvarez was not above the law. The comments from Navarro and Murillo seemed to lay the groundwork for the police announcement late Friday of an investigation. Advertisement In his homily Friday, Alvarez said that he and others confined to his residence have happiness in our hearts, interior strength and peace for our life. Neither church leadership in Nicaragua nor the Vatican have commented on the situation this week. This week, Ortegas government closed eight radio stations and a television station in Matagalpa province north of Managua. Seven of the radio stations were run by the church. GiftOutline Gift Article The Russian occupation forces are preparing to hold an illegal "referendum" in the part of Kherson region they control. For this they are looking for employees, premises and attracting their media workers for propaganda, Kherson City Council said on Facebook on Saturday, citing data from the regional military administration. At the same time, due to the mass refusal of the local residents to cooperate with the invaders, they involve specialists from Russia. "According to what local residents say, the occupation authorities began to distribute 20 thousand rubles to pensioners. Personal data is required in exchange. The so-called "payments" are brought to people who previously received pensions through Ukrposhta. In Kherson region, the occupiers advertise entry campaigns to the seized universities. They promise free education. Also, they actively invite children from 8 years old to health improvement camps in Rostov, Anapa and Crimea," the report says. The invaders are also actively checking houses and apartments located within a kilometer radius from the sites of the illegal referendum, the city council said. Placeholder while article actions load MEXICO CITY State police in north-central Mexico killed 13 alleged gang members in a shootout the same day they captured four people burying one of their officers and a relative, authorities said Friday. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight The San Luis Potosi state security agency said in a statement the clash occurred Thursday evening in the Vaqueros community in Rayon municipality. Among the victims were 10 men and three women. Authorities did not report any wounded state police. The San Luis Potosi state prosecutors office said weapons, tactical gear and vehicles were seized. Thursdays operation was the result of intelligence gathered after police arrested four people as they buried a member of the state police and a relative earlier Thursday, the office said. In the southern state of Guerrero, authorities said Friday they had found six bodies with bullet wounds and two heads nearby. Advertisement The Guerrero state prosecutors office said the remains were found near a burned out and shot up vehicle in the municipality of Quechultenango. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador continues to face stubbornly high rates of violence more than midway through his 6-year term. The president has emphasized attacking violence with social programs rather than head-on confrontations with the countrys powerful drug cartels. I am absolutely convinced that you cant confront violence with violence, coercive measures are not enough, that is the conservative, authoritarian vision, Lopez Obrador said last month. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load BEIJING A 48-year-old Chinese man suspected of killing four people in an attack at a private kindergarten in southern China earlier this week died from injuries sustained during an accident while on the run, police said. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight The man, Liu Xiaohui, carried out the suspected knife attack Wednesday morning at a kindergarten in Jiangxi province, killing two people on the spot. Two others later died from their injuries in the hospital. Several other people were injured. Liu fled and went into hiding, authorities said. While on the run Wednesday night, he hid in a culvert near an expressway. After hearing the search party draw closer, Liu ran out of his hiding place, climbed over a fence and was hit by a vehicle while attempting to cross the expressway, according to a police statement issued Friday. Liu was sent to a hospital for treatment but died from his injuries on Thursday, police said. Advertisement China has upgraded security at schools following a spate of deadly attacks in recent years attributed largely to people bearing grudges against society or with mental illnesses. China does not allow private gun ownership, so most such attacks are carried out with knives, homemade explosives or gasoline bombs. Around 100 children and adults have been killed and hundreds injured over the past decade in apparently uncoordinated lone wolf attacks in which the motive was unclear. The mostly male assailants were either killed, ended their lives or were put on trial and executed. Acts of violence against Chinas youth resonate especially strongly due to the countrys chronically low birth rate, partly due to decades of population control policies. GiftOutline Gift Article Its been underutilised for seven years: a grand cavernous space carved from the harbour headland best known as the backdrop for several car television commercials and a venue for the 2022 Biennale. The NSW government has announced a new fit-out to revive Barangaroos the Cutaway amid mounting pressure for it to deliver an Indigenous art and cultural centre at Barangaroos Headland Park. The Cutaway, Barangaroo is destined for a refit. Credit:Infrastructure NSW Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council chief executive Nathan Moran says it is a travesty that Sydney lacks a culture centre staffed and governed by Aboriginal people or a permanent keeping place for Aboriginal cultural artefacts. Its a space as big as the Opera Houses main performance hall, and its really sad that this space remains empty; vacant despite our best endeavours to put together cultural projects of the highest quality. To leave it practically empty is an embarrassment for everyone. Im not joking when I say wed be better using it as an indoor cricket space. Move over Nadia Fairfax-Wayne, Australias reigning queen of fashion, Laura Brown, is coming home. The newly married Brown is set to return to Sydney and then head on to Melbourne for speaking commitments hosted by business networking body, Business Chicks. The speaking events mark her first professional engagement in Australia since her shock exit from InStyle magazine in February. Considered one of the most personable editors-in-chief in fashion media, her seven-year stint at the helm of the mag saw her translate her down-to-earth attitude and easygoing rapport with Hollywood celebrities to the glossys pages, transforming it into a playful and smart publication. Laura Brown and new husband Brandon Borror-Chappell at their Hawaiian wedding in April. Credit:Instagram Browns termination when owners decided to take the mag to digital-only shocked the fashion industry, leaving many wondering what would be her next professional move. Surely not another podcast. For $195 Brown is set to spill insights from the front row of fashion week to the path of her success no doubt sharing some tales of her celebrity pals, of which she has many. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Journalism 101: dont become the news. Dont let your personal life bleed into your reporting, and god forbid you ever find yourself in the crosshairs of an angry online mob. But staying out of the picture is harder when youre a TV journalist, and exponentially more so when youre a woman. Add social media trolls to the mix and you have a toxic cocktail that can and has driven journalists to the brink. Anna K is the latest play by Suzie Miller, and like her international hit Prima Facie, which starred Jodie Comer on the West End, its an unflinching portrait of a tough woman under outrageous pressure. Anna is a household name: a top-rating TV journalist known for her hard-hitting interviews. When her love life becomes the subject of a news scandal, she finds the world turning on her from all sides. Playwright Suzie Miller, left, and Caroline Craig deplore the toxic culture of public shaming. Credit:Eddie Jim Miller is one of Australias most successful and prolific playwrights, so its perhaps not surprising that shes been on the receiving end of public criticism. One of her earlier plays focused on a character who had killed a child when they were young and explored the potential for such a persons rehabilitation as an adult. Then the shock jocks came at her. I was probably too new to the world of talkback radio to know how dreadful it was, she says. I was constantly told that this was an appalling suggestion, that anyone could possibly be rehabilitated after theyd done something so evil. It was harrowing. I really stayed off social media and I kept to myself. Caroline Craig and Callan Colley during rehearsals for Anna K. Credit:Tamarah Scott Caroline Craig, who plays Anna K, has had her own run-ins with the media. I naively took a few photos when I was pregnant, bad photos in a mirror thinking Id share it with Mum and my friends. After posting these to Facebook, she received a message from her brother: Theres photos of you pregnant in a mirror, you look really bad, on the Daily Mail website. I was like, oh my god I dont want them to own photos of me and my kids. Thats off. Advertisement Like Anna, Craig has also seen first-hand the way that the immediacy of TV can create an illusion of intimacy and personal connection among fans. When she took over from Lisa McCune as a lead in Blue Heelers, people hated my character. They hated me. I was at the supermarket and this old lady hit me with a bag of frozen peas and said: You killed Maggie Doyle! Caroline Craig in Blue Heelers: an elderly fan of the show hit her with frozen peas, accusing her of killing Maggie Doyle. Craig says that compared to her latest role, her experience of celebrity has been relatively minor. But I didnt enjoy it at all. My uni friends were always like you love it, but Id be having a fight with my boyfriend, being dumped by the side of the road, Ill have had a car crash, and people would be like: Can you do a photo with my sister? Suzie Millers Anna K was partly inspired by the experiences of her friends Annabel Crabb and Leigh Sales . Credit:Louie Douvis Miller is friends with several journalists, including Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb. She was partly inspired to write Anna K having watched people go through Twitter storms and the level of hate they get. Its terrifying to me. She began to think about public shaming: how it serves to silence and punish individuals who refuse to conform, and acts as a warning to others. Her research took her from Jon Ronsons bestseller So Youve Been Publicly Shamed all the way back to Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter. It struck her that not all shaming is the same. The shaming of women takes on different accents to the shaming of men; so too does the belittlement or humiliation of people of colour, of different classes or sexualities. Eventually her reading led her back to Anna Karenina, how she was shamed out of her mind. Advertisement In Tolstoys classic, the titular young woman leaves her husband and son to take up a new life with her young lover, but the rebuke she faces from all corners of society escalates to a fatal level. Anna K isnt an adaptation of Tolstoy. Theres a family resemblance, but Millers play is both a riff on and a riposte to the novel. [Tolstoys] Anna was very much the warning that if you have a passionate nature and you act outside the conformed values youre dead, basically. You cant exist. But I wanted to find a way that my Anna could exist, says Miller. Loading To prepare for the role, Craig has explored the experiences of other women whove had to weather online maelstroms. Its really damaging. Its been fascinating doing research about what has happened to people like Leigh Sales or someone like Clementine Ford. Its horrific. The way that such hatred takes on gendered aspects cant be ignored, says Miller. Ive spoken to some journalists who had really never had mental health crises in their life, who really went under when they had this hate mail and very sexually violent messages sent their way It had an effect where they started to take seriously the sort of options that were put to them by the trolls and the haters online. The thing about the internet, says Craig, is that you think its wonderful, its a great opportunity for diversity, for everyone to have an opinion, and all these voices to be equally heard. But really its just amplifying a lot of the really patriarchal, oppressive shit that we have to live with. Advertisement Anna K isnt a morality play, but its a deeply ethical one. It doesnt ask us to judge its central figure but of course we do, because weve been raised in the same culture as the people who find her so objectionable. Its hard not to become self-conscious in that moment, however, and wonder how different we are to the trolls and haters ourselves. Millers script is also much more sophisticated than a tale of right and wrong Anna is too real to be angelic, and there are moments when you might wonder if her detractors sort of have a point. She might just want to live according to her own terms, but does power bring with it a certain level of responsibility to others? Loading I know women who would go, well, once youve got a platform its not just about you any more, says Miller. Its about maintaining an authenticity to the people youre speaking to, and you make sure you dont get cancelled, because that platform shows women they can be up there. However, the play never falls back on easy solutions. Its relationship to moral arguments it presents is as slippery as its relationship to the story from which it takes its name respectful, but wary. Maybe Tolstoy was making a comment about the social system, says Miller, but the comment still meant that Anna Karenina went crazy and put herself under a train. Its almost like a warning to women. I didnt want my play to be a warning, I wanted it to be a call to action. Anna K is at the Malthouse Theatre, August 12 - September 4. The NT Live film version of Prima Facie, starring Jodie Comer, is screening at Cinema Nova. Juvenile prosecutors: Some 361 children killed, more than 702 injured amid Russian armed aggression in Ukraine More than 1,063 children were affected by the full-scale armed aggression of Russia in Ukraine: as of the morning of Saturday, August 6, the officially registered number of child victims was 361, more than 702 suffered injuries of various severity, the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO) has said. These figures are not final, since the work is underway to establish them in places of active hostilities, in temporarily occupied and in recently liberated territories. Children were most affected in Donetsk region - 371, Kharkiv region 197, Kyiv region 116, Chernihiv region 68, Luhansk region 61, Mykolaiv region 58, Kherson region 55, Zaporizhia region 40. The arc of history bends slowly towards justice but, 15 years on from the national apology to Indigenous people, its time to walk the next steps in the long journey to reconciliation. There has already been too much delay since Indigenous leaders signed the Uluru Statement from the Heart five years ago. Im not exactly a radical when it comes to the business of constitutional change. While hardly perfect, the basic machinery encoded in our nations founding document has served us well. For this reason, Prime Minister Albaneses proposed constitutional amendments achieve the right balance between our existing arrangements and what is needed for respectful consultation for the future. Anthony Albanese at the Garma festival in East Arnhem Land in July. Credit:AAP The PMs proposals recognise the indisputable history that this continent was previously occupied by Indigenous Australians. They establish with absolute clarity that the composition, functions, powers and procedures of the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice will be determined and modified by the parliament. And they are plain that the Voices only constitutional power will be to advise on, not to veto, decisions of parliament and the executive. In summary, they enshrine the primacy of parliament while answering the call for recognition that is both symbolic and substantive. Although these are modest proposals, we still have bad actors like Tony Abbott screeching that such amendments would change our system of government by establishing the Voice as part of our parliament, and enable judicial intervention to strike down laws. This is what Jennifer Westacott, the CEO of the Business Council of Australia, has saidthat this legislation has brought Australia a step closer to ending the climate wars that have put a handbrake on progress and become a serious economic barrier. John Connor, chief executive of the Carbon Market Institute, an industry association of companies leading the transition to net-zero, says: It is a historic moment, and it is exciting now to move into the reality of policy. That reality must include an investment boom. The National Australia Bank published research last week estimating that about half a trillion dollars in net new investment will be needed in Australia to achieve the 2050 target of net-zero emissions. The Liberal Party, however, chose to stand outside all this outside the unifying policy, outside the consensus, outside the business community, and outside half a trillion dollars worth of new investment. Peter Dutton made a captains call months ago that the Liberals would not oppose the 43 per cent and net-zero targets, but they would not vote to legislate them, either. Instead, the Liberals decided to follow their Coalition partner, the Nationals, into a fringe fetish. The Coalition has decided to investigate nuclear power. Not that this is fringe in the global energy system. Its simply unrealistic in this countrys. Nuclear power never has been economic in Australia. It couldnt compete with cheap Australian coal; it cant compete with even cheaper Australian solar energy. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese endorsing the governments Climate Change Bill in the lower house on Thursday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Liberals decision opened them to Albaneses ridicule. He not only mocked them for ignoring the power of the biggest nuclear reactor of all as he pointed skywards, he also brought The Simpsons into Question Time. Giving the oppositions energy spokesman Ted OBrien carriage of an inquiry into nuclear power bears an uncanny resemblance to Mr Burns putting Homer Simpson in charge of nuclear power safety in Springfield Albanese jibed. No one loves a reactor like a reactionary. He went on: Remember when the Liberal Party used to have a relationship with business? Remember that? But what we saw today was them isolated and alone, stuck in the same old trench fighting a fight that has passed them by. They were by themselves with their arms crossed, saying, No, no, no. The May 21 election showed that Australia was ready for a more active climate policy. By standing against it, the Coalition government chose oblivion. Now that it has refused to negotiate on the climate bill, it has chosen irrelevance. If the Liberals ever hope to win another election, they have to have the conversation about restoring the broad church, a church embracing moderates and not only conservatives, argues Walter. They cant only follow a small nutty segment on the populist fringe. They have to be able to bring back the disaffected Liberals who voted for teal candidates, and still manage to persuade people in the region that they have their interest at heart. Even after Duttons captains call, the leaders of the moderate faction in the Liberal Party argued that they should change position and support the 43 per cent target. It would be a sign that theyd heard the voice of the electorate. But Simon Birmingham, Marise Payne and Paul Fletcher lost the argument in the shadow cabinet on Monday night. One moderate said, we picked the wrong fight the fight shouldnt be about the 43 per cent target, it should be about how we meet the target. Because that will be the hard part. Is Dutton missing the unmissable message from the electorate? Not at all. For him, its about priorities. Does he try to win the next election today, or does he try to hold the Coalition together as it regroups after a devastating loss? Opposition leader Peter Dutton addresses his coalition colleagues in Canberra on Tuesday. Credit:James Brickwood Duttons calculus was that if we supported 43 per cent wed have more trouble from the Nationals and from Liberals crossing the floor than well have from moderate Libs by opposing it and he was right. Only one Liberal, Tasmanias Bridget Archer, crossed the floor to vote with the government on the emissions target. The next election will not be fought on the 2030 emissions targets, observes the Liberal. Indeed, the government soon will need to start working on Australias targets for 2035, which must be lodged by 2025. If it suddenly looks like we are struggling to meet the 2030 target, then the picture changes. The other major force in the Parliament now are the teals. How did they conduct themselves? They, much like the Greens, campaigned for more ambitious targets but chose to support the government bill as the only available route to any progress at all. All of which tells us what to expect from all these groups in the future. The Greens will continue to push for more, yet compromise in the service of practicality over ideology. Loading So, for example, on Albaneses draft proposal for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, we will take the same approach on the Voice that we did on climate, says the Greens leader in the Senate, Larissa Waters. We said we want progress on all elements of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and we are heartened by the minister [Linda Burney] saying thats possible. We will push to get improvements and push to get practical progress for Indigenous justice including deaths in custody and the Bringing them Home Report, Waters tells me. Unsaid is that the Greens wont veto possible gains in pursuit of impossible ones. Albanese will continue to operate from the political centre, seeking to advance centre left priorities such as climate policy and the Voice, while also working on centre right areas such as a firmly defending Australian interests against Chinese Communist Party demands. Labor intends dominating the centre; the intention is to force the Coalition to either support the government or move further to the right fringe and unelectability. The new politics did not seem any different to the old politics when members of parliament watched the slugfest of question time over the last two weeks and saw political leaders trading barbs in the same old ritual argument. One of the MPs who has seen the old and the new in action, independent Zali Steggall, cooled hopes that this parliament would usher in a bright and wonderful change in Australian politics. Zali Steggall, flanked by her fellow Independent MPs, hasnt seen much change in the style of the new parliament. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen I think were still seeing in question time old style politics play out, she said on Thursday morning, as she stood alongside fellow independent MPs in the Mural Hall of Parliament House. Some of the newcomers to parliament admit privately to being unimpressed with the theatre of the building: the macho swagger, the heckling, the thundering speeches and the stale questions from government MPs that invite cabinet ministers to tell the chamber how good they are. Taipei: Chinese aircraft and warships practised on Saturday for an attack on Taiwan, island officials said, in retaliation for a visit there by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that also saw Beijing halt dialogue with the United States in several areas. Pelosis brief unannounced visit during the week to the self-ruled island claimed by China infuriated Beijing and has prompted unprecedented military drills that have included ballistic missiles fired over the capital, Taipei. A Chinese fighter jet flies in the direction of Taiwan. Credit:AP The Chinese exercises are scheduled to last until midday on Sunday. On Saturday morning, Taiwans defence ministry said multiple Chinese ships and planes conducted missions in the Taiwan Strait, with some crossing the median line, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides, movements that Taiwans military believes were part of a simulation attack on the main Taiwan island. Taiwan displayed on Wednesday its most advanced fighter jet, the missile-equipped F-16V, in a rare nighttime demonstration in the wake of China's unprecedented military drills around the island. Elon Musk said Saturday his planned $44 billion takeover of Twitter should move forward if the company can confirm some details about how it measures whether user accounts are spam bots or real people. The billionaire and Tesla CEO has been trying to back out of his April agreement to buy the social media company, leading Twitter to sue him last month to complete the acquisition. Musk countersued, accusing Twitter of misleading his team about the true size of its user base and other problems he said amounted to fraud and breach of contract. Both sides are headed toward an October trial in a Delaware court. If Twitter simply provides their method of sampling 100 accounts and how theyre confirmed to be real, the deal should proceed on original terms, Musk tweeted early Saturday. However, if it turns out that their SEC filings are materially false, then it should not. Musk, who has more than 100 million Twitter followers, went on to challenge Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal to a "public debate about the Twitter bot percentage. Twitter declined comment Saturday. The company has repeatedly disclosed to the Securities and Exchange Commission an estimate that fewer than 5% of user accounts are fake or spam, with a disclaimer that it could be higher. Musk waived his right to further due diligence when he signed the April merger agreement. Twitter has argued in court that Musk is deliberately trying to tank the deal and using the bot question as an excuse because market conditions have deteriorated and the acquisition no longer serves his interests. In a court filing Thursday, it describes his counterclaims as an imagined story contradicted by the evidence and common sense. Musk invents representations Twitter never made and then tries to wield, selectively, the extensive confidential data Twitter provided him to conjure a breach of those purported representations, company attorneys wrote. While Musk has tried to keep the focus on bot disclosures, Twitters legal team has been digging for information about a host of tech investors and entrepreneurs connected to Musk in a wide-ranging subpoena that could net some of their private communications with the Tesla CEO. MACUNGIE, Pa. - This weekend (August 5-7) is featuring the Lehigh Valley's biggest car show. Das Awkscht Fescht is now in its 59th year in Macungie, and this time the festival has a brand-new theme: British Invasion. Macungie Memorial Park is now filled with Union Jacks and dozens of classic British cars. "This is a 1951 Allard K-2," said Jed Rappaport, the former President of the Keystone British Car Club. Rappaport said his K-2 is one of only 119 ever manufactured. For him, and other car enthusiasts, Das Awkscht Fescht is a family tradition. "This is probably my 56th time here at Macungie. My father was here for the first one," said Rappaport. "Great grandfather started, was working here at the event and started it, and it's been always a family tradition to just come out every year and help out," said Isaac Manwiller, who helped organize the event. Manwiller said the festival is also one of the biggest fundraisers for Macungie Memorial Park. "They're a nonprofit park, so events like this and people coming out and enjoying the show helps, not only to support us, but them as well," said Manwiller. And people are coming out by the thousands, many of them looking at cars older than they are. "We come every year to the Das Awkscht, to the car show, and we love it. We love the kids seeing way back, they say boy that's way back when grammy and grandpop your time," said Judy Cenchitz, who brought her husband and grandchildren to the event. And Manwiller said he hopes to see even more people, and cars, on Saturday to inspire the next generation of enthusiasts. "We're hoping to even open it up to a larger class, you know, new and old, to try to get people into the hobby," said Manwiller. Das Awkscht Fescht continues Saturday and Sunday from 6 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition to classic cars, the event includes live music, food, and a beer garten. Nearly 50 years after Sacheen Littlefeather stood on the Academy Awards stage on behalf of Marlon Brando to speak about the depiction of Native Americans in Hollywood films, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences apologized to her for the abuse she endured. Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor and U.S. Senate candidate John Fetterman says he is ready to hit the campaign trail. He plans to attend an event in Erie one week from Friday. Fetterman, the Democratic nominee, has been recovering after suffering a stroke in May. He is facing off against Republican nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz and three third-party candidates in Pennsylvania. It is wonderful that at the age of 83, Ian McKellen has enough energy and curiosity to want to return to the Edinburgh Fringe to perform in a 75-minute dance version of Hamlet. It is also always worth listening to him speak any passage from Shakespeare, revelling in the flexibility, depth and meaning he conjures from the words. But I had to keep reminding myself of those two facts strongly and frequently during a production which gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "dumb show", and which surrounds McKellen with banal danced tableaux that swiftly tell the story of the play. The whole thing is devised and choreographed by Peter Schaufuss, a Danish dancer who, in his performing heyday in the 1970s and early 1980s, was a true international star, glamorous and talented. Afterwards, he ran English National Ballet, founding its school, followed by spells in charge of Berlin Ballet and the Royal Danish. But his choreographic endeavours have been less successful; his Diana The Princess was a ballet that is hard to forget for all the wrong reasons. He now owns St Stephens, running a company called Edinburgh Festival Ballet and a school. The best bits of this Hamlet are those where McKellen is centre stage. He gets to do most of the famous soliloquies (sometimes truncated, sometimes in full) and not much more, but his presence, always watchful, always involved, provides the emotion that the rest of the production singularly lacks. Against a chain mail backdrop on which views of Elsinore are suggested by Benny Goodman's evocative lighting, he is twinned with Johan Christensen's dancing Hamlet, both reacting to the unfolding action. But it is McKellen who, over and over again, provides insight and feeling; he greets Katie Rose's delicate Ophelia with a tender smile. Christensen on the other hand throws off a sequence of jumps. Later McKellen gazes at Yorick's skull, his face full of meaning, while Christensen races round the stage doing pirouettes. The dancers, including Schaufuss's son Luke as a floppy-haired Horatio, and a brief appearance from Schaufuss himself as the Ghost, are skilful. But the choreography is both inexpressive jumps for emotion, arabesques for entrances, writhing on the floor for agony and crushingly obvious. When Christensen has to show an idea, he literally puts a bright finger to his head. It feels curiously dated, stuck somewhere between the pageants of the 1950s and the experiments of the 1970s, and it is not helped by Ethan Lewis Maltby's droning electronic score. It makes me grumpy because it means that anyone tempted to try dance because they love McKellen, will go away thinking it is this old-fashioned clunky thing, rather than a rich, flexible, exciting art form. McKellen is marvellous and it is a gift to see him return to a part he first played in Edinburgh in 1971, and last in Windsor two years ago. About the rest, there should be silence. Gaza's sole power plant shut down on Saturday after running out of fuel, an electricity company spokesman said, five days after Israel closed its goods crossing with the Palestinian enclave. "The power plant in Gaza has stopped (working) due to the fuel shortage," said Mohammed Thabet, spokesman for the electricity company. The power station has gone without fuel deliveries through Israel since the country shut its goods and people crossings with Gaza on Tuesday. The electricity supply is expected to plummet to just four hours a day, Thabet said. Diesel for the power plant is usually trucked in from Egypt or Israel, which has maintained a blockade of the enclave since the militant group Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007. Israel's closure of its crossings with Gaza came as the military braced for reprisals following the arrest of two senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad members in the occupied West Bank. The group did not retaliate until Israel launched pre-emptive air strikes on the enclave Friday, prompting militants to fire rockets towards Israel. In a statement earlier on Saturday, Gaza's electricity company said the shutdown "will affect all public utilities and crucial installations and exacerbate the humanitarian situation". The company called on "all parties to urgently intervene and allow the entrance of fuel deliveries for the power plant to work." Gaza's 2.3 million residents experience regular power shortages and last week received only an average of 10 hours of electricity per day, according to data from the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA. Search Keywords: Short link: The Dells-Delton EMS employee who led the charge to oust Lake Delton's Director of Public Safety has been terminated from the department and will contest an "unlawful termination." Spencer Nett, the former president of International Association of Firefighters Local 5026 (IAFF L5026), was relieved of his duties in a unanimous vote by the Dells-Delton EMS Commission on Aug. 4. His termination of employment, which is due to an allegedly inaccurate social media post from himself and the union prior to Memorial Day weekend claiming that Dells-Delton EMS staffing levels were inadequate, was effective that day. A social media post on May 27 from the union's account, as well as Nett's, was deemed inaccurate at the time by department director Dillon Gavinski. Nett was subsequently given an unpaid suspension before being placed on paid administrative leave retroactive to the start of the suspension on May 31. Dells-Delton EMS director: Agency will ensure at least adequate staffing Dells-Delton EMS Director Dillon Gavinski issued a release assuring that the department is "at or above" minimum level staffing to begin the tourism season in the area. "The biggest issue that the village and DDEMS had, of course, is that the post claimed that staffing levels, over the Memorial Day weekend, were half of what they were last year due to short staffing, and that's not accurate," said Lake Delton village attorney Benoit LeTendre of West & Dunn law firm. "This is very much a matter of public concern when we start talking about short staffing, exactly what that post addressed, both in the form of resignations, now terminations, as well as people moving on to different departments for various reasons," said Nett. "Regardless of reasoning why they left, those numbers don't lie of short staffing. When you go from staffing three or four trucks on a typical summer day down to staffing two trucks, that absolutely is a reduction in staffing, exactly what Local 5026 did address," he said. Further explaining his refutation with the department's claims of adequate staffing, Nett pointed out its eventual contract with a private contractor for additional temporary employees. The commission unanimously authorized an eventual contract with Midwest Medical Transport on June 21. Dells-Delton EMS contracts to increase staffing, opening pay discussions The Dells-Delton EMS service wants to increase wages within the department. It also is contracting with a medical staffing service to increase staffing in July. "It's unequivocally true that there was short staffing," said Nett. "That can be proven that they had to bring in a staffing agency to staff the ambulances. I think it's a hard fact to dispute that you have low staffing when you're hiring outside staffing to make par numbers, or less than par numbers." He further explained that every social media post made by himself or the union was made "for the benefit of the community as a whole." "Local 5026, myself included, and every member of that department, truly does have the best intentions in mind for the community and that department," said Nett. "This situation is no different." LeTendre added that the social media posts indicated that two ambulances were on duty for the weekend instead of the normal four. He clarified that Gavinski decided to have three on-call ambulances and that his decision had nothing to do with alleged staffing shortages, but an operational decision. Gavinski had no further comment on Nett's termination. At the time of the post, the commission decided that if all of the allegations regarding Nett's social media actions were true, that it was a "fireable offense," according to LeTendre. Nett received a hearing on June 29 via Loudermill Rights during his administrative leave, which is a due process hearing for a public employee in which he/she can present their part to a neutral third party. LeTendre said that the listening party, who also listened to testimonies from the commission, was retired Sauk County Judge Pat Taggart. Taggart's findings, according to LeTendre, were that Nett violated the Dells-Delton EMS social media policy and that there was just cause for discipline, up to and including termination. "The hearing is meant to ensure that there are no obvious mistakes in the allegations," said LeTendre. "In this case, 'Hey, I wasn't the one who posted this on Facebook." If they can demonstrate that, then obviously, there's no harm. Mr. Nett admitted that he was the one who not only posted it to the union page, but re-posted it to his personal page." Following the release of the findings, LeTendre said the commission offered Nett an opportunity to seek "clemency," but he declined. "Based on all of those facts, the commission today reviewed the findings and decided that his position should be terminated," said LeTendre. Nett's response Nett is contesting the termination with the assistance of legal counsel from Mooney, Green, Saindon, Murphy, and Welch, P.C. of Washington, D.C., which represents the IAFF, in conjunction with Nick Fairweather, an attorney from Hawks Quindel law firm in Madison. "The department itself chose to terminate my employment based solely on violation of their social media policy," said Nett. In a letter to LeTendre written by Matthew D. Watts, the firm deemed the termination as a violation of Nett's First Amendment rights as well as of the Municipal Employment Relations Act. Watts wrote to LeTendre that Nett must not only be reinstated to the department, but should be immediately reimbursed for lost wages and any other losses stemming from the "unlawful termination." If that is not done, Watts said Nett and the firm will file a lawsuit against the department and commission. LeTendre has until Aug. 19 to respond to the firm. "The facts kind of prove themselves as to what's going on," said Nett. "It's a clear violation of my constitutional right to speak on a matter of public concern." Watts's letter to LeTendre justifies its allegation of a First Amendment violation by saying that Dells-Delton EMS terminated Nett for exercising free speech and that the department's social media policy violation justification does "not withstand scrutiny and cannot excuse the clearly unconstitutional discharge." Nett added that the department has displayed "a clear pattern of retaliation" towards members of IAFF L5026. He further explained he and his former coworkers' rights to union participation without retaliation under state and federal labor laws. On Feb. 7, Nett submitted a vote of no confidence letter in Daniel Hardman, who is the village's police chief as well as the Director of Public Safety, that was signed by all 16 DDEMS employees at the time, to the committee. The letter, along with documents containing redacted identifying information, levied allegations of workplace harassment and abuses of power against Hardman. Along with those allegations, violations of union protections were also addressed in the Feb. 7 vote of no confidence letter. L5026 has a pending prohibitive practice claim with the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission regarding those violations, which will be pursued along with the lawsuit against the department, according to Watts's letter. Dells-Delton EMS staff wants Public Safety Director removed The International Association of Firefighters branch in Lake Delton, IAFF L5026 wants Direct Watts's letter also said that the circumstances surrounding his termination show that the department disciplined him because of his union position and activities. According to the letter, other department employees also shared the May 27 social media post, but that Nett, being the union president at the time, received discipline. When Nett was suspended on May 31, his suspension letter acknowledged that the department was "punishing him (Nett) for the Union's conduct accordingly," according to the legal counsel. Watts also wrote that the department and Hardman have "consistently exhibited serious union animus and acted with open hostility" to L5026 and its leaders. Hardman was cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated to his positions on April 26. Daniel Hardman reinstated as Lake Delton police chief, safety director Following an independent investigation into allegations of workplace misconduct, Lake Delton Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Daniel Hardman was cleared of wrongdoing and is being reinstated to his positions. Jorgenson no longer fire chief On July 1, Darren Jorgenson, the former chief of the Delton Fire Department who was placed on paid administrative leave the day Hardman was reinstated, mutually agreed to part ways with the department. He is continuing employment in emergency services as an emergency medical technician and will be teaching the upcoming fire training course at Wisconsin Dells High School. Jorgenson is also a fire instructor with Madison Area Technical College. "It became abundantly clear that resigning was in the best interest of the department and my family," said Jorgenson. Jorgenson spent 19 years with the department, becoming chief in 2010. He has an optimistic outlook about the future of Delton Fire Department. "I would encourage anyone who wants to serve their community to look into joining their local department," said Jorgenson. "For me, it was the best decision I ever made. I pray for the members of the department and their safety and bright future." Jorgenson's leave placement was based on investigation findings that revealed allegations of insubordination and possible evidence destruction against him. The subsequent investigation into those allegations was concluded upon the parting agreement. Delton Fire Department chief placed on paid administrative leave Delton Fire Department Fire Chief Darren Jorgenson was placed on paid administrative leave Tuesday due to allegations of insubordination, sexual harassment, and possible evidence destruction. The decision came at the same time Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Daniel Hardman was reinstated from leave to his positions. Submissions have been opened for the twelfth edition of the Luxor African Film Festival (LAFF), scheduled to be held at the ancient Upper Egypt city of Luxor between 3 and 9 February 2023. To submit in the official competitions of LAFF 2023, the films director should be African and the film should tackle subjects related to the lives of Africans, the festival founder and president, screenwriter Sayed Fouad stated on Friday. As for the participation in the Diaspora Competition, the director must also be of African origin yet living outside of the African continent, explained filmmaker LAFFs co-founder and executive director Azza Elhosseiny. It was also announced that the Egyptian Student Film Competition would return for the upcoming edition. Senegal has been announced as the official country guest of honour with a special tribute to be held for Senegalese cinema and its filmmakers. Headed by star actor Mahmoud Hemida, the LAFF is founded and organised by the Independent Shabab Foundation (ISF) with the support of the Egyptian ministries of culture, tourism, youth and foreign affairs as well as a number of sponsors. In its eleventh edition, the LAFF screened 45 films from 35 countries in the competitive segments. Eligible filmmakers can submit their films through the festivals official website. Search Keywords: Short link: One of the men found guilty of murdering Ahmaud Arbery fears being killed in state prison and wants to remain in federal custody for his safety, according to a court document filed by his attorney. Travis McMichael attends the jury selection in his trial together with Gregory McMichael and their neighbor, William "Roddie" Bryan, at the Glynn County Superior Court, on October 27, 2021 in Brunswick, Georgia. Two north Wales authorities receive funding boost to tackle chewing gum staining on streets A new 1.85m scheme is being rolled out in five local authorities in Wales to tackle chewing gum staining. Councils in Blaenau Gwent, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Newport and Swansea will receive funding from the Chewing Gum Taskforce Grant Scheme to help them clean gum off pavements in their local area this summer and to invest in long-term behaviour change to help prevent the issue in future. Chewing gum litter wastes millions of pounds of taxpayers money every year; the annual clean-up cost across the UK is estimated at 7 million. Created last year by the UK Government and working together with Welsh Government, Scottish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, the Chewing Gum Taskforce brings together the countrys major chewing gum producers, including Mars Wrigley, GlaxoSmithKline and Perfetti Van Melle, in a new partnership to remove gum litter from UK high streets. Under the scheme, administered by independent environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy, the chewing gum firms will invest up to 10m over five years. More than 45 grants will be awarded this year across the UK and six of these will be used to fund innovative projects that encourage long-term behaviour change. Deputy Climate Change Minister Lee Waters said: The need to get rid of chewing gum immediately after use means it is an item commonly disposed of irresponsibly, with gum staining present on more than two thirds of Wales streets. Cleaning streets of gum is expensive and labour intensive. Im really pleased this new fund has been established to support Councils across Wales and encourage people to think about the issues caused by chewing gum litter Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: This is an exciting new opportunity for councils to tackle the ongoing problem of gum pollution. The grants will allow councils to clean up historic gum litter staining in our towns and cities, as well as taking action to prevent people littering in the first place. The fund will be opened to councils across the UK, with larger grants available for two or more councils working together to achieve greater impact. The grants will consist of a cash award to fund street cleansing as well as access to a gum litter prevention package. Previous pilots have reduced gum littering by up to 64%. Littering is a criminal offence and Welsh local authorities can issue penalties of up to 150, rising up to 2,500 if convicted in court. Through the UK Environment Act 2022, the Welsh Government will be able to ensure that enforcement powers are used with a high degree of professionalism, whether by council staff or private contractors and introduce new enforcement guidance. The Chewing Gum Task Force forms part of wider Welsh Government action to tackle litter and protect our environment. This includes developing a new Litter & Fly-tipping Prevention Plan, introducing a new Deposit Return Scheme for drinks containers and an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for packaging On Feb 17, 2020, a batch of medical personnels dispatched by the military to support Wuhan's fight against the COVID-19 arrive in Wuhan on an Air Force transport plane.[Photo by Fan Xianhai/provided to China Daily] Military photography in the Chinese People's Liberation Army, first developed, pardon the pun, in the Red Army in 1933, came into its own during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). It then further evolved in the War of Liberation (1946-49) and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53). Its latest phase covers the mid-1980s to the first 10 years of the 21st century. In particular, the precious photos taken by Sha Fei, Shi Shaohua, Wu Yinxian, Gao Fan, Lei Ye, Xu Xiaobing, Zou Jiandong, Wang Chunde, Yuan Kezhong and Zhang Chongxiu, the pioneers of Chinese military photography, have become a stunning portrayal of the history of China's revolution. With empty streets and drawn curtains, Gaza feels like a ghost town. Its residents -- tested by repeated wars -- feel like they are living the same scenes again and again. Before Israel launched its "pre-emptive" strikes on militants in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian territory was enjoying a summer unlike any other in recent years. Gaza's beaches, long deemed too polluted with wastewater for swimmers, had been declared mostly usable again, allowing Palestinian swimmers and surfers to rediscover the joys of the sea. All that came to an abrupt halt on Friday when Israel again bombarded the territory, citing threats from Islamic Jihad militants. "We were living in peace and suddenly the bombardment began," said 40-year-old Mohammed Hamami. "Enough! Enough!" he exclaimed. "Each month or each year there is a war." An Israeli soldier prepares to fire artillery shells toward the Gaza Strip from their position along the border with the Palestinian enclave, on August 6, 2022. AFP There have been four conflicts since 2007 between Israel and Palestinian resistance from Gaza. The beach promenade, one of the impoverished and overcrowded territory's rare leisure spots, crowded less than 24 hours earlier, was desolate on Saturday. Street vendors stayed home and cafes were closed. Fifteen months after the last conflict between Israel and armed groups in the territory brought devastation to countless Gazans, Hamami said he was "surprised" that Israel had attacked again. Twice in July Israeli jets had struck Gaza after what the military said was rocket and rifle fire from the territory. But this time the military said it was preparing for a week-long operation. A fireball erupts as a result of an Israeli air strike on a building in Gaza City on August 6, 2022. AFP The Jewish state has blockaded Gaza since 2007, the year Hamas Islamists took power in the territory. 'Fear, anxiety' Israel's army said its latest campaign was targeting militant sites and fighters, estimating that 15 combatants had been killed. Palestinian militants retaliated with rocket fire. The Hamas-run health ministry has reported 13 deaths from Israeli fire including a five-year-old girl, Alaa Kaddum. Her father carried her at her funeral, with a wound on her forehead and a pink bow in her hair. The father of Alaa Kaddum, who was killed during an Israeli airstrike, carries her body during her funeral Gaza City, on August 5, 2022. AFP More than 110 other people have been wounded, the ministry said. For Gazans, the long night and second day of Israeli strikes stirred familiar and unwelcome emotions. "This latest escalation brings back images of fear, anxiety, and the feeling that we are all alone," said Dounia Ismail, a Gaza City resident. The incessant explosions and air strikes had kept her up all night, she said. "It has become a habit for Palestinians in Gaza to prepare a survival bag, which contains a few important things, like photos, documents and some money and medicine," in case they have to flee their homes, said Ismail. "I hope this escalation won't turn into a bigger conflict and I hope the Egyptian mediation will restore calm." In Jabalia, in Gaza's north, Fouad Farajallah inspected what remained of his home, hit by an Israeli strike on Friday. The living room had turned into a mass of sheet metal and rubble, the fan dangling from the ceiling. "I was sitting here on the sofa, with my wife and children, and suddenly it all fell on us," he said. "My wife broke her hand and my son was wounded by shrapnel." Even when silence appears to return between bombardments, something else fills the air: the buzzing of Israeli drones. Search Keywords: Short link: The human rights organization Amnesty International released a report Thursday showing that Ukrainian forces have put civilians in harms way by establishing bases and operating weapons systems in populated residential areas, including in schools and hospitals. Amnesty Internationals findings corroborate an earlier report by the United Nations which also provided evidence that the Ukrainian army has been using civilians as human shields in the conflict. Both of these recent reports come on top of extensive documentation of war crimes committed by the Ukrainian army and its neo-fascist paramilitary forces, particularly against Russian prisoners of war. Written in cautious language, Amnesty Internationals report is a damning exposure of the criminal character of the imperialist proxy war in Ukraine in which the civilian population is but a pawn for the imperialist powers and their lackeys in the Ukrainian oligarchy and military. As one resident of the city of Bakhmut told Amnesty International, We have no say in what the military does, but we pay the price. The report was compiled by researchers investigating Russian strikes in the Kharkiv, Donbas and Mykolaiv regions between April and July. In the words of Amnesty Internationals Secretary General Agnes Callamard, We have documented a pattern of Ukrainian forces putting civilians at risk and violating the laws of war when they operate in populated areas. This pattern includes the use of hospitals as de facto military basesa clear violation of international lawwhich Amnesty International has confirmed for five locations. According to the report, In two towns, dozens of soldiers were resting, milling about, and eating meals in hospitals. In another town, soldiers were firing from near the hospital. The report also found that the Ukrainian army has routinely set up bases in schools in towns and villages in Donbas and in the Mykolaiv area. While not entirely prohibited by international law, the use of schools and residential buildings by the military is only deemed legitimate when the army has no other options. Moreover, the military is obliged to do everything in its power to minimize civilian casualties, including through evacuations and by giving effective warnings of attacks that might endanger civilians. However, the researchers found evidence that Ukrainian forces had launched strikes from within populated residential areas as well as basing themselves in civilian buildings that were, in most of the documented cases, kilometers away from the actual front lines. According to Amnesty, there were viable alternatives that would not endanger civilians. Moreover, the organization was not aware that the armed forces had asked or assisted civilians to evacuate nearby buildings, which constitutes a failure to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians. The report noted, At 22 out of 29 schools visited, Amnesty International researchers either found soldiers using the premises or found evidence of current or prior military activityincluding the presence of military fatigues, discarded munitions, army ration packets and military vehicles. The report continues, In a town east of Odesa, Amnesty International witnessed a broad pattern of Ukrainian soldiers using civilian areas for lodging and as staging areas, including basing armoured vehicles under trees in purely residential neighbourhoods, and using two schools located in densely populated residential areas. Russian strikes near the schools killed and injured several civilians between April and late Juneincluding a child and an older woman killed in a rocket attack on their home on 28 June. The response by the Ukrainian government to the report has been nothing short of hysterical. Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the report in an address to the nation, claiming that it turned the victim into the aggressor. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba fumed on Twitter that the report distorts reality, draws false moral equivalence between the aggressor and the victim, and boosts Russias disinformation efforts. In reality, Amnesty International denounced Russias invasion of Ukraine in the report but insisted that this does not exempt the Ukrainian military from respecting international humanitarian law. The report also stresses that the violations of international law by the Ukrainian army in no way justify Russias indiscriminate attacks. It should also be noted that the overwhelming majority of the organizations reports on the war so far have focused almost exclusively on war crimes by Russia, and Amnesty International itself is by no means an impartial observer. Most notoriously, it restored the prisoner of conscience status for the right-wing Russian anti-Putin critic Alexei Navalny, an avowed racist, after coming under intense political pressure last year. Significantly, the Ukraine office of the organization vehemently opposed the publication of the report. Its head, Oksana Pokalchuk, declared, We did everything we could to prevent this report from going public. The fact that Amnesty International ended up releasing the report despite serious internal divisions and immense political pressure indicates that the real situation on the ground in Ukraine is, if anything, far more disturbing than even what this report suggests. It should also be noted that the German news magazine Der Spiegel, which has played a prominent role in the anti-Russia war propaganda in Europe, admitted in a report on Friday, rather grudgingly, that its own reporters had made similar findings as Amnesty International and that the conduct of the Ukrainian military raises legitimate questions. The hysterical response by the Ukrainian government points to extreme nervousness on the part of the Ukrainian oligarchy and its imperialist backers about the political implications of the report. The testimonies cited by Ukrainian civilians indicates that there is significant anger about the countrys military conduct and growing popular opposition to the war in Ukraine itself. Above all, however, the report exposes the criminal character of the war and deals a major blow to the relentless war propaganda in the media. Day in and day out, the working class in Europe and the US is being bombarded with news about alleged Russian war crimes, while neo-fascist paramilitaries like the Azov Battalion are praised by the Associated Press and the New York Times for their bravery. The entire edifice of this imperialist war propaganda has been based on the lie that the invasion of Ukraine by Russia was entirely unprovoked and that all the death and destruction in this war are to be blamed entirely on Moscow. Yet the Amnesty International report leaves no doubt that, whatever the war crimes by the Russian armyand there is no question that such crimes have been committeda significant number of the civilian casualties of this war, which now number over 5,000 dead and over 7,000 wounded, were caused by the conduct of the Ukrainian military. Moreover, anyone reading the report must ask the question: Why does the Ukrainian military behave in such a way? If there was any truth to the claim that this war was about the defense of democracy and the rights of the Ukrainian population, such conduct would either not take place at all or be immediately condemned by the Ukrainian government and its General Staff. The reality is that the US, which has deliberately provoked this war after laying waste to half a dozen societies in the Middle East and North Africa, and the Ukrainian oligarchy could care less about the millions of lives now being destroyed and the thousands killed in the war against Russia. In a rare moment of truth, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov recently described his country as a testing ground for Western arms manufacturers, which have reaped major profits from the tens of billions of dollars in money for weapons that NATO has pumped into the Ukrainian military. The real aim of the war, which was deliberately provoked by NATO, is to bleed Russia dry. The strategy is to pump Ukraine full with advanced missiles and weapons in order to engineer a military defeat with horrific losses in the hope that this would precipitate a major domestic crisis, which can facilitate the ongoing regime change operation by the imperialist powers. From the standpoint of Washington and the other imperialist powers, the war in Ukraine is but the opening shot in a new scramble to carve up Russia and China in a new redivision of the world. With the relentless anti-Russian war propaganda and the glorification of the supposedly heroic martyrs of the Ukrainian army, world public opinion is to be prepared for a far bigger war that threatens a nuclear catastrophe. The Amnesty International report has dealt a significant blow to this sinister propaganda effort. Published below is a joint statement by members of the Plantation Workers Action Committee, Health Workers Action Committee, and the Teachers, Students and Parents Safety Committee in support of Will Lehmans campaign for president of the United Auto Workers. From the outset, we would like to offer our fullest support and best wishes from action committees in Sri Lanka to the campaign of Comrade Will Lehman who is running for president of the United Auto Workers (UAW) in the United States of America. Will Lehman [Photo: WSWS] Mack Trucks worker Will Lehmans campaign for UAW president in the forthcoming November election is an important element in the struggle against the union bureaucracies, not just in the in the US, but all around the world, including in Sri Lanka. As Comrade Lehman has stated, the vote is not to replace the incumbent bureaucracy with another corrupt bureaucracy but to overthrow it. Lehmans campaign is not an attempt to reform the UAW by changing its leadership but to mobilise autoworkers in a mass movement to liquidate the bureaucracy, transfer power to the rank-and-file, and return its resources to rank-and-file workers. The assault on the working class in the US and internationally being waged by the UAW and other union bureaucracies, in alliance with big corporations and capitalist governments, must stop. This can only be done by mobilising the industrial and political power of the working class through the building rank-and-file committees in the United States and internationally. Comrade Lehmans campaign is a very important step forward in advancing the program of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC), initiated by the International Committee of the Forth International and the Socialist Equality Parties. As Lehman has explained, the building of IWA-RFC is to unify workers internationally against the transnational corporations global drive for profits, and in opposition to the poisonous nationalism promoted by the UAW. Under Socialist Equality Party leadership in Sri Lanka, action committees have been built in the health, education, plantation sectors and among the rural peasantry, as well as the establishment of an action committee fighting for freedom of expression and art. These committees, which are involved in organising workers and rural peasants across ethnic lines, are explaining the importance of this initiative to industrial workers and the rural masses in Sri Lanka and South Asia. Kandy hospital workers protest in April (WSWS Media) On April 28 and May 6, 10 and 11, millions of Sri Lankan workers participated in powerful national strikes, cutting across the ethnic and religious divisions promoted by the ruling class. The trade unions in every sector, however, limited these struggles to one-day actions in order to protect the capitalist system from the rising anger of the working class and to prevent the mobilisation of the working class on its own independent political program. The Sri Lankan trade union bureaucrats, like their counterparts in the US and internationally, have done everything they can to stop the working class moving forward. Confronted with the growing demands of their members, the health sector union bosses, Ravi Kumudesh and Saman Rathnapriya, publicly admitted that they only called strike action in order to manage their members anger. The trade unions backed the campaigns of the parliamentary opposition parties to form an interim capitalist government when the mass uprisings by workers, youth and the poor began in April against the now former President Gotabhaya Rajapakse-led government. The unions are continuing this reactionary work under conditions where all the opposition parties are committed to imposing brutal International Monetary Fund (IMF) cuts. This week, pro-US President Ranil Wickremesinghe used his powers to create a new postthe Director General of Trade Unionsand appointed Rathnapriya as its director. This is not only a reward for Rathnapriyas betrayals but to further enlist the trade unions to suppress future workers struggles. Government Nursing Officers Union (GNOU) President Saman Rathnapriya [WSWS Media] The SEP in Sri Lanka has advanced the following policies around which the action committees are waging a political struggle. These directly challenge the ruthless IMF austerity demands being promoted by the government and the opposition parties. * For workers democratic control of production and distribution of all essential items and resources critical for the lives of people! Nationalisation of the banks, big corporations, plantations and other major economic nerve centres! * Repudiate all foreign debts! No to the austerity demands of the IMF and World Bank that represent the international bankers and financial institutions! * Establish a state monopoly of foreign trade to eradicate corruption in export and import processes and ensure the supply of all essentials! * Seize the colossal wealth of the billionaires and corporations! * Cancel all debts of poor and marginal farmers and small business holders! Reinstate all price subsidies, including on fertilisers for farmers! * Guarantee jobs for all with decent and safe working conditions! Index wages to the cost of living! We insist that there is no nationalist solution to any of the problems facing the working class in every country. Taking forward these demands, we are fighting to build a Democratic and Socialist Congress of Workers and Rural Masses. As part of this international socialist perspective, the aim of these transitional policies is to bring to power a socialist workers and peasants government. Comrade Lehmans struggle in the US, one of the worlds most developed industrialised economies, is powerful political encouragement to our struggle in South Asia and throughout the international working class. On Friday, a judge in an administrative tribunal suspended the French governments emergency expulsion order against imam and ex-school teacher Hassan Iquioussen. Iquioussen was born in Dadian in Northern France and has lived here for 58 years. He faces expulsion to Morocco, where he has never lived and has publicly criticized the King. Iquioussen has five children and nine grandchildren who all reside in France and are citizens. His father forced him and his siblings to refuse their right to French citizenship at 18. He has since unsuccessfully attempted to claim citizenship twice, once in 1984, and once in 1990. He has previously taught French language at high school level. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin (AP Photo/Michel Euler) On October 31 last year, Iquioussens house was raided and searched by gendarmes, who found nothing incriminating. Earlier this year, the Nord prefecture refused to renew Iquioussens residence permit, alleging that he gave hateful speeches against the values of the Republic, including secularism, denied equality between women and men, and developed anti-Semitic and conspiracy theories about Islamophobia. On May 3, the Macron government began an expulsion procedure against him. Then on July 28, interior minister and ancient member of the Royalist Action Francaise, Gerald Darmanin told the National Assembly that Iquioussen will be expelled. After Moroccan authorities confirmed they would accept the imam, on August 1 Darmanin stated that Iquioussen will be expelled manu militari [by force] from the national territory. Iquioussen has denied all these allegations. Lucie Simon, the imams lawyer, stated, He strongly and seriously contests each of the elements contained in the expulsion order, which are not only old but also taken out of context, truncated by cut sentences and often unverifiable. Yesterday morning, it seemed the governments campaign would be successful: the European Court of Human Rights, to which Iquioussens lawyers had also appealed, refused to intervene in the French governments emergency expulsion of the imam. However, Darmanins plan was halted later on Friday morning, when a judge in the Paris administrative tribunal suspended the governments expulsion order, at least temporarily. This judgment was then rapidly appealed by Darmanin, who repeated allegations of anti-Semitism, sexism, and religious extremism in a tweeted statement on Friday afternoon. According to journalist Camille Polloni, who has seen the text of the judges order, the judge ruled against the government because there was no evidence to support the states accusations of anti-Semitism or religious extremism against Iquioussen. The judge agreed with the imams lawyers that every quote except one attributed to him by the government were taken out of context and did not amount to a provocation to hatred. The only comment the judge found did contravene this standard was a remark inviting women to stay in the home. However, the judge concluded that this did not justify the expulsion order. Darmanin has very publicly pursued Iquioussen in the context of a renewed offensive against immigrants by the Macron government. The government had planned to introduce a new draconian immigration law targeting basic democratic rights this week but has now delayed the examination of legislation until the end of August. This action was ostensibly to facilitate debate. The bill proposes to eliminate immigrants right to appeal expulsion, the sole legal means by which Iquioussen has been ablefor the time beingto remain in France. It also proposes the removal of exemptions to deportations, for example marriage to a French citizen or arrival in France before 13 years of age. In an interview with Le Figaro on August 3, Darmanin said he is ready to imagine additional quotas for each profession or sector under tension [from a lack of available labor]. The real reason the bill has been delayed is not for debate, but in order for Darmanin and the Macron government to conduct a highly publicized anti-immigrant campaign to prepare public opinion for a wide-ranging attack on immigrant rights. Marion Ogier, a lawyer from the Human Rights League, noted that Darmanins pursuit of the imam sought to create a media echo to promote his immigration bill by announcing the imams expulsion publicly, on social networks, even before notifying him. The pursuit of Iquioussen is only one facet of this criminal campaign. Since late July, Darmanin has led a foul campaign against the population of the La Guilloterie district of Lyon, where on July 20 an altercation between three plain clothes police officers and around 20 individuals took place. The officers were in pursuit of a man they accused of petty theft in the district. Seeing three people in pursuit of a man, members of the local population intervened to protect the fleeing man, which led to fighting between the police and locals. This incident, in which no one was seriously injured, was then hysterically seized on by the pro-Macron and far-right press as a lynching, though no one was killed during the event. Darmanin travelled to Lyon, where he told residents of the need to strength measures to expel foreign criminals. Darmanin also seized on the incident to drastically increase the number of police officers in the city, sending 70 more cops into the district to retake control. In his interview with Le Figaro, Darmanin blamed immigration, not widespread poverty and distress amongst the poorest sections of French society, for crime, Today, foreigners represent 7 percent of the French population and commit 19 percent of acts of delinquency. To refuse to see this would be to deny reality. On August 4, on CNews he stated: If [immigrants] do not respect our values and our laws, they must leave. Common sense. What is unfolding is a draconian attack on fundamental democratic rights by a government that is inciting far-right sentiments. The state sought to remove a French-born resident, who hasnt been charged, let alone convicted of a crime, due to his alleged disaccord with the French states values. Only the imams successful appeal against the order, a right the government is seeking to overturn, has temporarily prevented his expulsion. The Iquioussen case and Darmanins anti-immigrant campaign shows how, emboldened by his April victory, Macron and his allies are seeking to deepen and extend the French states anti-Muslim campaign. In all its essentials, this is the same fascistic policy proposed by the Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally (RN). Macrons law is going to a National Assembly crammed with deputies of his own party, of the RN and of Jean Luc Melenchons New Popular Union, which has supported previous anti-Muslim legislation. There is clearly an enormous danger that immigrants right to appeal deportation will be eliminated. In the case of Iquioussen, despite the judges verdict he remains at huge risk of deportation to Morocco in the coming days and week. Embarrassed by the ruling against its highly publicized pursuit of the imam, the Macron government will do everything in its power to overturn the ruling. The Macron governments new campaign confirms the correctness of the SEP Frances call for a boycott of the second round of the French presidential election. Contrary to the claim that Macron was a Republican alternative to Le Pen, Macron himself is implementing a far-right program based on incitement of racism, to rapidly build up a police state. The defense of millions of Muslims and immigrants in France requires a massive political mobilization of the working class. Alex Jones, the fascist radio show host, conspiracy theorist and InfoWars publisher, was ordered by a Texas jury to pay nearly $50 million in compensatory and punitive damages to the parents of a Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victim. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, parents of 6-year-old Jesse Lewis, one of 20 children and six adult staff members killed on December 14, 2012 by 20-year-old Adam Lanza at Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut, filed suit against Jones in 2018. The suit was filed in Austin because Jones media empire, Free Speech Systems, is headquartered there. On his Infowars program and in other media outlets, Jones promoted right-wing disinformation about the event, claiming it was a false flag operation by gun control advocates. Among the lying claims made publicly by Jones were that no one died in Sandy Hook, the incident was staged, synthetic or manufactured, and a giant hoax, completely fake with actors. In an initial decision on Thursday, the jury awarded $4.1 million in damages to the parents to compensate for pain and suffering caused by the conspiracy theories peddled by Jones, which led to repeated threats against them by deranged and fascist elements acting on his claims that the Newtown massacre was a hoax. Alex Jones The next day, after hearing testimony from an expert witness on behalf of the plaintiffs, who disputed Jones claims of poverty and estimated that his media empire was worth from $135 million to $270 million, the jury awarded $45.2 in punitive damages, bringing the total damages to $49.3 million, one of the largest ever in a defamation case. The decision was the first time that Jones has been held accountable for spreading lies about the horrifying events at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The jury decision is also the first of other potential awards against the far-right media personality who was instrumental in organizing and financing the fascistic rally held by Donald Trump near the White House that culminated in the violent attack on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021. Jones faces at least two other suits by parents of the Newtown children, and others may file suits now that his vulnerability to the legal process has been demonstrated. In all three suits, Jones failed last fall to comply with court orders during the discovery process. Heslin and Lewis won default judgments against him, as did the other two families. In October, Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ruled that Jones was legally responsible for inflicting emotional distress on Heslin and Lewis and that he was liable for defaming Heslin, because he had claimed the father was a crisis actor performing a role. Jones behavior throughout the trial and his comments after the award indicate that he has no intention of backing away from his belligerence and promotion of far-right politics. If anything, these will now intensify. While Jones and his businesses generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue and he has been personally given $9 million in cryptocurrency donations, the InfoWars publisher claimed that a decision of $2 million or more would ruin him financially. But the plaintiffs financial expert, Bernard Pettingell, testified that Jones had used shell companies and two large loans to make it look like he had no money. During the trial, attorneys for the family argued in opening statements and closing arguments that, Speech is free, but lies you have to pay for. At one point in the proceedings, attorney Bankston exposed the fact that Jones had perjured himself by claiming he did not have any text messages concerning the defamation lawsuits filed by family members against him. Bankston asked, Mr. Jones, did you know that 12 days ago, your attorneys messed up and sent me an entire digital copy of your entire cellphone with every text message youve sent for the past two years? and, You know what perjury is, right? Heslin and Lewis gave emotional testimony and told the jury that the lies spread by Jones and his media empire tarnished the honor and legacy of their son Jesse Lewis, who was one of the 20 first graders killed at Sandy Hook, and tormented them for years. Heslin testified that he could not even begin to describe the last nine-and-a-half years of hell that he has lived through because of Jones. He described in detail how he fears for the safety of himself and his family. Lewis spoke directly to Jones during her testimony, saying, Jesse was real. Im a real mom. She then exposed something of the nature of the present political reality where media figures such as Jones have support from sections of the ruling elite for polluting public consciousness with foul and extremely dangerous right-wing, white supremacist and xenophobic ideas. Lewis said, It seems so incredible to me that we have to do this. That we have to implore younot just implore you, punish youto get you to stop lying It is surreal what is going on in here. After the second jury award, Lewis told the media, This is an important day for truth, for justice, and I couldnt be happier This has been a long battle, a long time spent10 yearsand to have the result a strong message to the world that literally, choosing love is what we need to do. The defendants attorneys claimed that under Texas law, punitive damages are capped at $750,000 per plaintiff, which would limit the total punitive sum to $1.5 million. They said he would appeal the damages award. Judge Gamble said that the limit on punitive damages is not hard and fast. So we do have laws in Texas where we claim to trust our juries and then we dont trust our juries, and thats true, she said. And Im sure the judgment will properly reflect the laws of Texas in that regard, so dont need to worry about that. For almost a decade Jones used his media platform to mobilize fascistic and backward social elements in society against the families of the 26 individuals who perished at Sandy Hook, many of whom have faced constant harassment and death threats from right-wing elements. Jones and others like him have functioned as recruiters for alt-right and fascist movements and groups in support for the ongoing conspiracy to overthrow the US Constitution and install Donald Trump as oligarchic dictator. The Egyptian Actors Syndicate, under the helm of Ashraf Zaki, issued a statement on Saturday strongly condemning the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza. The statement condemns the brutal aggression and fierce attacks launched by the Israeli occupation forces on defenseless Palestinians of all ages in the Gaza Strip, and expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people. The Syndicate has called on the international community to fulfil its responsibilities and stop the occupying forces crimes and violations of international law, demanding international protection for the Palestinian people. Fighting between Israel and militants in Gaza started on Friday when Israel assassinated prominent Islamic Jihad leader Taysir Al-Jaabari in Gaza in airstrikes, ending a year of calm in the enclave. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed at least 15 people, including a five-year-old girl. In response, Palestinians fired rockets at Israeli cities today. The last major Israeli assault on Gaza was in May 2021, which killed around 250 Palestinians, including women and children, before an Egypt-brokered ceasefire ended hostilities. Search Keywords: Short link: Last month, the Western Australia (WA) Labor government ordered the transfer of 17 boys from the Banksia Hill youth detention centre to the Casuarina maximum-security adult prison. The Banksia Hill detention centre holds youth aged 10-18 who have been sentenced to imprisonment or are awaiting trial, denied bail or are on remand. Casuarina Prison in Western Australia (Source: ABC News) Reports have emerged this week that at least one of the children has been hospitalised after self-harming. The Guardian reported yesterday it had confirmed that one teenager had required medical treatment and another child had made threats to self-harm but did not do so. According to the West Australian, four of the children had been hospitalised, including three who had swallowed shards of broken glass. The transferred boys, whose arms and legs were shackled during the move, are aged as young as 14 and most are indigenous. WA Corrective Services maintains that juvenile detainees will be kept separate from the adult prisoners at Casuarina. The Department of Justice claims that the move is only a temporary measure and that the group of teenagers will be returned to the youth detention centre as soon as practicable. The transfer of children into an adult prison is an undemocratic and punitive measure against a highly vulnerable and oppressed section of working-class youth. The decision drastically increases the teenagers risk of irreversible emotional and psychological harm, physical and sexual abuse, recidivism and suicide. The Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) group released a statement on July 15 declaring that the decision to send children to the maximum-security adult prison was a flagrant violation of international standards and that there are no circumstances that justify the placement of children in adult prison facilities. Kerry Weste, ALHR president said moving children into an adult prison facility is not only inconsistent with international human rights standards, it is also contrary to clear medical and psychology evidence that tells us how to reduce recidivism and facilitate the rehabilitation of children without incarceration. This is not the first time that youth have been moved to an adult prison from Banksia Hill. In 2013, when 73 children were transferred to Hakea Prison, many experienced significant mental harm including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to the ALHR. The plan to move the children was announced by the State Labor government on July 5, after a state budget hearing in June showed that approximately 100 of the 250 cells at Banksia Hill were too damaged to use. The centre also confronts a massive staff shortage, with more than 4,000 shifts unfilled in the first half of the year. This has led to the slashing of education, counselling and other programs at the facility. Adam Tomison, the Director General of the WA Department of Justice, claimed the young inmates had significant offending histories and for months had destroyed infrastructure, assaulted staff, escaped from their cells and were harming themselves. These comments serve to portray the teenagers as out-of-control to justify increased state brutality to punish and intimidate them. Conditions at the Banksia Hill centre are reportedly nightmarish. An April report by WAs Custodial Service Inspector found systemic and grave violations of the childrens human rights at the centre. In November last year, four boys had spent less than an hour per day outside of their cells for several days. Inspector Eamon Ryan said, We concluded that their human rights were being breached on those occasions. The United Nations Mandela rules, which are not legally enforced in WA, require detainees to spend at least two hours out of their cell in a 24-hour period. Ryan declared Banksia Hill is not fit for purpose as a youth detention centre. It looks like, and in many respects runs like, an adult prison, even to the point where there are adult prison officers stationed there to assist in maintaining order and security. The inspector found that children were detained in understaffed and inhumane conditions at the centre and children with trauma and cognitive impairments were being denied proper meaningful interaction and treatment, resulting in further instances of self-harm. There were 24 suicide attempts at Banksia Hill between January and November last year. The conditions are so horrendous at the facility that several boys had formed a suicide pact while being held under observation at the facilitys Intensive Support Unit. In February, a judge for the Perth Childrens Court described the experience at a boy at Banksia Hill as one of prolonged, systematic dehumanisation and deprivation. He heard the case of a 15-year-old child who had spent 33 days confined to his cell alone with no fresh air or exercise. Such prolonged solitary confinement amounts to torture. The boy was sentenced in February by Childrens Court president Hylton Quail for burglary and a series of assaults on officers at Banksia Hill. Judge Quail said the boy, who suffered from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and PTSD from severe childhood neglect, was one of the most damaged children to have appeared before me. In 2016, medical experts from the Telethon Kids Institute found that 89 percent of children in Banksia Hill Detention Centre had a severe neurodisability or cognitive challenges, and that 36 percent of the detainees suffered from FASD. Professor Carol Bower, director of FASD Research Australian, declared this was the highest known prevalence of FASD and severe neuro-developmental impairment in a corrective setting anywhere in the world. The move to send the 17 children to the maximum-security prison has caused widespread outrage. More than 75 organisations and community groups have signed an open letter to the state Labor Premier Mark McGowan, urging him to reverse the decision. Last month, over 100 people marched through Perth in protest. Pamela Blurton, said she was disturbed to learn that her 15-year-old grandson was being moved to the adult prison. Banksia Hill had left him traumatised, hes tried to commit suicide three times in Banksia and (again) when he came home, she said. Im really fearing that Ill be burying my grandson before he buries me. Many young prisoners have complex trauma, post-traumatic stress, and other psychological and neurological issues caused by unemployment, social dislocation, family breakdown, and alcohol and drug addiction. Working-class youth face an endlessly deteriorating economic and social crisis. Any pretense of tackling the underlying social problems, or even of providing treatment and rehabilitation programs for juvenile prisoners, has been abandoned. According to a report released in April by Youth Action, the number of young people (aged 15-24) not engaged in employment, education, or training increased by 30 percent to 391,300equivalent to 12 percent of the total youth populationduring the first year of the pandemic in Australia. This is the highest level of youth non-engagement on record. WA has the second highest average rate of children in detention in Australia after the Northern Territory (NT), detaining some 4.96 young people aged 10-17 per 10,000. Large numbers of those in youth detention have not been put on trial or charged with any crime. According to the Australian Human Rights Commission, a 2019 snapshot of children in juvenile detention facilities revealed that at any one time over 50 percent are on remand. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), in the years 2020-2021, WA had the highest rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth incarceration across Australia, at 212.8 per 10,000 people. Young indigenous people represent only 5.8 percent of all people aged 10-17 in Australia but account for approximately 49 percent of those in juvenile detention. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the most oppressed section of the working class. A 2020 report into youth detention centres found that of the 77 children at Banksia Hill, 74 percent were indigenous. Incarceration is in no way an effective form of rehabilitation for young people. According to a 2021 AIHW report, 80 percent of 10-16 year olds released from sentenced detention in 2018-19 were incarcerated again within 12 months. The inhumane detention of youth under Labor governments is by no means limited to WA. In 2016, after inmates damaged Melbournes Parkville youth prison, the Victorian Labor government illegally moved some of the detainees to Barwon Prison, a maximum-security adult jail. There they were capsicum sprayed and faced extended periods of solitary confinement. In the NT, where the high number and brutal treatment of youth detainees has been the subject of countless parliamentary inquiries and media exposures, the Labor government last year introduced tougher than ever laws denying bail to children for offences as minor as unlawful entry and allowing police to electronically monitor those youth who are granted bail. These episodes, along with the transfer of the Banksia Hill detainees, underscore that Labor, no less than the Liberal-Nationals, is a party of capitalist law and order, committed to carrying out punitive and cruel attacks on the most vulnerable layers of the population, including children. Their treatment is a warning of the preparations for broader suppression of the working class, amid mounting opposition to the cost of living crisis, massive social inequality and war. In a revealing development last Wednesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese refused to meet with the family of incarcerated WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange when they visited the Australian federal parliament in Canberra. Anthony Albanese and Julian Assange Assanges father John Shipton and his brother Gabriel Shipton met with Independent and Greens MPs, but were reportedly unable to secure meetings with Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong or Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus. The snub expresses, again, the real attitude of the Labor government to Assange, Australias most famous political prisoner. In line with its commitment to US-led militarism, including the confrontations with Russia and China, Labor is intensely hostile to Assange because of his exposure of US-led war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan. While making highly ambiguous statements about the Assange case having dragged on too long, the Labor administration has refused to use its diplomatic and legal powers to secure his freedom since it was installed after the May 21 election. This amounts to a green light for Assanges extradition from Britain to the US, where he faces Espionage Act charges and 175 years in prison for publishing true information about the illegal wars and global diplomatic conspiracies of American imperialism. In comments to the Guardian after their visit, both Shiptons condemned the Labor governments failure to defend Assange and demanded that it immediately intervene. Gabriel Shipton recalled one of the few occasions on which Albanese explicitly referenced the WikiLeaks founder. Asked about the Assange case last December, Albanese purportedly told a shadow cabinet meeting, enough is enougha refrain cited publicly by several Labor MPs. But Shipton noted: It is months ago now that he said this stuff and made the statement that enough is enough, but when is enough, enough? Julians still in prison. Hes been there for three years and he is not a convicted criminal. Shipton added: They could pick up the phone and call Joe Biden and make it a non-negotiable. We are strategically vital to the US at the moment, they need our resources, if it was made a non-negotiable, Julian would be here tomorrow. The Labor government, however, is serving as the closest of partners with the Biden administration. Albanese and Wong have met repeatedly with the US president. The primary focus of their first months in office has been on foreign policy. Labor has functioned as an attack dog for the Biden administration throughout the Asia-Pacific, with Wong continuously traveling the region to demand that its leaders sign up unequivocally to the US-led aggression against China. Shipton pointed to the obvious hypocrisy at the heart of Labors refusal to defend a persecuted citizen and journalist. Were dealing with this prosecution or persecution that in any normal circumstance would be seen as totally illegal, and if it was Iran doing it to somebody, or China, or Vietnam, the government would be calling them out, he said. Shipton continued: It is not just about Julians life and his wellbeing, it is a matter of principle, and if Australia wants to be the sort of country that calls out nations on their press freedom record, they could definitely be more vocal. John Shipton commented on a recent Declassified Australia article. It cited internal briefings to the Labor government, indicating that the sole focus of Labors diplomacy in the Assange case, was to consider a possible prison transfer from the US to Australia. This would only be an option after Assange had been extradited and convicted on frame-up charges in a US court, a process that could take years or decades. It would, moreover, be entirely conditional on the agreement of the US government. John Shipton said this scenario was grotesque. He pointed to the spate of extraordinary abuses carried out as part of the US pursuit of Assange. They have included the theft of Assanges legal documents, unlawful spying on him and discussions within the Trump administration and the American Central Intelligence Agency in 2017 on kidnapping or assassinating him in London. For Labor to refuse to intervene until after Assanges extradition was the most feasible way for them to continue to sit on their hands and do nothing. Such a course of action would also amount to a death sentence. Assanges psychologists and doctors have testified, under oath, that he would take his life were he to face imminent dispatch to his US persecutors. In addition, the WikiLeaks publishers physical health is failing, expressed most sharply in a minor stroke last October. On the same day the Shiptons visited parliament, Greens Senator David Shoebridge noted in question time that Labor MPs had claimed the government was engaged in quiet diplomacy on Assanges behalf. Quiet diplomacy cant be no diplomacy, Shoebridge stated, before asking: What exactly is the government doing to secure the release of this Australian citizen, journalist and whistleblower? In reply, Trade Minister Don Farrell stated again that the case had gone on for too long and should be brought to a close, without giving any indication of how this would take place. Farrell said Australia was not a party to the extradition case, which was between Britain and the US, and respected the legal processes of both parties. This line replicates that of the previous Liberal-National Coalition government. It amounts to a green light for the extradition and a declaration that Labor will do nothing. Assanges extradition hearings are not a routine legal matter but a monstrous frame-up. They involve the persecution of an Australian journalist for his publishing activities. This is a frontal assault on the most fundamental democratic norms, including press freedom. In numbers of cases, Australian governments have actively used their diplomatic and legal powers to secure the freedom of citizens persecuted abroad, even when such attacks have taken a pseudo-legal form. This was the case with Peter Greste, a journalist freed from an Egyptian prison in 2015, after being framed-up on national security charges. The same occurred with James Ricketson, a documentary filmmaker who had phony espionage charges leveled against him in Cambodia, and Kylie Moore-Gilbert, an academic who was accused by Iran of being a spy. The claim that Australia cannot intervene in the legal case is being advanced by Labor MPs across the board, including those who previously postured as defenders of the WikiLeaks founder. It was repeated in a recent Consortium News interview by Labor backbencher Julian Hill. He insisted there were limits to what we can do because Australia and the Australian government are not parties to the case, thats just a fact. Hill also defended Albaneses supposed quiet diplomacy. Hill has changed his tune since Labor took office. In August 2020, for instance, he stated: The UK claims to be a rule of law country guaranteeing a fair trial, open justice and due process. What a joke! The persecution and treatment of Julian Assange are unconscionable. This is inherently political and our government is too cowardly to defend him, to even demand that he gets a fair trial. Hill could now say the same about Albanese, the Labor government and himself. For their part, the Greens posture as defenders of Assange. But they have rejected calls for a party campaign fighting for his freedom and buried the WikiLeaks publishers plight during the election. The Greens entire orientation is to deepen their collaboration with the Labor government, expressed last week in their backing for Albaneses climate bill, which will do nothing to address global warming and is premised on defending the interests of the coal and gas barons. As the Socialist Equality Party has insisted, the fight for Assanges freedom requires a struggle against the entire political establishment, and its program of war and authoritarianism. This must be based on mobilising the Australian and international working class, the constituency for a genuine fight against capitalist reaction and in defence of democratic rights. The reckless and provocative trip by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has strained relations between the United States and China to breaking point. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, center, walks with Taiwans Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, left, as she arrives in Taipei, Taiwan, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022. [AP Photo/Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs via AP] The Chinese government has reacted to Pelosis visit by ending dialogue with Washington in key areas, including military-to-military talks, climate change, cross-border crime and drug trafficking, and the repatriation of illegal migrants. Beijing has also imposed unspecified sanctions on Pelosi herself. Despite Chinas serious concerns and firm opposition, Pelosi insisted on visiting Taiwan, seriously interfering in Chinas internal affairs, undermining Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampling on the One China policy, and threatening the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson declared. The eight countermeasures announced yesterday specifically cancel China-US Theatre Commanders meetings, China-US Defense Policy Coordination talks and China-US Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings. The Politico website reported that multiple calls by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs Chair General Mark Milley have not been returned by their Chinese counterparts. The breakdown of direct military-to-military contact further heightens the danger of an incident or accident leading to a broader conflict amid the tense standoff between Chinese, US and Taiwanese forces triggered by Pelosis visit. The US is maintaining a major naval presence in waters near Taiwan, featuring the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, with its full complement of warplanes, along with the warships of its accompanying strike group. White House spokesperson John Kirby announced further anti-China provocations, with US naval and air transits of the Taiwan Strait in the next few weeks. China is staging its own largest-ever military drills in six areas close to Taiwan, due to continue until noon local time on Sunday. These involve the dispatch of military aircraft into the Taiwan Strait, the firing of missiles into waters to the east of Taiwan, including over the island itself, and the deployment of naval ships into the areas, disrupting international flights and shipping. In a pointed warning to the US and Japan, several Chinese missiles reportedly landed inside the 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surrounding Japans southern islands near Taiwan, sparking a protest from Tokyo. The largest US military bases in Japan are sited on Okinawa, which is part of Japans lengthy southern island chain. Taiwans defence ministry reported it had scrambled fighters to warn away Chinese aircraft that it said had entered the islands self-declared Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ), some of which also had crossed the median line in the Taiwan Strait separating the island from the Chinese mainland. The ministry said a total of 68 Chinese military aircraft and 13 navy ships had conducted missions in the strait. The East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone as shown in pink boundaries (Source: Wikipedia - CC BY-SA 2.0) The risk of a military clash is increased by the extremely confined space in which such manoeuvres are taking place. The Taiwan Strait is just 130 kilometres wide at its narrowest point. The nearest inhabited Japanese island, Yonaguni, is only 110 kilometres to the east of Taiwan. Moreover, the Taiwanese ADIZ, which has no standing in international law, not only hugs the Chinese coast, including heavily-fortified islets just kilometres from major Chinese cities, but covers a significant portion of the Chinese mainland itself. In many cases, Chinese aircraft cannot even take off without intruding into the ADIZ. In a statement steeped in hypocrisy and cynicism, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the Chinese exercises, saying: There is no justification for this extreme, disproportionate and escalatory military response now, theyve taken dangerous acts to a new level. At the same time, Blinken reiterated that the US intended to stage further provocations by sending its military through the narrow waters between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland and encouraging its allies to do the same. Despite initial expressions of concern about the inflammatory character of Pelosis trip, the Biden administration backed it and authorised the mobilisation of US military aircraft and warships as part of the visit. Now the White House, its allies such as Japan and Australia, and the US and international media repeat the lie that the visit in no way changed the status quo surrounding Taiwan. In reality, the trip is another major nail in the coffin of the One China policy that underpinned the establishment of diplomatic relations between the US and China in 1979. Beijing insists that Taiwan is an integral part of One China of which it is the legitimate governmenta position that the US accepted de-facto when it broke diplomatic and military relations with Taiwan and removed its embassy and its armed forces from the island. Beijing has repeatedly warned that it will reintegrate Taiwan by force if Taipei ever declares formal independence from China. The visit by the highest-ranking US official in 25 years is just the latest in a series of steps by the Trump and Biden administrations calculated to call the One China policy into question. That included a public acknowledgement last year of the presence of US troops on Taiwana territory that the US recognises as part of China. Taiwan would be part of China today if it were not for US imperialism. The protocols reached between the US and its allies at the end of World War II recognised that Taiwana Japanese colony known as Formosa since 1895was part of Chinese territory. In the wake of the 1949 Chinese Revolution, the defeated Kuomintang armies fled to Taiwan, where Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek presided over a brutal military dictatorship. For nearly a quarter century, successive US administrations maintained the fiction that the Chiang Kai-shek dictatorship was the legitimate government-in-exile of all China. That changed in 1972 when President Nixon visited China and forged a quasi-alliance with Beijing against the Soviet Union. Taiwan and the One China policy wee central to the protracted negotiations that finally culminated in the establishment of formal US-Chinese relations in 1979. The Biden administration is now deliberately undermining those foundations. In doing so, it is goading Beijing into taking military action to reunify Taiwan and prevent the island being drawn into Washingtons web of anti-China alliances throughout the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan is not only critical to China strategically but is home to the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, which has a virtual monopoly on the production of the most advanced semiconductors vital for countless commercial and military applications. US imperialism is consciously exploiting Taiwan and endangering its population, in the same way as it has used Ukraine to provoke a war with Russia. It is seeking to provoke a conflict over the island and drag China into a military quagmire that will weaken and fracture the country that Washington regards as the chief threat to the international rules-based order on which its global domination rests. Pelosis visit to Taiwan marks a dramatic escalation in the US provocations against China, but Washington will not stop there. As it increasingly renders the One China policy a dead letter, the US is arming Taiwan to the teeth, as part of its decade-long military build-up throughout the Indo-Pacific region for a war with China with potentially catastrophic consequences. Directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo; written by Joe Russo, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely The Gray Man is an action thriller directed by American filmmakers (and brothers) Anthony and Joe Russo, based on the 2009 novel by Mark Greaney. It follows an assassin in a secret CIA program as he attempts to uncover high-level wrongdoing, rescue a young girl and preserve his own life. In 2003, Donald Fitzroy (Billy Bob Thornton), a top agency official, visits an unnamed prisoner (Ryan Gosling), incarcerated years earlier for killing his abusive father. Fitzroy offers the man the option of joining CIAs Sierra assassination program. Ryan Gosling in The Gray Man Eighteen years later, Sierra Six (Gosling) is in Bangkok assigned to kill a target alleged to have sold national security secrets. The victim, before dying, hands Six an encrypted drive with information apparently revealing that another senior CIA official, Denny Carmichael (Rege-Jean Page), is guilty of corruption. Carmichael then sets about attempting to have Six liquidated, hiring psychopath Lloyd Hanson (Chris Evans), a former CIA agent, to organize the effort. A furious chase through various unusual locales then ensues. Those who have seen a recent James Bond or Mission Impossible entry, or one of the Bourne films, will find the experience familiar: snippets of witty, cynical, somber or flirtatious dialogue (depending on the franchise) interspersed with scenes of furious hand-to-hand combat accompanied by widespread mayhem, often with portions of entire cities damaged or even blown up. The CIA or one or another intelligence serviceofficially or otherwise, named or notis often at the center of the action. (Greaney is best known for continuing the Jack Ryan character created by ultra-right, pro-CIA novelist Tom ClancyPatriot Games, Clear and Present Dangerafter the latters death in 2013.) The protagonist is sometimes a rogue element, or sometimes in conflict with rogue elements, as in this case. The spy agency usually has a number of bad apples, or may be even going through a phase of being dominated by bad apples. In these films, US operatives or their accomplices run roughshod over local populations, ignore national borders in their undertakings and pay no attention to local laws or law enforcement, much less the civil rights of their victims. They abuse, torture and kill with more or less impunity. In that sense, The Gray Man and others inadvertently perhaps possess a certain realistic element. Some particle of the arrogance and contempt with which the American military-intelligence apparatus and upper echelons of US society view humanity, as mere fodder for bullying and plundering, accurately comes through here. At the same time, in its own manner, a work like The Gray Man undoubtedly betrays nervousness and anxiety about the state of the world, depicted as a very dangerous, unstable and threatening place. That sense of trepidation often takes the form of its opposite, the unconvincing on-screen fantasy of CIA and US military omnipotence. This is not new. As American imperialism has decayed and lost hegemony in life (and suffered debacles in various corners of the planet) over the past number of decades, it has gained absolute dominance in Hollywood art, or, rather, pseudo-art. Chris Evans in The Gray Man If there is realism in regard to the dream of global supremacy in The Gray Man, there is almost none, however, in psychological and social terms. Almost every aspect of the film is improbable and implausible, from beginning to end. Invincible and indestructible heroes, as well as implacable, dyed-in-the-wool villains, do not exist. This is unconvincing, puerile material. Writing about a popular novel of the 1930s, Leon Trotsky noted that it was hard to imagine anything more mediocre, contemptible, and crude. He went on to argue that the book did not evince a shade of perception, talent, or imagination. The adventures are piled on without any art at all, like police records laid one on top of the other. Trotsky added that not for a single moment did I feel any excitement, interest, or even simple curiosity. The Gray Man is a very bad, almost instantly forgettable film. What makes things worse in this case is that the filmmakers, the Russo brothers, do possess a degree of perception, talent and imagination. They have evident film sense and intuition. The filmmakers have dissipated and wasted all that, in the processthrough their efforts on four Marvel movies in five yearsbecoming the second most commercially successful directors of all time, behind Steven Spielberg. The Russos first came to prominence with Welcome to Collinwood (2002), about a working class neighborhood in Cleveland, Ohio, their native city. Joe Russo commented at the time: These characters are underdogs, the lovable losers. I think everybody, to some degree, thinks of themselves as an underdog. And his brother added, Especially in Cleveland, in a neighborhood like Collinwood that has had a lot of bad breaks over the last few decades. By 2014, the Russo brothers (who in 2002 were looking in cinema history for models that were straightforward, more honest, more open, more simple) had graduated to directing Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Other superhero films followed. One commentator (at The A.V. Club) took note that the Marvel universe had recruited a surprising number of unlikely directors, from Shakespearean specialist Kenneth Branagh (Thor) to the strenuously indie team of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel). It might have been easy to forget, however, the critic continued, just how implausible that career trajectory once seemed for Anthony and Joe Russo, the brothers who eventually became the [Marvel] franchises de facto ringmasters. Nobody who saw Welcome To Collinwood back in 2002 likely would have predicted a future in mega-budget F/X blockbusters for its makers. The Russos may have become exponentially more successful since 2002, but a different kind of potential has been lost. Chris Evans, Anthony Russo and Joe Russo during shooting of The Gray Man The WSWS commented on this phenomenon in 2015 in Terminator Genisys and the trajectory of American independent filmmaking. The issue is not that the Russo brothers sold out. It is unclear that they ever had any especially radical conceptions. The times in which they came of age and matured intellectually and artistically were very bad, unfavorable for critical-oppositional filmmaking. Anthony Russo was born in 1970, his brother Joe in 1971. They experienced the Reagan-Bush years and the full brunt of the propaganda in the late 1980s and following the dissolution of the USSR in 1991 about the fall of communism and even the end of history. The climate of the times did not make them (or many others) into political reactionaries, and there is no reason to believe they are that today, but it did sharply steer artists away from taboo social subjects, or rather made social life itself taboo. The barrage of rubbish about the wonders of the market and the eternal triumph of free enterprise had the effect, at the very least, of neutralizing, paralyzing and intimidating. The atmosphere of the times helped produce the devoutly non-committal filmmaker, who doesnt judge or explain, but largely records processes around him or her. He or she does not criticize, he or she wallows. Artists nourished in this socially impartial atmosphere, wait-and-see artists, men or women with hands on their hips, have nothing in their outlook that would prevent them from accepting massive sums for comic-book films or directing films that unquestioningly assume the activities of the CIA and US (or British) authorities. A quick glance at the generation of filmmakers to which the Russo brothers belong provides some indication of the extent of the problem: Robert Rodriguez, Guy Ritchie (1968); Darren Aronofsky, James Gray, Lynne Ramsay (1969); Christopher Nolan, Kevin Smith, Martin McDonagh (1970); Sofia Coppola, Sacha Baron Cohen (1971). Even the more talented and imaginative representatives of the generationWes Anderson, Noah Baumbach and Spike Jonze (all 1969) and Paul Thomas Anderson (1970)havent escaped the fundamental dilemmas of the era. In any event, even if we acknowledge that the problem is an objective one, The Gray Man does no one any credit. The US confrontation with China threatens to erupt into open war following House Speaker Nancy Pelosis provocative visit to Taiwan. Beijing had declared that any such visit to the island, which it considers part of China, would have severe consequences. The Chinese military has encircled Taiwan and is carrying out live-fire exercises, which could lead to a direct clash with US, Taiwanese or other forces in the region, giving Washington the pretext it wants for military action. The danger of war between nuclear-armed powers, which places the entire world population in peril, has prompted considerable nervousness in New Zealand ruling circles. Jacinda Arderns Labour Party-led government has pursued a policy of strengthening NZs military alliance with US imperialism, while at the same time seeking to maintain strong economic ties with China. This increasingly fraught balancing act was on display on August 4, when New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Cambodia. Previous 13 June, 2022 virtual meeting between Foreign Minister Wang Yi and New Zealand's Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China) A statement by the New Zealand foreign ministry highlighted deep concerns regarding the human rights situation in Xinjiang and the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, echoing Washingtons hypocritical denunciations. Mahuta underscored New Zealands alignment with the US and NATO in their war against Russia over Ukraine, urging China to use its access and influence with Russia to pressure it to withdraw from Ukraine. At the same time, Mahuta took a neutral posture in relation to the crisis in Taiwan. The statement called for peace and stability in the region, including across the Taiwan Strait, and emphasised the importance of de-escalation, diplomacy and dialogue. The Global Times, part of Chinas state-run media, reported favourably on Mahutas statement, saying: New Zealand continues to adhere to the one-China principle, respects Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, and stands for upholding the basic norms of international relations. The newspaper also pointed to Arderns comments on August 1 at the annual China Business Summit in New Zealand, where she marked 50 years of diplomatic relations with China. Ardern said New Zealand had been firm and consistent in our commitment to our one China policy and that there was a long history of engagement, and of beneficial interactions between our governments, our people, cultures and in commerce. She also indicated that she intends to visit China with a business delegation in the near future. The theme for this years summit, organised by the Auckland Business Chamber and the NZ INC think tank, was to maintain a balancing act between trade and heightened geo-strategic sensitivities. A statement on the events website stressed that trade with China had sustained New Zealands economy during both the Global Financial Crisis and the pandemic. The organisers noted that goods exports from New Zealand to China increased by an impressive 19.8 percent in 2021, taking the bilateral trade relationship to over $37 billion in goods and services and accounting for 33 percent of New Zealands total goods exports. Two days after the summit, however, Ardern refused to condemn Pelosis visit to Taiwan, accompanied by four US warships including an aircraft carrier. She told reporters it was not for New Zealand or for me to cast judgement on the decisions from other leaders as to where they visit and why. Striking a neutral pose, she called for diplomacy and dialogue to overcome what are tensions, particularly around the Taiwan Strait. Such an equivocal position will not be tolerated by the Biden administration, which is demanding unwavering support from its regional allies. Washingtons aim, both in the war against Russia and preparations for war with China, is the imperialist redivision of the world and the crushing of any rival to US global hegemony. The New Zealand and Australian ruling class, which have their own imperialist interests in the Pacific region, have acted in an alliance with the US since World War II. New Zealand has sent troops to the Korean and Vietnam wars, and the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. The Ardern government, which took office in 2017, has continued to strengthen military and intelligence ties with the US, and in 2018 labelled Russia and China threats to the global rules-based order, i.e., the post-World War II order dominated by the US. Wellington supports the US-NATO war against Russia and has sent military aid to Ukraine, as well as NZ troops to Europe, where they are involved in supplying and training Ukraines military. In a recent visit to Washington, Ardern underscored New Zealands commitment to the anti-China build-up, including the US militarys provocative assertion of its freedom of navigation and overflight, in the South China Sea and beyond. The joint statement by Ardern and Biden declared: As the security environment in the Indo-Pacific evolves, so must our defense cooperation, including interoperability of the armed forces, personnel exchanges, co-deployments, and defense trade. Coinciding with Arderns speech at the China Business Summit, US Indo-Pacific commander Admiral John Aquilino made his first visit to New Zealand, where he held talks with New Zealands Defence Force chief Kevin Short. Aquilino, who oversees 380,000 military personnel across the Indo-Pacific region, said the visit was aimed at identifying new areas where we can work together and continue to expand our partnership. Aquilinos visit followed his attendance at the Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence Conference in Australia last month, which was attended by military chiefs from 26 countries, including New Zealands Short. US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley told the media that the three-day meeting was focussed on the whole situation with the rise of China, which he hypocritically accused of wanting to dominate the Pacific. Meanwhile the New Zealand navy has just finished taking part in the US-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise near Hawaii, from June 29 to August 4. The worlds largest maritime exercise, RIMPAC involved 26 countries, dozens of ships and 25,000 personnel, and was a key part of military preparations against China. Sections of the New Zealand media are demanding a more open, bellicose stance against China and in support of the US. Anna Fifield, Wellington-based editor of the major news website Stuff, declared: Taiwanese people, like Ukrainians, are fighting for us and our values in the face of authoritarianism. The implication is that New Zealand should be prepared to join a war over the island, as it has in the case of Ukraine. Fifield, who worked as head of the Washington Posts Beijing bureau until late 2020, urged the Ardern government to follow Pelosis example and prepare a delegation to visit Taiwan. Similarly, the far-right ACT Party leader David Seymour defended Pelosis visit, declaring that he was prepared to go to Taiwan if invited. There is no principled opposition to war within the parliamentary establishment. The Green Party, which occasionally mouths pacifist phrases, has remained silent on Pelosis visit to Taiwan, which threatens nuclear war. The party is a part of the Labour-led coalition government and has supported all its budgets, which have significantly increased military spending. Notwithstanding the evident nervousness in business circles about the US-China confrontation, and the hypocritical calls for restraint by Ardern and Mahuta, New Zealand is integrated into the US alliance, the war against Russia, and war plans against China. The only way to stop what is quickly developing into a third world war, is through the socialist strategy to unify the working class in an international anti-war movement, aimed at putting an end to the capitalist and nation-state system. Egypt is exerting "big efforts," alongside partners, to restore stability and calm in the Gaza Strip and is making contacts with the Palestinians and Israelis to ensure that things do not get out of control, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said on Saturday. Fighting between Israel and militants in Gaza started on Friday when Israel assassinated prominent Islamic Jihad leader Taysir Al-Jaabari in Gaza in airstrikes, ending a year of calm in the enclave. Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have killed at least 15 people, including a five-year-old girl. In response, Palestinians fired rockets at Israeli cities today. On Saturday, the Israeli forces said in a statement that they are prepared for a week of fighting against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which has reportedly launched dozens of rockets at Israeli cities. The last major Israeli assault on Gaza was in May 2021, which killed around 250 Palestinians, including women and children, before an Egypt-brokered ceasefire ended hostilities. An Egyptian official told Extra News on Friday that Egypt is conducting intensive communications between Israel and Palestinian factions to end the current escalation in the Gaza Strip in order to preserve the 2021 ceasefire. Addressing students at the Military Academy today, El-Sisi said that Egypt has had a very positive role in Gaza and has been keen to make contacts with Palestinians and Israelis to ensure that no crisis, violent acts or fighting take place between the two sides. Yesterday, there was a deviation from this; as usual we moved and made contacts with everyone around the clock in order for things to not get out of control and for fighting to not take place, El-Sisi said. The president affirmed that Egypt is working to ensure that the crisis ends, and expressed hope that matters do not escalate further. During his speech to the military students, El-Sisi also reviewed Egypts policy regarding a number of foreign and local issues, including the crises in Taiwan and Ukraine and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute with Ethiopia. One-China policy El-Sisi stressed that Egypt has an unchangeable policy regarding the situation in Taiwan, which is the One-China policy. He asserted that Egypt views this policy as in the interest of the stability and security in the world. We do not need further crises that affect us all, El-Sisi said, affirming that Egypt is keen through its policies to support regional and international stability and peace. El-Sisi affirmed that Egypts policies are based on moderation, balance, non-interference in others affairs, and prioritisation of political and diplomatic courses. Tensions between China and the self-ruled island of Taiwan are running high, with China sending scores of planes and firing live missiles near Taiwan in its biggest drills in the Taiwan Strait. China views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to unify the island with the mainland by all means. The drills started a day after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a solidarity visit last week to the island despite Chinas angry warnings, becoming the highest-ranking American official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Parallel tracks on water security El-Sisi also spoke about the Egyptian stance regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, affirming that Egypt has adopted the track of diplomacy and negotiations to resolve the dispute. El-Sisi reiterated that Egypts water share will not be compromised. The goal is that when there is a crisis or a problem, we resort to patience and negotiations, El-Sisi said, affirming that the state has also taken measures to ensure optimal use of Egypts water resources. This includes establishing triple agricultural wastewater treatment plants, lining of canals nationwide, and expanding modern irrigation means, El-Sisi explained. The state has already constructed two major agricultural wastewater treatment plants, including the Bahr El-Baqar plant in Port Said governorate and the El-Mahsama plant near Ismailia, with production capacities of 5.6 million and 1 million cubic meters per day respectively. Unlocking grain exports from Ukraine El-Sisi shed light on an agreement allowing grain to leave Ukraine amid the ongoing crisis, saying that Ukraines large quantities of grain is a matter of great important to Egypt and the entire world. Late in July, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement that would allow the resumption of vital grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports in an effort to ease the global food crisis caused by the war that started last February. Egypt, which used to depend on Russia and Ukraine for 80 percent of its imported wheat, has been pushing for a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis. El-Sisi underlined the efforts made by the Arab Leagues Ukrainian crisis liaison group, including making contacts with both Russia and Ukraine to settle the crisis and bring the two sides back to the diplomatic track. We try to maintain a positive role in encouraging the resolution of the crisis in a political and diplomatic track and diffusing the dispute, the president stressed. National Dialogue very important El-Sisi described the planned National Dialogue that he called for last April as very important, affirming the need for people of different spectrums in Egyptian society listen to each other and conduct discussions. The president called for the dialogue among national forces with the aim of reaching common grounds on national priority issues. The dialogue is still in the preparatory stage and is planned to be conducted in the presence of political forces, partisan figures, intellectuals and others to discuss political, economic, and social issues of concern to citizens. In April, the president also reactivated the Presidential Pardon Committee. Since then, more than 700 prisoners and pretrial detainees have been released. Controlling prices amid crisis El-Sisi affirmed that Egypt has reserves of strategic commodities that are sufficient for local consumption until the end of the year. He highlighted the states strategy to deal with the crisis, including ensuring the availability of goods in adequate quantities and trying to keep their prices unchanged. The president mentioned Egypts measures to ease the burdens on citizens caused by the inflation in Egypt and worldwide, including through social protection programmes. Amid the current global economic crisis, El-Sisi has urged the government to focus on the enhancement of social protection programmes in the coming period. In a cabinet meeting late last month, El-Sisi instructed the addition of one million new families to the Takaful and Karama (Solidarity and Dignity) cash support programmes, thus increasing the number of beneficiaries to more than 20 million citizens nationwide. El-Sisi also directed the government to disburse a total of EGP 1 billion per month for the next six months as exceptional aid to nine million families. Recipients will include the neediest families and pensioners who receive less than EGP 2,500 per month as well as state employees whose monthly salaries are less than EGP 2,700. In addition, two million subsidised food boxes will be made available each month at half their price from the Egyptian Armed Forces food markets. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Endowment in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity will distribute Eid Al-Adha meat throughout the year. Earlier in July, Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait said that EGP 356 billion of the fiscal year (FY) 2022/23 budget have been allocated for social protection and subsidisidies, while another EGP 400 billion will go towards improving the conditions of public sector employees, including wages and compensations. Out of the EGP 356 billion allocated by Egypts FY 2022/23 budget for social protection and subsidies, Maait said EGP 90 billion went for subsidising food commodities and bread to ensure their availability for about 71 million citizens. Some EGP 22 billion are allocated for Takaful and Karama (Solidarity and Dignity) programmes that provide aid for four million families, Maait said. Search Keywords: Short link: Israel's occupation military warned Saturday deadly air strikes against Palestinian militants in Gaza could last a week, as cross-border fire reverberated for a second day in the worst escalation since last year's war. Israel has said it was necessary to launch a "pre-emptive" operation against Islamic Jihad, saying the group was planning an imminent attack following days of tensions along the border with Gaza. Health authorities in the Palestinian enclave, which is controlled by the Islamist group Hamas, said a five-year-old girl was among 15 people killed in the Israeli bombardment, adding that more than 120 have been wounded. Civilians meanwhile took refuge in air raid shelters on the Israeli side, with AFP journalists hearing sirens warning of incoming fire in the Tel Aviv area on Saturday evening. Israel's ongoing offensive are being met with barrages of rockets from the Palestinian side, stoking fears of a repeat of an 11-day conflict that devastated Gaza in May 2021. Daily life in the enclave has come to a standstill, while the electricity distributor said the sole power station shut down due to a lack of fuel after Israel closed its border crossings. Gaza's health ministry said the next few hours will be "crucial and difficult", warning it risked suspending vital services within 72 hours as a result of the lack of electricity. There have been no reports of Israelis wounded by rockets, though officials said a home was hit and land was set ablaze by income fire near the border. Hamas's crucial decision An Israeli military spokesman said its forces were "preparing for the operation to last a week," and told AFP that the army is "not currently holding ceasefire negotiations". Islamic Jihad's leader in Gaza, Mohammed al-Hindi, said: "The battle is still at its beginning." Israel and Islamic Jihad confirmed the killing of Taysir al-Jabari, a key commander of the militant group, in a Friday strike. Jamal al-Fadi, a political science professor at Gaza's Al-Azhar University, said he expected the violence to end "within days". "Islamic Jihad is reacting in a limited manner and by doing so is preventing the occupation (Israeli military) from intensifying its air strikes," he told AFP. Islamic Jihad is aligned with Hamas, but often acts independently. Both are blacklisted as terrorist organisations by much of the West. Hamas has fought four wars with Israel since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, including the conflict last May. A flare-up with Islamic Jihad came in 2019, following Israel's killing of Baha Abu al-Ata, Jabari's predecessor. Hamas did not join the fray in that conflict. Hamas's moves now could prove crucial. Mairav Zonszein, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group think tank, said Hamas currently has an interest in staying on the sidelines as it has recently won more economic aid for Gazans. "But if more civilians are killed, then it will feel obligated to respond," she told AFP. Five-year-old girl Mohammed Abu Salameh, the director of Shifa, Gaza City's main hospital, said medics are facing "acute shortages of medical supplies". The UN humanitarian chief for the occupied Palestinian territories, Lynn Hastings, urged the warring sides to allow "fuel, food, and medical supplies" to be delivered to Gaza amid the worsening crisis. On Friday, the health ministry reported "a five-year-old girl" was among those killed by Israeli fire. The girl, Alaa Kaddum, had a pink bow in her hair and a wound on her forehead, as her body was carried by her father at her funeral. Israeli military spokesman Richard Hecht said Friday "we are assuming about 15 killed in action" in Gaza, referring to Palestinian combatants. The Gaza strikes followed the arrest in the occupied West Bank of two senior members of Islamic Jihad, including Bassem al-Saadi, who Israel accuses of orchestrating recent attacks. Israel on Saturday broadened its operation against Islamic Jihad, announcing the arrest of 19 people in the West Bank it said were members of the group. Israel has conducted a wave of often deadly raids inside West Bank towns and cities since mid-March in response to attacks on Israelis. Search Keywords: Short link: Taiwan said Saturday that China's military drills appear to simulate an attack on the island, after multiple Chinese warships and aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait following U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei that infuriated Beijing. Taiwan's armed forces issued an alert, dispatched air and naval patrols around the island, and activated land-based missile systems in response to the Chinese exercises, the Ministry of National Defense said. As of 5 p.m., 20 Chinese aircraft and 14 ships continued to carry out sea and air exercises around the Taiwan Strait, it said. The ministry said that zones declared by China as no-go areas during the exercises for other ships and aircraft had ``seriously damaged the peace.`` It emphasized that Taiwan's military does not seek war, but would prepare and respond for it accordingly. China's Ministry of Defense said in a statement Saturday that it had carried out military exercises as planned in the sea and airspaces to the north, southwest, and east of Taiwan, with a focus on ``testing the capabilities'' of its land strike and sea assault systems. China launched live-fire military drills following Pelosi's trip to Taiwan earlier this week, saying it violated the ``one-China'' policy. China sees the island as a breakaway province to be annexed by force if necessary, and considers visits to Taiwan by foreign officials as recognizing its sovereignty. Taiwan's army also said it detected four unmanned aerial vehicles flying in the vicinity of the offshore county of Kinmen on Friday night and fired warning flares in response. The four drones, which Taiwan believed were Chinese, were spotted over waters around the Kinmen island group and the nearby Lieyu Island and Beiding islet, according to Taiwan's Kinmen Defense Command. Kinmen, also known as Quemoy, is a group of islands only 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) east of the Chinese coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province in the Taiwan Strait, which divides the two sides that split amid civil war in 1949. The Chinese military exercises began Thursday and are expected to last until Sunday. So far, the drills have included missile strikes on targets in the seas north and south of the island. Taiwan has put its military on alert and staged civil defense drills, while the U.S. has deployed numerous naval assets in the area. The Biden administration and Pelosi have said the U.S. remains committed to a ``one-China'' policy, which recognizes Beijing as the government of China but allows informal relations and defense ties with Taipei. The administration discouraged but did not prevent Pelosi from visiting. China has also cut off defense and climate talks with the U.S. and imposed sanctions on Pelosi in retaliation for the visit. Pelosi said Friday in Tokyo, the last stop of her Asia tour, that China will not be able to isolate Taiwan by preventing U.S. officials from traveling there. Search Keywords: Short link: The first shipment of Ukrainian grain since Russia's invasion will no longer arrive in the northern Lebanese port city of Tripoli on Sunday as planned, Ukraine's embassy in Beirut said. "Tomorrow's arrival of (the) Razoni ship is postponed," the embassy told AFP in a message on Saturday. Updates regarding an arrival ceremony "will be sent later when we get information about (the) exact day and time of the arrival of the ship", it added. Asked why the arrival was postponed, an embassy spokesperson said: "I don't have any other information at the moment." An official following the shipment said the vessel might not even dock in Lebanon if the cargo's owner manages to sell it elsewhere. "The ship will only go to Lebanon... if a trader buys the cargo," the official told AFP, requesting anonymity. The Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni set sail from the Ukrainian port of Odessa last Monday carrying 26,000 tonnes of corn, and stopped in Turkey the next day. It was cleared for passage through the Bosphorus Strait by a team that included Russian and Ukrainian inspectors on Wednesday, and a Ukraine embassy spokesperson had later said it was expected to dock in Lebanon's port of Tripoli at 10 am (0700 GMT) on Sunday. The delivery is the first under a UN-backed deal, brokered with the help of Turkey last month, which aims to ease a global food crisis. Lebanon, which is struggling with one of the world's worst financial crises, is facing a particularly acute bread shortage. Kyiv said another three ships loaded with grain set sail from Ukraine on Friday, heading for Turkey and markets in Ireland and Britain. A further 13 are waiting to depart. Search Keywords: Short link: The Public Investment Fund (PIF), Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund, has launched the Saudi Egyptian Investment Company (SEIC) to invest in promising sectors in Egypt, a statement by the fund said on Thursday. The SEIC will capitalise on a number of vital sectors in Egypt, including infrastructure, real estate development, food and agriculture, pharmaceuticals, financial services, health, and manufacturing, said the statement. The company will also ensure enhancing access for the PIF and the Saudi private sector to the promising investment opportunities in Egypt, the fund said. This will help drive attractive long-term commercial returns and enhance cooperation across many strategic sectors, added the PIF. Deputy Governor and head of MENA Investments at the PIF Yazeed Alhumied said the launch of the SEIC would support the expansion efforts of Saudi businesses and other PIF portfolio companies. In recent years, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have shared warm relations on all levels, including in economic cooperation, and have witnessed increased Saudi investments in Egypt. Furthermore, the volume of Saudi investments in Egypt amounts to more than $32 billion through more than 6,800 Saudi companies, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Moreover, Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed in June 14 investment agreements worth $7.7 billion that cover several fields, including petroleum, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and cyber security. The signing came on the sidelines of a two-day official visit by Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: Barcelona now expect to complete the signing of Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso. Marc Cucurellas 62million arrival at Chelsea has paved the way for Alonso to make the move back to Spain that he has craved for some months. Alonso is understood to want to return to his native Spain to be closer to family, and his impending switch will bring down the curtain on six years in west London. Chelsea are thought to have been understanding of Alonsos desire to return to Spain, and have long been in dialogue with Barcelona over a deal. The 31-year-olds Chelsea contract expires in summer 2023, leaving a small fee required to complete the deal. Chelsea secured captain Cesar Azpilicueta on a new two-year deal on Thursday night, ending Barcelonas designs on a double defensive swoop from the Blues. Stamford Bridge chiefs are likely to continue talks with bosses at the Catalan club, however, over both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie De Jong. Chelsea are in the market for a striker this summer after Romelu Lukaku returned to Inter Milan on loan. Tuchel brought the best out of Aubameyang when the pair worked together at Borussia Dortmund, and Chelsea are understood to be weighing up their level of interest in the former Arsenal hitman. Barcelona are thought to have offered the Gabon striker to Chelsea, while also raising the prospect of a deal for De Jong. Manchester United have tracked De Jong all summer, but Chelsea are still thought to be in contention. Chelsea are also understood to be continuing to push to sign Leicester centre-back Wesley Fofana, despite the Foxes insisting the French star is not for sale. Tuchel batted away questions on a reunion with Aubameyang on Friday but did admit Chelsea have had to talk internally on a wide range of targets amid a transformative summer after the change of ownership. When quizzed on a possible reunion with Aubameyang, who struck 79 goals under his managership in Dortmund, Tuchel replied: I would be interested in the 79 goals actually! Story continues We will not comment further, there are a lot of names out there. Its sometimes due to the fact that we discuss a lot of names and sometimes theres a lot of speculation and we will not get involved. New owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital have wasted little time reshaping Chelseas squad after the Government sanction-enforced end of the Roman Abramovich era. Boehly has stepped into the Chelsea chairmans role and has spent the summer as interim sporting director, leading the Blues transfer negotiations and strategy. Gary Neville branded Boehlys approach as panicky, but Tuchel rejected that claim, instead heaping praise on Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Boehly and his Chelsea co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali. When asked about Nevilles comments, Tuchel replied: Panicking? No, I would describe it as super hard-working and learning while new on the job. So its pretty much going on, new ownership and then stepping into the transfer market is probably one of the toughest things you can do when coming from outside. But I have nothing but the biggest respect and compliments for both Todd and Behdad. I dont know when they sleep, maybe they never sleep. But we have a very honest, very open, very direct line of communication and the transfers so far speak for themselves. We have a delay of course, we had the delay because of the sanctions and the sanctions led to the loss of key players. But like I said, both of the owners are involved in the daily business, they are doing a fantastic job so far and the transfer market speaks for itself. For some Black women in America, moving abroad is a way to heal and find themselves Jessica in Iran. From Jessica Nabongo's first book, "The Catch Me If You Can." Jessica Nabongo/National Geographic Books For decades, the international travel space has been largely white. Black women told Insider they found healing in their experiences abroad. Some said they experienced more instances of racism in the US than any other country. Less than 300 people have traveled to every country in the world. Jessica Nabongo is one of them. In 2019, she became the first documented Black woman to visit every country in the world. The author of "The Catch Me If You Can" began traveling at the age of 4 with her family and later made a personal goal of seeing the world before turning 35. Nabongo's trust in humanity kept her going. "I don't fear strangers, I traveled to 89 countries solo as a Black woman, and I had an amazing time. My journey was made beautiful by the kindness of strangers," she told Insider. The countries she thinks about the most are Afghanistan, Somalia, and South Sudan, mostly because of the people she met. "I think for me, it was just an amazing opportunity to be able to go there, have those experiences, and then share those experiences with people because it wasn't what everybody assumed it would be." Nabongo said the most racism she's faced so far is in the United States, which is why she encourages Black people to drop any fears they may harbor of exploring new places. Charlotte Manning moved from the US to Sweden Isa Sin Searching for balance For decades, the international travel space has been largely white, kept down by access to resources and racism that some experience abroad. The representation of Black women living and traveling overseas is slim, but that narrative is slowly changing with the rise of social media. One of these women is Charlotte Manning, a copywriter, poet, and model. Manning says her decision to move to Stockholm after college was made relatively easy. Manning was born in Sweden, where her American parents met, but she spent the majority of her childhood growing up in Minnesota. After completing her bachelor's degree in Chicago, she said she was ready for a change. Story continues "For my sake, it would have been a stupid choice not to explore living life [in Stockholm] with such a privileged person having two passports and being able to do that. I felt like it was a necessary change in environment for me," Manning said. Although it took the copywriter a year to fully set in her new environment, life in Stockholm proved to be what she was looking for balance. Like many other Scandinavian countries, Sweden has relatively accessible health care and education, and the culture embraces a leisure lifestyle. As Manning said, "people don't live to work here." Sienna Brown moved from the US to Spain Sienna J. Brown Finding a community abroad It's the same reason why Sienna J. Brown, founder of Master Your Move Abroad (MYMA), moved to Spain eight years ago. Originally from New York, as a Black woman, Brown sought to metamorphose elsewhere. When she moved in 2014, she never thought of finding a community of Black folks, which is why she started MYMA, where the goal was to redefine the Black experience in Spain. "Now, I'm so happy to see the expansiveness of the African diaspora here in Spain, which was once known to be an extremely homogeneous country," she said. She references iconic Black figures like Frederick Douglass, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Maya Angelou, and Alice Walker, who all lived in temporary places around the world. "It comes back to embodying a sense of freedom, softness, abundance and ease that wasn't possible for me to build in America," she explained. "America was not, nor was it ever made for us we're deserving of occupying other spaces and building a new life there where we are loved, respected, and celebrated." Maya Angelou spent around two years in Ghana as a journalist and university administrator. In her auto-biomythography, "All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes," she wrote, "If the heart of Africa remained elusive, my search for it had brought me closer to understanding myself and other human beings." According to Dr. Aminata Cisse, psychiatrist and founder of Am Taar wellness, burning out from an environment is normal, whether due to internal or external stressors. As she got older, she realized the need to spend more time in Senegal for her mental health. "Outside of my family being from there [Senegal], it was just a moment of fresh air to just be in an environment where I didn't have to explain my Blackness," she told Insider. Jessica Nabongo in Jaipur, India Elton Anderson 'Trust humanity' In general, traveling and living abroad can be healing for the many lessons it teaches you about yourself. However, she mentions, it does not mean everything else in your life dissipates. "As a psychiatrist, I always have to remind people, wherever you go, you carry yourself with you," she adds. Manning echoes that while it's easy to get lost in the romanticism of living abroad. "You're still going to have to deal with a lot of the same issues and microaggressions." Brown also said that although racism and microaggressions happen everywhere, comparing Spain and the US is like comparing apples to oranges. "I always tell people, I would much rather be stared at for 5 seconds on the street than to be constantly afraid for my life every time I leave my home like I experience in the U.S." she said. Before moving abroad, Dr. Cisse recommends giving yourself a mini-trial, like visiting for long enough, staying in spaces outside of hotels, interacting with locals, experiencing the weather, checking your finances, etc. Once you're sure about the location, Manning said to commit to the decision. She doubted moving for so long, but when the plane ticket was booked, the job and apartment were secured, all the other parts didn't seem so scary. Above all, Nabongo said to trust. "Let go of that fear and trust your gut, your instinct, and really just trust humanity," she said. Read the original article on Insider Former police chief Joe Terlizzese, right, is shown with former chiefs Michael Reiter, left, and Frank Croft. Mr. Terlizzese died on Wednesday. Former Palm Beach Police Chief Joseph L. Terlizzese, who led the department through numerous big-name investigations such as the William Kennedy Smith rape trial, has died, according to a Facebook post from the Palm Beach Police Department. "Joseph Terlizzese served 37 years in law enforcement before his retirement. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Chief Joseph L. Terlizzese will be missed, but his legacy will never be forgotten," the Facebook post read. Mr. Terlizzese, who was chief from 1978 to 1998, died Aug. 3, 2022, according to former Chief Michael Reiter. "Chief Terlizzese was a friend and mentor to me and generations of police officers in Palm Beach," Reiter said in an email. "He modernized and professionalized policing in the town, strongly encouraging police officers to obtain college degrees and to seek continued professional development. The Palm Beach Police Department became one of the first national- and state-accredited law enforcement agencies in South Florida under his leadership.'' Mr. Terlizzese was president of the Palm Beach County Police Chiefs Association and chairman of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Organized Crime Committee, Reiter said. He started Palm Beach Crime Watch ''at a time when meaningful police-community partnerships in the United States were in their infancy,'' according to Reiter. "The low crime rate and high level of security that the town enjoys today is built upon the foundation that he began four decades ago. I am forever thankful for the opportunities that he gave me, he will be missed, and my heart goes out to Chief Terlizzeses family," Reiter said. Palm Beach Police: Department holds active shooter training More crime news: Crime concerns spur Palm Beach to ponder closing Lake Trail, Bradley Park to overnight use Town Manager Kirk Blouin, the former head of public safety for the town, worked under Mr. Terlizzese for about 10 years. Story continues "He ran a tight ship. He was a non-nonsense leader,'' Blouin said. It was the chief's running of the department that is his legacy, Blouin said, adding that though tough, Mr. Terlizzese was fair and rewarded hard work, and through his leadership, the town's crime rate dropped. Before Mr. Terlizzese's arrival, the police officers "lacked training and technology and weren't very skilled ... He applied his leadership to a department that needed it," Blouin said. Palm Beach Police Chief Joseph Terlizzese comments on the arrest of Kim Duane Cain during a press conference in 1999 at Town Hall. Cain was convicted in the murder of resident Geraldine Pucillo. Mr. Terlizzese, who had lived in Vero Beach for several years, was replaced by Frank Croft as chief. Croft retired in 2001 and was replaced by Reiter. Mr. Terlizzese was a captain with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department who competed against 105 applicants to become Palm Beach's police chief. The town broke a 50-year tradition by hiring an outsider, according to a Daily News story when he retired. After joining the Fort Lauderdale Police in 1961, Mr. Terlizzese rose through the ranks, going from motorcycle patrol officer to homicide detective to patrol sergeant in seven years. In 1977, he graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a master's degree in criminal justice administration. That same year, he served as head of the police department's organized crime bureau, helping to smash a $5 million gambling operation. In the retirement article, Croft credited his predecessor with upgrading the department. "We suffered from a lot of unprofessional personnel," recalled Croft, who joined the police department two years before Mr. Terlizzese became chief. "There were only a few college-educated police officers at the time. There was also a certain degree of organizational corruption and a lack of professional supervision." Mr. Terlizzese, who was known as a non-nonsense chief, said his "first three years as chief were the most difficult, mainly because of personnel-related problems." He shook up the police department, firing one veteran sergeant whom he viewed as a threat to the department's morale. More than a dozen officers left the department by the end of MrTerlizzese's first year as chief. He also campaigned vigorously for new equipment and a new police station. Following the passage of a bond issue, in 1986, the department moved from its cramped base in Town Hall to a new police headquarters. Former Mayor Gail Coniglio said she found the chief to be "protective of the town." "You always got the unvarnished truth from Joe and I appreciated that.'' Under Mr. Terlizzese, Palm Beach's serious crimes rate dropped during the mid-1980s. Police blamed the spread of crack cocaine for thefts that led to an increase in the crime rate in the late 1980s. In the mid-1990s, a rash of burglaries plagued the town, resulting in the formation of the police department's burglary unit. Probably the biggest cases during his tenure involved the Kennedy family. On April 25, 1984, David Kennedy died of a drug overdose at The Brazilian Court. Two bellmen were charged with selling and conspiring to sell cocaine to Kennedy, who was the son of Robert F. Kennedy. In another case that attracted national scrutiny, William Kennedy Smith was charged in March 1991 with raping a woman at the family's Palm Beach estate. Smith, the son of Jean Kennedy Smith, was found not guilty at trial. He also was chief in 1996 when Geraldine Pucillo was murdered in her home. Kim Duane Cain, an employee with the pest control company that serviced Pucillo's home, was later arrested and convicted of murder. A memorial service for Mr. Terlizzese will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at Christ Church, 667 20th St., Vero Beach, Reiter said. * Andrew J. Davis is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at adavis@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. * Palm Beach Police Chiefs Nicholas P. Caristo, 2019-present Kirk Blouin, 2009-2018 Michael S. Reiter, 2001-2009 Frank A. Croft, 1998-2001 Joseph L. Terlizzese, 1978-1998 Joseph M. Gaffney, 1975-1978 Fred Mead, 1967-1975 Homer Large, 1959-1967 Eddie Longo, 1946-1959 Joseph Borman Marshal, 1911-1946 * Source: Town of Palm Beach This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Former Palm Beach Police Chief Joseph Terlizzese dies When the time came for Elwoods police chief to eulogize slain Officer Noah Shahnavaz, he stood behind the young mans casket covered in an American flag and shared how the pair met. Chief Jason Brizendine recalled how Shahnavaz, just before his in-home job interview for a position in the city of Elwoods police department, answered the door in a pressed suit and tie, with a big grin. His integrity and honesty, Brizendine said, made him seem more like a seasoned police officer versus a prospect. The chief quipped that despite his reputation among his force for being picky when it comes to hiring, his decision to offer Shahnavaz a job only took a matter of minutes after that interview. The 24-year-old was hired Aug. 21. More:Elwood feels loss of police officer Noah loved his job and excelled at it, Brizendine said. He was a little brother to the family at the Elwood Police Department. On Saturday, less than one year after that encounter, Brizendine found himself speaking at his own officers funeral something he prays no other police department leader has to do. That morning, police officers hailing from local departments to those from California, Hawaii, Texas and beyond came in droves to ITOWN Church in Fishers on Saturday to pay their respects to Shahnavaz. The young officer was shot and killed July 31 while conducting a traffic stop at the intersection of State Road 37 and County Road 1100 North in Elwood. During the stop, police said the driver of the car shot at Shahnavaz, striking him, then drove away. He was later arrested. Each law enforcement member on Saturday filed inside the sanctuary to fill the auditorium, which seats more than 1,000. The service came before the 77-mile-long procession route from Fishers, up to Elwood and down again to Crown Hill Cemetery where Shahnavaz is to be buried. Shahnavazs death sent the city of Elwood reeling. The city, which has a population just under 8,400 people about 40 minutes north of Fishers, according to recent census data, has the feel of a small town where everyone knows each other by their first name. Though Shahnavaz, Chief Brizendine noted, touched lives beyond just the ones in the city where he proudly served. Story continues During his time at Fishers High School, school officials remembered Shahnavaz for his easy-going, caring personality. He played in the marching band, drumline and wrestled. He enrolled in a specialized class his senior year after expressing an interest in law enforcement. After his graduation in 2016, he joined the U.S. Army, where he served for five years. Nick Tracy, who met Shahnavaz in the 591st Military Police Company, said during the service that he cant sum up a life as full as his friend's in one speech, but said Shahnavaz will be remembered for being a natural leader and making others feel confident in achieving their goals. He also noted that "Shanny, a nickname they called Shahnavaz, will be remembered for his distinctive belly laugh. It would catch anybody's attention, Tracy said. I asked our company about something we should never forget about Noah. "Each one mentioned his laugh. To his family, Shahnavaz was also known as the funny one. Everyone always laughed at his jokes, said his younger sister, Sarah Shahnavaz, alongside her younger brother. So every single time Id make him laugh, I was really proud of myself. Pastor Larry Davis speaks at the funeral for 24-year-old Elwood police officer Noah Shahnavaz on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at ITOWN Church in Fishers, Ind. Shahnavaz was fatally shot while making a traffic stop in Madison County on July 31, 2022. In front of their brothers casket sat a clear pitcher filled with water. When the siblings came to the stage to speak, Sarah Shahnavaz explained how the jug was one of her brothers simple joys in life. She said the jug was given to her roughly five years ago, until her older brother claimed it, and drank from it every night with a specific, characteristic order water, no ice. On the day her brother died, Sarah Shahnavaz said she came home to find the jug empty. In their parting request to the funeral attendees, the Shahnavaz family asked the crowd to never forget Noah, a brother, a son and a grandson. Noah never had the chance to become a homeowner, a husband, a father, a grandfather or an uncle, the familys eulogy read. We should all seek to honor Noahs life and sacrifice by choosing to move forward, do hard things and always strive to make the world a better place. To further assist his family, the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation has started a memorial fund for Shahnavaz. Anyone wishing to donate can visit any First Merchants Bank and reference the Indiana Fallen Heroes Foundation. Donations can also be made by visiting the foundations website and selecting fallen heroes then Noah Shahnavaz. Contact Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Officer Noah Shahnavaz, Elwood PD's 'little brother,' laid to rest Campo Limpo Emergency Care Unit in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Google Maps A Brazilian man performed a nose job on himself, Sao Paulo's health department told Insider. He was treated at the ER before being referred to an oral and maxillofacial team and psychological services. According to local media, the man had watched a YouTube video on DIY rhinoplasty. A Brazilian man was hospitalized after performing a nose job on himself, prompting YouTube to remove a video tutorial on DIY rhinoplasty, per a report. The man, who has not been named, attended the Campo Limpo Emergency Care Unit in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on July 21, the municipal health department told Insider. After visiting the ER unit following the DIY rhinoplasty procedure, the patient was visited by an on-site mental health team before being referred to an oral and maxillofacial team, the department said. "The team carried out cleaning and dressing of the wound and provided guidance on the necessary care," the health department said in an email. He was discharged from the hospital on the same day. The man was referred to an oral and maxillofacial specialty team and a psychological service for longer-term care. Brazilian media outlet G1 reported that the patient watched YouTube tutorials on how to do an at-home rhinoplasty, consequently copying the procedure that trained medical professionals should only carry out. The municipal health department told Insider it does not have information on this. YouTube did not respond to Insider's request for comment. However, G1 reported that YouTube removed a video tutorial about DIY nose jobs shortly after the hospitalization became public. G1 also said that YouTube has since applied age restrictions on videos that show viewers how to carry out less invasive nose procedures on themselves. According to doctors interviewed by G1, performing a nose job on yourself can lead to severe complications, such as necrosis, infections, nasal obstruction, and anaphylactic shock. Read the original article on Insider Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty In August 2020, with COVID-19 outbreaks proliferating and back to school plans shifting, U.S. tech vendors popped up, promising a solution. They were selling thermal imaging cameras and scanners that they said could screen large groups of students for virus-related fevers in real time. The catch: they didnt work. The Daily Beast has found over 200 school districts nationwide that were persuaded to buy these devices between 2020-21 by a number of companies, spending a combined total of more than $11 million. Internal emails obtained through public record requests show how districts were sold technology by an industry which experts compare to the wild west, and how now in many instances, the scanners sit dormant in schools, gathering dust. In the first two years of the pandemic, Congress passed three COVID relief packages totaling $190 billion in aid for education systems. But schools were given little guidance on how to effectively use the money to keep their students safe. Instead, they frantically bought up whatever technology they were told could keep their doors open. Districts were really in the dark about what to do, said Marguerite Roza, director of Edunomics Lab, a research center at Georgetown University. They were just on the phone, trying to buy buy buy. Companies came out of the woodwork, ready to make a pandemic profit. X.Labs, run by a former fugitive and fraudster wanted in South Africa, and SafeCheck USA, started by two Miami real estate brothers who describe themselves as power agents, convinced schools to spend millions of federal funds on devices. They were far from the only vendors drumming up business. The Gananda Central School District in upstate New York was one of many that bought the COVID sales pitch. Superintendent Shawn Van Scoy told The Daily Beast that in a moment of crisis, the district was desperate to solve a problem. In August 2020, the state had introduced mandatory daily temperature testing to catch fevers associated with the virus. But the district had just three nurses for nearly 1,000 students to perform the job. Story continues Pupils go through a thermal scanner before entering their school in Bucharest, Romania. Andrei Pungovschi Gananda opted for Hikvision cameras sold by Lantek Security & Automation, a New York-based company, installing two each at their high school and elementary school, and one at their middle schoolat a cost of more than $30,000. They also purchased a facial recognition and temperature reader for their transportation department to check employees entering buildings. The devices appeared to be successful, as long as you hadnt caught too much sun in the playground or werent carrying your morning coffee. A few false alarms each day wrote Van Scoy on Oct. 13, 2020, in emails, mostly people coming in after being outside in direct sunlight or carrying hot coffee. The trajectory did not improve. Van Scoy said that in the last school year, the devices only detected two fevers, and he cant recall if they were virus-related. And while a high temperature is a common symptom of COVID-19, you can be infected without one, especially in the first few days. Gananda finally gave up using the scanners in May, as the warmer weather started to cause even more faulty results. Hikvision, a company half-owned by the Chinese state, has been widely condemned for supplying cameras for an intelligence program aimed at tracking and detaining the Uyghur population in China. In May of this year, it was reported that the U.S. was moving towards imposing sanctions on Hikvision for human rights abuses, which would be the first of its kind on a Chinese company. The companyalong with surveillance manufacturer Dahua, another partly Chinese state-owned surveillance manufacturer whose thermal cameras are in U.S. schoolswas banned from use by U.S. federal agencies in 2018 and blacklisted by the Department of Commerce in 2019. Lantek Security & Automation, a New York-based company that pitched the Hikvision devices to Gananda back in July 2020, told the district that the federal pushback was of little concern. The ban is a result of the trade war between the U.S. and China, wrote Peter Luger, the companys Business Development Manager, in an email. Lantek declined to comment. In a statement to The Daily Beast, Hikvision said that the company is focused on selling to distribution partners and integrators, or installation companies, which means that in most instances, the company does not know where our products are ultimately installed. Dahua also said it does not sell directly to end-user customers in the U.S. Yet Hikvision seemed pretty active in making sure the scanners reached Gananda schools. Following Lanteks email, a Hikvision sales manager reiterated that the ban was nothing to worry about. This is an unfortunate result of U.S. China relations, wrote then sales manager Kevin McKay. Hikvision said its devices were designed for the detection of skin-surface temperatures so as to achieve rapid preliminary screening in public areas. Actual core body temperatures should ultimately be further confirmed using clinical measurement devices. Gananda wasnt the only school district that now regrets buying Hikvisions devices. Internal records and conversations that The Daily Beast had with districts show a handful of schools from New York to Wyoming are no longer using the devices, and have put them away in storage. A Hikvision camera inside a public hospital in Valparaiso, Chile. Rodrigo Garrido The Fayette County Public Schools District in north central Georgia spent nearly $500,000 dollars on Hikvision cameras for its 40,000 student populationwhich ended up being used for only a year. In internal emails from earlier this year, Chief Financial Officer Thomas Gray wrote that the camera issue was egg on our faces. According to district emails, while they were in use, the devices were marred by inaccuracies and fierce community backlash. In October 2020 the scanners were producing a lot of false positives, prompting a member of the education board to suggest they should get a refund. In a July 2021 public board meeting parents expressed their dismay. We truly wasted $500,000 of our tax money, Gail Drouillard, a community member, said. Fayette eventually disabled the devices one month later. The school district did not respond to repeated requests for comment. A recent study of the widely used scanners found that that the devices distort the results in a way that can overlook a feverthe main symptom of COVID-19 they promised to catch. Many of the devices use software that manipulates temperature readings to make a feverish person appear well. Even when the devices work, they dont actually work, said Conor Healy, a surveillance expert at IPVM and lead researcher of the study. Its like a random number generator. In a statement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration agreed that thermal imaging is not effective at determining if someone has COVID-19 and should not be used to identify/diagnose individuals that have COVID-19. The agency did alert the public about the improper use of thermal devices in March 2021, but this came a little too late. And while it also issued warning letters to more than a dozen companies for improper marketing of fever cameras, many others continued to persuade schools to buy their technology. The global thermal imaging camera market captured all sectors in the fight against the coronavirus. It was valued at $3.16 billion in 2020, and is expected to grow by further $1 billion in the next four years, partly driven by increased use of these cameras for security and surveillance. Albert Cahn, Executive Director of the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, said the U.S. tech sector saw the pandemic as a chance to rebrand. It seems to be that surveillance companies will constantly pivot to sell their software as a solution to whatever we fear most, he said. Never actually providing any evidence that it works. Barry Oberholzer, the founder of X.Labs, as well as a former professional rugby player and alleged intelligence operative, has a track record of advertising the latest high-tech software that promises protection from the latest calamity. Back in February 2019 Oberholzer announced Sword, a high-tech iPhone case and app he claimed would transform the security industry by allowing people to detect the presence of a gun from their phone. The following month, The Daily Beast reported that Oberholzer was a fugitive on the run from over two dozen fraud and forgery charges in South Africa. For this story, Oberholzer produced a document to The Daily Beast indicating he was not guilty of any crimes. The South African police did not respond to requests to verify the report. Oberholzer seized the opportunity to sell thermal scanners to schools as part of California-based company X.Labs. Partnering with Shooter Detection Systems, a gunshot detection solutions provider, they announced Feevr, designed as a quick and effective AI-based system for temperature screening with a proprietary AI face detection algorithm. According to Feevrs websitewhich no longer existsthe product used a thermal imaging camera and AI-based mobile app to create automatic alerts if an individuals temperature exceeded a predetermined threshold. The Daily Beast has tracked 14 schools that bought these devices. At around the same time as X.Labs continued selling thermal cameras to schools in 2021, it was reported that Oberhozler had posed as retired four-star U.S. General David Petraeus while pitching Sword to venture capital firms. Subsequently he was accused of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud by the Southern District of New York. This year has been no quieter. Oberholzer was recently sued for fraud by Unique Logistics, a global freight forwarding company. And according to LA court records from March, X.Labs was forced to pay The National Schools Boards Association over $200,000. X.Labs told The Daily Beast that NSBA never performed its undertakings so the company canceled the agreement. NSBA refused to comment. Now, with little trace of Feevr, X.Labs has pivoted back to selling weapon detection systems to schoolsbut not with its former partner Shooter Detection Systems. The company told The Daily Beast it had a short-lived sales relationship with X.Labs which lasted only a few weeks and did not recognize any revenue from the relationship. X.Labs told The Daily Beast that a secret service agent had originally reached out to set up the partnership, and that the contract ended when SDS was sold elsewhere. Oberholzer told The Daily Beast he left X.Labs in January 2021. He seemingly deleted his Twitter account, in which his bio had stated he was the founder of X.Labs, straight after The Daily Beast provided a list of questions about his involvement. A spokesperson for X.Labs said that its devices were deployed and are still being used but declined to say which schools were using them. When asked why there is no mention of Feevr on the companys website, they said that the market needed change related to temperature scanning hence the board deciding to focus on other products. A view of thermal images as concert attendees walk past thermal imaging scanners in Barcelona, Spain. Cesc Maymo SafeCheck USA was another company that sprang up at the start of the pandemic, founded by brothers William and Nathan Kakon who, according to their website, specialize in luxury real estate, and also led a drug rehabilitation center and a cryptocurrency company. SafeCheck advertised walk-through body temperature scanners that could screen up to 70 people per minute. However, the FDA told The Daily Beast that thermal imaging systems have not been shown to be accurate when used to take the temperature of multiple people at the same time. Governmental contractual data indicates that SafeCheck has made nearly $2.2 million in sales across public agenciesof which The Daily Beast has tracked 55 schools. Import records show that the company received shipments from a Chinese company Shenzhen Jinjian Era Technology Co, similarly branded as SafeAgle. The company could not be reached for comment. According to The Daily Beasts analysis, SafeChecks last sale was in August 2021 and its website, like Feevrs, now appears inactive. SafeCheck and the Kakon brothers did not respond for comment. For privacy advocates, even more worrying than the wasted millions on devices is the safety risk that some schools created by purchasing cameras with facial recognition technologyand the fact that no one really stopped them. They bought something that they didnt know how to use, they didnt understand any of the implications of using, said Stefanie Coyle, deputy director of the Education Policy Center at the New York Civil Liberties Union, And there was no one to tell them hey, this is a bad idea. It is difficult to gauge how many schools utilized this capability, but some companies advertised this component of their systems as a selling point. Facial recognition, often included in thermal imaging cameras, has a well-documented history of misidentifying people of color, women and children. There are worrying implications for communities already targeted by law enforcement. Such personal student data can, and has in the past, been shared with other government agencies. The biometric information captured on the cameras can also be a target for hackers or malicious actors. All this, according to Coyle, has potentially devastating consequences. The security of Hikvision and Dahuas camera software has been compromised in the past, with potential loopholes for malicious hackers to take control of devices remotely. Back in 2021, a researcher found the highest level of critical vulnerability on Hikvision devices and Dahua admitted their devices were vulnerable to mass hacking. Dahua told The Daily Beast that all internet-connected devices are susceptible to cyber-attacks and that the company has a consistent track record of identifying vulnerabilities. The company said their technology does not and never has represented any type of threat to U.S. interests. In July 2020, New York introduced a moratorium on facial recognition cameras in schoolsthe first of its kind nationwideafter a school district in Western New York spent $1.4 million of state funds, allocated to improve schools technology, on the devices. However, since then The Daily Beast has uncovered 33 districts in New York that were able to buy thermal scanning products with these capabilities, potentially violating the law. Last month, the NYCLU also uncovered evidence that New York officials are ignoring the law by approving grant applications for schools to purchase biometric surveillance tech, including facial recognition. It ended up using a broad definition of biometrics, which honestly rendered it pretty useless, said Tatiana Rice, policy counsel at the Future of Privacy Forum. I think because of that a lot of schools just stopped following the law in its entirety. The moratorium cannot be lifted until the New York State Education Department issues a report on the risks and benefits of this technology in schools. But surveillance experts told The Daily Beast that so far there has been little progress. And while there are laws in other states that ban facial recognition technologyfor example the Biometric Information Privacy Act in Illinois which makes it unlawful for private companies to use this technology to identify and track people without their consent they dont include schools or public agencies. NYSED department officials told The Daily Beast that the agency was aware that schools may not purchase or utilize biometric technology and that stakeholder information is currently being gathered as part of the report. Additionally with little federal regulation, there is a lack of robust oversight on companies sales as the industry continues to thrive. No ones being held accountable, said surveillance expert Healy. Theres a real problem of accountability here on every level. Back in Gananda, Superintendent Van Scoy expressed his frustration at feeling caught between a mandate that required him to take the temperature of his students everyday, and the facial recognition moratorium, that limited the technology he could employ to keep COVID at bay. Now, Gananda, like many others, is struggling to find a way to repurpose its devices. Do we take them down and put them in a box? Van Scoy mused on a phone call with The Daily Beast recently. And despite the little they did to mitigate the virus, he asked, Do we hold off until we need them again? Some public records requests were obtained as part of the Documenting COVID-19 project at Columbia Universitys Brown Institute for Media Innovation. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A man was arrested Friday in connection to a shooting this week in a Las Vegas Strip hotel room that left one person dead and two others critically injured. Billy Deray Hemsley, 54, was held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder in the shooting Thursday in an eighth floor hotel room at The Mirage, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said in a Twitter statement. The shooting prompted a lockdown at the iconic casino resort for more than two hours. Police received reports of the shooting at around 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Capt. Dori Koren said at a Friday news conference. Officers who arrived at the scene found three people shot, Koren said. One man was dead, and two women were transported to a hospital in critical condition, he said. Authorities did not immediately identify the people who were shot or offer any additional details about their injuries. PREVIOUS REPORTS: 1 dead, 2 critically injured after shooting in hotel room at Mirage resort on Vegas Strip The shooting began as an argument with several family members inside the hotel room, police said. At some point during the argument, police said Hemsley shot the three people and fled. Officers located Hemsley on Friday in a southeast Las Vegas neighborhood and he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center, police said. He was ordered held without bail at an initial court appearance Saturday, according to local news outlets. Hemsley has a lengthy criminal history that includes felony convictions dating back to 1987, according to records reviewed by the Associated Press. Hemsley, who has also used the last name Moore and spelled his name in several ways, was released by the Nevada Department of Corrections in September 2019 after he was sentenced in February 2013 on charges of battery with a deadly weapon, the AP and the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. He was also accused of stabbing his girlfriend and stealing her vehicle in 2012, of shooting a cousin in 2003 and of choking a girlfriend during an argument in 2005, the outlets reported. Story continues It was not immediately clear if Hemsley had an attorney who could be reached for comment. Contributing: The Associated Press Contact News Now Reporter Christine Fernando at cfernando@usatoday.com or follow her on Twitter at @christinetfern. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mirage shooting: Man arrested in deadly Vegas Strip shooting Most voters dont pay much attention to elections until after Labor Day, so it might be premature to make any forecasts regarding the upcoming November general election. Keeping that in mind, the early signs arent good for our two main Republican standard bearers, U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz and candidate for governor Doug Mastriano. With the Joe Biden albatross hanging around the necks of Democrat candidates, both the Pennsylvania governorship and the seat in the U.S. Senate should easily be classified as leaning Republican, but Pennsylvania Republicans, with their unique inability to get out of their own way, are now facing two races that are rated by most polling services as toss-up or leaning Democrat. How did we get here? More importantly, can the GOP turn things around? Lets take a look at each of the two big races. Well start with the contest to replace U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, who is retiring. Dwight Weidman The Senate race is a textbook example of how not to win in Pennsylvania, or anywhere else. The Republican nominee, Dr. Mehmet Oz, might be great at selling miracle cures, but he has been a disaster from day one as a candidate. He has built-in disadvantages such as basically being a resident of New Jersey and a dual citizen of Turkey, in a state where nativist instincts are strong. His past pronouncements, backed by a wealth of video evidence, have shown him as liberal on many issues. His recent statement that he would vote for the Democrat Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify same-sex marriage, only confirmed conservative fears that Oz isnt one of them. The biggest problem with the Oz candidacy is the turmoil that it caused right before the primary election. In a questionable decision, former President Trump had endorsed Oz, partially because of urging from people such as the most annoying man on television, Sean Hannity, and when Oz started underperforming in the primary polls, Hannity, and his fellow-polemicist on Newsmax, Greg Kelly, conducted a smear campaign against conservative Oz opponent Kathy Barnette, who was surging in the race. To this day, Barnette has not come out in support of Oz, and many of her conservative supporters are still sitting on the sidelines. Story continues Trumps endorsement of Oz and the subsequent negative attacks on his opponents might have put the good doctor barely over-the-top in the primary, as many uninformed Trump supporters pulled the lever for him, but they also created division in the Republican ranks that has resulted in low enthusiasm, poor fundraising and polls that put the New Jersey doctor anywhere from 6 to 11 points behind a very beatable Democrat, Lt. Gov. John Fetterman. The campaign for Pennsylvania governor started with a lot of promise, at least in early polls, showing Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano and Democrat Attorney General Josh Shapiro in a statistical tie, but a new poll shows Mastriano slipping to a deficit of 10 points (Fox News, July 22-26). Even worse for Mastriano, the Fox News poll and some other surveys show Josh Shapiro at or near the magic number of 50%. This race is another case of Republicans shooting themselves in the foot during the primary process. The hands-off approach by the state GOP led to a scramble by nine candidates, most of whom had zero chance of winning. This split the mainstream conservative vote allowing Mastriano, who many view as too far-right, to win with 43.8%. Mastrianos final primary tally was padded by a last-minute endorsement from Donald Trump, to claim another endorsement win. This also led many to question Trumps loyalty as he failed to support and endorse eventual second-place candidate Lou Barletta, who was one of the first major Pennsylvania figures to support Trump in 2016. Mastriano, despite having a large grassroots following, lacks fundraising capability. His pre-primary disdain for his fellow Republicans and refusal to pledge loyalty to the partys nominee if it wasnt him isnt translating well to his pleas for unity now. He also lacks an experienced and capable staff, which will inevitably lead to many mistakes along the way. Weve already seen one major error in his campaign finance reporting earlier this year, and he recently and abruptly dropped his association with the social platform GAB after paying it $5,000 for advertising. Jewish groups have criticized Mastriano over his association with Gab CEO Andrew Torba, who supposedly has made anti-Semitic comments. Erratic, knee-jerk moves like this arent the hallmark of a competent campaign. Anything can happen in the next three months, but current trends arent looking good for Republicans here. Unless these trends are halted and reversed by mid-September, it could be all over in Pennsylvania. Dwight Weidman is a resident of Greene Township and is a graduate of Shepherd University. He is retired from the United States Department of Defense, where his career included assignments In Europe, Asia and Central America. He has been in leadership roles for the Republican Party in two states, most recently serving two terms as Chairman of the Franklin County Republican Party. Involved in web publishing since 1996, he is the publisher of The Franklin County Journal. He has been an Amateur Radio Operator since 1988, getting his first license in Germany, and is a past volunteer with both Navy and Army MARS, Military Auxiliary Radio Service, and is also an NRA-certified firearms instructor. This article originally appeared on Chambersburg Public Opinion: Pennsylvania Republican candidates might be in trouble this November Nancy Pelosis much-watched Asia tour has included a run of high-profile meetings: conversations with the prime ministers of Singapore and Malaysia; a meeting with the president of Taiwan; and a likely dialogue with the prime minister of Japan by the end of the week. Missing from that list is the president of South Korea, who missed an in-person get together with the House Speaker as he takes a staycation in Seoul. Ms Pelosi arrived in South Korea on Wednesday evening. At the time Yoon Suk-yeol was in north Seoul attending a theater performance, grabbing selfies and dinner with the cast of a comedy about a subway station worker. Mr Yoons office has explained he was unavailable to meet in person with the US leader. I have received questions about whether the president avoided meeting with the House speaker because he was wary of China, his spokesperson told The Washington Post . All these things are decided based on a thorough consideration of our countrys national interest. Instead, the pair of allies had a 40-minute phone meeting on Thursday. The pair discussed the US alliance with South Korea and deterrence against North Korea, according to a readout of the call. The House Speaker, for her part, seemed pleased with the South Korean leg of the tour, which included conversations with the Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly, and a visit to the Demilitarised Zone between North and South Korea. A relationship that began from urgency and security many years ago has become the warmest of friendships, Ms Pelosi said at a press conference with South Korean leaders. We want to advance security, economy and governance in an inter-parliamentary way, she added. Internally, the perceived snub was met with a mix of reactions. South Korean opposition member Kim Eui-kyeom praised Mr Yoon for skipping out, saying he had avoided jumping into the fire of the US-China conflict that has dogged Ms Pelosis trip, especially its controversial leg in Taiwan. Story continues Yoons avoidance of Pelosi meeting may send wrong signals to the U.S. and China, the right-leaning Chosun Ilbo newspaper argued in an editorial, warning of a submissive attitude towards Xi Jinping. Mr Yoon, who took office in May, argued on the campaign trail it was possible to coexist with the US and China; the former is a major defence partner in South Korea and the latter who is the South Koreas largest trading partner. Its still early on in his presidency and Yoon has to walk a fine line, Choi Jin, head of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership think tank, told The Wall Street Journal . Mr Yoon hasnt always tiptoed around Chinas wishes. In June, he angered China by attending a Nato summit in Madrid, while this month the South Korean military will resume full-scale military drills with the US. Coffee, French pastries, barbecue, and jewelry the Downtown Farmers Market will introduce 16 new local vendors to the lineup beginning Saturday morning at the outdoor market that spans Court Avenue from Water Street to Fifth Avenue. The move to add new local vendors comes ahead of National Farmers Market Week, which runs from Aug. 7-13. A mid-season jury comprised of vendor committee members, sponsor representatives, farmers market partners and community members selected the new vendors, marking the first time a vendor jury has been held mid-season. Applications were reopened in June to fill a limited number of spots "in an effort to add more diverse new vendors for market-goers to enjoy and support," Kyle Oppenhuizen, communications director for the Greater Des Moines Partnership, said in a news release. Thousands of market goers converged on downtown Des Moines during the opening day of the 2022 downtown Farmers' Market on Saturday, May 7. "The Downtown Farmers Market team is excited to welcome these new vendors to our already incredible lineup at The Market," Downtown Farmers Market manager Megan Renkel said in the news release. "The new vendors bring a diverse variety of products and backgrounds that we hope will bolster the value our vendors provide throughout The Market season." The Downtown Farmer's Market, which spans nine blocks in the Historic Court District of Des Moines, supports more than 290 local small business owners, including farmers, bakers and artists that represent 50 counties across Iowa. The market typically attracts 25,000 shoppers each week. The new vendors will join the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market on Aug. 6. More: Find the best summer produce and more at one of these 16 Des Moines and metro farmers markets Thousands of market goers converged on downtown Des Moines during the opening day of the 2022 downtown Farmers' Market on Saturday, May 7. Meet the new local farmers market vendors Au Natural Healing & Wellness will join the Downtown Des Moines Farmers' Market promoting better physical and mental health through natural herbs, essential oils and crystals. The business also sells healing and wellness products through its website and at the Valley Junction Farmers Market. Story continues Big Daddys Original Bar-B-Q, a Des Moines staple since 1983, is another new addition to the Downtown Farmers' Market lineup with chicken dinners or a pulled pork sandwich smothered with a sweet-and-smoky barbecue sauce. Big Daddy's sauces are also available at Hy-Vee stores throughout the Midwest and at local Fareway and Price Chopper stores. BLK & Bold offers specialty coffee and tea while it donates 5% of its proceeds to nonprofit youth organizations across America. The company offers subscription services on its website, blkandbold.com. Shoppers walk past the StoryBook Orchard stand during the opening day of the 2022 downtown Farmers' Market in Des Moines on Saturday, May 7. More: Off Hours: Where to find great sweet treats at the Downtown Farmers' Market and 2 new brunches Cie Cie's Sweet Treats offers a rotating hot menu alongside a wide variety of treats, such as cookies, cupcakes and chocolate-covered strawberries at the farmers market as well as online. G.G.'s Chicken & Waffles, founded in 2019, brings big flavor to Des Moines with chicken and waffles, chicken sandwiches and wings. Iowa Cookie Co. offers six-ounce cookies, with a full box weighing close to five pounds. This sweet business features a rotating list of unique flavors, including Colossal Monster, Holy Roller, Dirt Worm, Sugar Daddy, Main Squeeze, Double Stuffed and Bronco. Thousands of market goers converged on downtown Des Moines during the opening day of the 2022 downtown Farmers' Market on Saturday, May 7. Ken Supply Co. is a Des Moines-based clothing brand that specializes in "elevated graphic tees that anyone can wear no matter what stage of life you are in," according to its website. The new addition also sells its signature T-shirts and tote bags online. Knotted Dough & Co. specializes in kringlas, a traditional Norwegian pastry. The twisted pastries are also sold at the Ames Farmers' Market and Valley Junction Farmers Market. Knotted Dough & Co. also offers shipping through its Etsy page, KnottedDough. Lyelas Kitchen is a halal kitchen and catering company that serves Pakistani, Indian and Chinese food, as well as desserts. Lyela's Kitchen can also be found at the Valley Junction Farmers Market. A couple holds hands as they walk along Court Avenue during the opening day of the 2022 downtown Farmers' Market in Des Moines on Saturday, May 7. Macaron Club, established in 2020, is a gourmet dessert business focused on "elevating the taste of luxury to higher standards," according to its website. Macaron Club's classic French macarons and gourmet baklava, a layered pastry dessert, are also sold online and at the Valley Junction Farmers Market. McCabe Artistry was established in 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic as a way for owner Ashley McCabe, an art teacher in West Des Moines, to stay creative, according to her website. The small business creates handmade, lightweight jewelry that can also be purchased on her website or Etsy shop, McCabeArtistry. Nadias French Bakery in Altoona is bringing its selection of classic French pastries to the farmers market. From croissants and chocolatines to quiches and tartes, Nadia's French Bakery has a commitment to "tasty, delicious, varied and quality pastries," according to its website. Some products are also available for purchase online at nadiasfrenchbakery.com. Thousands of market goers converged on downtown Des Moines during the opening day of the 2022 downtown Farmers' Market on Saturday, May 7. Shay Design Studio brings its art education services to the Downtown Farmers' Market. The studio provides art education to Paint & Sip classes to illustration and graphic design services. The Joy of Curls creates plant-based, natural haircare products for curly hair but its mission doesn't stop there. The Joy of Curls also donates its haircare products to children in the foster care system through its first community partner, Foster the Love Louisiana. The haircare products are available for purchase on thejoyofcurls.shop. Tranzitions Wellness & Beauty Bar specializes in all-natural wellness products such as crystals and stones, handmade candles and natural beauty products. The business also offers hair services and extensions, with appointments available online. Wof Coffee is a local, small-batch coffee roastery that believes "coffee is a science, but it is also an art," according to its website. Wof Coffee also makes regular appearances at the Ames Main Street Farmers' Market Different and Cedar Rapids Downtown Farmers' Market. Flavors of coffee, each with a unique doodle drawing on the front, are available for purchase on wofcoffee.com. Grace Altenhofen is a news reporter for the Des Moines Register. She can be reached at galtenhofen@registermedia.com or on Twitter @gracealtenhofen. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Des Moines' Downtown Farmer's Market welcomes 16 new vendors mid-season The overall pass rate in Egypt's high school exams, locally known as Thanaweya Amma, in the recently concluded academic year 2021/22 hit 75 percent, up from 74 percent last year, Egypts Minister of Education Tarek Shawki announced on Saturday. In a recorded video posted on the Ministry of Education's Facebook page, Shawki said the pass rate hit 78 percent in the science branch up from 76 percent last year; 81 percent in the mathematics branch up from 76 percent last year; and 68 percent the humanities branch down from 70 percent last year. Before the start of the school year, each Thanaweya student chooses one of the three branches of science, mathematics and humanities. Over the past two year, the Ministry of Education has introduced a series of amendments to the Thanaweya Amma exams, which determine university prospects based on the grades obtained. The amendments involve student-centred teaching and competency-based learning, aiming to replace the decades-long system of memorising for tests with a system based on the comprehension of academic material. The new system significantly lowered the passing rate and ended the phenomenon of students obtaining full marks in their senior year of high school. In the 2019/2020 academic year, the pass rate stood at 81.5 percent. Shawki announced the names of the top-ranking students in the final exams for each branch of Thanaweya Amma, with the top student in the science branch scoring 402 out of 410, the top student in the mathematics branch scoring 407 out of 410 and the top student in the humanities branch getting 387 out of 410. The top score among students with special needs was 399 out 410, the minister added. As in the previous year, no student obtained the perfect 100 percent score this year in all subjects, Shawki said, even though top-ranking students achieved GPAs close to 100 percent. In the 2019/2020 year, prior to the introduction of the new system, 39 students received a score of 100 percent. Students in all the three branches of Thanaweya Amma can view their detailed grades online at 6pm today by visiting the results website, Shawki said. Shawki issued assurances to all students that the lower grades would not affect their chances at joining their desired universities, given the increased slots that have become available due to the rise in the numbers of public, private, international and non-profit universities nationwide. Shawki also said that all students who have caught cheating in the exams or leaking the questions were referred to the ministry's legal affairs department and/or Public Prosecution. The minister revealed that results from some schools were withheld due to suspected mass cheating cases during the exams, assuring students that are not suspected of cheating that their results will be released once the ministry's legal affairs department and Public Prosecution conclude their investigation. Some 650,000 high school students took the Thanaweya Amma exams this year from 20 June-21 July. The country's Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research is expected to announced the minimum grades required for admission to faculties soon. Last year, the minimum grades required for admission into Egyptian universities including the most prestigious faculties, such as medicine and engineering have dropped considerably for the first time in decades. Search Keywords: Short link: (This Aug 5 story adds dropped word in paragraph 9) By Idrees Ali and Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration's next security assistance package for Ukraine is expected to be $1 billion, one of the largest so far, and include munitions for long-range weapons and armored medical transport vehicles, three sources briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday. The package is expected to be announced as early as Monday and would add to about $8.8 billion in aid the United States has given Ukraine since Russia's invasion on Feb. 24. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that President Joe Biden had not yet signed the next weapons package. They cautioned that weapons packages can change in value and content before they are signed. However, if signed in its current form, it would be valued at $1 billion and include munitions for HIMARS, NASAMS surface-to-air missile system ammunition and as many as 50 M113 armored medical transports. The new package follows a recent https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pentagon-approves-plan-treat-ukrainian-troops-us-hospital-germany-official-2022-07-26 Pentagon decision to allow Ukrainians to receive medical treatment at a U.S. military hospital in Germany near Ramstein air base. Last Monday, the Pentagon announced a separate security assistance package for Ukraine valued at up to $550 million, including additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS). The White House declined to comment on the package. The new package would be funded under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), in which the president can authorize the transfer of articles and services from U.S. stocks without congressional approval in response to an emergency. HIMARS play a key role in the artillery duel between Ukraine and Russia that has been described as "grinding" with very little movement of the front line in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. Story continues Since Russian troops poured over the border in February in what Putin termed a "special military operation", the conflict has settled into a war of attrition fought primarily in the east and south of Ukraine. Moscow is trying to gain control of the largely Russian-speaking Donbas, comprised of Luhansk and Donetsk provinces, where pro-Moscow separatists seized territory after the Kremlin annexed Crimea to the south in 2014. So far the United States has sent 16 HIMARS to Ukraine and on July 1 pledged to send two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS). It was unclear if the NASAMS launchers, made jointly by Raytheon Technologies Corp and Norway's Kongsberg, are already in Ukraine if the munitions were for launchers donated by another country, or if they were being prepositioned. The United States previously committed 200 M113 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. The armored personnel carriers outfitted with medical equipment could make the fight with Russia more survivable for Ukrainian troops who could then be sent to Germany for further medical treatment. The Kyiv government said in June that 100 to 200 Ukrainian troops were being killed per day. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Mary Milliken and Josie Kao) An undated photo provided by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute of final inspections at the facility in Daejeon, South Korea, of the Danuri, before it was shipped to Florida. (Korean Aerospace Research Institute via The New York Times) South Korea set off for the moon on Thursday. But it doesnt want to stop there. We are also considering using the moon as an outpost for space exploration, Kwon Hyun-joon, director general of space and nuclear energy at South Koreas Ministry of Science, said in a written response to questions. Although we hope to explore the moon itself, we also recognize its potential to act as a base for further deep space exploration such as Mars and beyond. South Koreas lunar spacecraft, named Danuri, was launched on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Florida, setting out on a roundabout but fuel-efficient path that will have it arriving at the moon in mid-December. There, it will begin an orbit at an altitude of 62 miles above the moons surface. The main mission is scheduled to last for one year. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Originally known as the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter, the mission was given the name Danuri after it became the winning entry in a naming contest. It is a portmanteau of the Korean words for moon and enjoy. Danuri will join spacecraft from NASA, India and China that are currently exploring Earths companion. Much like the United Arab Emirates, which launched toward Mars on a Japanese rocket in 2020, South Korea is the latest country with a small but ambitious space program to set out on a beyond low-Earth orbit. And also like the UAEs Hope orbiter, the Danuri mission is intended to make meaningful scientific contributions to global efforts to explore and understand the solar system. Kwon said the main goal of the Danuri mission was to develop basic technologies like the design of orbital trajectories, deep space navigation, a high-thrust propulsion system and a 35-meter antenna to communicate with distant spacecraft. But the spacecrafts scientific payload is sophisticated and will aid scientists in South Korea and globally in studying the moons magnetic field, measuring its quantities of elements and molecules like uranium, water and helium-3 and photographing the dark craters at the lunar poles, where the sun never shines. In addition to providing one of the instruments, called ShadowCam, NASA chose nine scientists to participate on Danuri. Story continues One of its most important scientific instruments is a magnetometer. The moons interior no longer generates a magnetic field, but it once did, and that primordial field is preserved in lava flows that hardened during this era. Ian Garrick-Bethell, a professor of planetary science at the University of California, Santa Cruz and a participating scientist on the Danuri mission, said that the early magnetic field appears to have been surprisingly strong potentially even as much as double the strength of Earths current magnetic field. Garrick-Bethell said it was puzzling that such a small little iron core could have generated such a strong magnetic field. He is hoping that after the spacecrafts primary mission of one year is complete, South Korea could choose to move Danuri much closer to the moons surface, within 12 miles or less, where the magnetometer could get a much better look at the magnetized rocks. Even a few passes at those low altitudes could help constrain how strongly magnetized those rocks are, he said. Garrick-Bethell is also looking to use the magnetometer to study magnetic fields generated within the moon as it is buffeted by the solar wind, a stream of charged particles emanating from the sun. The rise and fall in the strength of the magnetic field in the solar wind induces electric currents in the moon, and those electric currents in turn generate magnetic fields that will be measured by Danuri. The characteristics of the magnetic field will give hints of the structure and composition of the moons interior. This work also requires combining measurements with those made by two NASA spacecraft, THEMIS-ARTEMIS P1 and P2, which travel around the moon on highly elliptical orbits, so they can measure the changes in the solar wind while Danuri measures the induced magnetic fields closer to the surface. What we would learn from that is kind of a global map of the interior temperature and potentially composition and maybe even water content of the deep parts of the moon, Garrick-Bethel said. Scientists will use another of Danuris instruments, a gamma-ray spectrometer, to measure quantities of different elements on the moons surface. Danuris device can pick up a wider spectrum of lower energy gamma rays than similar instruments on earlier lunar missions, and this range is full of new information to detect elements on the moon, said Naoyuki Yamashita, a New Mexico-based scientist who works for the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona. He is also a participating scientist on Danuri. Yamashita is interested in radon, which forms from the decay of uranium. Because radon is a gas, it could travel from the moons interior to its surface. (This is the same process that sometimes causes the buildup of radon, which is also radioactive, in the basements of houses.) The amounts of the radioactive elements could provide a history explaining when various parts of the moons surface cooled and hardened, Yamashita said, helping scientists to work out which of the moons lava flows are older or younger. The Korean Aerospace Research Institute, South Koreas equivalent of NASA, will use Danuris high-resolution camera to scout the lunar surface for potential sites for a robotic lander mission in 2031, Kwon said. A second camera will measure polarized sunlight bouncing off the lunar surface, revealing details about the size of particles that make up the lunar soil. Because constant bombardment by solar wind, radiation and micrometeorites breaks the soil apart, the size of grains found in a crater could give an estimate of its age. (Smaller grains would suggest an older crater.) The polarized light data will also be used to map abundances of titanium on the moon, which could one day be mined for use on Earth. NASA supplied one of the cameras, a ShadowCam, which is sensitive enough to pick up the few photons that bounce off the terrain into the moons dark, permanently shadowed craters. These craters, located at the moons poles, remain forever cold, below minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and contain water ice that has accumulated over the eons. The ice could provide a frozen history of the 4.5 billion-year-old solar system. It could also be a bounty of resources for future visiting astronauts. Machinery on the moon could extract and melt the ice to provide water. That water could then be broken apart into oxygen and hydrogen, which would provide both air to breathe for astronauts and rocket propellants for travelers seeking to travel from the moon to other destinations. One of the main purposes of ShadowCam is to find the ice. But even with Danuris sophisticated instruments, that could be challenging. Shuai Li, a researcher at the University of Hawaii and a Danuri participating scientist, thinks the concentrations might be so low that they will not be obviously brighter than areas not containing ice. If you dont look at it carefully, you might not be able to see it, Li said. Jean-Pierre Williams, a planetary scientist at the University of California, Los Angeles, and another participating scientist in the Danuri mission, is hoping to produce detailed temperature maps of the craters by combining the ShadowCam images with data gathered by NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. NASAs orbiter, which has been studying the moon since 2009, carries an instrument that records temperatures of the lunar surface. But those measurements are blurred over a fairly large area, about 900 feet across. The resolution of a ShadowCam is about 5 feet per pixel. Thus, the ShadowCam images used together with computer models might make it possible to tease out temperature variations on the surface. With this data we can map out local and seasonal temperatures, Williams said. That, in turn, can help scientists understand the stability of water and carbon dioxide ices in the crater. Researchers will have to wait several months for the science to begin. The spacecraft is taking a long, energy-efficient route to the moon. It first heads toward the sun, then loops back around to be captured in lunar orbit on Dec. 16. This ballistic trajectory takes longer but does not require a large engine firing to slow the spacecraft when it gets to the moon. South Korea has an extensive military missile program and has placed several communications and earth observation satellites in low-Earth orbit since launching its first in 1992. And it has been expanding its domestic rocket launching capabilities so that future missions may not need to rely on SpaceX, or on other countries, to get to space. In June, the Korean Aerospace Research Institute successfully placed several satellites in orbit with the second flight of Nuri, its homegrown rocket. We will take on challenging projects such as lunar landers and asteroid exploration, Kwon said. 2022 The New York Times Company A Taiwanese F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet lands at Hualien Air Force Base on August 06, 2022 in Hualien, Taiwan. Annabelle Chih/Getty Images Chinese ships and aircraft conducted a simulated attack on Taiwan on Saturday, Taiwanese officials said, per Reuters. Taiwanese jets scrambled as Chinese military assets conducted missions around the Taiwan Strait, Reuters said. Taiwan's defense ministry said 14 Chinese aircraft crossed the median line. Chinese ships and planes rehearsed an attack on Taiwan on Saturday, Taiwanese military officials said, prompting the island nation to scramble its jets, per Reuters. Taiwan's defense ministry said 20 Chinese aircraft and 14 warships conducted missions around the Taiwan Strait on Saturday afternoon, Reuters reported. The ministry said that 14 of the 20 Chinese aircraft crossed the median line a 110-mile-long strait that acts as an unofficial buffer between China and Taiwan. Taiwanese jets scrambled, the ministry said, and the army also broadcast a warning and put shore-based missiles on stand-by, Reuters said. A source familiar with security planning told the news agency that, off Taiwan's east coast, Chinese warships and drones also simulated attacks on US and Japanese warships. Reuters reported that China's Eastern Theater Command has continued to conduct sea and air joint exercises near Taiwan to test the system's land strike and sea assault capabilities. The Chinese exercises, which include live-fire drills, began on Thursday and are set to continue into Sunday. The exercises came after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visited the self-ruled island of Taiwan that China claims as its own territory. Beijing had repeatedly warned of a possible military reaction to Pelosi's Taipei trip, Insider previously reported. Since Thursday, drills have included firing ballistic missiles over and around Taiwan. China also deployed aircraft and vessels around the Taiwan Strait on Friday, Taipei's defense ministry said, with some military assets crossing the median line. Insider reported that while this is not unprecedented, it's emblematic of the recent uptick in tensions in the region. Read the original article on Business Insider After causing quite the controversy, Jeff Bezoss multimillion-dollar megaycht just made a very quiet escape. In the wee hours of Tuesday morning, the epic $485 million vessel was towed away from Oceancos Alblasserdam shipyard where it was being built to a port in Rotterdam, as reported by Marine Industry News. It seems a rather anticlimactic end to the months-long Bridgegate saga. More from Robb Report For the unversed, the Amazon founder sparked outrage last February when Oceanco requested the historic Koningshaven Bridge in Rotterdam be dismantled to allow his marine behemoth to pass. See, the 417-footer, known as Y271, exceeded the 144-year-old bridges 131-foot clearance even without its three towering 229-foot masts fully erected. The solution was to temporarily disassemble the middle section of De Hef. Koninginnebrug Bridge in the Netherlands will, thankfully, remain in tact. - Credit: Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons Suffice it to say, Rotterdam locals were none too pleased about the idea. Thousands of residents even went so far as committing to egg the billionaires schooner in protest. Following the public outcry, Oceanco withdrew its request to dismantle the bridge. Lo and behold, Y271 has still managed to escape. Local yachting enthusiast Hanco Bol witnessed the yachts stealthy departure at 3 am on August 2 and subsequently posted a video of the three-hour journey on YouTube. Bol speculated that Oceanco opted for an alternate route (were guessing one with fewer bridges) to keep the launch and transport under wraps. The yacht reportedly hit an average speed of 8 knots and arrived at the Port of Rotterdam at 6 am. By Bols account, it was a quiet and quick getaway. Bezoss Oceanco Y271 at the Dutch yard. - Credit: Dutch Yachting/YouTube Dutch Yachting/YouTube We never saw a transport going that fast, the YouTube post reads. Oceanco has been tightlipped about the gigayacht and did not immediately respond to Robb Reports request for a comment. Upon completion, Y271 will not only be Hollands largest superyacht to date, but it will also be the worlds biggest sailing yacht. It just might be the most controversial, too. Story continues Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. WARREN, Ohio Stephen Ayres was deep into online conspiracy theories by the time he joined a mob that marched through the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Sporting a white-and-black hat, he recorded the scene that he would later tell online followers was evidence of the debunked theory that the event was planned by the left. In the days leading up to the attack, he wrote on social media that alleged vandalism at House Speaker Nancy Pelosis home was just the beginning, that a civil war was likely, and that people following him should fight for the American Dream. Initially indicted on four counts that could have left him in prison more than 22 years, the 39-year-old has pleaded guilty to one and faces up to six months of jail time and a fine. Matthew Perna, his co-defendant, died by suicide. More than 800 people face criminal prosecution for Jan. 6, but Ayres is the only charged rioter to testify live in front of the House Jan. 6 committee investigating the attack. In a crowded hearing room July 12, he urged other Trump supporters to get off social media and apologized to Capitol Police officers. His testimony and apology, coupled with the committees chairman likening him to an "ordinary American citizen" created a unique image for the American public to digest. The Jan. 6 committee has laid much of the blame for the attack at the feet of former President Donald Trump and his inner circle. Experts were quick to say that people like Ayres need to be held accountable for their own actions, even if they should not be shunned from society forever. Trump fund paid fashion designer: Trump PAC formed to push debunked voter fraud claims paid $60K to Melania Trump's fashion designer Stephen Ayres is set to be sentenced in September. What is the right reaction to him, or others who entered the Capitol that day? There may not be one. Its not as simple as taking a pie chart of blame and saying 56% goes to Trump and 44% goes to people who did it, or vice versa, said Kurt Braddock, a public communication professor at American University. Theyre both responsible Trump for inciting and them for actually carrying out the attack. Story continues Wherever the blame falls, experts see room to forgive rioters like Ayres, but for others and at least one officer there that day, his role in a large-scale attack on the U.S. government shouldnt be forgotten. Jan. 6 committee's August plan: More interviews with Trump aides and studying the 25th Amendment You cant remove his culpability or any responsibility for what they did that day even if they were targets of propaganda, and Im sure he is a family man, said Daniel Hodges, a Metropolitan Police Department officer who was attacked by the mob. Thats what makes it even more threatening, actually. The attack was an organized, violent attempt to stop the peaceful transition of power after Donald Trump lost reelection to President Joe Biden. Officers on duty that day have described being assaulted, sprayed with chemical irritants, and verbally harassed. About 140 police officers were injured, including 114 Capitol Police. Jennifer Cobbina-Dungy, a criminal justice professor at Michigan State University, said that while she thinks accountability is important, that does not mean facing additional consequences that last the rest of his life. People are deserving of a second chance, and third chance, she said, and people should not be known for the worst mistake theyve done. Remorse: Jan. 6 rioter apologizes to police officers who defended Capitol Who's Been Arrested: Search USA TODAY's database Ayres: An Ohioan 'hanging on every word' Trump said Jan. 6 Ayres is like many supporters who bought into Trump's debunked claims the election was stolen and he suffered steep personal consequences once arrested. He did not return messages from USA TODAY, and when his wife answered his phone, she said he was not granting interviews. Before his arrest, Ayres lived in a 2,500-square foot home at the end of a cul-de-sac in Champion, a bedroom community of the old steel city of Warren in eastern Ohio. Married since 2020, he told the committee he likes to play games with his son. His wife posts regularly on Instagram about how much she loves her boys. He worked at a cabinet company for almost 20 years, rising to the rank of supervisor. Throughout his life, he spent time on both sides of the Ohio and Pennsylvania border. He voted regularly, according to county voting records in both states. He voted in several general elections in Ohio's blue-collar, automotive-manufacturing, union-backed Trumbull County that Donald Trump flipped from blue to red in 2016. But that year, Ayres voted in the primary and general election in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, which Trump won over Hillary Clinton by fewer than 13,000 votes. Timothy Lombardo, a history professor at the University of South Alabama and the author of Blue-Collar Conservatism, said Trump was able to mobilize blue-collar Americans with the way he spoke and the prominent placement of police officers at his rallies. What did Trump do on Jan. 6?: A breakdown of the 187 minutes Trump was out of view on Jan. 6 as aides urged him to act He warned against infantilizing blue-collar workers who support Trump. He said the idea that all of Trump's supporters were simply scammed is not fair. It minimizes the threat that they pose as well, Lombardo said, because it makes it seem like its just a scam as opposed to No, these people really believe this and are a lot more motivated by that belief, not by a fiction. Theyre motivated by what to them is true. Its not clear exactly when Ayres became an emphatic believer in the lie that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump, but Ayres said in his testimony that he was deeply involved with social media, to the point he said he was practically wearing horse blinders. I was hanging on every word he was saying, Ayres said. Everything he was putting out, I was following it. Ketchup, regrets, blood and anger: A guide to the Jan. 6 hearings Stephen Ayres testifies during a House Jan. 6 committee hearing in Washington, D.C. on July 12. Ayres is the only rioter to testify publicly before the committee. Ayres' social media posts in the days before attack were calls to action In the days leading up to the "Stop the Steal" rally and the insurrection attempt, Ayres was posting on social media almost every day, sharing misinformation and urging people to stand up for what he believed was a worthy cause, according to a review of court documents. The day after Christmas, he warned about a potential civil war. The next two days he told followers about the rally on Jan. 6, 2021. Where will you be on January 6th? he asked Dec. 28, 2020. Chilling at home? HOPING this country isnt going to hell in a hand basket? Or are you willing to fight for the American Dream! Again!?!? The post about vandalism at Pelosis house came New Years Day. The governors, senators, representatives, etc.Really dont have a clue what is coming!! he wrote. Then, two days later: Chief Justice John Roberts, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, etc....all have committed TREASON against a sitting U.S. president!!! All are now put on notice by 'We The People!"' On Jan. 5, 2021, the day he drove from Ohio to Washington, D.C., Ayres shared a picture of someone holding a sign that said, YOUR OBEDIENCE OS PROLONGING THIS NIGHTMARE. Later that day, he posted a picture with friends in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Missing Jan. 6 texts: Criminal probe of Secret Service texts a 'big deal' as agency draws Jan. 6 committee scrutiny Stephen Ayres appears in a YouTube video talking with two others about the Jan. 6 attack. Ayres testified to the Jan. 6 committee that he didnt originally intend to enter the Capitol. He was trying to go to the "Stop the Steal" rally to see Trump's speech. The president got everybody riled up and told everybody to head on down, he said. So we basically was just following what he said. When he was walking over, Ayres said he kept hearing there was going to be some big reveal. By 2:30 p.m., Ayres was with a crowd outside the Senate side of the Capitol, court documents say. He went in about 20 minutes later and joined with others in chanting and parading inside the Capitol. He said he left the area when Trump tweeted a video telling the rioters to go home. We literally left right after that come out, Ayres said. You know, to me, if he would have done that earlier in the day, 1:30 I, you know, we, wouldnt be in this. Maybe we wouldnt be in this bad of a situation or something. Danya Perry, a former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, said Ayres provided important testimony that bolstered the Jan. 6 committee's argument that Trump had the power to stop the insurrection. Its sort of intuitive and weve heard from other witnesses this cult-like influence on his supporters, but Ayres testimony came directly from someone who was very much in his thrall," Perry said. A screen shot of one of Stephen Ayres's social media posts, shown in court documents. The day after the attack, Ayres appeared in a YouTube video with Perna and a woman who went only by her first name. The trio said the insurrection was staged, that Antifa had led the way for the crowd, that some of the cops were provoking the crowd, and that more fallout was coming. Heidi Beirich, the co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said Ayres is a good example of how powerful Trump and his words can be, and what those words can lead people to do. He also serves as a warning to other people who have been swept up in this movement, and I think that thats important, Beirich said. Replacement theories, hunting RINOs: How GOP candidates, lawmakers push 'dangerous' language Scars from the memory: Capitol police protected democracy on Jan. 6 Stephen Ayres (left), who entered the U.S. Capitol illegally on January 6, 2021, and Jason Van Tatenhove (right), who served as national spokesman for the Oath Keepers testify on July 12, 2022. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP) A plea deal and a lost co-defendant A federal grand jury indicted Ayres and Perna with four crimes with maximum possible sentences that could have put them in prison for decades. Through a private attorney, Perna fought the charges for almost a year before pleading guilty without a plea agreement. His sentencing would have taken place in April. But in February, while awaiting that hearing, Perna died by suicide, local news outlets reported. His community (which he loved), his country, and the justice system killed his spirit and his zest for life, Pernas family wrote in his obituary. Matt was an amazing man! In his 37 years, he experienced more than most people do their entire lives. The obituary described the cause of death as a broken heart and said that Perna was only seeking to "peacefully stand up for his beliefs that day. The Department of Justice identified Perna as a QAnon follower in court documents. Right-wing websites have picked up Perna's story and presented him as a victim of injustice. Two of Pernas family members declined to comment for this story. Pernas aunt, Geri Perna, appeared outside the Capitol in March with Reps. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and criticized the Justice Department, saying she did not want his name to be forgotten, and identifying herself as the author of his obituary. Matt had become a shell of his former self, she said. Worry, anxiety, stress had worn him down. He suffered from constant nightmares and began throwing up blood. He was no longer comfortable leaving his home. One setback after another took its toll on him, and he just wanted it to be over. It's unclear how Perna and Ayers, who both lived near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, knew one another. His co-defendant's death was not raised at the Jan. 6 hearing. In June, with the help of his federal public defender, Ayres reached a plea agreement with the government to plead guilty to one of the four original charges: disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. Thank God a lot of them did get dismissed because I was just holding my phone, he testified. But at the same time, I was there. Court documents say he could receive up to six months in jail and a fine of $2,000 to $20,000 when he is sentenced in September. Stephen Ayres shakes hands with Washington Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges on July 12. Ayres came face-to-face with officers Cobbina-Dungy said she supports restorative justice, a type of accountability that brings offenders and the people they harmed together to figure out what needs to happen to ensure that the victims needs are met. Ayres did come face-to-face with those affected by the riot when he testified. When he finished, he apologized to police officers in the hearing room. I didnt expect it nor did I warrant it, so it is what it is, said Sgt. Aquilino Gonell of the Capitol Police, who has been forced to retire due to injuries he received that day. Im not holding any grudges. Im trying to live with my life, get back to my normal routine, learn from how to cope and live with my new disabilities. Hodges, the Metropolitan Police Department officer who was attacked at the same entrance that Gonell was protecting, said he asked Ayres if he was sorry. When Ayres said he was, Hodges said he responded, I hope so. Thats about all I can do right now, Hodges said. Stephen Ayres greets former Washington Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone at a July hearing of the House Jan. 6 committee. He said he has to believe that people can change. Braddock, the communications professor, said its important to understand the physical and psychological harms that were done to the officers. Theyre the ones who get to decide what their own healing journey is, and when and if they choose to forgive, thats completely up to them, he said, and I think theyre completely justified if they never choose to. During the hearing, Ayres described himself as Nothing but a family man and a working man. He spoke about working for the cabinet company, going camping and playing games with his son. Just what any ordinary American citizen, family man, would do," responded Jan. 6 committee Chairman Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss. "I think its a little bit too simplistic to just say, 'Hes a family man,'" said Susan Corke, the director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's intelligence project. "What are the family values?" 187 minutes: A breakdown of the time Trump was out of view on Jan. 6 Stephen Ayres embraces Erin Smith, widow of U.S. Capitol Police officer Jeffrey Smith, on July 12. It changed my life Despite getting the majority of the charges dropped, Ayres told the Jan. 6 committee that he lost his job. In May, he sold his 3-bedroom, 2 1/2-bathroom house, according to land records and started a new flooring and remodeling company, records show. It changed my life, you know, and not for the good, he said. Cobbina-Dungy said Ayres should not face what she called collateral consequences that society places on those who have committed a crime such as being rejected from jobs based solely on his record. "A disproportionate number of Black and brown people continue to struggle even after theyve done their time, even after theyve been released back into the community," she said. The collateral consequences in general need to be removed for everyone who has had contact with the criminal justice system, but no special treatment should be given to Stephen just because hes a white man who people can relate to, she said. Stephen Ayres testifies on July 12. A USA TODAY analysis in June of more than 800 arrests in the Jan. 6 cases found that 86% of rioters were male, and most were white. Many cannot afford their own legal representation. A.J. Kramer, the top federal public defender for the District of Columbia, said his office is handling the cases of around 100 people for their involvement on Jan. 6, 2021. Beirich said she has known people who were involved in white supremacy groups but left. After finishing any criminal sentence, if they show remorse, make amends and work to better themselves, she said they should be accepted back into society. Even though Ayres testified that, during the attack on Jan. 6, 2021, he perceived the Proud Boys as helpful to the rioters cause, neither he, the Jan. 6 committee, nor prosecutors said he was a member of the Western chauvinist group or any other extremist group. In those cases, the forgiveness should come a little quicker, if they have admitted their culpability and the person has done their time, Beirich said. And especially if someone makes a public apology like this person did. I dont think we punish them forever and ever. Contributing: Dylan Wells and Dinah Pulver This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jan 6 rioter Ayres gave apologetic testimony. Is it enough to forgive? Hiking trail in Big Sur, California with ocean views Johnathon Brown/Getty Images The California coastline already offers some of the most stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and among the most underrated sights is the Waterfall Overlook Trail at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which leads to McWay Falls, one of the few waterfalls that empties directly into the Pacific. Located in Big Sur in Monterey County, about an hour south of Carmel-by-the-Sea and about 75 minutes north of Hearst Castle, the half-mile round-trip trail is accessible from the south parking lot of the state park. High angle view of rocks in sea at McWay Falls in California Bruce Alexander/500px/Getty Images Despite its brevity, the trail passes under the Pacific Coast Highway also known as Highway 1 before turning northward around McWay Cove to a viewpoint overlooking the waterfall, which descends about 80 feet into the ocean from a granite cliff. Also in sight is a pristine beach that was formed by a 1983 landslide. Since it is in an erosion zone, there is no beach access and the state reminds visitors to stay on the trail, since it's both "extremely hazardous" and trespassing is a "citable offense." But that also means that the beach is untouched, and "not even footprints on the sand mar the perfection," as the Visit California website described. In fact, the tourism board which highlighted the trail on its Instagram Reels recently said that the trail "could be the biggest-bang-for-not-much-work hike on the planet," noting that the entire walk is nearly flat and opens up to "flawless views" that were a favorite of the pioneer woman Julia Pfeiffer Burns, for which the park was named. Sunset at McWay Falls in Big Sur California, Dreamy Sunset Beach Carol Kay Art/Getty Images For those looking for more of a challenge in the park, there's also the mile-long round-trip Partington Cove Trail, which is quite steep, but leads to a wooden bridge and a 60-foot tunnel that opens up on a rocky beach. Before proceeding on any of the area's hikes, the state cautions to check the trails section of the park's site to ensure pathways are open because the area is prone to erosion. Within hours of the announcement that Milwaukee would host the 2024 Republican National Convention, a coalition of liberal groups announced plans to demonstrate during the event that is two years away. More: Milwaukee Common Council approves a framework for the 2024 Republican National Convention, a key step in being named host city "Today we stand here with our coalition partners to make our intentions clear to the RNC and to the City of Milwaukee," said Omar Flores, spokesman for the coalition. "We will not let the Republicans and their reactionary ideas flourish in Milwaukee. We will not let them visit without resistance and without letting it be known that they're not welcome here, regardless of what our city officials said." Subscribe to our On Wisconsin Politics newsletter for the week's political news explained. The coalition is made up of groups including Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression, Students for Democratic Society at UWM, Reproductive Justice Action Milwaukee, Coalition to Normalize Relations with Cuba, Leaders of Kenosha, Never Again Milwaukee, Midcoast MKE, Zao MKE and Community Task Force. Flores said that while city officials say the event will be an economic boost for Milwaukee residents, people in underserved communities such as Milwaukee's north and south sides are often overlooked. The majority of members in the coalition also helped organize the Coalition to March on the DNC, Flores said. "Whether it's on the Democrat side or the Republican side, there are still things that they do that are against" our agenda, Flores said. Separately, a group of five liberal community and labor groups issued a statement condemning Milwaukee's move to host the event, calling it "an alarming decision that normalizes an organization that has embraced white supremacy, authoritarianism, and acts of political violence, according to a statement from Voces de la Frontera Action, Bloc, Never Again is Now, SEIU Wisconsin State Council, and Freedom Action Now. Story continues The groups also expressed skepticism about the $200 million organizers said would flow to city businesses during the convention. In a separate statement, Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, or Bloc, said city and state leaders had rejected the perspective of those who oppose the convention and instead relied on an unrealistic vision of bliss and progress. For too long, elected officials have had money prioritized over the lives and wellbeing of the community. Decisions made purely from a financial standpoint with no consideration for the very foundation of our city, its people. It appears despite a new administration, the legacy of poor decision-making persists, the group said, referencing the election of Mayor Cavalier Johnson earlier this year. Johnson said Friday that hosting the convention doesn't equate to endorsing Republican policies. "I've said from the jump that just because we host the Republican National Convention in 2024, that that doesn't mean that you're signing up for the platform of the Republican Party," Johnson said. He said hosting the convention will also give Democrats a platform to amplify their message. More: Opinion: It looks like the RNC is coming to MKE. How excited should we be? Alison Dirr of the Journal Sentinel contributed. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee groups vow to protest 2024 Republican National Convention TEL AVIV, Israel Israels assassination of a top military commander in the Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza on Friday raised concerns that the conflict could escalate into an all-out war in the territory that is home to 2 million Palestinians. Israel launched a series of airstrikes in an operation known as Breaking Dawn" that killed Islamic Jihad military commander Tayseer Jabari, who was suspected in several terror attacks against Israel, a country roughly the size of New Jersey. Israel and the Palestinian Health Ministry both said 10 people were killed. The Israeli government said they were terrorists. The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said a 5-year-old girl was among the fatalities. The latest Tensions escalate: Islamic Jihad responded to the assassination of its military commander by firing more than 100 missiles at Israel. The Israeli military said operation Breaking Dawn will continue. Young victim identified: The 5-year-old Palestinian girl killed in the airstrikes was identified as Alla Qadoom, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Islamic Jihad responds : Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhala issued a statement after the killing of Jabari: "This is a day destined for victory, and the enemy must understand that there will be a war without surrender. ... The resistance fighters must stand as one. We have no red lines, and there is no room to stop." Israeli leaders respond: A joint statement by Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz after the operation was launched said, "The Israeli government will not allow terrorist organizations to set the agenda in towns near the Gaza Strip and threaten the citizens of Israel. Anyone who seeks harm to Israel must know that we will get to them. Security forces will act against Islamic Jihad terrorists to remove the threat from the citizens of Israel." Smoke rises from Israeli airstrikes on a building in Gaza City on Aug. 5. Takeaways Israel has been on high alert along the Gaza border since Tuesday morning after the military arrested Islamic Jihad commander Bassam al-Saadi in Jenin in the West Bank. The assessment in the military was that Islamic Jihad planned an imminent attack in retaliation, leading authorities to close roads near the Gaza border on Tuesday until Friday. Hamas runs the Gaza Strip, and Israel normally holds the organization responsible for violence coming from the enclave. The war in Gaza last year was mainly between Israel and Hamas; the current operation targets Islamic Jihad, which is more extreme than Hamas. Hamas portrayed itself as the protector of Palestinians in the war last year, increasing its popularity among Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. All border crossings have been shut, preventing thousands of Gazans from entering Israel to work every day, as well as goods from coming into the Strip. Islamic Jihads military capability is weaker than Hamas', but it operates in Gaza and the West Bank. Its leader, al-Nakhala, met with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran this week. Iran has supported Islamic Jihad financially and militarily for years. Palestinian rockets fired from Gaza City light up the night sky Aug. 5 in retaliation after a senior militant from Islamic Jihad was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip, prompting the militant group to warn Israel has "started a war." Why it matters The strike could have major repercussions, including on already-fraught efforts to negotiate a deal with Iran to get it to stop trying to make nuclear weapons. Islamic Jihad is a proxy fighting force for Iran, which has long considered influence in the Palestinian territories a major priority, given their proximity to Israel, Iran's No. 1 enemy. The group was active in terror attacks against Israel beginning in May, along with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups, said Yoram Schweitzer, a former top Israeli intelligence official who is director of the Terrorism and Low-Intensity Conflict program at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. In response, Israel conducted aggressive counterterror operations, including within refugee camps in Jenin and Nablus, Schweitzer told USA TODAY. Monday, it swept through the Jenin camp, north of the occupied West Bank, the heart of Palestinian armed resistance to Israel, exchanging gunfire with militants. Israeli forces arrested al-Saadi, one of the leaders of Islamic Jihad in the West Bank, and brought him back to Israel, Schweitzer said. That ratcheted up tensions, and the Islamic Jihad accelerated its attempts to launch operations from Gaza, Schweitzer said, citing concrete Israeli intelligence. Israel upped its readiness and put areas in the southern part of the territory under curfew. After two days, it went on the offensive after learning of plans to attack Israeli targets and after a few Islamic Jihad cells tried to launch rockets toward Israel, Schweitzer said. Israels aggressive response is meant as a warning to Tehran and to Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of an even more powerful Iranian proxy in the region, Hezbollah. The whole campaign is intended to send a clear message to Nasrallah, who has also been threatening Israel in the last few weeks, Schweitzer said. They are all watching," including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Irans most potent military force, which Israel suspects of providing intelligence to Islamic Jihad to help it launch attacks. How important was Jabari? According to the Israeli military, Jabari was a senior commander who held a number of positions in Islamic Jihad, including head of operations. He was responsible for anti-tank missile and sniper attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians and fired rockets at Israel during the Gaza war in 2021. Jabari replaced Baha Abu al-Ata as the commanding officer of Islamic Jihad's Gaza division after al-Ata was killed in an Israeli airstrike in 2019. Why would Islamic Jihad attack Israel now ? Israel has arrested or killed Islamic Jihad members in the West Bank, including the arrest of its senior member on Tuesday morning. Islamic Jihad is an independent entity, but it's subordinate to Hamas. Hamas could try to lower the flames by arresting Islamic Jihad members, which could lead to infighting. Hamas is too strong for Islamic Jihad to topple. On the other hand, Hamas could feel pressure to join Islamic Jihad to show Palestinians that it supports their fight against Israel. Impact on US-Israel relations If casualties approach the same level as those in last year's war in Gaza, the Biden administration could put pressure on Israel, Egypt and Qatar to reach a cease-fire. What they're saying "I know the building that was hit very well," Gaza resident Najla Shawa told USA TODAY. "It's a residential building, and it even has some offices there. I pass by there every day. It's crazy." "When I heard the huge explosion of the airstrike, I got scared and shouted at my kids to leave our apartment," said Samah Abu Ramadan, 39, a mother of four from Gaza. "I did not know that our building was the targeted place. I did not know what to do, so I stayed for 15 minutes near the door to the apartment until the rescue teams came and evacuated us from the building. I cannot go back to our home because I dont feel its secure enough for me and my kids." "As a citizen of southern Israel, I support the actions of the Israeli military today," Alex Kushnir, an Israeli lawmaker from the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu, told USA TODAY. "The situation where terrorist organizations can threaten Israeli citizens cannot be continued." Hamas will not wish to be led blind by Islamic Jihad," said Efraim Halevy, former chief of Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency. "It is too early to speculate, and a lot will depend on the retaliation Islamic Jihad will try to carry out. They have much to loose. The United States firmly believes that Israel has a right to protect itself," Tom Nides, U.S. ambassador to Israel, said in a statement. "We are engaging with different parties and urge all sides for calm. Want to know more? Here's what you missed FRICTION ON THE RISE: Tensions rise in Mideast as Palestinians, Israeli troops clash amid march in West Bank 'NOBODY HAS ANY HOPE': Before Biden's Middle East trip, some Palestinians say he's no different from Trump PALESTINIAN PESSIMISM: Supporters of Palestinians in US see little hope for peace in Biden's Middle East visit FACT CHECK: Photo shows airstrike in Gaza Strip, not Russian invasion of Ukraine Contributing: Josh Meyer and Michael Collins This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel vs. Islamic Jihad: Could conflict in Gaza lead to all-out war? One of the largest employers in Indiana has threatened to plan for more employment growth outside the state after legislators enacted a near-total abortion ban on Friday night. Pharmaceutical heavyweight Eli Lilly and Company, headquartered in Indiana, issued the statement after many Indiana businesses and leaders had been particularly reluctant to comment about the states stance on the issue. Lilly recognises that abortion is a divisive and deeply personal issue with no clear consensus among the citizens of Indiana, the company said in a statement. Despite this lack of agreement, Indiana has opted to quickly adopt one of the most restrictive anti-abortion laws in the United States. We are concerned that this law will hinder Lillys and Indianas ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world. While we have expanded our employee health plan coverage to include travel for reproductive services unavailable locally, that may not be enough for some current and potential employees. As a global company headquartered in Indianapolis for more than 145 years, we work hard to retain and attract thousands of people who are important drivers of our states economy. Given this new law, we will be forced to plan for more employment growth outside our home state. Lilly employs about 10,500 people in Indiana among its almost 40,000-strong worldwide workforce in 18 countries. The company did not immediately return a request for comment on Saturday from The Independent. Notably, Politicos Adam Wren added on Saturday morning: Lilly consistently declined to comment on the legislation until the bill was signed. Republican Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the newly restrictive abortion law on Friday after it passed without a single Democrat voting for it. The legislation bans abortion except in cases of rape, incest, fatal fetal anomalies and when the life of the pregnant person is in danger. Story continues Before Lillys statement this weekend, many major Indiana employers had been reticent on the topic in a state with a Republican supermajority. You have to be careful politically not to make that supermajority angry. They have to walk a very careful tightrope with this, Chad Kinsella, an associate professor of political science and director of the Bowen Center at Ball State University, told the Indianapolis Business Journal last month. The Supreme Court in June overturned 1973s Roe v Wade decision, which had federally safeguarded abortion rights, leaving the issue up to the states to decide. Legal wrangling remains in dozens of states, particularly those which sought to enact so-called trigger bans restricting the procedures as soon as the Supreme Court decision was handed down. Indiana on Friday became the first to enact a near-total abortion ban, though some Republican state legislators believe the law did not go far enough and no exemptions should be allowed. The new legislation takes effect on 15 September. Another major employer in the state, Indiana University Health, also released a statement Saturday following the Indiana legislatures passing of the new regulations. At IU Health, we take seriously our responsibility to provide access to compassionate and safe, high-quality healthcare for anyone who needs it, the employer said in a statement. IU Healths priority remains ensuring our physicians and patients have clarity when making decisions about pregnancy within the limits of the law. We will take the next few weeks to fully understand the terms of the new law and how to incorporate the changes into our medical practice to protect our providers and care for the people seeking reproductive healthcare. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Friday marked the 10-year anniversary of the mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin by highlighting the resilience of Oak Creeks Sikh community and pointing to recent gun control efforts as such shootings continue across the country. Jill and I know that days like today bring back the pain like it happened yesterday, Biden said in a statement, and we mourn with the victims families, the survivors, and the community devastated by this heinous act. The shooting on Aug. 5, 2012, killed seven people, including a priest who died from his injuries in 2020, and left four others wounded. It was the deadliest attack on Sikh Americans in the nations history, Biden noted, and just a harbinger of future violence. More: Remaining resilient: Ten years after Oak Creek Sikh temple shooting, survivors continue to move forward But the president said the Oak Creek community in the years since the tragedy has shown us the way. After the shooting, the community returned to their place of worship. The son of one of the victims testified before Congress, successfully calling for the government to track hate crimes against Sikhs and other minority groups. And Oak Creek came together to organize fundraisers and funerals for the victims in the shootings aftermath. More: The Sikh population has experienced 'exponential growth' in southeastern Wisconsin in decade since shooting Today, the community continues to reflect on the tragedy, inspired by the idea of "chardhi kala" relentless optimism. Fueled by that spirit of eternal optimism, we must continue to take steps now to reduce gun violence and keep our fellow Americans safe, Biden said. "It is up to all of us to deny this hate safe harbor. No one should fear for their life when they bow their head in prayer or go about their lives in America." Mass shootings have continued to plague the country. In Wisconsin, there have been at least 48 mass shootings that have killed 65 people and wounded another 187 since the Oak Creek massacre in 2012. Story continues More: Sikh community in Oak Creek plans vigil and other events 10 years after mass shooting claimed six worshippers' lives Recent tragedies, like the mass shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children and two teachers dead in May, have prompted a flurry of gun control bills in Congress. Biden in June signed into law the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, one of the largest pieces of gun legislation in decades. The House recently passed the Active Shooter Alert Act, as well as a ban on assault weapons a bill that has little chance in the Senate. All 10 members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation this week sponsored a resolution remembering the anniversary of the Oak Creek shooting and recognizing the victims and first responders, including Lt. Brian Murphy, who was shot 12 times and survived the attack. "This senseless act of violence should have never occurred, and in particular in a house of worship," U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil said in a speech on the House floor last week. "Nonetheless, the Oak Creek community came together. The Sikh community responded with compassion..." Congresswoman Gwen Moore in a statement said Oak Creek "has shown remarkable strength in coming together with hope and optimism, and by championing advocacy and education." I am continually inspired by the Sikh communitys resilience in the face of tragedy and ability to heal," Sen. Tammy Baldwin said in her own statement. "I stand in solidarity with Sikh community in Wisconsin and nationwide today, and every day. And while the White House on Friday touted its efforts to secure places of worship through efforts like funding initiatives through the Department of Homeland Security, Biden called on Congress to take action on the House-passed gun bills. "As a matter of conscience and common sense, the Senate must act as well," Biden said. "To stand in defense of religious freedom, we must all stand together to ban the weapons that terrorize congregations around our country." Contact Lawrence Andrea at landrea@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter @lawrencegandrea. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Joe Biden recognizes 10 year anniversary of Oak Creek shooting The death toll from the latest Israeli aggression in Gaza has risen to 24, including six children, health authorities in the territory said Saturday, but Israel denied conducting a new strike that reportedly killed minors. Gaza's health ministry blamed "Israeli aggression" for the deaths, and for the 203 people wounded. But an Israeli government statement denied blame for a strike in Jabalia on Saturday that reportedly killed children. "Israeli security forces did not strike in Jabalia in the past few hours. It has been irrefutably proven that this incident was the result of the misfiring of a rocket launched by Islamic Jihad," it said. Search Keywords: Short link: hapabapa / iStock.com The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps provide food security for more than 41 million people (about one in eight Americans), according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Although its a federal program, SNAP is administered by the states, which means benefits are distributed inconsistently across the country. While eligibility requirements and benefit levels are uniform across all states except Alaska and Hawaii, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the way benefits are calculated can vary considerably from one state to the next. Learn: 5 Things Americans Should Know About SNAP Benefits in 2022 SNAP Benefits Increase in 2022: What It Could Mean for the Immediate and Long-Term Future In New Hampshire, for example, just 6% of the population participates in SNAP, and they receive a relatively low $110 monthly payment. In Louisiana, a full 17% of the population receives SNAP, and they average a fairly high payment of $135. Naturally, states with bigger populations have more SNAP recipients, and states with higher poverty rates have a greater percentage of their residents in the program. Even the name of the program can change from state to state. In Wisconsin, its called FoodShare. In California, its called CalFresh. In Utah, its still called Food Stamps. No matter the name, SNAP is a vital part of the social safety net. Heres a look at how the states distribute SNAP. Household and Individual Allotments Have Gone Up for 2022 In 2021, the USDA announced a cost of living adjustment (COLA) for SNAP in 2022. Heres what you need to know: For the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the maximum allotment for a family of four has been raised to $835 per month. In Alaska, a family of four can now receive between $1,074 and $1,667 per month, depending on their rural/urban designation. In Hawaii, the COLA raised the monthly limit to $1,573 for a family of four. The minimum benefit increased to $20 in D.C. and the Lower 48, $26 to $40 in Alaska and $38 in Hawaii. Benefits were also raised for Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Story continues SNAP Benefits By States Heres an alphabetical look at each states number of SNAP participation, according to the most recent data from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Alabama Average benefit per household member per month: $129 Number of recipients: 727,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 15% Alaska Average benefit per household member per month: $181 Number of recipients: 85,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 12% Arizona Average benefit per household member per month: $130 Number of recipients: 797,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 11% Arkansas Average benefit per household member per month: $108 Number of recipients: 355,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 12% California Average benefit per household member per month: $141 Number of recipients: 3.79 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 10% Colorado Average benefit per household member per month: $128 Number of recipients: 450,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 8% Connecticut Average benefit per household member per month: $143 Number of recipients: 368,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 10% Delaware Average benefit per household member per month: $124 Number of recipients: 129,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 13% District of Columbia Average benefit per household member per month: $142 Number of recipients: 94,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 13% Florida Average benefit per household member per month: $127 Number of recipients: 2.85 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 13% Georgia Average benefit per household member per month: $132 Number of recipients: 1.42 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 13% Hawaii Average benefit per household member per month: $258 Number of recipients: 157,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 11% Idaho Average benefit per household member per month: $118 Number of recipients: 146,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 8% Illinois Average benefit per household member per month: $135 Number of recipients: 1.77 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 14% Indiana Average benefit per household member per month: $129 Number of recipients: 574,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 9% Iowa Average benefit per household member per month: $121 Number of recipients: 320,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 10% Kansas Average benefit per household member per month: $119 Number of recipients: 201,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 7% Kentucky Average benefit per household member per month: $123 Number of recipients: 541,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 12% Louisiana Average benefit per household member per month: $135 Number of recipients: 810,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 17% Maine Average benefit per household member per month: $117 Number of recipients: 157,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 12% Maryland Average benefit per household member per month: $128 Number of recipients: 619,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 10% Massachusetts Average benefit per household member per month: $134 Number of recipients: 760,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 11% Michigan Average benefit per household member per month: $120 Number of recipients: 1.18 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 12% Minnesota Average benefit per household member per month: $111 Number of recipients: 409 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 7% Mississippi Average benefit per household member per month: $120 Number of recipients: 455,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 15% Missouri Average benefit per household member per month: $130 Number of recipients: 692,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 11% Montana Average benefit per household member per month: $123 Number of recipients: 107,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 10% Nebraska Average benefit per household member per month: $124 Number of recipients: 161,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 8% Nevada Average benefit per household member per month: $125 Number of recipients: 423,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 14% New Hampshire Average benefit per household member per month: $110 Number of recipients: 76,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 6% New Jersey Average benefit per household member per month: $122 Number of recipients: 705,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 8% New Mexico Average benefit per household member per month: $127 Number of recipients: 448,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 21% New York Average benefit per household member per month: $136 Number of recipients: 2.66 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 14% North Carolina Average benefit per household member per month: $126 Number of recipients: 1.33 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 13% North Dakota Average benefit per household member per month: $126 Number of recipients: 49,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 6% Ohio Average benefit per household member per month: $132 Number of recipients: 1.38 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 12% Oklahoma Average benefit per household member per month: $128 Number of recipients: 574,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 14% Oregon Average benefit per household member per month: $133 Number of recipients: 599,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 14% Pennsylvania Average benefit per household member per month: $129 Number of recipients: 1.76 million Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 14% Rhode Island Average benefit per household member per month: $144 Number of recipients: 152,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 14% South Carolina Average benefit per household member per month: $127 Number of recipients: 601,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 12% South Dakota Average benefit per household member per month: $136 Number of recipients: 81,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 9% Tennessee Average benefit per household member per month: $131 Number of recipients: 903,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 13% Texas Average benefit per household member per month: $125 Number of recipients: 3.41 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 12% Utah Average benefit per household member per month: $122 Number of recipients: 172,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 5% Vermont Average benefit per household member per month: $122 Number of recipients: 69,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 11% Virginia Average benefit per household member per month: $128 Number of recipients: 705,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 8% Washington Average benefit per household member per month: $119 Number of recipients: 825,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 11% West Virginia Average benefit per household member per month: $117 Number of recipients: 305,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 17% Wisconsin Average benefit per household member per month: $113 Number of recipients: 617 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 11% Wyoming Average benefit per household member per month: $124 Number of recipients: 26,000 Percentage of the population receiving SNAP: 5% More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: SNAP Benefits Available in Your State in 2022 Weather Alert ...EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT FRIDAY... * WHAT...Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures up to 103. * WHERE...In Washington, Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Washington, Simcoe Highlands, Kittitas Valley and Yakima Valley. In Oregon, Eastern Columbia River Gorge of Oregon. * WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT Friday. * IMPACTS...Extreme heat will significantly increase the potential for heat related illnesses, particularly for those working or participating in outdoor activities. 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. && Russia on Saturday called for maximum restraint in the Gaza Strip amid the worst escalation of violence since a war last year. "We are observing with profound worry how events are evolving," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement, adding that Moscow was calling "on all the parties involved to show maximum restraint." "The new escalation was caused by Israeli army firing into the Gaza Strip on August 5, to which Palestinian groups responded by carrying out massive and indiscriminate bombardments on Israeli territory." Israel hit Gaza with deadly air strikes on Saturday and a Palestinian militant group retaliated with a barrage of rocket fire. Israel has said it was forced to launch a "pre-emptive" operation against Islamic Jihad, insisting the group was planning an imminent attack following days of tensions along the Gaza border. An 11-day conflict in May 2021 between Israel and Gaza militants devastated the densely-populated Gaza Strip and forced countless Israelis to rush to bomb shelters. Search Keywords: Short link: Today Scattered showers and thunderstorms. High near 105F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Tonight Some clouds. Low 84F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Tomorrow Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 104F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has been one of the most anticipated bikes from the automaker and is all set to be launched tomorrow (August 7). Before the scheduled launch of the motorcycle, the 'boss man' Sid Lal took matters into his own hands and revealed the Hunter 350. The unveiling fuelled the anticipation for the launch of the new motorcycle among potential buyers. Now, with the new revelations, here are the top five highlights of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 you need to look out for. But before we start, it is to be noted that the new scrambler-style motorcycle seems like the smallest bike from the British manufacturer in the Indian market and is based on the same J-platform as the Meteor 350. Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Design The new bike features a compact design complemented by neo-retro design elements like round headlamps, indicators, and rearview mirrors. Moreover, the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 has a tear drop-fuel tank featuring a dual-tone paint scheme and a long single-piece seat, adding to its looks. The bike gets an asymmetrical instrument cluster with options like a tripper navigation function. Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Features Going forward, Royal Enfield is working on giving their bikes a more modern appeal, and the same thing can be noticed in the new Hunter 350's features. The new motorcycle is equipped with a halogen headlamp and a semi-digital instrument cluster as standard features. An analog speedometer and a floating LCD are both included in the instrument cluster. A digital odometer, gear position indicator, two trip metres, a trip metre for low fuel, a fuel gauge, an eco indicator, a service reminder, and a clock are all displayed on the setup. The Tripper Navigation system from Royal Enfield will be offered as an addition. Also read: Royal Enfield Hunter 350 unveiled ahead of launch: Check price, features, specs and more Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Engine, Mileage The new Royal Enfield Hunter 350 gets a 349cc, single-cylinder, two-valve, SOHC, air/oil-cooled engine. The motor, which is mated to a five-speed gearbox, produces 20.2bhp at 6,100 rpm and 27Nm of maximum torque at 4,000 rpm. The maximum speed is listed at 114 kmph, while the claimed fuel efficiency is 36.2 kmpl. Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Variants Two variations of the Royal Enfield Hunter 350 will be available namely Metro and Retro. In addition to the aforementioned variations, the two types can be separated by their different colours. While the Retro model has a single-tone paint scheme, the Metro version has a dual-tone finish. Royal Enfield Hunter 350: Hardware The hardware on the Royal Enfiled Hunter 350 includes telescopic front forks and six-step preload-adjustable rear springs. The Metro variant's braking system consists of a front 300mm single disc and a rear 270mm rotor. This version also comes with 17-inch alloy wheels covered in tubeless tyres with 110/70 front and 140/70 rear sections. On the Retro variant, however, the 17-inch wire-spoke wheels are fitted with tube-type tyres that have a 100/80-section front and a 120/80-section rear. Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Union Minister for Civil Aviation, and Gen. VK Singh, the Minister of State, launched Air Asia's direct flights between Lucknow and Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, was the special guest in attendance at Lucknow Airport. The fact that an airline has connected a city with 8 connecting flights to 5 locations in India is a historic event, according to Scindia, who was speaking at the introduction of new flight lines. "I would like to congratulate and thank Air Asia and the Government of Uttar Pradesh for this achievement. Lucknow is now connected to Delhi with three flights, Bengaluru with two flights, Mumbai with one flight, Kolkata with one flight, and Goa with one flight in a day." The flight between Lucknow and Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa will commence on Friday, and that between Lucknow and Mumbai and Kolkata will commence on September 1, 2022. Also read: Vistara's Mumbai-bound flight returns to Varanasi after bird-strike Commenting on the work done by his ministry for promoting civil aviation in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the Minister said that under the UDAN scheme, the government has allotted 63 new routes to the state of Uttar Pradesh. "In the future, we will increase it to 108 so that civil aviation can reach every corner of Uttar Pradesh. We have also marked 18 airports in Uttar Pradesh under the UDAN scheme, which will require an investment of Rs 1,121 crore for infrastructure development. Uttar Pradesh will have 5 international airports, which itself is a landmark in the country. It is a dream of the Prime Minister to make Uttar Pradesh a shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat and to achieve this, we are constructing airports at Chitrakoot, Muradabad, Aligarh, Azamgarh, and Shravasti, apart from Jewar and Ayodhya. "Air Asia (India) Private Limited is a subsidiary of Tata Sons Private Limited and commenced its operations in India in June 2014. It flies over 50 direct and 100 connecting routes across India at 18 destinations.These new connections will further strengthen connectivity between Lucknow and key cities in the country will, facilitate enhanced connectivity, and promote tourism, trade, and commerce in the region. An official release said it would also offer "an affordable, on-time, safe and hassle-free travel experience to people residing in Lucknow." (With inputs from ANI) We are all aware of the incidents of planes making an emergency landing if a passenger faces some serious health issues. But do you know what happens when a person dies onboard? This incident seldom occurs, but isn't completely new to the aviation industry. If any such incident occurs on a flight, there are certain protocols and procedures the airlines and the officials onboard have to follow. Needless to say, avoiding such situations is of utmost priority, hence, if needed, providing medical assistance is the first step that the airline staff will take. Talking about medical assistance, the airline's staff are trained to provide some help during a medical emergency, and if needed, medical professionals onboard are called upon for help. If a person's life is in imminent danger, the oxygen masks and defibrillators on board are used in an attempt to control the situation. If all of these attempts to control the situation fail, the body of the deceased is to be stored by the cabin crew in a dignified manner. Plane's Diversion A usual course of action will be to divert the airplane in issue, whether someone has already died or their life is in jeopardy. This enables the aircraft to land as soon as possible when more in-depth medical assistance is available. This can significantly impact a person who is struggling for their life's odds of survival. However, the protocols for such complicated situations may vary from airline to airline. Also read: AirAsia starts direct flight from Lucknow to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Goa Moreover, in some cases, the passenger in distress can be handed over to the local medics. The medics, in such cases, will attempt to save the life of the passenger and may even transport him to the nearest hospital for much-needed medical attention and resuscitation attempts. There have been such cases in the past where passengers in the need of medical assistance were transported to the hospital for medical assistance. For instance, on 21 June, a Dubai-bound SpiceJet flight was diverted to Goa to provide medical assistance to a sick passenger. New Delhi: PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti called Aug 5, 2019 a black day. It was when abrogation of Article 370 happened. On its anniversary, the PDP demonstrated in Srinagar and chanted anti-government slogans. Mufti, who was leading the protest, termed the day as a 'black day' and the abrogation of Article 370 as a 'black decision'. Article 370 was abolished by the Modi government at three years ago. With this, the state has been divided into two union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Mehbooba Mufti, who joined the protest with a banner in her hand, raised slogans saying, 'Kale din ka kala nishay nahi chalega, solve the Kashmir issue'. Addressing the media, the PDP chief targeted the BJP and said that it wants to convert the tricolor into saffron. She said, in the coming times, the BJP will also destroy the foundation of the Constitution and its secularism, on which the country of India is made. BJP wants to make it a religious country. The tricolor that people are proudly hoisting today, the BJP wants to convert it into a saffron flag, she said. Mehbooba Mufti said, 'They (BJP) will change the flag of this country just as they snatched the Constitution and flag of Jammu and Kashmir. But, we have sworn that we will take back our flag and constitution. We will also force them to resolve the issue of Kashmir for which lakhs of people have sacrificed their lives." Later, the police stoped the rally and forced them to go back to the party headquarters. BEIJING, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Observing the full respect for the territorial integrity of sovereign countries is one of Iran's foreign policy pillars, and Iran decisively supports the one-China policy, Mohammad Keshavarz Zadeh, Iranian ambassador to China, told Xinhua in an interview. The ambassador said the principle of territorial integrity is an important part of the international legal order, and Iran supports every legitimate and lawful right arising from this principle for China to safeguard its sovereignty. Concerning Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region in disregard of China's firm opposition, Mohammad Keshavarz Zadeh noted that hypocrisy, distortion, manipulation and interference are evidently among major specifications of U.S. foreign policy. The ambassador added that respecting the sovereignty of independent states falls within fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. The new run of the successful play launched on Friday and will continue for two weeks, daily at 9pm except Tuesdays. Directed by Islam Imam, Helm Gamils cast also includes Hanan Adel and Ezzat Zein, in addition to a number of members of the Comedy Theatre Company, running under the culture ministrys Artistic Theatre House. The show is an adaptation of Charlie Chaplins masterpiece, which tells the story of a vagabond who sings and dances on the street who suddenly meets a rich man trying to commit suicide; the vagabond saves the mans life, who takes him in to live at his home. Helm Gamils decor is designed by Hazem Shebl while costumes are designed by Naaima Agamy, choreography is by Diaa Shafiq, and music composition is by Hisham Gabr. The Comedy Theatre Company is currently led by actor Yasser El-Tobgy who was appointed Friday to lead the troupe, succeeding Ayman Aab. Most of Helm Gamils crew members have collaborated before in their earlier hit Al-Motafael (The Optimist), based on classic novella Candide, written by French author Francois-Marie Arouet (aka Voltaire) in the 1750s. The 46-year-old actor Sameh Hussein, who has starred in a number of successful films and TV series, made his stage debut in 2002 at Khaled Galal's direction of Lenin El-Ramly's Teheb Tshoof Maasah? ("Do You Want to Witness a Tragedy?"), before appearing in around 150 plays at various public and private theatres since. Helm Gamil has been touring across several governorates since its premiere in Cairo last winter. Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday announced free bus rides for women for 48 hours in the state on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. The announcement is UP CM`s gift to females of the state on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. With Rakshabandhan just around the corner, Uttar Pradesh CMs office tweeted, "On the occasion of Rakshabandhan, the Uttar Pradesh State Transport Corporation should provide free travel facility in buses for the safe travel of all the women of the state. The unique move became even rarer with the state chief adding that the females can travel free for 48 hours, starting from August 10 midnight till August 12 midnight. The announcement comes with an aim to mark the `Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsava`, and the free bus travel facility will be available to women across the state for a period of 48 hours. Earlier, on Sunday, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu urged everyone to uphold the dignity of women and ensure a safe environment for them at all times. Naidu celebrated Rakshabandhan at Raj Bhavan in Banglore with school children from various local schools. Greeting the nation on this occasion, Naidu said that Rakshabandhan is a celebration of the special and deep-rooted bond of love and respect between brothers and sisters. "Happy Rakshabandhan! Rakshabandhan is a celebration of the special and deep-rooted bond of love and respect between brothers and sisters. On this auspicious day, let us resolve to uphold the dignity of women and ensure a safe environment for them at all times," Vice-President`s office tweeted. According to Vice President`s Secretariat, urging the people to treat everyone like their brothers and sisters, Naidu said that this would promote brotherhood and harmony among the citizens and would make our nation strong. Praising the age-old Indian family system, he said that it teaches us to respect the elderly and inculcates the spirit of sharing and caring among the youngsters. Stating that sisters bring cheer and happiness in the house, he said that there are many Indian festivals that celebrate family relations and strengthen the bond of togetherness. Rakshabandhan, one of the most popular Hindu festivals, is an annual occasion celebrated throughout the nation to commemorate the special bond between siblings. Traditionally, on this day, sisters tie rakhis on their brother`s wrists and both of them exchange gifts. (With ANI inputs) New Delhi: The Delhi Police has filed a case at the Tughlaq Road police station in connection with a protest held by the Congress party, PTI reported. Congress leaders and workers participated in a nationwide protest against the price rise, unemployment and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) hike on essential items on Friday. Visuals of several Congress leaders dressed in black being detained at Police Lines Kingsway Camp in Delhi had also emerged. A case under sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered at the Tughlaq Road police station, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Amrutha Guguloth said on Saturday (August 6). Reacting to the FIR, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said, "In our country protesting is illegal, voicing our opinions is illegal. They (BJP govt) can do whatever they want. The Delhi Police had denied permission to the Congress to stage a protest citing prohibitory orders in New Delhi district. More than 300 Congress protesters, including 65 members of Parliament, were detained by the police on Friday. Special Commissioner of Police, L & O Division, Dr Sagar Preet Hooda said the Congress party organised agitation at several places in the city including Akbar Road, Vijay Chowk and Jantar Mantar. As per Hooda, protesters were warned about the prohibitory orders in place and were asked repeatedly to disperse from the area. However, they continued the protest, thereby violating prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC, he added. "When the police personnel moved in to contain the situation, the protesters tried to obstruct the police officers from performing their duties, manhandled and injured them," IANS cited Hooda as saying. (With agency inputs) Delhi Spa Worker Rape News: A 22-year-old woman, working at a spa in the national capital, was allegedly sedated and gang raped by two men, an official said on Saturday, adding that four persons have been arrested in connection. The arrested were identified as Rahul, a manager at the spa; Satish Kumar, a customer; and owners of the spa Brij Gopal and Sandeep. Furnishing details, Deputy Commissioner of Police (northwest) Usha Rangnani said a PCR call was received at Maurya Enclave police station regarding sexual assault of a woman at the spa located in Pitampura, after which the police immediately rushed to the spot. "At the spot, the victim , along with her husband, was present outside the spa centre and complained regarding sexual assault on her by the manager and one more person," DCP Rangnani said. In her complaint, the woman stated that she joined the `Ocean Spa Centre` on July 30 and on August 4 around 6 p.m., a person came and demanded sexual favour. "The accused manager offered her a cold drink. After consuming it, she felt dizzy and both raped her," the senior official said. After the police learnt about the incident, the victim was sent to hospital for medical examination and a counsellor from Delhi Commission for Women was called. Accordingly, the police registered an FIR under section 354A (Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment), 328 (Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit an offence) and 376 D (gang rape) of the Indian Penal Code and immediately arrested Rahul and Satish Kumar. The official said that the owners were having MCD licence, and "the concerned civic agency has been intimated to cancel the license and seal the premises". Later, the police also registered a case under section 188 of the IPC against Ocean Spa Centre for violation of guidelines and following which the owners, Brij Gopal and Sandeep, were also arrested. "Further, preventive action under appropriate sections of law has been taken against them," the official added. Meanwhile, the Delhi Commission for Women chairperson Swati Maliwal also took cognizance of the incident, and pointed out that prostitution or sex rackets are being openly run in the national capital. AAP minister looks for Rs 2 crore luxury overhaul of her official bungalow, sparks row New Delhi, Aug 6: After having come into power some of the ministers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seem to have given up the party`s professed policy of simplicity. Punjab`s Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Anmol Gagan Mann has shot off a letter to the principal secretary, PWD, Anurag Verma demanding a list of 34 changes including renovations to her official bungalow. The minister`s letter has raked up a major controversy in official circles as the demands would cost the cash-strapped state around Rs 2 crore to implement. The demand listed at no 33 is to construct a swimming pool in the bungalow`s backyard along with a washing area. No other ministerial bungalow in Sector 39, where all ministers reside, has a swimming pool. None of the ministers occupying these palatial bungalows during the Akali or Congress regimes had demanded the construction of swimming pools. The other demands include construction of an air-conditioned master bedroom on the first floor, replacing all the floor tiles in the bungalow, changing the curtains, replacing the existing furniture in all the rooms, 65-inch TV sets in all bedrooms, new mattresses, 8-seater dining table, chandeliers in all rooms, redoing of cupboards, setting up of glass cabin with new furniture, and laying of synthetic grass in the first-floor verandah, etc. According to a rough estimate prepared by an engineer, the renovation as demanded by the minister would cost more than Rs 2 crore. The PWD will have to get the rough estimate sanctioned by the finance department. She has been allotted bungalow number 953, which was earlier occupied by Raj Kumar Verka, a cabinet minister in the Congress` Charanjit Channi government. Repeated attempts made by India Narrative to talk to the principal secretary PWD for his comments went unanswered. However, a copy of the minister`s letter along with a questionnaire was sent to him on WhatsApp. He responded in the evening saying, `I will have to check it,` and said he would revert on the issue on Monday. However, he did not deny the existence of the controversial letter by the minister. Similarly, calls were also made to the minister on her personal mobile phone number but she did not pick up the calls. However, a female claiming to be the minister`s sister picked up one of the calls. When asked to get Anmol Gagan`s comments on the issue, she said, `the letter in circulation about the renovation of the bungalow is fake.` Nor has there been any official denial from the official spokespersons of the Punjab government. This reporter rang Mr. Baltej Pannu, director of media relations of the Punjab government several times, but he did not pick up the phone nor did he call back. Attempts were also made to elicit an official response from the director, public relations (DPR), Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, and Ishwinder Singh Grewal, deputy director, press in the office of the DPR. They too did not pick up the calls nor did they revert back. A copy of the letter in question was sent to the DPR on WhatsApp. Fondness for luxury among the AAP ministers was also evident when one of the ministers of Bhagwant Mann`s government, after taking oath on the very first day, protested against the allotment of `too small a room` for his office in the civil secretariat. His demand was met, later on. New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday lashed out at Telangana Chief Minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modis sharp critic KCR after he announced that he will be boycotting the Centres NITI Ayog meeting. Hitting out at KCR for his strong-worded letter to the prime minister, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that his views on the meeting have made it clear that he is not interested in the development of his country or state, ANI reported. The retort came as KCR, in a harsh letter to PM Modi, said that the NITI Ayog meeting will not be useful as it does not focus on the development of the state. KCR also accused PM Modi of not doing enough for the welfare of the Indian states. His views reflect that he is not interested in the development of his state, his ward. He thinks himself to be too great to attend it, ANI quoted Piyush Goyal as saying on CM Telangana KCR's refusal to attend the NITI Aayog meeting Schooling the Telangana CM on the functions of NITI Ayog, Goyal further added, He is forgetting that NITI Aayog is working towards taking the country forward and he doesn't want it to happen. He's become the 'nizam' of Telangana, does not believe in discussion on the development of country and state. KCRs strong-worded letter to PM Modi KCR, who has recently turned hostile towards the Modi govt and is planning to create a joint opposition to challenge PM Modi and his party, wrote a sharp letter to the prime minister and stated his reasons to boycott the NITI Ayog meeting scheduled to be held on August 7. Rao alleged that the Centre is not treating states as equal partners in efforts to make India a developed country. In the letter, Chief Minister Rao on Saturday stated, "I do not find it useful to attend the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog scheduled to be held on August 7 and I am staying away from it as a mark of strong protest against the present trend of the Central Govt to discriminate against the states and not treating them as equal partners in our collective efforts to make India a strong and developed country." "NITI Aayog was started as a new institution with the lofty objective of bringing the states on the same page with the Centre for ensuring the equitable development of our country in the true spirit of cooperative federalism," stated the letter. New Delhi: The vice presidential polls are being held today (August 6, 2022) to elect the successor to M Venkaiah Naidu. The battle between the Joint Opposition candidate Margaret Alva and the NDAs pick Jagdeep Dhankhar. The next vice-president will take the oath of office on August 11, which is a day after the term of the incumbent V-P M Venakish Naidu ends. The voting will take place at the Parliament House between 10 am and 5 pm and votes will be counted on the same day itself. As per the reports, Dhankar is expected to have an easy win as the numbers may be stacked in his favour. Jagdeep Dhankhar is in an advantageous position with the support of several parties like Janta Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK and Shiv Sena. He is likely to get over 515 votes against Margaret Alva's speculated 200 votes. Who can become vice-president? The minimum age limit to apply for the position of vice-president is 35 years. The candidate should be Indian citizens and fulfil all of the requirements for membership in the Rajya Sabha. A person is not also eligible to contest if he/she holds any office of profit under the Central government or states. How much Vice President of India earns? According to the Salaries and Allowances of Parliament Officers Act, 1953 which governs the salary of the countrys Vice President, the person on the top post receives the Speakers salary and benefits because he is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. According to reports, the Vice President is paid Rs 4 lakh per month along with a variety of allowances. What are additional perks of Vice President of India? Free medical care, free train and air travel, a landline connection and mobile phone connection are among the other benefits. The vice-president also have personal security as well as staff. Where does the vice-president live? Vice Presidents House is the official residence of Indias Vice President, located on Maulana Azad Road in New Delhi, India. It is also known as Uparashtrapati Bhavan. Since May 1962, the bungalow on No. 6 has served as the official residence of the Vice President of India. The property is 6.48 acres in size (26,223.41 sq. m.). Vice President Election 2022: Vice President of India is the second highest constitutional office in the country. Parliamentarians began voting to elect the next vice-president of India in a contest of competing ideologies between NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar and Opposition nominee Margaret Alva on Saturday (August 6, 2022) amid a bitter political battle. The voting will take place at the Parliament House between 10 am and 5 pm and votes will be counted on the same day itself. The next vice-president will take the oath of office on August 11, which is a day after the term of the incumbent V-P M Venakish Naidu ends. The Election Commission of India is the body that conducts the election for the office of the Vice President. Who elects the vice-president of India? The vice-president of India is elected by an electoral college, which consists of members of both Houses of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The voting is held through a secret ballot. The value of vote of each MP would be the same one, the Election Commission has said. The electoral college for the election of the vice-president consists of the following members: Rajya Sabha: Elected = 233, nominated = 12 and Lok Sabha: Elected = 543, nominated = 2, Total = 790. Who can become vice-president? The minimum age limit to apply for the position of vice-president is 35 years. The candidate should be Indian citizens and fulfil all of the requirements for membership in the Rajya Sabha. A person is not also eligible to contest if he/she holds any office of profit under the Central government or states. How is vice-president candidates nominated? A candidate needs 20 electors as proposers and at least another 20 electors as seconders for his nomination for the vice-president. The candidate also has to make a security deposit of 15,000. How votes are counted? The number of first-choice votes received by each MP is determined. Then, the calculated numbers are added together and divided by two, one is added to the quotient, disregarding any remainder. The resulting number is the quota required for a candidate to run in the election. Later on, after the calculation is done, if the total number of votes credited to any candidate at the end of the first or any subsequent count is equal to or greater than the quota, that candidate is declared elected. New Delhi: India will commemorate its 75th Independence Day on August 15, 2022. The Indian government is hosting Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, which will honour 75 years since India gained its independence from British rule. India is organising Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, celebrations for which started in March, 2021. As part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign was introduced on August 2. In support of this move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited citizens to hoist the national flag at home on Sunday. He also asked them to put the national flag as profile picture of their social media accounts between August 2 and 15. Students must know about these interesting facts about the Indian National Flag. National Flag of India The National Flag of India was accepted in its present form during a meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on 22 July 1947, when it turned out to be the official flag of India. Flag Code of India, 2002 has come into effect from January 26, 2002. It is neither a statute nor a statutory rule or regulation. It is one of the National Symbols of India. Interesting Facts about National Flag of India - The first Indian flag was hoisted on August 7, 1906 at Parsi Bagan Square in Calcutta. It showed religious symbols and had flowers with Vande Matram inscribed on it. It had three stripes of green (top), yellow (middle) and red (bottom) colors. - The Indian flag was accepted on July 22, 1947, just before India gained independence from the British Empire. - The Indian National Flag which is in use now was designed by Pingali Venkayya, an educationist and freedom fighter from Andhra Pradesh. On August 15, 1947, the first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, hoisted the national flag at Lahori Gate of Red Fort in Delhi. - According to the law, the National Flag of India is to be made by Khadi which is hand-spun wool/cotton/silk Khadi cloth. Karnataka Khadi Gramodyoga Samyukta Sangha is the only unit in India that is accredited to supply and manufacture the Flag of India. - The National Flag is known as Tiranga in Hindi and it consists of three colors and Asoka Chakra in its middle. Three colors represent: The Saffron color -Courage and sacrifice White Truth, peace, and purity The Green colour-Prosperity Asoka Chakra represents the Laws of Dharma - The width to length ratio of the National Flag of India is 2:3. The three strips of the flag should be equivalent in width and length. - The Khadi Development and Village Industries Commission, have the manufacturing right to make the National Flag of India. - The present national flag has three colours saffron representing courage and sacrifice, white representing peace and green representing prosperity. The Ashok Chakra in the middle represents the cycle of life. The length to width ratio of the flag has to be 3:2. - Flag code: Indian national flag must be hoisted in the day time only and there should be no flag or any other symbolic representation above it. The flag must be hoisted in horizontal direction with the saffron colour always on the top. - On the occasion of Army Day, the Indian Army unveiled the worlds largest Tiranga at Jaisalmer on 15 January 2022. On August 15, 1947, India earned freedom from 200 years of British colonial control. The freedom fighters huge courage and sacrifice ousted the British to free the nation on August 15, 1947. The Indian government is celebrating the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav program in view of 75 years of Independence and is dedicated to the people of India. New Delhi: The counting of votes began for the Vice Presidential election 2022 after polling ended at 5 pm in Parliament House, with around 93 per cent final voter turnout on Saturday (August 6). Citing officials, PTI reported that over 50 MPs did not cast their votes to choose M Venkaiah Naidus successor. The polls sealed the fate of NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar and the Oppositions pick Margaret Alva. The counting began at 6 pm under the supervision of the Lok Sabha Secretary General, who is the returning officer for the election. Delhi | Counting process underway for the Vice Presidential elections in Parliament pic.twitter.com/h70xET0BMN August 6, 2022 How many MPs voted in Vice Presidential election 2022? Out of the total 780 MPs in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, as many as 725 MPs voted till 5 pm when the voting concluded. Voting for the new Vice President of India had started at 10 am. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh voted early in the morning. Opposition leaders including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi voted later in the day, officials said. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president J P Nadda, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and Commerce Minister and Leader of House in Rajya Sabha Piyush Goyal were also among the early voters. The Trinamool Congress, which has 39 MPs, abstained from voting, however, two of its MPs -- Sisir Kumar Adhikari and Dibyendu Adhikari -- broke ranks and exercised their franchise. Those who did not cast their votes included BJP MPs Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dhotre and Samajwadi Partys Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shafiqur Rahman Barq among prominent leaders. Who can vote in VP elections? All members of parliaments of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, can cast their vote in the vice presidential election. The collective sanctioned strength of both the Houses is 788 MPs, of which Rajya Sabha has eight vacancies. Jagdeep Dhankhar vs Margaret Alva Former West Bengal Governor Dhankhar has a clear edge over his rival Alva as the ruling BJP has an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and 91 members in the Upper House. He is likely to be M Venkaiah Naidu's successor, whose tenure as the VP ends on August 10. Former Union Minister RCP Singh resigns from the Janata Dal (United) after the party sent a notice on allegations of corruption. The Janata Dal (United) on Saturday issued a show cause notice to RCP Singh over "discrepancies in immovable properties" and asked him to file his reply at the earliest. After resigning, RCP Singh said, "Nitish Kumar will never be able to become PM." RCP Singh, a former Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer, had won Nitish Kumar's trust while on central deputation in the late 1990s. Nitish Kumar was then a Union Minister. RCP Singh took VRS in 2010 to join politics. During Nitish Kumar's first five years as chief minister, RCP Singh served as his principal secretary. JDU state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha said in a letter to RCP Singh that you are well aware that our honorable leader Nitish Kumar is working with a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption and he has been spotless in his long political career. Announcing his resignation, RCP Singh called JDU a 'Sinking Ship'. RCP Singh announced to leave the party in a press conference in Mustafapur and talked about forming his own party. He said, "an attempt is being made to defame me. I don't have any land in my name. All the allegations being leveled against me are baseless. There is no cure for JDU's jealousy. I cannot go ahead with them in these circumstances." Mumbai: The wife of Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut arrived at the office of the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai on Saturday as she was summoned by the agency in connection with the Patra Chawl land case. The MP`s wife Varsha Raut was summoned by the central agency on Friday after the ED officials raided the Shiv Sena leader`s home on Sunday and after detaining and questioning him (Sanjay Raut) for several hours, arrested him in the early hours on Monday and produced him before a special sessions court which directed to send him to the ED`s custody till Thursday. Raut is a close aide of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Prior to his arrest, Sanjay Raut`s brother had said, "Sanjay Raut has been arrested. BJP is afraid of him and got him arrested. They have not given us any documents (regarding his arrest). He has been framed." Meanwhile, another FIR was registered against Sanjay Raut in Mumbai for allegedly threatening Swapna Patkar, the wife of Sujit Patkar who is believed to be a close aide of the Shiv Sena MP. The case was registered at the Vakola police station under sections 504,506 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code. An audio clip had gone viral in which Raut was allegedly heard threatening Swapna Patkar. Notably, Swapna Patkar is also a witness in the Patra Chawl land case in connection to which the ED detained Raut after conducting a raid at his residence. According to sources, ED officials seized Rs 11.50 lakhs unaccounted cash from his residence during the raids. Soon after the ED officials detained him in connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case, the Shiv Sena leader said that he "won`t be cowed down". Speaking to media persons, Raut said, "False charges and documents are being framed against people. All of this is being done to weaken Shiv Sena and Maharashtra. Sanjay Raut won`t be cowed down. I will not leave the party." On June 28 this year, Sanjay Raut was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the prevention of the money laundering case pertaining to the Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl land scam. Raut is being probed in connection with the re-development of Mumbai`s Patra Chawl. In April this year, the ED had attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Sanjay Raut`s wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibag, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar. "Reaching a resolution is both necessary and possible, but can only be done through negotiations and diplomacy," the US State Department said in a statement ahead of Hochstein's visit. Washington's envoy for global infrastructure and investment is "facilitating negotiations between Lebanon and Israel on the maritime boundary", the statement added. Hochstein met with Lebanon's Energy Minister Walid Fayad on Sunday, and was scheduled to meet with President Michel Aoun and prime minister Najib Mikati the following day. The maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel escalated in early June, after Israel moved a production vessel to the Karish offshore field, which is partly claimed by Lebanon. The move prompted Beirut to call for the resumption of US-mediated negotiations on the demarcation dispute. Lebanon and Israel have no diplomatic relations and are separated by a UN-patrolled border. They had resumed maritime border negotiations in 2020 but the process was stalled by Beirut's claim that the map used by the United Nations in the talks needed modifying. Lebanon initially demanded 860 square kilometres (330 square miles) of territory in the disputed maritime area but then asked for an additional 1,430 square kilometres, including part of the Karish field. Israel claims that the field lies in its waters and is not part of the disputed area subject to ongoing negotiations. On July 2, Israel said it had downed three drones launched by Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah that were headed towards the gas field. The powerful Shiite Muslim movement on Sunday released a short video it said showed surveillance of several Israeli-chartered energy infrastructure ships, including the production vessel sent to Karish which is operated by London-listed firm Energean. Iran-backed Hezbollah's chief Hassan Nasrallah earlier this month warned that if Lebanon was prevented from extracting oil and gas from its waters, "nobody" would be able to do so, adding that Israeli offshore fields were "under threat" from the group's missiles. Israel and Hezbollah last fought a devastating war in 2006. Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyendar Jain on Saturday withdrew his interim bail plea filed on medical grounds. Jain was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case on May 30. The special CBI court on Saturday noted that Satyendar Jain is getting discharged from the hospital today and wishes to withdraw the application for interim bail. Special Judge Geetanjali Goel on Saturday after noting down the submission of Jain`s lawyer, allowed him to withdraw the bail plea. Meanwhile, the court granted interim bail to Poonam Jain, wife of Satyendar Jain in the case and noted that she was not arrested during the investigation and a charge sheet has already been filed by the ED in the case. Recently, the court took cognisance of the Prosecution Complaint (Chargesheet) filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Satyendar Jain, his wife and eight others including 4 firms in connection to the money laundering case. On the last date of hearing, the court also granted interim bail to two accused Ajeet Kumar Jain and Sunil Kumar Jain who were named as accused in the charge sheet, for a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and asked their counsels to file regular bail on the next date. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had filed a prosecution complaint (charge sheet) naming the Delhi Minister and others in a money laundering case. The ED prosecution complaint has named Satyendar Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, Vaibhav Jain, Ankush Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain and Sunil Jain including four private firms as accused. The accused in the prosecution complaint are accused of violations under sections of the money laundering Act. The ED on June 6 had claimed to have seized Rs 2.85 crore of cash and 133 gold coins weighing 1.80 kg from Satyendra Jain`s aides during its day-long raid conducted at various places across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The agency had also seized various incriminating documents and digital records during these raids. The ED then said that the total movable assets were seized from "an unexplained source" and were "found to be secreted" in the raided premises. The ED had initiated a money-laundering investigation on the basis of a First Information Report registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on 24 August 2017 under Section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(e) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 against Satyendar Jain, Poonam Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain. The CBI filed a charge sheet on 3 December 2018 against Satyendar Kumar Jain, Poonam Jain, Ajit Prasad Jain, Sunil Kumar Jain, Vaibhav Jain and Ankush Jain. The charge sheet mentioned that Satyendar Jain, while holding the office as a Minister in the Government of Delhi, during the period from 14 February 2014 to 31 May 2017, had acquired assets which were disproportionate to his known sources of income. The CBI has accused Satyendar Kumar Jain and others of the commission of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Jain was arrested after the ED attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore, in April, owned by the private firms under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 in connection with the disproportionate asset and money laundering case registered against Jain, his wife Poonam Jain, and others. Vice presidential poll 2022: The members of Parliament will vote to elect the next Vice President of India on Saturday (August 6, 2022) with Venkaiah Naidu's term ending on August 10. NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar and Opposition pick Margaret Alva will fight it out today to become the next Vice President of India. With numbers stacked in favour of the NDA, Dhankhar, former governor of West Bengal, is set for an easy win. Jagdeep Dhankhar is in an advantageous position with the support of several parties like Janta Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK and Shiv Sena. He is likely to get over 515 votes against Margaret Alva's speculated 200 votes. Cracks were visible in opposition unity as Mamata Banerjees Trinamool Congress decided to abstain from voting alleging lack of consultations while deciding on the name of Alva. The 80-year-old Alva is a Congress veteran and has served as governor of Rajasthan, while the 71-year-old Dhankhar is a Jat leader from Rajasthan with socialist background. While polling will be held from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, the ballots will be counted immediately after that. By late Saturday evening, the returning officer will announce the name of the next vice president. Members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are eligible to vote in the vice presidential poll. It may be noted that the electoral college in the vice presidential election comprises a total of 788 members of both Houses of Parliament. Since all the electors are members of both Houses of Parliament, the value of vote of each MP would be the same one, the Election Commission has said. The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote and the voting at such election is by secret ballot. (With agency inputs) Vice-Presidential Elections 2022: Polling for the Vice Presidential election began on Saturday (August 6, 2022) at 10 am and will continue till 5 pm. All MPs of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are entitled to vote in the vice presidential election. The counting of votes in Vice-Presidential Elections, in which NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankar is expected to sail through with BJP support alone and opposition's Margaret Alva looks set to be a very distant second, will take place today itself. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former PM Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were among the first ones to cast vote. #WATCH | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi casts his vote for the Vice Presidential election, at the Parliament pic.twitter.com/cJWlgGHea7 ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2022 Delhi | Former Prime Minister and Congress MP Dr Manmohan Singh cast his vote for the Vice Presidential election today at the Parliament. pic.twitter.com/PUH0RDcVIm ANI (@ANI) August 6, 2022 Delhi | Union Home Minister Amit Shah casts his vote for the Vice Presidential election, at the Parliament pic.twitter.com/eH75fIzcRe August 6, 2022 With the ruling BJP having an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and 91 members in the Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar has a clear edge over his rival. The next Vice-President of the country will take the oath of office on August 11, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends. The vice president of India, which is the second-highest constitutional post in the country, is elected through an electoral college consisting of members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK and Shiv Sena have expressed their support for Dhankar. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) have expressed their support to Alva. The Trinamool Congress has said that is abstaining from the voteOn July 18, Dhankhar filed his nomination papers before Returning Officer and Secretary General, Lok Sabha in the Parliament House. In 2017, the NDA nominated Venkaiah Naidu as its candidate for the vice-presidential election and his term ends on August 10, 2022. Kolkata: Arpita Mukherjee`s advocate on Friday, while claiming a threat to her life, pleaded before the court to get her Division 1 prisoner category. ED advocate Phiroz Edulzi agreed with the argument of Arpita's lawyer of life threat and further said that she should not be kept with more than four prisoners in general. Earlier today, former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee were produced before the City Sessions Court. Also Read: Partha Chatterjee's aide Arpita Mukherjee confesses to ED: 'Illegal money kept in my flats without...' "No one has come out and said that he had asked for bribe, neither in the CBI case nor in ED. Can they show any witness that he has asked for a bribe? Partha Chatterjee is not connected with the crime and the allegations levelled by the CBI are not appropriate," argued Partha's lawyer. "In ED Case on July 22, when his house was raided nothing has been recovered. If you try to ask a man who is not involved in the crime, he will obviously be non-cooperative," he added. Meanwhile, Arpita Mukherjee`s advocate said that there is a threat to her life. ED lawyer says Arpita Mukherjee's food, water need to be tested "Her food and water need to be tested first and then should be given," said the ED Lawyer. While Partha Chatterjee advocate pleaded for bail citing that he will not be harmful. "As he is not a political person now he can leave the MLA post if required," the lawyer said. Partha Chatterjee, Arpita Mukherjee send to judicial custody till August 18 ED also demanded judicial custody of Arpita. The court sent Arpita and former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee to judicial custody till August 18 in connection with the School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam. The hearing concluded from both sides including Arpita Mukherjee and Partha Chatterjee.The ED unearthed many disproportionate assets of Partha Chatterjee since his arrest, of which were three flats in West Bengal`s Diamond City. The ED sleuths have recovered around Rs 50 crore in cash, along with jewellery, from Mukherjee`s two flats in southwest Kolkata and Belghoria.The arrest of Partha Chatterjee followed Rs 21 crore in cash and jewellery worth above Rs 1 crore being recovered from the Kolkata residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of the former education minister. The Enforcement Directorate July 23 recovered over Rs 21 crore in cash from the house of an associate of West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee. The ED raided Arpita Mukerjee`s house in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam. Earlier, Rs 20 crore was recovered from her residence in South Kolkata. ED officials also conducted a raid at the residence of businessman Manoj Jain in Ballygunge. Jain is reportedly an aide of state minister Partha Chatterjee. WBSSC Scam: Partha Chatterjee, who had a lavish life as a senior TMC leader and West Bengal minister, is reportedly highly frustrated inside the jail. The jail sources told Zee 24 Ghanta that Partha was heard cursing himself inside the jail. "Why did you leave a high-ranking job in a private company? Why did you come to politics?" Partha Chatterjee was heard talking to himself. He was also heard telling to the jail staff that he would not have been behind the bars today if he had not joined politics. On Friday, the court rejected the bail plea and sent Partha Chatterjee to 14 days in jail. He was then taken to the Presidency Jail. Partha is currently in a cell of Block 1 of the Presidency Jail. Partha is alone in the cell. As per sources, the former TMC minister ate bread, pulses and vegetables at night. Although he rested at night, he did not sleep much. In the morning, he had tea, biscuits and medicine. Partha Chatterjee entered politics by resigning from a high-ranking job in a private organization. Then, as time passed, he established his place in politics. He was one of the members of Mamata Banerjee's cabinet since the Trinamool government came to power after the reshuffle in the state. From education to industry, the chief minister made him in-charge of various important offices at different times. Even the post of general secretary was created for him at the grassroots level. But Mamata Banerjee dismissed Partha Chatterjee from the cabinet after ED arrested him for teacher recruitment corruption case as Education Minister. Besides, he was also expelled from Trinamool Congress. Once a top leader and minister, now Partha is behind bars... the disappointment in Partha Chatterjee's voice is obvious. On Friday, Partha Chatterjee's lawyer applied for his bail, but it was not accepted. His lawyer claims, "Partha is now a victim. The documents with which he is claimed to be a partner in various companies are fake." Yesterday, Partha and Arpita were sent to 14-day jail custody, till August 18. In the evening, he was taken to the Presidency Correctional Facility. On the other hand, Trinamool party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh gave a stern message to Parthar Jail authorities. He said, "No special arrangements should be made for him by the authorities. He should be kept in a common cell. Let him be kept like a common prisoner. See Partha Chatterjee, how does it feel". New Delhi: Lumpy Skin disease is a growing concern in Rajasthan and has killed over 5,000 cattle heads in the state so far as per an ANI report. To address this, the Jaipur Greater Municipal Corporation has opened the state's first lumpy care centre at the Hingonia Gaushala in the city. What is Lumpy skin disease? According to EFSA, Lumpy skin diseas is a viral infection that affects cattle. It is currently affecting cows and sheeps in India, particularly Rajasthan and Punjab. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. Although relatively uncommon in India, the disease is endemic in most African countries. However, since the past decade it has spread to Middle East, Southeast Europe, Central Asia. Also Read: Lumpy skin disease kills more than 4,000 animals, mainly cows in Rajasthan The disease has been endemic in most African countries, and since 2012 it has spread rapidly through the Middle East, Southeast Europe and West and Central Asia What are the symptoms of Lumpy skin disease virus? In infected animals, it can cause fever, lacrimation, nasal discharge, and hypersalivation. There can be eruptions on the skin and other parts of the body in more than 50% of susceptible cattle. The incubation period is 414 days. Is there any treatment for lumpy skin disease? Currently, the state government of Rajasthan has banned the movement of cattle outside the state and has banned animal fairs as well. On top of that, it has been advised to not throw carcasses of infected cattle in the open. In addition, cattle owners have been told to inform authorities if they notice any signs of the diease in their cattle. The lumpy skin disease has created panic in Rajasthan. It is a contagious skin disease that has killed more than 5,000 cattle heads in the desert state so far, while over one lakh cattle heads have been infected by it. (With agency inpupts) New Delhi: Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson are reportedly no longer dating. As per People, the duo, who were first romantically linked in October 2021, ended their relationship this week. Part of the reason they split was because of their busy schedules. They both travel all the time and it was hard," a source informed the People. Kardashian hosted Saturday Night Live in October, where she and Pete, then a cast member on the long-running NBC comedy series, shared an on-screen kiss. Media reports circulated later that month about a budding romance after they were photographed holding hands at Knott`s Berry Farm theme park in Buena Park, California, The Hollywood Reporter stated. Kardashian, who filed for divorce from Kanye West last year and shares four children with the rapper, discussed her relationship with comedian Davidson during a visit to The Tonight Show in June. At the time, she told host Jimmy Fallon that her then-boyfriend, who signed off from SNL in May after eight seasons, had helped her get a better sense of the show`s famous alums. "I`ve got to be honest: I had no idea you were on," she admitted to Fallon back then. "Even a month after [my SNL hosting gig], I was at dinner, and Will Ferrell was sitting right next to me -- the show had just aired, when I was on -- and he had mentioned he had seen it. And I literally had to text Pete and be like, `Wait, was Will Ferrell on SNL?` And I was so embarrassed." On July 11, the `Kardashians` star posted a series of cute photos of the pair on Instagram, including pics of the two chilling by a pool and Kim resting her feet on her man`s tattooed chest. A few weeks ago, Kardashian unveiled the teaser of the second season of her famous show `the Kardashians` in which she was seen finally addressing her relationship with Pete. She talked about how happy her new relationship is making her. The teaser ended on a steamy note. The Skims founder asked the "Saturday Night Live" alum whether he would like to shower with her. "Babe, do you want to shower with me really quick?" she asks in front of a shocked Khloe Kardashian. In response, Pete, 28, promptly tosses his phone and scampers off to join his girlfriend, 41. The two have not addressed the break-up rumours yet. New Delhi: Garena Free Fire MAX was released last year when Garena Free Fire was banned in India. The FF Max boasts high-resolution visuals and is a popular online royale game that can be played on mobile devices. Its adventure-driven battle game has garnered popularity. These mobile games have received the most downloads on the Google Play store. The players each have their own plans for landing positions, gathering weapons and supplies, and engaging in combat with an enemy. It is created by 111 Dots Studio, whose developers are constantly updating alphanumeric codes that allow users to win free items. Most players prefer to play free online games, and developers are developing more efficient and engaging ways to commercialise online games through in-game purchases. To redeem codes is extremely difficult and expensive to obtain. Read More: iPhone 12 gets MASSIVE discount on Amazon Great Freedom Sale: Heres how to avail it As a result, the codes assist the player in obtaining rewards that are tough to obtain in this game. For a limited period, the codes are available on social media sites on a regular basis. Codes that have expired cannot be redeemed. It contains a 14-digit code composed of letters and words. Read More: WhatsApp users can now book Uber cab with just a click: Check steps here Free Fire MAX Redeem Codes of August 6: FF11WFNPP956 8F3QZKNTLWBZ FF11HHGCGK3B FF11NJN5YS3E B6IYCTNH4PV3 WLSGJXS5KFYR FF10GCGXRNHY ZRJAPH294KV5 Y6ACLK7KUD1N FF119MB3PFA5 FF10617KGU9 SARG886AV5GR YXY3EGTLHGJX MCPTFNXZF4TA FF1164XNJZ2V YXY3EGTLHGJX MCPTFNXZF4TA FF1164XNJZ2V FF11DAKX4WHV X99TK56XDJ4X WOJJAFV3TU5E How to Redeem Garena Free Fire codes for today, August 6, 2022: New Delhi: WION correspondent Anas Mallick who had reached Kabul on Wednesday was abducted by Taliban and alarm bells in India began ringing on Thursday night when no one was able to contact him. Anas was released by the Taliban after almost 24 hours and his crew who were locals were released on Saturday. While in the Taliban's control, the journalist and his crew members were physically assaulted by the militant organization. They suffered painful bruises all over their body according to reports. Anas Mallick abduction: Here's what happened Anas Mallick was in Kabul to cover the Taliban takeover anniversary. Incidentally, this is also close to the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri by the US in a drone strike. On Thursdday, Mallick and his crew were collecting visuals of Kabul for the report. The journalist had gone missing after he had reported from near the supposed home of the now-dead Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri. In an interview with WION, Anas recalled his ordeal while he was kept captive by Taliban. He said, "We were duly accredited, we had all the press credentials and were filming general visuals when we were intercepted, taken out of the car... dragged off the car to be very precise. Our phones were taken away. And then we were physically assaulted. My crew was assaulted and I was assaulted as well. "After some while, we were shifted from the place where were intercepted to what we know is the intelligence unit of the Afghan-Taliban. We were handcuffed, blindfolded, and faced the wildest accusations and after that were questioned thoroughly on our journalistic credentials as well. Personal questions were also hurled at us." Gaza: Palestinian militants in Gaza fired dozens of rockets into Israel on Friday in response to Israeli airstrikes which killed at least 10 people, including a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement. As darkness fell, Israeli authorities said sirens had been sounded in southern and central areas, while images broadcast by Israeli television stations appeared to show a number of missiles being shot down by air defence systems. In Tel Aviv, Israel`s economic centre, witnesses said they could hear booms but there were no reports of sirens. Islamic Jihad, a militant group with a similar ideology to Hamas, the Islamist movement in charge of Gaza, said it had fired more than 100 rockets on Friday into Israeli cities, including Tel Aviv. Israel`s ambulance service said there were no reports of casualties. The strikes came a little more than a year after an 11-day war between Israel and Hamas in May 2021, which killed at least 250 people in Gaza and 13 in Israel and left the blockaded enclave`s economy shattered. Earlier, local health officials in Gaza said at least 10 people, including a five-year-old child, had been killed and 55 wounded in the Israeli airstrikes, which came after days of escalating tensions following the arrest of a Palestinian militant leader during the week. An Israeli spokesperson said the strikes had killed Islamic Jihad commander Tayseer al-Jaabari and around 15 "terrorists" but said the military did not have a final casualty total. "Israel carried out a precise counterterror operation against an immediate threat," Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a televised statement in which he pledged to do "whatever it takes to defend our people". "Our fight is not with the people of Gaza. Islamic Jihad is an Iranian proxy that wants to destroy the State of Israel and kill innocent Israelis," he said. The Israeli military said in a Twitter post that its war planes targeted Islamic Jihad sites in Gaza that "severely affect the organisation`s ability to develop military capabilities." An Islamic Jihad official confirmed that al-Jaabari, whom the Israeli military described as the main coordinator between Islamic Jihad and Hamas, had been killed in the strikes, which hit several targets around the densely populated strip. Smoke rose from a building where al-Jaabari was apparently killed and glass and rubble were strewn across the street amid the sound of ambulances racing to other sites. As mourners prepared to hold funerals for those killed in the attacks, hundreds, some holding Palestinian flags, marched through the streets of Gaza, while queues formed outside bakeries and supermarkets as people stocked up on food and staples. The strikes came after Israel arrested Bassam al-Saadi, a senior leader of the Islamic Jihad group, during a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin earlier this week. It subsequently closed off all Gaza crossings and some nearby roads over fears of retaliation from the group, which has a stronghold in Gaza, further restricting Palestinian movement. Israel`s military said Defence Minister Benny Gantz had approved plans to call up 25,000 reservists following the strikes, signalling that Israel expected an extended confrontation. `NO RED LINES` In an interview on Al Mayadeen television, a pro-Iranian Lebanese channel, Islamic Jihad leader Ziad al-Nakhala vowed retaliation for the strikes. "There are no red lines in this battle and Tel Aviv will fall under the rockets of resistance, as well as all Israeli cities," he said. Hamas` armed wing issued a statement saying: "The blood of our people and our mujahideen will not go in vain." United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, warned that the "dangerous" escalation risked creating the need for more aid at a time when world resources were stretched by other conflicts. "The launching of rockets must cease immediately, and I call on all sides to avoid further escalation," he said. Egypt said it was mediating between Israel and the Palestinians. Islamic Jihad, one of a cluster of Palestinian militant groups, was founded in Gaza in the 1980s and opposes political dialogue with Israel. Considered close to Iran, it is separate from Hamas but generally cooperates closely with the movement. The Israeli military spokesperson said authorities expected there would be rocket attacks against the centre of Israel but said Iron Dome anti-missile batteries were operational. He said special measures had been imposed in Israeli areas 80 kilometres around Gaza. He said plans to allow fuel trucks into Gaza to keep the area`s sole power plant operational had been dropped at the last minute as intelligence picked up movements that indicated attacks on Israeli targets were imminent. The lack of fuel is set to lead to more power cuts in Gaza, where residents already have just 10 hours of electricity a day, and further hit the economy of a region that depends on foreign aid and still struggles to recover from past wars. A narrow strip of land where some 2.3 million people live on a patch of 365 square kilometres (140 square miles), Gaza has been a constant point of conflict ever since Hamas took control. Israel has fought five conflicts with Gaza since 2009. The area has since been under blockade, with Israel and Egypt tightly restricting movement of people and goods in and out. "We have not yet been able to reconstruct what Israel had destroyed a year ago. People didn`t have the chance to breathe, and here Israel is attacking again without any reason," said Mansour Mohammad-Ahmed, 43, a farmer from central Gaza. One in eight people who get coronavirus develop at least one symptom of long COVID, one of the most comprehensive studies on the condition to date suggested on Thursday. With more than half a billion coronavirus cases recorded worldwide since the start of the pandemic, there has been rising concern about the lasting symptoms seen in people with long COVID. However, almost none of the existing research has compared long COVID sufferers with people who have never been infected, making it possible that some of the health problems were not caused by the virus. A new study published in The Lancet journal asked more than 76,400 adults in the Netherlands to fill out an online questionnaire on 23 common long COVID symptoms. From March 2020 to August 2021, each participant filled out the questionnaire 24 times. During that period, more than 4,200 of them, 5.5 percent, reported catching COVID. Of those with COVID, more than 21 percent had at least one new or severely increased symptom three to five months after becoming infected. However nearly 9 percent of the control group, which did not have COVID, reported a similar increase in some symptoms. This suggested that 12.7 percent of those who had COVID -- around 1 in 8 -- suffered from long-term symptoms, the study said. The research also recorded symptoms before and after COVID infection, allowing the researchers to further pinpoint exactly what was related to the virus. It found that common long COVID symptoms include chest pain, breathing difficulties, muscle pain, loss of taste and smell, and general fatigue. London: Russia and Ukraine on Friday accused each other of shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the biggest of its kind in Europe, and laying the ground for a potential disaster. Russia`s defence ministry said it was only by luck that a radiation accident had been avoided after what it described as an artillery barrage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy though said Moscow was responsible and accused it of committing "an open, brazen crime, an act of terror". In a late night address he demanded sanctions on the entire Russian nuclear industry. "It is a purely a security issue. Those who create nuclear threats to other nations are certainly not capable of using nuclear technologies safely," he said. The Russian defence ministry said the generating capacity of one unit had been reduced and power supply to another had been cut. In addition, the nearby city of Enerhodar had power and water supply problems, it said. "Fortunately, the Ukrainian shells did not hit the oil and fuel facility and the oxygen plant nearby, thus avoiding a larger fire and a possible radiation accident," a ministry statement said. Enerhodar and the nearby nuclear plant were seized by invading Russian troops in early March, and are still close to the frontline. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday accused Moscow of using the plant as a shield for its forces, and Ukraine has accused Russia of shelling its positions from positions near the power station. "The possible consequences of hitting an operating reactor are equivalent to the use of an atomic bomb," Ukraine`s foreign ministry said on Twitter. Ukraine`s state nuclear power company, Energoatom, earlier said the plant was operational and no radioactive discharges had been detected. Two of the six reactors are still operating. The Russian-installed administration of Enerhodar said on Friday that power lines at the plant had been cut by a Ukrainian artillery strike. The facility continues to be run by its Ukrainian technicians. Reuters was unable to verify the battlefield reports. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said this week that contact with the plant was "fragile" and communications did not function every day. He appealed for access to determine whether it was a source of danger. Demand is growing for travel with pets on holiday, straining the limited places available on airlines that are slow to catch up with the trend. Low-cost carriers have been quicker off the mark, offering discounts on pet airfare to attract more customers. A total of 33,000 pets flew on T'way Air, Jeju Air and Air Busan in the first half of this year, which averages 5,500 a month, compared to 28,200 or 2,350 two years ago. "The number of travelers flying with their pets this year surged more than 120 percent compared to last year, especially since April when lockdown ended," a Jin Air staffer said. KYODO NEWS - Aug 6, 2022 - 17:27 | All, Japan Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Saturday pledged to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen that Japan will support efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to improve the situation in junta-controlled Myanmar. During their meeting in Phnom Penh, Hayashi expressed "serious concern" about executions of four Myanmar people, including two pro-democracy activists, announced last week by the military government that seized power in the Southeast Asian country in a February 2021 coup, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. Hun Sen told Hayashi that Cambodia will work together with Japan to break the deadlock in Myanmar, while showing his gratitude for Tokyo's unwavering support, the ministry said. Related coverage: Asia-Pacific ministerial meeting exposes rift over Taiwan Japan, ASEAN vow to cooperate in maritime security in Indo-Pacific China skips talks with Japan in Cambodia over Taiwan As this year's ASEAN chair, Cambodia has been engaging in active diplomacy to tackle the issue of Myanmar where the junta continues its violent suppression of people calling for democracy. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn visited Myanmar twice earlier this year as ASEAN's special envoy to hold talks with top military officials. During his visits, however, Prak Sokhonn could not meet Aung San Suu Kyi, who had led the elected Myanmar government but was ousted in the coup and remains in detention. Hayashi and Hun Sen also exchanged views on growing tensions over Taiwan, according to the ministry, but it did not elaborate. China, which regards the self-ruled island as a renegade province to be reunified with the mainland, began military drills near Taiwan on Thursday in response to U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent visit there. Later Saturday, Hayashi also met with Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. The two nations affirmed they will promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry. The meetings were held on the sidelines of ASEAN-related foreign ministerial meetings held in the Cambodian capital from Wednesday. KYODO NEWS - Aug 5, 2022 - 22:28 | All, Japan, Coronavirus The Japanese government plans to roll out a new type of COVID-19 vaccine considered effective for the Omicron variant as early as October, sources familiar with the matter said Friday. The so-called bivalent vaccine combines ingredients used for existing COVID-19 shots and those derived from the BA.1 subtype of the Omicron variant, and is expected to curb the spread of the BA.5 subvariant currently prevalent across the country. The new vaccine is under development by U.S. pharmaceutical companies Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. Their products were found to increase neutralizing antibodies against the BA.1 subvariant and were also effective for the BA.5 subtype to some extent, according to some reports. The two companies are set to apply for authorization for their products to be used in Japan soon, according to the sources. A health ministry panel to be held Monday will discuss whether Japan should introduce the new vaccine, the sources said. The government plans to make it available to elderly people and those with preexisting conditions first as they are at higher risk of developing severe symptoms. Younger people may become eligible for the shot depending on how effective it proves to be. Japan's daily infection tally soared to a record 249,830 on Wednesday, with the number continuing to climb since early July amid the seventh wave of the pandemic driven by the highly transmissible BA.5 subvariant. The drug makers are also planning to roll out the new vaccine in Europe. By Reito Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Aug 6, 2022 - 15:42 | All, Japan, World Hiroshima on Saturday marked the 77th anniversary of its atomic bombing by the United States, amid heightened concern in Japan and elsewhere over repeated Russian threats to resort to nuclear weapons amid the war in Ukraine. Mayor Kazumi Matsui cautioned in a Peace Declaration at a memorial ceremony in the western city that even as civilian lives are being lost in the Russian aggression, reliance on nuclear deterrence is gaining momentum around the world. "We must immediately render all nuclear buttons meaningless," he said. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres was also present at the annual ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park near ground zero, becoming the first U.N. chief to attend since his predecessor Ban Ki Moon in 2010. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents a constituency in Hiroshima, decried in his remarks the apparently declining momentum toward a world without nuclear weapons, calling on humanity not to repeat the tragedy of nuclear weapons use. The prime minister said Japan will work to connect the "reality" of a deteriorating security environment and the "ideal" of a world without nuclear weapons. With Hiroshima set to host the summit meeting of the Group of Seven nations next May, Kishida said he and the other leaders will pledge in front of a monument symbolizing peace to work together to safeguard universal values. A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact moment that a uranium bomb dropped from a U.S. bomber detonated over the city on Aug. 6, 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people by the end of the year. The ceremony drew representatives from 99 nations and the European Union, while Russia and Belarus, which is aiding Moscow in the Ukraine war, were not invited. In the declaration, the mayor highlighted the need for urgent action by nuclear weapons states to build bridges of trust and take concrete steps toward realizing a nuclear-free world. "To accept the status quo and abandon the ideal of peace maintained without military force is to threaten the very survival of the human race," Matsui said. The mayor urged the leaders of nuclear powers to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the other Japanese city devastated by a U.S. atomic bombing in 1945, to "personally encounter the consequences of using nuclear weapons." "I want them to understand that the only sure way to protect the lives and property of their people is to eliminate nuclear weapons," he added. Matsui called on the Japanese government to act as a bridge between nuclear weapons states and non-nuclear weapons states, ratify a U.N. treaty banning nuclear weapons and participate in the next conference of parties to the treaty even as an observer, after Japan skipped the first one held in June. Guterres warned in his remarks that a "new arms race is picking up speed," while crises with grave nuclear undertones are unfolding, including in Ukraine. "It is totally unacceptable for states in possession of nuclear weapons to admit the possibility of nuclear war," he said. "Take the nuclear option off the table -- for good. It's time to proliferate peace," he added, calling on nuclear powers to commit to "no first use" of nuclear weapons. After the ceremony, Kishida and Guterres toured the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. During their brief talks, the two agreed to continue working closely toward a world free of nuclear weapons, the Foreign Ministry said. The ceremony was on a larger scale than last year's as restrictions to stem the spread of COVID-19 have been eased nationwide, but the number of prepared seats was still only a third of pre-pandemic levels, or about 3,550, and 2,854 people actually attended. The impact of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's assassination last month was also palpable with metal detectors introduced to check attendees at the entrance. A stream of visitors came to the park from the early morning to offer prayers and flowers to those who suffered as a result of the bombing. They included many survivors, known as hibakusha in Japanese. One survivor, 95-year-old Ikue Suzuki, arrived in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, the arch-shaped monument in the park, in a wheelchair pushed by her daughter. As Suzuki prayed, she said in tears, "Why did you have to die, Azuma san?" Shizue Azuma was her best friend and they were together in a hospital when it collapsed because of the blast, leaving her friend dead. "I'm becoming more afraid that peace might be gone because of the situation in Ukraine, while Japan's neighbors are showing signs of war," she said. "I'm always worried in my heart that if humanity has nuclear weapons, there will surely be another war," said Suzuki, who traveled from Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo to attend the ceremony for the first time. During a meeting with Kishida after the ceremony, representatives of local atomic bomb survivors' groups called for the government to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and be the "front-runner in nuclear abolition." Kishida signaled that ratification was not yet on the table, saying, "The treaty serves as an exit to a world without nuclear weapons. We have to start by changing our ally, the United States." Three days after the bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" decimated Hiroshima, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Japan surrendered to the Allied forces six days later, marking the end of World War II. The city has in the past year added a further 4,978 people to the list of those officially recognized as victims of the atomic bombing who have died. The list, bearing the names of 333,907 people, was placed back in a space within the cenotaph on Saturday. The combined number of officially recognized survivors of the two nuclear attacks stood at 118,935 as of March, down 8,820 from a year earlier, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. Their average age was 84.53. Gist of Hiroshima Peace Declaration on 77th A-bomb anniversary The following is the gist of the Peace Declaration read Saturday by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui at a ceremony to mark the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city. -- By invading Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is stealing the lives and livelihoods of innocent civilians in Ukraine. -- Nuclear deterrence is gaining momentum worldwide, which is a betrayal of humanity's determination to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. -- Accepting the status quo and abandoning the ideal of peace maintained without military force will threaten the human race. -- Humanity must immediately render all nuclear buttons meaningless. -- I want leaders of nuclear weapon states to understand the only sure way to protect the lives and property of their people is to eliminate nuclear weapons, and hope those who attend the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima next year will reach this conclusion. -- Hiroshima will continue striding toward nuclear weapons abolition with a "never give up" spirit. -- I demand Japan serve as a mediator at the ongoing Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference. Japan must participate in the next meeting of parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and promptly join the pact. KYODO NEWS - Aug 6, 2022 - 21:57 | All, World, Sports British motorcycle racer Gino Rea crashed during practice for a race at Japan's Suzuka Circuit on Saturday, got seriously injured and fell into a coma, local police said. Rea's motorbike slammed into the wall of a course at the circuit in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture, and he was transferred to a hospital by an ambulance helicopter, the police said. Spectators and race staff were not injured, they said. The 32-year-old motorcyclist of F.C.C. TSR Honda France was to compete in an eight-hour endurance race being held at the circuit from Thursday to Sunday. This file photo taken on Oct. 29, 2018, shows the front view of the new terminal at Juba International Airport in Juba, capital of South Sudan. (Xinhua/Gale Julius) The China Harbour Engineering Company said that it will provide technical skills training to South Sudan's citizens to manage the country's air traffic management (ATM) system. JUBA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) said that it will provide technical skills training to South Sudan's citizens to manage the country's air traffic management (ATM) system. The Chinese firm has currently been contracted by the South Sudanese government to construct the ATM with 70 percent of the project completed. The center station of the ATM system is located around the Juba International Airport. Two other main stations are also being constructed in Wau of Western Bahr el Ghazal and Malakal in Upper Nile, and substations in Raja County in Western Bahr el Ghazal, Kapoeta County in Eastern Equatoria and Bor in Jonglei states. Duan Fanping, Business Manager for CHEC South Sudan told Xinhua that the firm will train South Sudan citizens to be part of the management of the facility upon completion, adding that the examination has been held in late July by the South Sudanese government. The training program will soon start after that. Duan said the training will focus on air traffic management, communication, navigation, surveillance control, aviation meteorology, and equipment maintenance. He said that before the completion of the facility in June 2023, CHEC will also assist to train the experts from Civil Aviation Authority who will provide maintenance services at the facility along with their Chinese counterparts. "We want to have a long-term relationship with South Sudan, so we not only consider the construction of an ATM, but we also consider the training to support its future maintenance and operations," Duan said in Juba, the capital of South Sudan. Duan revealed that CHEC is currently in negotiation with the Ministry of Transport to bring in Chinese experts who will train local technicians on the maintenance of the ATM. The ATM system is a 200 million U.S. dollar concessional loan project to South Sudan, channeled through the Export-Import Bank of China. The project comprises the construction of the Juba ATM center, new Air Traffic control tower and operation building, surveillance system, navigation system, communication system, and the civil engineering and supporting facilities such as meteorological facilities, calibration flight test, and personnel training. NAIROBI, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR connects Mombasa, the largest port in East Africa, and Nairobi, Kenya's capital city. It's Kenya's largest infrastructure project since its independence in 1963. The Mombasa-Nairobi SGR snakes through Tsavo National Park, a world-famous tourist destination. To protect the safety of wildlife, the SGR contractor erected electric fences on both sides of the tracks besides installing wide underpasses at short intervals to facilitate the movement of animals. Efforts have also been made to ensure that the mangrove forests and estuaries were not affected by the infrastructure project, as tall concrete pillars support an overpass for the SGR. Produced by Xinhua Global Service Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song on Friday blasted the United States for its negative moves on disarmament. #GLOBALink Produced by Xinhua Global Service BEIJING, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- China, the world's largest hydrogen producer, is seeing gathering growth steam in its nascent hydrogen energy industry as local governments and companies race to seize emerging opportunities in the sector's catalytic role in empowering the country's green shift. Several local governments have recently introduced supportive policies to speed up hydrogen energy industrial layout, involving the promotion of fuel-cell vehicles, the construction of hydrogen refueling stations and the development of industrial chains. The country's capital city of Beijing unveiled an initial plan on Tuesday, mulling offering subsidies up to 30 million yuan (about 4.45 million U.S. dollars) per project in fields like advanced hydrogen production, storage and transportation and hydrogen refuelling facilities. Last month, east China's Shandong Province said that it's looking to build a hydrogen energy industry totaling over 100 billion yuan, roll out at least 10,000 fuel-cell vehicles, and build 100 hydrogen refueling stations by 2025. The local governments' passion for the sector is well-grounded, as the country has huge growth potential in utilizing hydrogen energy, especially its application in empowering green vehicles by making fuel cells. Hydrogen can only be generated by consuming primary energy such as coal, natural gas and renewable energy. China has an annual hydrogen production output of about 33 million tonnes, but most of the hydrogen comes from fossil fuels. By 2025, the country will have about 50,000 fuel-cell vehicles and its annual hydrogen production from renewable energy will reach 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes, according to a plan jointly released by the National Development and Reform Commission, and the National Energy Administration (NEA) in March. The plan acknowledged that China's hydrogen energy industry is still in its infancy, facing multiple problems such as weak innovation capabilities, low level of technical equipment and insufficient basic support for industrial development. Data from the NEA showed that China had over 270 hydrogen refueling stations by the end of June, which is quite a small network compared with the country's extensive presence of charging facilities for electric vehicles. The country has over 300 hydrogen energy-related companies with annual operating revenue of at least 20 million yuan. Its growing hydrogen energy market has attracted both domestic and foreign firms. Global energy giant Shell announced in July that its China branch has teamed up with a Chinese counterpart to form a joint venture in Shanghai to build a network of hydrogen refuelling stations in the Chinese financial hub, which will be Shell's first hydrogen refuelling network in Asia. The joint venture plans to build six to 10 hydrogen refuelling stations in Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta over the next five years and scale up to 30 stations across the Yangtze River Delta by 2030. These 30 stations could provide hydrogen supply to about 3,000 fuel-cell trucks or buses every day, according to the company. "Hydrogen will play an important role in reducing emissions of hard-to-abate sectors such as transport and heavy industry in China," said Jason Wong, Executive Chairman of Shell Companies in China. "We see opportunities across the hydrogen value chain in China," Wong said. BEIJING, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- When Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited China's Taiwan region, Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities tried to ingratiate themselves with her, betraying the interests of the Chinese nation. Tsai and the DPP authorities, colluding with external forces for "Taiwan independence" provocations, are pushing Taiwan into danger. Their clumsy performance exposes their political nature of splitting the country. To gain the so-called external "support" or "protection," Tsai and the DPP authorities have for some time sped up the collusion with external anti-China forces. Politically, they have continuously elevated the level of interaction with the United States, and followed the rhetoric of the United States and some other Western nations to hype up the so-called "China threat". Militarily, they have been deeply involved in the U.S. "Indo-Pacific strategy," and sought the expansion of arms sales from the United States to beef up the attempt to resist reunification by the use of force. Economically, they have claimed that Taiwan would "decouple" with the mainland, dreaming of being totally absorbed into the industrial and supply chains of the United States and other Western nations. In the meantime, they have spread fallacies such as "Taiwan's status is undetermined" and "Taiwan's future should be determined by itself," attacked UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, and deliberately challenged the one-China principle, which is a basic norm of international relations. Tsai and the DPP authorities stubbornly pushed for Pelosi's Taiwan visit, which has seriously undermined the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, gravely endangered the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and severely harmed the common interests of compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the fundamental interests of the Chinese nation. During their meeting, Tsai and Pelosi "sang a duet" aimed at packaging separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence" in the guise of "upholding democracy." No matter how Tsai and the DPP authorities try to justify or whitewash their acts, what they have done proves that they are troublemakers seeking to instigate cross-Strait confrontations, saboteurs of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, and perpetrators who harm the interests of the Taiwan people. The DPP has taken Pelosi's visit as a tool to help it gain an advantage in upcoming local elections, as it desperately needs something to dilute public discontent over its incompetent governance and to divert public attention from scandals surrounding the DPP candidates standing for local elections. The latest clumsy show of the DPP and Pelosi has once again exposed the DPP authorities' despicable political inclination to place its own interests above those of the Chinese nation, and to prioritize its electoral interests over Taiwan people's well-being. The DPP should know that China's reunification is the trend of the times that cannot be reversed. All necessary measures will be taken to firmly safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This is manifested in the military drills in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island and the punishments to be slapped on die-hard "Taiwan independence" elements and relevant organizations connected to them, among others. The trend of the times cannot be reversed, and the will of the people cannot be defied. Pelosi's visit has caused strong indignation among all Chinese people, including compatriots in Taiwan. More and more Taiwan compatriots have realized that the external forces manipulate Taiwan-related issues only to seek their own political gains, boost the scheme to use Taiwan to contain China, and reap benefits from arms deals, in total disregard of the interests of people in Taiwan. According to public opinion polls, more than two thirds of netizens in Taiwan were not supportive of Pelosi's visit to Taiwan. Lately, political parties, groups, and individuals in Taiwan that oppose "Taiwan independence" and stand for reunification have expressed their protest against Pelosi's visit and slammed Tsai and the DPP authorities for colluding with external forces. Pelosi's visit to Taiwan cannot change the iron-clad fact that Taiwan is a part of China, and won't shake in the slightest the inevitable trend of reunification of China. "Taiwan independence" is a dead end. We have this stern warning for Tsai and the DPP authorities that any attempt to rely on the United States to seek "Taiwan independence" is bound to fail. Anyone who betrays the collective interests of the Chinese nation and engages in "Taiwan independence" activities will come to no good end. * With the largest number of confirmed cases in the world, the United States has become a major epicenter of the global monkeypox. The virus has been spreading at a faster pace across the country over the past days, exacerbating its ongoing health crisis that results from the still-ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. * After repeated warnings from health experts, the U.S. government on Thursday declared monkeypox a public health emergency. Several states have also made their own emergency declarations over the virus. * However, the measures taken by state and federal governments have been blamed by many as too late. There is a prevailing fear that the monkeypox outbreak will turn into another public health disaster. LOS ANGELES, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- During the past days, monkeypox has been spreading at a faster pace across the United States, exacerbating the country's ongoing health crisis that results from the still-ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. government has declared monkeypox a public health emergency, and several states have also made their own emergency declarations over the virus, hence more tests and vaccines to be ensured. However, experts have complained that the governmental responses are too sluggish and inadequate, warning of the government's more possible blunders in the face of the new public health threat. MONKEYPOX ON OFFENSIVE Last month, the World Health Organization officially declared that the current multi-country monkeypox outbreak outside of the traditional endemic areas in Africa has already turned into a public health emergency of international concern. With the largest number of confirmed cases in the world, the United States has become a major epicenter of the global monkeypox outbreak. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Friday, 7,510 monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases have been reported across the country this year. A man sanitizes his hands at a monkeypox vaccination site in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, July 30, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) The curve of the national caseload is worrying as the number of infections has spiraled from dozens of cases a week to hundreds a day. Mounting concerns over the outbreak have forced the authorities to take further measures. After repeated warnings from health experts, the U.S. government on Thursday declared monkeypox a public health emergency. "We are prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus and we urge every American to take monkeypox seriously," Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), told reporters during a briefing. On Monday, the U.S. states of California and Illinois both declared monkeypox emergencies, following an emergency declaration made on July 29 by the state of New York. California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in a statement, saying: "California is working urgently across all levels of government to slow the spread of monkeypox, leveraging our robust testing, contact tracing and community partnerships strengthened during the pandemic to ensure that those most at risk are our focus for vaccines, treatment and outreach." Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker declared the monkeypox virus a statewide public health emergency, and the state a "disaster area" regarding the disease. On July 29, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency due to the growing monkeypox cases in the state. The three states have altogether reported nearly half of all confirmed cases in the country. SLACK RESPONSES On the federal level, a public health emergency can trigger grant funding and open up more resources for various aspects of a federal response. It also allows the HHS secretary to enter into contracts for treatments and other necessary medical supplies and equipment, as well as support emergency hospital services, among other things. Doses of monkeypox vaccine are pictured in Chicago, the United States, July 25, 2022. (Photo by Vincent Johnson/Xinhua) The states' own emergency declarations will also provide them with more resources to handle the outbreak. In California, the emergency declaration will help the most populous U.S. state to get an additional 72,000 doses of vaccine against monkeypox from the federal government, and enable emergency medical services personnel to administer vaccines, along with deployment of vaccine clinics through local and community organization partnerships. The state of emergency in Illinois, which came into effect immediately and will be in place for 30 days, will allow the Illinois Department of Public Health to utilize resources for coordinating logistics across state agencies, and quickly and efficiently aid in the distribution of vaccines and in the prevention and treatment of the disease. However, the measures taken by state and federal governments have been blamed by many as too late. Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), disclosed in a recent New York Times story that the CDC should expand testing for monkeypox in May, but the agency did not take this measure until late June. The CDC should lead America's response to viral exigencies, he said, but the agency lacks the infrastructure to mobilize a rapid response and is too hidebound and process-driven to move quickly. In a letter dated July 29 and sent to the HHS, Carolyn Maloney, chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, said, "the federal government must take every step possible to mitigate the threat monkeypox poses to the health of people in the United States before it is too late." Health care workers assist people waiting to be vaccinated at a monkeypox vaccination site in New York, the United States, July 14, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) ANOTHER PANDEMIC? Actually, as early as late July when the virus infected only 3,000 Americans, health experts warned the United States was running out of time to contain the monkeypox outbreak. "We're losing daylight," Anne Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at the Fielding School of Public Health of the University of California, Los Angeles, said last month. "Every day that we aren't continuing to push forward on all fronts, the less likely it is that we will be able to contain it," she has said. U.S. officials have already started to expand testing and make more vaccines available. But limited supplies have not matched the demand, health experts said. "We are way behind in a lot of aspects, including rapid testing and access to treatment for those patients who might need treatment," Preeti Malani, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Michigan, told the National Public Radio. A medical worker gives a dose of monkeypox vaccine to a recipient in Chicago, the United States, July 25, 2022. (Photo by Vincent Johnson/Xinhua) Sanjay Gupta, CNN chief medical correspondent, blamed the government's incapability of mounting a significant response to an emerging outbreak, including COVID-19 and monkeypox, on the so-called "cavalry culture," in which the administration waits for the cavalry to rescue instead of taking smaller preventive steps and acting early to head off the outbreak in the first place. "The medical system is set up for the cavalry to come in with expensive medications and high-tech interventions, instead of providing equitable access and incentives for preventative care," he wrote in a recent story. Given the government's botched COVID-19 responses, there is a prevailing fear that the monkeypox outbreak will turn into another public health disaster. "This outbreak has grown to be a public health crisis in America. We are still in a very chaotic situation at the state and local level ... ," David Harvey, executive director of the National Coalition of STD Directors, told The Guardian. Gottlieb, the former FDA official, said there are more parallels between the authorities' systemic failings to combat COVID and monkeypox, which both rest with political leaders' poor planning, lack of urgency and clumsy execution and the bureaucracy charged with countering these threats. "Our country's response to monkeypox has been plagued by the same shortcomings we had with COVID-19. Now if monkeypox gains a permanent foothold in the United States and becomes an endemic virus that joins our circulating repertoire of pathogens, it will be one of the worst public health failures in modern times not only because of the pain and peril of the disease but also because it was so avoidable," Gottlieb warned. (Video reporters: Xia Lin, Zhang Mocheng and Huang Heng; video editors: Chen Sihong and Li Qin) Video: Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song on Aug. 5, 2022 blasted the United States for its negative moves on disarmament at a committee meeting of the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). (Xinhua) The countries with the largest nuclear arsenals -- the United States and Russia -- should effectively fulfill the special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament and make further significant and substantive reductions of their respective nuclear arsenals in a verifiable, irreversible and legally binding manner, so as to create the necessary conditions for comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament, says Li Song. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song on Friday blasted the United States for its negative moves on disarmament. Driven by the Cold War mentality, the United States has been obsessed with major-power strategic competition and has sought absolute strategic advantage, strengthened military alliances, stirred up bloc confrontation on the eastern and western sides of the Eurasia continent, and pressed ahead with the forward deployment of nuclear missiles and other strategic forces, Li told a committee meeting of the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song speaks at a committee meeting of the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the UN headquarters in New York on Aug. 5, 2022. (China Mission to the UN/Handout via Xinhua) "These negative moves have seriously undermined the mutual trust among major powers, disrupted global strategic balance and stability, hindered international nuclear disarmament efforts, and increased the risk of nuclear arms race and conflicts," he said. The international community should take the opportunity of this review conference to practice true multiculturalism, firmly resist the Cold War mentality and bloc rivalry, uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security, and hold in-depth discussions on effective ways to advance the international nuclear disarmament process and uphold and strengthen the authority and effectiveness of the NPT, said Li. The countries with the largest nuclear arsenals -- the United States and Russia -- should effectively fulfill the special and primary responsibility for nuclear disarmament and make further significant and substantive reductions of their respective nuclear arsenals in a verifiable, irreversible and legally binding manner, so as to create the necessary conditions for comprehensive and complete nuclear disarmament, he said. The United States should abandon the development and deployment of a global missile defense system, refrain from deploying land-based intermediate-range missiles in the Asia-Pacific and Europe, abandon its policies on nuclear umbrella and nuclear sharing, and withdraw all its nuclear weapons from other countries. The international community should jointly oppose the replication of NATO's nuclear-sharing arrangements in the Asia-Pacific region by relevant countries, he said. Chinese Ambassador for Disarmament Affairs Li Song (L) speaks at a committee meeting of the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the UN headquarters in New York on Aug. 5, 2022. (China Mission to the UN/Handout via Xinhua) China is committed to the path of peaceful development and a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China stands by the rule that it will not attack unless attacked and will certainly fight back if attacked, said Li. China will be resolute in defending its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and resolute in thwarting interference by external forces and attempts by Taiwan separatists, he said. The purpose of China's nuclear weapons development is to deter the use of nuclear weapons on China and to resolutely fight back when the country is attacked by nuclear weapons. From the very first day of possessing nuclear weapons, China has been actively advocating the complete destruction of nuclear weapons. China explicitly undertakes not to be the first to use nuclear weapons at any time and under any circumstances, and unconditionally commits itself to no use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones, he said. China always keeps its nuclear capabilities at the minimum level required for national security and never competes with other countries in input, quantity or scale of nuclear capabilities. China will not participate in an arms race in any form, he said. Photo taken on Jan. 8, 2021 shows freight trains at Erenhot Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (Photo by Guo Pengjie/Xinhua) HOHHOT, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Erenhot, the largest land port on the China-Mongolia border, has logged 10,000 China-Europe freight trains since the cross-border railway service via this port was launched in 2013, according to the local railway authorities. The 10,000th train passing through the port left for Malaszewicze in Poland at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, fully loaded with 50 40-foot containers. "It took over eight years for the number of China-Europe freight trains handled by the port to reach 5,000, and only less than two years for it to grow from 5,000 to 10,000," said Qin Zhicang, with the Erenhot rail port under China Railway Hohhot Group. The port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region now serves 58 China-Europe freight train routes. The routes reach more than 60 destinations across 10 countries. Photo taken in Gaza City on Aug. 5, 2022 shows rockets fired toward Israel. Dozens of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Friday evening by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), all of which were either intercepted or fell in open areas, causing no injuries, the Israeli military said. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) JERUSALEM, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Friday evening by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), all of which were either intercepted or fell in open areas, causing no injuries, the Israeli military said. According to the Israel Defense Forces, the PIJ launched some 80 rockets in southern Israel. Nearly half of them fell short in Gaza, and 46 crossed the border, of which 33 were intercepted by the Iron Dome defense system, and the rest fell in open areas, causing no injuries. The PIJ, an Islamist organization, claimed the firing of over 100 rockets at southern and central Israeli towns, saying the move was "just the beginning" of its response to the Israeli army's killing of its senior commander Tayseer al-Jabari in the afternoon. At least 10 people, including a 5-year-old girl, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave on Friday afternoon, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry, eyewitnesses, and the PIJ. Renewed Israeli airstrikes were carried out throughout the evening, with the Israeli military saying the operation targeted "weapons production and storage facilities as well as shooting positions belonging to the Islamic Jihad." "Israel isn't interested in a wider conflict in Gaza, but will not shy away from one either," said Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid in a televised statement on Friday evening after holding security consultations in Tel Aviv. The heightened tension came after Israeli forces arrested a senior official of the PIJ in the West Bank city of Jenin on Monday. The PIJ vowed to take revenge, prompting the Israeli military to raise its alert along the border with Gaza. Smoke and fire are seen following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Aug. 5, 2022. Dozens of rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel on Friday evening by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), all of which were either intercepted or fell in open areas, causing no injuries, the Israeli military said. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) HOHHOT, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Erenhot, the largest land port on the China-Mongolia border, has logged 10,000 China-Europe freight trains since the cross-border railway service via this port was launched in 2013, according to the local railway authorities. The 10,000th train passing through the port left for Malaszewicze in Poland at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, fully loaded with 50 40-foot containers. "It took over eight years for the number of China-Europe freight trains handled by the port to reach 5,000, and only less than two years for it to grow from 5,000 to 10,000," said Qin Zhicang, with the Erenhot rail port under China Railway Hohhot Group. The port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region now serves 58 China-Europe freight train routes. The routes reach more than 60 destinations across 10 countries. Visitors watch exhibits during the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2022. With an exhibition area of nearly 30,000 square meters, the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition kicked off at the Wuhan International Expo Center on Friday, attracting the participation of approximately 330 enterprises from around the world. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) Visitors watch exhibits during the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2022. With an exhibition area of nearly 30,000 square meters, the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition kicked off at the Wuhan International Expo Center on Friday, attracting the participation of approximately 330 enterprises from around the world. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) A staff member introduces an exhibit to a visitor during the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2022. With an exhibition area of nearly 30,000 square meters, the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition kicked off at the Wuhan International Expo Center on Friday, attracting the participation of approximately 330 enterprises from around the world. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) Visitors watch exhibits during the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2022. With an exhibition area of nearly 30,000 square meters, the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition kicked off at the Wuhan International Expo Center on Friday, attracting the participation of approximately 330 enterprises from around the world. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) Visitors watch exhibits during the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2022. With an exhibition area of nearly 30,000 square meters, the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition kicked off at the Wuhan International Expo Center on Friday, attracting the participation of approximately 330 enterprises from around the world. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) A visitor takes photos of an exhibit during the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2022. With an exhibition area of nearly 30,000 square meters, the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition kicked off at the Wuhan International Expo Center on Friday, attracting the participation of approximately 330 enterprises from around the world. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) Visitors watch an exhibit during the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2022. With an exhibition area of nearly 30,000 square meters, the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition kicked off at the Wuhan International Expo Center on Friday, attracting the participation of approximately 330 enterprises from around the world. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) Visitors watch an exhibit during the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, Aug. 5, 2022. With an exhibition area of nearly 30,000 square meters, the fifth China International Industrial Design Exhibition kicked off at the Wuhan International Expo Center on Friday, attracting the participation of approximately 330 enterprises from around the world. (Xinhua/Xiong Qi) GAZA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Israeli fighter jets on Saturday destroyed a five-storey building in the Gaza Strip, the third residential building targeted by the Israeli airstrikes on the second day of the fire exchange between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ). The Israeli bombardment did not result in any casualties in the evacuated building, except for significant damage to the surrounding houses, said medics at Shifa Hospital in Gaza city. The Israeli drones fired a warning missile at the building before the attack, Palestinian security sources and residents told Xinhua. The residential building is located near Al-Shifa Medical Complex, the largest hospital in the Gaza Strip home to more than 2 million Palestinians. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army on the raids targeting the residential buildings. The residents of the Gaza Strip expressed fear of Israel's resumption of targeting residential buildings, as happened in the last wave of conflicts in May last year. Ahmed Shamalakh, who was forced to leave home after the bomb warning, was sad and shocked when he came back and found debris all over the building. He told Xinhua that his apartment had just been restored two months ago. "The apartment is new, the luggage is new, and I just moved in about two months ago," said Shamalakh, who had recently got married. At least 15 Palestinians, including Tayseer al-Jabari, commander of the PIJ's armed wing, and a 5-year-old girl have been killed and more than 125 others wounded in the Israeli airstrikes, according to the Palestinian health ministry in Gaza. The heightened tension came after Israeli forces arrested a senior official of the PIJ in the West Bank city of Jenin on Monday. The PIJ vowed to take revenge, prompting the Israeli military to raise its alert along the border with Gaza. Israel and Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, have fought several wars in the Palestinian enclave in recent years, the last of which was in May 2021. Photo taken on March 2, 2022 shows the container terminal of Qinzhou Port in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua) In the joint communique issued after the 55th ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, the ministers welcomed the entry into force of the RCEP from Jan. 1, 2022. PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement would be a key contributor to the recovery strategy of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), according to an ASEAN foreign ministers' joint communique released here on Friday. In the joint communique issued after the 55th ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting (55th AMM) held in Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, the ministers welcomed the entry into force of the RCEP from Jan. 1, 2022. "The RCEP would make significant contribution to our recovery strategy and continue to support an inclusive and open trade and investment architecture in the region," the communique said. The ministers also welcomed the outcomes of the first RCEP Joint Committee (RJC) Meeting in April, which discussed the preparation of RCEP implementation, including the establishment of the committees to monitor RCEP implementation and the endorsement of the key elements on the establishment of the RCEP secretariat. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 55th AMM on Wednesday, Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen proposed the establishment of a standalone secretariat in Cambodia to maximize the potential of the RCEP. "Cambodia is ready to host this RCEP secretariat. We have even thought of where in Phnom Penh the secretariat should be located, while we are working to formulate our detailed proposal," he said. "I hope Cambodia can win the support of fellow ASEAN member states, as well as all RCEP participating countries when we submit our proposal officially." The RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The mega-regional pact will eliminate as much as 90 percent of the tariffs on goods traded among its signatories over the next 20 years. Being the world's largest trade bloc, the RCEP established a market of 2.2 billion people, or 30 percent of the world population with a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 26.2 trillion U.S. dollars, which represents around 30 percent of global GDP and 28 percent of global trade. According to an Asian Development Bank's study, the RCEP will increase the member economies' incomes by 0.6 percent by 2030, adding 245 billion U.S. dollars annually to regional income and 2.8 million jobs to regional employment. Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's undersecretary of state and spokesman Penn Sovicheat said the RCEP would inject a new impetus into regional and global economic growth in the long term. "The RCEP will give a big boost to our economy in the post-pandemic era," he told Xinhua. "It is also a well-timed intervention in Cambodia's quest for a Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation, likely by 2028 and the country's planned endeavor to achieve the upper-middle income and high-income statuses by 2030 and 2050, respectively." Kin Phea, director-general of the International Relations Institute of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the RCEP is instrumental in subverting creeping unilateralism because it pulls all bilateral free trade agreements into one economic sphere, under one blanket trade ruling. "It is the most ambitious regional free trade agreement in Asia in which China has played a vital role in converting Asian economy into a core economic polar aimed at averting protectionism and the widespread negative impacts of the trade war," he told Xinhua. BEIJING, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- China's mid- and long-term loans to industry saw steady expansion in the first half of the year (H1), a report from the People's Bank of China shows. By the end of June, the balance of the loans in yuan and foreign currencies stood at 15.25 trillion yuan (about 2.26 trillion U.S. dollars), surging 21.2 percent year on year, with a pace 10.4 percentage points faster than the overall growth of loans, according to the report. In H1, China's mid- and long-term industrial loans increased 1.81 trillion yuan, up 218.1 billion yuan from the same period last year. The data also shows that outstanding mid- and long-term loans to the tertiary sector in yuan and foreign currencies totaled 53.3 trillion yuan as of the end of H1, up 9 percent year on year. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the latter's request on the sidelines of meetings of foreign ministers on East Asia cooperation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug. 5, 2022. Both sides agreed to maintain strategic coordination and deepen practical cooperation. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met here on Friday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the latter's request on the sidelines of meetings of foreign ministers on East Asia cooperation, with both sides agreeing to maintain strategic coordination and deepen practical cooperation. Wang gave a comprehensive elaboration on China's legitimate position on the Taiwan question, and appreciated Russia's immediate reiteration of firm support for the one-China principle and opposition to any act that infringes on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which testifies to the high-level strategic coordination between the two sides. China stands ready to work with Russia to safeguard in a more vigorous way the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law to achieve more effectively lasting security and sustainable development, Wang said. Wang said that under the current situation, China and Russia should jointly promote regional development, calling for boosting mutually beneficial cooperation with regional countries in the fields of fighting COVID-19, health, connectivity, digital economy, as well as green and low-carbon development and building stable and reliable regional industrial and supply chains. China and Russia should support that the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific adheres to independence, ASEAN leadership and the ASEAN approach, Wang said. It is also important to guide countries in the region to pursue a vision of true security that is common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable, rather than the false security of seeking supremacy and confrontation, and uphold a genuine order based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and oppose a fake order based on hegemony and bullying, Wang said. China and Russia should strengthen the alignment and cooperation between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, and forge a bigger synergy with the Greater Eurasian Partnership, so as to jointly promote unity, development and prosperity of the Eurasian continent, pool efforts to jointly uphold the norms governing international relations, strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, and lead the world development in the right direction. Lavrov said the United States has a habit of bullying around. Its hegemonic policies run counter to international consensus and are doomed to have no future. Russia is ready to work with China to uphold international law and the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, Lavrov said. The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concern such as BRICS cooperation, the Iranian nuclear issue and the situation on the Korean Peninsula. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the 12th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug. 5, 2022. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday made a three-point proposal to enhance East Asia cooperation when attending the 12th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Wang said that the East Asia Summit was founded with the clear purposes of promoting regional peace, stability and development, emphasizing its adherence to the centrality of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its commitment to the integrated development and common prosperity of East Asia. At present, the international and regional situation is undergoing complicated changes, coupled with prominent problems of uncertainty and instability, Wang said. The post-pandemic economic recovery remains sluggish, the negative effects of the Ukraine crisis spill over, the problems of energy, food and finance emerge one after another, and the stability of the industrial and supply chains has been seriously impacted, said Wang. He pointed out that regional countries expect the East Asia Summit to play a positive role in building consensus among all parties and properly addressing challenges. "We should review the original purposes of the summit, steadily steer its direction of development, and prevent small exclusive cliques from impacting the regional architecture," he said. Wang called for upholding true multilateralism and open regionalism, advocating the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and safeguarding basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. Wang put forward China's three-point proposal for the next development of the summit: First, insisting on carrying out dialogues on political security in a constructive way. Wang urged regional countries to uphold the spirit of openness and inclusiveness, adhere to the Asian approach, and accommodate the needs and concerns of all parties. "We should respect each other, seek common ground while reserving differences, and not draw lines along ideology," he said. He called on all the parties to adhere to the principle of sovereign independence, conduct dialogues and exchanges on an equal footing, and refrain from interfering in internal affairs of other countries. "We should consolidate the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation architecture and oppose bloc confrontation in the region," he said. Second, strengthening the summit's impetus for development and cooperation. Wang said the countries should give priority to development and livelihood, increase investment in areas such as poverty reduction so as to solve the development issue and achieve common development, Wang said. While the countries make a new five-year action plan, the common aspiration of regional countries to achieve sustainable recovery should be duly reflected. Third, promoting the capability of jointly addressing risks and challenges. Wang urged support for ASEAN in building regional vaccine production and distribution centers and strengthening capacity building in public health. He also called on the countries to implement the cooperation initiative on global food security, jointly promote energy security and accessibility, and ensure a stable energy supply. Wang said the countries should support the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, maintain the stability and smooth flow of industrial and supply chains, and build the free trade area of the Asia-Pacific and an Asia-Pacific economic community. LANZHOU, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- After moving into his new house, Liu Changhai said he no longer fears rainy days and enjoys the fresh air after the rains. Liu's family of five now live in a 96-square-meter urban house equipped with a small courtyard, flush toilet, and gas stove in Lanzhou New Area in the provincial capital Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, a national-level development zone. "Rainy days were my nightmares. I used to dream of moving out of the mountain someday," said Liu, adding that some houses in his village were slipping downwards, and some even fell along with landslides from cliffs. Rains battered his hometown, mountainous Zhenzhuangmo Village in Zhouqu County of Gansu, more frequently around 2008. At first, his family had to repair their old house almost every year. Liu started building a new home in the village by 2020, spending over 200,000 yuan (about 29,570 U.S. dollars) with savings earned from manual labor as a migrant worker. The family moved in around the Spring Festival of 2021, but Liu returned to work in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, for work soon. About a week after Liu arrived in Chengdu, his township officials called him, saying an overnight storm had cracked his new house. In 2021, a risk-aversion project initiated by the provincial government relocated villagers living in disaster-stricken regions to the Lanzhou New Area. Residing in a village assessed as inhabitable by experts, Liu and other villagers whose houses had perished in natural disasters applied for relocation soon after they heard about the project. The project offers a subsidy of 100,000 yuan per household in Zhouqu County. Liu only paid 44,000 yuan for the real estate. Currently, more than 5,000 people from over 1,200 households have resettled in the area, according to the authorities of Zhouqu County. "A direct bus transport service to downtown Lanzhou is available here. Children can go to school more conveniently," said Liu, adding that there are more job opportunities and free vocational training. This year, Liu works at a construction site nearby, no longer outside the province, and his wife has found a job at a local greenhouse. The couple's monthly income exceeds 7,000 yuan. Liu's neighbor, Yang Tiaonyu, 29, is a social worker in the community. "Whenever the new residents come, I introduce the neighborhood to them. I love my new job and find it meaningful," she said. Next year, Yang's 2-year-old daughter will attend kindergarten, which is only 500-meter away from her new home. According to Ding Jusheng, director of the provincial natural resources department, the relocation project is a fundamental way to remove the threats posed by disasters to residents. Over 50 percent of Gansu's territory area is prone to natural disasters. The department said the province not only plans to improve residential safety and life quality via relocation but will also focus on industry, employment, and public services to increase household income. Though the cracked house was assessed as a dilapidated and uninhabitable building, it is preserved in Liu's cellphone and a photo frame in the urban home. HONG KONG, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has reiterated it fully supports and facilitates countermeasures by the central authorities in response to the visit to China's Taiwan region by Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. The HKSAR government firmly opposes any external forces interfering in the internal affairs of China, and will fully support and facilitate all necessary measures by the central government to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said on Friday. Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday announced countermeasures in response to Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region. The spokesperson added that the HKSAR government will closely monitor developments and keep in contact with the relevant authorities of the central government. CAIRO, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Egypt is mediating between Israel and Palestinian factions in an effort to end the ongoing tensions in the Gaza Strip and preserve the 2021 cease-fire, official Ahram online news website reported Friday. "Egypt is conducting intensive communications with the Palestinian and the Israeli sides to end the ongoing escalation in Gaza," an Egyptian official told a local TV channel, according to Ahram. "Our goal is the continuation of the cease-fire, the stability of the region, and the safeguarding of the peace," he said. Ahram did not provide the name of the official. At least 10 people, including a commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), an Islamist organization active in Gaza, were killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Palestinian enclave on Friday, according to the Palestinian health ministry and the PIJ. The heightened tension came after Israeli forces arrested a senior official of the PIJ in the West Bank city of Jenin on Monday. The PIJ vowed to take revenge, prompting the Israeli military to raise its alert along the border with Gaza. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds a press conference for Chinese and foreign media to expound on China's position on the Taiwan question after attending the meetings of foreign ministers on East Asia cooperation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug. 5, 2022. (Photo by Van Pov/Xinhua) PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a press conference for Chinese and foreign media here on Friday afternoon after attending the meetings of foreign ministers on East Asia cooperation. "I would like to expound on China's position on the Taiwan question. Considering that the U.S. side has just spread a lot of false information and untrue words in this regard, it is even more necessary for us to clarify the facts and set the record straight," said Wang. He said that in disregard of China's resolute opposition and repeated representations, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi made a blatant visit to China's Taiwan region, with the actual connivance and facilitation of the U.S. government. This retrogressive act seriously infringed on China's sovereignty, acutely interfered in China's internal affairs, severely violated the commitments made by the U.S. side, and gravely undermined peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, he noted. "It is only natural that China should respond resolutely," he said. "Our position is legitimate, reasonable and lawful. Our measures are resolute, strong and proportionate. Our military drills are open, transparent and professional, which are in line with our domestic law, international law and common international practice, with an aim of warning those perpetrators and disciplining the 'Taiwan independence' forces," Wang said. "We will firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, resolutely deter the U.S. from 'using Taiwan to contain China', and resolutely shatter the Taiwan authorities' illusion of seeking independence by relying on U.S. support," he said. "Meanwhile, we are also upholding international law and the basic norms governing international relations, especially the norm of non-interference, the most important international norm as stipulated in the United Nations Charter," Wang said. He stressed that if the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of sovereign states is ignored or abandoned, the world will be dragged back to the law of the jungle, and the United States will become even more unscrupulous in bullying other countries, particularly small and medium-sized countries, from its so-called "position of strength." "We must not allow such things to happen, and all other countries should stand in unity to stop such things from happening and not allow the human civilization to regress," Wang said. He said that is why more than 100 countries have publicly stood up and reaffirmed their firm adherence to the one-China policy, and their understanding of and support for China's legitimate position. Noting that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has clearly stressed that the United Nations will continue to uphold the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, Wang said that the core of the resolution is the one-China principle, which states that there is only one China in the world, and the government of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, and Taiwan is part of China. These are the voice of justice from the international community, he added. Calling the U.S. attempt of "using Taiwan to contain China" just a fantasy, Wang said that it cannot stop the historical trend of Taiwan's return to the motherland, and cannot stop the historical process of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The ploy of the "Taiwan independence" forces to "seek independence by relying on U.S. support" is no more than a fantasy and is destined to hit a dead end, he said, adding that the noose around their necks will only get tighter. In response to the U.S. excuse of a previous visit to Taiwan by a speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Wang said former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich's visit to Taiwan was a serious mistake, which the Chinese government strongly opposed at the time. The United States has no right and is not in any position to make the same mistake again, and it cannot use the past mistakes as excuses and justifications for repeating them today, Wang said, questioning is the United States preparing to redo all its wrongdoings and dirty tricks in its history. Responding to the U.S. claim that China has changed the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, Wang said it is nothing but a rumour and slander. Taiwan has never been a country. There is only one China, and both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one country. This has been the status quo of Taiwan since ancient times. The China-U.S. Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations issued in 1978 clearly emphasizes that the government of the PRC is the sole legal government representing the whole of China and Taiwan is part of China, which has been the status quo across the Taiwan Strait for decades, Wang noted. But such status quo has indeed been broken. The destroyer is not China, but the United States and Taiwan separatist forces, Wang said. "In 2000, the U.S. side placed its unilaterally-concocted 'Taiwan Relations Act' ahead of the three China-U.S. joint communiques. Isn't that changing the status quo? A few years ago, the U.S. side brazenly put the so-called 'Six Assurances,' which was kept in secrecy, into its one-China policy statement. Isn't that changing the status quo? Isn't it hollowing out the one-China policy?" Wang asked. He suggested the U.S. politicians in power have a good look at the three joint communiques, saying that then they will know what the real status quo across the Taiwan Strait is, and who have changed it. The same is true of those in Taiwan, Wang said. Since the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) came into power in Taiwan, it has been continuously pushing forward "incremental independence," going all out to promote "de-sinicization," and trying to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" on various occasions. "Isn't it blatantly changing the status quo? If Dr. Sun Yat-sen knew it, he would have pointed at the nose of Tsai Ing-wen, and called her an unworthy descendant," Wang said. On reports saying the United States is increasing its military deployment in the region, Wang called on all sides to stay highly vigilant. It is an old trick of the U.S. side to stir up troubles first and then take advantage of them to achieve its own goals, Wang said, adding that such practices will not work in front of China, and the Chinese side seriously warns the United States not to act recklessly and create a bigger crisis. In response to the remarks made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the meeting that the U.S. side hopes that international law is abided by and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries are maintained, Wang said it has been long since the U.S. side last made such remarks, and the U.S. has done the opposite in multiple cases over the years. If the U.S. side can really mend its ways, China will encourage it, but the key is for the United States to walk the talk, Wang said, noting that it should first of all fulfill its commitment on the Taiwan question and respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, stop interfering in China's internal affairs, and stop conniving at or supporting the "Taiwan independence" forces. The picture shows relatives of the 5-year-old Palestinian girl Allaa Qadoum hugging her body in Gaza City, on Aug. 5, 2022. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly GAZA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Fear and panic dominated the face of Asmaa Al-Najjar, a 10-year-old Palestinian girl, after the Israeli warplanes bombed an apartment adjacent to their home in the Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City. She told Xinhua in a trembling voice that "Israeli shelling took place when I was in the room with my brother, which frightened us a lot." Children mourn during the funeral of Tamim Hijazi, 24, in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Younis, Aug. 6, 2022. At least 15 Palestinians have been killed and 125 injured as Israeli warplanes are continuing to strike military targets throughout the Gaza Strip for the second day on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua) The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday. The Israeli military continued bombing dozens of targets belonging to the militant group in the Gaza Strip, while hundreds of rockets were launched from the Palestinian enclave toward Israel. At least 15 were killed, including a five-year-old girl, two women, seven militants, and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip, said the Palestinian Health Ministry on Saturday. Smoke billows following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, on Aug. 6, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) The Palestinian social media platforms were filled with pictures and videos of the 5-year-old girl Allaa Qadoum, who was killed on Friday in the strike. Her parents cried while carrying her body wrapped with a Palestinian flag. The girl's grandfather said with tears in his eyes: "Allaa was playing in front of the house when the Israeli warplanes bombed a target in the vicinity of the place and a shrapnel penetrated her head." The gray-haired old man asked "what was the fault of Allaa for being targeted and killed? Was she firing missiles at Israel?" The girl was about to enter kindergarten at the end of this month and asked for new clothes and a new schoolbag, he told Xinhua. Israel hasn't commented on the death of the girl. Palestinians inspect the rubble of a house after an airstrike in Gaza City, Aug. 6, 2022. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) The residents of Gaza said the airstrikes were a big shock and unexpected when lots of families were preparing for a weekend on the beach of Gaza to escape from the summer heat and the power shortage. Following the intensive airstrikes, the streets of the enclave's cities and towns seemed almost empty of pedestrians and traffic, with only firefighters' vehicles and ambulances driving around. All cafes and hotels overlooking the seaside were closed after the customers left immediately, and commercial activities were almost paralyzed. Mohammed al-Sa'adi, a resident of "Falastin" residential tower, which was attacked by the Israeli fighter jets on Friday, told Xinhua that "the bombing happened suddenly without warning when we were inside the apartment." Salama Ma'rouf, the spokesman of the Hamas-run government in Gaza, told Xinhua that 650 housing units have been destroyed since Friday. "The Israeli escalation has damaged many citizens' houses and civil institutions, which was in clear violation of international laws," he stressed. The spokesman called on the international community to stop "Israeli aggression against the Palestinians." by Saud Abu Ramadan, Emad Drimly GAZA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Fear and panic dominated the face of Asmaa Al-Najjar, a 10-year-old Palestinian girl, after the Israeli warplanes bombed an apartment adjacent to their home in the Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood, west of Gaza City. She told Xinhua in a trembling voice that "Israeli shelling took place when I was in the room with my brother, which frightened us a lot." The exchange of fire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) continued for the second day on Saturday. The Israeli military continued bombing dozens of targets belonging to the militant group in the Gaza Strip, while hundreds of rockets were launched from the Palestinian enclave toward Israel. At least 15 were killed, including a five-year-old girl, two women, seven militants, and 125 injured in the Gaza Strip, said the Palestinian Health Ministry on Saturday. The Palestinian social media platforms were filled with pictures and videos of the 5-year-old girl Allaa Qadoum, who was killed on Friday in the strike. Her parents cried while carrying her body wrapped with a Palestinian flag. The girl's grandfather said with tears in his eyes: "Allaa was playing in front of the house when the Israeli warplanes bombed a target in the vicinity of the place and a shrapnel penetrated her head." The gray-haired old man asked "what was the fault of Allaa for being targeted and killed? Was she firing missiles at Israel?" The girl was about to enter kindergarten at the end of this month and asked for new clothes and a new schoolbag, he told Xinhua. Israel hasn't commented on the death of the girl. The residents of Gaza said the airstrikes were a big shock and unexpected when lots of families were preparing for a weekend on the beach of Gaza to escape from the summer heat and the power shortage. Following the intensive airstrikes, the streets of the enclave's cities and towns seemed almost empty of pedestrians and traffic, with only firefighters' vehicles and ambulances driving around. All cafes and hotels overlooking the seaside were closed after the customers left immediately, and the commercial activities were almost paralyzed. Mohammed al-Sa'adi, a resident of "Falastin" residential tower, which was attacked by the Israeli fighter jets on Friday, told Xinhua that "the bombing happened suddenly without warning when we were inside the apartment." Salama Ma'rouf, the spokesman of the Hamas-run government in Gaza, told Xinhua that 650 housing units have been destroyed since Friday. "The Israeli escalation has damaged many citizens' houses and civil institutions, which was in clear violation of international laws," he stressed. The spokesman called on the international community to stop "Israeli aggression against the Palestinians." PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- The 55th ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings have successfully concluded here, adopting some 30 documents on regional cooperation, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Saturday. "We have reviewed the progress made thus far to strengthen ASEAN's community building, advance regional integration, and enhance our cooperation with external partners," he told a press conference at the end of the meetings. He said that over the course of three and a half days, 19 meetings were held back-to-back, with the participation of foreign ministers and representatives from 38 countries. "We have adopted and endorsed around 30 outcome documents, ranging from political, security, economic, social, and cultural sectors to external relations," Sokhonn said. On the COVID-19 pandemic, he said the ASEAN foreign ministers encouraged the effective operationalization of the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergencies. "We noted with satisfaction the progress of implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework and its Implementation Plan to accelerate ASEAN's COVID-19 recovery efforts," he said. He added that the ministers also stressed the need to strengthen supply chain connectivity, support economic recovery and improve stability and resilience of the region. According to Sokhonn, the foreign ministers of ASEAN and its dialogue partners also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concern. Cambodia is the chair of ASEAN for 2022, which groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. PHNOM PENH, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn said on Saturday that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is committed to ensuring the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which took effect on Jan. 1, 2022. "ASEAN is committed to ensuring the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement ... to enhance ASEAN's attractiveness for trade, investment and global supply chain," he said during a press conference at the end of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related meetings hosted by Cambodia. In a joint communique of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting released on Friday, the ASEAN foreign ministers said RCEP would be a key contributor to the region's recovery strategy. "RCEP would make significant contribution to our recovery strategy and continue to support an inclusive and open trade and investment architecture in the region," the joint communique said. RCEP comprises 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 ASEAN member states -- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam -- and their five trading partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. Being the world's largest trade bloc, RCEP established a market of 2.2 billion people or 30 percent of the world population with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 26.2 trillion U.S. dollars, which represents around 30 percent of global GDP and 28 percent of global trade. Senior economist Ky Sereyvath, director-general of the Institute of China Studies at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said RCEP has served as a catalyst for regional and global economic growth. "It will help Cambodia and other member countries quicken their economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic," he told Xinhua. "I believe that this mega-regional trade pact will become a new center of gravity for global trade in the future." CANBERRA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Australian authorities have revealed concerns over third COVID-19 vaccine dose rates as the country continues to battle against the wave of Omicron sub-variant infections in winter. According to the latest data, about 14.1 million Australians, or 71.4 percent of the eligible population, had received at least three vaccine doses as of Friday. The figure represents an increase of 2.5 percent from the about 13.74 million people who had received three vaccine doses as of June 5. The slowing increase in the booster vaccine rate comes despite federal, state and territory governments running campaigns encouraging uptake amid Australia's winter wave of COVID-19 infections. "We got the third booster dose flights have flatlined, which is something I'm very concerned about," Mark Butler, the minister for health, recently told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "There are still five million people who are more than six months since having their second dose, and I really encourage those people to go out and get it." On Saturday, Australia reported more than 25,000 new cases and more than 80 deaths. There were 4,613 cases being treated in Australian hospitals on Friday, including 155 in intensive care. Anne Ruston, the Opposition Coalition's health spokesperson, described the government's response to the winter wave as "worrying." "They have ended a range of supports that have helped Australians through the pandemic and have been forced to backflip on the pandemic leave disaster payment," she told the Australian Associated Press. "With no explanation and no apparent advice or modeling to support their decisions, 70 COVID-19 related telehealth items, free rapid tests for concession card holders and aged care homes, and Operation COVID Shield have all ended." Okello Oryem, Uganda's minister of state in charge of international affairs, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Kampala, Uganda, Aug. 4, 2022. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua) KAMPALA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's visit to China's Taiwan region has a negative impact on China-U.S. relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, a Ugandan official has said recently, reiterating the country's firm adherence to the one-China principle. "As far as Uganda is concerned, our position has been very clear," said Okello Oryem, Uganda's minister of state in charge of international affairs, noting that Uganda will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, the core of diplomatic relations between Uganda and China. The West including the United States must stop its interference in China's internal affairs, he said, expressing support for the countermeasures China has taken to safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity. HOUSTON, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- A jury in U.S. state Texas on Friday decided to penalize conspiracy theorist and media personality Alex Jones with nearly 50 million U.S. dollars in both compensatory and punitive damages in a lawsuit filed by the parents of a Sandy Hook school shooting victim. Out of a total of 49.3 million dollars, the 45.2 million dollars in punitive damages as punishment for repeatedly claiming the school shooting was a hoax may be reduced due to Texas statute, according to a report from local media The Texas Tribune. The jury on Thursday ordered Jones to pay the parents 4.1 million dollars in compensation for his comments. Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, parents of 6-year-old victim Jesse Lewis, sought 150 million dollars from Jones after he told the audience of his website Infowars that the U.S. government staged the Sandy Hook primary school shooting in order to take away Americans' guns. "We ask that you send a very very simple message, and that is, stop Alex Jones. Stop the monetization of misinformation and lies. Please," the plaintiffs' attorney Wesley Todd Ball said to the jury in his closing argument. Judge Maya Guerra Gamble reminded the jury that in a default judgment, Jones was already found liable for defamation and "intentional infliction of emotional distress" against Lewis and Heslin. In 2012, the deadliest shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in eastern U.S. state Connecticut had left 26 people dead, including 20 children between six and seven years old. A medical worker collects a swab sample from a resident for a COVID-19 test in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Aug. 5, 2022. California hit another grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic as the most populous state in the United States officially reached 10 million confirmed cases, according to data released by the state health authorities on Friday. (Xinhua) LOS ANGELES, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- California hit another grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic as the most populous state in the United States officially reached 10 million confirmed cases, according to data released by the state health authorities on Friday. The Golden State, home to around 40 million residents, reported a total of 10,024,326 coronavirus infections to date, along with 93,056 related deaths, the California Department of Public Health said. There are 4,435 people with COVID-19 currently hospitalized in the state, with 505 in intensive care units, said the department in a Friday update. Around 79.9 percent of people in the state have been vaccinated with at least one COVID-19 dose, the update showed. California, once an epicenter of the pandemic, became the first in the country to surpass 5 million coronavirus infections last December. Statewide transmission numbers in California had been on a consistent climb, from one of the lowest points of the pandemic in early April until peaking in mid-July at one of the highest case rates of the health crisis, reported The Sacramento Bee, the largest newspaper in state capital. The growth was fueled by subvariants of Omicron: BA.2 lineages at first, which dominated new cases throughout spring, followed by the BA.4 and BA.5 strains, which took over early this summer, said the report, adding that infection and hospital numbers have improved gradually in recent weeks. With California suffering through another intense coronavirus wave, the stunning proliferation of the BA.5 subvariant is becoming a growing focus of scientific scrutiny, with experts saying it may replicate itself far more effectively than earlier versions of Omicron, the Los Angeles Times reported last month. If BA.5 retains its position as the main dominant variant for a while, that could eventually stabilize the situation in California and eventually point to a situation where there will finally be a downturn in cases, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious-diseases expert at University of California San Francisco, was quoted as saying by the biggest newspaper on U.S. West Coast. People are "taking more risks; they're moving around; they're traveling," Chin-Hong told the newspaper, adding that "a number of people aren't wearing masks at places where it was once ubiquitous, meaning there's less peer pressure to wear a mask in areas where it was once commonplace." "There's no question the state's official tally is increasingly considered an undercount with so many positive at-home test results going unreported. Still, perhaps our more-relaxed attitude for catching the latest immunity-evading, yet less-deadly variants of the virus are playing a part in how quickly the millions add up," said a report published Friday on the website of a California newspaper, the Monterey Herald. Public health officials in Los Angeles, the most populous county in the state and the country, noted on Friday in a press release that the metropolitan area "remains at the high community level" and urged people to be fully vaccinated to increase protection against COVID-19. Los Angeles County's Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer noted in a press release earlier this week, "As we continue to see improvements in our metrics, we still must do all we can to protect those who are most vulnerable, including the elderly, immunocompromised, and our essential workers." "Given that transmission remains high, and the variant currently circulating is responsible for many reinfections, we encourage everyone to be cautious and layer in protections including testing before gathering, isolating away from others when infected or sick, and masking indoors," she added. The county, home to over 10 million residents, backed off last week from reinstating an indoor mask mandate as COVID-19 infections and rates of hospitalizations stabilized. People wearing face masks wait at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Aug. 5, 2022. California hit another grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic as the most populous state in the United States officially reached 10 million confirmed cases, according to data released by the state health authorities on Friday. (Xinhua) A woman wearing a face mask is seen at L.A. union station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Aug. 5, 2022. California hit another grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic as the most populous state in the United States officially reached 10 million confirmed cases, according to data released by the state health authorities on Friday. (Xinhua) People wearing face masks are seen at L.A. union station in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Aug. 5, 2022. California hit another grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic as the most populous state in the United States officially reached 10 million confirmed cases, according to data released by the state health authorities on Friday. (Xinhua) People wearing face masks are seen at a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in Los Angeles, California, the United States, on Aug. 5, 2022. California hit another grim milestone in the COVID-19 pandemic as the most populous state in the United States officially reached 10 million confirmed cases, according to data released by the state health authorities on Friday. (Xinhua) MANILA: Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, told the new Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr that relations between the two countries were "extraordinary" during a visit to Manila on August 6. Blinken reportedly reaffirmed Washington's commitment to the two nations' cooperative defence agreement and expressed appreciation for and excitement about working with Marcos Jr.'s government to "deepen" the partnership with the Philippines. In his capacity as Secretary of State, Blinken is visiting this country for the first time. Our relationship is quite extraordinary that it is genuinely based on friendship, he said. It has been strengthened by the fact that it is also an alliance and has been established in cooperation. "The alliance is solid, and I think that will make us all stronger as a result. The Mutual Defense Treaty is something we're devoted to. We are determined to collaborate with you on common challenges, "he added. Recent regional and international concerns, according to Marcos Jr., such as US Representative Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan and the conflict in the Ukraine, have underscored the significance of the alliance between Manila and Washington. In spite of all the changes we have witnessed and the changes in our bilateral relations with the US, he expressed his hope that the two countries' relationship will continue to develop. The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, which obligates the US and the Philippines to support one another in the event of foreign aggression, was described by Marcos Jr. as "under ongoing modification." "We can no longer isolate one part of our relationship from the other," Blinken added. "We are too close." Blinken accuses Russia of nuclear 'sabre rattling' Taiwan's Senior Missile Dev Official Found Dead Japan Govt marks 77th anniversary of Hiroshima bombing TOKYO: Japan on August 6, marked the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima that took place in the final days of the Second World War. A moment of silence was observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact time a uranium bomb dropped from a US bomber exploded over the city on August 6, 1945, killing over 140,000 people by the end of the year and exposing many more to dangerous radiation. Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui issued a warning during a mourning service at the Peace Memorial Park, stating that the global reliance on nuclear deterrence is growing. He declared, "We must instantly make all nuclear buttons useless." Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, ambassadors from 99 nations, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who attended the ceremony for the first time in 12 years, were also present. Guterres warned that a new weapons race is accelerating in his speech. Asserting the three principles of not having, producing, or allowing the entry of nuclear weapons into the nation, the prime minister declared that "Japan would pursue this goal notwithstanding global security tensions." Public broadcaster NHK reports that more than 3,000 spectators attended the ceremony, a significant rise from the attendance in the opening two years of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021. After adding the names of 4,978 persons who died or were verified dead during the past year, officials re-posted a list of the bombing victims in a cenotaph. The current total is 333,907. China cancels a meeting with Japan's FM Man who threatened to kill Anthony Fauci jailed for over 3 years Three dead after lightning strike near White House In 2014, a mysterious object from space crashed into the ocean off the coast of Papua New Guinea. Called the CNEOS 2014-01-08, the meteorite has still kept scientists puzzled about its origin but initially, it was speculated that it could be an interstellar object. Now, they are chalking up plans to scan the ocean floor for the object and have described their idea in a new research paper. After its discovery, researchers namely then graduate Amir Siraj, and Harvard professor Avi Loeb first suspected its possible interstellar origin. The object is estimated to be some half-metre wide and researchers have used catalogue data on the object's trajectory to dig out information on it. Siraj and Loeb used data from a US Department of Defense spy satellite to measure the object's impact on Earth. They noted the high heliocentric velocity of the object and concluded that it could belong to a place beyond our solar system. This meant that with such speed, it was indicative that the meteorite was not bound by the gravity of the Sun. The findings of Siraj and Loeb were echoed by the US Space Force's Space Operations Command's Chief Scientist, Joel Mozer in 2019. He, after analysing the data on the object confirmed that the velocity estimate reported to NASA is sufficiently accurate to indicate an interstellar trajectory. However, the satellite is used for monitoring Earthly military activities and the exact error values of measurement taken by it are not in the public domain. Hence, this makes it difficult to confidently declare CNEOS 2014-01-08 as an interstellar object. Hi-tech smart classroom inaugurated at AU Geography department Paytm outage: company says 'trying to fix the issue', users furious Twitter rejects Elon Musk's claims that he was deceived Map from OpenStreetMap. (Edited for clarity) Nepal has held pride in its historical battles and the bravado of the forefathers who fought gallantly against any foreign invasion. In history, one of the most debated and remembered fights is in Kalapani. Nepal won the fight back then, but in the recent decade, the Kalapani dispute has resurfaced. Nepals Kalapani dispute with India is one of the sore spots for any Nepali citizen as it is yet to be in the clear. People time and again are seen pouring even their extreme forms of expressions against the other country. Without the plurality of the content that might inundate you at the peak of the dispute, here is a summary of what the Kalapani dispute is all about. Basics of the area of dispute Before we get into the details, first let us know the details of the area of the Kalapani dispute. Kalapani is the area in the Darchula district of the Sudurpaschim province of Nepal that borders the eastern front of Uttarakhand in India. The area lies in the southern half of the Kalapani river basin or on the banks of the Mahakali river. It is situated at 3,650 m to 6,180 m above sea level and has an area of 35 square km. It only has some 100 people living in the area. Kalapani is a tri-junction point between India, Nepal and China. It is important to Nepal and India regarding the border dispute. But, not just that, India and China also find the area important as the pass to build a road connecting Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarover in Tibet. It is also a place of strategic importance for India and China to logistically build up military troops on the border. Reasons behind the Kalapani dispute In the early 19th century, the East India Company (EIC) that was ruling India began expanding its territories and reached northwards near Nepal. Soon after, on November 1, 1814, a war broke out with the Nepali side. In 1815, the British general Sir David Ochterlony managed to evict the Nepali soldiers from Garhwal and Kumaon. A year later, the war came to an end with the Sugauli Treaty. In OctoberNovember 1962, the Sino-Indian war broke out. The same year, then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a personal letter to the then Nepali King Mahendra requesting the latter to let the retreating India Army stay temporarily in an open area in Kalapani. Indias encroachment on Lipulekh, another area in the region, first came to light during the Panchayat period, but no effort was made for negotiations. There are no records in Nepal to suggest that these demarcations were done jointly between the British East India Company and Nepal. King Mahendra is blamed for allowing Indian troops into Kalapani after the 1962 India-China war, at Indias request, even though there are no official records or statements substantiating the blame. According to foreign affairs expert Bhek Bahadur Thapa, King Mahendra never gave written permission but had planned to take up this issue with India when the war ended, but he never came to it. India and China agreed even as far back as 1954 to allow Indian pilgrims to Kailash Mansarovar to use the Lipulekh pass. The shifting of the international boundary based on changes in the course of a mountain river does not hold water, literally. Even if these changes in the course of the river were depicted in the maps published by the Survey of India during British rule, they cannot be used as a reference in deciding the international border. But, in November 2019, India included the disputed area in its official map, the region east of Lipu Khola as a part of its territory. Later, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian road via the disputed tri-junction of Nepal, India and China. These events brought the Kalapani dispute to a new height, and Nepal also retaliated by amending its constitution to include the disputed region on its map also. Contrasting claims Map from OpenStreetMap. The Kalapani dispute is all about whether the Kalapani-Limpiadhura-Lipulekh land is a part of present-day India or Nepal. There have been several attempts to resolve this dispute. In the early 1970s, Nepali State Minister for Forest Bahadur Singh Etwal, from Darchula, had publicly raised the Kalapani dispute issue for the first time. On July 16, 1973, the Nagendra Prasad Rijal cabinet formed a panel with representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to report on the encroachment from the ground. The report clearly mentioned that India had created an artificial Kali river to demarcate the border. In 1981, the Nepal-India Technical Level Joint Boundary Group was formed to demarcate the borders and maintain the dilapidated and disappeared boundary pillars. In 1981, Dwarika Nath Dhungel, then chief district officer of Darchula, prepared a ground report suggesting Nepal should demarcate the Nepal-India border and deploy security forces. There was no substantial progress in solving the Kalapani dispute till 1990. After Nepal got democracy, the dispute gained traction again. In 1991, the Mahakali Protection Commission Kailali-Kanchanpur team submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, objecting to Indian encroachment of the disputed area and the Tanakpur water-sharing agreement. In 1992, lawmaker Prem Singh Dhami also spoke about the Indian encroachment in the upper house. In 1996 after the signing of the Mahakali Treaty, the Kalapani dispute issue entered the public domain. On May 19, 1998, the then CPN-ML organised a Kalapani march for 18 days to reach Kalapani. In the same year, its student union also organised a similar march. On June 29, 1998, nine Nepali political parties wrote to then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan about the Kalapani dispute caused by the Indian encroachment. In response, the UN asked Nepal to submit a proposal in the name of the Nepali government. During the 1998 SAARC Summit, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala reminded his Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the unresolved Kalapani dispute. On July 17, 1998, Kalapani was again discussed in the fifth meeting of the Joint Working Group between the two countries. On August 10, 1998, CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli registered a motion in parliament demanding the withdrawal of Indian forces from Kalapani. In 1999, Indian foreign minister Jaswant Singh said his side was willing to resolve the Kalapani dispute with negotiations during his Nepal and China visits. It did not bear results. In 2015, India and China agreed to the use of Lipulekh as a bilateral trading point. In 2016, the Maoist-aligned All Nepal Independent Student Union (Revolutionary) submitted a complaint to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon over the India-China trade agreement. In 2019, India issued its new map, and the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML jointly moved forward to amend Nepals constitution to include Kalapani in Nepals national map. In 2020, Nepals national charter was amended to make Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura a part of Nepal. Thus began the downpour of official statements from the government of Nepal and India. Nepals Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Indias move was a unilateral act and urged India to stop all the activities as it was against the bilateral understanding. India replied claiming the disputed Kalapani area was its area and was a part of its plan for the 70km-road to travel to Lake Mansarovar in Tibet. Nepal has been suggested to appeal to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) with the right documents and maps related to its demarcation after the Sugauli Treaty. Yet, the Kalapani dispute is not solved yet with both sides making contrasting claims further. Indias claim The Kali river on the Indian map published in November 2019 Indias claim about the Kalapani dispute is based on the British Survey of India maps between 1857-1881 and later. The Indian military has had 17 barracks and checkpoints since the 1962 Sino-Indian war in Kalapani. Even in 1969, when Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista convinced Delhi to remove all its checkpoints on the Nepal-China border, India did not remove the one in Kalapani. Nepals first map published by the Topographic Survey of Nepal in 1976 did not include Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached an understanding to boost their trans-Himalayan trade by making the trek to Lake Mansarovar for the Indian pilgrims through the Lipulekh pass. India claims the source of the Kali river is a smaller tributary that flows down from Lipulekh and the approximately 372sq km of land belongs to it. India says it is ready to give up the disputed land if Nepal gives enough solid evidence. In May 2020, Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane gave a statement saying that Nepals move to publish a new map and raise the Kalapani dispute was influenced by a third party, to which Nepal Army had also reacted. Nepals claim The new political map of the country issued by the government of Nepal, on Monday, May 18, 2020, and launched on Wednesday, May 20, 2020. Plane crashes in Nepal are very common. Not only domestic flights crash but also foreign ones killing hundreds of people. Nepal has also had several serious aviation disasters in recent years. Over the last 30 years, there have been 27 fatal plane crashes in Nepal. Of them, more than 20 tragic aviation incidents have occurred in the recent decade. Nepal has a long history of plane catastrophes, ranging from the US-Bangla plane tragedy to local flight crashes such as the recent Tara Air crash. Some of the most heinous plane crashes in Nepal have been listed below. [Note: The particular list contains only aeroplane crashes and the mentioned incidents have been arranged chronologically.] 1. Royal Nepal Airlines plane crash On August 1, 1962, a Douglas DC-3 operated by then Royal Nepal Airlines crashed in Nepal while on an international scheduled passenger flight from Gaucher Airport [Tribhuvan International Airport today] to Palam Airport [Indira Gandhi International Airport today] in India. The planes wreckage, registered 9N-AAP, was discovered near Tulachan Dhuri in Nepal. It was one of the earliest plane crashes in Nepal. The disaster killed all 10 passengers and four staff members on board. The official investigation said that the aircraft had veered off course while flying under instrument meteorological circumstances and tried to reach an altitude at which it could restart operating under visual flight rules before colliding with a mountain at 11,200 feet (3,400 m). The crash killed everybody on board including the Indian envoy to Nepal. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepals official report, the three-man crew was highly experienced. 2. Thai Airways plane crash On July 31, 1992, Thai Airways International Flight 311 was en route to Tribhuvan International Airport from Thailands Don Mueang International Airport. The Airbus A310-304, with registration HS-TID, crashed while approaching the Tribhuvan International Airport. The captain and air traffic controllers loss of situational awareness of linguistic and technical challenges caused the captain to suffer aggravation and a high workload. It was revealed that the first officers lack of initiative and inconclusive responses to the captains concerns and due to his inexperience, poor command of English, and reluctance to intervene with what he considered as flying considerations such as terrain separation. It was one of the plane crashes in Nepal that taught many lessons to the Nepali aviation sector. 3. Pakistan International Airlines crash On September 28, 1992, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 268, registration AP-BCP, crashed as it was approaching Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport. The whole 167-person crew died in this incident. Flight 268 was the deadliest accident in Pakistan International Airlines history as well as one of the worst plane crashes in Nepal. The flight began at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and ended at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, carrying 155 passengers and 12 crew members. It was one of the high-fatality plane crashes in Nepal. The plane crashed at an altitude of about 7,280 feet (about 2,220 metres) into the slope of the 8,250-foot peak of Bhattedanda, Lalitpur, 9.16 nautical miles from the airport. The investigation found that the approach to the airport is extremely challenging owing to the surrounding topography and that the jet began to descend too soon due to the pilots mistake. 4. Royal Nepal Airlines Twin Otter crash On July 27, 2000, a Royal Nepal Airlines de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter crashed on its way from Bajhang Airport to Dhangadhi Airport. The planes wreckage, registered 9N-ABP, was discovered in Jogbudha of the Dadeldhura district. It was also one of the plane crashes in Nepal in which all the passengers and crew members (25) were killed. Nepali officials initiated an inquiry into the collision when the disaster scene was discovered. The aircraft was discovered to have crashed with trees on the 4,300-foot Jarayakhali Hill in the Sivalik Hills in Jogbuda, Dadeldhura, where it caught fire. The collision killed all people, including three crew members and 22 passengers, three of whom were little children. 5. Yeti Airlines crash Yeti Airlines Airliner 103 was a domestic Nepali flight that crashed on its final approach to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla, eastern Nepal, on October 8, 2008. The De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300, registration 9N-AFE, took off from Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport. As many as 14 of the fatalities were vacationers, according to reports. There were 12 Germans and two Australians aboard the trip. Surendra Kunwar, the aircrafts captain, was the only survivor. He was rescued from the debris immediately after the accident and rushed to Kathmandu for emergency care. The pilot lost visual contact due to severe weather and high fog but tried a visual approach because there are no instrument landing systems at Lukla. The aircraft came in too low and too far left, causing it to crash short of the runway when the landing gear became entangled in a perimeter fence on airport grounds. 6. Agni Air crash The aircraft involved, 9N-AHE, four months prior to the accident. Photo: Wikimedia Commons Agni Air Aircraft 101 was a regional flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, Nepal, that crashed on August 24, 2010, killing all 14 passengers and crew. The aircraft crew reported a mechanical problem 20 minutes after takeoff. Contact with the aircraft was soon lost. The plane went down 50 miles (80 kilometres) south of Kathmandu. The inquiry into the disaster discovered that the pilot suffered from spatial disorientation as a result of the loss of flying instruments when both generators failed. Because the team was utilising an outdated checklist, the backup battery power was depleted prematurely. This again is one of the plane crashes in Nepal that killed everyone on board, including eight Nepali natives and six foreigners making it a fatal disaster. Four of the foreigners were American ladies, one British, and one Japanese. 7. Buddha Air flight crash Buddha Air Flight 103, a Beechcraft 1900D commuter plane, crashed in Lalitpur, Nepal, on September 25, 2011, while attempting to land in bad weather at the nearby Kathmandu Airport. The planes 19 passengers and crew members were all killed, making it one among the plane crashes in Nepal in which all onboard passengers lost their lives. The Buddha Air aircraft was on a tourist journey to Mount Everest. According to reports, the plane was flying under visual flight rules (VFR) when it hit clouds and crashed at 5,400 feet (approx 1,650 metres) two minutes before landing. According to air traffic controllers and members of the investigating team, the cause of the incident was a pilot error. 8. Sita Air crash Sita Air Flight 601 (ST601) was a Nepali domestic passenger flight operated by Sita Air from Kathmandus Tribhuvan International Airport to Tenzing-Hillary Airport in Lukla. The Dornier 228 servicing the route crashed shortly after takeoff on September 28, 2012, while attempting an emergency landing in Kathmandu, where all 19 passengers on board were killed. It is one of the plane crash in Nepal where all onboard passengers lost their lives. The final report issued by Nepals Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission (NAICC) revealed that a thrust drop occurred during the take-off roll. However, the reason for the anomaly was unknown. The aircraft crashed as a result of the crews inability to maintain a speed above stall speed, followed by the aircrafts insufficient height. 9. US-Bangla plane crash File: The US-Bangla Airlines aircraft after it crashed in Kathmandu, on March 12, 2018. The US-Bangla Airlines Flight 211 from Dhaka of Bangladesh crashed upon landing in Kathmandu on March 12, 2018. It killed 51 of the 71 passengers on board. This event occurred when a 76-seat Bombardier Q400 crashed and erupted into flames, leaving the 20 surviving passengers critically injured from the collision and fire. The disaster was examined by a panel constituted by the Nepali government. It published a report concluding that pilot disorientation and a loss of situational awareness on the part of the flight crew were the most likely causes of the disaster. The plane had 65 adult passengers, two minors, and four staff members on board, for a total of 71 people. The crash killed 51 passengers and crew members, 22 from Nepal, 28 from Bangladesh, and one from China. It was one of the high-fatality plane crashes in Nepal. The majority of the Nepalis killed in the incident were medical students coming home on a break from school. 10. Tara Air plane crash Tara Air crash site. On May 30, 2022, a Tara Air jet that had been missing was discovered wrecked on a hillside. The bodies of all 22 passengers aboard the plane have been discovered. This is one of the fatal plane crashes in Nepal that occurred on the Pokhara-Jomsom route in the previous three decades. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the planes wreckage was discovered in Sano Sware Bhir in Mustangs Thasang area. The plane carried 16 Nepalis, three crew members, four Indians, and two Germans. The precise reason for the accident remains unknown. After the crash, CAAN tightened flight permit rules that said clear weather throughout the route is now a requirement to carry out a flight. shcherbak volodymyr / Getty Images/iStockphoto Though the United States appears to be coming out of the worst of the pandemic, COVID-19 isn't going away any time soon. And there remains the continued risk of another surge as more states relax restrictions and open up. See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts Find Out: 9 Bills You Should Never Put on Autopay As such, while time has passed to hoard supplies, it does not hurt to be prepared for any eventuality -- and that includes other kinds of crisis situations, such as the recent power outage in freezing Texas. Here is a list of things to stock up on to be smart and prepared for any emergency, pandemic-related or not. dragana991 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Shelf-Stable Milks Shelf-stable milk refers to any milk that can sit at room temperature on a shelf without refrigeration or only needs to be refrigerated after opening. Dairy milk will have to be refrigerated immediately after opening, but alternative milk made from nuts or grains can often withstand room temperature for days without spoiling, which can be super handy in situations where the power goes out. This kind of milk lasts longer than regular milk, too, so you can purchase greater quantities. Live Updates: Financial Trends, Money News and More FotografiaBasica / Getty Images Rice and Beans You want to stock up on the kinds of foods that are filling, easy to make in a pinch, affordable in large quantities and provide nutrients, vitamins and fiber, nutrition expert Samantha Cassetty told Business Insider. These foods not only last a long time in storage but can be easily worked into any number of tasty recipes with fresh produce and meat. oxyzay / Shutterstock.com Nut Butters From peanut to almond, sunflower (technically a seed) to cashew, nut butters take our favorite protein-laden nuts and grind them into delicious smoothness that can make a quick and satisfying snack at any time. Nut butters tend to last a long while, especially if refrigerated after opening, and with a little bread or some crackers can be a meal in and of themselves. Kyryl Gorlov / Getty Images/iStockphoto 14-Day Supply of Water Water is precious, and though the coronavirus has not had an impact on the water supply, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that households should always have a 14-day supply of water on hand for emergencies. Water is necessary for taking medications and brushing teeth as well as essential to hydration, a non-negotiable to survival. Story continues dragana991 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Bleach If you never used much bleach before, the pandemic has probably changed that. Early on in the pandemic, people were wiping down their groceries with a water-bleach solution out of fear the virus could be transmitted that way. Though transmission by touch appears to be the least likely way to spread the virus, if you live with people who work outside the home, bleach (diluted with water) is handy to have for wiping down commonly shared areas such as doorknobs and handles, kitchen counters and bathroom fixtures and surfaces. Onfokus / Getty Images/iStockphoto Hand Sanitizer Though the coronavirus isn't as likely to spread through touch, other germs and viruses have not just magically gone away. Viruses like norovirus, or stomach flu, are notoriously contagious through touch, and so keeping hand sanitizer or a 75% or more alcohol solution on hand, literally, is a great idea. Hand sanitizer was among the first items to fly off shelves during COVID-19 spikes. ozgurdonmaz / Getty Images/iStockphoto Toilet Paper Who can forget the great toilet paper crisis of 2020? At the first mention of shelter-in-place mandates due to the coronavirus, suddenly stores could not keep TP stocked and had to enforce limits on how much people could buy. To avoid future repeats of this scenario, keep extra TP on hand, though within reason. It stores well, so keep a few extra rolls handy as long as you have somewhere to put it. wundervisuals / Getty Images Toothpaste Stocking up on items of personal hygiene that you use frequently just makes sense. Whether you got sick with the virus, had an exposure that forced quarantine, or just trying to limit your trips to the store for safety, don't forget to keep an extra month or two's supply of toothpaste. Shutterstock.com Body Wash and Shampoo The same is true for shampoo and body wash, those items you need on a near-daily basis. Why leave your cleanliness to chance when you can stock up and be prepared? Fortunately, these kinds of items don't go bad very quickly. Also, consider buying in bigger or bulk sizes. DNY59 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Medications and Supplements Medications are, for many people, lifesaving and necessary. Whether you have prescriptions or you rely upon over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or antihistamines, The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) recommends you keep a minimum 14-day supply on hand and plan ahead so that you aren't running out of medications without an ability to refill quickly. Other experts recommend a 30-day supply, if possible, or 90 days if your doctor and insurance provider (and your wallet) allow. Additionally, if you take any supplements, be sure to keep enough on hand. You may also have other kinds of healthcare needs related to illness -- an oxygen tank for COPD, blood testing strips for diabetes or other medical supplies. Be sure to keep an extra supply of all these needs on hand. And don't forget female hygiene products such as pads or tampons. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Items You Should Continue To Stock Up On This Summer John Connally became a giant in Texas politics in the 1960s. He had a long career that included service in World War II, work as an attorney, years of work with Lyndon Johnson as his right-hand man in many campaigns. He would eventually rise to become governor of Texas and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury in a storied career. For Connally, it all began as part of a hardworking tenant farming family in South Texas. John Bowden Connally, Jr., was born into a poor family in Floresville, near San Antonio, in 1917. His father was a sharecropper. Connally was one of seven children. He worked hard in his youth and still faithfully attended school. He graduated from Floresville High School in 1933 in a time when few Texans graduated high school and even fewer Texas high schools had a 12th grade. He had many talents and many dreams, and in spite of the Great Depression and his familys own poverty, he pushed forward and enrolled at the University of Texas while still only 16. At UT, he bloomed. He was a popular figure on campus, becoming class president. His grades were excellent, but he had to work his way through college, slowing his progress. He graduated in 1939. It was in 1939 that he met and began working for then-Congressman Lyndon Johnson. Connally served as a legislative aide. Connally later remarked how he was always grateful for Johnsons friendship and for all that Johnson taught him. But the two were well-known for how stubborn they could be and would clash often throughout the years. After Connallys graduation, he entered the University of Texas Law School. While in law school, he married his college sweetheart, Nellie Brill, in 1940, with whom he would have four children. In 1941, he helped manage Johnsons first campaign for the U. S. Senate, one that Johnson lost narrowly after more than 6,000 votes for his opponent suddenly appeared. Connally learned just how brutal Texas politics could be. He earned his law degree by 1941 and continued to work for Johnson. He entered the Navy in 1941 as the United States entered World War II. He first served as an aide to the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and was then assigned as a naval liaison to Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower as he planned the American invasion of North Africa in 1942. Afterward, he was transferred to service on the aircraft carrier USS Essex in the South Pacific. He served ably amidst the heavy firefights the ship endured. During the Okinawa campaign in April 1945, the Essex suffered withering attacks for two days straight as Japanese kamikaze pilots attempted to destroy the ship. The Essex survived, and Connally was awarded a Bronze Star for bravery. He was soon transferred to the carrier USS Bennington, where he earned a legion of merit. Connally returned to Austin in 1946. He began working for a local law firm and continued to spread his wings into other ventures. He pulled together a group of fellow veterans as investors to start a new radio station in Austin, KVET. He also managed Johnsons re-election campaign that year. In 1948, Connally again worked with Johnson in his bid for the U. S. Senate. Johnson was leading the Democratic primary moving into the runoff against former Gov. Coke Stevenson. On the night of the runoff, Johnson again watched his lead shrink as votes mysteriously appeared for Stevenson. Johnson and Connally had arranged for counties they knew to be favorable to Johnson to withhold their boxes and understate their totals until later in the counting process. In the end, it came down to the notorious Ballot Box 13 in Jim Wells County, whose 200 votes for Johnson led him to win by 87 votes. Stevensons forces accused the two of stuffing the ballot boxes, and Connally and Johnson responded with their own charges against Stevenson, but no criminal activity was ever proven against either campaign. As part of his legal work, in 1951, Connally began working as an attorney for Fort Worth oilman Sid Richardson, one of the wealthiest men in Texas. As a result, he and his family moved to Fort Worth to work more closely with his client. In 1960, Sen. Johnson decided to run for president. This was still a time in which decisions on nominations could still be made in backrooms by courting delegates to the national conventions. Primaries were in place in several states, but they were not as important as they would be in coming decades. Johnson entered the race too late to enter any of the campaigns and chose Connally to run his campaign at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. John F. Kennedy, however, had already won enough delegates to put him over the top for the nomination; but Johnson and Connally still tried to convince delegates to change their minds. Eventually, Kennedy reluctantly chose Johnson as his running mate. After Kennedy won the presidency, Johnson persuaded him to name Connally as secretary of the navy. This put Connally in charge of a branch of the service that employed more than 1.2 million people with more than 270 bases and hundreds of ships at the height of the Cold War. He stepped down from the position after a year to run for governor, his first bid for elected office. Ken Bridges is a writer, historian and native Texan. He holds a doctorate from the University of North Texas. Bridges can be reached by email at drkenbridges@gmail.com. This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Ken Bridges John Connally giant of Texas politics UNITED NATIONS, Aug 1 (Reuters) - China's envoy to the United Nations said on Monday that a visit by U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan would undermine China-U.S. relations. China's U.N. ambassador Zhang Jun also told a briefing that such a visit by Pelosi would be provocative, and not comparable to the last time a U.S. House speaker visited the island claimed by Beijing in 1997. Pelosi was set to visit Taiwan on Tuesday, three sources said, as the United States said it would not be intimidated by Chinese threats to never "sit idly by" if she made the trip. (Reporting by Michelle Nichols and Michael Martina; Editing by Chris Reese) Elon Musk intends to stay at Tesla as long as he can be useful. Ray Tamarra/Getty Images Elon Musk said that Tesla would continue to do well even if he was kidnapped by aliens. However, he intends to stay as long as he can be useful, he said at Tesla's 2022 Cyber Roundup. Musk was responding to a question from a stock owner regarding the company's succession plans. Elon Musk has no plans of leaving Tesla but thinks that the company would continue to perform well without him. "We have a very talented team here. So I think Tesla, you know, would continue to do very well even if I was kidnapped by aliens, or went back to my home planet," the Tesla CEO said at the firm's 2022 Cyber roundup meeting of stock owners. He was responding to a question from stockholder Gary Black, a managing partner of the Future Fund, concerning how Tesla's board would potentially handle his succession. Musk is embroiled in an ongoing legal battle following his decision to pull out of a $44 billion deal to buy Twitter, Black wanted to know how he would split his time should a judge rule that he has to take over the social media giant. Musk said Tesla is gathering a lot of momentum and has a "very exciting" product roadmap that will last a long time. "I intend to stay with Tesla as long as I can be useful," Musk said, adding that he thought that he could be most useful with product design and manufacturing parts of the business. During the more than two-hour-long presentation, Musk revealed the firm had manufactured its three millionth car and suggested that the firm could eventually build between 10 and 12 Gigafactories as it expands. He said that thanks to the hard work of the Tesla team, the company had reached a production run rate of 1.5 million vehicles already this year, and was on track for 2 million by the close of 2022. Musk has ambitions to build 20 million cars a year by 2030. "I'm very excited about the future of the company and I think it's got a very bright future, even without me," Musk said. "I'm not leaving, to be clear." The world's richest man, who was born in South Africa, has previously joked that Mars is his home planet. He's regularly talked about his ambition for humanity to eventually be a multiplanetary species. He hopes that SpaceX, the rocket company he founded, can play an important part in that. Story continues Despite Tesla's continued growth, Musk has been involved in multiple controversies. Tesla is facing multiple lawsuits brought by African-American former and current employees regarding accusations of racial harassment in its factories. Documents obtained by Insider's Julia Black, recently revealed that Musk secretly fathered twins with a senior executive at Neuralink. Read the original article on Business Insider Chasta Mangum, a retired Virginia Beach deputy sheriff, usually sits in the back of Asbury Christian Fellowship Church during service, watching the door as a member of the small Pungo congregation. In the wake of church shootings in Iowa and California this summer, Mangum asked the Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office to give the congregation a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events course. If something were to happen, it would take a while before somebody could respond, said Mangum, who considers herself as church security, said Saturday. This is the purpose of me doing this, to have the congregation have some type of knowledge of what you need to do. Chief Deputy Rocky Holcomb said attacks in places of worship, schools and shopping centers pushed the sheriffs office to teach the curriculum. Whats going on on a national, state level, and within this community is having a big effect on churches, Pastor John Calvin Smith said. I think we need to be educated and we need to get up with the times. We cant stay in the past. FBI hate crime statistics show that incidents of violence in churches, synagogues, temples and mosques increased by 34.8% between 2014 and 2018. Attacks have prompted faith leaders in the U.S. to take action, in some cases having armed security present during services. Sheriffs deputies, all of whom responded to the 2019 mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center, delivered the CRASE training, which was developed at Texas State University. It teaches three tools: Avoid, deny and defend. Avoid teaches people to prioritize exiting the building as quickly as possible during an active shooter situation. This means having situational awareness and knowing where exits are, said Sgt. Nicholas Davison. The last thing that you want to have to do is hide, Davison said. Deny emphasizes denying an active shooter access to people who are unable to leave the building. This often means hiding inside offices or bathrooms, turning off lights and barricading the doors, said Sgt. David Wilkes. Story continues Defend is the last option. If all else fails, I cant escape and I cant hide, Im going down swinging, said Lt. Nick Curtis. Officers walked congregation members and visitors through the church, pointing out exits, hiding spots and potential tools to use as weapons. Church should be a sanctuary, but recent events have shown that our places of worship can be targeted by people with evil intent, and we want our congregations to be prepared to protect themselves if the unthinkable occurs, said Virginia Beach Sheriff Ken Stolle in a news release. While we hope they never have to use this training, we are proud to give them the tools to react if an active-shooter shows up during a service. This marks the first CRASE training taught by the Virginia Beach Sheriffs Office, which has previously only taught active-shooter response to staff at the Virginia Beach Courthouse and members of the news media. Places of worship and other organizations interested in a class can request one at alerrt.org. The next CRASE training is at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 at New Jerusalem Church, 118 Bishop Thoroughgood Ave. Lauren Girgis, lauren.girgis@virginiamedia.com From Day One, President Joe Bidens immigration policy has been largely incoherent. Its now verging on a crisis. In June, authorities recorded 191,898 apprehensions at the border, following more than 222,000 the previous month. With this influx has come a host of related problems that are very unlikely to improve without bold action. During his four years in office, President Donald Trump attempted to reduce migrant flows using two programs. The first, known as Remain in Mexico, required most asylum seekers to remain south of the border while their cases were processed. In response to legal challenges and the start of the pandemic, that policy was set aside in favor of another measure, Title 42, which allowed for widespread expulsions on public-health grounds. Though implemented haphazardlyin keeping with Trumps generally cruel and incompetent approach to the borderboth policies had the effect of significantly slowing unauthorized entries. As for Biden? Hes been trying to shut down both programs since the start of his presidency, without specifying plausible alternatives. He has proposed a funding cut for border apprehensions and removals. He published an ill-conceived reform structure that seemed to act as an invitation for further migration without laying the necessary groundwork. Vice President Kamala Harrisdeputized by Biden to head up a response to the crisishas spent just three days in Latin America over 16 months. Such inattention has allowed obvious problems at the border to fester, while giving unauthorized migrants the false hope that theyll be allowed entry to the U.S. The bottom line is that all asylum seekers have a right to have their claims heard in court, yet the U.S. must ensure the system doesnt get completely overwhelmed. Of the imperfect options available, Remain in Mexico (formally, the Migrant Protection Protocols) makes the most sense. The Biden administration has been begrudgingly working with the Mexican government to improve this program, including by expanding the hiring of immigration judges to speed case reviews and providing migrants with more lawyers. It should also work to ensure they have safe housing and job opportunities and to reduce the distances they have to travel for court appearances. With such improvements in place, and buy-in from Mexico, the policy should help restore order to the asylum process while addressing humanitarian concerns. Longer-term, the U.S. needs comprehensive reforms that would pair increased funding for law enforcement and immigration courts with an expanded guest-worker program, which would relieve pressure on the border and ease labor shortages in the agriculture and food-producing industries. Meanwhile, added investment, public and private, in northern Central America could help stem the violence and poverty that have caused so many to flee in the first place. The problems at the southern border are complex but not unsolvable. They should never have reached this point of near-crisis. Whats most needed now is leadership. Adapted from Bloomberg Opinion Margaret Winckler started her online business, WillowSpring Boutique, during the pandemic. I was already doing a lot of shopping for myself online and decided to try starting my own business, she said. Now, Winckler also has WillowSpring at 235 W. Sixth St., in Fremont. How did she come up with the name WillowSpring? I was sitting in our backyard, looking at our willow tree, and it was springtime, she said. Winckler said she has made it her top priority to help women feel better about themselves. One thing I strive for is to include all beautiful sizes, she said. I dont like the term plus sizes. I think it has a negative sound. All women are beautiful no matter what size they are, and I want their shopping experience to be an enjoyable one. She notes something else. I want them to feel empowered, to stand a little taller when they leave my shop, she said. Winckler recalled seeing an old friend from high school come into the boutique who had been struggling with her weight. She had been having a hard time finding jeans that fit, Winckler said. I carry a brand called Judy Blue. They look like jeans, but they have a lot of stretch to them. They fit her perfectly, and she said to me, This is the first time I tried on a pair of jeans and didnt end up crying. That customer is now one of the models for WillowSprings online boutique, which can be found at willowspringboutique.com. She came back sometime later because she needed a dress for her sons wedding, Winckler said. She wanted something that would conceal her upper arms and her legs. I chose for her a long dress with an elastic waist band, loose short sleeves, and a V-neck that drew attention to her beautiful bustline. Winckler said exceptional service is her No. 1 priority. Everything in my shop is high quality and well researched according to customers requests. If theres something special youre looking for, just shoot me an email at fadedjade@yahoo.com, and I will find what youre looking for, she said. Winckler is sensitive to the fact that many women feel uncomfortable about their appearance. I tell them, Be kind to yourself, give yourself some grace. I have a plaque in my mobile boutique that reads Talk to yourself like someone you love, she said. Winckler started her mobile boutique in July 2021. I take it to craft fairs and sometimes park it in parking lots so employees can come out and do some shopping right there at their workplace, Winckler said. Right before Christmas last year, I took it to a fair in Wahoo that was all just boutiques. I also take it to the annual craft fair at Christensen Field. Winckler said she is proud to be part of a support network with other women who sell womens clothing. We buy from each other and exchange ideas on how to provide the best service to our customers, Winckler said. Shes also proud to be the owner of a small business. I believe small businesses are what make a community, she said. Born in Yankton, South Dakota, Winckler worked at her parents bar and grill, wiping down tables and eventually doing some of the cooking. When I was old enough, she said, I was also a bartender. Winckler now works full time at a clinic in Fremont, where she handles the insurance and medical billing. My hours at the boutique are limited, she said. WillowSpring Boutique is open 5:30-8:30 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. She is also available for private shopping on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Nebraska-based home retailer NFM (Nebraska Furniture Mart) is celebrating its 85th anniversary by donating to small non-profit start-ups. As many as 85 non-profits will receive $500 each. The $500 covers the cost of an application for tax-exempt status and symbolizes the amount founder Rose Mrs. B. Blumkin used to start NFM. As the 85th-anniversary approaches, NFM looks back on its past while focusing on its future and continued community improvement. NFM wants to use this milestone to create opportunities for small start-ups to take their first steps and make a difference in their communities, just as NFM did 85 years ago. Mrs. B. was a Belarus emigrant who carved a path for women and minority-owned businesses in Omaha. NFM encourages non-profits to apply and help create a brighter future. Applications are being accepted now through Aug. 21. To learn more and apply for the First Step Donation program, visit https://www.nfm.com/nfmcommunity/. Local women attend convention The United States Women of Today held their annual convention June 10-11 at Holiday Inn in Duluth, Minnesota. There were more than 50 women representing seven states in attendance. Cindy Umland, national president, presided. Scheduled events included business meetings, training seminars, fellowship service, and elections for 2022-2023 staff. The luncheon guest speaker was from CASDA Services in Duluth. Chapters and members were recognized for their accomplishments throughout the second and third trimesters which included August through April. Awards received by the Fremont Area chapter included: First Trimester Challenge in Wellness & Personal Development; Second Trimester Recognition for Women of Today Week, Community Connection; Third Trimester Recognition for 100% Retention, Community Connections, Buckets of Sunshine, Domestic Violence Awareness. Maxine Turner received recognition for STEP IV, Outstanding Achievement in Programming, Second Trimester Treasurer Challenge and Outstanding State Officer. Joyce Harpster was recognized for Outstanding State Officer. Judy Ross was recognized with a presidential pin. Attending the annual convention from Fremont Area were Turner, Julie Fogleman, Cindy Urlacher and Harpster. The Fremont Area Women of Today and Fremont Youth Power organizations provides leadership training, personal enrichment, and community service opportunities. For more information, contact Turner at 402-719-8332. Jasmine Gutschow felt nauseous when she woke up a few days before Thanksgiving last year. She brushed it off as typical pregnancy symptoms. She told her fiance he should head into work the baby wouldnt be coming anytime soon. Three hours later, after her contractions started, after they sped for the hospital, after their 2003 Chevy Tahoe broke down, after her contractions quickened to every two minutes and Gutschows fiance frantically dialed 911, it had become crystal clear that this baby had other ideas. Gutschow sat curled in the passenger seat on the shoulder of Nebraska 10 near Upland, trying not to scream in pain and scare the two other children in the car. There had been no time to find a babysitter. I really dont want to have this baby on the side of the road, Gutschow said as she told Gregory to call an ambulance. The car problem: A faulty fuel pump. The bigger problem: The couple lives an hours drive from the hospital where Gutschow receives maternity care. The couple lives in Franklin, in a county of 2,889 residents in south-central Nebraska. Like 55 other counties in the state, Franklin County has no hospital offering birthing services. The long drive can lead to far worse outcomes than added mileage. Rural regions of the state accounted for roughly 40% of births from 2016 to 2018. During that time, rural Nebraska had a rate of roughly 52 severe maternal mortality cases per 10,000 deliveries, notably higher than the urban rate of 45, says the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. And access to pregnancy care is getting worse. Since 2017, Nebraska has lost six birthing units in rural hospitals already 35 miles away from the nearest hospital, said Sydnie Carraher of the Nebraska Perinatal Quality Improvement Collaborative. As delivery rooms dwindle, emergency calls from expectant parents have become more frequent, said EMT Elizabeth Burki, one of the Hildreth first responders who answered Gutschows call. The help is not there, Burki said. When the ambulance arrived, Gutschow struggled to uncurl her body and lay flat on the stretcher. Her fiance and the kids stayed on the side of the highway as the ambulance pulled away. Gutschow was alone with no pain medication. One EMT called Gutschows obstetrician. Another reassured her they had trained for this exact scenario. In fact, the Hildreth first responders had done a Simulation in Motion Nebraska training a simulated emergency delivery less than 48 hours before Gutschows call. They sped toward Kearney. But Gutschows water broke and it became obvious they wouldnt make it. Hildreth EMTs hadnt delivered a baby in 70 years, Burki said. Long-range delivery In small-town Nebraska, a lack of both babies and funding have made deliveries more difficult. Sixteen counties in Nebraska average fewer than 50 births a year, according to the U.S. government. If a hospital only sees a handful of births a year, its tough for staff to confidently offer obstetric care, said Mariana Tuttle, research fellow at the University of Minnesotas Rural Health Research Center. Low birth rates also make funding labor and delivery services difficult, especially in rural regions where half the births are funded by Medicaid which reimburses at half the rate of private insurers, Tuttle said. She said its a compelling reason to expand Medicaid in states like Nebraska. In the 2022 Legislature, Sen. Anna Wishart introduced a bill that would extend Medicaid coverage for new parents. That bill died in committee, said Sara Howard, a former state senator whos now a policy advisor for First Five Nebraska. I think there was a reluctance to invest additional dollars beyond what's already being invested, Howard said. Small-town moms have a substantially greater risk of severe maternal morbidity than big-city moms, Tuttle said. People deserve to be able to live in these beautiful rural spaces and still have safe and healthy outcomes and labor and birth, Tuttle said. The dangers of giving birth in a rural area increase for parents of color, said Christian Minter, the Maternal and Infant Health Manager in Nebraska for March of Dimes. Black and Native infants die at twice the rate of white infants. Many Native American moms do live in some of these rural counties, and so looking at their access to health care is important as well, Minter said. Maintaining a birthing unit might simply not be possible in some of Nebraskas smallest counties. Arthur County, for example, averaged only 11 births a year from 2017 to 2019. Where it might not be feasible to keep a delivery unit open, family medicine physicians can increase prenatal care access at clinics and help transfer their patients to larger hospitals when the time comes, Tuttle said. But its not just delivery hospitals disappearing in rural Nebraska. The state has lost 56 family medicine physicians in the past five years. Filling the gaps Ninety-one of the states counties every county except Douglas and Lancaster are now designated as a shortage area for at least one type of primary care doctor. Fourteen rural Nebraska counties lack both a family medicine physician and obstetrician, according to a 2022 report by the University of Nebraska Medical Centers Rural Health Initiatives. Without intervention, it will get worse. In the coming decade, a large portion of rural Nebraskas doctors of all types are expected to retire, said Nicole Carritt, director of UNMCs Rural Health Initiatives. Recruiting certified nurse midwives is one cost-effective way of improving pregnancy care in rural areas where recruiting doctors may prove impossible, Minter said. And the number of those midwives is growing slightly in Nebraska even as the number of small-town doctors plummets. But Nebraska is one of only three states where certified nurse midwives have to practice under the supervision of a licensed physician, according to the American College of Nurse Midwives. That regulation presents a challenge for certified nurse midwives trying to practice in small Nebraska towns that dont have a doctor, Minter said. So hour-long drives, like the one from Franklin to Kearney, remain the norm in small-town Nebraska. They make stories like Gutschows wild ambulance ride more likely. On that morning a few days before Thanksgiving, the ambulance made it only 10 miles before she gave birth to her son, Raiden. The ambulance now carrying mother, newborn and relieved Hildreth EMTs stopped at the nearest hospital in Minden. But that hospital didnt have the necessary equipment to care for Gutschows brand-new son. Hours into his life, Raiden was put into another ambulance so he could finally get to Kearney. Normally right after you have birth at the hospital, the baby's right there with you in the room and you start that bonding time, Gutschow said. We didn't get that until at least four hours afterwards, and I barely got to see him since he was so premature. Raidens father missed the entirety of the birth. Instead of her fiancee holding her hand, an EMT a complete stranger squeezed Gutschows hand through delivery. (Gutschow) was just so incredibly brave, Burki said. Today, Burki regularly receives photo updates of Raiden, who is mastering his crawl alongside his brother. He has already made multiple visits to the EMTs who delivered him. We all became aunts and uncles, Burki said. The now 9-month-old Raiden owns a one-of-a-kind birth certificate, which lists his place of birth as Mile Marker 32. Delivering Raiden is one of Burkis best memories as an EMT. She also never wants her ambulance to become a delivery room again. Not every outcome is gonna be smooth as that one was, Burki said. What happened that day is probably more likely to happen again with how things in rural America, not just in Nebraska, are going. The Flatwater Free Press is Nebraskas first independent, nonprofit newsroom focused on investigations and feature stories that matter. KABUL -- An explosion has ripped through a mostly Shiite area of Kabul, killing at least two people and injuring 22 others in the second blast in two days in the Afghan capital that has been claimed by Sunni-led Islamic State (IS) militants. The blast on August 6 hit the Sukhteh Pul area of Kabul, home to many of the city's Shiite Muslim population. A Taliban-appointed police spokesman said one of the wounded was in critical condition. In a statement on its Telegram channel late on August 6, IS said it carried out the attack. A day earlier, at least eight people were killed and 18 wounded in a Shi'ite residential area of Kabul in a blast claimed by IS. The attacks came ahead of Ashura, a commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, which is marked mainly by Shi'ite Muslims. A witness told RFE/RL's Radio Azadi that a powerful explosion hit an area filled with shops frequented by the Shiite population. "Currently, ambulances from the area are transporting the wounded and the dead to hospitals in Kabul city," the witness said. Jawed, a Kabul resident, told Radio Azadi that "we call on the Taliban forces to protect our security so that we can freely mourn [the martyrdom of Hussein." Following the August 5 blast, the Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a tweet that Taliban officials should prevent such indiscriminate attacks. UNAMA condemns yesterday's attack in a majority-Shia area of Kabul causing dozens of casualties. De facto authorities must prevent such indiscriminate attacks, launch thorough & transparent investigation. Our condolences to families of the killed & speedy recovery for the injured, it said. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights for Afghanistan, condemned the blast and said the perpetrators should be brought to justice. Since taking power following the withdrawal of NATO-led forces in August 2021, the Taliban has failed to achieve recognition for its government, with many in the West demanding that the group respect the rights of women and minorities in the country. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said this week that the Taliban had "grossly violated" negotiated agreements by hosting and sheltering Ayman al-Zawahri, the Al-Qaeda leader who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Kabul in early August. The Taliban leadership said it was unaware of Zawahris presence in the capital, although a source told Radio Azadi that he was living in a guest house owned by Taliban-installed Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. Nearly 500 at-risk Coloradans are on a waitlist to receive a monkeypox vaccine amid a national shortage of vaccines and an escalating federal response to the outbreak. As of Friday morning, 80 Coloradans have tested positive for monkeypox, and multiple people have been hospitalized, though state authorities have not released an exact count. While the risk from monkeypox remains low for the general public, especially in comparison to COVID-19, its increased presence and the limited supply of vaccines has troubled the national response and led to waiting lists in Colorado and beyond. Currently, 480 Coloradans are on the waitlist. While the state received 3,460 more doses this week, all clinic appointments for qualifying Coloradans - like men who have sex with men - are booked through Aug. 13, said Annemarie Harper, spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Health and Environment. State officials, Harper continued, are "currently working on logistics for additional clinics in the near future. The remaining doses were shipped to vaccine partners for clinics." The health department has received more than 9,600 doses of the vaccine in all, nearly 2,000 of which have been administered at state-run clinics to at-risk residents. Another 2,620 have been given to local providers, and the rest have either been scheduled for administration or are about to be sent to providers, Gov. Jared Polis's office said Thursday afternoon. The monkeypox vaccine is completed via two doses, like the COVID-19 vaccine. But the shortage of doses and rapid push to tamp down the disease's spread has prompted Colorado to prioritize first doses, to the point that recipients may have to wait longer than usual to complete their full inoculation. On Thursday, the federal government declared a public health emergency to bolster its response to the national outbreak, which has infected more than 6,600 Americans. No one has died from the disease here, though there have been deaths reported in other countries. The declaration by HHS comes as the Biden administration has faced criticism over monkeypox vaccine availability. Clinics in major cities, such as New York and San Francisco, say they havent received enough of the two-shot vaccine to meet demand, and, like Colorado, some have had to stop offering the second dose to ensure supply of first doses. The monkeypox virus spreads through prolonged skin-to-skin contact, including hugging, cuddling and kissing, as well as sharing bedding, towels and clothing. The people who have gotten sick so far have been primarily men who have sex with men. But health officials emphasize that the virus can infect anyone. In a statement Thursday, Colorado officials stressed their response to the outbreak here. Were ready for the additional vaccines and are standing up even more vaccine clinics across the state with the help of our local partners, said Scott Bookman, the division director of disease control and public health response for the health department. Even though this is a very different disease than COVID-19 and it spreads differently, we have leveraged all of the lessons we learned from the pandemic to stand up an efficient response. Because the current outbreak has affected men who have sex with men at disproportionate levels, the state has conducted outreach with LGBT nonprofits, business leaders and community organizations, the health department said, in order "to get direct, non-stigmatizing messaging to Coloradans currently at risk." Anyone can get monkeypox, and those who may have been exposed or are symptomatic should alert a health care provider. The spread of the disease in Colorado has accelerated in recent months. At the beginning of July, there were eight cases in all; the first had been identified in May. By the end of the month, there were 74, and the virus had begun to spread beyond public health officials' ability to account for each case's origin. The Associated Press Contributed to this report. Technology can give you the freedom to age where you want, says Lisa Cini, designer and creator of the Werner House, an Airbnb outfitted with high-tech touches that make senior living safe and stylish. The nine-bedroom retreats living area, pictured, features a coffee table that can rise to desk or dining height, patented walker holders on chair backs, high-density foam seat cushions to make getting up easier, and a zero-edge area rug to reduce tripping. Colorado State Court Administrator Steven Vaconcellos on Tuesday said he overlooked the discipline record of a retiring district court judge when he approved the jurist's application for the senior judge program in 2018, then recently admonished the state's judicial discipline commission for not telling the Judicial Branch about it. Nancy Gonzalez still regrets the abortion she had 37 years ago. The whole thing haunts her. It was shameful, a horrible experience that I feel bad about, she says. While abortion is billed as a straightforward medical procedure, some women like Gonzalez say thats a false premise. Society sees it as a simple thing, and that if you make that decision, you should be quiet about it, she said. A lot of women are suffering. Gonzalez credits a nonjudgmental healing program called Project Rachel, with helping her understand the situation, mourn the loss she feels and forgive herself. She now speaks to others about how they, too, can reconcile lingering inner turmoil. I was really scared and terrified and felt like I couldnt tell anybody, Gonzalez said. I didnt want to do it, but I didnt know what else to do. Calls to the local office from post-abortive women seeking assistance have increased since the United States Supreme Courts June 24 ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, reverting abortion legality to states rather than the federal government, said Rhonda Miller, Project Rachel director for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. The nationwide ministry of the Catholic Church is open to anyone of any or no faith who wants help processing emotional and psychological pain from an abortion. The reaction of anger and hostility to the decision was a trigger for people it was upsetting, and they realize they need this kind of help, Miller said. Bridges of Hope, another faith-based healing program in Colorado Springs, also has received additional inquiries in recent weeks, said Brenda Shuler, program director. With all the media coverage, it stirs up things people havent thought about in a while, and now all of a sudden its coming to the surface. Abortion is common, says the Planned Parenthood Federation of America 4 in 10 pregnancies in the United States end with abortion. By age 45, 1 in 4 women in the U.S. will have had an abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute. The organization was founded in 1968 as part of Planned Parenthood and now is an independent nonprofit focusing on sexual and reproductive rights and health. Statistics vary on the numbers of post-abortive women who develop depression, anxiety, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder or suicidal thoughts. A 2011 study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry found that women who had an abortion were at an 81% increased risk for mental problems. The 164,000 women in the study who had an abortion were 34% more likely to develop an anxiety disorder than the 713,200 women in the sample group who had not had an abortion. Post-abortive women also were 37% more likely to have depression, 110% more likely to abuse alcohol, 220% more likely to use marijuana, and had a 155% increased risk for suicide, the study concluded. Nearly 10% of their problems could be attributed to abortion, according to the authors. Most studies on the topic do not draw a direct correlation between abortion and mental illness or distress. There are unresolved emotions, and you have to numb the pain, so theres the propensity for self-harming behaviors, said Project Rachels Miller, who had an abortion 47 years ago. Women vary by faith How a woman views abortion may play a role in after-effects, Miller said. Women who do not have a spiritual practice or faith tradition may not be psychologically conflicted with the decision, she said, because they view the fetus as a mass of tissue or cells. Women who are of a particular faith and believe that having an abortion means they took a life are more likely to feel guilt and shame, she said. There were 930,160 abortions performed in the U.S. in 2020, according to the Guttmacher Institute. And nearly three-fourths of women who have an abortion claim a religious affiliation, the institute determined, based on statistics from abortion providers. When the dominant narrative, on social media in particular, is theres nothing wrong with abortion and nothing to grieve, you can feel that it creates a contradiction in your mind and psyche, said Julie Bailey, director of the Respect Life Apostolate for the Diocese of Colorado Springs. Women who think the fetus is not a child can face delayed trauma, said Shuler of Bridges of Hope. The program is part of Life Network, a Colorado Springs nonprofit that's supported by churches. The organization also operates a pregnancy center and provides parenting education. Ive talked to a lot of women who believe that at first, that it was just cells early on, Shuler said. Thats how they were able to go through with it. But later in life, they think differently." The American Psychiatric Association doesnt recognize PTSD from abortion as a condition. From her work, Miller said she knows it can occur, particularly for women who had previous mental imbalance. COVID exacerbated trauma for women who have a chemical abortion, Miller said. The pill form of expelling the fetus up to 11 weeks of pregnancy has been on the market for years but during the pandemic became available via telehealth. While the first dose can be administered at an abortion facility, the second pill is taken at home, which Bailey said produces cramps and blood clots and empties the uterus. Because there wasnt anyone else involved, the isolation they feel along with the guilt and responsibility is overwhelming. Miller said she went to a psychiatrist for mental anguish after her abortion in 1975 and was told her condition didnt have anything to do with the abortion. She said she bottled up her feelings for decades before joining a Project Rachel class. No one talks about the trauma and stress, Miller said. There are things that trigger it, if someone was physically abused as a child, an abortion adds to the trauma, its compounded and often not recognized. Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains did not have anyone available to discuss post-abortion care, and its website does not mention potential psychological effects of abortion. Feelings of relief, sadness, elation or depression are common and may be strong due to the hormonal changes that occur after an abortion, says the Michigan affiliate's website. Most women find these feelings do not last very long. Discussing emotions with parents, a partner and people in a support system may be helpful, the site says. Some Planned Parenthood affiliates provide a link to a pro-choice spiritual care website and offer lists of counseling services. For those having difficulties, forgiveness is a key to healing, Shuler said. Its forgiving other people; its accepting Gods forgiveness if they come from that perspective and believing that they can be forgiven themselves, she said. Both Project Rachel and Bridges of Hope provide nonjudgmental, confidential group therapy for anyone interested. Classes are free and run up to 10 weeks. There are many more people out there with this experience in their past than most people realize, Shuler said. As part of Project Rachels curriculum, participants learn how to re-humanize the aborted fetus by naming the child and writing a letter to them. They also address their anger toward the doctor, their parents, the partner and themselves. Theyll always grieve the loss of their child, Miller said. We help them feel like theyre not alone anymore. You begin living your life as healed. Affects on men Dont forget about the men involved, said Mark Braunlich of Colorado Springs, who has a science and legal background. A Russian woman he was dating in Moscow in 1993 unexpectedly got pregnant with his child. Braunlich, who said he wasnt a Christian at the time, told her he would raise the child without any strings or expectations. She decided to have an abortion, and the couple split up. In the following years, Braunlich experienced two unexplained bouts of weeping. Once was during prison ministry, after a man at a church service told Braunlich he hadnt seen his daughter in several years and wouldnt see her for another decade. I started to fall apart in this room full of prisoners, Braunlich said. I ran out to the maintenance closet and remember to this day a big ceramic basin and a mop. I wept for five to 10 minutes before I could get it together. I thought, What is this about? He now attributes his sorrow to the loss of his child through abortion. It can grab your soul so powerfully, he said, and you can be completely unaware. Men often feel like they don't have a right to grieve because they weren't the ones going through the procedure, Miller said. While they also can feel anger, guilt and shame, psychological damage varies, depending on the circumstance, she said. Whether they paid for the abortion or insisted on it, whether they knew about the abortion at the time it was performed, or whether they wanted to keep the baby. Braunlich went through the Project Rachel program in 2015. Its a very structured program, its not just sit around and talk about it there are different exercises and readings and homework, he said. The goal is to make the child you lost real because this whole culture is if the child is not born, its not real. If you say there wasnt a child, whats there to grieve? Braunlich said he learned how his lifestyle of casual sex had consequences, and he realized the meaning of true love. You cant accept healing until you can finally accept the responsibility, he said. Students walk past the University of Colorado Colorado Springs mountain lion sculpture in April 2021, next to the El Pomar Center on the campus. A fascinating moment in history is playing out right now in our northern neighbor state, Wyoming. In a little over a week, Liz Cheney, who presently is one of the most prominent politicians on the American stage as grand inquisitor of the Jan. 6 hearings, is likely to lose her job as a congresswoman. She knew this was a strong possibility going into the hearings to hold President Donald Trump accountable for the Capitol invasion, yet she decided to take a leading role anyway. In other words, she chose her own self-respect as a higher good than her popularity or keeping her job as a congresswoman. In this day of political survivalism and party loyalty over everything, her choice stands out like a painfully sore thumb. Theres a word for it weve nearly forgotten in the politics of the early 21st century: courage. In the case of Liz Cheney, voting to impeach Donald Trump and serving on the January 6th, 2021, House of Representatives investigating committee, were acts of courage, political scientist Robert Loevy told me. The Republican prof taught Liz Cheney political science when she was a student at Colorado College. I am so impressed that, in order to do what she considered the right thing, she risked her lifelong Wyoming political ambitions, Loevy added. That is why I label my former student courageous. And Wyoming is likely to punish her harshly for it. Polls show Cheney running well behind rival Republican Harriet Hageman, who Trump has endorsed and stumped for in Wyoming. John Kennedy wrote a book about politicians like Cheney who followed their consciences and chose the good of the country over their political livelihoods. It was called Profiles in Courage, and it noted that meeting the challenge of courage can require great sacrifices: the loss of friends fortune contentment even the esteem of his fellow men. Check, check, check and check. Cheney has suffered all of the above. Because of persistent and credible death threats, Rep. Cheney was assigned a personal security detail by Capitol Police last August and shes been forced to abandon public rallies and town halls, campaigning at private events instead. The Wyoming Republican Party voted last year to censure Cheney for her vote to impeach Trump, essentially refusing to recognize her as a Republican at all any more. So why is she doing this? Her dad, former Vice President Dick Cheney, a conservative icon in the Republican party, explained her motivation pretty damn well in an ad released last week that sounded more like the first salvo in a Liz Cheney 2024 presidential campaign: In our nations 246-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump. He is a coward. A real man wouldnt lie to his supporters. He lost his election, and he lost big. I know it, he knows it, and deep down most Republicans know it. Dick Cheney said he and his wife, Lynne Cheney, are proud of Liz for standing up for the truth, doing what is right, honoring her oath to the Constitution when so many in our own party are too scared to do so. Other prominent Republicans have said much the same, such as former President George W. Bush, who has endorsed Cheney, and Cheney supporter and prominent Wyoming Republican Al Simpson, a former U.S. senator and recent Medal of Freedom winner, the highest civilian honor in our country. Even Yellowstone star Kevin Costner endorsed Cheney last week. So why isnt the rest of Wyoming following suit, honoring Liz for her courage rather than punishing her? A reporter for CNN recently quizzed rodeo-goers at Cheyenne Frontier Days about that, and nearly all of them said they werent supporting Cheney. Shes done us dirty, voter Sharon Tuggle told the reporter. Shes supposed to be supporting him (Trump), shes a Republican for crying out loud. Another voter said, I find her work on the Jan. 6 committee just repulsive. Others said shes so busy with the Jan. 6 hearings shes neglected her constituents in the Cowboy State. Some have labeled those hearings political theater, a redundant exercise meant to distract the country from Biden administration woes. It should be noted that more than 70% of Wyoming Republicans supported Trump in the last election. In the Cheney primary this time around, Wyomingites are likely to elect a dyed-in-the-wool election denier in Hageman, who said as recently as Wednesday that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against Trump. So my friends in Wyoming are about to cast a vote for dishonesty and against duty, apparently. How did we get so twisted in our prioritizing of basic American values, especially out here in the West where we normally have little patience for horsecrap? History will remember Cheney as an honest-to-god, tough-as-nails profile in courage, Im sure of it. Yet Wyomingites cant see that right now; shes been disloyal to the party, to Wyoming, to all the bamboozled Trump supporters up in those wide open prairies. But her loyalty is of an altogether steelier variety, I would argue: to the country, to the Constitution, to her own conscience. Is there anyone who has watched any of the hearings who doesnt acknowledge at this point that this is not a political stunt, that Cheney believes what shes saying and doing deep in her bones? Its more like a mission launched from the deepest parts of her soul, to do what she sees as right, above all else. Wyomingites may not recognize it as courage quite yet, because courage itself has been missing for so long from our public discourse, which lately has been a cesspool of lies, misinformation, and craven cowardice in service of a megalomaniac. Yet Kennedy foresaw exactly what is going on now in Wyoming in his book written nearly 70 years ago. A nation which has forgotten the quality of courage which in the past has been brought to public life is not as likely to insist upon or reward that quality in its chosen leaders. I submit that Wyoming has forgotten what true courage actually looks like. For some reason, Liz Cheney has seen recent events differently than most Wyomingites and many Republicans. Shes seen things with a clearer eye, I would argue, and seen things that to her are more important than politics. That old professor of hers at Colorado College thinks maybe she developed that clearer vision right here in Colorado, as did her mom and sister Mary, who also went to CC. If a liberal arts college education does anything, said Loevy, it should inculcate in students the ability to discern the truth and then speak honestly about it. Liz Cheney has done both. Theres a quote Ive always liked engraved in the peachblow sandstone of Palmer Hall on CCs campus where the Cheneys studied politics. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. It was said by a guy who also made some serious sacrifices, including his own life, while trying to speak truths. His name was Jesus Christ. Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. FILE PHOTO: Elon Musk's Twitter profile is seen on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos in this picture illustration taken April 28, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo Jim and Donna Mueller were on a trip to Washington, D.C., to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary when they were killed by a lightning strike Thursday night outside the White House. "They were a very loving couple," said the Muellers' niece, Michelle McNett, of Janesville. "They were very, very family oriented. I think everyone's just in shock right now and kind of request privacy." She said the couple had five children, plus 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. McNett said Donna, 75, was a teacher and, in her retirement, worked at the Comfort Shoppe, a local furniture store. Jim, 76, was a retired contractor who had his own drywall business. She said she's not sure why they picked the nation's capital for their vacation, but added, "Donna was a constant learner." The couple had planned to go to Mount Vernon, George and Martha Washington's historic home 13 miles south of Washington on Friday. The couple were high school sweethearts who grew up in Cuba City, 65 miles southwest of Madison, and graduated from Cuba City High School, McNett said. They moved to Janesville when Jim got a job there. They are survived by a daughter, Michelle, Brookfield; and sons Maurie, Oregon, Wisconsin; Mark, Janesville; Matt, Columbus, Ohio; and Mitch, Texas. McNett said the couple loved having gatherings and just had a big family gathering a couple of weeks ago. "They were very religious," she said. "Just the kind of people who would give the shirt off their back to do anything for you, both of them." The Muellers died of their injuries after the lightning strike in Lafayette Park, across the street from the White House, the Metropolitan Police Department said. Two other people, a man and a woman, also were struck and were in critical condition Thursday, the police department said. Their identities were not immediately released. "We are saddened by the tragic loss of life after the lightning strike in Lafayette Park," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones, and we are praying for those still fighting for their lives." A severe thunderstorm hit the D.C. region around 7 p.m. Thursday. The victims were riding out the storm under a tree, according to a law enforcement source, CNN reported. The Mississippi Valley Fair grandstand was already filling up with country fans when the news came the Jimmie Allen concert was canceled. The country music star took to social media to explain the situation, and ask the guilty party to start cutting some checks. In a video posted to Twitter Thursday evening, Allen explained that his flight from Pennsylvania to Illinois was canceled due to weather after a couple of hours waiting on the plane. "American Airlines, didn't your parents teach you that communication is key?" Allen asked in the video. The artist's band and crew were already in Davenport, Allen said, but they had no frontman to perform with. He asked the airline company to write some checks to reimburse the fans that were disappointed at the cancellation. "I've still got to pay my band and crew, so y'all figure it out," he said. Since the headliner couldn't make it to the fair, Angela Meyer decided to bring together some musicians and put on a show of their own. Meyer was supposed to sing the National Anthem in the grandstand Thursday evening, but pivoted to hold a small concert for fairgoers. After they started gathering tip money, Meyer decided to take what they made and donate it to the local 4-H chapter. "People were just really excited," Meyer said. "I don't think they're always aware of the ways that they can donate to 4-H unless they have a 4-H kid. So it was really cool to be able to open this up to the public that they could just swing by and give a few bucks." The "cow barn jamboree" featured music and some auction items, and ended the night with $1,200 in donations, all of which went to 4-H. As someone who used to show animals of her own at the fair, Meyer said she was happy to give back to the kids who put their time and effort into taking care of and showing animals. The artist will perform 2-5 p.m. at the Shed in the fair. "The kids that are in our program are super hardworking," said Scott County 4-H Youth Coordinator Emily Lyon. "They have a great drive and work ethic and it's really exciting to have someone come back in our community and be willing to not only donate that money ... but that they see the value in the program as well." ONAWA, Iowa -- Looking straight at Jay Lee Neubaum, one of his victims told him she was forever changed when he raped her when she was 13 years old, and so were other girls he assaulted. "We live in fear because of you," the girl said. "Someday I hope you realize what you have done, and I hope you open your eyes and realize the pain you have caused." A second victim told District Judge Zachary Hindman that after she was raped at age 14 by Neubaum, she shut down. "I was broken down and hurt in many ways. ... He has taken away my innocence in ways I'll never get back," the girl said Friday in Monona County District Court. Neubaum, 19, of Onawa, stared forward while the girls spoke, not appearing to meet their eyes or glance in their direction. He did not speak when given the chance before Hindman sentenced him to 20 years in prison on three counts of third-degree sexual abuse. Hindman ordered the sentence to be added to a 50-year sentence Neubaum is currently serving for second-degree murder, increasing his total sentence to 70 years. He could be released on parole before serving the whole sentence. If he is, he will be on court supervision for the remainder of his life because of the sexual abuse conviction and he also must register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for life. Hindman presided over Neubaum's trial in December and in June announced his verdict, finding Neubaum guilty of two counts involving the rape and assault of one of the girls and one count for the rape of the other. Hindman found Neubaum not guilty of seven other counts of sexual abuse involving five more girls, saying he had reasonable doubt about their claims because of inconsistencies in their trial testimony and statements. Neubaum had been charged with assaulting the girls, ranging in age from 13-16 at the time, from August 2019 through March 2020 in and around Mapleton, Iowa, where he attended school. Neubaum's attorney, Theresa Rachel, had asked for all of Neubaum's sentences to be served concurrently, or at the same time. Going further, she asked for a suspended sentence on the sexual abuse charges so Neubaum could be on probation when he's paroled from prison on his murder charge. She said Neubaum is better off out of prison because he's currently receiving no counseling or therapy services, though he desires them. If he were released from prison, he could resume the therapy he was receiving while on pretrial release before his murder trial. He also could receive sex offender treatment, which has not yet been provided to him in prison. "We are not asking for leniency, we are asking for rehabilitation," Rachel said. Rachel called Neubaum to the witness stand to talk about his progress toward his high school diploma and also his lack of access to counseling. If given probation and released on parole, Neubaum said, he would get a job and continue counseling sessions to prove he's not a threat to the community. "People call me a murderer and stuff. I take that pretty serious," Neubaum said. Calling for consecutive prison sentences, Monona County Attorney Ian McConaughey countered that Neubaum has shown no remorse for any of his crimes. Neubaum is currently incarcerated at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, where he's serving his second-degree murder sentence for the Jan. 31, 2020, shooting death of 16-year-old Joseph Hopkins in Mapleton. A Monona County jury convicted him of the crime in May 2021. Hopkins, of Mapleton, was shot once in the forehead with a 12-gauge shotgun while he, Neubaum and two other teenage boys were working on a demolition derby car in a garage. The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction last month. Much of the UI payments to Seneca a multipronged company serving the petroleum and fuel-systems industry have been for facilities-related maintenance, repairs and installations on campus. Re: A computer chip manufacturer expects the ratio of the number of defect [ #permalink Shipment --- No. of Defective Chips/shipment --- Total Chips in shipment S1 ---------------------- 2 ------------------------------------------ 5,000 S2 ---------------------- 5 ------------------- ---------------------- 12,000 S3 ---------------------- 6 ------------------------------------------ 18,000 S4 ---------------------- 4 ------------------------------------------ 16,000 A computer chip manufacturer expects the ratio of the number of defective chips to the total number of chips in all future shipments to equal the corresponding ratio for shipments S1, S2, S3, and S4 combined, as shown in the table above. Whats the expected number of defective chips in a shipment of 60,000 chips? A. 14B. 20C. 22D. 24E. 25Set up equation: \(\frac{x}{60,000}=\frac{2+5+6+4}{5,000+12,000+18,000+16,000}\) --> \(x=20\);Or: \(2+5+6+4=17\) defective chips in \(5,000+12,000+18,000+16,000=51,000\) chips, so \(\frac{17}{51,000}=\frac{1}{3,000}\): 1 in 3,000. So, expected number of defective chips in a shipment of 60,000 chips is \(\frac{60,000}{3,000}=20\).Answer: B._________________ A Danville teenager was killed and a 24-year-old woman injured in an early Saturday morning drive-by shooting. It was about 3:50 a.m. when the Danville Police Department responded to the 700 block of Stokes Street for the report of someone shot, a news release reported. Officers found JaQuise DeJuan Beard, 19, on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound. Beard was treated at the scene and taken to Sovah Health-Danville where he was later pronounced dead. Another Danville woman suffered injuries that werent life threatening and was transported for medical treatment. The suspects in this incident approached the victims in a vehicle and shot multiple rounds from the vehicle toward the victims as they were at the front of a residence in the 700 block of Stokes Street, police wrote in a news release. This appeared to be a targeted incident and not a random act. Crime scene investigators were still on the scene Saturday morning. Members of the Danville Police Departments investigative bureau ask that any resident with video surveillance cameras in the area of Stokes Street and surrounding areas contact the department. Also, anyone who witnessed or has knowledge of the suspects in this case may contact the Danville Police Department by calling the patrol office at 434-799-6510, investigations at 434-799-6508, contacting Crime Stoppers at 434-793-0000, dispatch at 911 or 434-799-5111. In addition, residents may reach out through social media accounts or use of the crime tips app CARE. Information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case will be eligible for a cash reward. This marks the second homicide this week. Police are still investigating a Wednesday night shooting death of a 23-year-old at the Woodside Village Apartment complex. At about 10:50 p.m., officers responded to a call of shots fired at the apartment complex at 1321 Piney Forest Road, a news release reported. Police found Darick Lamont Richardson II, of Danville, in the parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. He was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital where he died early Thursday morning, police said. A Winston-Salem man has been charged with voluntary manslaughter in the shooting of an employee at a Kernersville battery-manufacturing plant Tuesday night. Diarus Mark Raynor, 29, was arrested and also charged with felony discharging a firearm within enclosure to incite fear and misdemeanor carrying concealed weapons. Raynor is accused of fatally shooting Erik Bailey, 34, of Winston-Salem. Sheriffs deputies received a call about 11:15 p.m. about shots being fired at the Clarios plant in the 2700 block of Powering Progress Drive in Kernersville, said Forsyth County Sheriff Bobbly Kimbrough Jr. and Christina Howell, a spokeswoman for the sheriffs office. The plant, off West Mountain Street, was formerly Johnson Controls. When deputies got to the plant, they found Bailey suffering from a gunshot wound, Kimbrough said. Bailey died at the scene. Investigators determined that Bailey and an employee got into an argument that ended with Bailey being shot and killed, Kimbrough said Wednesday. Arrest warrants allege that Raynor used a ghost gun a gun that doesnt have a serial number and is typically made from a kit bought online to kill Bailey. Ghost guns are legal in nearly every state, including North Carolina, and anyone, with or without a criminal record, can buy them. Law enforcement agencies have expressed concerns about ghost guns and recently, the Justice Department made a ruling that would regulate them. Shaunne Hall, Erik Baileys mother, told the Journal on Wednesday that she heard from a first responder that Bailey was involved in an argument with a male employee. Hall was told that the employee spit in Baileys face during the incident. A fight then ensued between Bailey and the employee. At some point, Hall was told, the employee went to his vehicle, got a handgun and then shot Bailey in the chest. Kimbrough said Tuesday that he could neither confirm nor deny Halls account of what happened because of the ongoing criminal investigation. The sheriffs office has not said what led to the argument. Hall said Bailey had been working at the plant since early March. Her son had previously worked at the Winston Weaver Co. fertilizer plant in Winston-Salem. A Jan. 31 fire destroyed the fertilizer plant. It was not immediately clear how long Raynor had worked at Clarios. At the time of the shooting, nearly 200 employees were working at the plant. Kathryn Campbell, a spokeswoman for the Clarios, declined to comment about the arrest Friday. Hall could not be reached for comment Friday. She said Wednesday that Bailey was a good father to his 10-year-old son, Tyler. The sheriffs office said that it conducted a thorough investigation and consulted with the Forsyth County District Attorneys Office before charging Raynor on Friday. Raynor appeared before a magistrate and was given a secured bond of $500,000. He is in the Forsyth County Jail. Youll crush Archita Khaire if your technology role model is Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. Khaire says those responses, which she always hears from her peers, prove why her mission since 2020 is so important: pushing for more diversity in the field of artificial intelligence. (Its) so critical, said Khaire, a former student at Providence High School in Charlotte who now attends the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham. Only 22% of artificial intelligence professionals globally are female. If students dont see role models like them, its scary to enter the field. Making artificial intelligence, or AI, less daunting for teens means providing them with opportunities. So Khaire, a 16-year-old whos lived in Charlotte most of her life, founded AIBytes4You, a nonprofit dedicated to attracting minorities and underrepresented students to the field. A team of teens run the nonprofit with a youth-centered curriculum. They began conducting workshops virtually by collaborating with public schools and libraries early during the pandemic. Now, about 25 youth from Charlotte, other states and countries such as India and Zambia run virtual and in-person workshops. Sometimes it is just the fear of the unknown or detrimental stereotypes that hold students back, Khaire said. We provide students the opportunity to explore AI as early as elementary school. Our curriculum not only covers introductory and advanced and coding concepts, but also focuses on less-mentioned topics like ethics and bias in AI. AI is any technology that attempts to simulate human intelligence with programming to mimic thoughts and actions of humans. Machine learning is a subset of AI technology that can learn from patterns in data to make decisions on its own. We cherish every new student who develops an interest in the field, whose career path begins to shift towards technology, she said. Students will often contact us after our elementary Intro to AI sessions, asking the question: How can I continue learning about AI? That is how we define success. Making the introduction Khaire has always been interested in STEM subjects. In middle school, she was part of Horizons, a gifted program in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Her class had nine boys and two girls. As she grew older, she noticed a gender gap in engineering-related clubs and coding classes. When she developed an interest in AI, it was difficult for Khaire to find the right resources to expand her knowledge and work on hands-on projects. I noticed that there were also many other students who faced the same struggle; they were interested in learning but didnt know where to start and how to continue, she said. Part of the reason for this is that public high schools have not yet introduced AI into their curriculum. In August 2020, she decided it was her job to provide the introduction through AIBytes4You. We frequently update our website with future workshops and activities, Khaire said. We also collaborate with libraries and schools that help us spread the word. For those who cannot make it to our workshops, we post AI Bytes regularly on Instagram, have our curriculum available for free to download, and provide other free resources for students to explore. To date, Khaires team counts 1,500 students as being helped by its programming, which means attending remote and in-person workshops in the U.S. and abroad. Dangerous biases Khaire says AI technology will contain dangerous biases if more women and people of color dont take an interest in AI and enter the field. During the pandemic, she built a Twitter-based alert system to detect COVID-19 outbreaks using natural language processing techniques. Later on, she started working on research projects, applying what she learned to solve real-world problems. She contacted professors whose work she was drawn to and also developed an interest in Alzheimers disease. That new interest led to novel work building AI tools to uncover genes that cause Alzheimers. When working on these projects, I realized that the massive banks of gene data that I was working with primarily contained information from European males, failing to account for the diverse set of people who develop Alzheimers, she said. If data lacks diversity, its performance will be biased against a huge portion of the population. More exposure Navya Tyagi, 17, attends Providence High. Tyagi creates interactive social media content and leads the design team for AIBytes4You, where the team posts snippets about artificial intelligence and machine learning. The nonprofit provides exposure to more tech-related fields and career paths, especially for minorities and women, Tyagi said. (It) doesnt only focus on the technology though, it also incorporates other industries through discussions about how AI technologies can be used in medicine, finance, environmental science, and more. During an AIBytes4You workshop Khaire conducted at a school in India, she brought up the topic of role models in technology. She asked students: Can anyone name an Indian female role model? There was only silence, Khaire said. I hope that AIBytes4You encourages them to go on and become the representation we need in the field, creating a new generation of role models. She added, with a laugh: That would be great if they named me, but Im still learning. GREENSBORO The laughter of children and the smell of dinner wafting out of windows as the sun sets along with the mobile home that kept the holiday icicles around its roof all year are gone from the lot of land along Hiatt Street. The kinds of routine things that arent missed until they are missing. College applications were completed and military enlistment papers were perused at dinner tables within the neat rows of mobile homes once fronted by a sign welcoming visitors to Jamison Mobile Home Park. Newborns were brought home from the hospital and learned to later crawl and walk in homes here. Cancer was fought here. The same family rituals unfold daily in the Irving Park, Warnersville and Aycock communities. What made the difference and bit of tragedy, say some is that the mostly immigrant neighbors of the Jamison Mobile Home Park were on borrowed property. While most who lived here were homeowners some of them ripping out old carpeting and using home improvement skills to give aging mobile homes makeovers the land underneath them was rented. And that made them vulnerable to what would come: the property owner exercising the right to close the mobile home park and sell the land to a developer. A year later and the land is at least a temporary holding ground mostly for old utility meters, piles of discarded wood and siding, and even a chair left behind that maybe couldnt fit into the moving van. Two trailers, sitting open and empty, have yet to be hauled away or disassembled. But its evident everyone is gone. The saga of the residents, who united as the Hiatt Street Neighborhood Association, captivated a community and in ways changed city practices, even if it could not change the eventual outcome of the 3 acres of land. Land is sold Last August, when the tenants of the Jamison Mobile Home Park community gathered for a rally outside of the office of their landlord, Family Properties, there was desperation in the air. When the police arrived to remove them at the landlords request, they moved to the sidewalk, afraid of what would happen if they didnt stop fighting. The immigrants-rights group Siembra was asked for help. They had month-to-month leases all those years but never thought it would simply cease to exist. The sale would mean 18 homeowner and renter families would be displaced in a lesser-known corner of Greensboro and the Lindley Park neighborhood. With the lands estimated value of about $350,000, the maze of homes is couched between an apartment complex on one side and a building with broken windows on the other. Nearby train tracks run past a Sherwin Williams plant down the street, framing the area squarely in urban life. They had what was likely the cheapest rent in the city at $315 a month. And moving a mobile home if its able to be moved can cost thousands of dollars for residents already struggling to make the rent. The property was part of the estate of Shirley Todd Jamison, a former nurse and missionary, who died in 2017. Her pursuits, arced toward humanity, werent lost on some who asked if she would have ever sold the property, even at the expense of taking advantage of skyrocketing land values to provide an inheritance of sorts to her heirs. The location is enviable good schools, close public transportation, UNCG within walking distance. The families were initially told by park manager Lynne Anderson of Family Properties that they had to be out by the end of September 2021, giving them about a month, according to copies of a notice sent to tenants saying that the park had been sold. Anderson is one of Jamisons nieces. At the protest, Anderson held letters that extended the time until Jan. 1 this year, which would have met the state statute giving displaced mobile home residents six months. But none of them would take the mail, as distrust had set in. The fight to stay Jamison tenants complained about getting the first notices written in English when Spanish is their first language. A further snub, tenants say, is how they were expected to quickly pack up and move. The buyer, Owls Roost Properties, didnt need a zoning change but went before the citys rezoning commission for more leeway in its designs. As is required, letters went out to every homeowner in the area, but not renters. On those hot summer nights that followed the tenants gathered outside their homes and planned how they could buy the park as an association. They planned fundraisers. They sought out loans. The families began looking for ways to raise money, including side gigs mowing lawns. Of the several barriers in their path, North Carolina, like just about every other state, doesnt have a first refusal law for mobile home residents who are about to be displaced. Someone got the idea to ask the developer to step away from the deal. Although some of the neighbors were apprehensive, they packed a welcome basket and delivered it to the developers office, rattling some of the staff. The developer, in turn, eventually agreed to the request by families asking if they could stay until the end of the school year. Over the months that came tensions were also stoked in other ways. The sellers had begun noticing exorbitant water bills, which were included in the rent. Instead of a monthly bill in the hundreds of dollars, they were now routinely in the thousands with no discovered water leaks or massive problems on the property. A group of people from the city and community began gathering with the tenants to answer questions and help connect them to resources. The City Council was already working on a mass displacement fund to help displaced workers with up to $10,000 each depending on their situations. Moving mobile homes is expensive. When they can be moved, it takes expertise to set them back up and make the necessary hookups, which need a permit. It all costs thousands of dollars. All the families that once called Jamison home are in some measure of transition. Three families working with the city are set up elsewhere. Some are in hotels waiting for their mobile homes to be inhabitable on a new lot. So by late spring the park no longer looked like a community, with the concrete slabs where the homes sat slowly emptying. Some among those who were the first to go admitted they felt guilty, as if they were abandoning the others. Some took out costly loans to move their homes before the city got involved. An attorney who said she represented the families sent a demand letter essentially saying the families could drag the fight out while mentioning compensation was worth upwards of $40,000 each. Some of the families quickly disavowed the letter. Another attorney stepped in pro bono and has been advising the remaining tenants of their rights and helping to work with the city and agencies, such as the Greensboro Housing Coalition and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, with the latter raising about $50,000 to help the displaced families. Some have resettled. Others are in various stages, including waiting in hotel rooms for their mobile homes to be set up elsewhere a task that could take several weeks and require permits. Mayor Nancy Vaughan, looking over the past year, touted the teamwork, and says there are lessons. She would like to see future zoning signs in multiple languages or at least directing interested parties to a website that gives the information in multiple languages. As the last of the debris is soon carted away, there is one guarantee along this stretch of Hiatt Street and thats that the lot will not be this lifeless for long. On Dec. 14, 2020, Katie Passaretti, medical director of infection prevention at Atrium Health, became the first person in North Carolina to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Now, one and a half years later, more than 16.9 million COVID-19 shots have been administered in the state, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services vaccinations dashboard. To get to this point, its taken a mighty effort by the states public health personnel along with community health workers and volunteers working to make vaccines accessible. Its taken mass vaccination clinics such as the federally supported one at Four Seasons Town Centre in Greensboro to smaller community vaccination events at churches, grocery stores and local fire departments. Its taken public Q&As with medical experts and one-on-one conversations with physicians and other trusted messengers to break through vaccine hesitancy. Its taken addressing transportation and language barriers. All that work paid off. In contrast to other states, North Carolina has almost eliminated the gap between Black and white vaccination rates across all age groups. The states efforts have also led vaccination rates to be higher for Hispanic populations than non-Hispanic populations. People around the country are taking notice, even the White House. How did North Carolina manage to become a leader in this space? North Carolinas recipe for success: data-driven decision-making and community partnerships. North Carolina committed to building a vaccine registry where race and ethnicity and other demographic data was non-negotiable, Kinsley said during the White House vaccine equity panel on July 26. We had to have that information and then we compared the visibility of that information to leverage, frankly, our providers in making sure that we can hold them accountable to vaccinate on par with the folks that theyre serving in their community. And at the same time pair that with community-based organizations that could leverage the trust that they had long had. Using data to embed equity For North Carolina, data was fundamental in shaping COVID-19 response strategies to minimize disparities. Officials knew they needed data to know where to go and what to improve. However, the state didnt initially have real-time data to see any potential gaps and disparities. This led the state to build a vaccinations dashboard that includes important demographic information to give officials and the public needed visibility. North Carolina became one of the first states nationwide to release statewide race and ethnicity data for COVID-19 vaccines. The racial and ethnic information, as well as geographic data by census tract and ZIP code, informed equity-based vaccine allocations early in the vaccine rollout. For example, the state provided additional doses to counties with providers that showed a focus on serving populations with higher COVID-19 burden. That included such groups as seniors 65 years and older, people living in poverty identified by census tract, and counties with high rates of unvaccinated people from historically marginalized communities. Focused efforts were also made to reach underserved communities including and . How do we leverage data and information to make sure we are intentional about our resources to try to overcome disparity? Kinsley said during the White House staff visit to North Carolina in June about the states thought process. Data was critical in identifying vaccine gaps across the state and, for a time, there was a weekly rhythm to it. N.C. DHHS would analyze updated data each week to identify priority census tracts by criteria such as percent vaccinated and social vulnerability index scores. The scores were determined using 15 census variables such as poverty, lack of vehicle access and crowded housing factors that could indicate areas that most likely need support. For the top 10 identified census tracts, generally areas with a population size between 1,200 and 8,000 people, state officials would consult with local health departments and community-based organizations to determine a plan for targeted outreach and deploy resources needed to vaccinate residents in the area. Irreplaceable trusted messengers While data helped form a vaccine distribution plan centered around equity, implementing it was only possible with the help of trusted community partners. We have invested so much money in community-based organizations that are doing on-the-ground work to leverage trust to establish routine and stable communication channels, Kinsley said last month. One such investment is Healthier Together, a public-private partnership the state DHHS launched with the NC Counts Coalition in March 2021 to increase COVID-19 vaccinations among people who are Black, American Indian, Latino and from other historically marginalized populations across the state. The partnership focuses on building trust and providing education and outreach to eliminate barriers to vaccination. From May 2021 to April 2022, Healthier Together led 522 vaccine events across the state, administering more than 11,400 shots. Another influential multi-sector group, LATIN-19, composed of over 700 participants representing health care systems, public health departments and community-based organizations, spread word of the safe vaccinations in the Latino community to alleviate mistrust and disparities. Wake and other counties also relied on community partners, such as faith-based leaders and Black Greek sororities and fraternities, to narrow vaccine gaps. Lechelle Wardell, community outreach and engagement manager at , who has served the county for 26 years, said community events made all the difference in reaching historically marginalized populations disproportionately affected by COVID-19. It was really just taking (vaccines) to where people felt safe, where they were located and where they didnt feel like it was the government or a distrusted system that was giving it, Wardell said. Holding vaccination clinics at convenient, trusted sites in peoples own communities such as churches immediately led to results. Wardell said people were more comfortable coming to these places, and in fact, she saw people flock there whereas they were unwilling or unable to go to mass vaccination sites. Senior Pastor Joe Stevenson eagerly volunteered Macedonia New Life Church, a predominantly African American congregation, as a host site for several vaccine clinics clinics that were readily received by his congregation all because the trust was already there. They trust the church, they trust their pastor, they trust their physicians, Stevenson said. So if you put it in the community where people of color, minorities live, then theyll walk to the church, theyll call their cousins and call their uncles, their grandmothers and bring their family to the church. As he helped set up the church as a vaccination site, he remembers holding about 300 vials of the Moderna vaccine in his hands. That moment further moved him to go to the pulpit before his congregation of about 600 and tell them, I held what the world is looking for. This is going to save lives. A trusted messenger like Stevenson encouraging vaccination often had more impact than a health official. Weve got to get the conversations about vaccination coming less from people like me and more coming from trusted resources, Kinsley said last month at the White House. I think thats what really matters. Centering equity Data and community partnerships are the backbone of North Carolinas efforts to embed equity in its COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The two elements will continue to be crucial when tackling other disparities. Its what we should be doing to address all inequities that were seeing, Wardell said. Weve got to build relationships. Weve got to get out where people are. Weve got to shift our policies, our practices and our procedures to help communities feel safe and more comfortable in interacting with us. Kinsley echoed Wardells sentiment. Were in complex disease management and its going to take every tool and an equitable approach with every single tool, Kinsley said at last months White House meeting. I think thats the best thing we can really do to continue to center equity. As COVID-19 stubbornly hangs around, vaccinations continue to be an important tool in fighting the contagious BA.5 variant and a new round of boosters should be available within the next two months, said Dr. David Weber, distinguished professor of medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill. That means a second booster could be had by those under 50, and a third booster or fifth shot overall for those 50 and over, Weber said. Weber recommends the booster shots in all cases, and those with compromised immune systems should not wait. I dont want to minimize COVID, he said, noting 400 deaths a day nationwide. Even though things are more back to normal. The CDC stresses that boosters can both beef up the bodys defense and restore protection that may be wearing out. To date, North Carolina has given more than 3.8 million booster doses statewide. Of the states population, 59% of all residents have received at least one booster dose, while that number rises to 63% for people 18 and older and 88% for people 65 and older. Current CDC booster recommendations If you are 5 or older: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone get a first booster shot after the original two-vaccine series is complete. If you are 50 or older: The CDC recommends a second booster shot. If you are 12 or older AND immunocompromised: The CDC also thinks a second booster would be prudent. Information on how and when to get vaccinated and/or boosted can be found at covid19.ncdhhs.gov/vaccines. Buddhist teaching begins with the first talk given by Gautama Shakyamuni, the spiritual leader who lived in India about 500 B.C.E., to five friends who had separated from him when he gave up the life of an ascetic. When they saw him next, after his deep insight into the nature of reality (enlightenment), they called him the Buddha, the Awakened One. HIs first teaching was on the Four Noble Truths: 1) the nature of life includes both suffering and happiness; 2) suffering has causes; 3) suffering can be ended or transformed; and 4) the way out of suffering is The Eightfold Path. The Sanskrit word for suffering is dukkha, which has a broader variety of meaning than our common understanding of suffering. Dukkha is any gradation of stress, distress, dissatisfaction, anxiety, frustration, unpleasantness, sorrow, unease, or discomfort, as well as physical pain. When I first studied Buddhism, I read life is suffering. I didnt like that it didnt fit with my experience. My life overall was happy. But just like the word dukkha itself, to say life is suffering is an unfortunate simplification of what the Buddha taught. He said that life has suffering in it, which is true by anyones experience who has not felt grief or acted in anger or stubbed their toe? But the Buddha did not deny that happiness also existed in life, and he recognized that everyone wants to be happy. His awakening had to do with discerning what leads to unhappiness (dukkha) and what leads to happiness (sukkha). I felt a sense of freedom in the First Noble Truth, because it told me that it was natural for life to be unpleasant sometimes. I think we assume in our culture that life is supposed to be happy all of the time, like some never-ending Disneyland where all our wishes come true. And if they dont, its our fault because we werent smart enough, rich enough, or good enough. If the natural state is that sometimes things dont go the way we want, then its easier to accept them and not blame ourselves or another for an event. This is a great antidote for perfectionism and ego. Another way the Buddha described dukkha was not getting what we want, or getting what we dont want. How many times has that happened? Denied an election, no toilet paper at the store, the wrong birthday gift? The most basic dukkha in life is aging, illness, and death, all processes none of us seek. Further, dukkha is association with those we dislike, separation from those we love. Novels and songs are written on these themes. The Buddha tells a story about a man who is shot with an arrow (which is definitely dukkha!) but instead of removing the arrow and attending to the wound, he instead starts asking Who shot the arrow? Where did it come from? How was it constructed? and so on. The Buddha called these kinds of questions the second arrow, which also is dukkha. It builds on the original wound with a story that we can cling to and assign blame, shame, guilt, and revenge. My experience has been that the first arrow may come from life events, but the second arrow comes from my mind and can be just as (or even more) painful. The Second Noble Truth is that dukkha has a cause. Ive mentioned some of those causes already. Often we hear that the cause of suffering is craving. This also is one of those shorthand references that leads to misunderstanding. Craving is the first of a list of afflictions that can create suffering, and often in early Buddhism the first word was used to represent the whole list. The first three are sometimes called kleshas (poisons): greed (craving); hatred (anger); and ignorance (delusion). Each of these has gradations, like selfishness, irritation, and confusion. Buddhism identifies 26 unwholesome mental formations and four more that can be either wholesome or unwholesome. Individually and collectively, these afflictions can cause dukkha. The Third Noble Truth is that dukkha can end. Sometimes dukkha ends because everything in life is impermanent. Bad moods dont last forever, and political regimes change. But we do not need to passively wait for dukkha to fade and new suffering to arise. We also have the ability to transform the dukkha in our lives into something more wholesome, happier, and peaceful. The Fourth Noble Truth of the Eightfold Path is the means to transformation: View (perspective, understanding); Thinking; Speech; Action; Livelihood; Diligence; Mindfulness; and Concentration. If we pay attention to these eight aspects of our lives, moving them toward expressions of wholesome, healthy living, we will then have a happy life with less suffering in it. A happy life is one where we are able to be free of mental afflictions, we feel peaceful and at ease, we are content, and we can see life clearly. A happy life expresses as both wisdom and compassion. Ill leave you with some resources to explore: Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness book by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, specifically on the Eightfold Path; Old Path, White Clouds, book by Thich Nhat Hanh, novelized story of the Buddhas life and teaching with annotated bibliography; and a Ted Talk available on YouTube called Happy Brain: How To Overcome Our Neural Predisposition to Suffering by Amit Sood of the Mayo Clinic. The two Republican-drawn maps of proposed Montana House districts, unveiled by the states redistricting commissioners last week, would likely yield supermajorities for the states dominant GOP. Republicans say that outcome is far from certain, and note neither the states Constitution nor law books say voters are entitled to proportional representation based on their political affiliations. But in an era of partisan polarization and increasingly rare ticket-splitting by voters in the state, Democrats accuse the GOP of attempting to tilt the states maps even further in their favor. Republican statewide candidates have on average beat their Democratic opponents by 57% to 43% over the past decade. This number acts as a proxy for party affiliation, which Montanans dont disclose when they register to vote. A Montana State News Bureau review of the proposed maps found that even if Democrats won every solidly Democratic district on the GOP maps, plus every district deemed competitive under the commissions criteria, the GOP would still hold 68 or 66 House seats, depending on which Republican map is used. In the last session Republicans had a 67-33 majority in the House. A supermajority would allow a unified party to independently place proposed changes to the state Constitution on the ballot, among other legislative powers. The GOP proposals, in election years more typical of the last decade's voting patterns, would give Republicans 70 or more seats in the House. Democrats on the states Districting and Apportionment Commission noted last week that both of their maps would, based on recent voting trends, result in a state House that matches the partisan makeup of Montana's voters. They maintained theyre only asking that their candidates get a fair shake. Squaring off last Tuesday as they launched the process of redrawing Montanas legislative districts to account for the states population changes over the past decade, Democrats and Republicans on the commission found little common ground beyond their mutual distaste for gerrymandering. The word is shorthand for drawing political boundaries with the goal of benefiting one party or the other. But a chasm divides the commission's two Democrats and two Republicans when it comes to identifying whether and where thats occurring. A fifth, nonpartisan commissioner, appointed by the Montana Supreme Court, serves in many cases as the bodys tie-breaking vote. Republicans have generally favored what they consider a more straightforward approach to avoiding gerrymandering, emphasizing compact district shapes and following existing political boundaries. In an interview, GOP commissioner Dan Stusek held up the Helena area on the current legislative map as an example of gerrymandering, pointing to districts that resemble arms reaching out into the conservative Helena Valley from the citys liberal urban core. He took issue with similar-looking configurations around urban Democratic strongholds in the Democrats proposed maps. It seemed very unreasonable to suggest that any map with a number higher than 57 (Republican-held seats) was somehow extreme partisan gerrymandering, Stusek said. Fellow GOP Commissioner Jeff Essmann referred to his map in less technical terms, insisting that he had simply drawn shapes in a more free-hand approach. Both he and Stusek said they hadnt used any partisan analysis to create the political boundaries. My four guiding principles in drawing, that were in the back of my mind when I was clicking all the buttons ... were the four that are legally required, Essmann said. Those four requirements derive from a combination of federal law, court precedent and the state Constitution. Districts must be nearly equal in population, they must be reasonably compact, they must each be in one piece and they must comply with the federal Voting Rights Act. Compactness isn't necessarily good for Democrats, who in Montana tend to be clustered in dense urban areas. Drawing simple blocks around those districts can concentrate Democratic votes and effectively reduce their voting power. The other goals adopted by the commission, including avoiding districts drawn to unduly favor a political party," are discretionary, not mandatory. Republicans have consistently pushed back against Democrats' insistence on drawing competitive districts. But Democrats argue that while its impossible to divine a commissioners intent in drawing a district a certain way, a simple mathematical analysis can show what the practical effect would be, based on prior voting patterns. That analysis, Democratic commissioner Kendra Miller, said, is the only way to prevent gerrymandering We look at the election data and we ask ourselves if the map is unduly favoring one party, and then we dont adopt a map that does that. Miller sharply criticized her Republican colleagues on the commission for their maps, repeatedly referencing Republicans already substantial advantage with the state's voters. If the overall partisan split is 57-43 in favor of the GOP, the Democrats argue, a map that isnt preprogrammed to generate a partisan outcome should be sending somewhere in the neighborhood 57 Republicans and 43 Democrats to the House chamber in Helena in an average election year, at least. That isnt the case with Montanas current map, in which Republicans hold 67 seats in the House and nearly that proportion in the Senate. Just 27 of the districts in each of the GOP proposals elected Democrats in a majority of the 10 statewide races identified in the commissions competitiveness criteria. Republicans would likely win 71 seats and 72 seats in Stuseks and Essmanns maps, respectively, with the remaining districts having been won an equal number of times by both parties. Montanas current legislative map isnt very competitive, under the criteria adopted by the commission, and none of the proposals would go very far toward changing that. With competitive defined as both parties securing wins in at least three of those 10 statewide races, just 9 of the states 100 House districts qualify. The Democrats proposals would bump that up to 10. The Republican maps would lower it to 8. Both Stusek and Essmann noted their proposals will evolve as voters weigh in through the public comment process. The commission is accepting public comments on the maps through its website, mtredistricting.gov, and has scheduled a half-dozen in-person public hearings across the state. The first hearing will be held Aug. 25 in Pablo, followed by an Aug. 26 hearing in Missoula and a Sept. 1 hearing in Bozeman. For more information, visit mtredistricting.gov/regional-public-hearings. The Montana Department of Justice has appealed a Park County case in which a jury found the department was liable for a trooper's early resignation from the Montana Highway Patrol. In May, a Park County jury awarded Shawn Fowler, who was hired as a Montana Highway Patrol trooper in 2001, more than $114,000 after finding his supervisors had created an unreasonably hostile work environment in response to his job performance on a DUI investigation in 2015. Fowler sued the Department of Justice and Montana Highway Patrol in 2019 for wrongful discharge. He sued the Montana Federation of Public Employees, the state employees' union, too, for not following through with his grievances against the agency. The trial in May lasted four days. Fowler's attorney, Karl Knuchel said winning the jury meant showing that any reasonable person would have quit under the conditions his supervisors imposed on Fowler. Knuchel said Fowler brought the case, at least in part, to clear his name. "I think Shawn did this more as a statement of his character and feeling like he had been wronged by the department, even though he had given them 17 years employment," Knuchel said in a recent interview. The Department of Justice argued, however, that Fowler was only subject to consequences of poor performance on the job and that the issues raised in Fowler's complaints, like scheduling, work duties and discipline, were within the highway patrol's discretion according to the collective bargaining agreement with MHP troopers. Additionally, previous court cases have found employees covered by collective bargaining agreements were barred from wrongful discharge claims, DOJ argued. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice did not respond to a request for comment on the appeal before press time. According to his initial filings in District Court, Fowler's fallout with the state began in 2015 when he investigated a hit-and-run in Sweet Grass County. Fowler issued several citations: leaving the scene of an accident, hit-and-run, careless driving and drug possession, due to his suspicion the driver had been using marijuana. Fowler obtained a blood sample from the driver, but did not cite them for a marijuana-impaired DUI because he was waiting for the state crime lab to make an analysis from the blood, according to the complaint. He did not make an arrest and the driver was allowed to leave. Fowler's initial decision not to cite the driver for a DUI would be the source of harassment, criticism and belittlement for years to come, according to court filings. Supervisors gave scheduling preference to more junior troopers, repeatedly questioned Fowler's drug enforcement methods, held him back from training conferences and issued him a disciplinary letter for the Sweet Grass County incident in 2017, two years after the incident. In the spring of 2018, Fowler was again disciplined for not charging the suspect with a DUI, and he was removed from K-9 handling with the patrol. The situation became "so intolerable" that Fowler refinanced his home mortgage and used the money to purchase his remaining active service so he could retire, rather than be fired by the highway patrol, according to court documents. In legal parlance, this is called "constructive discharge," and a Park County jury found in late May that MHP had created such an environment that any reasonable person would have quit, as well. Fowler had filed a grievance with MHP near the end of his tenure with the highway patrol, arguing against a 2-day suspension and his removal from K-9 duties. Then-Col. Tom Butler, the chief of the MHP, rejected the grievance, which would send the matter back to the union for determination on whether to take the matter to arbitration. But the union's board of directors, after considering the grievance, decided it would not take the complaint to arbitration. According to correspondence within the union regarding Fowler's grievance contained in court documents, then-director of the union Quint Nyman summarized, "In a nutshell he allowed a driver to leave the scene of a crash. In talking through this issue with several troopers I was given feedback that they were surprised at the outcome and that he wasn't terminated." In its response to the lawsuit, MFPE said determining not to follow up on Fowler's grievance was consistent with the union's policies. The union ultimately settled with Fowler and was dropped from the case. The Department of Justice sought to dismiss the case in District Court, pointing out that Fowler's grievance did not focus on the hostile work environment, but the suspension and his K-9 duties. Because Fowler did not bring his complaint about a hostile work environment through the union, he was barred from doing so in District Court, especially after the 6-month statute of limitations set on union disputes. District Court Judge Brenda Gilbert rejected that argument during the court proceedings, and the department appealed the rejection to the state Supreme Court. There, too, the high court rejected the state's motion, but wrote that the Department of Justice was procedurally barred from doing so until the normal appeal process, after the case had resolved in District Court. The department of Justice filed its appeal on Thursday. The risk management and tort defense division is handling the case for the Department of Justice. A ranch at the center of a public access lawsuit and failed federal land exchange proposal is on the market. Anchor Ranch, purchased by Wilks Ranch Montana Ltd. in 2012, has been offered for sale for $35.96 million. The ranch contains 22,837 acres of deeded land, 4,400 acres of state land and the 39,700-acre Bullwhacker Grazing Allotment, overseen by the Bureau of Land Management. The property is located about 70 miles southeast of Havre. The historic Bullwhacker Road through the property travels to the BLMs Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument in Blaine County, just north of the Missouri River. For sale Like many such properties these days, the focus in the sales pitch is as much on the recreational opportunities and scenery offered to a new owner as the amount of cattle it can support in this case up to 750 animal unit months (the amount of forage needed by one animal for one month). The ranch listing even touts the public access lawsuit, noting: Part of the ranchs (sic) unique history involves a landmark court decision, in which a rancher won against the government from confiscating three miles of his private ranch trails. This court decision led to Anchor Ranch having three miles of private access to Bullwhacker Road which runs through the property, providing ease of access to the Missouri River, located south of the ranch. That ease of access leads to abundant and diverse wildlife including elk, deer, antelope and world record bighorn sheep, the real-estate listing noted. Ranch sales Montana ranch sales hit an unprecedented high in 2021, fueled by buyers seeking remote lands during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state saw its two most expensive land sales ever, the largest being the purchase of the Matador Cattle Co. ranch in southwest Montana by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The property was listed for $200 million. Andy Rahn, of the Montana Land Report, tracks ranch sales and said this year the market has cooled off from the pandemic frenzy when offers were made above asking price. Those A-list properties bring up the value for C and D lands, Rahn explained, noting that as real estate sales in Bozeman heated up, buyers had to travel farther and farther away to find less expansive lands. The volume of sales for ranches is consequently much lower this year, although he said some demand remains. Part of the problem is there are only so many potential buyers, Rahn said. Its a small, rare group that can even consider it. Those buyers are being picky, he added, which can make sellers nervous if property isnt moving as quickly. Still, Rahn said he remains bullish on the value of Montana real estate. The high quality properties are going as high as theyve ever gone, he said. Theres just a cooling of demand. Access The Anchor Ranch has long been known to Havre-area hunters, who in 2007 gained unregulated access across a roughly 4-mile section of Bullwhacker Road to reach the large block of BLM lands. Thats when the Blaine County attorney ruled the route was public. The county was urged to declare the road public by the Public Lands/Waters Access Association, a nonprofit group that seeks access to public lands. The group researched historical records and found the Bullwhacker Road had been used by the public as far back as 1917. The landowners, who had been allowing regulated access via a sign-in box, sued the county and won on appeal in 2011. Trade Not long after winning the lawsuit, the landowners sold the property for $15.5 million to Wilks Ranch Montana Ltd, owned by billionaire Texas brothers Farris and Dan Wilks. Two years later, the Wilks offered a deal to the BLM. In their second and final offer, the Wilkses offered more than 5,100 acres of private land next to the Missouri Breaks, a permanent access agreement across the Anchor Ranch, along with a permanent easement off the east side of Red Hill Road in Fergus County to Forest Service lands in the Big Snowy Mountains. The brothers also proposed to open more than 14,000 acres of private land on their NBar Ranch in Fergus County to managed public hunting. In exchange, they sought 12 BLM parcels on the NBar, totaling 4,900 acres, which included one large parcel of interconnected BLM property prized by elk hunters known as the Durfee Hills. With no road into the Durfee Hills, the land is only accessible by airplane or helicopter. Facing disgruntled public land hunters, the BLM took the Durfee Hills off the table and explored building its own road into the Missouri Breaks, ultimately finding it was too expensive due to the ruggedness of the landscape. In 2016, the BLM decided against the exchange, citing the complexity of the deal, a lack of staffing and the length of time the process would take. Bateman elected to economic development board DECATUR Nicole Bateman has been elected to the board of directors for the Illinois Economic Development Association. Bateman serves as the president of the Economic Development Corporation of Decatur and Macon County. The IEDA is a statewide professional economic development association that supports advocacy, education, and collaboration to enhance Illinois global competitiveness. Its an honor to represent Macon County and the Central Illinois region at the state level, Bateman said. I look forward to strengthening relationships with our statewide partners to bring additional resources to our local businesses and influence policy to attract business to Illinois. The IEDA is governed by a board of directors composed of eleven members elected annually by the membership-at-large and who regionally represent the interests of economic developers. HSHS St. Marys announces new chief medical officer DECATUR HSHS St. Marys Hospital is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Vinil Bhuma as the hospitals new chief medical officer. We are excited to officially welcome Dr. Bhuma to our leadership team today. We look forward to advancing the mission of our organization together, said Theresa Rutherford, HSHS St. Marys Hospital president and CEO. His many years of experience and expertise will benefit our health care services and community. We also thank Dr. Ryan Jennings, CMO of our sister ministries, for successfully supporting St. Marys as we sought to fill the CMO position permanently. Bhuma comes to St. Marys Hospital from UnityPoint Health-Trinity Regional Medical Center in Fort Dodge, Iowa where he was chief medical information officer as well as the president of the medical staff. He also served as chair of the board of health and medical director for the Webster County Health Department in Iowa. At the national level, he is the current chair for the accreditation advisory board for the Det Norske Veritas accreditation organization and vice-chair of the professional certification board for Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society. Prior to his service at Trinity Regional Medical Center, he was medical director at Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana. I look forward to serving the Decatur community, said Dr. Bhuma. My new hospital colleagues and new community neighbors have already welcomed me so warmly. I know my family and I will create roots and experience joy here in the coming years. DMH Wound Clinic receives national award DECATUR The Memorial Wound Clinic within Decatur Memorial Hospital received national recognition for its clinical outcomes in 2021, which include a patient satisfaction rate higher than 92%. Healogics, a national wound care management company, recently named the clinic as a 2021 Center of Distinction. The Center of Distinction award reflects the incredible dedication of our clinical staff and providers, said Dr. Dean Davis, medical director of the Memorial Wound Clinic. With our individualized care plans, we transform our patients lives through healing. It is an honor to offer our patients exceptional wound care services right here at home. The clinic is a member of the Healogics network of more than 600 wound care centers. It offers specialized wound care to patients suffering from diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other chronic wounds that have not healed in a reasonable amount of time. The Memorial Wound Clinics services include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which surrounds the patient with 100 percent oxygen to help progress the healing of a wound. The center logs more than 6,000 patient visits each year. To earn the award, the Memorial Wound Clinic excelled in key clinical performance areas that include patient satisfaction and wound healing rates. Busey earns Community Service Award CHAMPAIGN Busey is proud to announce it has been named a recipient of the 2022 Community Service Award by the Illinois Bankers Association. The IBA Community Service award honors financial institutions that go "above and beyond" in the area of community service. Three awards are presented annually to financial institutions that demonstrate a high level of service in their communities and honors an institutions entire portfolio of community service projects, not just a single project. "Busey is truly honored to receive this award, said Amy Randolph, Buseys chief of staff and executive vice president, Pillar Relations. We have a passion for helping our communities through a number of initiatives and strive to be a true community partner and steward. Its especially rewarding to be recognized by our peers at the IBA for the impact our associates are making in their communities." Working with its communities to support the arts, advocate for our youth and help neighbors in need, Busey bridges needs by providing financial capital through monetary contributions and guidance, human capital through energetic and committed volunteers and social capital through leaders at the table to advocate for business and sustainability practices within our communities. Since 2015, Busey associates have given 50,000 hours of their time to hundreds of community organizations while the organizations charitable donations total over $1 million annually. DECATUR Beatrice Shannon and her 11-year-old son Miguel Gonzalez were one of the first families in line for the Backpack Attack on Saturday at the Decatur Family YMCA. We knew that we had to be here early because it gets kind of busy, Shannon said. On Saturday morning approximately 1,500 pre-filled backpacks were handed out to students from kindergarten through sixth grade who arrived at the YMCA as well as at the Old Kings Orchard Community Center and Johns Hill Magnet School. Miguel was excited about his new backpack, but not as much about the beginning of school. I need to know if some of my friends will be there, he said. The school supply giveaways will continue on Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Childrens Museum of Illinois, 55 S. Country Club Road, Decatur. Along with the distribution of 100 backpacks, the activities include hair styling, playtime, meals and hygiene kit giveaways. Rep. Sue Scherer, Sista Girls and Friends, and West Side New Creations will sponsor the free event. According to Dominic Santomassimo, CEO of the Decatur YMCA, Saturdays event provided help for many families. Theyre resources that they may not know about, he said. Our goal is to make sure every childs first day of school is a good first day of school. The Macon County Health Department, Decatur Public School representatives and the local Girl Scouts were just a few of the organizations on hand to help navigate information on health and other activities. Karla Jordan volunteered with the Environment Opportunity Center. For Saturdays event, the organization distributed dental hygiene kits filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss picks and a timer for the children. The adults were given information on utility assistance. We had a high increase of that this year, Jordan said. So were opening up our grants this year on Sept. 1, to give help with their power and water bills. The EOC has also helped the YMCA by offering assistance during camps. We saw a need in the community, Jordan said. We did scholarships for summer camp and day care. Since COVID continues to be a concern for schools, the activities were limited to the backpack distribution and informational vendors only. Having a big event for kids, like with bounce houses, we werent ready, Santomassimo said. Also being responsible with the donors money, we wanted to make sure every dollar went to backpacks and school supplies. Proceeds for the event were provided by various organizations and companies. But we have a lot of donors, a lot of the local banks and several individuals who want to contribute in making a difference here, Santomassimo said. ADM Cares is one of the organizations that contributed to the event through funds as well as volunteers. Ashley Fultz, ADM Cares manager, organized two groups of volunteers for the event. Part of our overall goal with the young professionals group is to support different efforts in the community, she said. This is an activity that our colleagues really like and enjoy and feel passionate about supporting. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today A few clouds. Low 76F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 76F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. ABINGDON, Va. --- One of the longest running volunteers with the Abingdon Fire Department has retired after 50 years of service, ending his long-term stent as captain of the department. Robert Bob Howard began volunteering at the fire department at age 17, a high school senior who lived just walking distance away, but had never thought about becoming a volunteer for the department. I had lived behind the fire station all my life, Howard said. But, it had never occurred to me to volunteer there until my bus driver, the Reverend Glenn Weller, who was a member of the fire department, asked me if Id like to get involved. Fifty years later, Howard has accumulated a half-century of memories from 1972 to 2022. That dash between those two years contains too many memories---some bad, but mostly good, Howard wrote in a Facebook post following a surprise reception hosted by his fellow firefighters earlier this summer. During the recognition, Howard was awarded a gold-plated firemans ax on a plaque that represents the ranks of firefighter, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain he held since 1972. He received numerous accolades during the reception for his excellent service with the department. Howard was named Firefighter of the Year in 2017, and served as department treasurer for many years. During the reception, Tim Estes, fire chief of the Abingdon Fire Department, introduced Howard as a member of an elite club called the "Half Century" club, joining other long-standing employees Chief John Crigger, Sr. who retired with 50 years of service; Master Firefighter Jimmy "Crow" Clark, who is still active with 55 years of service; and Deputy Chief Gerald Thompson, who is active with 53 years of service. Captain Howard has always been instrumental in the forward thinking, progressive nature of the fire department, Estes said. Bob was always able and willing to help and assist his fellow man---a quality that will be greatly missed. Howards commitment to service and strong teamwork skills also allowed him to serve on the Abingdon Town Council for more than three decades. A career of fighting fires Howards career in the fire department started early. At first, he qualified to be a junior firefighter in 1971, a teaching program designed to acquaint teens with the fundamentals of firefighting. By the time Howard turned 18 and had graduated from Abingdon High School, he was voted a senior member of the Abingdon Fire Department, serving along with a team of 30-some firefighters. During the years, Howard answered a myriad of calls in the Washington County area. Its hard to say how many, Howard said, who took a break from working in his car garage at home earlier this week to reminisce about his service work. Id say its in the thousands. If he had the chance, Howard said hed do it all over again. I just hope I have made a positive impact on our town and county, he said, adding a bit of witty humor hes well known for. My right hip will be a little lighter as my pager will no longer be hooked on my belt. Howard remembers well his first call as a firefighter and his last call on June 30 of this year. My first call was at age 18. I was mowing a yard down the street when I heard the fire whistle blow. At that time, the fire whistle sat on top of the Barter Theatre, he said. That was the only method of notification when you were outside. There were no pagers or portable radios then. The small fire in town was easily extinguished, he said. His last call while a member of the fire department was for a late-night auto accident in town, just a few hours before his retirement was set to begin the end of June. I answered a call for a structure fire earlier that day, and I thought that would be the last call I would take, but after I got to sleep that night, the call for a wreck in town came in. The good and the bad His years of service hold memories of good and the bad times---some of which are etched in his mind. Ive seen a lot of bad stuff. Ive seen bodies and people burned up. I can remember the first time I found someone dead in a house. I found the body on the floor. At that time, we didnt have a crisis intervention team. It was pretty traumatic, he said. Howard said some television shows, such as Chicago Fire are fairly accurate in portraying a fire scene, but Hollywood often embellishes the drama. For the most part, you cant see whats going on and what your firefighters are doing because a real fire is totally black and you have to feel your way through it. A flashlight helps to see through the smoke. Portable radios help us communicate now. Fifty years of changes The number of calls the fire department answers each year has dramatically increased throughout the years. Back in the 1970s, we ran 60 to 70 calls each year and those were mostly structure and building fires. When I left the department last month, we were running over 600 calls per year. Firefighting gear and equipment also has come a long way, he said. Before pagers came along in the late 70s and early 80s, the Abingdon firefighters relied on hearing the three fire whistles strategically placed throughout town. The department didnt get portable radios until the 1990s, he said. Before that, the members relied on hand signals while fighting a fire. Howard demonstrated the hand signals for pressure up or pressure down and half tank of water left. Nowadays, a phone app alerts the firefighters about emergencies and their locations. Some of the departments modern fire trucks are equipped with hydraulic tools, allowing firefighters to remove a trapped person from a vehicle. In the early days, we didnt offer that service, it was all done by the life saving crew. I remember when A wealth of stories began to surface the longer Howard talked about his firefighting days. There was a big fire downtown in 1983 across from the post office all the way from Peoples Drug Store to Clifton Insurance Agency, he recalled. Pumping water to the fire scene, the fire truck began to run low on fuel. In a moment of haste, Howard asked his father to bring a five gallon can of gas from home to help sustain the truck. Throughout the night, the town police hauled gas from the town shop. Those older fire trucks used a lot of gas. Everything we have now runs on diesel which lasts a lot longer. In the 1970s, a forest fire in the area required Howard to spend two days on site before the fire was contained. Its that level of commitment that has led Howard to a successful career with the department. During the time that Howard worked for Pittston Coal Company in Lebanon, Virginia, and Highlands Union Bank in town, he continued to answer firefighting calls on weekends and in the evenings after work. A lot of young people arent interested in devoting that much time to this. There are too many other distractions out there now, he said. You have to commit a lot of time if you want to be successful. You can join, but if you dont show up, youre not going to last long. You either love it or you hate it. For Howard, it comes down to a love for service and a devotion to the community. Carolyn R. Wilson is a freelance writer in Glade Spring, Virginia. Contact her at citydesk@bristolnews.com. " " This sign was posted directly opposite the 200-unit Sojourner Truth Housing Project that housed Black defense workers during World War II, in Detroit, Michigan. The building caused riots by white neighbors who wanted to prevent Black tenants from moving in to the area. Library of Congress At a certain time in American history, if you happened to be of a certain racial heritage that is to say, not white it was probably best not to hang around after dark in certain cities and certain places. It was possibly dangerous. Sometimes deadly. That applied to a lot of places before, roughly, the 1960s. Before racial discrimination was widely condemned, before the Civil Rights era. Before Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X and the Edmund Pettus Bridge incident. But all-white "sundown towns," as these places were known so called because Blacks were advised to get out of town before sundown aren't relegated to ancient history. Some are around today, still, in places all over the United States. They may not be as blatant about their racism as they once were, when signs on the edges of towns literally warned Blacks to stay away. But they're still here; small all-white Midwestern towns and huge all-white suburbs in the North, West and South. "Our history textbooks give us a picture of the United States [where] we started out great and we have been getting better, kind of automatically, ever since," says sociologist James Loewen, who literally wrote the book on sundown towns it's called "Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism" back in 2004. "It isn't true. Sometimes, we've gotten worse. And race relations is one of the areas where we got worse." Advertisement The Birth of Sundown Towns After the Civil War and Reconstruction, when African Americans who had been forced and born into slavery were freed and given rights under the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution, life improved for many Blacks. But the progress began to stall in 1890. Things only got worse for at least the next 50 years. The slide began, Loewen says, with three seemingly disparate events. At the Massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890, as many as 300 Native American men, women and children were slain by U.S. Army forces, a signal to all that Native Americans were not to be full participants in America's future. In December 1890, despite the new amendments to the U.S. Constitution, the Mississippi legislature drafted a new state constitution that essentially stripped voting rights from African Americans. Several other states quickly followed. Also in 1890, the U.S. Senate failed to pass an election act that would have restored voting rights by protecting African Americans from being disenfranchised of their votes. That had reverberations throughout the union. "Even in the North ... it became impossible to claim that we were trying to be an un-racist society," Loewen says. "And so we went in the opposite direction." More states took voting rights away from African Americans. And many towns and cities, even in the North and West, began to view Blacks as those in the South saw them: as non-citizens. As unworthy of basic human rights. As undesirables in their communities. " " The Ku Klux Klan used intimidation in many towns to keep Blacks away. This sign was posted along U.S. highway 70, just outside Smithfield, North Carolina, in 1971. Bettmann/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images Advertisement How Sundown Towns Flourished Loewen, in his book, defined sundown towns as "any unorganized jurisdiction that for decades kept African Americans or other groups from living in it and was thus 'all-white' on purpose." All-white didn't necessarily mean 100 percent, but none of these towns had more than a tiny fraction of Blacks or other minorities. These towns kept out Blacks by different means, some by literally forcing them from their homes and neighborhoods. Some erected signs warning them away. Some passed ordinances, prohibiting Blacks from living there, owning homes there or going to school there. Some used threats of violence and actual violence to keep them out. These were the places that Victor Hugo Green warned African American travelers about in, "The Negro Motorist Green Book." The most egregious example may be Anna, Illinois, a town named after a woman but whose name is more widely suggested as a racist acronym. "In my younger days ... you weren't allowed up here after dark, period," a 61-year-old African American named James Taylor told ProPublica Illinois in 2019. "It was just a racist town." Anna is far from the only example. At their height, there were thousands and thousands of sundown towns across the U.S. Loewen's original research based on U.S. census numbers, oral histories and written history showed that, of the 671 towns in Illinois with more than 1,000 people, 71 percent were all-white, and almost all were all-white on purpose. "There is reason to believe that more than half of all towns in Oregon, Indiana, Ohio, the Cumberlands, the Ozarks and diverse other areas were also all-white on purpose," he wrote. "Sundown suburbs are found from Darien, Connecticut, to La Jolla, California, and are even more prevalent; indeed, most suburbs began life as sundown towns." Advertisement Sundown Towns Today Loewen keeps a tally of sundown towns and possible sundown towns on his website. It's a long list, covering virtually every state. They proliferate less now from overt means and more through the inertia of the past and more sinister ways; by those suggesting, for example, that Blacks may be more "comfortable" elsewhere; by whispers and cold shoulders; by politicians who stoke fear by claiming that minorities bring with them crime and other problems. Still, since 2005, when Loewen's book first brought attention to the phenomenon of sundown towns, some of these places have been forced to face up to their racist past, albeit with some resistance. "What people will say is, 'That was the old days. Why bring it up now?'" Loewen says. "I tell them two things. First, the reputation of the town lives on and makes it stay overtly white, if not all-white, until you do something until you make it un-stay. "And two, you are still legitimizing those people in the town who think it was OK the way it was." In encouraging signs, more than a dozen sundown or former sundown towns have held Black Lives Matter events. Glendale, California, is one of them. At one time in the early 20th century, the city had a Black population of less than 0.2 percent. In a city that now has more than 200,000 people, Blacks still make up less than 2 percent of the population. In September 2020, the city passed a resolution acknowledging its racist past, apologizing for it and condemning it, becoming the first city in the state to do so. "I'm grateful that there are community members who understand this is not just a piece of paper but that it comes with the energy of atonement," Tanita Harris-Ligons, the founder of the organization Black in Glendale, told the city council. "Now, do the work required behind it. Honor the contributions of the diverse community coalition and act on meaningful policies and programs that improve Black representation in Glendale on all fronts." Other cities have also officially recognized their pasts as sundown towns and vowed to move beyond them. In March 2015, the City Council of Goshen, Indiana, passed a resolution acknowledging its history as a sundown town. The following year, the mayor of La Crosse, Wisconsin, Tim Kabat, formally apologized for his city's history and signed a proclamation to work toward racial equality. Even Anna, Illinois, held a Black Lives Matter rally in June 2020 most likely the first event of its kind in the town's history. Around 200 people showed up to march through the city streets to protest police brutality against Blacks. A Black woman from the area, Mildred Henderson, who has been marching for racial equality for decades, told the Southern Illinoisan, "I've never seen so many white people give a darn about Black people." Now That's Interesting To see if your town has a history as a sundown town, you can check out James Loewen's database. You might be surprised by what you find. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Revenue of the Azerbaijani State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) from the countrys major oil and gas fields amounted to $6.7 billion in January-July 2022, Azernews reports per SOFAZ. The Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block of fields, the largest oil field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, accounted for $5.6 billion of the revenues. The funds revenues from the Shah Deniz field, which is among the worlds largest gas-condensate fields, amounted to $1 billion, including $252.7 million from condensate. The fund's earnings from the countrys major oil and gas fields amounted to $6.8 billion in 2021, with Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) accounting for $5.9 billion of the revenue and Shah Deniz for $884.7 million. Established in 1999, SOFAZ is a sovereign wealth fund, which accumulates and preserves Azerbaijans oil and gas incomes for future generations. The contract for the development of the ACG oil fields was signed on September 20, 1994, and came into effect in December. The contract for the development of the ACG block was extended by 2050 in September 2017. The shareholders in the ACG project are BP (operator, 30.37 percent), SOCAR (25 percent), MOL (9.57 percent), INPEX (9.31 percent), Equinor (7.27 percent), ExxonMobil (6.79 percent), TPAO (5.73 percent), ITOCHU (3.65 percent), ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) (2.31 percent). The contract on the development of the Shah Deniz gas field was signed in 1996. Shareholders of the Shah Deniz project are BP (operator, 29.99 percent), LUKOIL (19.99 percent), TPAO (19 percent), SOCAR (14.35 percent), NICO (10 percent), and SGC (6.67 percent). Our lives are bombarded with negativity, stress, and countless threats to our emotional well-being, work, and closest relationships. In the past, it was suggested that if we focused more and worked harder, we would be more successful, and then experience more happiness. But new research shows that when we experience happiness and positivity first, it turns on all the learning centers in the brain and fuels positive outcomes in all aspects of our lives. In fact, research shows that more happiness and positivity cause us to be three times more creative, 23% less fatigued and 31% more productive. Realistically, there can be many barriers to being positive. External factors like financial struggles, racial injustice, natural disasters, and the recent pandemic can contribute to internal factors like loneliness, anxiety, depression, anger and hopelessness. Any of these can make it difficult to have a positive attitude. The good news is that we can choose to be happy. Happiness is approximately 50% genetics, and 10% outside circumstances like financial status, your home, marriage, children, etc. But 40% is through intentional activity your thoughts and actions things that you have control over. So you can decide to be happy and positive it just might take a little effort and training at first. My family life colleagues, and I have adapted a program originally developed by Dr. David Schramm of Utah State University Extension that provides 10 ways to improve happiness, positivity and well-being. We will be presenting this program via Zoom as a webinar at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18. The webinar is free, you just have to register by going online to go.illinois.edu/2022HCELessons. You should join us to find out more about this topic and the 10 happy hacks that are designed to boost positivity and productivity as well as mood and attitude. I also plan to reveal these happy hacks in future articles - eventually. I will leave you with one today try the "10:5" rule for smiling. When you are within 10 feet of someone, smile at them. When you get within five feet of them, say hello. Youll be amazed at the results and how it makes you feel when you practice this simple hack. Jason Jones, a 42-year-old living near the two homes in the small northeast Nebraska town of Laurel where four people were killed on Thursday, was arrested early Friday morning, the Nebraska State Patrol said. In a news conference. Superintendent Col. John Bolduc said Jones was arrested at his home after investigators located physical evidence at the two fire scenes on Elm Street linking Jones to the case. He was arrested at 2:30 a.m., and because he was found with burns over a large part of his body, Bolduc said Jones was flown to a Lincoln hospital for treatment of his injuries. He's described in serious condition. Bolduc expressed his thanks to everyone involved in what he described as an "entire team effort" to identify and locate a suspect in the case. Bolduc specifically saluted crews whose efforts in fighting the fire "preserved the evidence that led us directly to the suspect." Although Bolduc would not say if other arrests could follow in the case, he said there was no longer a threat to the Laurel community. Those killed were identified as Gene Twiford, 86; his wife Janet Twiford, 85; and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55. All three were residents of the home at 503 Elm St. and found dead with apparent gunshot wounds. Three blocks down the street, Michele Ebeling, 53, was found dead of a gunshot wound in the home she lived in at 209 Elm St. Jones lived at 206 Elm St. Bolduc said it was premature to talk about a motive. The use of healthcare apprenticeships has mushroomed in recent years, along with the contracting of travel nurses, to deal with a chronic shortage of medical personnel. Taking that approach to a deeper level is an initiative launched Thursday between Forsyth Technical Community College, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist and Novant Health Inc. The groups are collaborating on apprenticeships to train magnetic resonance imaging personnel. Forsyth Tech was chosen because it offers the only registered MRI apprenticeship in the state, as well as having on hand the only MRI simulator in the country. We know this added layer of training and hands-on learning is essential for healthcare workers, Forsyth Tech president Janet Spriggs said. It is critical to prepare them for the life-saving work they will go on to do every day in their careers ... and now to work with our employer partners, which now include Novant and Atrium. Meanwhile, Davidson-Davie Community College announced Tuesday the expansion of its healthcare apprenticeship program, with Baptist agreeing to be the first healthcare partner under the new agreement. DDCC students will be able to work in a healthcare profession at either Davie or Lexington medical centers while taking courses related to their career goals. The COVID-19 pandemic has been exhausting for our nurses and our entire staff, so this program will serve as a direct pipeline to support our incredibly dedicated health care work force in our community, said Clyde Bristow, chief nursing officer at Lexington Medical Center. In addition, lifelong learning is a fundamental part of our apprentices education and their future careers as nurses, so they receive opportunities to participate in evidence-based practice and performance improvement projects within our hospitals. Deb Harding, regional chief nurse executive at Baptist, said staffing shortages exist among all disciplines and ancillary support roles. The apprenticeship program with Davidson-Davie is an excellent example of the novel and innovative strategies needed to begin the important work of rebuilding our workforce. Forsyth Tech initiative The apprenticeships are part of Forsyth Techs Learn and Earn Apprenticeship Program, which allows students to receive full-time pay while earning their degree. The program also features: students being paired with a mentor at their employer; receiving state and national Journeyworker credentials at program completion; and gaining pay increases throughout the program as they gain new skills. LEAP at Forsyth Tech has 30 employer partners. It offers more health care program pathways than any other community college in the state. Our students have benefitted for many years from being able to hold their clinical labs with (Baptist and Forsyth Medical Center), said Danielle Rose, director of Experiential Learning at Forsyth Tech. Thanks to the dedication of our partners, and the help of ApprenticeshipNC, we are now able to offer even more educational and career paths with hands-on learning for our students. ApprenticeshipNC is an offshoot of ApprenticeshipGov, where healthcare is one of nine industries emphasized, along with advanced manufacturing, construction, energy, financial services, hospitality, information technology, telecommuncations and transportation. The high-demand healthcare personnel groups highlighted by ApprencticeshipGov are dental assistant, emergency medical technician/paramedic, medical coder, certified nurse aide, pharmacist assistant, and long-term care nurse manager. In collaboration with the Urban Institute, we offer national frameworks for occupations in this industry that are consensus based, meaning they are drafted in cooperation with employers, educators and other workforce and training experts, according to ApprencticeshipGovs website. Employers and businesses can use these frameworks to fast-track the development of their registered apprenticeships. ApprencticeshipGov said the apprenticeships frameworks are competency-based rather than time-based, meaning that abilities are emphasized over memorized knowledge or skills. ApprenticeshipNC The ApprenticeshipNC program is offered through the N.C. Community College System Office. It combines a paid work-based learning experience with classroom academics leading to a national certification. Combining the related classroom instruction with on-the-job learning benefits all parties, and will help Wake Forest Baptist develop a well-qualified and experienced talent bank of much needed healthcare workers, said Bruce Mack, vice president of Economic Development at NCCCS. Another Triad example involves the first youth apprentice program for registered nurses in North Carolina culminating in June 2021 with 10 female high-school students being assigned to Northern Regional Hospital in Mount Airy. Those students will receive free tuition for the associate degree nursing program at a N.C. community college to become registered nurses. The partnership that Surry-Yadkin Works has established with Northern Regional Hospital is incredibly exciting for our local students, as they are connected early in their educational journey to the hospital so they can explore career paths, said Crystal Folger-Hawks, program director of Surry-Yadkin Works. If its a good fit, students can continue working at Northern Regional Hospital, while their college education is paid for through the ApprenticeshipNC program. This is a win-win for the business and students. Davidson-Davie initiative The partnership between Davidson-Davie and Baptist targets the following healthcare professions: medical assisting; medical laboratory technology; nursing; licensed practical nursing; pharmacy technology; central sterile processing; surgical technology; and nurse aide. Davidson-Davie said it plans to work with other healthcare partners to establish apprenticeships in health information technology, EMT and paramedic. Holly Myers, dean of health sciences at Davidson-Davie, said the partnership makes available an incredible array of opportunities within the healthcare sector, through which they can pursue an educational pathway toward their chosen career while also having a stable income. We are supporting the healthcare workforce and the communities in which we live by educating new professionals to fill much-needed jobs. This partnership builds off the success of the 2021 collaboration between Davidson-Davie and Baptist that launched the states first Registered Nurse apprenticeship program involving Baptist-affiliated Davie and Lexington medical centers. The registered nurse program allows aspiring registered nurses who graduate from Davidson-Davie with their LPN certification to receive their RN degree in 24 months. The process typically takes 36 months. Although Davidson-Davie said the number of spots available for apprentices is limited, there are plans to increase available spots over the next few years. As the regions only academic learning health system, a large part of our mission is to help train the next generation of health care professionals, said Kimberly Stanbery, chief nursing officer at Davie Medical Center and Baptists Comprehensive Cancer Center. We are so pleased to collaborate on such an important program and give people in our community the necessary education and skills to serve in a wide variety of health care roles. National perspective According to the National Healthcareer Associations Learning and Leading blog posting in August, the healthcare labor issue isnt due to a lack of interest in the profession. Mark Beaufait, director of apprenticeship at Healthcare Apprenticeship Consortium in Washington, was quoted as saying there are barriers preventing interested individuals in obtaining the training and certification they need to start a medical assisting career. There are plenty of qualified individuals that are untrained, Beaufait said. They are interested in living wage jobs but just dont have the training ... and they arent necessarily able to get the training if they have to take a year or two off of work to go to school. As adult learners, many of these candidates have financial obligations such as living expenses and dependents/children to support that prevent them from getting the education they need for the career they desire. Registered apprenticeships, such as those being offered at Forsyth Tech and Davidson-Davie, help eliminate these barriers by providing an opportunity for students to earn while they learn, according to the association. Because many healthcare organizations struggle with retention, reduced turnover is one of the most attractive benefits of apprenticeship programs, the association said. Numerous studies conclude that retention is higher among apprentices because they develop a sense of loyalty to their employer. Its especially true for healthcare. Although it takes some investment upfront in both time (training) and money (depending on the sponsorship/grant/funding obtained), the improved productivity and tax credits gained from registered apprenticeships can result in a positive return on investment for employers. Law enforcement officers fatally shot a man in the parking lot of a Clemmons convenience store Friday morning, in what authorities called an exchange of gunfire that occurred as they tried to arrest the man on a Charlotte murder charge. But a woman who was with the man killed said that a law enforcement officer shot him in the back as he tried to flee. The suspect has been identified as Alexander Weah, who was 26 and lived in Charlotte. Authorities have not released any information about the murder charge Weah was facing. A Greensboro police officer, identified as M.J. Ambrosio, was injured when the suspect fired his gun, authorities said, and was taken to Atrium Wake Forest Baptist for treatment of what were described as non-life-threatening injuries. He was in stable condition Friday. Greensboro police said the law enforcement operation was the effort of a task force including officers from Greensboro, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and the SBI. Deputies from the Forsyth County Sheriffs Office assisted but none of its officers fired a weapon during the arrest effort, and none is on administrative leave, according to the sheriffs office. Dozens of officers from the various law enforcement agencies converged Friday morning on the parking lot of the Speedway convenience store, located on busy Lewisville-Clemmons Road just beside the Interstate 40 interchange. The shooting scene, behind yellow police tape, took in the convenience store parking lot, the Sudz Shoppe car wash next door, and part of the parking lot of the Super 8 hotel behind the Speedway. Talaya Hinson, who described herself as Weahs fiancee, said Weah tried to run away when he was confronted outside the store entry by an officer pointing a gun in his face and demanding that he get down. Hinson said the officer pursued Weah as he ran, shot at him four times and struck him twice. He was fired on first, she said. The only thing he did was run. I heard two shots, he (the officer) shot him in the back. Hinson said that after he was shot, Weah then pulled his own gun and fired a single shot before other officers fired multiple shots at Weah and brought him down to the pavement. She said officers then stood by and watched as Weah died and made no effort to begin life-saving measures. At first, he was still breathing, she said. They were just standing around staring at him, she said. They turned him around on his back and put his hands behind his back and handcuffed him while he was gushing out blood. Weahs body was still lying on the parking lot four hours after the shooting. It was removed around 2 p.m. Hinson said that investigators told her that they fired on Weah because they saw that he had a gun. She said Weah had a license to carry and had a gun on his hip. Hinson said law enforcement officers shot Weah like a dog in the street. I feel like they did what they did because hes a Black male thats why they had to shoot him like that? Hinson said. Malika Weah said Friday in a telephone interview that that she had married Alexander Weah in 2019, but had been separated from him since May 10. She said that she has a year-old child from the marriage. Alexander was a good man who had a big heart, she said. She said that he could get hot-headed if things didnt go his way, but she didnt see him as a violent person. Originally from Liberia, Alexander Weah would send money back to Liberia for family members, she said. He had a job as a warehouse manager in Charlotte. At the scene of the shooting on Friday, many officers of the N.C. Highway patrol also responded to what became a busy law enforcement scene, with dozens of officers engaged in various aspects of the probe. One officer was operating a drone that hovered over the crime scene during the morning. Erin Wiggins, a spokeswoman for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, declined to release information about the Charlotte homicide, saying that police officials were trying to notify the victims family. She would not say when the murder happened. The police department referred all questions about the Clemmons shooting to the SBI. Angie Grube, a spokeswoman for the SBI, said she could not comment on certain aspects of the shooting because she did not know the answers and she referred some questions to other law-enforcement agencies. The Greensboro police officers involved in the use of force are on administrative duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation. Officials have not said what agencies fired weapons. Hinson said she, her 4-year-old daughter and Weah had spent Thursday in Greensboro at the Wetn Wild Emerald Pointe water park, then decided to spend another night in the area before going back to Charlotte. They checked in at the Super 8 behind the Speedway Thursday night. The way the shooting unfolded, Hinson believes officers must have known Weah was staying there. Friday morning, the couple checked out of the hotel and drove around to the Speedway to gas up and get some ginger ale for Hinson. Hinson said her daughter had just gone through the front entry of the store and she was getting ready to walk in as Weah held the door open for them. Hinson said that when the officer with the gun approached and yelled at Weah, he pushed her inside the store and ran back out. Hinson said someone in the store grabbed her as if to hold her back, but that she struck that person and ran out. I ran out there too because I just wanted them to stop shooting at him, she said. I would say I heard about four shots before Alex reached for his gun. He was running. She said she watched as Weah received a gunshot wound to the back that made him bleed. She said officers should have tried stunning Weah before shooting him. Hinson was able to leave in her car around 3 p.m. Friday after the SBI had processed the car for evidence in the case. Before leaving, she sat with family members for a while inside the Waffle House restaurant, where employees remembered seeing Hinson, her daughter and Weah the night before, when they came in to eat. Patrick Boles, a cook at the Waffle House, recognized Hinson and gave her a big hug to comfort her. Boles said that there were people eating breakfast inside the business Friday morning when the gunfire erupted on the convenience store lot nearby. We had people over here with little kids, Boles said, indicating the seats on the Speedway side of the Waffle House. They were just as shocked as they could be. There were people trying to get out of the way. Friday afternoon, another employee at the restaurant said it was disrespectful for the authorities to leave Weahs body on the parking lot as long as they did. What I didnt like is that it took so long for the coroner to come and pick up the body, said the employee, who declined to identify herself because she wants to maintain her privacy. Hinson is carrying Weahs unborn child, she said. She has a doctors appointment on Tuesday to find out the gender of the baby. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy We went under the little bridge under the track to get into the infield, and then you look up and you see the banking and it was like a dream come true knowing that I was going to race on the actual track. Officials said the delay of the start date will not extend the school year for Robinson students, who instead will attend school several minutes longer each day. By Trend Czech and Azerbaijani state institutions are currently negotiating the texts of new documents that will better regulate cooperation between the two countries in the areas of social security, health, and youth, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic told Trend. "We believe the talks will be concluded soon, allowing for further extension of the legal basis of our relations and, more importantly, for deepening of people-to-people contacts and of experience sharing between the Czech Republic and Azerbaijan", the source said. According to the ministry, Czech Republic would like to revive high-level meetings between the representatives of the two countries to pre-pandemic level. As an initiative of the Czech EU Council Presidency, the Eastern Partnership Business Forum: Geoeconomic Challenges and Opportunities will be organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic in Prague on 17-18 October, with the Azerbaijani participation, the ministry added. "The prospects for cooperation are broad. They are based on the friendly relations between our countries and our strategic partnership," the ministry said. Lincoln Police will be the highest-paid law enforcement officers in the state if the City Council approves a three-year contract giving officers an 8% wage hike and sergeants a 10% increase beginning Aug. 18. The contract, approved by the Lincoln Police Union after about two months of negotiations with the city, increases starting pay for new officers from $28.55 an hour to $30.83. Hourly wages for new sergeants would increase from $37.06 an hour to $40.77. That means new officers would make $64,128 annually and those who reach the highest step in the pay scale would be paid $90,646. The annual pay range for sergeants would be $84,793 to $107,369. The top hourly wages for officers would be $40.77and $51.62 for sergeants. The current annual salaries range from $59,377 to $83,932 for officers, and $77,884 to $97,608 for sergeants. Law enforcement salaries Current LPD starting salaries: Officer: $59,377 ($28.55/hour) Sergeant: $77,884 ($37.06) Proposed LPD salaries beginning Aug. 18: Officer: $64,128 ($30.83) Sergeant: $84,793 ($40.77) Lancaster County Sheriff's deputies beginning Aug. 11: Officer: $62,476 ($30.04) Sergeant: $78,282 ($37.63) Under the new contract, officers would get a 6.5% increase next year and sergeants a 4.5% increase. Pay for both officers and sergeants would increase 3% in 2024. The contract would cost the city $3.2 million this year and $5 million in the second year of its biennial budget, said Barb McIntyre, Lincoln-Lancaster County human resources director. Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird emphasized public safety in her proposed budget, adding police officers and firefighters among other public safety investments. Police Chief Teresa Ewins said the contract will help hire and retain officers and reduce a chronic staff shortage LPD has faced in recent years. Its really hard hiring people today, she said. Youre competing with the entire nation for law enforcement officers and to get the qualified people in our department we need to make it a lot more appealing to them financially. Being highest-paid (in the state) is kind of a no-brainer for me. The average minimum officer salary of seven comparable Midwest cities Lincoln used as part of the negotiations was $30.02 an hour and the maximum average was $40.65, McIntyre said. She declined to name the cities used in the seven-city array, which she said isn't shared with union officials during negotiations, but did acknowledge Omaha was among them. Starting pay for Omaha officers for 2022 is $30.36, and the maximum is $42.47, she said. Because of LPDs generalist model of policing where officers work most cases from beginning to end, rather than taking reports and handing them off to other investigators Lincoln officers have a lot more to do than officers in many departments, including Omaha, Ewins said. LPD is now short 20 officers, despite a class of 20 recruits going through the departments academy. Ewins said she hopes to get another class of recruits with previous experience to help fill that gap prior to a full recruit class in January. The new contract adds other incentives, including a $4,000 lump-sum payment for existing officers beginning Aug. 18; a $3,000 payment for officers who start in the next fiscal year; and $2,000 for officers who start in the 2023-24 fiscal year. The estimated $1.3 million needed for those lump-sum incentives will come from savings within the LPD budget, not as an added budget item, Ewins said. Another recent change by the city makes it easier and more affordable for officers with experience at other agencies to buy into LPDs pension, and that will help attract experienced officers from other states as well as Nebraska, McIntyre said. The wage hike alone is significantly higher than other city wage increases approved this year, which range from 3%-4%. The current LPD contract, which will expire Aug. 18, reflected a 3.25% increase in pay over the previous contract. McIntyre said the higher increases for LPD are based on whats happening in law enforcement as departments across the nation have had hiring challenges, and its different for different professions. Id love to say theyre all equal but theyre not, she said. Some grow faster than others. Lincoln Police Union President Jeff Sorenson declined comment. Both Ewins and McIntyre said trying to be competitive with other law enforcement agencies was the primary motivator in contract negotiations, not the states decision last fall to deal with a chronic staff shortage in corrections by raising starting wages by $8 an hour, increasing the hourly wage to $28. That did affect other agencies, including Lancaster County Corrections and the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. County Corrections employees got a 26% increase in their new contract (followed by 3% increases the following two years). Sheriffs deputies got a 10% raise, which was retroactive to August 2021, bringing starting salaries to $59,502 and raising them another 5% this month bringing the hourly wage to $30.04 an hour and annual salary to $62,476. Theyll get 3% the following year. Other changes in the LPD contract include: * Increases in the pay differential for officers who work second and third shifts. * Increases in longevity pay for officers who have been at LPD at least seven years. * An increase in the probationary period for new officers from 6 months to a year. * Language that makes clear pregnancy- and childbirth-related medical issues wont count toward the 210-day light duty limit. * Increasing the citys contribution to employees health insurance by 2% for family coverage. * Increasing the life insurance benefit from $60,000 to $75,000. * Using gender-neutral language in the contract, which the city has been doing with other labor contracts. I think it is a really good contract for us, McIntyre said. We need to focus on the safety and security of our city and we need a healthy and vibrant police force to ensure we have a safe city. Long before North to Alaska was a hit song and a movie in 1960, Addie Braxton and Ruth Wilson went that way and made pioneering journeys. Braxton went there to prospect several years after the Klondike gold rush. There hadnt been many women in the Alaska gold fields, and Black prospectors were said to be few. Such a combination was news in Omaha in 1905. Wilson went there to regain her mental health. She was said to have been the first White woman to visit Mount McKinley (now Denali) National Park and certainly the first to attempt a climb to the summit. Her story in 1920 went coast-to-coast in newspapers. With Johnny Hortons song stuck in my head (and now maybe yours), we shall mush on to learn about these two exploring women from the Omaha area. Braxton followed her aunt, a Mrs. Shepard, to the Klondike. Talk about a pioneer. The aunt was said to have been the first Black woman in the gold fields, having walked from Seattle. She offered Braxton and her husband, James, a dining car porter, two mine claims near Skagway in 1904. The Braxtons left their 10-year-old daughter, Hazel, in the care of her grandmother in Blair. When the Braxtons got there, Addie Braxton and the aunt were the only Black women in the British Columbia hamlet of Atlin. She told her story to The World-Herald upon her return in December 1905. I walked over the Chilcoot pass (likely the Chilkoot, and she said she fainted several times on the arduous trek) and carried my bundle on my back like the rest of them, she said. There are not many colored people up there and everybody was surprised to see me going with my husband. I only weighed 90 pounds when I went up there and you see how well I am now. I never had better health. She worked her own claim, wearing heavy sheepskin trousers. She cut timber to build sluice boxes, for a piece of lumber was $4. In snowshoes, she claimed, she walked 90 miles at one time over an unbroken trail to prospect. The Braxtons, she said, named a small creek Abe Lincoln Creek. She said, It was at the end of a long trail and when one of the miners asked us why we had named it that, we told them him because we were so glad to find the end of our trail and the prospect of gold in sight that we felt we were out of bondage, and so we named it for Abe Lincoln. The couple had interests in four mines Lucky Dog, Last Chance, Little Spruce and Carmenita. The aunt found a nugget worth $180 while digging where her old cabin had been. Addie brought home several large nuggets, including one that she said was worth $65 about $2,300 today. She told of the hardships and sufferings on the mining frontier. Forest fires, howling gray wolves, death. One becomes accustomed to the cold and the stories of suffering. The trouble is that so many people do not realize the necessities one must have and go out entirely unprepared for the things one must face out there. It takes plenty of money if you expect to stay. While we have four gold mines and things look very promising, indeed, yet it takes a large sum of money to work the mines properly. The machinery and help are expensive. In our first cleanup we got over $1,100 (more than $37,000 today) but all of that and more had to go back into the ground. While seeking validation for her account, as one must do for any old tale, I found mention in the Aug. 16, 1905, edition of the Daily Alaskan in Skagway that James Braxton was one of four miners who made a new placer gold strike on Lincoln Creek. While Addie Braxton apparently never returned to the gold fields, James apparently stayed. An item in the Omaha Monitor in June 1920 said he had recently died in Alaska. And she apparently had lost track of him. She was listed as a widow in the last Omaha city directory before her death at 41 in 1915. She is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Addie Braxton went to Alaska to find wealth. Ruth Wilsons trip came because she was wealthy. And as previously mentioned, to get healthy. Wilson told her story to the Seattle Post Intelligencer and the Los Angeles Times in the spring of 1920. The former Ruth Campbell, a 1913 graduate of Council Bluffs High School, married Frank Wilson, a wire chief with the Nebraska Telephone Company, in 1916. Less than two years later, he died from a diving accident at Morse Park in Fremont, where the couple had moved from Omaha. She was selected for overseas assignment in the Red Cross in World War I, but the war ended. She suffered a nervous breakdown. To recover, in April 1919, she chose to make the 5,000-mile trek to visit her brother William, a prominent mining man in Fairbanks since the start of the gold rush. It was a dream trip for a sportswoman of that era. She rode the first steamer to arrive in Roosevelt City, a deserted mining camp. From there, in the company of the last couple left in the area, Joe and Fannie Quigley, who lived 5,000 feet up a mountainside, she hiked, fished and bagged a caribou on her first shot at big game. But it was the scenic beauty that enrapt her. Her first glance at Mount McKinley, she screamed when its magnificence appeared from behind the clouds. I had several other interesting side trips to all the mining camps out of Fairbanks and up to Fort Yukon, but the trip to Wonder Lake and Mount McKinley was the most wonderful experience of my life. I mushed 12 to 20 miles a day right with the men and they said I was a real sour-dough. It was they, she said, who told her she was the first White woman to visit the national park, which received its designation in 1917. She told the Times she entered districts where White women had never before been seen, where Indians came from miles around to see her and visit with the first White woman they had ever seen. Unlike Addie Braxton, Ruth Wilson returned to Alaska. On her original trip she met James Barrack, a hardware man from Fairbanks, in Seattle. He was a close friend to her brother. Their friendship continued during the steamship ride and ripened, as the Lincoln Star termed it, in Alaska. They were married for 33 years and active in civic affairs, before his death in 1954. She donated a carillon to the University of Alaska as a memorial. Ruth Barrack, who died in Seattle in 1980 at 86, had another claim to fame: she possessed the granddaddy of all sourdough starters, dating to 1898 in Dawson, British Columbia, that her husband obtained from another miner. Acknowledgement to History Nebraska researcher Matt Piersol for his blog post in March about the Klondike gold rush and Addie Braxton. The Nebraska Christian Mens Chorus will host its new member night from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, in the choir room at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 M St. The chorus is an ecumenical group of men who love to sing. The chorus performs at senior living centers, sporting events (singing the national anthem at Lincoln Saltdogs and Lincoln Stars games), churches and civic groups. Songs are selected from a wide range of genres including pop, musicals, classics, patriotic and religious. This selection allows for more engagement with audiences and with their various interests and memories. Meet the men, hear the music and enjoy food. Men of all ages and experience are welcome. For more information, Contact Larry Wieskamp at 402-802-6883 or larryawieskamp@yahoo.com. Streams, creeks and rivers meander their sinuous curves across Nebraskas landscapes. These ribbons of water intersect with the relentless rectangularity of our road grid, one-mile squares laid out over the state. The Stream Crossings exhibition of large-format color photographs examines some of the places where the river meets the road. Photographer Michael Farrell searched out the bridges and culverts people imposed on the waterways and discovered some surviving, handsome steel-truss bridges that add their own aesthetic element to natures scene. The exhibition at WallSpace-LNK Fine Art Gallery & Salon, 1624 S. 17th St., runs through Aug. 27. Only Alaska has more river miles than Nebraska, so these intersections of angles and curves are frequent. The steel bridges are rapidly vanishing, in some cases replaced with concrete structures that barely differ from the roadway. In other places, nature is slowly but inevitably encroaching on abandoned wood and steel. An essay by Farrell traces the development of the land survey that created roads and bridges. It poses questions for the future, too. If our water is considered to be a resource owned by the public, what of these complex river systems? How can we divorce our watercourses from the life-giving water that runs through them? Isnt a river, creek or stream an integral natural system overflowing with all manner of life and complexity including our own? Who among us will be empowered or emboldened enough to dare to speak out or to act on behalf of our essential yet increasingly vulnerable watercourses? Steam Crossings: Where the Rivers Meet the Roads is available for viewing and prints are for sale Thursday through Saturday, from noon to 5 p.m. or by appointment. Text to 402-429-3684 or email mfarrell.1st@gmail.com. For more information, visit wallspace-lnk.com. RACINE Two teenagers, ages 19 and 16, who were arrested Thursday are accused of shooting into a crowd during a burial in Graceland Cemetery on the afternoon of June 2, the Racine Police Department said Friday. Two people out of dozens at the burial were shot. They are expected to face 28 felony charges each: 26 counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and two counts of first-degree attempted intentional homicide. More charges could later be recommended and filed, although no charges were filed Friday. The 19-year-old has been identified as Lamarion D. Blair. The 16-year-old, who is from Racine, has not been publicly identified. Police said the two teens are connected with a second shooting that occurred later that day on the 2800 block of Wright Avenue. The arrests were made Thursday after an extensive and thorough investigation, the RPDs Special Investigations Unit said. Assisting in the investigation were federal agents from the U.S. Marshals and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The FBI also responded to the scene June 2. The teenagers are accused of firing from vehicles into a crowd of mourners at the burial of DaShontay Day Day King, the Racine man shot and killed while running from police while armed May 20. The two people who were shot were ages 19 and 35, both of them women. The 19-year-old was treated and released that day at Ascension All Saints Hospital. The 35-year-olds injuries were more serious and required surgery, but she survived. Witnesses said they saw shots being fired from multiple vehicles from the roads around the cemetery. Police said multiple firearms were used. As soon as the crowd got quiet, all you heard was gunshots, Idoana Gordon, who was at the burial, recalled the morning after when she went to visit the grave and was interviewed by a Journal Times reporter. It was horrific. All I could do was hit the floor ... The kids who were out here were screaming and hollering about how they just want their dad, and how they hate Racine and dont want to be here no more. Following the violence, Racine Mayor Cory Mason announced the citys curfew would be strictly enforced the following weekend in an attempt to curb youth violence. Todays heinous shooting at a cemetery while a family was already mourning the loss of a loved one is a new low for these perpetrators of violence in our community. The violence has got to stop! Revenge is not the answer. Ending gun violence is the top priority of the police department and my administration, he said in a statement June 2. This violence must end. In and out Online court records indicate Blair has spent most of the last few years in and out of incarceration. He spent nearly two years, from March 2020 to February 2022, at the Mendota Mental Health Youth Facility. He also spent time at Lincoln Hills the troubled youth prison both Gov. Tony Evers and former Gov. Scott Walker have said they will close, but it still remains open. On June 2, it appears Blair was out of custody on bond amid a convoluted series of events. According to online court records: Blair missed a court date May 23 related to a case for charges filed against him in 2019 for being in possession of a firearm as an adjudicated delinquent. The criminal charges filed in December 2019 referred to Blair, then 17 years old, as a serious juvenile offender. At the time, Blair was on probation for armed robbery and attempted armed robbery. On May 23, a bench warrant for Blair was authorized by the court and a $1,000 cash bond he had previously posted was considered forfeited. On June 24, it was said in court that Blair had been in jail in Las Vegas since June 8. It does not appear police suspected him of being a cemetery shooter at the time. A spokesperson for the Racine Police Department did not respond to a request for comment Friday afternoon regarding when or how Blair was developed as a suspect. On June 28, back in custody in Racine County, the court record states: Defense states that defendant was an inmate at another facility when court was missed back in May. Defense requests to reinstate bond and raise bond another $500 as he currently is on a hold with DOC (Department of Corrections). At that time, the forfeiture of Blairs $1,000 bond was reversed, but $500 was added to the bond. On July 7, $500 was posted to fulfill the rest of the raised cash bond. A phone call to Blairs attorneys office was not answered Friday afternoon. An important set of competitive and divisive partisan primary elections are on ballots across Wisconsin and in Racine County Tuesday. Where to vote To find exactly where you should vote in-person, go to myvote.wi.gov or call your local clerks office. Assembly District 63 Perhaps the most impactful election statewide can only be decided by Racine County voters. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, is the longest-serving leader of the Assembly in Wisconsin history. But, after Tuesdays election, he might be unseated by someone from his own party: outsider challenger Adam Steen, whose campaign has been focused on decertifying the 2020 election. Steen and Vos are running to represent Assembly District 63, which generally includes the southern half of Racine County west of Highway 31. Vos, among the most effective conservative legislators in state history, losing the election could lead to a power vacuum at the top of the party in the Legislature, and could lead to significant shifts in the state GOPs policy focuses going forward. Senate District 21 State Sen. Van Wanggaard, a Republican and retired Racine police officer, is facing a challenge from Jay Stone, a hypnotherapist who has been at the heart of some of the claims that the 2020 presidential election was illegitimate. The district Wanggaard currently represents, Senate District 21, comprises much of rural Racine and Kenosha counties. Tough battle for AG A three-way Republican primary for attorney general between Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, former state representative Adam Jarchow and Chippewa Falls attorney Karen Mueller could have a significant impact on the future of abortion law enforcement and election law in Wisconsin if the winner is able to unseat incumbent Attorney General Josh Kaul. Kaul is running unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Muellers campaign has been focused on decertification of the 2020 election, and she has the goal of investigating hospitals for how they treated COVID-19 patients, although Mueller is considered a longshot third-place candidate. Toney has prosecuted more election fraud cases than any other district attorney in Wisconsin after 2020. One of the primary differences between Toney and Jarchow is that Jarchow continues to remain heavily supportive of Donald Trump. In private texts leaked to Daniel Bice of the Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel, Toney called the former president Dumb, dumb Donald and said he would vote for Joe Biden in 2020. Secretary of State The powers of the secretary of state have been shrunk by the Legislature in recent decades as one man, Doug La Follette, has held the position for 44 of the last 48 years. He is being challenged in the Democratic primary by Alexia Sabor, current chair of the Democratic Party of Dane County. Some Republicans have discussed greatly increasing powers of the secretary of state by having the elected position oversee elections if the Wisconsin Elections Commission is dismantled, which all Republican gubernatorial candidates aim to do. Three Republicans are running for secretary of state. They are: Amy Lynn Loudenbeck, a current state representative Jay Schroeder, who ran against and lost to La Follette in 2018 Justin D. Schmidtka, who lives in Green Bay and served in the Marines A Libertarian, Neil Harmon, is also running. Treasurer Three Democrats are running for state treasurer to replace former U.S. Senate candidate Sarah Godlewski, who is not seeking reelection. They are: Aaron Richardson, mayor of Fitchburg Angelito Tenorio, a West Allis alderman Gillian M. Battino, a doctor and breast cancer detection specialist Two Republicans are seeking the position: John Leiber, former Caledonia Parks and Recreation Commission president and Housing Authority of Racine County commissioner Orlando Owens, southeastern regional director for U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson Also seeking to be treasurer is Andrew Zuelke of the Constitution Party. GOP Lt. Gov. Eight Republicans are seeking to hold the states second-highest ranking office currently held by Mandela Barnes, who is not seeking reelection. David King of Milwaukee, a pastor and father of 15 Will Martin of Racine, a CEO and former member of the administrations of Govs. Tommy Thompson and Scott Walker State Sen. Roger Roth, Wisconsin Air National Guard veteran and builder State Sen. Patrick Testin, who works in sales David Varnam, former mayor of Lancaster Cindy Werner, state ambassador to the Fredrick Douglass Foundation Jonathan Wichmann, previously was in the gubernatorial race and is now a small-business owner Kyle Yudes, insurance agent from Eau Claire Democrats There will be few impactful elections on the ballot for Democratic voters Tuesday. The U.S. Senate campaign is already pretty much decided as all of the leading candidates besides Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes have dropped out and endorsed Barnes to try to unseat Republican Ron Johnson. Johnson is being challenged by David Schroeder in the primary, but Johnson is expected to handily win the election. Seeking to become Wisconsins next lieutenant governor as Democrats are Peng Her, CEO of the Hmong Institute, and state Rep. Sara Rodriguez of Brookfield. Assembly District 83 Two Republicans are seeking to replace Assembly District 83. They are Nik Rettinger and Pat Goldammer. District 83 previously was represented by state Rep. Chuck Wichgers, R-Muskego, but after new district boundaries were put in place this year, Wichgers now resides in District 82. District 83 includes the Waterford area of Racine County. Goldammer is a Waterford Village Board trustee and unsuccessfully ran for Waterford Union High School Board in 2021. "I never planned on running for State Assembly. However, after the April 15 redistricting became official and this seat became open I had an overwhelming amount of community members ask me to consider running," he told the Waukesha County Freeman. Rettinger has long been involved in Republican politics. He is the first vice chairman of the Republican Party of Waukesha County and owns a political consultancy firm, Campaign Tutors. He also previously worked as chief of staff to state Sen. Andre Jacque. CORRECTION: When originally published, this article erroneously did not include the District 83 race. Laura Ann Walker, the attorney for the teen against whom charges were dropped, told the Journal Times it appeared a witness had been untruthful in identifying her client as being involved in the crime. The prosecutor then "did what she is supposed to do as a prosecutor and that is to speak the truth, Walker said. So kudos to her. However, Walker did express concern about the rush to charge her client. I wish they would spend more time investigating prior to issuing the criminal complaint." By Trend As many as 24 Russian enterprises have additionally been entitled to export livestock products to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor). According to the statement, the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan granted the right on exporting animal products to Russian enterprises on the basis of companies' complying with the veterinary and sanitary requirements of Azerbaijan. A total of 1,074 Russian enterprises have the right to supply their products to Azerbaijan. "Rosselkhoznadzor will continue to expand the list of livestock product exporters to Azerbaijan," the agency said. 1. Yes. The new high school has made it a must. Thousands of people are impacted.. 2. Yes. Even if it means revising some budgets, these entities must move on the project. 3. No. Its been known for years that the road was a problem.. Why the urgency now? 4. No. If prioritizing the road means more taxes, forget it. The project will just have to wait. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say until school has been in session for a few months. Vote View Results MIAMI It's one of the seafood industry's most gruesome hunts. Every year, the fins of as many as 73 million sharks are sliced from the backs of the majestic sea predators, their bleeding bodies sometimes dumped back into the ocean where they are left to suffocate or die of blood loss. But while the barbaric practice is driven by China, where shark fin soup is a symbol of status for the rich and powerful, America's seafood industry isn't immune from the trade. A spate of recent criminal indictments highlights how U.S. companies, taking advantage of a patchwork of federal and state laws, are supplying a market for fins that activists say is as reprehensible as the now-illegal trade in elephant ivory once was. A complaint filed last month in Miami federal court accused an exporter based in the Florida Keys, Elite Sky International, of falsely labeling some 5,666 pounds of China-bound shark fins as live Florida spiny lobsters. Another company, south Florida-based Aifa Seafood, is also under criminal investigation for similar violations, according to two people on the condition of anonymity to discuss the ongoing probe. The company is managed by a Chinese-American woman who in 2016 pleaded guilty to shipping more than a half-ton of live Florida lobsters to her native China without a license. The heightened scrutiny from law enforcement comes as Congress debates a federal ban on shark fins making it illegal to import or export even foreign-caught fins. Every year, American wildlife inspectors seize thousands of shark fins while in transit to Asia for failing to declare the shipments. While not all sharks are killed just for their fins, none of the other shark parts harvested in the U.S. and elsewhere such as its meat, jaws or skin can compete with fins in terms of value. Depending on the type of shark, a single pound of fins can fetch hundreds of dollars, making it one of the priciest seafood products by weight anywhere. If youre going out of business because you can no longer sell fins, then what are you actually fishing for?, said Whitney Webber, a campaign director at Washington-based Oceana, which supports the ban. Since 2000, federal law has made it illegal to cut the fins off sharks and discard their bodies back into the ocean. However, individual states have wide leeway to decide whether or not businesses can harvest fins from dead sharks at a dock, or import them from overseas. The legislation working its way through Congress would impose a near-total ban on trade in fins, similar to action taken by Canada in 2019. The legislation, introduced in 2017 by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, has majority support in both the House and Senate. Among those opposing the proposed ban is Elite, which has hired lobbyists to urge Congress to vote against the bill, lobbying records show. It's not known where Elite obtained its fins. But in the criminal complaint, the company was also accused of sourcing lobster from Nicaragua and Belize that it falsely stated was caught in Florida. The company, affiliated with a Chinese-American seafood exporter based in New York City, was charged with violating the Lacey Act, a century-old statute that makes it a crime to submit false paperwork for any wildlife shipped overseas. An attorney for Elite wouldn't comment nor did two representatives of Aifa when reached by phone. Overfishing has led to a 71% decline in shark species since the 1970s. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, a Switzerland-based group that tracks wildlife populations, estimates that over a third of the world's 500-plus shark species are threatened with extinction. Contrary to industry complaints about excessive regulations, the U.S. is hardly a model of sustainable shark management, said Webber. She pointed to a recent finding by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that less than 23% of the 66 shark stocks in U.S. waters are safe from overfishing. The status of more than half of shark stocks isnt even known. The situation in Europe is even worse: a new report from Greenpeace, called Hooked on Sharks, revealed what it said is evidence of the deliberate targeting of juvenile blue sharks by fishing fleets from Spain and Portugal. The report found that the U.S. is the world's fourth-largest shark exporter behind Spain, China and Portugal, with exports of 3.2 million kilograms of meat but not fins worth over $11 million in 2020. Webber said rather than safeguard a small shark fishing industry, the U.S. should blaze the trail to protect the slow-growing, long-living fish. We cant ask other countries to clean up their act if were not doing it well ourselves, said Webber. She said the current laws aren't enough of a deterrent in an industry where bad actors drawn by the promise of huge profits are a recurrent problem. MIAMI More than 800 competitors are trudging through the Florida Everglades, in search of invasive Burmese pythons that will bring in thousands of dollars in prize money. The python hunt officially began Friday morning and runs through 5 p.m. Aug. 15, according to officials who gathered in Miami to kick off the annual event. "This is significant because every python removed is one less invasive species preying on our native birds, mammals and reptiles," said Florida First Lady Casey DeSantis. Since 2000, more than 17,000 pythons have been removed from the Everglades ecosystem, according to a news release. Burmese pythons, which are not native to Florida, prey on birds, mammals and other reptiles. A female python can lay as many as 100 eggs a year. Cash prizes of up to $2,500 are available in both the professional and novice categories for those who remove the most pythons, officials said. There are additional prizes for the longest python in each category. Each python must be dead, with hunters facing disqualification if they kill them inhumanely or kill a native snake. So far, the registered hunters represent 32 states and Canada. Registrations are being accepted throughout the competition. It costs $25 to register and participants must also complete an online training course. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court ruling expanding gun rights threatens to upend firearms restrictions across the country as activists wage court battles over everything from bans on AR-15-style guns to age limits. The decision handed down in June already has led one judge to temporarily block a Colorado town from enforcing a ban on the sale and possession of certain semi-automatic weapons. The first major gun decision in more than a decade, the ruling could dramatically reshape gun laws in the U.S. even as a series of horrific mass shootings pushes the issue back into the headlines. "The gun rights movement has been given a weapon of mass destruction, and it will annihilate approximately 75% of the gun laws eventually," said Evan Nappen, a New Jersey gun rights attorney. The court battles come as the Biden administration and police departments across the U.S. struggle to combat a surge in violent crime and mass shootings, including several high-profile killings carried out by suspects who purchased their guns legally. And given the sheer number of cases now working through the courts, a lot more time will be spent in courtrooms no matter who wins. "We will see a lot of tax dollars and government resources that should be used to stop gun crime being used to defend gun laws that are lifesaving and wildly popular," said Jonathan Lowy, chief counsel and vice president at Brady, the gun control group. Congress broke through years of deadlock to pass a modest gun violence prevention package weeks ago, and the House voted to renew a ban on high-powered semi-automatic weapons, though that effort is likely doomed in the Senate as Republicans push back on firearms restrictions and say recent spikes in gun violence should be met with a stepped-up police response. The Supreme Court decision struck down a New York law requiring people to demonstrate a particular need to get a license to carry a concealed gun in public, saying it violates Second Amendment rights. Several other states including California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island have similar laws expected to be directly impacted by the ruling. In Massachusetts, for example, police chiefs can no longer deny or impose restrictions on licenses just because the applicant doesn't have a "good reason" to carry a gun. New York quickly passed a new concealed-weapon law, but Republicans there predict it will also end up being overturned. In its New York ruling, the high court's conservative majority also changed a test lower courts had used for evaluating challenges to gun laws. Judges should no longer consider whether the law serves public interests like enhancing public safety, the opinion authored by Justice Clarence Thomas said. Instead, they should only weigh whether the law is "consistent with the Second Amendment's text and historical understanding." "Basically, the Supreme Court has given an invitation for the gun lobby to file lawsuits against virtually every gun law in America," Lowy said. The Supreme Court has ordered lower courts to take another look at several other cases under the court's new test. Among them: laws in California and New Jersey that limit the amount of ammunition a gun magazine can hold and a 2013 ban on "assault weapons" in Maryland. Gun rights groups are also challenging similar bans in California, New York, New Jersey and Delaware. "The rifles at issue in this case are the sorts of bearable arms in common use for lawful purposes that responsible and peaceable people across the United States possess by the millions. And they are, moreover, exactly what they would bring to service in militia duty, should such be necessary," a New Jersey lawsuit brought in June by the Firearms Policy Coalition says, referencing the language of the Second Amendment. The ruling also has come up in challenges to restrictions on gun possession for 18- to 20-year-olds in Texas and Pennsylvania. And it has been cited in a case challenging a federal ban on gun possession for people convicted of nonviolent crimes punishable by more than a year behind bars, as well as a prohibition on concealed guns on the subway in Washington, D.C. In addition, a gun rights group is suing Colorado over the state's 2013 ban on magazines that hold more than 15 rounds, saying the high court ruling reinforces the group's argument that it infringes on Second Amendment rights. And the ruling has public defenders in New York City asking judges to drop gun possession cases. Not all those lawsuits will necessarily be successful. The Texas attorney general, for example, argues the Supreme Court ruling doesn't affect the state's age limit law, and more state and local governments can certainly defend their gun laws as being in line with U.S. history. Adam Skaggs, chief counsel and policy director at the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, predicted that when the dust settles, only laws "along the margins" will eventually be struck down. "Most judges are going to see these for what they are, which is overreaching and lacking in any merit," he said. Backers of gun restrictions can also look to a concurring opinion from Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Joined by Chief Justice John Roberts, Kavanaugh stressed that the Second Amendment does allow for a "variety" of gun regulations. He cited the use of background checks and mental health records as part of a licensing process to carry a gun and noted that states can forbid the carrying of firearms in "sensitive places" such as schools and government buildings. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Israeli airstrikes flattened homes in Gaza on Saturday and Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel persisted for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict. Gazas health ministry said 24 people had been killed so far in the coastal strip, including six children. The fighting began with Israels killing of a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group in a wave of strikes Friday that Israel said was meant to prevent an imminent attack. So far, Hamas, the larger militant group that rules Gaza, appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained. Israel and Hamas fought a war barely a year ago, one of four major conflicts and several smaller battles over the last 15 years that exacted a staggering toll on the impoverished territorys 2 million Palestinian residents. Whether Hamas continues to stay out of the fight likely depends in part on how much punishment Israel inflicts in Gaza as rocket fire steadily continues. The Israeli military said an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants killed civilians late Saturday, including children, in the town of Jabaliya, in northern Gaza. The military said it investigated the incident and concluded without a doubt that it was caused by a misfire on the part of Islamic Jihad. There was no official Palestinian comment on the incident. A Palestinian medical worker, who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the blast killed at least six people, including three children. An airstrike in the southern city of Rafah destroyed a home and heavily damaged surrounding buildings. The Health Ministry said at least two people were killed and 32 wounded, including children. A teenage boy was recovered from the rubble, and the other slain individual was identified by his family as Ziad al-Mudalal, the son of an Islamic Jihad official. The military said it targeted Khaled Mansour, Islamic Jihad's commander for southern Gaza. Neither Israel nor the militant group said whether he was hit. The Civil Defense said responders were still sifting through the rubble and that a digger was being sent from Gaza City. Earlier on Saturday, Israeli warplanes struck four residential buildings in Gaza City, all locations apparently linked to Islamic Jihad. There were no reports of casualties. In each case, the Israeli military warned residents ahead of the strikes. Another strike Saturday hit a car, killing a 75-year-old woman and wounding six other people. In one of the strikes, after the warnings, fighter jets dropped two bombs on the house of an Islamic Jihad member. The blast flattened the two-story structure, leaving a large rubble-filled crater, and badly damaged surrounding homes. Women and children rushed out of the area. Warned us? They warned us with rockets and we fled without taking anything, said Huda Shamalakh, who lived next door. She said 15 people lived in the targeted home. Among the 24 Palestinians killed were six children and two women, as well as the senior Islamic Jihad commander. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 200 people have been wounded. It does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. The Israeli military said Friday that early estimates were that around 15 fighters were killed. The lone power plant in Gaza ground to a halt at noon Saturday for lack of fuel as Israel has kept its crossing points into Gaza closed since Tuesday. With the new disruption, Gazans can get only 4 hours of electricity a day, increasing their reliance on private generators and deepening the territorys chronic power crisis amid peak summer heat. Throughout the day, Gaza militants regularly launched rounds of rockets into Israel. The Israeli military said Saturday evening that nearly 450 rockets had been fired, 350 of which made it into Israel, but almost all were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome missile-defense system. Two people suffered minor shrapnel wounds. One rocket barrage was fired toward Tel Aviv, setting off sirens that sent residents to shelters, but the rockets were either intercepted or fell into the sea, the military said. Sunday could be a critical day in the flare-up, as Jews mark Tisha Bav, a somber day of fasting that commemorates the destruction of the biblical temples. Thousands are expected at Jerusalems Western Wall, and Israeli media reported that the Israeli leadership was expected to allow lawmakers to visit a key hilltop holy site in the city that is a flashpoint for violence between Israelis and Palestinians. On Friday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a televised speech that Israel isnt interested in a broader conflict in Gaza but will not shy away from one either. The violence poses an early test for Lapid, who assumed the role of caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in November, when he hopes to keep the position. Lapid, a centrist former TV host and author, has experience in diplomacy having served as foreign minister in the outgoing government, but has thin security credentials. A conflict with Gaza could burnish his standing and give him a boost as he faces off against former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a security hawk who led the country during three of its four wars with Hamas. Egypt on Saturday intensified efforts to prevent escalation, communicating with Israel, the Palestinians and the United States to keep Hamas from joining the fighting, an Egyptian intelligence official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. On August 5, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. During the telephone conversation, the U.S. Secretary of State expressed his concern about the tension in the region. Noting that all responsibility for the created tension falls on the official Yerevan, President Ilham Aliyev underlined that military provocation was committed by illegal Armenian armed groups in the territory of Azerbaijan, where the Russian peacekeeping contingent is temporarily deployed, and as a result, an Azerbaijani serviceman was killed. President Ilham Aliyev stressed that the Azerbaijani side has implemented the necessary countermeasures to prevent this military provocation. The head of state said that the Azerbaijani side, in accordance with the provisions of the trilateral Statement dated November 10, 2020, repeatedly brought up the issue of the withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces and illegal Armenian military units from the country`s territories. But this obligation is not fulfilled by Armenia, various excuses and contradictory statements are made. President Ilham Aliyev said that the construction of an alternative road to the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan is nearing completion, and stressed that after this road is ready, a contingent of Russian peacekeeping forces will be deployed on that road in accordance with the provisions of the trilateral Statement. During the phone conversation, the sides exchanged views on the bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest. MADISON, Wis. As Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly speaker, Republican Robin Vos has presided over efforts to restrict abortions, weaken unions, expand gun rights and push back against COVID-19 mandates. Despite that, he's facing a primary challenger who claims he's not conservative enough. The challenger's argument: Vos should do more to respond to former President Donald Trump's unfounded allegations of fraud in the 2020 election. Primary challengers like the one facing Vos on Tuesday have been successfully targeting incumbent state lawmakers across the country, and Republicans are taking the brunt of it. With more than half the state legislative primaries concluded, Republican incumbents this year have been losing at nearly twice the average rate of the past decade, according to data compiled for The Associated Press by the election tracking organization Ballotpedia. The primary loss rate for Democratic state lawmakers is similar to previous elections. The Republican losses continued to mount Tuesday, as Trump-endorsed candidates ousted incumbent state senators in Arizona and Michigan and a conservative challenger beat the assistant majority leader of the Missouri Senate. Though not technically an incumbent, Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers also lost a bid for state Senate after being criticized for refusing to help Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In many cases, Republican lawmakers are being defeated by challengers portraying themselves as more conservative on election integrity, transgender policies, school instruction and other hot-button issues. "We have a far-right faction that is very dissatisfied with what's happening on the left. So if you are not rabidly a fanatic that just punches every button, then you're going to have an issue," said Arkansas state Rep. Craig Christiansen, who lost in a Republican primary earlier this year. Though Christiansen considers himself "very conservative," he drew multiple challengers and failed to advance to a runoff. That came after he voted against overriding Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson's veto of legislation making Arkansas the first state banning gender-confirming treatments for those younger than 18. Christiansen said he considered the legislation unconstitutional, because it lacked an exception for youths already undergoing such treatments. Vos, who has served as Wisconsin Assembly speaker since 2013, has taken sharp criticism for not pursuing a resolution decertifying Democrat Joe Biden's victory in the state. Trump endorsed his Republican challenger, Adam Steen, saying that "Vos refused to do anything to right the wrongs that were done" in the 2020 election. Under pressure from Trump, Vos hired former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman last year to investigate the election. Gableman said decertifying the election was "a practical impossibility." Steen said he decided to challenge Vos because he failed to pass legislation outlawing absentee ballot drop boxes ahead of the 2020 election and hasn't pushed for tougher consequences for voter fraud, among other things. "Conservatism as a whole has been lethargic," Steen said. "We lack vision, and I think that vision is coming back." Vos said Steen is running on hyperbole. He said Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, poses the real obstacle to conservatives. Evers, for example, vetoed Republican bills that would have made it harder to vote absentee. "If we don't get a Republican governor, (Steen) would have less success than I had," Vos said. Vos is one of nine GOP Wisconsin lawmakers facing primaries. Though the challengers face an uphill fight, they could push the already conservative Legislature even further right if they notch a few victories. That would mark a significant shift in a state that plays a crucial role in national elections. Twenty-seven states had held legislative primaries or conventions before Tuesday. In those, at least 110 Republican incumbents and 33 Democrats had been defeated. The Republican loss rate of 7.1% far exceeds the Democratic rate of 2.8%. It also significantly exceeds the 3.6% average Republican incumbent loss rate over the previous decade in those states, as well as the 4.4% Republican loss rate in those states during the last redistricting election cycle in 2012. Idaho voters have led the way in ousting Republican incumbents, defeating 18 GOP lawmakers or 30% of those who sought reelection even while choosing GOP Gov. Brad Little over a Trump-backed challenger who claimed he wasn't conservative enough. The losers included three lawmakers representing Kootenai County in northern Idaho, where a local Republican committee recommended conservative challengers against some incumbents after a lengthy vetting process. "People have kind of had it, and they're willing to get up and vote," said Brent Regan, chair of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. In Iowa, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds endorsed primary opponents to four GOP state House members who hadn't supported her plan to provide taxpayer-funded scholarships for students to attend private schools. All four incumbents lost, including House Education Committee Chairman Dustin Hite. Even in some Democratic-dominated states, Republican primary voters have ousted incumbents deemed not conservative enough. Illinois state Rep. David Welter, one of nine Republican lawmakers booted from the chamber in February for ignoring COVID-19 protocols to wear masks, lost his primary in June to a challenger who claimed Welter wasn't Republican enough. Challenger Jed Davis criticized Welter's votes for the Equal Rights Amendment and a construction bill containing a gas tax hike, among other things. "People pegged me as more of a moderate," Welter said. "I'm now going to be replaced by somebody who is really, really far to the extreme on the right." KEARNEY "Diddley" Bertrand lost both legs when he fought in Vietnam 53 years ago, but he is neither resentful nor bitter. I made it back home. I learned real quick that cards are dealt when youre born and thats what you live with. I smile and I look around. I wouldnt trade places with anyone, he said. On Thursday, Bertrand will serve as the parade marshal when a vehicle parade guides The Wall That Heals from Gibbon High School to Patriot Park, starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The wall, a replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C, will arrive at the park at 2 p.m. It will open to the public there at 8 a.m. Thursday and remain open around the clock through 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14. People are so nice to Vietnam veterans now. I have Purple Heart license plates, and every once in a while, someone will pull up beside my car and salute me, he said. When I put that plate on the car, I had no intention of anything like that ever happening. Strangers salute him, too. He has been to the Vietnam Wall in Washington D.C., twice. My three boys and I were standing there in front of the name of a buddy who died when two Vietnamese guys walked up and wanted my picture. I thought, 35 years ago, that never would have happened, he said. Then a lady walked up, and she wanted to hear my story. She teared up as I talked, he added. It was a miracle that Bertrand made it home from Vietnam. He lost both his legs and nearly died on a rainy night deep in the jungles in December 1969. His story is told in Vietnam War Miracle, a documentary shown at the World Theater earlier this summer. Bertrand and the rest of the 1st Battalion of the 46th Infantry in the 196th Infantry Brigade of the U.S. Armys Americal Division were 30 miles from Chu Lai. They were all alone, far from roads and villages, camped 15 to 20 meters apart so there would be fewer casualties in case of an attack. In the inky darkness, a medic, Spec. 5 John D. Brown, heard a sound. Something hit the ground by our feet. The next thing I knew, that damn thing was exploding. And then another exploded, Brown said. Brown had been in a foxhole, and when the explosions started, another guy rolled over on top of me and wouldnt let me out. When the noise stopped, Brown heard screams. He fought his way out, dashed towards the screams and found two men dead. A third man was missing 25 percent of his brain. A fourth man, Bertrand, had lost both his legs. Quickly, Brown made tourniquets out of poncho liners for Bertrand and tied the tourniquets together with his bootlaces. Bertrand remained calm. He kept talking. Brown also put scalp bandages on the man whose head had been blown open. He worked in the dark because lights would attract the enemy. Then he got on his radio and called the battalion base five miles away and begged the Army to send a helicopter to get Bertrand to a hospital. Brown knew that unless Bertrand got medical care, he would be dead by dawn. We cant come out till morning, Brown was told. It was cloudy and raining, and visibility in that foggy soup was zero, but Brown begged and begged. He knew Bertrands life hung in the balance. Finally, two soldiers volunteered to bring the helicopter in. When Brown heard it coming he set off flares so the chopper would know where to land. It came down, hovering four feet off the ground. Bertrand was loaded in and was gone. Bertrand is still astonished that he survived that night. We laid out there for six hours before anyone could get to us, he said. He spent seven days in the hospital in Chu Lai. He was flown to a hospital in Cam Ranh Bay, then Camp Drake in Japan. Finally, he went to Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Denver and stayed for 15 months. He had surgery. He got two prosthetic legs and had physical therapy twice a day to learn how to use them. Before going to Vietnam, Bertrand had been dating a girl named Cinda, but after he lost his legs, I tried scaring her off, he said. She was distraught. She thought he no longer loved her, but her parents told her to have patience. She did. It paid off. They were married in Kearneys First Presbyterian Church in April 1971. In 1975, Bertrand started a career in the cabinet business. They settled in Kearney, had four children. They were married for 49 years until Cinda died two years ago. Meanwhile, Bertrand didnt see Brown again for 35 years. Then, in 2004, Brown got Bertrands number and called him. Diddley? Brown said, using Bertrands old Army nickname. This is Big Bertha. The two men resumed talking as if they had just talked the day before. They reunited in person at a 2005 reunion in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Bertrand said his old Army buddies had turned into teary-eyed old fat guys, but he began going to reunions every year. At the 2014 reunion, he gave Brown back his boot laces that Brown had used to tie on the tourniquet that saved Bertrands life. At our reunions, everybody remembers a story a little bit different, but its interesting to hear all that stuff, Bertrand said. Now, 73, the grandfather of eight walks with a cane, but he barely limps. He learned long ago to not dwell on what he lost in Vietnam. Hes grateful to be alive. To help drive toward the future of clean transportation, Xcel Energy last week proposed new and enhanced electric vehicle (EV) charging programs and high-speed public charging options in Wisconsin and Minnesota to make charging at home and on the go easy, fast and more affordable for all customers. The plan also includes new EV programs and solutions supporting businesses, multifamily buildings, community charging, transit and electric school buses. Interest in EVs continues to grow and the expansion of both private and public charging will help customers address range anxiety and achieve significant savings on their transportation costs while delivering cleaner air for everyone, said Mark Stoering, president, Xcel Energy-Wisconsin and Michigan. This current proposal dramatically increases the number of public EV charging stations in the region, making it easier for drivers to charge on the go, by potentially adding 750 high-speed charging stations across Wisconsin and Minnesota. The company will work with interested communities and site hosts on locations for charging stations in both urban and rural areas, particularly along interstates, state highways and other traffic corridors. The proposal also enhances the successful EV Accelerate at Home program, which provides a turn-key option working with local electricians to install a home charger, in both states to better meet customers needs and expands programs and charger options to help businesses provide EV charging for employees, renters, fleet vehicles and the public. Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the U.S., and our plan supports Minnesotas target of having 20% of light duty vehicles in our state be electric by 2030 not only because it reduces emissions and delivers cleaner air, but because charging an EV at home is the equivalent of about a $1 per gallon when charging overnight, said Chris Clark, president, Xcel Energy Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. This means real savings for drivers and, importantly, our plan positions both Xcel Energy and the Upper Midwest as a national leader in accessible, affordable charging options through innovative customer programs and infrastructure. In Minnesota, an electric school bus pilot is also proposed, as part of the companys partnerships, research and innovation initiative. Through the school bus pilot, Xcel Energy will help address the significant upfront cost and operational challenges of transitioning to electric buses and better understand how these buses can most efficiently support and integrate into the electric grid, among other research objectives. Pending regulatory approval, the 32 buses will be used in a vehicle-to-grid demonstration project to help maximize the benefits of electric buses to schools and to the electric grid. Expanding transportation vision To continue driving progress on clean transportation, Xcel Energy also announced a new zero-carbon transportation vision that drives toward providing the infrastructure and energy to run all vehicles in its service area on carbon-free electricity or other clean energy by 2050. The new vision complements the companys interim goal of enabling one out of five vehicles in the areas it serves to be electric by 2030. Expanding the companys transportation vision supports its overall goal to become a net-zero energy provider by 2050. By enabling a zero-carbon transportation future, the companys clean energy can also help customers save billions of dollars in fuel costs and allow everyone in the communities it serves to experience the benefits of electric transportation, whether they own an EV, use public transit or benefit from improved air quality. Xcel Energys zero-carbon transportation vision for 2050 includes: Providing the fueling infrastructure and energy system to run all vehicles in its service area on carbon-free electricity or other clean energy. Ensuring all customers can access affordable, convenient electric vehicle charging at or within one mile of their homes and that underserved communities have opportunities to participate in Xcel Energy programs and the economic development benefits associated with zero-carbon transportation. Operating a zero-carbon Xcel Energy fleet Xcel Energy was the first in the industry to set ambitious greenhouse gas goals across all the ways its customers use energy: electricity, heating and transportation. Under its 2050 vision, all vehicles would run on zero-carbon fuel, which may be electricity or other clean energy like carbon-free hydrogen for future fuel cell electric vehicles. With Xcel Energy increasing the amount of renewable and carbon-free energy on its system, an electric vehicle powered with Xcel Energy electricity in 2021 was over 55% cleaner than a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle and is expected to be at least 80% cleaner by 2030, under its plans for reducing carbon emissions. Lower cost is another key benefit charging an EV during off-peak rate periods currently costs the equivalent of about $1 per gallon of gasoline or less, saving customers $1 billion annually on fuel by 2030. For more information on EVs and available programs, visit XcelEnergy.com/EV. Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake visited the Westby-Christiana Fire District, Tuesday, Aug. 2, to highlight his investment to support and expand Wisconsins emergency medical services (EMS) systems. The Westby-Christiana Fire District received a $15,000 Healthcare Infrastructure Capital Grant earlier this year to purchase a new LUCAS CPR compression device. Evers highlighted the more than $73,000 in supplemental funding that Vernon County is eligible to receive. With this supplemental investment, the La Farge Area EMS, Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service are eligible to receive more than $91,500 in Funding Assistance Program (FAP) grants. Our first responders play an absolutely vital role in the safety and security of our communities, and no matter what the emergency or where we live, we count on EMS providers to be there for us when we need them most, Evers said. But for too long, EMS providers and our local partners have been doing more with less, having to make tough decisions and even reduce or cut services that keep our communities safe, Evers continued. These folks know their communities best, so were getting them the resources with the flexibility to decide what they need to best serve their communities, keep Wisconsinites safe, and do their important work. Evers in his 2022 State of the State address announced a $20 million investment to support EMS providers statewide, with $12 million allocated for one-time flexible grants for smaller, under-resourced EMS providers ineligible for certain state grants and the remaining $8 million reserved for FAP grants. Kevin Dean, Westby EMS chief, said they are a volunteer EMS organization and dont bill for services. He said they survive on donations and to receive a grant is appreciated. He said the number of volunteers is decreasing and they do more with less. To get a grant is helpful, Dean said. He said the LUCAS CPR compression device helps the Westby EMS crew to be more efficient and frees up a responder to do other work on a patient. Dean said the device was purchased a few months ago, and has already been used on patients. It helps our residents. We are all volunteers and do this on the side We care about what we do... When we get support from the state and local (supporters) its appreciated. With the grant and local money it will help grow our quality of care. Being able to access medical care quickly can provide life-saving minutes for families during their greatest time of need, Timberlake said. This investment gives a boost to our states EMS providers who are facing many challenges and risking their lives every day to protect the health and safety of their communities. Evers and Timberlake also made stops in Peshtigo and Wausau before coming to Westby in the afternoon. Republicans on Friday unanimously chose Milwaukee in swing state Wisconsin to host the 2024 national convention, beating out Nashville in deep-red Tennessee. The decision in favor of Milwaukee was announced at the Republican National Committees summer meeting in Chicago, follows months of wrangling by Wisconsin and Tennessee to land the convention where the partys next presidential candidate will be officially nominated. Ronna McDaniel, chair of the RNC, announced the long-anticipated decision on Twitter, saying the vote was unanimous. Milwaukee is a world-class city, and we are eager to see it shine in the spotlight come 2024, she tweeted. The decision was all-but sealed after opposition in Nashville lead to that citys council on Tuesday rejecting a draft agreement for hosting the event. And Milwaukee was the pick of the RNCs site selection committee in July, making Fridays announcement largely a formality. Nashville Mayor John Cooper and others expressed concerns about security, the economic trade-off of having to mostly shut down the bustling downtown except for convention activity as well as the implications of tying up city resources for the event. Milwaukee, a Democratic stronghold, was selected to host the 2020 Democratic National Committee convention, but that moved almost entirely online due to the coronavirus pandemic. President Joe Biden accepted the nomination in Delaware, not Milwaukee. The city used its preparations for that convention to argue to Republicans that it had a turnkey operation ready to host for real in 2024. City leaders in Milwaukee joined together with Republican power brokers, including former RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, to make the pitch for hosting the 2024 Republican convention. Priebus, a former White House chief of staff under former President Donald Trump and Wisconsin state GOP chairman, leads the local committee for the convention. Trump narrowly won Wisconsin in 2016, but lost to Biden by a nearly identical margin in 2020. Wisconsin could determine who wins in 2024, while Tennessee has not backed a Democrat for president since 1996. But choosing Milwaukee is in line with recent Republican choices for the convention. For two decades, Republicans have placed their nominating convention in swing states North Carolina, Ohio and Florida. Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Paul Farrow, who was in Chicago for the RNC meeting, said having the convention come to Milwaukee will energize our base even more to realize were a very important hinge in the entire country. The winner in Wisconsin has been elected president the past four elections. By Trend Kyrgyzstan calls for a thorough investigation into the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in the UK, Trend reports citing the press service of Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic strongly condemns the attack on the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the UK and the vandalism of its property on August 4, 2022, the statement said. "We call for a thorough and objective investigation of the incident, bringing the perpetrators to justice." Our story today is called "The Ambitious Guest. " It was written by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Here is Harry Monroe with our story. One December night, a long, long time ago, a family sat around the fireplace in their home. A golden light from the fire filled the room. The mother and father laughed at something their oldest daughter had just said. The girl was seventeen, much older than her little brother and sister, who were only five and six years old. A very old woman, the family's grandmother, sat knitting in the warmest corner of the room. And a baby, the youngest child, smiled at the fire's light from its tiny bed. This family had found happiness in the worst place in all of New England. They had built their home high up in the White Mountains, where the wind blows violently all year long. The family lived in an especially cold and dangerous spot. Stones from the top of the mountain above their house would often roll down the mountainside and wake them in the middle of the night. No other family lived near them on the mountain. But this family was never lonely. They enjoyed each other's company, and often had visitors. Their house was built near an important road that connected the White Mountains to the Saint Lawrence River. People traveling through the mountains in wagons always stopped at the family's door for a drink of water and a friendly word. Lonely travelers, crossing the mountains on foot, would step into the house to share a hot meal. Sometimes, the wind became so wild and cold that these strangers would spend the night with the family. The family offered every traveler who stopped at their home a kindness that money could not buy. On that December evening, the wind came rushing down the mountain. It seemed to stop at their house to knock at the door before it roared down into the valley. The family fell silent for a moment. But then they realized that someone really was knocking at their door. The oldest girl opened the door and found a young man standing in the dark. The old grandmother put a chair near the fireplace for him. The oldest daughter gave him a warm, shy smile. And the baby held up its little arms to him. "This fire is just what I needed," the young man said. "The wind has been blowing in my face for the last two hours." The father took the young man's travel bag. "Are you going to Vermont?" the older man asked. "Yes, to Burlington," the traveler replied. "I wanted to reach the valley tonight. But when I saw the light in your window, I decided to stop. I would like to sit and enjoy your fire and your company for a while." As the young man took his place by the fire, something like heavy footsteps was heard outside. It sounded as if someone was running down the side of the mountain, taking enormous steps. The father looked out one of the windows. "That old mountain has thrown another stone at us again. He must have been afraid we would forget him. He sometimes shakes his head and makes us think he will come down on top of us," the father explained to the young man. "But we are old neighbors," he smiled. "And we manage to get along together pretty well. Besides, I have made a safe hiding place outside to protect us in case a slide brings the mountain down on our heads." As the father spoke, the mother prepared a hot meal for their guest. While he ate, he talked freely to the family, as if it were his own. This young man did not trust people easily. Yet on this evening, something made him share his deepest secret with these simple mountain people. The young man's secret was that he was ambitious. He did not know what he wanted to do with his life, yet. But he did know that he did not want to be forgotten after he had died. He believed that sometime during his life, he would become famous and be admired by thousands of people. "So far," the young man said, "I have done nothing. If I disappeared tomorrow from the face of the earth, no one would know anything about me. No one would ask 'Who was he. Where did he go?' But I cannot die until I have reached my destiny. Then let death come! I will have built my monument!" The young man's powerful emotions touched the family. They smiled. "You laugh at me," the young man said, taking the oldest daughter's hand. "You think my ambition is silly." She was very shy, and her face became pink with embarrassment. "It is better to sit here by the fire," she whispered, "and be happy, even if nobody thinks of us." Her father stared into the fire. "I think there is something natural in what the young man says. And his words have made me think about our own lives here. "It would have been nice if we had had a little farm down in the valley. Some place where we could see our mountains without being afraid they would fall on our heads. I would have been respected by all our neighbors. And, when I had grown old, I would die happy in my bed. You would put a stone over my grave so everyone would know I lived an honest life." "You see!" the young man cried out. "It is in our nature to want a monument. Some want only a stone on their grave. Others want to be a part of everyone's memory. But we all want to be remembered after we die!" The young man threw some more wood on the fire to chase away the darkness. The firelight fell on the little group around the fireplace: the father's strong arms and the mother's gentle smile. It touched the young man's proud face, and the daughter's shy one. It warmed the old grandmother, still knitting in the corner. She looked up from her knitting and, with her fingers still moving the needles, she said, "Old people have their secrets, just as young people do." The old woman said she had made her funeral clothes some years earlier. They were the finest clothes she had made since her wedding dress. She said her secret was a fear that she would not be buried in her best clothes. The young man stared into the fire. "Old and young," he said. "We dream of graves and monuments. I wonder how sailors feel when their ship is sinking, and they know they will be buried in the wide and nameless grave that is the ocean?" A sound, rising like the roar of the ocean, shook the house. Young and old exchanged one wild look. Then the same words burst from all their lips. "The slide! The slide!" They rushed away from the house, into the darkness, to the secret spot the father had built to protect them from the mountain slide. The whole side of the mountain came rushing toward the house like a waterfall of destruction. But just before it reached the little house, the wave of earth divided in two and went around the family's home. Everyone and everything in the path of the terrible slide was destroyed, except the little house. The next morning, smoke was seen coming from the chimney of the house on the mountain. Inside, the fire was still burning. The chairs were still drawn up in a half circle around the fireplace. It looked as if the family had just gone out for a walk. Some people thought that a stranger had been with the family on that terrible night. But no one ever discovered who the stranger was. His name and way of life remain a mystery. His body was never found. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote this story. Dona de Sanctis adapted it for VOA. Your narrator was Harry Monroe. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Quiz - The Ambitious Guest by Nathaniel Hawthorne Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz For Teachers Download the lesson plan below for activities related to this story. This lesson plan is based on the CALLA Approach. It teaches the strategy of personalizing to help students understand the story. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fireplace - n. a specially built place in a room where a fire can be built knit - v. to make a piece of clothing from yarn or thread by using long needles or a special machine roar - v. to make a long, loud sound shy - adj. showing that you are nervous and uncomfortable about meeting and talking to people ambitious - adj. having ambition; having a desire to be successful, powerful or famous admire - v. to feel respect or approval for someone or something monument - n. a building, statue, etc., that honors a person or event What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is a blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Australias new government announced recently that it plans to prevent development of a coal mine due to the possible effects on the nearby Great Barrier Reef. Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek said she plans to deny approval for the Central Queensland Coal Project. The minority Greens party has been asking the center-left Labor Party government, which was elected in May, to refuse approvals of coal and gas projects. The goal is to help reduce Australias greenhouse gas emissions. Plibersek said in a statement, Based on the information available to me at this stage, I believe that the project would be likely to have unacceptable impacts to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, and the values of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area and National Heritage Place. The mines supporters have until the middle of August to answer the proposed refusal before the minister makes her final decision. The Greens welcomed the news and urged the minister to reject another 26 planned coal mines. Greens leader Adam Bandt said in a statement, Now we need an across-the-board moratorium on all new coal and gas projects. A moratorium is a time when an activity is not permitted. The proposed decision was announced after the House of Representatives passed a bill that would put into law a reduction in Australias greenhouse gas emissions by 43 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2030. The previous governments target had been a reduction of between 26 to 28 percent, set at the Paris climate conference in 2015. Im John Russell. Rod McGuirk reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story reef n. a long line of rocks or coral or a high area of sand near the surface of the water in the ocean stage n. a particular point or period in the growth or development of something impact n. a powerful or major influence or effect across-the-board adj. affecting everyone or everything in a group _____________________________________________________________________ What do you think of coal power? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. Space scientists have observed what they believe is the most massive known example of an object called a neutron star. It has been called a black widow since it gained much of its mass by taking it from another star which it orbits. The star recently discovered by astronomers turns more than seven hundred times every second. Its mass is 2.35 times greater than our sun. The researchers said the star is close to the highest possible mass for an object of its kind. If it were any more massive it would collapse into a massive black hole. The researchers published their findings recently in Astrophysical Journal Letters. A neutron star is the dense, collapsed center, or core, of a massive star that exploded in an event called a supernova. This neutron star is a kind that is highly magnetized, called a pulsar. From Earth, pulsars appear to give off light repeatedly in short moments, like a lighthouse. Only one other neutron star is known to turn more quickly. Roger Romani is director of Stanford Universitys Center for Space Science and Astrophysics in the U.S. state of California. He helped write the research. Romani said, The heavier the neutron star, the denser the material in its core. Romani added, So as the heaviest neutron star known, this object presents the densest material in the observable universe. If it was any heavier it should collapse to a black hole, and then the stuff inside would be behind the event horizon, forever sealed off from any observation. Scientists use the term event horizon to describe a point close to a black hole beyond which nothing can escape including light. Romani said, Since we don't yet know how matter works at these densities, the existence of this neutron star is an important probe of these physical extremes. The star is officially known as PSR J0952-0607. It is about 20,000 light years from Earth. A light year is the distance light travels in a year. The researchers studied it using the Keck I telescope in the state of Hawaii. Stars that are about eight or more times the suns mass change the chemical hydrogen into heavier elements. When they build up about 1.4 times the mass of our sun in the element iron, their core collapses into a neutron star. A neutron star is very smallabout the size of a city. But within that small area, it holds more mass than our Sun. The astronomers call this kind of star a black widow. The name comes from a kind of spider. The black widow female is known to eat the male after mating. Astronomers call star systems with related qualities spider binaries. The star is believed to have started as a neutron star with the usual mass, about 1.4 times that of our sun. But its gravitational pull took material from the star in its system. That appears to have caused it to gain mass nearing the physical limit. Beyond that limit, scientists say, the star should collapse into a black hole. Black holes are the densest of all known objects. The other star in the system has lost about 98 percent of its mass to the black widow star. It remains about 20 times the mass of our solar systems largest planet, Jupiter. But far less massive than a normal star. Im Gregory Stachel. Will Dunham reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. ________________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story astronomer n. a scientist who studies stars, planets, and other objects in outer space seal v. to close (something) tightly so that air or liquid cannot get in or out probe n. careful examination or investigation of something _______________________________________________________________________ What do you think of astronomy? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. Farmers in Italys famous Tuscany area are struggling to save grape and olive crops threatened by a heatwave and drought conditions. A lack of rainfall since spring has even affected plants that traditionally grow well in hot and dry weather. In San Casciano in Val di Pesa, near Florence, olive trees line the hillsides. But farmers say the dry soil is preventing the trees from producing the normal amount of fruit. Tuscany is famous around the world for its olive oil and wine from grapes. But growers in the area say dry, hot weather has recently had a major effect on the crops and harmed production. "We had a very dry spring with practically no rain from March to today, olive grower Filippo Legnaioli told Reuters. He said this years heat and lack of water happened during an important time, when the flowers were changing to fruit. Without water, many flowers fall to the ground before they can produce fruit. Legnaioli said this year's oil production could be reduced by up to 60 percent. Other olive growers have decided to change some of their farming methods. They have added extra watering systems to make up for the lack of rainfall and hot temperatures. Farmer Luigi Calonaci told Reuters the rescue watering methods aim "to protect the production of olives on the plants. The system works through a pipe placed beneath the trees to release small amounts of water. Calonacis farm has also been using a white netting material to protect the plants from olive fruit flies, whose larvae feed on the fruit of the trees. While the farmers say that problem is not directly related to the drought, it can also cause big crop losses. The effects of climate change have not only affected production and plants but have also created new areas in Italy where crops can be grown. A few years ago, olive farms were mainly found in hot and dry areas such as Sicily. Now, areas such as Val d'Aosta in the far north of Italy which is famous for its ski resorts and mountains can produce their own oil. Climate change is also affecting wine crops in Tuscany. In Chianti, for example, September is normally the month for the yearly grape harvest. But with continued high temperatures, many grapes are ripening earlier than expected. "We have smaller grapes, and we expect the number of grapes to be lower than the average of the last few years, said Sergio Zingarelli, who helps lead a local grape farming group. In addition to the reduction in grapes caused by the current heatwave, wine growers also have to deal with other extreme weather events. Paolo Cianferoni is the owner of Chiantis "Caparsa" winery. He said a hailstorm recently destroyed 40 percent of grapes in the area. He told Reuters, Luckily the quality of the grapes has not been affected, so we'll see what happens." Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story drought n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain practically adv. in a suitable or useful way net n. a material made of crossed threads with holes between them larva n. (larvae pl.) the form of some creatures before then develop into full form ripen v. to become ripe: developed enough to be eaten hailstorm n. a sudden fall of hail: small, hard balls of ice that fall from the sky like rain ________________________________________________________________________ What do you think of this story? We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 1. Write your comment in the box. 2. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. 3. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. The three Abrahamic religions Judaism, Christianity, Islam I have some experience with each of them. LEXINGTON The Lexington Rotary Club held a Somalian interpreter meet-and-greet event at Kirks Nebraskaland on Thursday, July 28. Lexington Rotary Club member Scott McKelvey said the event had two purposes, one to increase membership of the Lexington club and to that end, help the demographics of the club to look like that of the wider community. McKelvey said it is important to bring in the diversity found in Lexington, so the Rotary Club can better serve people of all demographics. While Rotary is a community based organization, it has an international reach with clubs all across the world. McKelvey said Rotary Internationals work includes providing clean drinking water, crop aid and womens health, to name a few. Several of the Somalian interpreters, who work at Lexington Regional Health Center, were able to share their stories about their background and how they came to the United States. McKelvey said he hoped people in attendance would gain a better understanding by hearing about their personal struggles. It was also hoped events like this will help increase social networks throughout the community and to plant the seed for people to reach out to the Rotary if they are in need. The Lexington Rotary can be found on Facebook under Lexington NE Rotary Club and more information about the clubs in western Nebraska can be found at https://www.rotary5630.org/ By Trend The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan strongly condemns the provocative attack on the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on August 4, 2022, Trend reports citing the press service of Uzbek Foreign Ministry. "We consider absolutely unacceptable any actions that pose a threat to the life and health of members of diplomatic missions. We call for a comprehensive investigation of th? incident and bringing all those involved to justice. The Uzbek side expresses its support for brotherly Azerbaijan in ensuring the security and protection of its citizens abroad." Register FitLot Block Party!! Join us Thursday, September 1st for a Block Party at Bickley PaRK in South Salt Lake celebrating a year of fun and health at AARP's FitLot. We will have music, healthy snacks, games and fun for all those who attend. The event is free, but you must register to attend. Local featured Renewables rise: Surge in wind and solar energies helps keep the AC on in Texas LES HASSELL/Longview News-Journal Hecate Energys solar facility near Ore City. Angelina County Commissioners designated 2,000 acres of land in the Central/Pollok area in the summer of 2021 for EDP Renewables, which plans to install 495,000 solar panels to create its Azalea Springs Solar Park LLC. Nichols East Texas is hot. Well, Texas is hot. But in 2022, the temperatures rose too high for many native, heat-tolerant Texans. Lufkin, for example, had 29 days with temperatures above 100 degrees during July more than doubling its yearly average, according to the National Weather Service. And energy usage has gone right up with it. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas on July 11 asked Texans to conserve energy usage as hot weather drove record power demand across the state. The state did not have the rolling blackouts many residents feared. This was because solar energy, not natural gas, set records for energy production that day, Texas Monthly reported on July 12. So what does this mean for Texas, the leading producer of both renewable energy and fossil-fuel based energy in the United States? While the state largely relies upon natural gas to generate energy capacity, renewable resources like wind and solar are expanding production to meet state demands. Further, employment data across state and federal sources indicate job growth continues to rise in renewable energy while plateauing in the overarching oil and gas industry that includes natural gas production. Investments For 85% of the population, that ERCOT area, there has not been a major power plant built, dispatchable, in a long time, state Sen. Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville) said. All the plants that are dispatchable (natural gas, coal, hydropower, nuclear energy) are 50 years old. And those 50-year-old plants which are already at the end of their life and ready to be shut down cannot even be shut down for maintenance, Nichols said. He fears the lack of investment in dispatchable energy is setting the state up for failure. If you want the cheapest electricity prices, the cheapest is converted all to renewable, he said. Get rid of all the gas plants and stuff like that. Just be ready to turn your lights off a couple hours a week. If youre OK with that, thats going to be the cheapest way to handle that. Most Texans receive their energy from producers associated with ERCOT, an agency that became infamous as a result of Winter Storm Uri. And within this area, decisions made in the early 2000s to support more renewable energy sources made it more difficult for dispatchable power plants to be built, Nichols said. If I want to invest in Texas I have to go get permission from the Public Utility (Commission) to invest in a power plant, Nichols said. Otherwise, they wont even let you hook up to the system. They want to make sure it all fits together. Its heavily regulated. As a result, dispatchable energy resources have not been built in the area because it is not cost-effective and there is no guarantee the companies that invest in the state will see a worthwhile rate of return, he said. Natural gas contributes 44% to the states energy generating capacity while renewable energy resources like wind and solar contribute 40%. Over the past 20 years, renewable energy has proven itself as a reliable and efficient form of electricity that can help our country and states produce local, cheap and clean electricity, said Jared Hibshman, an EDP Renewables North America development project manager. I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the industrys major growth. EDP has renewable energy assets across 24 states, including Texas. Among those is the Azalea Springs Solar Park LLC project for which Angelina County Commissioners designated 2,000 acres of land in the Central/Pollok area in the summer of 2021. EDP still has a few key agreements to secure before it can move forward, Hibshman said. But the company anticipates construction will begin in 2023 and project will be fully operational in 2024. The goal is to install 495,000 solar panels to bolster Texas energy system. Solar panels use silicon to absorb energy from the sun and convert it into usable electricity through the movement of electrons, Hibshman said. The technology has been successfully used for more than 50 years. The Azalea Springs Solar Project is designed to have 180-megawatt power output with estimated energy production around 400,000-megawatt hours per year, Hibshman said. For reference, this is enough to power 27,000 Texas homes based on 2018 EIA average electricity consumption for TX residents. The project will connect the panels to the existing high-voltage transmission lines, and the power generated will be instantaneously used wherever there is need in the region. Solar energy is among many resources being offered incentives for construction in Texas and across the U.S. And because solar costs less than other forms of energy, it is a higher priority for agencies including the State Energy Conservation Office pushing local governments to look for ways to reduce utility costs and maximize efficiency. EDPs goal is to promote clean and cheap energy for ERCOT and Texas, Hibshman told Angelina County commissioners in 2021. Solar is a low-cost and reliable asset that has benefited power grids across the United States, including ERCOT, he told The Lufkin Daily News. While it is true that solar may not produce at full capacity in bad weather, this weather is predictable, so grid operators can understand expected output with advanced notice. The grid benefits from a diverse mix of generation assets, and solar is crucial to that generation. When ERCOT hits peak electricity demand over the summer, when the sun is shining and temperatures rise, solar is performing at its best, Hibshman said. Employment The shift in employment patterns, though, is a part of a free market where industries are evolving, Nichols said. Employment will decline in fossil fuels as it did with car manufacturing as machines are better able to do the work for less money, they are taking jobs held by people, he said. There are two approaches to the economy: Build a workplace that relies solely upon people to manufacture goods or one that relies on a modern manufacturing system so people arent necessary. Im a big fan of the free market system, Nichols said. And as long as you let the free market system work, the balances occur. The states responsibility is to make sure we have programs where we can train people in skilled areas where people are needed, where they can make money. A shift is being seen, at least at some level, when looking at the transition of employment in energy producers. Employment within the oil and gas industry is beginning to plateau after failing to regain ground lost in 2020, according to energy experts. Around 39,400 jobs were created in the industry in Texas by January 2022, but that is less than half what the industry lost during the pandemic, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis. Industry jobs include those involved in oil and gas extraction, support activities for mining, natural gas distribution, petroleum and coal product manufacturing, pipeline transportation and gas station industries. Experts at the institute took a look at the industrys historic employment and determined its employment has grown at slightly more than one-fifth the pace of Texas average. And this has been seen not just in the last two to three years but the last 30. This phenomena is not a result of the current staffing struggles many industries have seen across the state. While oil and gas has been slow to rebuild, Texas nonfarm jobs have grown higher than what they were pre-pandemic, the institutes data shows. The industry instead has moved to the use of technologies aimed at driving down costs for production, allowing technology to produce more products with fewer people, the institute stated. Industrial employment growth grew from 272,600 people in 1990 to 330,400 in January 2022 a 22% increase. Nonfarm jobs in Texas grew by 87% in that same time. The U.S. Department of Energy made similar observations in the U.S. Energy and Employment Jobs report released in 2022, as have the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Texas Workforce Commission. While the oil and gas industry itself is not creating new jobs to bring employment in the industry to what it was at its last peak in 2014, significant effort is being put in to build up the renewable energy sector. States that have been successful doing that do well, Nichols said. So the idea is to keep our taxes low, have a reasonable amount of regulation, try to look to the future on what we need, who we want here and where we need to be training our people. And if we do it right, here they come. And people are pouring in this state. Hibshmans coworker Caitlin Jancuska, who also is a project development manager, left the oil and gas industry after five years to work in renewables. I personally find the renewable industry very intriguing, both because of the growth potential but also the innovative use of technology, she said. I think renewable energy is a vital component to our energy future, and I wanted to be a part of that growth and shift. She is not alone. FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP) The Pinal County Board of Supervisors named a replacement for the elected recorder Friday as it continues to address a series of primary election problems that the board chairman called a major screw-up. The five-member board voted unanimously to name Assistant Recorder Dana Lewis to the position that handles early ballot mailing and voter rolls and filing of documents such as deeds. Lewis replaces former Recorder Virginia Ross, who stepped down Thursday to take over as elections director. Ross took over for the former elections director, David Frisk. During a Wednesday news conference, county officials did not blame Frisk for the voting problems, but then fired him the next day. Members of the public who spoke at a brief emergency meeting Friday praised the board's action, saying it goes a long way to restoring trust in the elections. During the primary election Tuesday, about 20 of the county's 95 polling sites ran out of ballots, in part because of unexpected demand. Board Chair Jeffrey McClure called it a major screw-up. Hundreds of voters complained they couldn't immediately vote because the county had run out of some ballots. Officials have blamed the problems on human error. In addition, one polling site opened several hours late. Lewis, a former elections employee, moved into the recorder's office earlier this year. She will fill the remainder of the elected post until 2024 when another election will be held. Ross had been the recorder since being elected in 2012. The recorder's office oversaw elections until county supervisors separated the elections department in 2017. The county since has had at least three elections directors, who handle Election Day operations that include polling places and ballot counting. The board plans to focus on elections at several upcoming meetings to ensure the November general election goes smoothly. This version corrects the surname of the county's former elections director to Frisk, not Frist. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka's new president said Wednesday that his government is preparing a national policy roadmap for the next 25 years that aims to cut public debt and turn the country into a competitive export economy as it seeks a way out of its worst economic disaster. President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his speech to Parliament said Sri Lanka needs long-term solutions and a strong foundation to stop a recurrence of economic crises. Massive public protests have blamed Wickremesinghe's ousted predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapakasa, and his powerful family for years of mismanagement and corruption that have bankrupt the nation and led to unprecedented shortages of essential imports like fuel, medicine and cooking gas. But many are still skeptical of Wickremesinghe and accuse him of trying to protect the former leader and his relatives. Sri Lanka announced in April that it is suspending repayment of foreign loans. Its total foreign debt is $51 billion, of which it must pay $28 billion by 2027. Wickremesinghe said his government had initiated negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on a four-year rescue plan and had commenced the finalization of a debt restructuring plan. We would submit this plan to the International Monetary Fund in the near future, and negotiate with the countries who provided loan assistance. Subsequently negotiations with private creditors would also begin to arrive at a consensus, he said. Wickremesinghe had said earlier that negotiations with the IMF have been difficult because of Sri Lanka's bankruptcy and that an expected early August target for an agreement with the agency was not possible and is now expected in September because of social unrest in the country. He said the hardships had eased somewhat with reduced power cuts, fertilizers being brought in for cultivation and cooking gas distribution improving. Safety measures have been taken to avoid food shortages. Bringing essential drugs and medical equipment to the hospitals has been initiated. Schools have been reopened. Measures are being taken to overcome the impediments faced by the industries and export sectors, he said. Instead of relying on foreign loans for fuel imports, Sri Lanka should initiate a system where export income and foreign workers' remittances are used for purchases, Wickremesinghe said. We also have to limit selected imports in order to balance the payments for fuel. On the other hand, fuel supply has to be curtailed. These hardships would need to be borne until the end of this year. He thanked neighboring India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving Sri Lanka a breath of life by providing timely assistance through credit lines and loans to buy food, medicine and fuel. Wickremesinghe said the government's aim is to create a surplus in the primary budget by the year 2025 and to bring down public debt, currently at 140% of GDP, to less than 100% by 2032. The economy should be modernized. Economic stability should be established and transformed into a competitive export economy. In this context, we are now preparing the necessary reports, plans, rules and regulations, laws and programs, he said. If we build the country, the nation and the economy through the national economic policy, we would be able to become a fully developed country by the year 2048, when we celebrate the 100th anniversary of independence, Wickremesinghe said. Wickremesinghe was elected president last moth to complete the rest of Rajapaksas five-year term, which ends in 2024. Rajapaksa fled the country after protesters, furious over the economic hardships, stormed his official residence and occupied several key government buildings. Wickremesinghe cracked down on protests and many leaders of demonstrations have been arrested on charges of trespassing and damaging public property. Protest camps set up in front of the president's office were dismantled by armed soldiers who beat up protesters. However, Wickremesinghe on Wednesday denied that he was hunting down protesters. He said he will protect peaceful protesters and opened an office to handle complaints of any wrongful action. People who violated the law unknowingly or at the instigation of others will be dealt with sympathetically while those who were involved in violence intentionally will be prosecuted, he said. Wickremesinghe said that since young people had taken the lead in protests and wanted a change in the political system, he will make way for more youth to attend Parliament in the next election. The next election should be the term of the youth. I consider that the creation of a new constitution with new attitudes in order to provide space for youth is one of the main priority tasks. He sought amity among political parties, saying only an all-party government can solve the country's problems. The expectation of all the citizens of the country at this juncture is for all their representatives in Parliament to work together in order to build the country, he said. At least 10 Palestinians, including a child and an armed group commander, were killed and 55 injured on Friday in Israeli airstrikes on military targets of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), an Islamist organization active in the Gaza Strip. A 5-year-old girl and Tayseer al-Jabari, commander of the PIJ armed wing Al-Quds Brigades, as well as his three aides were killed in the heavy Israeli air raid on a residential apartment in the Palestinian Tower in central Gaza that houses media offices, according to eyewitnesses, the PIJ, and the Palestinian health ministry. At least six of the injured were in critical condition, the health ministry said in a statement. The Israeli airstrikes, dubbed the Breaking Dawn operation, targeted "10 terrorist operatives" of the PIJ in Gaza, to "eliminate the threat to the citizens of Israel," according to the Israeli military. Security sources in Gaza said Israeli airstrikes targeted military lookout posts and a motorcycle in northern and southern Gaza. The Palestinian health ministry has announced emergency readiness across all local hospitals and ambulances stations. The heightened tension came after Israeli forces arrested a senior official of the PIJ in the West Bank city of Jenin on Monday. The PIJ vowed to take revenge, prompting the Israeli military to raise its alert along the border with Gaza. Late on Friday, the Israeli military announced that up to 25,000 reservists will be called up to the border with Gaza in case of rocket firing from the Palestinian enclave, adding the country's Iron Dome defense system has intercepted rockets fired from Gaza into Israel in the evening. The PIJ said they fired more than 100 rockets toward southern and central Israeli towns in the evening after the Israeli airstrikes. "The Israeli enemy is the one who started the escalation against the resistance in Gaza, and committed a new crime. It must pay the price and bear full responsibility for it," said Fawzi Barhoum, spokesman of Gaza's ruling faction Hamas. Meanwhile, the PIJ spokesman Daoud Shehab told Xinhua that just before the Israeli raid, Egypt was contacting the movement for a possible meeting between the two sides on Sunday "to break up the crisis." "But what happened today is a message of disdain for the mediators," Shehab said. An Egyptian official told a local TV that Egypt is conducting intensive communications with the Palestinian and the Israeli sides to end the ongoing escalation in Gaza and to contain the situation, according to official Ahram online news website. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party said in a statement that the Israeli bombing of Gaza and the targeting and intimidation of defenseless civilians "is a new crime added to the crimes" committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. Munther al-Hayek, Fatah spokesman in Gaza, called on the international community and mediators (Egypt, Qatar and the United Nations) to intervene immediately to prevent Israel from "committing massacres" against the Palestinians in Gaza. Produced by Xinhua Global Service By Trend The press secretary of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, expressed support for her Azerbaijani colleagues in connection with the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in the UK, Trend reports citing the Telegram channel of Zakharova. "Shocked by the story of the radical attack on the Azerbaijani Embassy in Britain. In broad daylight, a whole crowd of vandals invaded the territory of the diplomatic mission, desecrated state symbols, and damaged the building. Thank God no one was hurt. The inviolability of the territory of diplomatic missions is the cornerstone of international relations, which ensures the smooth work of diplomats around the world. Such "incidents" are out of the ordinary," she wrote. Zakharova also recalled the text of paragraph 2 of Article 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961: "The receiving State has a special duty to take all appropriate measures to protect the premises of the mission from any intrusion or damage and to prevent any disturbance of the peace of the mission or affront to its dignity." "Question to the British authorities and the police, who are supposed to ensure the security of the embassy and diplomats: where have you been?," she added. WASHINGTON A husband and wife from Janesville celebrating more than five decades of marriage were killed in a lightning strike outside the White House. A third victim was pronounced dead Friday evening, and one other is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, died of their injuries after the lightning strike Thursday in Lafayette Park, located directly outside the White House complex, the Metropolitan Police Department said Friday. The third victim was later identified as Brooks Lambertson, 29, of Los Angeles, a vice president for City National Bank, who was in Washington, D.C., on business. "Brooks was an incredible young man who will be remembered for his generosity, kindness and unwavering positivity," City National said in a statement. "His sudden loss is devastating for all who knew him, and his family, friends and colleagues appreciate the thoughts and prayers that have poured in from around the country." The fourth person, a woman, was in critical condition, the police department said. Their identities were not immediately released. Authorities did not reveal how the people were injured, other than to say they were critically hurt in the lightning strike. The Muellers were on a trip to Washington, D.C., to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary, according to their niece, Michelle McNett of Janesville. "They were a very loving couple," McNett told the Wisconsin State Journal. "They were very, very family oriented. I think everyone's just in shock right now and kind of request privacy." The couple had five children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, she told the paper. Donna Mueller was a teacher and in retirement worked at the Comfort Shoppe, a local furniture store. Jim, 76, was a retired contractor who had his own drywall business. McNett said she's not sure why the couple picked the nation's capital for their vacation, but added that "Donna was a constant learner." The husband and wife, according to their niece, loved having gatherings and just had a big family gathering a couple of weeks ago. "They were very religious," she said. "Just the kind of people who would give the shirt off their back to do anything for you, both of them." Officers with the Secret Service and the U.S. Park Police witnessed the lightning strike Thursday night and ran over to render first aid, officials said. Emergency medical crews were called to the scene just before 7 p.m. and had transported all of the victims to the hospital with "critical, life-threatening injures," fire department spokesman Vito Maggiolo said. "We are saddened by the tragic loss of life after the lightning strike in Lafayette Park," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones, and we are praying for those still fighting for their lives." WASHINGTON (AP) A husband and wife from Wisconsin celebrating more than five decades of marriage were killed in a lightning strike outside the White House. A third victim was pronounced dead Friday evening, and one other is hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. James Mueller, 76, and Donna Mueller, 75, of Janesville, Wisconsin, died of their injuries after the lightning strike Thursday in Lafayette Park, located directly outside the White House complex, the Metropolitan Police Department said Friday. A third victim, a 29-year-old adult male, was pronounced dead Friday. The fourth person, a woman, was in critical condition, the police department said. Their identities were not immediately released. Authorities did not reveal how the people were injured, other than to say they were critically hurt in the lightning strike. The Muellers were on a trip to Washington, D.C., to celebrate their 56th wedding anniversary, according to their niece, Michelle McNett of Janesville. They were a very loving couple, McNett told the Wisconsin State Journal. They were very, very family oriented. I think everyones just in shock right now and kind of request privacy. The couple had five children, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, she told the paper. Donna Mueller was a teacher and in retirement worked at the Comfort Shoppe, a local furniture store. Jim, 76, was a retired contractor who had his own drywall business. McNett said shes not sure why the couple picked the nations capital for their vacation, but added that Donna was a constant learner. The husband and wife, according to their niece, loved having gatherings and just had a big family gathering a couple of weeks ago. They were very religious, she said. Just the kind of people who would give the shirt off their back to do anything for you, both of them. Officers with the Secret Service and the U.S. Park Police witnessed the lightning strike Thursday night and ran over to render first aid, officials said. Emergency medical crews were called to the scene just before 7 p.m. and had transported all of the victims to the hospital with critical, life-threatening injures, fire department spokesman Vito Maggiolo said. We are saddened by the tragic loss of life after the lightning strike in Lafayette Park, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. Our hearts are with the families who lost loved ones, and we are praying for those still fighting for their lives. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Israeli airstrikes flattened homes in Gaza on Saturday and Palestinian rocket barrages into southern Israel persisted for a second day, raising fears of another major escalation in the Mideast conflict. Gazas health ministry said 24 people had been killed so far in the coastal strip, including six children. The fighting began with Israels killing of a senior commander of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad militant group in a wave of strikes Friday that Israel said were meant to prevent an imminent attack. So far, Hamas, the larger militant group that rules Gaza, appeared to stay on the sidelines of the conflict, keeping its intensity somewhat contained. Israel and Hamas fought a war barely a year ago, one of four major conflicts and several smaller battles over the last 15 years that exacted a staggering toll on the impoverished territorys 2 million Palestinian residents. Whether Hamas continues to stay out of the fight likely depends in part on how much punishment Israel inflicts in Gaza as rocket fire steadily continues. The Israeli military said an errant rocket fired by Palestinian militants killed civilians late Saturday, including children, in the town of Jabaliya, in northern Gaza. The military said it investigated the incident and concluded without a doubt that it was caused by a misfire on the part of Islamic Jihad. There was no official Palestinian comment on the incident. A Palestinian medical worker, who was not authorized to brief media and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the blast killed at least six people, including three children. An airstrike in the southern city of Rafah destroyed a home and heavily damaged surrounding buildings. The Health Ministry said at least two people were killed and 32 wounded, including children. A teenage boy was recovered from the rubble, and the other slain individual was identified by his family as Ziad al-Mudalal, the son of an Islamic Jihad official. The military said it targeted Khaled Mansour, Islamic Jihad's commander for southern Gaza. Neither Israel nor the militant group said whether he was hit. The Civil Defense said responders were still sifting through the rubble and that a digger was being sent from Gaza City. Another strike Saturday hit a car, killing a 75-year-old woman and wounding six other people. In one of the strikes, fighter jets dropped two bombs on the house of an Islamic Jihad member after Israel warned people to evacuate the area. The blast flattened the two-story structure, leaving a large rubble-filled crater, and badly damaged surrounding homes. Women and children rushed out of the area. Warned us? They warned us with rockets and we fled without taking anything, said Huda Shamalakh, who lived next door. She said 15 people lived in the targeted home. Among the 24 Palestinians killed were six children and two women, as well as the senior Islamic Jihad commander. The Gaza Health Ministry said more than 200 people have been wounded. It does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. The Israeli military said Friday that early estimates were that around 15 fighters were killed. The lone power plant in Gaza ground to a halt at noon Saturday for lack of fuel as Israel has kept its crossing points into Gaza closed since Tuesday. With the new disruption, Gazans can get only 4 hours of electricity a day, increasing their reliance on private generators and deepening the territorys chronic power crisis amid peak summer heat. Throughout the day, Gaza militants regularly launched rounds of rockets into Israel. The Israeli military said Saturday evening that nearly 450 rockets had been fired, 350 of which made it into Israel, but almost all were intercepted by Israels Iron Dome missile-defense system. Two people suffered minor shrapnel wounds. One rocket barrage was fired toward Tel Aviv, setting off sirens that sent residents to shelters, but the rockets were either intercepted or fell into the sea, the military said. Sunday could be a critical day in the flare-up, as Jews mark Tisha Bav, a somber day of fasting that commemorates the destruction of the biblical temples. Thousands are expected at Jerusalems Western Wall, and Israeli media reported that the Israeli leadership was expected to allow lawmakers to visit a key hilltop holy site in the city that is a flashpoint for violence between Israelis and Palestinians. The violence poses an early test for Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who assumed the role of caretaker prime minister ahead of elections in November, when he hopes to keep the position. Lapid, a centrist former TV host and author, has experience in diplomacy having served as foreign minister in the outgoing government, but has thin security credentials. A conflict with Gaza could burnish his standing and give him a boost as he faces off against former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a security hawk who led the country during three of its four wars with Hamas. Hamas also faces a dilemma in deciding whether to join a new battle barely a year after the last war caused widespread devastation. There has been almost no reconstruction since then, and the isolated coastal territory is mired in poverty, with unemployment hovering around 50%. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory since the Hamas takeover in 2007. Egypt on Saturday intensified efforts to prevent escalation, communicating with Israel, the Palestinians and the United States to keep Hamas from joining the fighting, an Egyptian intelligence official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The latest round of Israel-Gaza violence was rooted in the arrest earlier this week of a senior Islamic Jihad leader in the occupied West Bank, part of a monthslong Israeli military operation. Israel then closed roads around Gaza and sent reinforcements to the border, bracing for retaliation. On Friday, it killed Islamic Jihads commander for northern Gaza, Taiseer al-Jabari, in a strike on a Gaza City apartment building. An Israeli military spokesman said the strikes were in response to an imminent threat from two militant squads armed with anti-tank missiles. Hamas seized power in Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007, two years after Israel withdrew from the coastal strip. Its most recent war with Israel was in May 2021. Tensions soared again earlier this year following a wave of attacks inside Israel, near-daily military operations in the West Bank and tensions at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site. Iran-backed Islamic Jihad is smaller than Hamas but largely shares its ideology. Both groups oppose Israels existence and have carried out scores of deadly attacks over the years. Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Joseph Krauss in Ottawa, Ontario contributed to this report. This State Journal editorial ran on Aug. 6, 1872, three months before President Ulysses Grant, a Republican, easily won reelection over New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley, including in Wisconsin. Greeley ran as a Liberal Republican but also gained support from the Democratic Party, which viewed him as the only chance to defeat Grant. Greeley died shortly after the election: There is some question as to whose circus Horace Greeley belongs to. He said in his speech that the Democrats were no less Democrats, and he was no less a Republican, on account of Greeleys (Democratic) nomination. U.S. Sen. Charles Sumner says Greeley is an old abolitionist, and declares that Democrats are converted to Greeley abolitionists. Down in Kendall County, Illinois, the honest Democrats go for President Grant and declare they cannot support Greeley. They do not believe in casting out devils through ... the prince of devils. U.S. Sen. Carl Schurz claims Greeley as a civil service reformer, and the temporary chairman of the Cincinnati Convention repudiates him as not a liberal. In Louisiana, the Democrats cant unite on Greeley. They say they cant do it because Greeley is obnoxious. The Mobile Register asks if it is supposed that the Democratic and Conservative party will abdicate and allow the election to be fought under a Liberal Republican flag. ... The Georgia Constitutionalist finds 114 Democratic papers that refuse to support the Greeley ticket in any way. From present appearances, the inspired Harlequin (Greeley), we quote from the Chicago Tribune, will not be on exhibition after Nov. 5. The people will not patronize a concern where the chief performers are quarrelling about the party flag, and dont agree which circus the inspired Harlequin belongs to. Of all the political grandstanding this campaign season in Wisconsin, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toneys sad stunt is among the worst. Hes fanning irrational fears of voter fraud which has become disturbingly common in Republican primaries and hes throwing the book at ordinary people who made small mistakes when casting ballots to participate in their democracy. Awkwardly, Toney even charged a Trump supporter voting for the first time in the 2020 election. Toneys rash approach to the law doesnt instill confidence in his bid to become attorney general. The Wisconsin State Journal editorial board isnt endorsing in any of Tuesdays primary races. As usual, well wait for the general election to recommend candidates. Yet statewide voters should remember Toneys willingness to harass and harm people for perceived and narrow political advantage. Toney charged five Fond du Lac County residents with election fraud for using a UPS Store as their voting address. This includes Jamie Wells, 53, who said her vote for then-President Donald Trump in 2020 was the first time she cast a ballot. She told Wisconsin Watch she didnt know state law requires a residential address to register to vote. The law makes an exception for people without traditional housing, but that requires more documentation. Wells and her husband, whom Toney also charged, have used the UPS Store in Fond du Lac as their address for decades. They dont have a residential address, Wells said, because the couple lives in a 42-foot trailer. Her husband works on farms across the state, so they live in the camper. Yet they consider Fond du Lac their home. Toney seems to think Im a criminal, Wells told Wisconsin Watch in a recent report in the State Journal. And thats the part that upsets me most. Every voter should be upset, not just the handful Toney is trying to make into examples. More than 150 other people across Wisconsin used post office boxes as addresses during the same election, and they arent being prosecuted. A warning not to do it again would have been the commonsense solution. But Toney wants to appeal to Trumps staunchest followers in Tuesdays GOP primary election. Trump has lied about widespread voter fraud which doesnt exist to try to explain away his loss to President Joe Biden. Trump all but requires GOP candidates seeking his endorsement to regurgitate his false claims. Yet dozens of court rulings, independent audits and official recounts have consistently shown that Biden won, including by more than 20,000 votes in Wisconsin. The few discrepancies Trump loyalists have uncovered dont come close to changing that. And in Wells case, throwing out her vote would have widened Bidens victory. Toney no doubt hoped that criminally charging a handful of Fond du Lac area residents for using post office boxes as voting addresses would convince more Trump supporters to back him in Tuesdays primary. He faces Adam Jarchow and Karen Mueller for the GOP nomination. The winner will challenge Democratic incumbent Attorney General Josh Kaul on Nov. 8. But fraud charges should apply to people trying to deceive not to an honest mistake involving a single ballot. The Wellses have been used as political props and shouldnt be threatened with felonies carrying penalties of up to 3 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Even the $500 fine and court costs Toney secured against a different defendant, after dismissing a felony count for a misdemeanor conviction, seems excessive. Wells said she and her husband have had to borrow money to cover what they expect will be about $17,000 in legal bills. At the state GOP convention, Toney touted himself as one the most aggressive prosecutors of election fraud in Wisconsin. By charging Wells and other eligible voters with felonies, Toney has shown hes one of the most irresponsible and foolish. Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JANINE GESKE SUSAN SCHMITZ Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JANINE GESKE SUSAN SCHMITZ Living life as a thank you: Beauty and benefits of gratitude Gratitude is acknowledging the many gifts in ones life. Focusing on lifes blessings has many physical, psychological and relational benefits. People who experience gratitude can cope more effectively with stress, show increased resilience during trauma, recover more quickly from illness and enjoy more robust physical health. Gratitude strengthens social connections and serves as a springboard to giving and receiving. Our talk will explore these ideas and provide many strategies for developing a gratitude practice. Our talk was inspired by Gratitude Works, Robert A. Emmons, PhD and The Grateful Life, Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons. Our service Sunday will be both in person at our location 160 Ninth Ave. E. in Twin Falls and on Zoom. To access Zoom, please email mvuuf83301@yahoo.com for sign-in information. In the subject line write Zoom Service August 7th. Newcomers of all religious paths or none at all are always welcome. Unitarian Universalists believe in the dignity of every person regardless of race, creed or none at all, immigrant status or sexual orientation. Everyone is welcome, no exceptions. We believe in justice, equality and compassion in human relations; and acceptance of one another. We are handicapped accessible in rear. Please park in the rear of the building or on the street in front or the side of the building. Child care is available. Join us at 10:30 a.m. Sunday. For further information, please call 208-410-8904, email us at mvuuf83301@yahoo.com or visit magicvalleyUU.org. When calling, please state your name in order to be connected. School Supplies Ingathering at Ascension; Elwood at Ascension During August, the Episcopal Church of the Ascension, Twin Falls, will be gathering school supplies to be given to the Twin Falls School District for distribution to students as needed. Wagons for collecting the supplies are located in the gathering area of the church. The community is invited for Sunday worship of Holy Communion celebrated by the Reverend Fred Elwood. The service will begin 9 a.m. Sunday. A fellowship pot-luck will take place after the service. Childcare may be available though children are also welcome in the sanctuary for worship. Fr. Elwood was rector at Ascension during the 1980s and now lives with his wife, Alice, in Buhl, Idaho. He will be serving as regular supply clergy on first and third Sundays of each month while Ascension moves through the search process for a new rector. Services are online as well as in person. To view, go to Ascensions YouTube channel The Episcopal Church of the AscensionTwin Falls. Ascension Episcopal Church is handicapped accessible and is located at 371 Eastland Drive N. More information about Ascension can be found at ascension.episcopalidaho.org or 208-733-1248. If a group of Idaho politicians who probably had trouble getting through eighth grade biology are going to substitute their judgment for people intelligent enough to graduate from medical school, theyll have to get past U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland first. Garlands Justice Department sued the Gem State over its anti-abortion law Tuesday because it criminalizes life-saving health care for women. It may be Idahos law is no worse than any other state. But if Garland is singling out Idaho, it may be because no state matches its reputation in the arena of reproductive rights for acting without discretion, restraint or wisdom. Certainly that describes the current law, which is about to subject health care providers to the loss of their livelihood, a felony conviction and a prison sentence if they terminate a pregnancy anytime after the sixth week. That goes not just for a pregnancy terminated because the woman did not want a child. It includes victims of rape and incest who do not want to carry to term the progeny of their assailant. Also caught up in this web of political extremism are women who through no fault of their own and with no intention - must now sacrifice their own lives for that of their fetuses. Garland is relying on the Reagan-era Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, which requires hospitals that receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to deliver emergency care to whoever walks through their doors. But health care providers cant practice medicine based on education, experience and best practices if they operate in fear. Idahos law does not give them the benefit of the doubt. If these providers terminate a pregnancy, they may have to go to court to establish an affirmative defense. Who might not be at least tempted to hedge their bets, offer timid medical advice or temporarily delay treatment when threatened with the loss of livelihood, a costly and disruptive criminal prosecution or even a prison term in circumstances such as these: An ectopic pregnancy where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. The pregnancy is not viable, but left untreated, it could lead to life-threatening bleeding. The woman has been diagnosed with cancer. If she undergoes chemotherapy or radiation, the fetus will die. If she delays treatment to deliver the child, her cancer may kill her. A doctor facing criminal prosecution may be hesitant to provide unvarnished advice. Cervical cancer is even more dire. Treatment can produce the side effect of making the uterus incapable of continuing the pregnancy. Failure to treat it means the woman likely will die before or after she delivers the baby. The fetus has been diagnosed with anencephaly it has no brain. While it is physically capable of surviving to term, the child will die shortly after birth. Does a health care provider permit the emotional and physical torture of the woman for the remaining three or four months of her pregnancy? Preeclampsia, pregnancy-induced high blood pressure, puts the woman at risk of seizure and bleeding to death if the pregnancy is not ended. As Boise physician Kylie Cooper outlined in the Idaho Capital Sun, a womans water can break too early in her pregnancy, leaving with a life-threatening uterine infection. Antibiotics only delay the inevitable need to terminate the pregnancy. And even if she doesnt die from it, allowing the infection to fester will probably leave the woman unable to have other children. The woman has any number of chronic ailments a heart condition, liver failure, kidney failure or complications of diabetes that leave her physically incapable of surviving a pregnancy. If Garland does not prevail and Idahos anti-abortion law takes effect, some Idaho women your wife, your mother, your sister or your friend may die needlessly thanks to legislative interference and indifference. But unintended consequences occur when you elect to political office people who would prefer to play doctor rather than be one. By Trend The attack by a radical religious group on the Azerbaijani embassy in the UK requires a thorough investigation, Trend reports citing the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan. "In connection with the attack of extremists on the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in London on August 4 this year, we consider unacceptable any manifestation of violence against diplomatic missions and their personnel. Such acts of violation of the foundations and norms of international law are subject to universal condemnation and require a thorough investigation in order to bring their organizers to justice. We are confident in the resilience of the Azerbaijani people and express our readiness to provide all possible support in difficult situations for the fraternal state," the statement said. It is always time to prevent fraud and protect your Medicare number. Did someone call (or email or text) demanding your Medicare number? Dont share it. Report it. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission/FTC got almost a million reports about impersonation scammers: fake government agents, pretend grandkids, bogus sweethearts, and others who took almost $2.3 billion from people across the country. So far this year, impersonation scams are still the most-reported fraud. Scammers keep changing their stories to catch you off guard. Some scams may even ask you for your Medicare number. If anyone surprises you with a call, email, text or message on social media and asks for money or personal information no matter what story they tell it is likely a scam. Email scams continue falling into categories. Rewards/Free/You are a winner. Recent ones include: You get a chance to win a Best Buy $500 gift card. Hurry up, the number of prizes to be won is limited. Just answer the survey to ensure you are entered. Others include the same format you won or need to send survey information which will only take a minute. Costco, Home Depot, Sams Club, Shell gas card. Scam? Absolutely. Look at the email addresses for the key: Adam@ililii.basebastill.com & Adam@askvik.abilitarian.biz. All examples required "taking a survey" which would have exposed your device as well as other items of potential identity theft. Renewals/Expiration notices. Recent examples include: Urgent, your Norton (virus security) expired. Reactivate today to limit your risk. McCaff(another virus security system)-has expired. Confirmation needed so you are eligible for a 50% renewal discount. Thanks for using Nortons LifeLock Computer protection plan for the last 2 yrs. Your subscription has been auto-renewed and your account card has been debited by $589.78. In all examples, were any of these valid before receipt of the emails? Always look at every email address: Genarobotner6224@gmail.com; pecials@eml.cigar.com; f@campiqueity.com; & Admin@majedu.phaulthony.com. All are scams. Do not reach out as they will pressure you to provide details, like checking your credit card to ensure nothing was charged in error! WOW big red flag. Here are the golden rules to protect your identity and resources: Never give your personal information to anyone. Never click or go to a link unless you requested the information or reference from a trusted source. Never return a call or answer a call from an unknown number. Always read the email address and when in doubt, do a search for credibility. Always report any fraud to the Federal Trade Commission/FTC. Be sure to sign up to get your free alerts or to file a complaint, go to http://www.ftc.gov/complaint or call customer services 202-326-2222. And/or ReportFraud.ftc.gov and outline what the scam was/FTC specifically. All historic articles and training material are available on the Patient Financial Navigator Foundations webpage: PFNFinc.com. The Foundation is an Idaho-based, family foundation formed in 2017. 208-423-9036 for more information. (Do you have a topic for Healthcare Buzz? Send it to daylee1@mindspring.com. Thanks!) Two new, small fires were spotted in the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area near Mineral Peak early on Friday morning and suppression efforts are in action. The West Fork Gold Creek fire, located about 1 mile northwest of Mineral Peak Lookout, is producing smoldering and creeping fire behavior in thick timber. However the blaze is only about a quarter of an acre in size. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. No closures have been issued for the area as of Friday afternoon, although smoke may be visible. Due to the hot and dry conditions two firefighters were dropped at the fire by a helicopter and more are hiking into the area to assist with suppression actions. A helicopter will also be dropping water on the scene. The Mineral Peak fire is the second new blaze in the area and is burning about 150 yards east of the Mineral Peak Lookout. At 1/10 of an acre, the fire is smoldering and creeping in patchy vegetation contained in rocky, steep terrain. The lookout is not immediately threatened and no closures have been issued for the area. However, the Lolo National Forest is asking the public to avoid the lookout while firefighters respond. Stage 1 fire restrictions are now in effect for Lake County due to the high-rate of human-caused wildfires so far this season and limited access to suppression resources. Under the restrictions, building fires outside of a developed recreation site and operating motorized vehicles off roads or on trails are prohibited. Those who smoke are encouraged to do so in an enclosed building or vehicle, or while stopped in an area that is cleared of flammable materials. The restrictions will remain in effect until there is a significant long-term change in fire danger and orders are rescinded, wrote the Northern Rockies Coordinating Group in a press release Friday. Elmo 2 fire The Elmo fire grew by about 500 acres on Thursday and is now 21,182 acres in size and is 15% contained. A total of eight structures have been lost in the blaze. Much of the growth was spurred by high winds and low humidity. Firefighters were able to hold the fire south of Lake Mary Ronan. Aircraft support was critical to yesterdays success as scooper planes with nearby water sources supported crews in slowing the fire as it backed down hill towards Lake Mary Ronan, wrote the Northern Rockies Incident Management Team in its Friday update. Crews worked overnight Thursday to locate areas of heat and improve bulldozer lines. Gov. Greg Gianforte visited the fire on Friday and received a briefing from incident command. At more than 21,000 acres, the Elmo fire is the most significant fire Montana has faced this year and the top-priority fire in the state, Gianforte said. Im encouraged by the optimism of incident command as we head into the weekend and am grateful to the over 500 personnel responding to protect lives and property. A public meeting was scheduled for Friday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Elmo Powwow grounds. Indian Ridge fire The Indian Ridge fire located about three miles east of Indian Creek Campground in the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness recently grew to about 20 acres in size. The blaze w igasnited by lightning on July 7 in the Indian Creek drainage but became more active on Thursday, torching clumps of trees. Fire activity is expected to increase over the weekend, which will potentially produce visible smoke in the valley and impact air quality around Darby. No roads or trails have been closed and no structures are considered threatened. Moose fire The Moose fire, located just north of Salmon, Idaho, grew by about 3,500 acres to be about 67,500 acres in size as windy conditions with gusts exceeding 40 mph temporarily grounded air operations. The blaze was 11% contained as of Friday, down from 20% the day prior. The steep terrain and dry conditions were expected to continue posing challenges for firefighters, as Friday brought light winds from the west and high temperatures reaching 90 degrees. However, better weather is expected over the weekend with less wind, which should allow crews to extend and strengthen containment lines. No new evacuation orders have been issued, but a shelter is available at the Salmon Valley Baptist Church in Salmon and can assist with placement of pets. A pilot car system on Salmon River Road is still directing two-way traffic between North Fork and Panther Creek. The system is only available for residents, river permit holders and river shuttles. Hog Trough fire The blaze in the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area grew 22 acres in size from Thursdays report and is now measuring 771 acres that is 9% contained. Despite Thursdays red-flag warning conditions and gusts up to 25 mph crews were able to hold the fire west of the 5071 road. As of Friday, the red-flag warning is no longer in effect, but possible thunderstorms over the weekend could increase fire behavior with potential for growth due to increased winds. A new fourth-grade student textbook published by the Montana Historical Society, "Montana: A History of Our Home," is being offered to rural schools through various grants. The 96-page textbook offers a quick tour through 13,000 years of Montana history. Students will learn about Montana's 12 tribal nations and seven reservations. The textbook also offers insight into the immigrants who move to Montana in the 19th and 20th centuries as well as the trapping, mining, logging, farming and ranching industries that brought them to Montana. A grant from the Steele-Reese Foundation will make it so schools more than 40 miles from an urban center (defined as Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula) are eligible to apply for funds to reimburse the cost of purchasing the textbooks. The school will be responsible for shipping costs. Selected schools will be required to submit receipts showing their purchase to the Montana Historical Society for reimbursement. To apply, school officials need to complete their applications by midnight on Aug. 31. Applications can be found at bit.ly/3PWhVp2. MTHS will review applications and announce decision by Sept. 12. If there are more requests that can be fulfilled, MTHS will give preference to small schools to make sure that the most rural schools are served first. A secondary criterion will be how many hours the teacher will dedicate to Montana history. For more information, contact Kohl at 406-444-4740 or mkohl@mt.gov. KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) Planned Parenthood quietly opened another abortion clinic in Kansas in the lead up to a decisive statewide vote in favor of protecting abortion access. The Wyandotte Health Center in Kansas City, Kansas, had long been in the works but opened with little notice this summer as neighboring Missouri banned nearly all abortions in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court's June ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. Other nearby states took similar actions. Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, highlighted the Kansas City clinic while discussing abortion access in a conference call this week, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported Friday. The fact that that gives us one more location in Kansas to see patients to support them is really critical at this moment because were realistic that this region cannot support the number of patients who need care," she said after Kansas voters rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution declaring that it grants no right to abortion. It brings the number of clinics in the state to five, three of which are operated by Planned Parenthood. The clinic was supposed to open earlier, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to construction delays, Planned Parenthood Great Plains spokesperson Anamarie Rebori Simmons said in an email. In the midst of temperatures reaching the mid-90s, the 82nd annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally began at full throttle on Friday afternoon. Downtown Sturgis' transformation from a small South Dakota town of less than 7,000 to the legendary gathering of motorcyclists seemed to be complete. Motorcycles packed downtown in parking areas on Main Street labeled "motorcycle parking only this block." Vendors selling souvenirs and motorcycle gear lined the streets and occupied storefronts. Tattoo shops were open for business. One rally-goer, Chuck Pedden, 67, of Cincinnati, waited in the shade under a tent at Sturgis Rally Point drinking a beer as his wife was at a shop getting flowers added to an existing hummingbird tattoo. The day officially kicked off around 12:30 p.m. with the 82nd annual Opening Ceremonies Parade on Main Street. Dancers from the Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company in traditional regalia started the parade. The remainder included one thing: motorcycles of all colors, makes and models. The Budweiser Clydesdales were missing from the parade, but Budweiser and its local distributor, Quality Brands of the Black Hills, are the official malt beverage sponsor of the rally. Radio personality D. Ray Knight from Real Rock Fox 100.3 welcomed the crowd just before 1 p.m. to the opening ceremonies at the Sturgis Rally Point on Harley-Davidson Way and introduced Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen. A color guard presented the American flag, and Carstensens niece sang the national anthem. After the national anthem, Carstensen invited the crowd to join him in a prayer. He thanked God for Harleys for open roads and for people to show each other love. After prayer, Carstensen welcomed this years rally grand marshal and former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace to the stage, who announced the official start of this years rally. As we say in NASCAR, lets drop the green flag on this baby, Wallace said, who noted hes attended the rally for 18 years. Carstensen presented Wallace with a brick bearing his name before allowing the rallys sponsors to speak, including representatives from Budweiser, Custom Chrome, GorillaPro, Fox 100.3 and The Homeslice Group, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, RumbleOn and RideNow, and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The mayor said the city has created the Sturgis Rally Charities Endowment and hopes to be able to contribute $50,000-$100,000 to needs and organizations in the community from interest gleaned from the endowment. He said a local donor is willing to match up to $100,000 in donations. He then yielded the stage to Ronnie Preston, who is Apache, from the Woodland Sky Native American Dance Company. Ive had the opportunity to travel all over this great Mother Earth and hear wonderful stories of our culture, our people, and to share it with everybody. Although we are stereotyped, that is not who we are. We are still here. This is our culture. These are our stories, Preston said. Preston told stories leading up to the dances. Explaining the meaning of the grass dance, he told of how young men would use their feet to stomp the prairie grass down to make way for lodges and said the grass is referred to as mother earths hair. Dancers also performed the eagle dance, paying tribute to the eagle, a significant creature in many Indigenous cultures. We wore our eagle feathers then, and we still wear them now, Preston said. Preston told the Journal he has traveled with the group for six years, and they perform all over the country. Its more or less just to share with people, so that when they engage with Native people at a powwow or a gathering, they have an understanding of what it is that theyre looking at, he said. Michelle Reed, manager and co-founder of the group, said the members who performed on Friday represented four tribes: Ojibwe, Menominee, Lakota and Apache. Reed said she wanted to educate people in a way that would draw people into Native American stories, in a more theatrical way. I felt like they really took it in and love the story, Reed said of the crowd. Warning: Spoilers ahead for "Stranger Things" season four. We've rounded up all the burning questions left after the final episode of "Stranger Things 4." The mysteries left include the identity of Eleven's father, and why Will was Henry's first target. Why did Henry have supernatural powers? Was he born with them, or were they acquired by some accident? Young Henry Creel in a "Stranger Things" season four flashback. Netflix Earlier in the series, we were told that Eleven's powers were the result of an experiment done with her mother that included drugs like LSD and time spent in sensory deprivation tanks when she was pregnant. But in the flashbacks to young Henry's life, he simply says that he became aware of his abilities when he was a young boy. So where did they come from? Something else supernatural? A chemical experiment his father was a part of during World War II? Is there a link between Hopper's experience in Vietnam and Victor Creel's time fighting in World World II? The Creel Family in "Stranger Things." Netflix This season, "Stranger Things" revealed that Hopper was making Agent Orange (a deadly chemical weapon used in the Vietnam War) as a teenager. In his monologue to Alexei, Hopper says he believed his daughter's illness was the result of Agent Orange, given that he handled it so often without any protection. There seems to be a link between Eleven's mom getting experimented on by the government, Hopper's daughter dying as a result of government-led chemical warfare, and Victor Creel's son manifesting mysterious powers. We could be wrong, but it'd be awesome to get more answers about why Hopper's backstory became more relevant this season again. Speaking of Hopper and his daughter, was Sara's death connected to Hawkins Lab? Sara and Hopper in a flashback shown in season one of "Stranger Things." Netflix As we noted in our breakdown of the details you might have missed in "Stranger Things" season four, the flashback to Eleven's attempted escape from Hawkins Lab shows her running down a familiar flight of stairs. Hopper was in that same stairwell when he was grieving over his daughter's death in a hospital room. Does that mean Sara died inside HNL? This season we got the reveal that Hopper believes that Sara died due to birth defects related to Agent Orange. But why would that have landed her in the secret hospital lab in Hawkins? Story continues Insider asked Harbour back in 2017 if he could tell us more about this connection between Sara's hospital room and the HNL. "Hmmmm [laughing] I can not," Harbour said. "But yes, it is the same location. So that's interesting. Or it's a similar location. But there's actually another thing you'll notice which is that there's a stuffed animal lion that appears in Eleven's room when he breaks into the lab and finds that room, and it also appears in Castle Byers, and it also appears on Sara's lap." For a full breakdown of all the connections between Hopper, his daughter Sara, and Eleven, read our full report here. Who is Eleven's dad? Is it Brenner? Or Henry? Were one of them also the biological father of the other kids in the lab? Eleven (played by Millie Bobby Brown) in season one. Netflix We know all about Eleven's mother, Terry Ives. But so far "Stranger Things" has yet to tell fans anything about Eleven's father. Is it literally Dr. Brenner? If so, that makes his experiments and behavior even more disturbing, given the torture and emotional abuse the children suffered inside Hawkins National Lab. And if it's not Brenner, then will we learn who the real father was sometime before the series comes to an end? Maybe it's really Henry (who is about 25 years older than Eleven), in which case "Stranger Things" is setting up a Luke Skywalker/Darth Vader-style showdown for the fifth and final season. Why does Henry take people's eyes when he attacks them? Max in season four after she was attacked by Henry. Netflix One of the strangest details about the gruesome way Henry (aka Vecna or One) murders people is by sucking their eyes into their heads, leaving blank and bloody sockets behind. What's up with that? Does killing people in this ritualistic way somehow make him stronger? Or give him more insight into Hawkins? Why was Will the first person targeted by the Demogorgon (via Henry, who we know now was lurking in the Upside Down)? Noah Schnapp as Will Byers on season one of "Stranger Things." Netflix We know Will happened to live close to the Hawkins Lab and was also struggling emotionally in his life before he was pulled into the Upside Down. Not only was Will bullied at school by the kids we saw picking on Dustin, Lucas, and Mike, but in the pilot episode, Joyce says that Will's dad was emotionally abusive towards him as well. Maybe it's simply that this extra sensitivity made Will an ideal victim for Henry. But is there a larger reason behind Will's connection to the Upside Down that made him the target for Henry's plot? Speaking of Will, how did Eleven recognize him back in season one? She knew what he looked like before any of the other boys told her about him. Will and Eleven in the Void in "Stranger Things" season one. Netflix / Stranger Things When Mike brought Eleven to his house, she saw a photo of Will and recognized him. Mike hadn't even mentioned that Will was missing, but Eleven somehow knew not only who Will was but where he was. How? When would she have seen him before? There's still a lot unknown about the time between Eleven re-opening the Gate to the Upside Down and her escape into Hawkins and we want some answers! Why was the Upside Down suddenly stuck in time from the night Will disappeared? Has it changed since season one, when Joyce was able to manipulate the lights? Joyce in "Stranger Things" season one. Netflix In "Stranger Things" season four, Nancy realizes that the Upside Down is an exact mimic of the real Hawkins but says it's frozen on the day Will went missing in 1983 (November 6). That means any changes made in Hawkins since that date aren't reflected in the alternate dimension. But that's not how the Upside Down worked in the past. Joyce was able to put up the lights and letters in Hawkins and have them reflected in the Upside Down immediately, allowing Will to see the letters and communicate with her by selecting lights over letters to spell out "R-U-N." So as far as we can tell, the Upside Down used to mirror real-world changes in real-time. But now it's not? How come? Did it perhaps revert back to that date for some reason? Is there a bigger connection between Henry and Will's disappearance than we realize? What was Henry's memory from the past that made him sad but angry? Jamie Campbell Bower stars in "Stranger Things" season four. Netflix While manipulating Eleven into helping him, Henry advises her to use a memory from her past that made her both sad and angry. He says that "One" (himself) learned how to become more powerful by tapping into a memory like that. But what was his earliest sad memory? In his flashbacks, we don't see anything particularly bad happening to young Henry Creel. Perhaps there's more to his backstory (and the revelation of how he got his powers) than meets the eye. Where is Kali, aka "008"? Will she return to help Eleven somehow? Kali in season two of "Stranger Things." Netflix In "Stranger Things" season two, Eleven met her "lost sister" Kali Prasad. She's tattooed with "008" on her wrist and has illusion powers that seem similar to what Henry can do. Some people may be inclined to think that Kali is simply gone from the story forever, but then why would the "Stranger Things" crew go through the trouble of putting a reference to her in the very first episode of season four? As we outlined in our breakdown of the best details you might have missed in "Stranger Things" this season, Brenner's crossword puzzle included the name Kali as an answer. So will she come back into the story for season five? Her powers combined with Eleven's could be very useful in defeating Henry once and for all. Why does the Upside Down look so different in 1983 versus the wasteland we saw when Henry first arrived? Henry and his Mind Flayer creation in the season four finale of "Stranger Things." Netflix In earlier seasons, it seemed like the Upside Down was simply a mirror dimension to Earth and everything inside was the same as the real world just creepier and populated with scary creatures instead of humans. But this season we learned that Henry was first sent to this strange dimension by Eleven. And when Henry arrived, the landscape was desolate with a yellow tinge not the red/blue hues we're used to seeing in the Upside Down. So how did it transform? Did Henry himself create a fake model of the town of Hawkins, if that's where he last lived? One fan theory posits that Will might have been the one to Hawkins-ify the Upside Down. If so, does that mean Will can undo parts of the Upside Down? Why are Henry's hands different sizes now? Henry in his "Vecna" form in "Stranger Things" season four. Netflix This is likely an inconsequential detail about the creepy physical form Henry has taken on, but we were left wondering if there's a reason why his left hand is so much larger and scarier than his right hand. Why did Henry let Nancy go, of all people? Nancy in season four of "Stranger Things." Netflix Nancy does seem to be the de facto leader of all the teens and young adults in "Stranger Things," so maybe Henry decided to use her as the vehicle for his threat. But we wonder if there may be another important reason why Nancy survived without so much as a scratch after so many other people were killed or injured this season. What monster did Henry show Nancy? And is her vision of Karen, Holly, and Mike dying going to come true? Karen and Holly Wheeler in season four of "Stranger Things." Netflix Nancy says she saw a "giant creature with a gaping mouth" when Vecna took over her mind. She's seen the Demogorgon, demodogs, demobats, and Mind Flayer, so if it was one of those creatures, she would have just named it. What new horrors are in store for Hawkins? What other monsters? And what about her vision of her mom, Holly, and Mike all dead? That didn't happen in the "earthquake" during the final moments of the season, so is that fated to happen in season five? What happened to Dr. Owens? Dr. Sam Owens (Paul Raiser) on season four of "Stranger Things." Netflix Last we saw Dr. Owens, he was handcuffed to a pole in the abandoned military base. Was he left alive? Did his associates rescue him? One of the agents helping Owens told Hopper that the doctor was just indisposed, so we're hoping that means he isn't dead yet. Wheres Sullivan and the rest of the government and military personnel who want to kill Eleven? Sullivan in season four of "Stranger Things." Netflix Eleven narrowly escaped the assassination attempt carried out by Sullivan and his soldiers, but we doubt she'll be left alone for much longer. Will the military threat resurface in season five? Or will they have realized that she wasn't responsible for the disasters plaguing Hawkins? How did the Russians manage to trap part of the Mind Flayer particles? What were they doing with the Demogorgon they had opened on an operating table? The screaming Demogorgon in season four of "Stranger Things." Netflix The Russian scientists operating out of a prison not only had a live Demogorgon they were operating on, but had also managed to contain the cloud-like particles that Henry used to create the Mind Flayer. How did they do that? And what have they learned about how the particles work? Where did Dimitri and Yuri go after taking the Americans back to the US? Netflix In the opening scene of episode nine, you can hear Murray in the background telling Dimitri that he would fit in Indiana. Did he move there, since he's now a wanted traitor in the Soviet Union? And what about Yuri? How did Eleven bring Max back from the dead? Eleven, Lucas, and Max in the season four finale of "Stranger Things." Netflix Henry hadn't managed to complete the ritualistic killing of Max (her eyes were still intact, and one of her arms was left unbroken), but she seemed to succumb to her injuries after a few minutes. Eleven saw Max die while she was in the Void that black liminal space where Eleven is able to use her powers to see people far away. But Eleven refused to give up and seemed to be preparing to use her powers to save Max. The screen cut to black, and we later learn that Max's heartbeat stopped for a long time before starting again. This appears to be Eleven's doing, but the show hasn't yet explained to us how or why this happened. What did Henry mean when he said the kids he killed are "still with him"? Does that mean Max is somehow just trapped with Henry? Henry and Eleven. Netflix In the massacre flashbacks, Henry tells Eleven that the dead children are still with him, but he doesn't explain what that means. We also saw the bodies of his Hawkins victims inside his mind lair. Is he somehow holding people's consciousness hostage after destroying their physical bodies? If so, does that mean Max's consciousness could possibly be reunited with her body? Is anyone going to open the letters Max wrote when she thought she was about to die? Max surrounded by her closest friends in "Stranger Things" season four. Netflix In the first part of "Stranger Things" season four, Max realized she was being stalked by Henry and decided to write letters to her mom and closest friends in case she died. As far as we know, all those people still have the sealed letters from Max that she said to read after she was gone. Though she hasn't technically died yet, will any of those people decide to read the letters? Could there be clues inside that will help Eleven rescue her consciousness? Where are Erica, Lucas, and Dustin's parents? They were involved in the town hall but were nowhere to be found in the finale. The parents of "Stranger Things." Netflix This season was the closest the parents came to actually understanding all the dangerous adventures their children have been up to for the last year. But even after a dramatic town hall scene and extensive conversations with the Hawkins police, the parents of all the kids seemed to disappear from the plot. Will we finally see the parents get involved next season? Or are they truly just meant as a stand-in for the real neglectful parenting methodologies of the 1980s? How did everyone else react to Eddie's death? And where did they put his body? A scene from "Stranger Things" season four. Netflix Eddie's death was one of the most heartbreaking moments of season four, primarily due to the incredible acting performances given by Joseph Quinn (Eddie) and Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin). But we didn't see any of the other kids or teens react to his death, since they were all elsewhere in the Upside Down or in the real world when it happened. How did Steve and Nancy and Robin feel about it? Or Mike and Lucas? Not to mention, what the heck did they do with the body? Is Eddie's body still in the Upside Down? What did Erica find under Lucas' bed? Lucas and Erica Sinclair. Netflix To end on a lighter note, we hope there's a payoff in season five for the moment when Erica threatened her older brother with an embarrassing reveal. So what is Lucas keeping under his bed? Something scandalous, or really nerdy? Hopefully, we'll find out the answer to some of these questions in the next couple of years. In the meantime, read everything the Duffer Brothers have said so far about the fifth and final season here. Read the original article on Insider A Texas jury on Thursday ordered conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay more than $4 million in compensatory damages to the parents of a 6-year-old boy who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, marking the first time the Infowars host has been held financially liable for repeatedly claiming the deadliest school shooting in U.S. history was a hoax. The Austin jury must still decide how much the Infowars host must pay in punitive damages to Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse Lewis was among the 20 children and six educators who were killed in the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut. More from The Hollywood Reporter The parents had sought at least $150 million in compensation for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Jones attorney asked the jury to limit damages to $8 one dollar for each of the compensation charges they are considering and Jones himself said any award over $2 million would sink us. It likely wont be the last judgment against Jones over his claims that the attack was staged in the interests of increasing gun controls. A Connecticut judge has ruled against him in a similar lawsuit brought by other victims families and an FBI agent who worked on the case. The Texas award could set a marker for other cases against Jones and underlines the financial threat hes facing. It also raises new questions about the ability of Infowars which has been banned from YouTube, Spotify and Twitter for hate speech to continue operating, although the companys finances remain unclear. Jones conceded during the trial that the attack was real and that he was wrong to have lied about it. But Heslin and Lewis told jurors that an apology wouldnt suffice and called on them to make Jones pay for the years of suffering he has put them and other Sandy Hook families through. Story continues Jones media company Free Speech Systems, which is Infowars parent company, filed for bankruptcy during the two-week trial. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. WAUKESHA In the backyard of Republican candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch, former President Donald Trump told a Waukesha crowd four days before the primary election that she "does not have what it takes" to defeat Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers. Trump landed in southeastern Wisconsin on Friday to add pressure to a tight primary race between Kleefisch and construction pipeline executive Tim Michels, who is endorsed by Trump. Republican candidate for governor Tim Michels, left, appears with former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally for Michels at the Waukesha County Fairgrounds in Waukesha on Friday. The former president hosted a rally in the Waukesha County fairgrounds to stump for Michels but also used the opportunity to continue to promote his false claims about his 2020 election loss in Wisconsin that has shaped the gubernatorial primary, pushing candidates to call for the abolition of the state elections commission over allegations of voter fraud that have not been proven in the two years Trump has made them. More: Donald Trump returns to Wisconsin trying to leave his mark on the Republican gubernatorial primary Though his mission was to criticize Kleefisch and promote Michels, Trump leveled his strongest condemnation at Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who has repeatedly refused Trumps calls to overturn election results, and revealed to the crowd that the former Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Vos hired to review the 2020 election has endorsed Vos' primary opponent. The rally was held in an area of the state that was a key ingredient to victories Kleefisch and former Gov. Scott Walker landed before Trump was elected president in 2016. But Trump told the suburban Milwaukee crowd Kleefisch was leading a "campaign of falsehoods" and was a "handpicked candidate of the failed establishment." More: Five takeaways from Fridays Trump-Michels rally in Waukesha "Kleefisch complains about lobbyists but her husband is one of the biggest lobbyists in Madison," Trump said, referring to Kleefisch's husband, Joel Kleefisch, a lobbyist and former state lawmaker, and echoing a criticism of Kleefisch that Michels leveled earlier in the rally. Story continues "First Tim Michels dragged Rebeccas daughter into this race for an endorsement, and now hes personally attacking her husband," said Kleefisch campaign spokesman Alec Zimmerman, referring to a meeting between Trump and Michels during which Trump said he was not happy about a tweet showing Kleefisch's daughter attending homecoming dance with the son of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Brian Hagedorn, who was a swing vote in a number of lawsuits Trump pushed to overturn his election loss. "Perhaps thats acceptable in Connecticut, but the people of Wisconsin expect better. Its clear that Tim Michels campaign is desperate and cant be trusted. Michels has split time in recent years between his home in Waukesha County and a mansion outside of New York City. Trump told the crowd to tie their discontent with the Wisconsin Elections Commission to Kleefisch, who was lieutenant governor when Republican lawmakers and Walker passed legislation to create the commission in 2015. In his case for Michels, praised Michels Corp.'s work building tunnels and pipelines in complicated projects. "This guy is big-time. In fact, I said, 'Are you sure you want to do this?'" Trump said. State Rep. Tim Ramthun is also seeking the Republican nomination in Tuesday's primary. Former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who is overseeing a taxpayer-funded review of the 2020 election for Vos, led the crowd in prayer at the start of the rally, asking God to protect the former president. Former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman acknowledges the crowd before he speaks as former President Donald Trump held a campaign rally for Republican candidate for governor Tim Michels at the Waukesha County Fairgrounds in Waukesha on Friday. His praise of Trump came after repeatedly claiming throughout the 13-month review that it was a nonpartisan endeavor. Much of the rally targeted Vos, with his primary opponent, Adam Steen, speaking first, followed by state Rep. Janel Brandtjen, who leads the Assembly's elections committee and has clashed with Vos over his refusal to decertify the 2020 election, an impossible endeavor. More: A who's who guide to the Republican review of Wisconsin's 2020 presidential election "No matter how you slice it, something seriously rotten is going on in Madison," Steen told the crowd. "He stopped listening to people long ago and he wants to keep the Wisconsin Election Commission intact. But worst of all, he continuously obstructs the real efforts to find out what really happened in 2020, said Steen, who also wants to take the illegal and impossible act of overturning the results of the last presidential election. Trump on Friday revealed Gableman has endorsed Steen despite being hired by Vos. Steen told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he and Gableman planned to knock on doors over the weekend. Gableman declined to comment. My opponent and those who endorse him continue to focus on the extreme and unconstitutional notion that we can overturn the 2020 election, Vos said in a statement. More: 'An incompetent circus': Michael Gableman's 2020 election review reaches 1 year and the $1 million mark with little to show While they focus on the impossible, I will continue to focus my campaign on the conservative principles of fighting for lower taxes, enacting real election reforms, holding criminals accountable, and giving parents more control of their kids education. Adam Steen, Robin Vos primary opponent for the 63rd Assembly District seat speaks as former President Donald Trump held a campaign rally for Republican candidate for governor Tim Michels at the Waukesha County Fairgrounds in Waukesha on Friday. Trump endorsed Steen on Thursday in an aggressive move that elevated a one-sided feud Trump has pushed for more than a year to pressure Vos to overturn his election loss to President Joe Biden. The crowd began descending on the Waukesha County Expo Fairgrounds early Friday and much of them stayed for a full 12 hours when Trump took the stage at around 8:40 p.m. Dan Pfeiffer drove from Naperville, Illinois, to see the former president. Pfeiffer, who said he once lived in Madison, said he hopes to see another governor like Scott Walker, who has endorsed Kleefisch. But he was also impressed by Michels, who received handshakes and warm welcomes from attendees in the taco line. If he could vote in Wisconsin, Pfeiffer said, hed be leaning toward Michels. Walker and Trump, both are great conservatives," Pfeiffer said. "Whose endorsement would I weigh more? Probably Trump. He leads the Republican Party. Isaac Yu of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck. Republican candidate for governor Tim Michels appears on stage before he speaks as former President Donald Trump held a campaign rally for Michels at the Waukesha County Fairgrounds in Waukesha on Friday. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Donald Trump goes after Kleefisch, Vos in Waukesha rally for Michels Tucked away on the back side of the Merino Mill in Mooresville, a company has been plugging away for years, working hard to expand their impact in the housing market in a way that many in the industry might overlook. PetScreening, founded by John Bradford in 2017, provides rental properties all over the country with a background check, of sorts, with the goal of allowing those companies to become more pet inclusive. Their work growing from a start-up to a multimillion dollar company in a short span has attracted all kinds of positive headlines for PetScreening, including being named to Charlotte Business Journals Fast 50 list in 2021 as well as being named one of North Carolinas Top 10 tech start-ups to watch in 2019. I just pinch myself every day when I come in here, Bradford said. Its been so fun to see this company grow from what it was six years ago. All of that attention caught the eye of U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry, who paid a visit to the companys headquarters on Wednesday. We really appreciate (Congressman McHenry) coming by to visit us today, Bradford said. I think its a great sign that he supports the small businesses in the area and that he doesnt just talk the talk, he comes out here to meet with us. I just think thats really cool. PetScreening was one of the congressmans four stops to Iredell County businesses on Wednesday and had been on his radar to visit for a while with scheduling conflicts preventing the meeting over the last few months. During the meeting, Bradford not only presented the congressman with what the company does and how they plan to continue to grow, they also detailed one of their initiatives that they were hoping to get some help with. The companys PS4DS program, or PetScreening for Down Syndrome, aims to help those with Down Sydrome find and adopt their pet of choice and PetScreening paying for up to $1,000 of the costs associated with adopting from a shelter. The PS4DS program covers the adoption and rehoming fees, cost of pet supplies, training services and veterinary care for people with Down Sydrome that are looking to adopt a new pet. Unfortunately, PetScreening has struggled to this point to get the word out about their program. Were really just looking for people that we can help find their new animal friend, Bradford said. We thought that bringing in (Congressman McHenry) would help us better connect to those out there that are looking to adopt a pet. For more information about PetScreening, and PS4DS, visit their website at https://www.petscreening.com/. Special service Beautifully Broken, a special community prayer and healing service calling on Jesus for healing of the community, country and nation, will be held at New Life Missionary Baptist Church, 571 S. Main St., Troutman, on Aug. 20 at 10 a.m. Beauty For Ashes Ministrys Angela Byers will be the host of the event, and Sharnetta Clark-Gordon will serve as the emcee. During the service, the Rev. Dr. Russell Alexander, pastor of Hunters and Morrows Chapel United Methodist churches, will speak, and Will and Adrienne Beatty of Columbia, South Carolina, will bring special music. Camp meeting Morrows Chapel UMC, 1536 Brawley School Road, will be celebrating Camp Meeting Sunday on Aug. 7 during the 11 a.m. worship service. The Rev. Dr. Russell Alexander, pastor of the local congregation, will share the message during the special service. All are invited to attend. Handbell auditions Do you enjoy hearing handbells? Do you enjoy hearing them around the holidays? Even better, do you enjoy playing handbells, especially around the holidays? Bells of Lake Norman will have auditions for advanced handbell ringers Aug. 9 for the upcoming holiday season. If you or someone you know is an experienced ringer, and you/they might enjoy playing advanced music, which may be different from what you may play at church, then this could be your opportunity. The Bells of Lake Norman are also scheduling performances in November and December. If you are interested in ringing with the group or hosting them, contact bellsoflakenorman@gmail.com for more information. Calling volunteers A volunteer meeting is planned for Aug. 16 at 6:30 p.m. for all Felicity Manor volunteer care teams, volunteers and others interested in learning more about the future residential care facility for widowed women. The meeting will be held in downtown Mooresville at the United Way Office, 404 N. Main St. Go Hawaiian The South Iredell Senior Center, 202 N. Church St., Mooresville, has some fun planned for Aug. 12. From 5:30-6:30 p.m. a Hawaiian Nights covered dish social has been planned followed by a Hawaiian Nights dance from 6-8 p.m. Put on your Hawaiian shirts or hula skirts and dancing shoes and have fun. Open house The Christian Mission was founded in 1939 and therefore this year will be the 83rd year the organization has served the community. To celebrate, August has been set aside to celebrate 83 years of Gifts of Love and Dignity (GLAD) to the people they serve. During the month, the mission will be reaching out to faith partners in the service area as well as the general community to offer information about their services. All are invited to stop by the mission Aug. 25 between 4 and 6 p.m. for a GLAD open house to celebrate their 83rd year, take a tour of the mission, enjoy light refreshments and get a better feel for why the Mooresville Christian Mission is an important fixture in the community. For additional information, contact Diane Smith, program coordinator, at dsmith@ourchristianmission.org. Donations to support the organization can be made at https://ourchristianmission.org/glad-month/. Support groups Lake Norman Regional Medical Center is hosting two monthly support groups with both meeting Aug. 17. The Cancer Support Group meets at 11:45 a.m. in hospital classrooms A and B. This group is open to everyone, with registration encouraged but not required. A free lunch is served. For more information, visit www.lnrmc.com/class-events. The Lake Norman Multiple Myeloma Support Group meets from 6-8 p.m., also in the rooms A and B. It is a free program open to everyone. Registration is not required. For details about either group, call Mitzie McCurdy, director of Community Outreach, at 704-660-4859, or email her at Mitzie.McCurdy@LNRMC.com. Family reunion The Isenhour family reunion, which has been a longstanding tradition for family and friends to gather, will be held in Mooresville at Shearer Presbyterian Church, 684 Presbyterian Road, on Aug. 13. This 140th gathering will begin around 11:30 a.m. with a short business meeting and devotional to follow at 12:30 p.m., with a covered dish meal beginning at approximately 1 p.m. Please feel free to bring a dish and come and celebrate with the family as they begin the next 140 years and counting. Those having questions or needing additional information can look on the Isenhour Reunion Facebook account, by contacting Kevin Johnson by email at kevindjohnson@yahoo.com or by calling 704-662-8638. Blood drives Both Davis and Lake Norman Regional Medical Centers will be hosting American Red Cross blood drives during August. Davis Regional will host a blood drive in the mobile unit Aug. 10 from 12:30-5 p.m. in the front parking lot at 218 Old Mocksville Road, Statesville. Call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter Davis to schedule an appointment. On Aug. 24, Lake Norman Regional will host a blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the mobile unit, outside the Medical Pavilion at Lake Norman, located at 131 Medical Park Road, in Mooresville. To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter LNRMC. Azerbaijan initiates criminal case on attack on Azerbaijani embassy in UK 06 August 2022 [16:25] - By Trend Criminal case was initiated on the fact of attack on Azerbaijani embassy in UK, Trend reports citing Azerbaijani Prosecutor General's Office. Will be updated Views: 700 Highlands College, Media Training Center and Accelerate Montana recently formed a new partnership to offer rapid training courses designed to take advantage of film production job opportunities coming to the Mining City. Together, the groups will offer film and media rapid training courses intended to provide Montanans with the skills most needed by film production companies, and to help train interested Montanans to become set ready. The training will take place Aug. 13-14 at Highlands College, 25 Basin Creek Road. This will be the first time a film and media rapid training course will be offered in Butte. Lynn-Wood Fields, CEO of Media Training Center and coordinator for Accelerate Montana, launched the Media Training Center. I am beyond excited to partner with Highlands College, Accelerate Montana and the community of Butte on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 13-14, with the introduction of these courses, she said in a press release. Highlands College is excited to work with Accelerate Montana to support film productions coming to Butte, said Karen VanDaveer, dean of Highlands College. This rapid training course gives community members an opportunity for employment within the film production industry. This partnership exemplifies a community and industry working together to make a positive impact. There will be three courses offered over what should be a busy weekend. The first, Introduction to Production is a two-day course that will focus on the training needed to become a production assistant and will examine the film lingo, equipment names, paperwork, and walkie-talkie protocol. The two-day course will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Sunday, trainees will be able to shadow a camera team as they film video materials and get hands-on experience. The cost is $100. The second course offering is the Covid Compliance Officer" (CCO) training. The COVID-19 Compliance Officer (CCO) is a new position to many film and production sets and is both necessary and in high demand. The CCO will work with the set medic to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or other airborne diseases by using CDC-recommended measures. This half-day course is offered on Sunday, Aug. 14, from 9 a.m. to noon. The cost is $75. Any major film production requires extras and those filming in Montana are no exception. Therefore, the third course to be offered over the weekend is training in how to become a film extra. This half-day course will be offered on Saturday, Aug. 14, from 1 to 4 p.m. The course will discuss how to apply, what to expect, and how to continue working as an extra. The cost is $75. A standard rate for a single day of background work is between $100 and $200. Upon course completion, participants will receive a Course Completion Certificate. Additionally, participants will receive a link to valuable resources, including the class syllabus, examples of production company protocols, county COVID-19 guidelines, and much more. Participants will be given the opportunity to be listed in the Media Training Center database, a resource productions filming in Montana who need to source talent use. Trainee scholarships are available from Career Futures depending on eligibility. Contact Career Futures: 406-723-9101. To register for the courses, visit: https://mediatrainingcenter.co/ When the 1973 abortion rights ruling Roe v. Wade was overturned in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on June 24, people all over the country, and world, took notice, and Butte is no exception. There was an impromptu protest at the Butte-Silver Bow Courthouse that day, and the following Monday, about 20 people attended a meeting at the Imagine Butte Resource Center to organize a demonstration in the Fourth of July Parade. Around 200 people showed up to protest at the Butte courthouse June 30 the Thursday before the parade and later headed to the IBRC to make signs. At the parade, most people were supportive, although there were some people flipping them off, participants said. Since then, there have been protests at the courthouse every Thursday from 5 to 6 p.m., with some even coming out in the rain to protest the overturning of Roe. Butte resident Joan Stennick whos been organizing the protests, called abortion rights a bellwether of American democracy. Id feel ashamed if I didnt represent that at a time like this, she said. Toni Seccomb of Butte, whos attended some of the protests, said she had a friend in Idaho whose fetus died while she was four or five months pregnant. Although this was before Roe was overturned, it was past when women in Idaho could legally seek an abortion. The pregnancy was wanted, but it can be unsafe for a woman to wait for the pregnancy to deliver on its own with a second trimester loss, according to UC Davis Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. This is because of a high chance of significant bleeding when a pregnancy in the second trimester delivers on its own at home, and in the case a woman doesnt deliver on her own for four weeks or more, women are at a much higher risk for significant bleeding if she waits for a long time after the fetal demise to deliver the pregnancy, the website states. Lucy Hahm, whos attended the protests and marched in the Butte's Independence Day Parade, said shes been fighting since (she) was 16 years old. Women have been bumped back, she said. Its like were fighting for the right to vote all over again. Calvin Murphy said that with Buttes rich history of organizing, it makes sense to him that protests are enduring. Its something I never thought would actually come to the state level, Murphy said of abortion rights. There are so many things I didnt speak out about and make my views known, but this is kind of the final straw. If not now, when? LOCAL TRENDS Tina Randall, the community health division director of the Butte-Silver Bow Health Department, said the family planning clinic hasnt seen any changes in services or demographics since the overturning of Roe. Randall said when the family planning clinic refers patients interested in sterilization like tubal ligation, theyre referred to Pintler Family Medicine in Anaconda, which also provides services at the Southwest Montana Community Health Center. St. James Healthcare doesnt perform vasectomies or sterilizations because its guided by the Catholic Churchs Ethical Religious Directives. Catholic hospitals are prohibited from providing direct sterilization under the ERDs, issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and enforced by local bishops, a spokesperson for St. James said. Procedures that induce sterility are permitted when their direct effect is the cure or alleviation of a present and serious pathology, and a simpler treatment is not available. The ERDs are designed to enhance and protect the dignity of the human person and the sanctity of life. The growth of Catholic hospitals in the United States has been a cause of concern for some abortion rights activists, who worry that the growth of these hospitals will restrict access to reproductive health care like birth control for patients, especially in rural areas or areas with only one hospital, according to a recent article by the Associated Press. There are currently 654 Catholic hospitals in the U.S, including 299 with obstetric services, according to the Catholic Health Association. Butte Urologist Dr. Terrence Scott said he hasnt seen an increase in vasectomies since Roe was overturned. Dr. Frank Raiser, general surgery specialist at Silver Bow Surgical Associates, said he also hasnt had an increase in vasectomies in the past several weeks since Roe was overturned, but has seen an increase in the last 18 months, which he attributes to COVID-19. There was not an onslaught of people calling the next day or anything, he said. Raiser said he thinks he does about three or four vasectomies a month. Compared to four or five years ago, thats probably doubled. He also said Silver Bow Surgical doesnt perform female sterilizations because its outside the scope of what they do. It hasnt been very long, Raiser said. We may well see an increase, but havent yet. Julie Endy, executive director of the New Hope Pregnancy Center, said the clinic hasnt seen any changes in services either, and she doesnt expect to. Endy said New Hope provides information on all three pregnancy options, but sees an estimated one or two patients who decide on abortion out of an estimated 100 patients yearly. The center doesnt give out referrals for sterilizations and abortions. New Hope is a life-affirming clinic that offers a range of services including free pregnancy tests, free limited OB ultrasounds, parenting classes and ways for parents to earn points for clothes and other baby items. According to Christian pro-life pregnancy organization the Charlotte Lozier Institute, life-affirming clinics are those that focus on alternatives to abortion and help empower a woman to welcome her child into the world. New Hope also operates a foster closet for foster families, free emergency diapers and formula samples. Were pro-love here, Endy said. We wont be out protesting or anything like that because we want people to come here and we want this to be a loving place. In Montana, an abortion may be performed at or after viability only in cases of life endangerment or severely compromised health. Since Dobbs, Planned Parenthood of Montana has restricted giving medication-assisted abortions to patients from states with abortion bans. There are five clinics in Montana that provide abortion services, including Blue Mountain Clinic in Missoula, All Families Healthcare in Whitefish, and Planned Parenthood Clinics in Great Falls, Billings and Helena. STATE AND NATION WIDE Since Roe was overturned, Congress has introduced a number of bills both into the state and national legislature. In 2021, Gov. Greg Gianforte passed three laws restricting access to abortion, including a "pain-capable" abortion ban defined as after 20 weeks of pregnancy. A Montana district court has temporarily blocked enforcement of that law. The other laws Gianforte passed were requiring health care providers to give pregnant women the opportunity to view an ultrasound before performing an abortion, and placing several restrictions on abortion pills, including requiring that they be administered in-person rather than through telehealth. Gianforte has also urged the Montana Supreme Court to reconsider Armstrong v. State, a 1999 decision that protected pre-viability abortions on the grounds that the Montana constitution guarantees residents the right to privacy against government interference. So far, the Womens Health Protection Act, which prohibits governmental restrictions on access to abortion services has passed the House, and so has the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act, which prohibits anyone acting under state law from interfering with a person's ability to access out-of-state abortion services, including medication-assisted abortion. The Access to Birth Control Act which ensures prescribers have the ability to prescribe certain drugs, offer abortion services via telemedicine and provide abortion services immediately when the provider determines a delay risks the patient's health has been introduced in Congress. Another bill thats been introduced, the Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act, would make it so that pregnant moms can claim their unborn child on their tax returns. At a recent press conference for Monica Tranel, a Democrat vying for Montanas second House of Representatives seat, a couple of Butte veterans encouraged Tranel to speak about reproductive rights, and spoke out about it themselves. Retired Navy veteran Tom Goyette likened abortion restrictions to slavery. Forcing someone to put 20 years of their life into a belief, not a fact a belief thats slavery, Goyette said. "No one is forcing a woman whos opposed to abortion to have one. Tranel spoke about Struck v. Secretary of Defense, which the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg worked on when she was a practicing attorney. In the case, Ginsburg challenged an Air Force rule on behalf of Air Force Captain Susan Struck, which required that pregnant women either had to terminate their pregnancies or be discharged. Struck got pregnant while working as a nurse in Vietnam, and wanted to have the baby and keep her job. In December 1972, the military changed its policy and let Struck remain on active duty, but that policy didnt come soon enough for veterans like Eileen Greb of Butte, who was forced to give up her commission in August of 1972 when she became pregnant and had to decide between her baby and her job. Greb highlighted that the Dobbs decision could have adverse ramifications for women serving in the military now. It makes me so angry, she said of the Dobbs decision. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Jason Martin, a Nashville doctor critical of Republican Gov. Bill Lees hands-off approach to the COVID-19 pandemic, won the Democratic nomination for governor Friday and will face Lee in November. Martin, a first-time political candidate, defeated Memphis attorney and City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. by a thin margin, with advocate Carnita Atwater finishing a distant third. Both Smiley and Atwater would have been the state's first Black gubernatorial nominee if either had won. We hear your message loud and clear. You're upset that Bill Lee has failed you, Martin said late Thursday, declaring victory before the race was called as he held a narrow lead in the vote count. He stood on the sidelines while 27,000 of our fellow Tennesseans died during the last couple of years, Martin added, referring to the number of COVID-19 deaths in the state. Lee was unopposed in his primary election Thursday as he looks to secure a second four-year term in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2006. He trounced his Democratic opponent in 2018. Martin jumped into the gubernatorial race last year after becoming an outspoken critic of Lees handling of the virus outbreak. The Republican governor declined to issue a statewide mask mandate and signed off on several laws that banned most vaccine mandates as the pandemic swept across the United States, killing more than 1 million people over two years. However, even as virus pandemic continues to spread throughout the state, the outbreak is largely not a public priority particularly during the gubernatorial campaign. Martin is now hoping that the tumultuous national political landscape and some of Lees recent controversies will help open a path for a Democrat to win a statewide seat. Some of those include the ongoing fallout from the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision legalizing abortion nationwide. Lee has expressed support for some of the strictest abortion bans in the U.S. Most recently, Lee declined to answer questions about whether he supported tweaking the state's so-called trigger law to expand its exemptions and sidestepped directly answering whether he supported exempting children who were raped and then became pregnant. Meanwhile, Lee received wide criticism from both sides recently after he refused to condemn disparaging remarks a charter school president made about public school teachers during a reception Lee attended. The president had said that the teachers are trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges." Lee contended that the remarks were not directed toward Tennessee teachers but were instead focused on activism from the left" in schools around the country. Martin decidedly outraised and outspent Smiley, the next-highest fundraiser. Lee, however, takes a big campaign cash edge into the November midterm election. I really believed when I decided to run that we could make life better for every Tennessean by investing in the things that we need to," Lee said Thursday when asked about running unopposed in the primary. "I hope that Tennesseans have seen that that is the heart behind what were doing. Martin's campaign declared victory Thursday night even as votes were still being tallied in Smiley's hometown of Memphis. Smiley admonished Martin, saying the physician should have waited until the results were all in. By Friday, Smiley said he was disappointed in the results" but believed his campaign "forever changed the narrative in this state on the type of candidate that can win. While he held off on explicitly endorsing Martin, Smiley added the two agreed that defeating Lee in the general election was imperative. South African president Cyril Ramaphosa recently outlined plans to solve the countrys devastating electricity supply crisis. But he didnt mention the countrys ability to protect its energy infrastructure as a prerequisite to any solution. South Africa has had power cuts since 2007 when Eskom, the power utility, began failing to meet demand. This got worse every year. The power utility is struggling to keep its aged coal-fired power stations running after many years of poor maintenance. It is also struggling to get its two new power stations to operate at full capacity. Explaining some of the recent power cuts, Ramaphosa said that some of the energy infrastructure had been sabotaged. We flagged this in an earlier article. We argued that Eskom was the target of hybrid warfare operations aimed at destabilising South Africas national power generation capability. The question is whether the country has the necessary security capabilities to protect its energy infrastructure from such threats and risks. An assessment of the security capabilities also has to include a fit for purpose test of the legislation for the protection of critical infrastructure. Enhanced intelligence capacities are required to detect, deter and neutralise threats such as sabotage, or subversion caused by rioting. More and appropriately equipped security forces are also needed to physically secure critical infrastructure. These could be privately or publicly funded. Our view is that the country does not have what is required where and when it is needed. A comprehensive approach is needed including managing security threats to address its energy crisis. This requires collaboration between the state and private sector to implement the presidents long-term energy security vision. Hybrid attacks now common South Africa is not the only country whose energy infrastructure is facing security threats. There are numerous examples of attacks on critical infrastructure. These are typically cyber-related. But physical attacks such as sabotage also occur. The Institute for Security Studies argues that attacks on the critical infrastructure of developing countries, such as South Africa, could be potentially devastating. South Africas national security vulnerabilities, combined with the security risks to a monolithic state-owned entity with no backup, could exacerbate the countrys power supply insecurities. Cyber attacks on Eskoms critical infrastructure could lead to severe damage. The result could be corresponding losses of generation capacity and damage to the economy. National security vulnerabilities can be reduced by state security capabilities that are equal to the task. A Report of the Expert Panel into civil unrest in the country in July 2021 revealed serious capacity problems within the state security sector. The sector is mandated to forewarn government, and to protect critical infrastructure and the public against hybrid threats. These include terrorism, subversion, sabotage, espionage and organised crime. This weakness was also highlighted in the 2018 High-Level Review Panel on the State Security Agency. It concluded that the countrys State Security Agency had been compromised by factionalism, mismanagement and inefficiency. The agency is South Africas primary authority tasked with protecting the country against such hybrid threats. Yet it is in a state of disrepair. This calls for the country to focus efforts on (at least) the capability to secure Eskom against obvious national security threats. The importance of critical infrastructure The protection of South Africas energy infrastructure falls within the remit of the new Critical Infrastructure Protection Act 8 of 2019. Such infrastructure is crucial for the effective functioning of the economy, national security and public safety. Critical infrastructure consists of national assets that are viewed as having strategic importance. South Africa has plenty of critical infrastructure spread across its length and breadth measuring about 1.219 million km. These include the Eskom energy grid including power stations, sub-stations and transmission networks dams, the banking system and oil storage. The sheer scale requires extensive security capabilities necessary for physical protection and monitoring threats. Beyond physically securing this infrastructure, the state also needs to have the ability to detect, deter and neutralise threat actors. These are classical counterintelligence prerogatives. Failure on this front makes the country vulnerable to destabilisation. The stretched nature of the countrys security agencies was laid bare during the violent riots in July 2021. It is thus reasonable to question the capacity of the police, and other security agencies, to secure Eskoms critical infrastructure and that of private power producers. Planning for security In our view, all planning to develop and diversify the national power grid and energy supply should include enough resources to protect them. This requires cooperative planning between Eskom and the South African security sector (both state and private). The exact role of the South African National Defence Force in providing security for critical infrastructure remains unclear. The National Key Points Act 1980, the Defence Act 2002 and the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act 8 of 2019 are not explicit on the issue. The protection of critical infrastructure has been assigned to the South African Police Service, with the defence force supporting it. Given that the defence budget has been shrinking annually, the military will probably not be able to sustain this. With the private sector playing an increased role in the energy sector, South Africa needs to develop dedicated private security capacities to protect its critical infrastructure. At the very least, it should adopt a mixed public-private security model akin to the police services community policing concept. The presidents energy vision envisages a much larger private industrial capacity. If left unsecured, such capacity would be just as vulnerable to sabotage as the current Eskom infrastructure is. It is time the country took stock of its security requirements in the same way it has started being serious about its energy vulnerabilities. Theres also the question of whether the penalties prescribed by law are fit to deter sabotage. What needs to happen The hybrid nature of threats to the countrys infrastructure can only be solved by an integrated solution. That requires, firstly, clarity about mandates as well as state security capabilities. Secondly, security sector capacity needs to be developed alongside critical infrastructure. Thirdly, legislation needs to increase existing sanctions in terms of fines and imprisonment. Lastly, public-private security partnerships must be established to bolster the security of the countrys electricity infrastructure. Sascha-Dominik (Dov) Bachmann, Professor in Law and Co-Convener National Security Hub (University of Canberra), University of Canberra and Dries Putter, Lecturer at the Faculty of Military Science / Affiliate Member, National Security Hub, University of Canberra and Researcher for Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa (SIGLA), Stellenbosch University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. On 15 July, MTN and Telkom announced that they were in the early stage of discussions about MTN acquiring Telkom in return for shares or a combination of cash and shares in MTN. The announcement was well-received by investors, with Telkoms share price jumping 30% and MTNs stock price increasing 5%. The excitement around a deal between MTN and Telkom is warranted. A merger between MTN South Africa and Telkom makes sense operationally, as it will create a telecoms powerhouse with tremendous scale. It will combine MTNs deep pockets and mobile market strength with Telkoms extensive fibre, tower, and property assets. A merged entity will also be well-positioned to challenge Vodacoms dominance in South Africa and unlock shareholder value. Rand Swiss Offshores Viv Govender said the market massively undervalues Telkoms assets. I have seen examples where the value of Telkoms property holdings exceeds its market cap. He added that MTN could extract tremendous value from Telkoms fibre, property, and tower assets. It will also give MTN a significant boost in the enterprise IT market through BCX, which offers a range of cloud, security, and ICT services. Although a deal makes sense, not much has come of discussions between MTN and Telkom. One of the reasons is regulatory challenges. In 2015, for example, the Competition Commission blocked a plan for MTN to take over financial and operational responsibility for the rollout and operation of Telkoms radio access network. The Commission said the transaction would impact the structure of the mobile market in South Africa and would prevent or lessen competition. With MTN planning to acquire Telkoms entire issued share capital, the latest deal will face far more resistance than the 2015 network outsourcing deal. Telecommunications lawyer and regulatory expert Dominic Cull said there are two main regulatory concerns related to MTN acquiring Telkom. The concentration of ownership in the mobile telecoms industry, which the Competition Commission has previously expressed concerns about. The consolidation of MTN and Telkoms spectrum is held by a merged entity, or MTN, following a successful acquisition of Telkom. If MTN adds Telkoms spectrum to its own, it will gain a huge advantage over its rivals like Vodacom, which will be the main sticking point for ICASA and the Competition Commission. It raises the question of why MTN and Telkom have issued a cautionary if the deal is likely to face regulatory resistance. Cull said the cautionary is in response to Vodacoms plan to buy a stake in CIVH, which owns Vumatel and DFA. Vodacom will combine its fibre assets with Vumatel and DFA to form a new fibre powerhouse, dubbed FibreCo, which competes directly against Telkom. How a deal can be structured Cull said it is unlikely that MTN is planning to buy Telkom without structuring the deal to spin off certain units to make it easier to pass regulatory muster. He said it is likely that MTN wants to get access to Telkoms extensive fibre assets. MTN is a strong mobile player and has already started to roll out 5G, offering fixed-broadband and mobile data products over this network. MTNs 5G rollout requires more fibre, including links to all towers and an extensive backhaul network. Openserves extensive fibre network is a perfect foundation to build from. MTN is also not very good at managing its fibre assets. These assets can be placed under a merged entity with Telkom and Openserve who know what they are doing, Cull said. Cull expects the transaction between MTN and Telkom to focus on the operators fibre assets, similar to the Vodacom/CIVH deal. The moment that we start talking about merging MTN and Telkoms mobile units and spectrum, we run into regulatory red flags, he said. Political will behind the deal The South African government owns 40.5% of Telkom, while the Public Investment Corporation (PIC), which is closely linked to the government, owns 14.8%. The government can make or break a deal between MTN and Telkom, which raises questions about the political will behind the discussions. The ANC government is likely to face opposition from its alliance partners the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). The National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (Numsa) has rejected MTNs planned acquisition of Telkom. Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim said they condemn any plan to privatise Telkom. We are opposed to any privatisation of state-owned companies. We have consistently warned about the dangers of privatisation and the dire impact this would have on the working class and the economy, Jim said. Despite a potential backlash from unions, industry commentators said the government must have shown some support for the deal for Telkom and MTN to announce it on SENS. There has been no comment from the communications minister, but Cull said the government must have, at least, given a provisional green light on the deal. If MTN buys Telkom, the government will divest itself from the last truly valuable asset in the telecommunications sector, Cull said. On the other side, a deal will raise a lot of revenue for the National Treasury, which is sorely needed in the short term. This article first appeared on Daily Investor and is republished with permission. Now read: MTN issues retrenchment letters as it restructures Fraudsters are using the age-old phishing scam to defraud online banking customers and have revived advance fee scams to target more businesses. Absa fraud solutions head Ally Mafunzwaini told MyBroadband that fraud campaigns have increased alongside relaxed Covid-19 restrictions. As the economic climate changes, theres a marked increase in social engineering, where fraudsters or syndicates trick customers into disclosing their personal and confidential information, he said. Bank Zero said that phishing remains one of the most prevalent scam techniques. Phishing refers to cybercriminals posing as legitimate companies, usually over email and increasingly over WhatsApp, Facebook, and Twitter, to trick targets into providing sensitive data. These messages typically contain hyperlinks to malicious websites. Nedbank said that fraudsters send emails that look like they come from the bank. When you click on the link, you are asked for your Nedbank ID username and password or card number and PIN, Nedbank said. The fraudsters then use the details to access your bank account. On the other hand, vishing, or voice phishing, involves attackers calling consumers pretending to be official representatives of a bank. Clients receive calls from individuals purporting to be Nedbank employees and convince the victims to divulge their login credentials, giving fraudsters access to their Internet banking profiles, Nedbank said. SMS phishing, or smishing, tries to lure individuals into providing sensitive information like one-time passwords (OTPs) and online baking login passwords. Absas Mafunzwaini said malicious text messages also direct customers to call back a number created to impersonate a bank. FNB and Absa noted that scammers were reviving advanced fee fraud, also known as the 419 scam, to target small and medium businesses. Advanced fee fraud typically exploits businesses in two ways. One method involves tricking businesses into paying upfront for goods and services that never get delivered. The second technique attempts to convince targets to pay money in advance to receive a loan or promised funds. Although this scam has been around for some time and consumer vigilance has heightened, fraudsters have taken advantage of digital platforms to revive [it], FNB Commercial fraud head Roshan Jelal said. Fraudsters mostly use email communication, vishing and falsely advertise their services online or via social media platforms in order to lure unsuspecting victims, he said. Another variant of this fraud targets jobseekers, tricking them into paying for medical tests, transport, and other items after being informed they were selected for a job. Absas Mafunzwaini added that the South African banking industry is experiencing a significant increase in ransomware attacks and data breaches. Ransomware is a form of malicious software that encrypts files and renders them unusable. Attackers extort ransomware victims by demanding payment for decrypting their data. They may also steal data while infiltrating a system to infect it with ransomware and threaten companies with a data leak in addition to holding their data hostage. Mimecasts state of email security 2022 report showed that 2021 was the worst year on record for cybersecurity, with ransomware attacks targeting businesses up by 61% compared to 2020s statistics. Mafunzwaini explained that the number of data breaches has increased due to ransomware and exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities. Zero-day vulnerabilities are software security flaws that security researchers have not yet discovered or disclosed, but attackers know about. Attackers often use these zero-days to break into companies systems, from where they can launch ransomware attacks and exfiltrate data. These data breaches, in turn, lead to more phishing, identity theft, and ransomware attacks, Mafunzwaini said. Orange Cyberdefense South Africa managing director Dominic White told MyBroadband that identity theft could involve attackers using data from breaches and leaks to impersonate victims. To prevent being defrauded, banks advised avoiding clicking on suspicious links or attachments, using strong passwords, and immediately changing any compromised login details. Do thorough research before making a payment to an unknown person, especially when your only source of communication is via social media, Nedbank said. Bank representatives will never ask clients to share their usernames, passwords, card numbers, CVV numbers, OTPs, or PINs via a phone call, SMS, or email. Absa said that successful fraud prevention requires all parties the banks, customers, and the banking industry to play their part. St. Helena Mayor Geoff Ellsworth announced this week he wont be running for a regular City Council seat in the Nov. 8 election, a little over a month after announcing he wouldnt be seeking a third term as mayor. Prior to his four years as mayor, Ellsworth served two years on the city council. He said in a statement that its been an honor to serve the St. Helena community while on the council, and for a number of years prior as a community advocate. I committed to 10 years to my hometown community while caring for my parents in their later years, Ellsworth said in the statement. In that time, I have dedicated myself to this special place and working to protect all that is precious to those who live and work here for the generations to come. It is now time to let someone else take the lead. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Ellsworth also said hes tried to very carefully outline the problems hes seen in the community, and he believes theres been forward movement on many of them. He hopes the community and city council will find a way to further address health, safety, economic stability, water, fire, climate, refuse management, social equity and concerning regional and local political process issues, according to the statement. Ellsworth added that hes continuing to support Vice Mayor Paul Dohrings candidacy for mayor. He previously praised Dohrings keen legal and financial acumen, patience, sensitivity, values-based decision making and thoughtful foresight. I have found comfort in seeing Vice Mayor Paul Dohring rise to the occasion of running for mayor of St. Helena, and I wholeheartedly support his efforts to usher our community into the next chapter, Ellsworth said in the statement. The mayoral seat held by Ellsworth will be up for election on Nov. 8. City council seats held by Dohring and councilmember Anna Chouteau will also be up for grabs. Dohring is currently set to face off with Councilmember Eric Hall in the mayoral race. The council seats are currently set to be contested by Chouteau, Billy Summers, Elaine Honig and Amy Beudine. The nomination period to run for council will continue through Aug. 12, but if an incumbent doesnt file for reelection, the deadline to run for that seat will be extended to Aug. 17. Though he wont be on the council, Ellsworth said in a statement that he will continue to support St. Helena and the rest of Napa County. I will continue with all best forward efforts and thoughts for the health, safety and ongoing well being of St. Helena and all of our Napa Valley/Napa County communities, so next generations can thrive and experience the benefits as I have, and as we have, Ellsworth said in the statement. Editor's note: A previous version of this story misstated the length of time Ellsworth served on the St. Helena City Council. A preliminary plan to build 159 housing units along Old Sonoma Road at Napa Countys former Health and Human Services Agency campus received largely positive reviews from the city of Napas Planning Commission on Thursday. The plan which isnt yet being officially reviewed by the citys planning division would retain three historic Mission-style buildings from an old Napa County infirmary, most redwood trees and the crescent-shaped driveway that runs along Old Sonoma Road, and remove all other buildings for new development. It would seek to add a variety of new two-, three- and four-story buildings to house condominium and townhouse units, as well as eight new single-family homes along the eastern border of the site. The central historic building would be transitioned into a retail commercial space with a cafe, day care center, art studio and community room, according to the preliminary plan. Much of the parking for residents would be located under and within the proposed buildings, or along the crescent driveway. And long-term bike parking would be located in a bike garage. Heritage Housing Partners, chosen as development manager for the site by owner Napa Community Real Estate Fund LP, is planning for at least 15% of the units to be affordable to low-income people to meet affordable housing standards. Depending on the availability of government subsidies, 15% more of the units may be designated for moderate-income and 17% for workforce-income, with at least 53% of the units remaining market rate housing. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. Charles Loveman, executive director of Heritage, said at the meeting that theyve worked with city of Napa to secure funding for 16 moderate-income units, and they hope to find funding at least eight more moderate-income units. Heritage is talking with the city, county and state to try and secure funding for the additional hoped-for affordable units, he said. Napa Countys Health and Human Service Agency moved from the 8.9-acre site to the countys South Campus back in 2016, and the county first attempted to sell the site in 2019. After several failed attempts, the county finalized a $7.5 million sale to Napa Community Real Estate Fund LP in November last year. Heritage Housing Partners was seeking the commissions feedback on the plans, senior planner Michael Allen said, but formal review and approval would need to come in the future, when the plans are more fleshed out and are being officially reviewed by the city following an update to its General Plan. Typically when we see a preliminary review, its usually associated with an actual formal application that the planning division is reviewing, Allen said at the meeting. However, this site is still not rezoned for the potential future development; were waiting for the General Plan. Four public commenters at the meeting expressed support for the project. Others expressed support via emailed comments. Nonprofit Nimbus Arts expressed support for the project in a statement emailed to the commission, noting that the organization is in discussions with Napa Community Real Estate Fund to collaborate on reusing one of the historic buildings. We believe that adding a Nimbus Arts presence in this location in the historic infirmary building will allow us to expand our outreach to the community and provide impactful benefits to people of all ages and backgrounds through the shared language of art, the statement reads. Bill Chadwick, a former planning commissioner and resident of the area near where the project would go, was one supporter who spoke at the meeting. He said that as a long-time advocate of housing thats affordable and a member of the Napa County Housing Commission he absolutely supported the plan. Every day I look out my living room window and see this campus, Chadwick said to the commission. Im looking very forward to this project coming back to you. The commissioners also said they supported the project and provided some feedback to the plan. Planning commissioner Bob Massaro said the project will likely require roughly 800 to 950 solar panels as mandated by California State Law and said it would be good for the developer to bring back plans showing where they would go. Its possible you dont have enough room on the roofs, therefore youre going to have to put up a grade or on some structure, which would affect the site plan, Massaro said. Massaro also said that, owing to the current drought, the developer should take a look at installing a recycled water system. Commissioners also suggested the developer figure out a potential public art project for the plan. Four commissioners Paul Kelley, Beverly Shotwell, Gordon Huether and Massaro said they didnt like the modernist aesthetic design of the 37-unit Redwood Building that would go next to Walnut Street. But despite some criticisms, the commissioners all said they liked the preliminary plan. Overall, I think the commission and everybody in the room, the community at large, is so excited about this project, and were really looking forward to seeing it come back, Kelley said. Chery to release new flagship crossover Tiggo 9 FT: Risk of Eiffel Tower collapse due to rust will persist until 2030 Apple Inc. to introduce iPhone 14 on September 7 Cambodia accuses American billionaire of buying stolen sculptures Suren Petrosyan: Aghavno systematically surrendered UK inflation hits new 40-year high in July What is reason for restrained US reaction to reports about Turkey's purchase of second regiment of S-400? Germany warns gas will run out in less than three months if Russia completely cuts off supplies Rescuer: Site is difficult, there are large structures, we try to cross sections piece by piece Thames Water bans customers from using hoses for irrigation Search operations at Surmalu shopping center ceased until morning Most polluted cities revealed Investor pessimism in Germany has worsened even more in August Electricity prices in Europe continue to rise steadily NATO to increase its peacekeeping forces in Kosovo in case of escalation of tensions with Serbia OPEC Secretary General: Organization is not involved in gas and oil prices rise Estonia to ban Russian citizens who received visa in third EU country from entering Estonia Goldman Sachs: Europe's chances of recession are now twice as high as US NEWS.am BREAKING on Yerevan market blast: 16 people killed, 1 person still missing French MFA expresses solidarity with Armenia over Surmalu tragedy Philippines ready to support US in case of war with China Mayor of Venice looking for two 'pushy idiots' who raced Grand Canal Mishustin and Pashinyan discuss cooperation in trade and economic sphere Velayati says China is strategic ally of Iran Norway will provide military aid to Ukraine Garo Paylan appeals to Ankara Prosecutor's Office Mourning liturgy for victims of explosion and fire at Surmalu will be held in Armenia Iran to develop cooperation with Pakistan UN Secretary General arrives in Lviv Explosions and fires in at least 17 locations in southern Thailand Lithuanian FM calls for cancellation of tourist Schengen visas for Russians Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan sign agreement on international transit corridor Management of Surmalu shopping center expresses condolences in connection with explosion Wildberries denies information about leakage of customer data 1 injured in explosion has been discharged, and four citizens are currently undergoing treatment Armenia Investigative Committee asks to hand over unused fireworks obtained from Surmalu market to police Iranian Foreign Ministry aims to expand regional transit routes Dollar falls, euro rises in Armenia Eurozone GDP is up in second quarter Charles Michel expresses his condolences in connection with Surmalu explosion Israeli President welcomes Turkey's decision to restore diplomatic relations Turkey decides to restore diplomatic relations with Israel Five injured in explosion are being treated at medical centers NYT: Western countries want to give Russian diamonds bloody status Karabakh teen drowns in reservoir (PHOTOS) More than 50 people questioned in Yerevan shopping market explosion criminal case President: Armenia underscores development of mutually beneficial cooperation with Indonesia Azerbaijan ombudsperson is interested in convicted Armenian captives Kazakhstan President sends condolence message to Armenia PM Armenia has new consul general in Russias Rostov-on-Don No bombs found at Gyumri international airport, railway station 3 men who strangled Yerevan woman, 47, to death are arrested People continue bringing flowers, toys nearby tragic Yerevan explosion site Book of condolences opened at all Armenia diplomatic missions abroad Bomb threat made at Gyumri international airport, railway station Russian embassy upset by reports about Russia organizations participation in Yerevan market tragedy Armenia ex-deputy PM Avinyan visits Yerevan market blast site Yerevan market explosion: We have one missing person, Armenia official says Armenia Prosecutor Generals Office: No one is charged in Yerevan market blast case World oil prices going up Day of mourning declared in Armenia, Artsakh today and tomorrow Kazakhstan embassy offers condolences over Yerevan market explosion People laying flowers nearby Yerevan market blast site Newspaper: One person is charged in Yerevan market explosion case Newspaper: Armenia ruling party plans to make state institutions employees become party members Yerevan explosion: 2 people still being searched for Yerevan market explosion: 2 people still considered missing as of midnight (PHOTOS) Turkey launches airstrike on Aleppo countryside, 3 Syria soldiers dead Is Western unity over Ukraine about to crack? Which countries could survive nuclear war? Surmalu re-inspection scheduled for November In Lebanon, man who held hostages in bank released without charges TerraPower of Bill Gates raises $750 million for projects in nuclear energy and medicine China's 'Galaxy Fold clone' sold out in five minutes and became a bestseller Germany plans to postpone closure of its last three nuclear power plants Expert estimates environmental consequences of Yerevan explosion and gives advices Switzerland signs agreement with Uzbekistan to return $131 million seized from Gulnara Karimova Artsakh also declares mourning Norway can no longer supply Germany with more gas UN Secretary General to meet with Presidents of Ukraine and Turkey in Lviv Ministry of Emergency Situations: There were about 4 tons of flammable substances in Surmalu Russian Security Council says Kyiv threatens global nuclear security Content of toxic substances in air after explosion in Yerevan has increased sharply Scholz says Sweden and Finland's NATO accession process goes according to plan Macron and Zelenskiy discuss situation over Zaporozhye nuclear power plant Expert: Biden is not preparing Americans for what is to come Armenian Prosecutor General's Office: Representatives of management and employees of Surmalu will be interrogated Mourning declared in Armenia Latvia will not extend residence permits previously issued to Russian citizens NEWS.am BREAKING on Yerevan market explosion: 16 people killed First Lady of US contracts COVID-19 Aghvan Hovsepyan undergoes surgery Investigative Committee: More than 20 people questioned in case of Surmalu explosion in Yerevan Head of Armenian HM visits victims of explosion on territory of Surmalu in Yerevan Deputy PM of Singapore: US and China may slide into conflict Director of Surmalu shopping center is in heavy psychological state and does not comment Identity of another victim of Surmalu shopping center in Yerevan established Two Armenian startups advance to EWC Global Finals (PHOTOS) Patriarch Kirill expresses condolences in connection with Surmalu shopping mall explosion Russia announces supply of second S-400 regiment to Turkey President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev will hold a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Brussels, President of the European Council Charles Michel said, Azernews reports. The meeting was announced by Charles Michel in a Twitter message. Ahead of our next leaders meeting in Brussels, pursuing dialogue and achieving concrete progress on all items on the agenda is key. The EU remains committed, he wrote. Tensions in Greek-Turkish relations remain high, creating an atmosphere that justifies anything but complacency. Turkey once again reacted negatively to the fact that another major Western power expressed its support for Greece. This time, Ankara is irritated by Germany, whose foreign minister has criticized Ankara, among other things, for challenging the sovereignty of the Greek islands near its coastline, Kathimerini reported. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, who visited Greece last week and then Turkey, said that many issues of international law are complex, but some are very simple. The Greek islands - Lesvos, Chios, Rhodes and many, many others - are Greek territory, and no one has the right to raise questions about this. She did so at a time when, in the context of a new strategy bordering on the absurd, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and other Turkish officials began to question the sovereignty of the Greek islands in the eastern Aegean. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu even accused Germany of not being an honest mediator and always on the side of Athens. This is not true, and not only in relation to bilateral relations. As for immigration, the head of German diplomacy criticized Athens directly during her visit. Berlin, like Washington and Paris, does not "take sides" in the complex web of Greek-Turkish relations. He strongly advocates dialogue between the two countries and the peaceful resolution of any existing differences. He is simply trying to be rational, and thus, when it comes to irrational claims against Greek sovereignty, he ends up upholding the obvious. Ankara continues to follow a slippery path that can only harm Turkey. Instead, it must accept the fact that Greece is a member of the EU, realize that threatening rhetoric, provocative actions and exaggerations of any kind backfire, and understand that revisionism is a dangerous policy that should not be tolerated, especially in Europe. If Turkey changes its rhetoric, stops military overflights of the Greek islands, and its National Assembly cancels the threat of war against Greece, the atmosphere will be conducive to a normal, meaningful and potentially effective dialogue between neighbors. This behavior will benefit its economy, increase its regional role, and also make it easier to acquire advanced military equipment, whether it be fighter jets or submarines, the author notes. By Trend The Coordination Council of Azerbaijanis in the UK appealed to the Parliament and Home Secretary Priti Patel regarding the religious extremists' attack on the embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Trend reports. The appeal emphasized that Azerbaijan has always been against any kind of extremism, and the Azerbaijani community in the UK strongly condemns the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy, ??located in one of the central streets of London. Moreover, such an act of vandalism flagrantly infringes upon the requirements of international law, as well as the Vienna Convention, and constitutes aggression against the state attributes and Azerbaijan's territory. "This incident will further strengthen the unity of our people in the fight against radical religious ideology," said the appeal. According to the Council, the provocative behavior revealed a security gap that the host country had to envisage in accordance with international legal obligations. "Azerbaijan is a secular state that opposes all kinds of religious extremism. The attack coincided with the period of future development of AzerbaijanEU relations in the oil and gas sector and the achievement of a decisive stage in the peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan brokered by the EU, which is likely to aim to damage developing ties between the UK and Azerbaijan," the appeal outlined. Azerbaijanis living in the UK demanded the soonest expulsion of religious radicals from the country in order to restore political and diplomatic stability. By Trend Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye Mevlut Cavusoglu made a phone call to Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov due to the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in the UK, Trend reports via the Turkish media. During the telephone conversation, Cavusoglu expressed readiness to provide fully support to Azerbaijan. On August 4, the Azerbaijani embassy in the UK was attacked by the religious extremist group. As a result of the incident, eight people involved in the provocative action have been detained. Israel warns onslaught on Gaza may last a week Smoke rises above buildings following an Israeli air strike on Gaza City on Saturday. Photo: AFP Israel's military warned on Saturday that deadly air strikes against Palestinian militants in Gaza could last a week, as cross-border fire reverberated for a second day in the worst escalation since last year's war. Israel has said it was necessary to launch a "pre-emptive" operation against Islamic Jihad, saying the group was planning an imminent attack following days of tensions along the border with Gaza. Health authorities in the Palestinian enclave, which is controlled by the Islamist group Hamas, said a five-year-old girl was among 15 people killed since Friday, adding that more than 140 have been wounded. Israel's ongoing strikes are being met with barrages of rockets from the Palestinian side, stoking fears of a repeat of an 11-day conflict that devastated Gaza in May 2021. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Cairo is talking "around the clock" with both sides, which so far have rejected calls for hostilities to end. Daily life in Gaza has come to a standstill, while the electricity distributor said the sole power station shut down due to a lack of fuel after Israel closed its border crossings. Gaza's health ministry said the next few hours would be "crucial and difficult", warning it risked suspending vital services within 72 hours as a result of the lack of electricity. An Israeli military spokesman said its forces were "preparing for the operation to last a week," and that the army is "not currently holding ceasefire negotiations." Islamic Jihad's leader in Gaza, Mohammed al-Hindi, said: "The battle is still at its beginning." Israel and Islamic Jihad confirmed the killing of Taysir al-Jabari, a key commander of the militant group, in a Friday strike. Islamic Jihad is aligned with Hamas, but often acts independently. Both are blacklisted as terrorist organisations by much of the West. Hamas has fought four wars with Israel since seizing control of Gaza in 2007, including the conflict last May. (AFP) When Bank Of Hawaii (BOH) Moves Investors should Listen Source: Stock Traders Daily Longer Term Trading Plans for BOH Buy BOH over 78.26 target 83.96 stop loss @ 78.03 Details The technical summary data tells us to buy BOH near 78.26 with an upside target of 83.96. This data also tells us to set a stop loss @ 78.03 to protect against excessive loss in case the stock begins to move against the trade. 78.26 is the first level of support below 80.52 , and by rule, any test of support is a buy signal. In this case, support 78.26 is being tested, a buy signal would exist. Short BOH under 83.96, target 78.26, stop loss @ 84.2 Details The technical summary data is suggesting a short of BOH as it gets near 83.96 with a downside target of 78.26. We should have a stop loss in place at 84.2though. 83.96 is the first level of resistance above 80.52, and by rule, any test of resistance is a short signal. In this case, if resistance 83.96 is being tested, a short signal would exist. Swing Trading Plans for BOH Buy BOH over 82.92, target 83.96, Stop Loss @ 82.68 Details If 82.92 begins to break higher, the technical summary data tells us to buy BOH just over 82.92, with an upside target of 83.96. The data also tells us to set a stop loss @ 82.68 in case the stock turns against the trade. 82.92 is the first level of resistance above 80.52, and by rule, any break above resistance is a buy signal. In this case, 82.92, initial resistance, would be breaking higher, so a buy signal would exist. Because this plan is based on a break of resistance, it is referred to as a Long Resistance Plan. Short BOH near 82.92, target 79.95, Stop Loss @ 83.16. Details The technical summary data is suggesting a short of BOH if it tests 82.92 with a downside target of 79.95. We should have a stop loss in place at 83.16 though in case the stock begins to move against the trade. By rule, any test of resistance is a short signal. In this case, if resistance, 82.92, is being tested a short signal would exist. Because this plan is a short plan based on a test of resistance it is referred to as a Short Resistance Plan. Day Trading Plans for BOH Buy BOH over 80.78, target 82.92, Stop Loss @ 80.59 Details If 80.78 begins to break higher, the technical summary data tells us to buy BOH just over 80.78, with an upside target of 82.92. The data also tells us to set a stop loss @ 80.59 in case the stock turns against the trade. 80.78 is the first level of resistance above 80.52, and by rule, any break above resistance is a buy signal. In this case, 80.78, initial resistance, would be breaking higher, so a buy signal would exist. Because this plan is based on a break of resistance, it is referred to as a Long Resistance Plan. Short BOH near 80.78, target 79.95, Stop Loss @ 80.97. Details The technical summary data is suggesting a short of BOH if it tests 80.78 with a downside target of 79.95. We should have a stop loss in place at 80.97 though in case the stock begins to move against the trade. By rule, any test of resistance is a short signal. In this case, if resistance, 80.78, is being tested a short signal would exist. Because this plan is a short plan based on a test of resistance it is referred to as a Short Resistance Plan. BOH Ratings for August 05: Term Near Mid Long Rating Strong Neutral Neutral P1 0 0 72.56 P2 79.71 79.95 78.26 P3 80.78 82.92 83.96 Get Notified When our Ratings Change: Take a Trial SBI's standalone total income fell to Rs 74,998.57 crore for the quarter ended June 30, 2022, as compared to Rs 77,347.17 crore recorded in the corresponding quarter of the last year. As per a regulatory filing to the stock exchanges, State Bank of India's balance sheet size crossed Rs 50 lakh crore during the quarter under review. The increase in the balance sheet was led by 14.93 per cent year-on-year growth in credit. Domestic Advances grew at 13.66 per cent year-on-year and Foreign Offices' Advances grew by 22.39 per cent year-on-year. Domestic advances growth was driven by 18.58 per cent jump in retail personal advances. Home loan grew by 13.77 per cent year-on-year during the quarter under review. The bank's operating profit slumped to Rs 12,753 crore in the first quarter of the current financial year as against Rs 18,975 crore recorded in the corresponding quarter of the previous year, impacted by mark-to-market (MTM) losses on investment book. SBI's net interest income (NII) for the quarter ended June 30 rose 12.87 per cent YoY to Rs 31,196 crore as compared to Rs 27,638 crore recorded in the corresponding quarter of the last year. The government-run lender reported significant improvement in its asset quality. SBI's gross non-performing assets (NPA) ratio improved to 3.91 per cent at June-end 2022 as compared to 5.32 per cent recorded at June-end 2021. The bank's net NPA declined to 1.02 per cent in June 2022 from 1.7 per cent in June 2021. (ANI) Days after the announcement of Rs 1.64 lakh crore revival package, Union Minister for Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw asked 62,000 employees of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to work hard or else leave the organisation by taking VRS. "This will be the new normal that we have to work with, perform or perish," Vaishnaw said while interacting with BSNL officers. Vaishnaw said Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has taken a big risk and showed commitment for the revival of BSNL. "Whatever the issues were, we solidly stood behind BSNL. And now we are asking for the same level of commitment from each and every one of those 62,000 employees," the minister said. On July 27, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a slew of measures including a package amounting to Rs 1.64 lakh crore for the revival of BSNL. Revival measures approved by the Cabinet focus on infusing fresh capital for upgrading BSNL services, allocating spectrum, de-stressing its balance sheet, and augmenting its fiber network by merging Bharat Broadband Nigam Limited (BBNL) with BSNL. In his interaction with chief general managers across operating service areas of BSNL, Vaishnaw said the performance of BSNL would be reviewed on a monthly basis. "I will measure the KPI (key performance indicators), the performance, the results, every month. Those who don't work can go home by taking VRS," the minister said. The revival package includes a slew of measures to upgrade BSNL services. To improve existing services and provide 4G services, BSNL will be allotted Spectrum in 900/1800 MHz band administratively at the cost of Rs 44,993 crore through equity infusion. With this spectrum, BSNL will be able to compete in the market and provide high-speed data using its vast network including in rural areas. To promote indigenous technology development, BSNL is in process of deploying Atmanirbhar 4G technology stack. To meet the projected capital expenditure for the next four years, the government will fund capex of Rs 22,471 crore. This will be a significant boost to the development and deployment of the Atmanirbhar 4G stack. Despite the commercial non-viability, BSNL has been providing wireline services in rural/remote areas to meet the social objectives of the Government. The government will provide Rs 13,789 Cr to BSNL as viability gap funding for commercially unviable rural wire-line operations done during 2014-15 to 2019-20. The authorised capital of BSNL will be increased from Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 1,50,000 crore in lieu of AGR dues, provision of capex and allotment of spectrum. (ANI) Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth, who is popular for portraying the Norse god of thunder, Thor, has showered praise on Indian weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, stating that "she is worthy" of his MCU character's hammer. The praise comes after Chanu recently clinched India's first gold medal in the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham. She won a gold medal with a combined lift of 201kg in the Women's 49kg final. Following her win, Chanu shared a celebratory tweet which was quoted by a social media user, who also tagged Hemsworth saying, "Time for Thor to give up his hammer Chris Hemsworth." The actor took note of the tweet and promptly responded by writing, "She is worthy. Congrats, Saikhom, you legend." Chanu expressed gratitude by sharing, "Thank u so much @chrishemsworth Always love to watch you." In Marvel comics and its accompanying cinematic universe, Thor's hammer Mjolnir is a magical weapon which can only be lifted by those who are worthy of it. Hemsworth's tweet went viral on the micro-blogging platform as fans and followers of the actor appreciated him for acknowledging Chanu's remarkable performance at the Commonwealth Games 2022. "Now that's a 'Marvelous' gesture from an actor of the Marvel Studios of tinsel town to an Indian sportsperson," wrote a user. Talking about her gold-winning play, in her first attempt at the Snatch category, Chanu made a great start and successfully lifted 84kg. Chanu successfully lifted the required 88kg in her second. She performed her personal best at the level of representing India. In the final attempt of the Snatch category, the Tokyo Olympics silver medalist failed to lift 90kg with exhibiting stunning power. In the Clean and Jerk lift category, Chanu exhibited a stunning display of power as she lifted 109kg in her first attempt. In her second attempt, she lifted 113kg. In her final attempt at this category, she failed to lift 115kg but she did not fail to clinch the first gold medal for India in this multi-sports event in 2022. (ANI) As per Fox News, Anne crashed a vehicle into a Mar Vista, California, home on Friday, igniting a fire. She was transported to a hospital with severe burns on her body. Anne, 53, was driving a blue Mini Cooper when she first crashed into a garage of an apartment complex in Los Angeles. Witnesses told TMZ they tried to help the actress out of her car before she fled. Brian Humphrey, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department, told Fox News Digital the person involved in the accidents was transferred to a hospital in critical condition. A resident was present at the time of the accident at the home and escaped injury. Anne, however, sustained burn injuries and was "conscious and breathing" when she was placed on a stretcher. Anne rose to fame with her stint on the soap opera "Another World," where she played the dual role of twins Vicky Hudson and Marley Love from 1987 to 1991 and earned a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance. She followed that with roles in films like "Donnie Brasco," "Six Days Seven Nights," and "Wag the Dog." Her romantic relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in the late '90s resulted in intense media attention at the time, much to Heche's professional frustration. In a 2021 interview with Page Six, Heche said she felt "blacklisted" after going public with their relationship, CNN reported. Anne has appeared in numerous television series more recently, including "The Brave," "Quantico," and "Chicago P.D." (ANI) Actor Mohanlal, who is also a Lieutenant Colonel in the Indian Army, visited India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant which is soon to be commissioned, built in Cochin Shipyard Ltd. During the visit, he interacted with the workers of Vikrant and also the crew of it. Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) were present onboard during the visit. Major Ravi, who is the retired major of the Indian Army and actor, and director in Malayalam also visited Vikrant with Mohanlal. After the visit, Mohanlal shared his thoughts through his social media accounts, he wrote "Honoured to be onboard India's 1st Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC), soon to be commissioned as Vikrant, built in Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Kerala. She is a true engineering marvel that further fortifies the Indian Navy and showcases India's shipbuilding capabilities." In another subsequent tweet, he added, "I express my heartfelt gratitude for this matchless opportunity, especially to the Commanding Officer, Commodore Vidhyadhar Harke, VSM, and Mr Madhu Nair, the Chairman & Managing Director of Cochin Shipyard Limited, for their warm reception." He also added, "Witnessing the unmatched peculiarities of this mean machine urges me to triumphantly salute all the people behind IAC Vikrant, the wonder. May she always be victorious at sea." On the work front, Mohanlal, who has many projects lined up, for the first time in his career has decided to direct the film 'Barroz: Guardian of D'Gama's Treasure'. He is currently busy with his first directorial and will also be seen in Shaji Kailas's film 'Alone'. Other upcoming projects include 'L2: Empuraan' the sequel of 'Lucifer' Prithviraj Sukumaran's directorial debut film Lucifer. The upcoming thriller 'Monster', by director Vysakh is also lined up for release. (ANI) The incident occurred at Jagdishpur Saino middle school. The students claimed that a lizard fell into the vegetables during the cooking, and still the school administration served the vegetables along with other food to them. After eating, the students complained about stomach aches and vomiting. When information reached the parents, they immediately rushed to the school and took their children to the primary health centre in Jagdishpur. Jagdishpur BDO Raghunandan Anand said that the victims were admitted to the primary health centre. "We have initiated an inquiry into the matter and asked the authority to submit a report before the department. The food samples were collected and sent to the lab for the testing. Action will be taken after the test report, statements of students and investigation report of the department official against the school principal and cook," he said. --IANS ajk/vd ( 181 Words) 2022-08-05-23:18:01 (IANS) Implantable insulin-releasing devices show potential as an alternate method of treating diabetes without insulin injections or cannula insertions. However, one barrier that has precluded their usage so far is that the immune system attacks them after implantation, generating a thick layer of scar tissue that limits insulin release. This phenomenon, known as the foreign body response, can also interfere with many other types of implantable medical devices. However, a team of MIT engineers and collaborators has now devised a way to overcome this response. In a study of mice, they showed that when they incorporated mechanical actuation into a soft robotic device, the device remained functional for much longer than a typical drug-delivery implant. The device is repeatedly inflated and deflated for five minutes every 12 hours, and this mechanical deflection prevents immune cells from accumulating around the device, the researchers found. "We're using this type of motion to extend the lifetime and the efficacy of these implanted reservoirs that can deliver drugs like insulin, and we think this platform can be extended beyond this application," says Ellen Roche, the Latham Family Career Development Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and a member of MIT's Institute for Medical Engineering and Science. Among other possible applications, the researchers now plan to see if they can use the device to deliver pancreatic islet cells that could act as an "bioartificial pancreas" to help treat diabetes. Roche is the co-senior author of the study, with Eimear Dolan, a former postdoc in her lab who is now a faculty member at the National University of Ireland at Galway. Garry Duffy, also a professor at NUI Galway, is a key collaborator on the work, which appears in Nature Communications. MIT postdocs William Whyte and Debkalpa Goswami, and visiting scholar Sophie Wang, are the lead authors of the paper. Modulating immune cells Most patients with type 1 diabetes, and some with type 2 diabetes, have to inject themselves with insulin on a daily basis. Some patients use wearable insulin pumps that are attached to the skin and deliver insulin through a tube inserted under the skin or patches that can deliver insulin without a tube. For many years, scientists have been working on insulin-delivering devices that could be implanted under the skin. However, the fibrous capsules that form around such devices can lead to device failure within weeks or months. Researchers have tried many approaches to prevent this kind of scar tissue from forming, including local delivery of immunosuppressants. The MIT team took a different approach that does not require any drugs -- instead, their implant includes a mechanically actuated soft robotic device that can be inflated and deflated. In a 2019 study, Roche and her colleagues (with Dolan as first author) showed that this kind of oscillation can modulate how nearby immune cells respond to an implanted device. In the new study, the researchers wanted to see if that immunomodulatory effect could help improve drug delivery. They built a two-chambered device made of polyurethane, a plastic that has similar elasticity to the extracellular matrix that surrounds tissues. One of the chambers acts as a drug reservoir, and the other acts as a soft, inflatable actuator. Using an external controller, the researchers can stimulate the actuator to inflate and deflate on a specific schedule. For this study, they performed the actuation every 12 hours, for five minutes at a time. This mechanical actuation drives away immune cells called neutrophils, the cells that initiate the process that leads to scar tissue formation. When the researchers implanted these devices in mice, they found that it took much longer for scar tissue to develop around the devices. Scar tissue did eventually form, but its structure was unusual: Instead of the tangled collagen fibres that built up around static devices, collagen fibres surrounding actuated devices were more highly aligned, which the researchers believe may help drug molecules to pass through the tissue. "In the short term, we see that there are fewer neutrophils surrounding the device in the tissue, and then long term, we see that there are differences in collagen architecture, which may be related to why we have better drug delivery throughout the eight-week time period," Wang says. Sustained drug delivery To demonstrate the potential usefulness of this device, the researchers showed that it could be used to deliver insulin in mice. The device is designed so that insulin can slowly seep out through pores in the drug reservoir or be released in a large burst controlled by the actuator. The researchers evaluated the effectiveness of the insulin release by measuring subsequent changes in the mice's blood glucose levels. They found that in mice with the actuated device, effective insulin delivery was maintained throughout the eight weeks of the study. However, in mice that did not receive actuation, delivery efficiency began to wane after only two weeks, and after eight weeks, almost no insulin was able to pass through the fibrous capsule. The authors also created a human-sized version of the device, 120 millimeters by 80 millimeters, and showed that it could be successfully implanted in the abdomen of a human cadaver. "This was a proof of concept to show that there is a minimally invasive surgical technique that could potentially be employed for a larger-scale, human-scale device," Goswami says. Working with Jeffrey Millman of the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, the researchers now plan to adapt the device so that it could be used to deliver stem-cell-derived pancreatic cells that would sense glucose levels and secrete insulin when glucose is too high. Such an implant could eliminate the need for patients to constantly measure their glucose levels and inject insulin. "The idea would be that the cells would be resident in the reservoir, and they would act as an insulin factory," Roche says. "They would detect the levels of glucose in blood and then release insulin according to what was necessary." Other possible applications the researchers have explored for this kind of device include delivery of immunotherapy to treat ovarian cancer, and delivering drugs to the heart to prevent heart failure in patients who have had heart attacks. "You can imagine that we can apply this technology to anything that is hindered by a foreign body response or fibrous capsule, and have a long-term effect," Roche says. "I think any sort of implantable drug delivery device could benefit." (ANI) The court's observation came during hearing a petition seeking FIR against the actress for using the word 'Bible' in the title of her book - "Kareena Kapoor Khan's Pregnancy Bible", which, according to the petitioner, allegedly hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community. Advocate Christopher Anthony had moved the High Court in July this year, challenging the additional sessions court's February 26 order dismissing his plea. The other respondents in the petition are the book's co-author Aditi Shah Bhimjyani, Amazon Online Shopping and Juggernaut Books. Anthony told the court that he had filed a complaint at Omti police station in Jabalpur in September last year, against the actor. The holy book 'Bible' cannot be compared with the pregnancy of the actor, Anthony argued. Earlier, Anthony had moved a magistrate's court in Jabalpur after the police did not take any action on the complaint. However, the court had dismissed the petition observing that there was nothing objectionable or obscene in publishing the name 'Bible' with the word pregnancy. After that, Anthony had approached the sessions court, which also rejected his plea, following which he moved the High Court. "The petitioner has not impleaded the state as a party. Therefore, he is directed to implead the state as a party," the court said. --IANS pd/sks ( 261 Words) 2022-08-05-19:38:04 (IANS) By Trend Presidents of Russia and Turkiye Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to boost the bilateral trade volume and meet mutual expectations on energy issues, according to the joint statement of leaders released after their meeting, Trend reports citing TASS. "The Leaders, who conducted extensive consultations on the issues that are on the agenda of Turkiye-Russia bilateral affairs, agreed to increase the bilateral trade volume on a balanced basis and to achieve designated targets; to meet one anothers expectations on the economy and energy; to take concrete steps to boost collaboration about issues that have been pending on the agenda of both countries for a long time, concerning sectors such as transportation, commerce, agriculture, industry, finance, tourism and construction," the document reads. "The two Leaders acknowledged the role that constructive relations between the two countries played in the conclusion of the Initiative on the safe transportation of grain and foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports. The two Leaders underscored the need to ensure, in letter and in spirit, the full implementation of the Istanbul agreement, including the unimpeded export of Russias grain, fertilizer and raw materials stocks needed for its production," according to the statement. Addressing unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir remained a big concern for 70 years. In the absence of a private sector, the people used to do anything to get a prestigious government job as it was considered as a guarantee for a secure future. But to get a government job in the erstwhile J&K state was not that easy for a common man as it was a privilege reserved for influential people. The recruitment processes were not that transparent. The candidates who carried one or other recommendation were preferred over the meritorious aspirants. backdoor appointments till 2019 were a norm in the Himalayan region. In October 2018, the then J&K Governor, Satya Pal Malik, blew a lid over a big job scam in J&K Bank. He revealed that 528 selected candidates were replaced with political appointees during the regime led by Peoples Democratic Party. In an interview to a national news channel, Malik had stated that about 40 young applicants had approached him saying they had cleared all examinations and figured in the selection list of the J&K Bank but were replaced by relatives and workers of the politicians. "When I took up the matter with the JK Bank Chairman, he informed not only 40 but all the 582 candidates recruited by the bank were replaced with the political appointees recommended by leaders from different constituencies," Malik had said. He had stated that many people filed RTIs to get their papers and check the score but the Bank refused saying they don't come under the purview of Right to Information Act. The Khadi Village Industries Board (KVIB) recruitment scam during Mehbooba Mufti's tenure had left the former J&K chief minister embarrassed as her cousin Aroot Madni was appointed as Executive Officer in KVIB allegedly through a backdoor. The KVIB selection list was cancelled in 2019. Last month when reporters asked J&K Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, about the employment scenario in J&K, he stated that "there was a wrong perception that there were no jobs in the Union Territory". "Let me tell you that the J&K government has given the highest number of civilian jobs in its history last year. Jobs are there but they are not in the market for sale," he had said. Recently, J&K Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, cancelled the recruitment of Sub-Inspectors in J&K Police after some aspirants alleged that the process was not carried out in a fair manner. The complaint of the candidates was acted upon promptly and an enquiry committee was set up. The panel pointed out discrepancies in the selection process. Without wasting any time, LG Sinha, cancelled the list, and made it clear that no one will be selected through a backdoor. 29,806 provided Govt jobs During the ongoing Parliament session Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the House that from August 2019 up to June 2022, 29,806 aspirants were recruited by the J&K Government and nearly 5.2 lakh jobs were created through self-employment schemes. Even today, the prestigious government jobs in J&K are the most preferred career choice. Whenever vacancies are announced thousands of aspirants fill up the application forms. But after the abrogation of Article 370, a big change has occurred in the Himalayan region, the jobs are provided on the basis of merit and not on recommendations. Anyone who meets the criteria and qualifies the written exam, interview achieves the feat of being employed by the government. Self-employment schemes The youth in J&K have realised that the government cannot employ everyone and they have to strive for their sustenance. During the past three years, the government has introduced numerous self-employment schemes to help the youngsters to set up their ventures. The "Mumkin" (livelihood generation) scheme has helped unemployed youth to procure small commercial vehicles, on a subsidised basis, to establish a sustainable livelihood line in the transport sector. As a special incentive under this scheme, the government contributed Rs 0.80 lakh or 10 per cent of the On-Road Price of Vehicle (whichever is minimum) per beneficiary and an equivalent amount is contributed by the vehicle manufacturers. Discretion to choose the type of vehicle is left to the youth under scheme guidelines. The "Spurring Entrepreneurship Initiative" scheme is based on the theme Youth Enterprise with Innovation (YouWiN)/ Champion for Innovation program for encouraging young entrepreneurs' especially young women towards innovations in various enterprises. The broad aim of the scheme is to provide financial assistance to the youth for establishing their business units. The "Tejaswani" (Radiant) scheme is aimed to promote entrepreneurship among young women. It envisages giving financial assistance up to Rs 5 lakh to young women for setting up gainful self-employment ventures, suited to their skills, training, aptitude and local conditions. The financial assistance is given to women between the age of 18 to 35 years having qualifications of 10th standard or above. Another programme "Sahyta" has been rolled out to provide a special financial assistance program for youth in distress. Financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh can be provided under the scheme to youth in distress for setting up gainful self-employment units. For purposes of this programme, the term youth in distress would mean any person between the age of 18 to 40 years who has lost any next of kin/family member in insurgency-related action, cross border shelling or mine blast incident in Jammu and Kashmir and shall include any such person who or his/her family member has suffered permanent incapacitation in such incidents. The "Young Innovators Programme" is aimed at exploring new ideas leading to the creation of a new product, process or service. It is not just the invention of a new idea that is important. It is actually "bringing it to market", putting into practice and exploiting it in a manner that leads to new products, services or systems that add value or improve quality. This programme aims to enhance young people's learning and development through a range of non-formal learning activities with a focus on pioneers' experimentation and innovation in education, entrepreneurship, art, research and cross-sectoral partnerships. Under sector specific scheme for dental professionals a customised financial support is being provided to dentists for setting up dental clinics. An amount of 8 lakh is provided as financial assistance under this scheme for setting up their venture. Another scheme "Rise Together" envisions promoting community-based entrepreneurship optimally to generate jobs, and income and promote the spirit of social service among new-age young entrepreneurs in the Himalayan region. Under the scheme, the eligible youth groups are provided with financial assistance to the extent of Rs 20 lakh comprising of upfront subsidy component minimum of Rs 2.5 lakh or 10 per cent of the project cost and a loan provided by the Bank, 70 per cent of the project cost to the extent of Rs 17.50 lakh. To fill in the gap between demand and supply of skilled workforce and to create a strong environment for professionals and technical skill development in Jammu and Kashmir the government has roped in prominent organisations like ICICI Foundation, Tata Technologies Ltd, Primal Foundation, Wipro etc., for working on upgrading skills of youth in the sectors having high employability potential like banking & financial services, digital marketing, media management etc. Azadi propaganda punctured After August 5, 2019-when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&K's special status and bifurcated the erstwhile princely state into two Union Territories- things changed rapidly for the youngsters. They were provided with the opportunities to shape up their careers and strive for a better life. Massive awareness campaign about the government schemes aimed at shaping up the careers of the youth led to many youngsters coming forward to grab the opportunities provided to them. Utilizing the energies of youth for positive things punctured the "Azadi" propaganda. The youngsters in 'Naya J&K' -- the foundation of which was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah three years ago -- rejected the ideas of separatism and sedition. They shun the labels of being stone-pelters and violence mongers, and boarded the wagon of peace, prosperity and development leaving Pakistan and the terrorists sponsored by it exasperated. New Delhi reached out to J&K youth without involving any power-brokers and in three years it has achieved phenomenal success in its mission to empower a common man in J&K. He is being provided with government jobs as well as the avenues to start his own venture. The void that existed for seven decades between a common Kashmiri and New Delhi has been filled in "Naya J&K". --IANS scor/ ( 1437 Words) 2022-08-05-19:48:02 (IANS) The approvals came at the Committee's 59th meeting. The projects are expected to create employment opportunities for 48,850 people. The projects include 8 new industrial establishments including one from Toyota and 10 additional investment proposals from existing units. Speaking after the meeting the Chief Minister said, "Industries in Ethanol, Aerospace, Semiconductors, machine manufacturing, steel and automobile sectors have come forward to invest and they have been cleared." Major projects that have been cleared include Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Ltd (Rs. 3661 cr), Truals Bioenergy Ltd-Ethanol Plant worth Rs. 1856 crores. In the Semiconductor sector industries, the state cleared Applied Materials India (Rs.1573 cr). Other approvals included medical instruments and spectacle lenses by Carl Zeiss India Pvt. Ltd (Rs. 977 cr). Approvals also included MV Photovoltaic Power Ltd (Solar Panels, Rs. 232 cr), Sri Renuka Sugars (Ethanol, Rs. 775 cr), Chidananda Basavaprabhu Kore Coop (Ethanol Rs. 270 cr). Large and Medium Industries minister Murugesh Nirani, Water Resources minister Govind Karjol, Sugar minister Shankar Patil Munenakoppa, Horticulture minister Muniratna and senior officials were present. (ANI) A woman and her paramour have been arrested in Assam's Nagaon district for allegedly killing her husband after he discovered the illicit relation, officials said. Shockingly, the body was allegedly cut into several pieces, and dumped into the septic tank of the toilet which was recovered nearly three months later. The incident happened in the Kuthori area in Kaliabor in Nagaon the district. Nagaon Superintendent of Police Leena Doley told IANS that the deceased, identified as Umesh Bora, was a carpenter by profession. He used to stay in Bengaluru and work there. He usually visited his home after a two-three month gap. Meanwhile, his wife Rita Bora got into a relationship with a man, Mujibur Rahman. Around three months ago, when Umesh returned home from Bengaluru, he found his wife and Mujibur in a compromising position. According to police, heated words were exchanged between the wife and husband. It was suspected that Rita and her lover Mujibur strangulated Umesh and killed him there. Following that, they made a plan to shield themselves against arrest. Umesh's body was cut into several pieces and inserted into the septic tank. Rita then went on to inform others that Umesh was in Bengaluru and has not returned from there. But, as there was no trace of Bora for several days, the relatives suspected that something wrong might have happened to him. They filed a missing report at a police station. Things eventually started unfolding after police launched an investigation into the matter. Police had a suspicion and upon searching, they recovered a skeleton from the septic tank of the toilet. Doley said: "We have arrested Rita Bora and Mujibur Rahman on Thursday and further investigation is underway." --IANS tanuj/pgh ( 294 Words) 2022-08-05-22:02:04 (IANS) The police in Gujarat's Bharuch have arrested six robbers who had looted the Union Bank's Ankleshwar branch here on Thursday, and recovered Rs 17 lakh from their possession, along with four country-made pistols, two live cartridges and five cellphones. The police had rushed to Ankleshwar on Thursday afternoon after coming to know of the bank robbery. Preliminary information had said that four armed persons had barged into the bank and decamped with Rs 44,24,015 in cash. Later it was found that a total of six persons were involved in the robbery. Sources said when the police tried to chase them, the gang of robbers splitted into groups of two and took two different escape routes. After a brief exchange of fire, the police managed to injure one of the robbers and take him into custody. He has been identified as Rahul Kumar Singh, the mastermind. Bharuch SP Leena Patel said the police managed to recover a bag containing Rs 22 lakh, which the robbers threw at the police while escaping. On questioning Singh, the police learnt that all the gang members were from Bihar and had come to Ankleshwar to carry out a robbery, for which they had stolen two bikes earlier in the day. Acting on the information received from Singh, the police in a midnight operation on Thursday nabbed the remaining five accused from Lakshmannagar, a residential area, and recovered Rs 17 lakh from their possession. They have been identified as Rohit Singh, Ritesh Mandal, Mukesh Mandal, Manish Mandal and Deepak Singh. --IANS haresh/arm ( 267 Words) 2022-08-05-22:44:04 (IANS) Earlier, the police said that one army soldier and a civilian were injured in the encounter at Kulgam that started after a joint team of police and security forces got an input about the presence of terrorists in that area. When the security forces cordoned off the area, terrorists hiding there opened fire, drawing retaliation by the security personnel. "A civilian Manzoor Lone succumbed to his injuries. Injured Army Jawan Kiran Singh of 1RR is hospitalised at 92 base hospital, Srinagar. Search operation concluded," the police said. There have been a series of encounters between terrorists and security forces across Jammu and Kashmir over the last few months. Many terrorists and their commanders have been eliminated. Most of the operations have been jointly conducted by the police and the army on the basis of specific intelligence inputs. --IANS zi/pgh ( 178 Words) 2022-08-05-22:58:01 (IANS) British High Commissioner Alex Ellis on Friday paid a goodwill visit to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, where the latter urged Ellis to catalyze more investments into Maharashtra while vouching for its international class infrastructural competence and availability of skilled manpower for entrepreneurs from England here. Chief Minister Shinde informed the British High Commissioner about the various ambitious ongoing activities in the state and informed the British delegation that the world-class Samruddhi Highway corridor was complete that would give a big push to the industrialization of the entire Vidarbha region. "Various other infrastructure projects like the Metro Rail Project, Bangalore-Mumbai Corridor, Coastal Road, Goa Highway are in progress," Shinde said. "Maharashtra is the leading state in the country accounting for foreign investments over 28 per cent. Maharashtra has availability of skilled manpower, infrastructure, technology etc. Maharashtra has the highest number of startups in the country," he added. CM Shinde also expressed his faith that the close relations between Maharashtra and England will be strengthened further in the future, stating that the state government will provide all possible support to entrepreneurs investing here. Alex Ellis expressed satisfaction with the cooperation from the Maharashtra Government by discussing with the Chief Minister about opportunities in trade, investment etc. on behalf of the British Government. Disclosing his favourite, the British High Commissioner Alex Ellis informed that Mumbai's vada pav was his personal hot favourite eatable, and was included in his daily culinary hospitality. While relishing vada pav, Ellis mentioned that it is now becoming popular in England as well. The foreign diplomat's Hindi conversation skills did surprise CM Shinde. The CM took note of the educational relations between England and the state of Maharashtra and now that the strengthening has started rapidly, CM Shinde said, "currently 20 research projects of England are going on in Maharashtra,' Shinde noted. Britain's Deputy High Commissioner in Mumbai, Catherine Barnes, Deputy High Commissioner's Advisor, Sachin Nikarge, State Environment and Environment Department Principal Secretary and Chief Royal Etiquette Officer, Manisha Mhaiskar, Industries Department Principal Secretary Harshdeep Kamble and others were present on this occasion. (ANI) Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana said on Friday that global culture is emerging as a threat to local culture, symbols, and identities. In his address at the 82nd convocation of Osmania University here, he noted that driven by the winds of globalisation, people are moving towards global culture and as this engulfs the world, the need of sustaining diversity assumes greater significance. "The social media, television and pop culture glamourised a particular way of life and sadly, we are blindly aping the same. Instead of celebrating our distinct heritage and culture, we are allowing our rich identities to be blurred," he said. The CJI pointed out that with rapid globalisation and massive developments in science and technology, several cultures and identities are interacting with each other with increased frequency. He said while his observations should not be taken as criticism of globalisation per se, the prevalent issues definitely prove that something has gone wrong with the present model of globalisation. "Although we have made significant achievements, our societies are becoming increasingly divided over access to wealth and resources," he observed. Quoting the 2021 UNESCO World Report of Languages, the Chief Justice said half of the approximately 7,000 languages spoken in the world today could disappear by the end of the century and with loss of each language, people are not only losing considerable literature and folklore, but also losing wisdom inherited through generations. He also noted that globalisation also significantly impacted genetic diversity. "We are witnessing rapid loss of crop varieties, wild species and indigenous livestock," he said. As the market is driven by demands of the global economy, more and more farmers are moving beyond indigenous crops for short-term gains and this change in cropping pattern is altering the character of soils, thereby reducing its capacity to support biodiversity. Similarly, climate change and environmental pollution are also affecting the wild varieties resulting in a huge ecological imbalance, he said. He pointed out that another aspect of globalisation is its impact on local handicrafts and artisans. "With global brands flooding the markets, with mass produced designs and products, the local artisans are pushed to the corner," he said. He called for all institutions to introduce a subject on the basic ideas about the Constitution and governance, irrespective of the stream of learning. He observed that there is a need for simplifying the ideas of the Constitution for everyone's understanding and empowerment The CJI believes true education is what nurtures true impulses and independent thinking. He advised the youth to dive deep and bring transformation from within instead of being prisoners of status quo. Chief Justice Ramana, who was conferred Honoris Causa doctorate by Osmania University, recalled his memories with the varsity during his student days though he did not study in the institution. "Initially in my student days, I aspired to join law at Osmania University. Although I could not join law formally, I stayed here with friends in hostel rooms and attended many classes in law and linguistics. I have a lot of warm memories of Osmania University," he said. He said Osmania University is one of those institutions where political participation and scholarly pursuits went hand-in-hand and it has produced one of the most remarkable Prime Ministers and statesmen of modern India in the form of P.V. Narasimha Rao. He said the university contributed to fine governance by producing many Chief Ministers and cabinet ministers including incumbent Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Osmania University Vice Chancellor Professor D. Ravinder also spoke. A total of 55 gold medals and 260 doctoral degrees were awarded at the convocation. --IANS ms/vd ( 620 Words) 2022-08-05-23:08:02 (IANS) The Indian Air Force chief was on a two-day visit to Bengaluru and reviewed the aircraft which are being inducted into IAF as part of its drive towards 'AtmaNirbhartaInDefence'. "CAS was on a two-day visit to Bengaluru where he flew the #indigenous platforms, Light Combat Aircraft Mk 1 'Tejas', Light Combat Helicopter & HTT-40, which are being inducted into #IAF as part of its drive towards AtmaNirbhartaInDefence, ' Tweeted IAF. Taking note of the situation, the IAF Chief also interacted with the test crew. "The CAS was demonstrated the upgrades on the Tejas programme and capabilities of the other two indigenous platforms. He also interacted with the test crew and designers to understand the current status and future plans," IAF added. (ANI) Amid the heavy rainfall battering various regions of the southern state of Kerala, three pregnant women who were stranded in a forest during the downpour were rescued by officials on Friday. The women were stranded in the middle of the forest during heavy rains and were later safely shifted to the colony with the help of the forest department and police. One out of the three women gave birth to a baby girl in the forest as she refused to go to the hospital. The new mother and the baby are safe. The other two expecting mothers are six and seven months pregnant. A team led by the District Medical officer convinced the trio and later shifted them to Chalakudy Taluk Hospital. The team rescued them using a flatboat and covered a two-kilometre adventure through the Peringalkuth Reservoir. Kerala Health minister Veena George took note of the incident and congratulated the team who rescued the pregnent women. Earlier, in view of heavy rainfall, the State Water Authority of Kerala on Friday opened four shutters of the Malampuzha dam and also issued a warning for those living close to the banks of the Mukkaipuzha, Kalpathipuzha, and Bharathapuzha rivers. As per the rule curve, the capacity of the dam is 112.99 meters. The situation is not alarming at present but the shutters were opened and raised up to 5 cm in view of the heavy rains. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted widespread rains in Kerala from August 4 to 8 and warned that the state can expect isolated extremely heavy rainfall over its Ghat regions. The water level in all major rivers across Kottayam and Pathanamthitta are rising fast and people are being evacuated to relief camps. Over 2,000 people are in relief camps across the State. Till now, six deaths have been reported in Kerala due to heavy rains. Earlier on August 4, the shutters of Sholayar and Peringalkuthu Dams were raised and the Chalakudy river is in spate. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has urged people living on the banks of the Chalakudy river to move out as the water flow is likely to increase by evening. He said that those living in the low-lying areas of Thrissur and Ernakulam districts to be cautious. Due to the rains, the Idukki district has declared a holiday on Friday for educational institutions.Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in areas in the state likely to be hit by landslides and floods and air and naval forces put on standby. Earlier in the month of July, the Kannur and Kasargod districts witnessed heavy showers with the rivers of Kasargod overflowing. Several houses in Kannur collapsed and got partially damaged due to the inundation of rainwater inside. One family had to be shifted from the Payannur municipality due to the overflow. The water levels of Kadalundi (Malapuram), Bharathapuzha (Palakkad), Shiriya (Kasargod), Karavannoor (Thrissur) and Gayathripuzha (Thrissur) rivers have reached the warning level. (ANI) This comes amid the great enthusiasm among citizens regarding the August 15 occasion of the country after Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign across the country. PM Modi on Sunday (July 31) called upon all citizens to turn the ''Har Ghar Tiranga'' campaign into a mass movement by hoisting or displaying the national flag at their homes and using the ''Tiranga'' as a display picture on their social media accounts between August 2 and August 15 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India''s Independence. Har Ghar Tiranga is a campaign under the aegis of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to encourage people to bring the Tiranga home and to hoist it to mark the 75th year of India''s independence. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is an initiative of the Government of India to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence and the glorious history of India''s people, culture and achievements. (ANI) By Trend The IDF has begun Operation Breaking Dawn against Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip, striking multiple targets belonging to the group and killed close to a dozen operatives including the head of the group in the northern part of the enclave, Trend reports citing The Jerusalem Post. Defense Minister of Israel Benny Gantz approved a draft order of up to 25,000 soldiers in reserve duty for operational purposes and the IDF began calling up reservists in the Southern Command, Air Defense Array, Homefront Command and combat troops and officers. "The goal of this operation is the elimination of a concrete threat against the citizens of Israel and the civilians living adjacent to the Gaza Strip," Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement. Dozens of targets across the Gaza Strip were hit, with casualties including the head of the groups northern command Tayseer al-Jabari. The IDF said that they had received a specific warning that he was planning an attack against Israeli targets before the arrest of Bassem Saadi earlier in the week in an arrest raid in the West Bank. "Incredible form demonstrated by our wrestlers. Adding to the medals tally is Mohit Grewal. His sharp focus stands out as he brings home a Bronze medal. Congratulations to him. I hope he scales new heights of success in the times to come," PM Modi tweeted. Mohit Grewal defeated Johnson 5-0 in the bronze medal match. He bagged the medal in only 3 minutes and 30 seconds. The Indian grappler proved to be too good for his Jamaican opponent as he managed to hold his own while keeping his opponent at bay. It was a one-sided affair where Grewal displayed his wrestling skills at the best to beat Johnson via pinfall. It was a spectacular day for India in wrestling as they won medals including three gold at the ongoing Commonwealth Games 2022. Bajrang Punia successfully defended his title and won his second successive gold medal in CWGs. While Deepak Punia bagged his maiden medal in CWG and he got it done with gold under his kitty. Sakshi Malik also returned to her best and claimed gold to add more to India's tally. Anshu Malik won the silver after losing the final bout, while Divya Kakran and Mohit Grewal won the bronze medals in their respective categories. India have now won six medals in wrestling on Friday - three golds, one silver and two bronze. So far, Indian athletes have won 26 medals-- nine golds, eight silvers and nine bronze-- at the Commonwealth Games 2022. Commonwealth Games 2022 started in Birmingham on July 28 and will go on till August 8. (ANI) Voting for the Vice Presidential election in which the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate is pitted against the Opposition nominee Margaret Alva began at 10 am and will continue till 5 pm. All MPs of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, including nominated members, are entitled to vote in the vice presidential election. Votes will be counted today itself and the next Vice-President of the country will take the oath of office on August 11, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends. Janata Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK and Shiv Sena have expressed their support for Dhankar. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) have expressed their support to Alva. the Trinamool Congress has said that is abstaining from the vote On July 18, Dhankhar filed his nomination papers before Returning Officer and Secretary General, Lok Sabha in the Parliament House. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, and BJP chief JP Nadda were present when Dhankar filed his nomination. The vice president of India, which is the second-highest constitutional post in the country, is elected through an electoral college consisting of members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. Dhankhar, who is a lawyer by profession, joined politics in 1989. He became the governor of West Bengal in July 2019 and has made headlines since then over his tumultuous relations with the Mamata Banerjee government. He tendered his resignation as the Governor of West Bengal. On Wednesday, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) announced its support for the National Democratic Alliance's (NDA) candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar in the upcoming vice presidential elections.Earlier, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati announced her party's support for Dhankhar. Meanwhile, Alva filed her nomination for the vice presidential election on July 19. Opposition parties on July 17 decided to field the former Rajasthan Governor as their joint candidate for the vice presidential election. The decision to field Alva was taken at a meeting of Opposition leaders of 17 parties at the residence of NCP supremo Sharad Pawar. On Friday, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) announced to support Opposition candidate Margaret Alva for the vice-presidential elections. In 2017, the NDA nominated Venkaiah Naidu as its candidate for the vice-presidential election and his term ends on August 10, 2022. (ANI) In a setback to the Congress party in Telangana, All India Congress Committee (AICC) Spokesperson Dasoju Sravan resigned from the party on Friday, alleging chaos within the party under the direction of state Congress unit chief Revanth Reddy. Speaking to ANI, the former AICC spokesperson said, "Telangana Congress committee's President Revanth Reddy is working against fundamental principles of Congress party and value system of democracy and social justice, he's running the party as per his whims and fancy." "He (Reddy) is showing disregard toward backward classes, demonstrating upper-class hegemony. Because of Reddy, Congress pushed to a position where they cannot fight the dictatorial rule of KCR. I thus resign with resentment," Sravan alleged after resigning from Congress. He further said Revanth Reddy had disregarded all of Sonia Gandhi's and Rahul Gandhi's ideals. Sravan's resignation from the party is the second one this week. Earlier on Tuesday, senior Congress leader and MLA from Telangana's Munugode constituency, Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy announced his resignation from the Congress party and also as a legislator. Sravan contested as an MLA from the Khairatabad constituency in 2014. "Since 2014, I have been fighting on behalf of the congress party as a spokeperson against the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party with the hope to dethrone KCR, but unfortunately because of tyrannical tendencies, dictatorial tendencies of Revanth Reddy, the congress party has pushed itself in the position where they cannot fight with KCR and TRS party." "I tried speaking to Rahul Gandhi and my mentors in Congress like Jairam Ramesh but unfortunately they are also helpless because of this erratic attitude of Revanth Reddy," he said. Sravan further said he will continue to fight against KCR. "My views against KCR or TRS won't change just because I have quit the party. Since 2014, I am continuing to fight against KCR and will continue to fight against KCR," he asserted. (ANI) India's first-ever end-to-end Digital Lok Adalat will be held on August 13 by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) and Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA). The digitalisation of Lok Adalat will facilitate common people to get justice from the comforts of their homes. It will mark a milestone in the history of the Indian judicial system, given the rising case pendency in various courts across the country. Jupitice, which claims to be the world's first Justice Technology Company, is set to host the event. This Digital Lok Adalat, powered by AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Blockchain, was launched by the National Legal Services Authority Chairman and Supreme Court judge, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit during the 18th All India Legal Services Authorities' meet held in Jaipur in July. The Digital Lok Adalat would lead the way for the transformation of the dispute resolution ecosystem across India. It will also enhance the 'Ease of Justice'. The digitalised version of Lok Adalat has been designed, developed and implemented to adapt to the evolving demands of various stakeholders by using technology. The previously held physical Lok Adalats have already been making headlines by resolving record cases in a single day. "This digitalisation will not only help MSLSA to ease its back-end administrative work but would also be beneficial for common people when it comes to the speedy resolution of cases at the pre-litigation stage," said Dinesh P Surana, Member Secretary, MSLSA, Mumbai. Jupitice's Digital Lok Adalat will be used by Maharashtra and Rajasthan to dispose of pending disputes/disputes at the pre-litigation stages quickly and efficiently, said Raman Aggarwal, Founder and CEO, Justice Technologies. He said with Jupitice's online services, the administrative work of the Lok Adalat would not only be more cost-effective but will also ensure efficiency, convenience, and transparency to all the stakeholders involved in the process. "Aligning with Lok Adalat's vision to provide access to justice for all, Justice has developed the AI-powered Digital Lok Adalat to make its services more accessible, affordable, cost-effective, transparent, accountable, equitable, and secure. This non-adversarial approach of dispute resolution will definitely be a beneficial tool for unifying and harmonising the society," said Aggarwal. (ANI) The tussle between the Centre and Delhi government over the Delhi excise policy row continued to brew as Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Saturday demanded a CBI probe against former Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal alleging his decisions had caused a loss to the exchequer. "The Lieutenant Governor (LG) took a u-turn to benefit some liquor shop owners. The LG changed his own policy as approved 48 hours earlier. Due to his decision, thousands of crores were lost to the government and some shopkeepers got the benefit of thousands of crores. I've written to the CBI to probe ex-LG's change of stance on opening of liquor shops in unauthorized areas," Sisodia alleged in a press conference on Saturday. The Delhi deputy chief minister is facing fire from the BJP which has alleged corruption in the implementation of the liquor policy by the AAP government. Sisodia, however, hit out at the former LG who was a appointed the ruling BJP at the Centre. "Under the new excise policy, 849 shops were to be opened across Delhi, including in unauthorised areas. The LG did not object to the proposal and approved it," Sisodia said. He said that the LG had changed his stance two days before the implementation of the policy, introducing a condition that permission from the Delhi Development Authority and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi would be needed. Baijal was the Delhi LG when the Arvind Kejriwal government prepared the new excise policy, which was implemented on November 17, 2021. The government has now withdrawn the policy and is preparing to run liquor vends under the old excise regime through its undertakings from September 1. The excise policy under which the private liquor vends are currently being run in the city comes to an end on August 31. The Delhi government corporations will run retail liquor vends from September 1 and there will be no private players in the segment. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday took a serious view of procedural lapses and delays by investigating agencies like the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) and the Directorate of Vigilance (DoV) in the course of an investigation into complaints or cases of corruption against government officials. G Saxena has also expressed displeasure over concerned administrative departments not furnishing or delaying comments sought by the investigating agencies in complaints against their officials, according to an official statement. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid a courtesy visit to Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Saturday. During his meeting with the Home Minister, the Chief Minister said that Uttarakhand is one of the pioneers in Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) computerization despite being a hilly state. The Chief Minister said that a total expenditure of Rs 18.76 crore has been made by 670 PACS in Uttarakhand. Dhami said that more than 108 PACS of the state have gone live. The work of the remaining 502 committees is to be completed in the next 6 months, informed the Chief Minister's office. The Chief Minister also expressed his gratitude to Amit Shah for the decision to computerize all PACS. He said that this would certainly revolutionize the working of societies and would prove to be one of the most important reforms in the cooperative sector. Pushkar Singh Dhami is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and serving as the 10th and the current Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. He was elected as MLA in Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha from Khatima in 2012 and 2017. He was appointed Chief Minister for the first time in 2021. (ANI) The Chief Minister will chair the meeting from his RT Nagar residence, seek details of the havoc caused by incessant rains and issue directions for effective rescue and relief measures, informed the government. The DCs of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Kodagu, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru, Davangere, Tumakuru, Ramnagar, Yadgir, Koppala, Haveri, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Gadag and Chikkamagaluru would participate. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Thursday warned of extremely heavy rain across Karnataka especially over the South Interior region for the next three days. Karnataka State Disaster Management Authority has issued an orange alert for Bidar, Kalaburgi, Yadgir, Vijayapura, Raichur, Haveri and Dharwad districts for Saturday and a yellow warning for other districts of north interior Karnataka. Yellow warning for Bidar, Kalaburagi and Yadgir on Sunday and Monday. In south interior Karnataka, a yellow warning for Davangere and no warning for the remaining districts till August 10. Meanwhile, CM Bommai on Saturday said his trip to Delhi stands cancelled after he tested positive for COVID-19, with mild symptoms. "I have tested positive for Covid-19 with Mild symptoms and have isolated myself at home. Those who came in touch with me in the last few days, kindly isolate yourself and get yourself tested. My trip to Delhi stands cancelled," tweeted Bommai today morning. Bommai was set to attend the 3rd meeting of the National Committee of 'Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav' headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 7th meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog during his visit to Delhi. This is for the second time that Bommai has tested positive for COVID-19. Earlier on January 10, 2022, Bommai has tested positive for COVID-19.(ANI) Ahead of the Raksha Bandhan festival, students of various schools in Delhi and Tamil Nadu on Saturday handed over self-made rakhis to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The students made the rakhi for the soldiers guarding the borders. The Defence Minister promised school students that he would send their handmade rakhis to soldiers defending the country. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "As the Defence Minister of the country, I assure you that I myself will provide these rakhis to the three service chiefs so that these can reach the jawans of all the three services." "I will provide these Rakhis to the three Chiefs of the Services, these will reach to the wrists of all the jawans," he said. Principal of Tamil Nadu Banergal School, Dr Rama Subramaniam said a total of 1.5 lakh handmade rakhis were made for brave soldiers. "With lots of love and gratitude, we have brought 1.5 lakh handmade rakhis for brave soldiers of our country. 75,000 rakhis have Tirukkural printed on them and another 75,000 rakhis are handmade," Subramaniam said. On this occasion, a total of 21 students from Delhi were present along with their teachers. Poet and lyricist Manoj Muntashir and Dr Rama Subramaniam also marked their presence. At the request of the Defence Minister, Muntashir sang the song "Teri Mitti Mein Mil Jawa" written by him. Sai Public School student, Chahat Khanna said "Soldiers are our real heroes." "The school has taken a very good initiative, soldiers are our real heroes. Soldiers who can not go home, we all consider them as our brothers, they should be the first ones to tie rakhi," Khanna said. Another student of Modern Convent School, Aishwarya said, "Soldiers protect our country, they contribute to the country, they protect us, so we should also contribute by sending them rakhis made with our own hands." Meanwhile, Tarun Vijay, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said the message on rakhis were written 18 languages and about 25,000 of these in the Santhali language. "These rakhis are all handmade, prepared in Tamil Nadu and about 25,000 prepared in the Santhali language, which we understand is the language of our tribal brothers and sisters and the President comes from the Santhali community," Vijay said. Raksha Bandhan marks the bond of love between the siblings and will be celebrated on August 11. Raksha Bandhan is celebrated on the full moon of the Savan month of the Hindu year. The month of Savan is considered an auspicious period among the Hindus and Lord Shiva is worshipped every Monday during this entire time. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday paid a courtesy call on Ashwini Vaishnav, Union Minister for Railways, Communications, Electronics and Information Technology on Saturday. On the request of Dhami, the Union Minister approved 1,206 mobile towers of BSNL in Uttarakhand to strengthen the mobile network in the state. The cost of each mobile tower will be Rs 1 crore. During his meeting with the Railway Minister, the Chief Minister also requested to start a Jan Shatabdi rail service between Tanakpur-Dehradun. The Chief Minister said that at present, there is only one train service running between Dehradun-Kathgodam to connect Kumaon and Garhwal. People move from Tanakpur because of the Nepal border and so, to further strengthen the Kumaon-Garhwal connectivity, it is necessary to operate a Jan Shatabdi rail on the Tanakpur-Dehradun route in the public interest. The Chief Minister also asked for the Tanakpur-Bageshwar railway line as a broad gauge instead of a narrow gauge and for making the Haridwar-Dehradun rail line a double lane. Dhami asked for many railway lines in the state like the Rishikesh-Uttarkashi rail line and the Kichha-Khatima rail line and urged the Minister for the modernization of the Harrawala railway station. The Railway Minister has agreed to all the demands. The Chief Minister also requested to make necessary arrangements to complete the journey in 05-06 hours by reducing the travel time of Purnagiri Jan Shatabdi which runs between Tanakpur and Delhi. In connection with the Roodki-Deobband rail project, he also requested to release the state government from paying the remaining due amount of 99.01 crores relative to the 50 per cent contribution while finalizing the contribution amount of 296.67 crores paid so far by the state government. Pushkar Singh Dhami is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and serves as the 10th and the current Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. He was elected as MLA in Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha from Khatima in 2012 and 2017. He was appointed Chief Minister for the first time in 2021. (ANI) Aiming to improve communication and high-speed data network to support operational requirements of field formations, the Indian Army is looking to establish 5G network along borders. China has already begun establishing the 5G network along the Line Of Actual Control (LAC) for better communication. Sources in the Defence establishment said that the Indian Army has been endeavouring to exploit 5G for supporting operations in the tactical battlefield area. "The high bandwidth low latency connectivity promised by 5G is envisaged to be better suited for mission-critical communication for troops conducting operations at forwarding edge of the battlefield," said a source. Towards this end, a detailed Joint Services Study was carried out on the implementation of 5G in Defence Services under the aegis of the Corps of Signals. The study has deliberated upon and recommended a roadmap for the induction of 5G into the Defence Forces. Also, a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment of 5G Testbed has been signed between the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering and IIT Madras. The test bed will facilitate validation of military use cases of 5G for a field army. Some of the use cases being examined include smart surveillance, telemedicine, drone control, and, real-time augmented and virtual reality for training and operations. Meanwhile, the fifth generation (5G) telecom services are likely to be launched in India by October this year as the government on Monday successfully completed the spectrum auction mopping up over Rs 1.50 lakh crore in bids by four companies including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Adani Data Networks. Addressing a media briefing after the end of the bidding for the 5G spectrum, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw said out of the total 72,098 MHz of spectrum on offer, 51,236 MHz or around 71 per cent has been sold in the auction. Talking to ANI, Vaishnaw said the allocation of the spectrum to the successful bidders would be done by August 10 and the 5G services are likely to be launched in the country by October this year. Vaishnaw said that better availability of spectrum will improve the quality of telecom services in the country. (ANI) By Trend The 17th Everything About Water Expo 2022 was inaugurated today by Ambassador of Israel in India Naor Gilon in the national capital to strengthen the cooperation between Israel and India in the water sector and the longstanding ties between the two nations, Trend reports citing ThePrint. Israel is the country partner in the event, which is taking place at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi from August 4-6. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Gilon said, We are happy to bring 4 Israeli water experts as speakers in this Water Expo. They took part in a conference, where they shared their experience and technical know-how about advanced technologies and Israel-India partnership in the field of water. The visit of these water experts to India, to take part in this Water Expo, has further deepened the ongoing water partnership between our two countries. An international conference on innovative and sustainable water and environmental technologies has been launched at the Water Expo in which four high-level water experts from Israel participated. The experts shared their knowledge and expertise in a session about India-Israel water partnership and the session was chaired by the Director General of National Mission for Clean Ganga, G. Asok Kumar. The four Israeli water experts who marked their presence during the event were CEO of Meniv Rishon Ltd, Israel, Sally Levy, Senior Deputy Legal Adviser of the Governmental Authority For Water And Sewage (IWA) of Israel, Tahel Brandes, Professor Hadas Mamane, Head, Environmental Engineering Program and The Water-Energy (WE) Lab, School Of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Israel and Dr Lior Asaf, Water Attache, Embassy Of Israel, New Delhi. Notably, the conference also witnessed participation of Indian officials working in the water sector. Another highlight of the event was the inauguration of an Israeli pavilion, which showcased cutting-edge water technologies of 8 leading Israeli water companies. The Israeli water companies introduced solutions related to water distribution and management, filtration, leak detection, wastewater treatment, desalination and water security. Moreover, the importance of the water partnership between Israel and India can be understood from the fact that both countries signed two major water agreements to increase cooperation in water conservation and state water utility reform during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Israel in 2017. India is the only country wherein Israel has the position of Water Attache to help share Israeli best practices and technologies for advancements in Indias water management sector. "It is being said there was a cylinder explosion, but that's not the case. They were cooking near few diesel canisters, so a fire broke out. They are yet to be identified," the Bihar police said As per the information, the blast took place somewhere in the middle of the lake when some illegal sand was transported via a boat from one end to another while the food was being cooked. The Maner Police Station Officer, Maner Block Development Officer (BDO) and Fire fighting Officer reached the spot soon after receiving the information about the blast and five deaths. Officer-in-Charge of Fire Fighting Office Bihta, Patna, Vikash Kumar, further informed that there were 20 labourers on the boat and the sand is being unloaded at the site. The deceased are yet to be identified. More detials are awaaited. (ANI) Delhi Police arrested four people after an employee of a spa-cum-massage centre in Delhi's Pitampura alleged she was molested and sexually assaulted by its manager and a client. A 22-year-old woman complained of sexual assault in a spa centre at Delhi's Pitampura on Thursday. Officials from Maurya Enclave police station rushed to the spot and began the investigation. "On August 4 at 10 p.m., a PCR call was received at PS Maurya Enclave regarding a sexual assault with a woman at a Spa Centre, Pitampura Delhi. The police immediately reached the spot (the ocean spa centre) where a victim aged 22 years along with her husband were present outside the spa centre and complained regarding sexual assault on her by the manager of the spa centre and one more person," said police. She was sent to the hospital for her medical examination. A counsellor from DCW visited her. "She stated that on June 30 she joined the spa on August 4 at about 6 p.m. one person came there along with manager Rahul and demanded sexual favours. The manager offered her a cold drink, after consuming it she felt dizzy and both raped her," said police. Accordingly, a case under Sections 354A/328/376 D of IPC was registered and both the accused persons were arrested. They have been identified as Rahul (21), who is the manager of the spa centre and Satish Kumar (48), the client. The owners have a licence from MCD, and the concerned civic agency has been intimated to cancel the license and seal the premises. A case under 188 IPC has been registered against the Ocean Spa Centre for violation of guidelines and the owners of the spa centre Brij Gopal (49) and Sandeep (48) have also been arrested. Further, preventive action under Sections 107/150 CRPC has been taken against them. Investigation of the case is in progress, added police. (ANI) Union minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) achieved a disposal rate of around 91 per cent in three years from 2015 to 2019 and there continues to be a steady rise in the disposal of cases. The disposal rate was around 89 per cent from 2010 to 2014, during the UPA regime, said Singh, at his meeting with newly-appointed Chairman of CAT Justice Ranjit Vasantrao More here. More called on Singh and discussed the modalities to achieve almost zero pendency of cases as mandated by the Prime Minister. The minister further referred to clarification by Justice L Narasimha Reddy, former CAT Chairman, that the Tribunal recorded the disposal rate of 104 per cent in 2020 despite the appointment of members being delayed on account of the pendency of a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court. Singh informed that despite the crippling effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, CAT benches tried their best to dispose of cases through online mechanisms. During the pandemic situation in 2020 and 2021, a total of 55,567 cases were instituted, said the Minister. "Despite the adverse situation, about 30,011 cases were disposed of, with a disposal percentage of 54." "In 2021 the disposal rate was 58.6 per cent and this was despite the fact that around 18,845 old pending cases of Jammu and Kashmir High Court were transferred to the Jammu Bench of CAT," said Singh. On measures to strengthen CAT, Singh informed that as of date, recommendations of the Search-cum-Selection Committee (SCSC) have been received in respect of 33 members and a proposal in respect of 33 members, CAT has been submitted for seeking the approval of the Competent Authority. The Minister said that in the last week of July this year, foundation stones of the construction of Court-cum-office building of the Guwahati Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal and Lucknow Bench of CAT are steps towards this direction. Singh also recalled that after the conversion of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, two benches of CAT were established, at Jammu and Srinagar vide notification dated May 28, 2020, for the service matters of employees of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Jammu Bench was made functional with effect from June 8, 2020, whereas Srinagar Bench was inaugurated by the Minister himself on November 23, 2021. Administrative Tribunal (CAT) was constituted on November 1, 1985, under the 'Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985' for adjudication of grievances and disputes arising out of the conditions of service of an employee appointed to the public services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union. CAT has 19 regular Benches, 17 of which operate at the principal seats of High Courts and the remaining two at Jaipur and Lucknow. CAT has a sanctioned strength of 70 Members including the Chairman (35 Judicial and 35 Administrative). As per the Tribunal Rules, 2021, Chairman can be either Judicial Member or Administrative Member. At present, the Chairman, of CAT is from the Judicial Stream. Selection of Members in CAT could not be done earlier due to various ongoing court cases in Supreme Court/ High Courts challenging the act/ rules governing the appointment of Members of Tribunals. Hence, the selection process could be initiated only after notification of the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021 and the Rules made there-under. Out of 19 Benches, nine have been working from their own buildings and seven from the space provided by the CPWD in GPOA and three in rented buildings. The building for the Jabalpur Bench was completed last year and the Bench has shifted to its new building with effect from June 26, 2021. During the Financial Year 2022-23, a fund of Rs 25 crore has been allocated to CAT for the construction of buildings for its benches at Lucknow and Guwahati. (ANI) The central government on Friday launched a smart prepaid metering mobile App and Consumer Services Index of DISCOMs (power distribution companies). The Centre also launched the 10th Integrated Ratings of DISCOMs. Union Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh on Friday chaired the Review Planning and Monitoring (RPM) meeting with States and State Power Utilities. Minister of State for Power and Heavy Industries Krishan Pal Gurjar and top officials of the Union Power Ministry and power departments of States were present at the meeting. According to the Ministry of Power, the meeting deliberated on several issues of national importance in the power sector with underpinnings of sectoral viability and sustainability. These included liquidation of government department electricity dues and subsidy dues; progress on prepaid Smart metering in government departments; establishing robust systems of energy accounting and subsidy accounting and timely and advance payments thereof; timely fixation of regular and true-up tariffs; timely finalisation of Utility accounts; Progress of Feeder & DT metering; progress on Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS); and compliance in regard to Electricity (Late Payment Surcharge and Related Matters) Rules, 2022. During the meeting, Union Minister launched the 10th Integrated Rating of Power Distribution Utilities, first Consumer Service Rating of DISCOMs and the Bharat eSmart Mobile Application (BeSMA). As a step towards enhancing consumer empowerment, a free-to-use mobile App for prepaid smart meters was also launched for the nationwide rollout of smart metering. This mobile App would build up on the data of the smart meters and would provide essential information to consumers in regard to their usage and balance of electricity remaining, both in terms of units and monetary terms. The App would enable consumers to access real-time information pertaining to their electricity usage and receive alerts and notifications. Further, the App provides multiple options and gateways like UPI, net banking, credit and debit card etc for payment and recharge through mobile phones with ease. This mobile App is aimed at achieving consumer delight by enabling them to achieve command over their electricity usage in almost real-time, while also helping them in electricity usage as per their needs, altering consumption behaviour to achieve energy efficiency, as well as help them in lowering their bills. This App would be available to all the Distribution Utilities free of charge once they place a requirement to the Ministry of Power. While the App is amenable to a top-level customisation as per specific utility needs, operations and maintenance for 10 years would also be free for the DISCOMs. The mobile App is built on strong security measures and is adequately equipped to protect individual data. The Ministry said an Integrated Rating exercise is being carried out annually since 2012 with the aim of evaluating the performance of utilities on a range of parameters covering financial sustainability, performance excellence and external environment and their ability to sustain improvements year over year. The methodology for the rating has been comprehensively reviewed and revised in the current rating exercise, which is the 10th one in the series. The rating now lays a higher emphasis on financial performance, while also assessing operational efficiencies and external ecosystem of DISCOMs. The rating will now be dynamic in nature based on triggers having impact on DISCOM financials. Private DISCOMs and State power departments have also been included for comprehensive sectoral coverage, stated the Ministry. Taking forward the multiple reform measures centred around ensuring the best-in-class services to electricity consumers across the country, Singh also launched the first-ever Consumer Service Rating of DISCOMs (CSRD) for the FY 2020-21. The Ministry said the report captures the current status of consumer services across various DISCOMs. It delves into key parameters of consumer services such as operational reliability, connection services, metering, billing and collection services, fault rectification and grievance redressal. The DISCOMs have been rated across various identified parameters on a seven-point scale. The intent is to enable sharing of best practices of top-performing DISCOMs as well as to help other DISCOMs in identifying critical areas for enhancing performance. These initiatives would pave the path towards an efficient and sustainable power distribution sector, said the Union Power Ministry. (ANI) During his ternure as the Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu took a keen interest in the functioning of department related standing committees of the Rajya Sabha and also reviewed their functioning. The vice-president, who is also the ex-officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, is entitled to review the works of Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees of the Upper House. Though the Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees were introduced in 1993, their working was never reviewed till Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu did in 2019 for the first time, informed government sources. Naidu has been reviewing before and during each session and sharing the findings with the Members of the House, they said. Between August 2017 to June 2022, a total of 558 meetings were held by the eight standing committees of the Rajya Sabha with an improved average duration of over two hours and attendance of over 45 per cent per meeting. A total of 369 reports were presented by the eight Committees of Rajya Sabha. The average duration of meetings has improved by 20 per cent and attendance by about 6 per cent over that of 2016-2017. The average duration of two hours 36 minutes and attendance of 58.24 per cent for the meetings of the Committees on Demands for Grants in 2021 was the best performance. While only two Committees reported an average duration of over two hours in 2017-2018, it has been so for six Committees during 2020-2021. While no Committee reported 50 per cent attendance in 2017-2018, three Committees did so during 2020-2021, said the government. On average, about 78 per cent of the Rajya Sabha members daily signed the attendance register as required for the daily allowance to be paid while 2.56 per cent never attend the proceedings on a daily basis. About 30 per cent of the members reported full attendance during different sessions. Naidu always urged the House Members to speak in their mother tongue in the House. The use of Indian languages in the proceedings of the House has substantially increased by about four times during 2018-2020 in comparison with the same during the period of 14 years from 2004-2017. Four languages viz., Dogri, Kashmiri, Konkani and Santhali have been used for the first time in 2020 since the House came into being in 1952. Six languages viz., Assamese, Bodo, Gujarati, Maithili, Manipuri and Nepali were used after a gap of several years. MP Sarojini Hembram became the first Member to speak in Santhali during the Zero Hour in the Winter Session of 2019, sixty-seven years after Rajya Sabha came into being. During these 13 sessions of Rajya Sabha under Naidu, the House has made amendments to 14 Bills that were passed by the Lok Sabha and the same were accepted by the other House. These include s the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019; The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2019; The Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill, 2019; The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019; The Major Port Authorities Bill, 2021; The Dam Safety Bill, 2021 and The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2021, according more say to the States in the matters covered there under. Four Constitution Amendment Bills were passed including those granting constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Classes in 2019 and providing for maximum of 10% reservations for economically backward sections. The other major Bills passed by Rajya include the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill, 2018; The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019; The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019; The Code on Wages, 2019; The Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill, 2019; The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019; The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019; The Direct Tax Vivad Se Vishwas Bill, 2020; The Code on Social Security, 2020 and The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2021. The chairperson of the Rajya Sabha presides over the house, conducts its proceedings and gives rulings on matters of disagreement and friction between the opposition and treasury benches inside the house. (ANI) The voting began earlier this morning at 10 am and concluded at 5 pm. The contest is between NDA candidate Jagdeep Dhankhar, a former West Bengal Governor and the front-runner, and opposition candidate Margret Alva, a former union minister. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were among top political leaders who cast their vote on Saturday in the vice-presidential election. Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda also cast their votes as did the other MPs. The Vice-President is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of both Houses of Parliament, in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of the single transferable vote. The voting is by secret ballot. The Electoral College to elect a person to the office of the Vice-President consists of all members of both Houses of Parliament. Dr Manmohan Singh, 89, arrived in wheelchair to cast his vote. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also cast his vote besides other MPs. The Vice-President, who is also Chairman of Rajya Sabha, is not a member of the House. The next Vice-President of the country will take the oath of office on August 11, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends. (ANI) The bench of Additional District Judge of Varanasi MP MLA Court Siyaram Chaurasia acquitted Rai for lack of evidence. Rai attended the proceedings via video conferencing from Naini Central Jail. Atul Rai is a BSP MP from Ghosi constituency in Uttar Pradesh. He was lodged in Naini Jail for the last three years. A woman from Ballia filed a rape case against the BSP MP on May 1, 2019 at the Lanka police station in Varanasi. Notably, the woman along with an eyewitness in this case, set herself on fire by pouring flammable material on herself in front of the Supreme Court on August 16, 2019. After which both were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi in critical condition. However, both succumbed to injuries after nine days. (ANI) Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday saying that he will be boycotting the seventh Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, scheduled to be held on August 7, as a mark of protest against the Centre's alleged blatant discrimination against states including Telangana. Rao alleged that the Centre is not treating states as equal partners in efforts to make India a developed country. In the letter, Chief Minister Rao on Saturday stated, "I do not find it useful to attend the 7th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog scheduled to be held on August 7 and I am staying away from it as a mark of strong protest against the present trend of the Central Govt to discriminate against the states and not treating them as equal partners in our collective efforts to make India a strong and developed country." "NITI Aayog was started as a new institution with the lofty objective of bringing the states on the same page with the Centre for ensuring the equitable development of our country in the true spirit of cooperative federalism," stated the letter. He further stated that the underlying principle was that cooperative federalism was the adhesive that would bind the states and Centre together as 'Team India' and help India emerge as a strong nation. "The other idea behind the initiative of NITI Aayog was the realization that only strong states can make a strong nation," he added. "But recent unpleasant happenings have given rise to an inescapable realization that the federal structure of India is being systematically eroded by some deliberate actions by the Government of India," he said. "Needless to say, these developments are very discouraging to trailblazing states like Telangana. The blatant discrimination against some states even in the legitimate functions assigned to them in the Constitution leaves much to be desired," he further said. "Way back in 2016, NITI Aayog recommended a grant of Rs 5,000 crore for Mission Kakatiya to restore minor irrigation tanks in Telangana. Another recommendation of the NITI Aayog was to provide central assistance of Rs 19,205 crore (out of a total project cost of Rs 42,850 crore) for Mission Bhagiratha, a pioneering scheme in the country, which has been completed in Telangana, to provide drinking water to every household of the state," he stated. "The Government of India has not only ignored these recommendations but also did not release money for the scheme," he alleged in the letter. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday inspected the under-construction 'Uttarakhand Niwas' building in New Delhi. The Chief Minister said that the construction work should be ensured to be completed within the stipulated time frame while maintaining quality. Seeing the map of Uttarakhand Niwas, Chief Minister Dhami took detailed information about all the provisions of the building. Dhami while directing the working organization said that from the point of view of ease of work in the new "Uttarakhand Niwas", Uttarakhand Local Commissioner's office and Uttarakhand State Information Center should be considered in the said building. "Today, Chief Minister Shri @pushkardhami inspected the under construction building 'Uttarakhand Niwas' in New Delhi and took detailed information about all the provisions of the building. Chief Minister Shri Dhami said that while maintaining the quality of construction work, it should be ensured to complete it within the stipulated time frame," tweeted the Chief Minister's Office. Dhami will attend the seventh meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog that will be held in New Delhi on August 7. The agenda points of the meeting of Chief Ministers at NITI Aayog will include the implementation of the National Education Policy 2020 in school education and higher education and the implementation of schemes related to urban administration. CM Dhami has discussed department-wise issues related to the agenda to be placed before the NITI Aayog. The Chief Minister said that the policies and centrally funded schemes laid down by NITI Aayog are made equally in view of all the states of the country. In this, he spoke of the need to focus on making a separate policy for the Himalayan states keeping in mind their ecology and geography. (ANI) Wishes poured in for Jagdeep Dhankhar after he was elected as India's next vice president on Saturday, defeating Opposition candidate Margaret Alva. He got 528 votes against Alva who secured 182. PM Narendra Modi was one of the first to meet Dhankhar at the latter's residence soon after the election result was announced. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and BJP national president JP Nadda and Union Minister Piyush Goyal were among the top leaders who met Dhankhar soon after the victory. Extending wishes to Vice president-elect Dhankhar on the occasion, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Upper House will benefit from his experience. "The election of Kisan Putra as the Vice President of India is a matter of joy for the whole country. Dhankhar ji has been continuously associated with the public in his long public life. The Upper House will definitely benefit from a close understanding of the ground issues and his experience," Shah tweeted in Hindi. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Dhankhar's deep understanding of people's issues will benefit the nation. "Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on winning the Vice Presidential elections. His long public life, wide experience and deep understanding of people's issues will certainly benefit the nation. I am confident that he will make an exceptional VP & Rajya Sabha Chairman," Singh tweeted. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, extending wishes to the vice-president-elect, expressed confidence in his tenure being a "complete success". "Hearty congratulations to respected @jdhankhar1 ji on being elected as the Vice-President of the country. It is a matter of pride for the country that you have been elected as the Vice President. I am sure that your tenure as Vice-President will be a complete success," Gadkari tweeted. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his wishes and said that Dhankhar's journey from being a farmer's family to the second highest constitutional post in the country will strengthen people's faith in democracy. "Hearty congratulations to Jagdeep Dhankhar ji, the candidate of NDA for the post of Honorable Vice President of India. Your journey from farmer family to Hon'ble Vice President strengthens people's faith in democracy. The whole country will get the benefit of your vast experience and the glory of the Rajya Sabha will reach newer heights," Yogi tweeted in Hindi. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Rajya Sabha will set "new paradigms" for the country's development under his chairmanship. "Hearty congratulations to Jagdeep Dhankhar ji, elected as Vice President, best wishes. Under your patronage, Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of Parliament, will set new paradigms for the country's development, public welfare, efforts for the upliftment of the weaker sections, it is our belief. I wish you the best of luck again," the Chief Minister tweeted. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh, who was the presiding officer for the 16th Vice Presidential election, said that of the 780 MPs eligible to cast votes, 725 MPs cast their vote. Fifteen votes were found invalid and 710 votes were valid. The polling to elect the new vice president began at 10 am today and concluded at 5 pm. The counting of votes began after 6 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was amongst the first leaders to cast his vote. Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda also cast their votes. Dr Manmohan Singh arrived in a wheelchair to cast his vote. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also cast his vote besides other MPs. The next Vice-President of the country will take the oath of office on August 11, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends. Janata Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, and AIADMK had announced support for Dhankhar. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) extended support to Alva. The Trinamool Congress abstained from the vote. (ANI) By Azernews By Sabina Mammadli Russian and Kazakh navies docked at the Baku port on August 5, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The warships are in Azerbaijan to participate in the Sea Cup contest to be held as part of the International Army Games-2022 in the territorial waters of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea. The Azerbaijani armed forces have taken part in the International Army Games since 2015. Since then the Azerbaijani army has participated in the Tank Biathlon, Sniper Frontier, Military medical relay race, Field Kitchen, Masters of Artillery Fire, and Sea Cup competitions. The Azerbaijani representatives twice won the Sea Cup competition. Moreover, our team won 3rd place in the Masters of Artillery Fire and the Field Kitchen contests. In addition, Azerbaijani tankers took 4th place in the Tank Biathlon among the strongest teams in 2019. It should be noted that the number of competitions that the Azerbaijani army joins increases every year. The accused persons have been identified as Rahul and Sukhdev. On a tip-off, a raiding team was constituted which headed towards the metro station along with the informer. The team took a position in a discreet manner and waited for the suspect. After some time a person was seen coming on Vikas Marg carrying a backpack. The team closed in on the suspect at the instance of the informer. The suspect tried to run but was caught by an alert raiding team. On being searched, four 'katta' and one pistol were recovered from Rahul's bag. A case under relevant sections of the Arms Act was registered and further investigation was taken up. During interrogation, accused Rahul disclosed that he had purchased the guns from Sukhdev The team conducted a further raid at the instance of the accused. Sukhdev on seeing the police team tried to escape after snatching the service revolver but was overpowered. One Desi Katta was recovered from his house at his instance. Both accused have been arrested. The team conducted further raids at the instance of the accused and arrested Sukhdev and recovered one 'katta' from his house at his instance. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met Vice-President elect Jagdeep Dhankhar soon after his election to the office, at his residence in Delhi. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Jagat Prakash Nadda also arrived at the residence of newly elected Vice President Dhankhar in Delhi to meet him. Modi, Nadda and Dhankhar could be seen engaged in a conversation, while PM Modi was leaving Dhankar's residence, after congratulating him on being elected the Vice President of India. Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi among others also met the newly elected Vice President at his residence in Delhi to congratulate him. Earlier on Saturday, Former West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was elected as India's new Vice President. He got 528 votes against opposition candidate Margaret Alva who got 182 votes. Dhankar reached Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi's residence at 11 Akbar Road before the announcement of the results for the Vice Presidential Election. Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh, who was the presiding officer for the 16th Vice Presidential election, said that of the 780 MPs eligible to cast votes, 725 MPs cast their vote. Fifteen votes were found invalid and 710 votes were valid. The polling to elect the new vice president began at 10 am today and concluded at 5 pm. The counting of votes began after 6 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was amongst the first leaders to cast his vote. Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda also cast their votes. Dr Manmohan Singh arrived in a wheelchair to cast his vote. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also cast his vote besides other MPs. The next Vice-President of the country will take the oath of office on August 11, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends. Janata Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK had announced support for Dhankhar. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) extended support to Alva. The Trinamool Congress abstained from the vote. Dhankhar was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal in 2019. He resigned from the post of West Bengal Governor on July 17 after his name was announced as the vice Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Vice President of India, which is the second-highest constitutional post in the country, is elected through an electoral college consisting of members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The Vice President of India is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. (ANI) The NITI Aayog on Saturday said that the public policy think tank was set up as an institution with the mandate of cooperative federalism with a premise that strong states make a strong nation. NITI Aayog was responding to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's allegations of the Centre not treating states as equal partners in efforts to make India a developed country. Earlier on Saturday, KCR wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he will be boycotting the seventh Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog, scheduled to be held on August 7, as a mark of protest against the Centre's alleged blatant discrimination against states including Telangana. "It is unfortunate that the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Telangana has chosen not to participate in the Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog to be held on 7th August. The Governing Council is a forum where the highest political leaders in the country at the Centre and State levels deliberate on key development-related issues and agree on appropriate outcome-oriented solutions for national development, " added NITI Aayog. NITI Aayog in its statement said that a number of measures have already been put in place to work closely with states. In the last year alone, more than 30 meetings have been held with the Chief Ministers of states by the Vice Chairman/Members of NITI Aayog, as per the statement. These meetings have resolved a number of issues pertaining to the states with various Central Ministries and paved the way for greater collaboration between NITI Aayog and states, added the statement, stated the press release. A delegation led by Vice Chairman NITI Aayog met the Telangana Chief Minister in Hyderabad on January 21, 2021, to discuss development issues pertaining to the State. More recently, despite requests made by NITI Aayog for a meeting, the Chief Minister did not respond, as per the statement. The government of India through all the Ministries as well as the office of the Prime Minister has been interacting with States/ UTs on all issues of national importance. Specifically, in preparation for the August 7, 2022, Governing Council meeting, detailed consultations between the Centre and States, including Telangana, were held resulting in the first National Chief Secretaries Conference held in Dharamshala in June 2022. The conference was a culmination of six-month long deliberations wherein all States/UTs including the Chief Secretary of Telangana participated. The allegation of CM Telangana that states were not co-opted in preparation of the agenda is incorrect. With reference to the water sector, over the last four years, the Government of India allocated Rs 3,982 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission for Telangana. However, the state chose to draw only Rs 200 crore. In addition, Rs 1,195 crore were released to Telangana under PMKSY-AIBP-CADWM during 2014-2015 to 2021-2022. The government of India has been consistently supporting states in financial matters including flagship schemes/programmes of national importance. Overall allocation under Centrally Sponsored Schemes has increased from Rs. 2,03,740 crore in 2015-16 to Rs 4,42,781 crores in 2022-23, i.e. more than double during this period, in addition to the substantial hike in awards under the Fourteenth Finance Commission from 32 per cent to 42 per cent. Enough flexibility has also been built in for the utilization of funds allocated under CSS. (ANI) The Centre said on Saturday that the 'Village Engineers' programme will soon be rolled out in Gujarat, under which tribal youth will be trained in various skillsets in order to make them self-reliant. Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) Rajeev Chandrasekhar held discussions with Members of Parliament and Ministers from Gujarat on creating targeted skilling opportunities for the tribal youth in their local areas to reduce the pull for migration. According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the deliberations, held under the "Skill Samwaad" series on Friday focused on the "Village Engineers" programme that will be rolled out in the state soon. Emphasizing on the need to make opportunities available locally, Chandrashekhar said under the programme, the tribal youth will get multiple skill training so that they can participate in the economic activities in their respective districts. The state government and the Centre must act in coordination to implement the programme, he added. According to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, opportunities in the areas of electric vehicles (EVs), drone manufacturing, organic food manufacturing, mango processing, textile manufacturing and more were discussed. The meeting also deliberated on the suggestions for empowering women, especially in the handloom and handicraft sectors, enhancing livelihood prospects, using local resources and inculcating entrepreneurial skills. Recently, the village engineer programme was launched from Madhya Pradesh to train the tribal youth by providing them with a basket of skills together. The first batch of village engineers have also been conferred recognition in form of certification. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the third National Committee meeting on Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav here on Saturday and said the initiative is 'Sanskar Utsav' for the youth which will fill them with the undying passion to contribute for the country's development. He said that the success of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is due to the contribution of every citizen of the country. The committees at national, state and district levels have been working day and night to take Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to the masses, he said. Members of the National Committee attended the meeting including Lok Sabha Speaker, Governors, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, political leaders, officials, media personalities, spiritual leaders, artists and film personalities and eminent persons from other walks of life. Several participants also joined the meeting virtually. The Prime Minister said that the emotional flavour of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is the core of the campaign. "The patriotic fervour which was witnessed during the freedom struggle was unprecedented. It is the same fervour which we need to imbibe in our current generation and channelise it for nation building," the Prime Minister said. "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav is creating an atmosphere of patriotic zeal in the country and it is a golden opportunity to establish the emotional connect of our youth with nation building," he added. The Prime Minister said Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) is Sanskar Utsav "for the youth which will fill them with the undying passion to contribute for the country". "The current generation will be the leaders of tomorrow and therefore we have to inculcate in them now a sense of duty and responsibility to realise the dreams and vision of India@100." Noting that the technological revolution has stepped up the speed of change tremendously, he said what could be achieved in generations, can be made possible in decades now. "We cannot rely on old techniques to realize the dreams of our nation. It is, therefore, important to build the capacity of the youth and to equip them with the necessary skills to meet the technological challenges of times to come," he said. Highlighting the contribution of tribal freedom fighters, the Prime Minister said "we should pay our tribute to them by building local tribal museums". He suggested that the border village programme should be taken up for the youth to familiarise them with the lives of the people residing in those areas. Similarly, the programme to construct 75 sarovars in every district and similar such programmes should be designed for the grassroots and youth should be familiarized to help them understand the ground realities of the country. In his closing remarks, the Prime Minister said "we must nourish and nurture our unity and promote India as Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat because a united nation is a progressive nation". "In this light, our national flag Tiranga is a symbol of unity, a unity which brings positivity and prosperity for the nation. We are passing through a period of Amrit Kaal marked by the spirit of 'Sankalp se Siddhi' which will take our country to the peak of success in the next 25 years," he said. The Prime Minister again requested the committee members to send their suggestions for further enriching Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. An official release said the members of the committee thanked the Prime Minister for Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav. They gave an overview of the activities taken up by them under Amrit Mahotsav and also gave their suggestions and inputs to further strengthen the campaign. Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed the committee members to the meeting. He said that more than 60,000 programmes have been organized successfully in the country till date and AKAM programme has percolated down from the national to the state, district and grassroots level. In his concluding remarks, he expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the members of the National Committee for giving their valuable suggestions and time. Secretary, Culture, Govind Mohan gave a presentation on the overview of activities of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav since its inception. He said that Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav has been high on 'Jan Bhagidari' and the whole of society approach due to which it has reached every nook and corner of the country. The first meeting of the National Committee was held on March 8, 2021. The Prime Minister launched Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav on March 12 last year. The second meeting of the committee was held on December 22 last year. (ANI) Wishes poured in after the former Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar was on Saturday elected as India's new Vice President. Taking note of the victory, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, Union minister AR Meghwal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi congratulated Dhankar on his landslide win. "He will be a wonderful Rajya Sabha chairman, an outstanding Vice President. The nation is blessed to have the son of a farmer and an eminent jurist as VP of India. We're fortunate we will have a chance to work with him," said Union Minister Piyush Goyal. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar highlighted that the newly elected vice president will address the farmers' woes. "Jagdeep Dhankhar has won the Vice-Presidential election with a large majority. On the other hand, Margaret Alva got merely 182 votes. I congratulate him. He comes from a farming background. He will help address the farmers' woes," said Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi called Dhankar's victory as impressive and said," I am so happy, congratulate him. It was a decisive & impressive victory. He is an eminent lawyer and a farmer, this is a rare combination." Union minister AR Meghwal lauded Dhankar's strengthened character and said, "This is a matter of happiness. Hailing from the small village of Jhunjhuna, studying in Sainik schools, he entered politics, and became an established lawyer and then a Governor. This shows his strengthened character. It will reflect in his term as VP as well." Following the victory, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached the residence of newly elected Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in Delhi on Saturday. BJP leaders including BJP National President JP Nadda, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla also met with Vice President-elect Jagdeep Dhankhar at his residence in the national capital. The newly elected vice president Dhankar marked his maiden victory after he got 528 votes against opposition candidate Margaret Alva who got 182 votes. The polling to elect the new vice president began at 10 am today and concluded at 5 pm. The counting of votes began after 6 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was amongst the first leaders to cast his vote. Union Ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda also cast their votes. Dr Manmohan Singh arrived in a wheelchair to cast his vote. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also cast his vote besides other MPs. The next Vice-President of the country will take the oath of office on August 11, a day after the term of the incumbent Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu ends. Janata Dal (United), YSRCP, BSP, AIADMK had announced support for Dhankhar. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) extended support to Alva. The Trinamool Congress abstained from the vote. Dhankhar was appointed as the Governor of West Bengal in 2019. He resigned from the post of West Bengal Governor on July 17 after his name was announced as the vice Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Vice President of India, which is the second-highest constitutional post in the country, is elected through an electoral college consisting of members of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The Vice President of India is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. (ANI) The groups also called for observing a general strike in five northeastern states -- Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, and Meghalaya. In a joint statement, the militant outfits told people "at all levels" not to participate in all forms of 'fake' Independence Day activities. "Our protest calling for a boycott of the fake Independence Day of colonial India will be a total shutdown from 00.00 hours to 18:00 hours on August 15," the statement said. It said that the Covid-19 pandemic has crippled the socio-economic development of the entire world as well as the West-Southeast Asian (WeSEA) region and thousands of indigenous farming families have lost ther homes due to floods and landslides. "After 75 years of so-called Independence, the indigenous people are suffering from debt, GST, soaring prices of essential commodities, and hundreds of other problems. It is unfair, historically irrelevant, and worthless for a state, which is unable to stand by the suffering people in such a time of declining living standards, to celebrate its 76th pretentious Independence Day on August 15," the statement said. The ULFA-I, which during the past one year has twice extended the unilateral ceasefire and also refrained from calling bandh and boycott during last year's Independence Day, and this year's Republic Day celebrations, recently recruited some youth as its armed cadres. --IANS sc/pgh ( 272 Words) 2022-08-06-19:56:02 (IANS) She said the country will benefit from his long and rich experience in public life. "Congratulations to Jagdeep Dhankhar on being elected the Vice President of India. The nation will benefit from your long and rich experience of public life. My best wishes for a productive and successful tenure," the President said in a tweet. Dhankhar, who was NDA's vice presidential candidate, won the election by 346 votes after defeating Opposition candidate Margaret Alva. He secured 528 votes against Alva who got 182 votes. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met Dhankhar and congratulated him. "Meeting the newly elected Vice President of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar ji and congratulated him for his new responsibility. I am confident that he will play an important role in strengthening constitutional values and democratic traditions," Birla said in a tweet. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also congratulated Dhankhar. Amit Shah said he is confident that Dhankhar will as Vice President and Chairman of Rajya Sabha prove to be an ideal protector of the Constitution. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that Dhankhar's deep understanding of people's issues will benefit the nation. "Congratulations to Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar on winning the Vice Presidential elections. His long public life, wide experience and deep understanding of people's issues will certainly benefit the nation. I am confident that he will make an exceptional VP and Rajya Sabha Chairman," Singh said in a tweet. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also congratulated Dhankhar, who is a former West Bengal Governor. (ANI) A manhunt is underway to nab self-proclaimed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shrikant Tyagi, who has been accused of outraging a woman's modesty during an argument over the plantation of palm trees near his apartment at a residential society here. The BJP has distanced itself from Tyagi, saying he was never part of the party. Tyagi's social media accounts, however, tell a different tale. On his official Twitter handle, Tyagi presents himself as a devoted party leader having pictures with a range of senior saffron party functionaries. He also posted multiple edited images that had BJP's logo. Tyagi, however, locked his Twitter account hours after the incident. "We have seized a total of three cars -- one Toyota Fortuner, one Tata Safari and one Honda Civic -- that belong to Tyagi," a Noida Police official told IANS. To trace his location, the police have detained four persons, including Tyagi's wife. "We have constituted four teams that are working to nab the accused. We have also detained his wife for questioning," the official said. Apart from Tyagi's wife, the police have detained his brother, driver and manager. "All of them are currently being questioned," informed the official. The matter came to light on Friday when several video clippings of the incident went viral on social media in which the Tyagi could be heard hurling abuses at the woman. Social media users also shared the response of the victim woman in which she narrated the entire incident. "I live in Grand Omaxe. A man named Shrikant Tyagi, residing on the ground floor, was encroaching the society by planting small and large plants in the common area. When I asked him to remove them, he refused. And when I tried to remove them, he hurled abuses at me, my husband and our kids," the woman said. In the same video, the residents of the society could also be seen accusing Tyagi of encroaching the area by planting small and large plants. As per one of the videos of the incident, accessed by IANS, Tyagi could also be seen pushing and threatening the woman. "Don't you dare touch my plants otherwise I will see you...," he could be heard saying. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ankita Sharma, informed that soon after the video went viral on social media, Noida Police registered an FIR under Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the IPC at the Panchsheel police station. The officer assured that the accused would soon be arrested and punitive legal action will be taken against him. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday took cognisance of the incident and wrote to Uttar Pradesh DGP in this matter. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma asked the police to provide necessary protection to the victim. --IANS uj/arm ( 485 Words) 2022-08-06-20:24:02 (IANS) Delhi Police on Saturday arrested one person in the case of a viral video where a cop was seen being beaten by a mob inside the police station. According to Delhi Police, the arrested person Satish Kumar (29) is a resident of Karkardooma under Anand Vihar police station. Satish is a lawyer by profession. A viral video shows that a mob of 10-12 men surrounded police personnel and beat him up. While a lot of onlookers can be seen shooting pictures and videos on their phones. However, in the video, it was not clear why the cop was being assaulted. The cop can be seen seeking forgiveness, but the mob continued to assault him.Delhi Police has started an investigation over the matter. Delhi Police said on the intervening night of July 30-31, a PCR call was received regarding physical assault and breaking gold chain incident of a woman at Karkardooma under Anand Vihar police station. Police said the issue was between two parties Ajay and Anchal Bakshi. Delhi Police said Ajay was found in intoxicated condition and was apprehended from the spot and then taken to Anand Vihar police station. Following this, a group of people including Ajay's brother Satish Choudary came to the police station and was trying to provoke police personnel on duty. According to Delhi Police, Head Constable Prakash was sorrounded by the group of people and then assaulted. Police said some of the people from the group also made a video of the incident and circulated it among them later. Police did the medical examination of the injured police person immediately and was counselled. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara R Sathiya Sundaram said "Legal action under appropriate sections is registered against all the alleged persons. Teams are deputed to identify and apprehend all the accused persons." The investigation is underway. (ANI) Mini Thailand Week 2022 opens in Ho Chi Minh City The Mini Thailand Week 2022 was launched at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC), District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on August 5, with the participation of nearly 100 enterprises. Many unique products of Thai businesses on display at the Mini Thailand Week 2022 (Photo: sggp.org.vn) The annual event was jointly held by the Department of International Trade and Promotion (DITP) and the Thailand Ministry of Commerce. The fair is taking place until August 7, showcasing a variety of unique Thai products in many industries, such as food and beverage, health and beauty products, kitchen appliances and home appliances, fashion and accessories, children's products, and others. Patrons can also visit booths certified as Thai Select, Golden Elephant, and Soff Power to enjoy authentic Thai dishes, in addition to enjoying performances of music and dance imbued with the Thai culture. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam-Thailand trade revenue posted a record high of 19 billion USD in 2021, the highest ever level. The number is expected to expand in late 2022. Director of the Thai Trade Office in Ho Chi Minh City under the Thailand Ministry of Commerce, SuparpornSookmark, said that Thailand and Vietnam have just set a new target of raising bilateral trade turnover to 25 billion USD by 2025. The event will be an opportunity for enterprises of both sides to seize business opportunities, expand networks and strengthen cooperation relations, she added. Thailand is Vietnams largest trading partner in ASEAN and the eighth largest foreign investor in Vietnam. By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova The State Tourism Agency has organized a conference to discuss Azerbaijan's tourism in the post-pandemic period, Azernews reports, citing the agency's website. Speaking at the conference, the chairman of the State Tourism Agency Fuad Naghiyev said that the socio-economic development strategy of Azerbaijan from 2022 to 2026 will give a new breath to the recovery of the tourism sector after the pandemic. The head of the Tourism Agency said that the implementation of the strategy will support the creation of new tourism and recreation zones in the country, the elimination of seasonality in domestic and incoming tourism, and the sustainable development of the tourism sector. In his speech, Fuad Naghiyev noted the State Tourism Agency's main work directions in the post-pandemic, including improving the business environment and diversifying transport and communication relations with the target tourism markets. He underlined that the tourism workers have actively participated in the work aimed at tourism development. Fuad Naghiyev called on the travel agencies to take active action to turn Azerbaijan into the best tourist destination. Within the framework of the event, an interactive panel section was launched on the State Tourism Agency's website to monitor the foreign tourist inflow. Referring to the number of foreign citizens visiting Azerbaijan, Head of the Agency's Statistics and Research Sector Nijat Abbasli compared this year's tourist inflow with the period before the pandemic. At the same time, the results of the research project "Analysis of Tourists' Satisfaction and Loyalty" were presented to the tourism workers. The research was carried out based on tourists from the Middle East, Northeast Asia, South Asia, and America. The 2nd General Assembly of the Association of Azerbaijani Tourism Agencies was held in the second part of the meeting. Within the framework of the assembly, Goydaniz Gahramanov was elected the chairman of the Azerbaijani Tourism Association's Board of Directors. Shah will land at the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar at 10 p.m. on August 7 and will spend the night here. On Monday morning, he will offer prayers at Lingaraj Temple as it is the last Monday of holy Odia month of Sraban, said Odisha BJP president Samir Mohanty. After visiting the temple, Shah will visit Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birthplace in Cuttack. He will pay tribute by garlanding his statue on the occasion of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav', Mohanty said. He will also attend a function, marking the 75th anniversary of an Odia daily newspaper at Indoor Stadium in Cuttack. Later, the Home Minister is scheduled to visit the Odisha BJP office in Bhubaneswar, where he will meet senior party leaders. In the evening, he will attend a book reading of Modi@20 at Mayfair Convention here before flying back to Delhi. --IANS bbm/pgh ( 179 Words) 2022-08-06-21:38:03 (IANS) US President Joe Biden has denounced the Gurdwara shooting that took place in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on August 5, 2012, on its tenth anniversary. Terming it as the deadliest attack on Sikh Americans in US history, Biden stressed the need to ban assault weapons used in many mass shootings in places of worship, along with high-capacity magazines. On August 5, 2012, the Sikh community of Oak Creek came under attack when white supremacist Wade Page stormed a Gurdwara in Wisconsin and gunned down six worshippers, before shooting himself dead. A seventh person who was severely paralysed died from his injuries in 2020. Stating that no one should fear for their life when they worship or go about their lives in America, Biden said the House of Representatives has passed a bill in this regard, and called upon the Senate to act as wel "To stand in defence of religious freedom, we must all stand together to ban the weapons that terrorise congregations around our country," the President said. He also lauded the optimism of the Sikh community in the US, which annually hosts a memorial in honour of the mass shooting victims of Wisconsin. Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and American Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (AGPC) said the SCCEC and AGPC memorialise this shooting and pray for the departed souls and their families. They also expressed solidarity with other faith communities that have fallen victim to mass gun violence and white supremacy, and urged the US Congress to pass the 'Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act'. "We also join the call to US Congress by Sikh Coalition and SALDEF to pass the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act," said Himmat Singh, SCCEC Coordinator. "On this sad occasion, we remember the church mass shooting in Charleston, where nine Black worshipers were shot and killed in 2015, and the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh where 11 worshipers were slain in 2018. "Both SCCEC and AGPC stand in full solidarity with other faith communities that have fallen victim to mass gun violence and white supremacy," said Pritpal Singh, Coordinator, AGPC. --IANS robin/arm ( 371 Words) 2022-08-06-21:48:02 (IANS) Pakistan is treading cautiously over the killing of Al-Qaeda chief Ayman-al Zawahiri in Afghanistan by a US drone strike, and experts say Islamabad's reference to the relevant international laws after the killing suggested that it indirectly opposed such operations in the name of country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. On Monday, US President Joe Biden revealed that their drone strike killed al-Zawahiri over the weekend. Al-Zawahiri was one of the world's most wanted terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks, who was killed in a drone strike carried out by the US in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday. During a weekly news briefing on Thursday, when Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Asim Iftikhar was asked about the use of Pakistani air space and intelligence cooperation between the two countries on taking out the al-Qaeda chief, the spokesperson denied the same, The Express Tribune reported. "There is no evidence of this action having been undertaken using Pakistan's airspace, so this is something that I can add to that," Asim Iftikhar said. Moreover, while responding to a question whether Pakistan supports such counter-terrorism operations, the spokesperson stressed that "Pakistan stands by countering terrorism in accordance with international law and the relevant UN resolutions". "There are various international obligations under these resolutions. Regarding al-Qaeda, I think it is clear that it is a terrorist entity, which is listed under the UN Security Council sanctions regime and states are under obligation to take actions that are prescribed by the UN Security Council," he added clarifying Pakistan's stance. "As you know, Pakistan has in the past, taken resolute actions and supported the efforts of the international community in fighting terrorism and particularly, you know, some of the notable success against al-Qaeda was possible because of Pakistan's role and contribution," the spokesperson noted, as per the media outlet. Careful commentary by Pakistan suggests that the country is discouraging the big powers to violate the sovereignty of other countries under the pretext of countering terrorism. Pakistan's opposition to such an approach stems from its fears that other regional countries particularly India may use the same pretext to violate its territorial integrity and sovereignty. It was because of this reason that Pakistan had strongly opposed and protested the US secret raid to kill Osama bin Laden in May 2011 in Abbottabad. Ever since the killing of Al-Zawahiri there were questions asked about the role played by Pakistan or whether the US used its air space. Even the US officials were also not forthcoming in revealing the exact airspace it used for killing the Al-Qaeda chief. All of this has led to speculations that Pakistan might be the country of choice that provided air space and possible critical intelligence. The speculations became more intense because just 48 hours before the strike, a senior US general spoke to Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Second Deputy Prime Minister of Taliban, Abdul Salam Hanafi on Wednesday slammed the US for the drone strike that killed Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. Second Deputy Prime Minister of Taliban, Abdul Salam Hanafi on Wednesday slammed the US for the drone strike that killed Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. "On Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully conducted an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed the emir of al-Qa'ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri. Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more," Biden said in a video address from the Blue Room Balcony at the White House. "He will never again, never again, allow Afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven because he is gone and we're going to make sure that nothing else happens," he added.Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11 and he also acted as Osama Bin Laden's personal physician. (ANI) Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi will visit Bangladesh and Mongolia from August 6 to 8, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a press release. "At the invitation of Bangladeshi Foreign Minister A. K. Abdul Momen and Mongolian Foreign Minister Battsetseg Batmunkh, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit the two countries from August 6 to August 8," a press release by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said quoting Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying. "At the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Park Jin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, and Narayan Khadka, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal, will visit China from August 8 to August 10," it added. The visit comes after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's recent Taiwan visit that has heightened tensions in the region. China has been conducting the largest-ever military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, including launching live missiles it claims as part of its sovereign territory. Wang Yi on Friday warned Washington not to act rashly and to avoid creating a bigger crisis by making another visit of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. Speaking at the 55th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Wang said, "US has no right to make the mistake again of allowing another visit of US House Speaker to Taiwan." "US House Representatives Speaker Pelosi had disregarded the strong opposition from China and our repeated communication," said Wang.Defending strong Chinese actions in the region, Wang said, "it is only natural that the Chinese side must show our strong opposition." "Actually, it is under US government's brazen decision of allowing Pelosi'svisit to Taiwan. This trip has seriously impacted China's sovereignty, seriously interfered our internal affairs, violate the promise the US had made with China and harmed the Taiwan straits relations," said Wang. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said that China's military drills around Taiwan in response to Pelosi's visit to the self-ruled island is a disproportionate, unjustified and provocative escalation. "There is no justification for this extreme, disproportionate and escalatory military response," Blinken told a news conference on the sidelines of an ASEAN meeting.Blinken did not meet with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi during the regional summit amid the tense situation. "The differences between the mainland and Taiwan need to be resolved peacefully. Not coercively and not by force, so it is incumbent upon China to continue to resolve those differences peacefully," Blinken said after Friday's East Asia Summit. Reacting to Blinken's statements, Wang in a briefing after the closing of various ASEAN meetings in the Cambodian capital warned the United States not to act rashly so as to create a bigger crisis.Wang said that the US had "spread some misinformation". He said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not speak truthfully, so he had to "clear the air"."I've heard that US Secretary of State Blinken has had held his news conference, and spread some fake news and not speaking truthfully. So all the more it is important for me to clear the air and state the facts," said Wang. (ANI) On the 77th anniversary of the Hiroshima atomic bombing by the United States, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will become the first UN chief to attend the annual ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park on Saturday after his predecessor Ban Ki Moon's visit in 2010. The USA bombed the Japanese cities of Hiroshima (August 6, 1945) and Nagasaki (August 9, 1945) during World War II in what was the first use of atomic weapons in war. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who represents a constituency in Hiroshima, will also give remarks at the ceremony for the first time since being elected premier last October. At the memorial ceremony, Japanese Mayor Kazumi Matsui is expected to caution dependence on nuclear deterrence is gaining momentum in the world, reported Kyodo News. Tens of thousands were killed in the initial explosions and many more would later succumb to radiation poisoning. Three days after the bomb nicknamed "Little Boy" decimated Hiroshima, a second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. It was then followed by Japan's surrender to the Allied forces six days later, marking the end of World War II. A moment of silence will be observed at 8:15 a.m., the exact moment a uranium bomb dropped from a U.S. bomber detonated over the city on August 6, 1945, killing an estimated 140,000 people by the end of the year. Hiroshima will host a summit meeting of the Group of Seven industrialized nations next May, and Japan aims to send out a message of peace. World War II conflict during the years 1939-45 included -- the Axis powers--Germany, Italy, and Japan--and the Allies--France, Great Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, and, to a lesser extent, China. The ceremony is expected to be attended by representatives from a record 101 nations and the European Union. The mayor will call on the Japanese government to act as a bridge between nuclear weapon states and non-nuclear weapon states, ratify a U.N. treaty banning nuclear weapons and participate in the next conference of parties to the treaty after Japan skipped the first one held in June, even as an observer. As COVID-19 restrictions have been eased nationwide, this year's ceremony will be on a larger scale than last year's, although still reduced in terms of the number of attendees, as per the media portal. The combined number of officially recognized survivors of the two nuclear attacks, known as hibakusha, stood at 118,935 as of March, down 8,820 from a year earlier, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare said. Their average age was 84.53. (ANI) Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) constituted a six-member team to probe into Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI's) prohibited funding case. This investigation came a few days after the three-member Election Commission of Pakistan bench in a unanimous verdict ruled that the PTI received prohibited funding in the case pending since 2014, ARY News reported. Director Amna Baig will be leading the investigation team and four employees that were nominated in the ECP report were included in the initial investigation, according to sources. The employees who recorded their initial testimonies to the FIA include Muhammad Rafique, Tahir Iqbal and Muhammad Arshad. The concerned authorities have expanded the scope of the probe against PTI in the prohibited funding case. A five-member special monitoring team was formed by the intelligence agency. The monitoring team will coordinate with the zonal inquiry team in Lahore, Peshawar, Karachi, Islamabad, Quetta and Faisalabad, reported ARY News. On August 4, the Pakistan government decided to file a disqualification reference against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after the verdict of the prohibited funding case and the federal cabinet accepted the recommendation. Pakistan's Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said in her press conference that the PTI used overall 16 bank accounts that were not found on the records. She alleged that PTI used donations to the charity as party funds and an inquiry will be conducted into it. "For the first time in Pakistan, a political party is declared a foreign-funded party. The accounts of the PTI secretariat employees were used for foreign funding," she added. Aurangzeb said that PTI was declared a 'foreign-funded party' in light of the ECP verdict, according to ARY News. On August 2, The ECP in its unanimous verdict on the "prohibited funding" case, on Tuesday, said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had received the prohibited funds and issued a show-cause notice to PTI. The Commission found that the donations were taken from 34 countries in fundraising. These included America, Australia, and the UAE, Geo News reported. The ECP also said that the PTI had taken funds from an American businessman.In its verdict, the ECP observed the 'unknown accounts' and said that hiding accounts are a "violation of the Constitution". Moreover, it found that PTI Chairman Imran Khan submitted a false Nomination Form I. The ECP decided to issue a show-cause notice to the PTI to explain why the commission should not seize the funds it received. According to the publication, the ECP, Monday, released the cause list for the case. The cause list showed that the verdict would be announced by a three-member bench led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, who arrived early in the morning at the office. (ANI) Newly-elected Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Saturday thanked PM Narendra Modi and Indians for the generous humanitarian assistance extended to the country. Taking to Twitter, the Indian High Embassy in Sri Lanka said that the island country's PM noted in response to a congratulatory letter that was given from PM Modi that the enduring ties of friendship flourished between the two countries. "India and Sri Lanka have flourished over the years into a mutually rewarding partnership across multiple spheres," it added. PM Modi on Monday assured Sri Lankan PM Gunawardena of India's continued support to the island nation in a congratulatory letter. He also expressed hope that Sri Lanka will witness quick economic recovery, ensuring the prosperity and well-being of its people. India has been at forefront of extending economic assistance to Sri Lanka as per their requirements and is one of the countries that have provided the maximum amount of assistance in time of need. Since the beginning of 2022, Sri Lanka has experienced an escalating economic crisis and the government has defaulted on its foreign loans. The United Nations warned that 5.7 million people "require immediate humanitarian assistance." More than 25 tons of drugs and medical supplies which were donated by the government and people of India during the last two months are valued at close to Sri Lanka Rupees (SLR) 370 million. This is in addition to the economic assistance of around USD 3.5 billion and supply of other humanitarian supplies such as rice, milk powder, and kerosene. These humanitarian supplies are in continuation of the government of India's ongoing support to the people of Sri Lanka in multiple forms such as financial assistance, forex support, material supply, and many more. These efforts prove that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Neighborhood First' policy which places people-to-people engagement is still active. India is becoming a stronger and more mutually beneficial partner to Sri Lanka. Apart from assistance during the pandemic and fertilizer chaos, India is also donating basic products to the island nation. Sri Lanka has been suffering a diesel shortage since February, which led to hours of daily power cuts. Presently, Sri Lanka is struggling with acute food and electricity shortages, forcing the country to seek help from its neighbours. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The country is unable to buy sufficient fuel and gas, while people are deprived of basic amenities as well. (ANI) Moscow [Russia], August 6 (ANI/Sputnik): It is hard to predict whether Russia will be able to reach an agreement with the United States on a treaty that would replace the New START before the latter's expiration in 2026, Russia's deputy envoy to the United Nations Andrei Belousov said at the Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). "As for reaching an agreement by 2026, it is impossible to make predictions here, because the dynamics of international relations, the military-political situation in the world is changing very quickly. And it's hard to speculate about this," Belousov, who is the deputy head of the Russian delegation at the 10th NPT review conference, told journalists. He added that there is still enough time to reach a new agreement, but this requires political will and real intent. US President Joe Biden said on Monday, ahead of the NPT conference, that his administration was ready to promptly negotiate a new arms control framework to replace the New START treaty with Russia when it expires in 2026, provided that Moscow demonstrates readiness to resume work on nuclear arms control with the United States. Belousov stressed that Moscow will not accept any preconditions from Washington. (ANI/Sputnik) More than 60 Pakistani officials from the education department including teachers, and clerks were booked for violence, assaults and obstructing other officials of the department from performing their duties, local media reported on Saturday. According to the publication, the FIR against more than 60 people, 32 of them identified, was registered on the complaint of Mohammad Azam, the chief executive officer (CEC) of the District Education Authority. Dawn reported that an FIR has been registered against more than 60 people on the complaint of Mohammad Azam, the chief executive officer (CEC) of the District Education Authority, who arrived at the District Education Authority office on Murree Road to assume the charge of CEO on Thursday. He accused several officials of the education department of attacking him including deputy district education officer Mohammad Asif. The complainant also claimed that the attackers also deprived them of Rs70,000, as per Dawn. Meanwhile, the education situation in Pakistan has not been good for years. Dua Kalhoro of the World Sindhi Congress last month highlighted the flawed education system of Pakistan at United Nations Human Rights Council, particularly regarding the basic education of Sindhi children. Kalhoro presented the case of how Sindhi children are being denied their right to basic education. Almost 60 per cent of 5-16-year Sindhi children are out of school, while 80 per cent of schools don't have basic facilities. "We want to bring to your notice the saddened, frightening situation of Sindhi children in Pakistan. According to government sources, about 7 million, more than 44 per cent 5-16 year-old children are out of education. The 2020-21 statistics show that 2.9 million students in primary education in Sindh and almost 47 per cent of total primary schools have only a single teacher," Kalhoro had said. Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) Pakistan for 2021-2022 had earlier called for an education emergency in Sindh province. The ASER Pakistan, a flagship programme of Idara-i-Taleem-o-Aagahi (ITA), called for urgent implementation of the Right to Education in Sindh, Compulsory Education Act 2013 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, an anchor SDG to meet all 17 SDG targets and goals, reported Dawn. It comes after ASER in its report said that there was an increase in out-of-school children (OOSC) across Pakistan during COVID-19, while in Sindh, of the OOSC, 11 pc never enrolled in a school and 13 pc dropped out of school (more DOs). In Sindh, ASER's rural team collected data from 14,723 households in 25 districts and 720 villages. There were 41,536 children (58 pc male 42 pc female) aged 3-16 years and 35,506 children (5-16 years) assessed in grade two-level language and arithmetic skills. At least 660 government schools and 114 private schools were surveyed, reported Dawn. Looking at enrollment, in 2021, 24 pc children were reported to be out-of-school, which is an increase of 5 pc. When compared with 2019 (19pc), the report added. Regarding enrollment by school type, 76 pc of all school-aged children (6-16 years) were enrolled; 94 pc (88 pc in 2019) were enrolled in government schools, 6 pc (12 pc in 2019) were in non-state institutions (6 pc private schools, zero pc madrassah, zero pc others). Private schools dropped by 6 pc. For Early Childhood Education (ECE), which includes children aged 3-5 years, the proportion of enrolled children decreased in 2021 (34 pc) as compared to 2019 (46 pc). Around 66 pc children of 3-5 age group are currently not enrolled in any ECE programme. Hence, a campaign for ECE in Sindh for foundational learning and holistic ECE (health/nutrition) is urgently needed, said the report. Looking at teachers' qualifications, 14 pc teachers of surveyed government schools have done graduation as compared to 40 pc teachers of surveyed private schools. (ANI) "Minister Gantz instructed the military department to continue the operation against Islamic Jihad, focusing on actions to prevent rocket attacks from Gaza to Israel," the ministry said in a statement. According to the ministry, Gantz also instructed the departments to focus on supporting residents of Israeli border areas that suffered from Palestinian shelling from the Gaza Strip. The statement added that Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defence Forces Aviv Kochavi, representatives of the Ministry of Defence, the head of the intelligence department of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), and other high-ranking security officials took part in assessing the situation. (ANI/Sputnik) By Trend Azerbaijani servicemen are on a visit to Russia to take part in the "Tank Biathlon" contest to be held as part of the "International Army Games-2022" at the Alabino training ground in Moscow, Trend reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. As part of the "International Army Games-2022", Azerbaijani servicemen will take part in the "Sea Cup" contest to be held in Azerbaijan, including the "Masters of Artillery Fire" contest (Kazakhstan) and the "Sniper Frontier" contest (Iran). As many as 13 organizations have condemned the Sri Lankan authorities' violent crackdown and increasing reprisals against peaceful protesters in the island country. The violent crackdown includes arrests, intimidation and the brutal attack on the protest camp in Colombo on July 22, 2022; News Wire reported citing a statement released by the organizations. "The Sri Lankan authorities must ensure that security forces do not use excessive force and will respect the rights of peaceful protesters at the 'Gotagogama' site, which authorities have ordered to be vacated by 5:00 pm on 5 August 2022," the statement added. On July 18, then-acting President, Ranil Wickremesinghe declared a state of emergency, granting sweeping powers of arrest and detention to the police and armed forces. After receiving the supreme power, the peaceful protesters and protest leaders became criminals, freedom of expression was arbitrarily restricted to forbid legitimate political expression, and the prosecution authorities are bringing excessive and disproportionate criminal charges for acts of civil disobedience in the midst of an unprecedented economic crisis. The statement noted that the current economic crisis derives from and aggravates widespread violations of economic, social and cultural rights. "The Sri Lankan authorities should immediately stop reprisals against anti-government protesters and guarantee people's right to free and peaceful expression of their grievances safely and without fear of arrest or violence." It further reads that Sri Lanka's allies have repeatedly said to the government to respect human rights, but their message was unheard. Sri Lanka's international partners should now make it absolutely clear that the government needs to uphold its human rights obligations. "Our organizations have documented attacks against protesters, media outlets, human rights defenders, and religious and civil society organizations following the swearing-in of the new president and cabinet on 21 and 22 July, respectively. Below are details of such incidents," it added. The organisation urged the Sri Lankan government to end the clampdown on dissent, and ensure that people can exercise their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly safely, without fear of reprisals; The organisations also asked the Sri Lankan government to conduct a prompt, independent and impartial inquiry into the crackdown that took place on July 22, including allegations of torture and other ill-treatment, with the support of international observers, with a view to establishing responsibility for violations of human rights and bringing those responsible to justice. "Drop all charges for participation in an 'unlawful assembly' brought against peaceful protesters solely for the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, and release unconditionally those facing such charges," the statement added. It further said that the government had to ensure that journalists, lawyers and human rights defenders have safe access to protest sites, and allow them to carry out their professional duties without fear of reprisals. "Stop all labelling peaceful protesters as criminals or terrorists" and asked to "lift all travel bans and all other conditions imposed on peaceful protesters solely because of their role in organizing or participating in the protests." The statement has been signed by Amnesty International, Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-ASIA), CIVICUS, FIDH-International Federation for Human Rights, Franciscans International, Front Line Defenders, Human Rights Watch, International Commission of Jurists, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR), International Service for Human Rights, Sri Lanka Campaign, The International Working Group on Sri Lanka and World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) . (ANI) Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi will be visiting Australia from August 7 to August 9. Taking to Twitter, Lekhi informed that during her visit, she will meet the Australian ministers and will interact with the Indian diaspora. "Looking fwd to my visit to Australia from 7-9 August. During the visit, I will meet Australian Ministers and will interact with Indian diaspora. I will be launching 2 books "Modi@20:Dreams Meet Delivery" & "Heartfelt: The Legacy of Faith" at Vishwa Sadbhavna Event," she said in a tweet. Modi@20:Dreams Meet Delivery is published by Rupa Publications India, the book is written by eminent intellectuals and writers like Nandan Nilekani, Sudha Murty, Sadguru, P.V. Sindhu, and Amish Tripathi among others. The book is an anthology of chapters written by eminent writers elaborating and depicting the fundamental transformation that the country has gone through under the leadership of Narendra Modi as the head of the government in the last 20 years. The book also elaborates on Modi's model of governance which has touched the lives of a cross-section of the people of the society. Earlier, Union Minister for Education and Skill Development Dharmendra Pradhan, in July, held a virtual meeting with his Australian counterpart Jason Clare to further strengthen collaboration between the countries in the education and skill development sectors. During the meeting, Australia's Education Minister Jason Clare gave assurance of speedy visas for Indian students in Australia. Australian minister gave assurance of providing support in ensuring world-class skilling of Indian workforce. Australia is a key partner of India on many fronts. In the first week of July, Australia confirmed that it would commit the Australian Dollar (AUD) 5.8 million to the three-year India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership. India and Australia agreed to build a stronger partnership in the field of critical minerals which are crucial for clean energy technologies such as batteries, electric vehicles, as well as mobile phones and computers. India and Australia have strengthened cooperation on the development of critical minerals projects and supply chains. On April 2, India-Australia signed the free trade pact, rooted in a desire to reduce its economic dependence on the world's No. 2 economy, China. The last official visit was from the Australian side when Defence Minister Richard Marles arrived in India on June 20 to strengthen defence and security cooperation between both countries. (ANI) The United States, Australia and Japan on Saturday condemned China's launch of ballistic missiles and urged China to immediately cease the military exercises. Tensions in the Taiwan Strait heightened soon with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's trip to Taiwan. China has been increasing its military activities and even crossed the median line. Multiple Chinese planes and ships were detected around Taiwan Strait today, simulating an attack on its main island. The Taiwan Defence Ministry said that its armed forces responded to such a situation accordingly with surveillance systems, CAP aircraft, naval vessels and missile systems. On Friday, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said that 68 Chinese military planes and 13 warships crossed over the median line to participate in drills. "US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa met in Phnom Penh on the margins of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting," the US State Department said in a statement. The Secretary and the Foreign Ministers of the three nations expressed their commitment to deepening the trilateral partnership among Australia, Japan, and the United States to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region. "They condemned the PRC's launch of ballistic missiles, five of which the Japanese government reported landed in its exclusive economic zones, raising tension and destabilizing the region. The Secretary and the Foreign Ministers urged the PRC to immediately cease the military exercises," the State Department said. The US Secretary and the Foreign Ministers also highlighted this partnership rests on the unshakable foundation of shared interests and values, including a commitment to freedom, rule of law, human rights, sovereignty and territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes. They reaffirmed their resolve in supporting ASEAN centrality, and the importance of the Pacific Islands Countries as partners in the region. They reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They appreciated ASEAN's statement about the importance of deescalating tension in the Taiwan Strait. The three sides share the region's desire for diplomacy to avoid the risks of miscalculation. The US Secretary and the Foreign Ministers expressed their concern about the People's Republic of China's (PRC) recent actions that gravely affect international peace and stability, including the use of large-scale military exercises. They also stressed that there is no change in the respective one China policies, where applicable, and basic positions on Taiwan of Australia, Japan, or the United States. (ANI) United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has extended support to the Sri Lankan government and the people to meet their immediate and long-term needs. "The United Nations is ready to support the government and people of Sri Lanka in meeting their immediate and long-term needs and is looking forward to continuing the cooperation of the United Nations in building peace, sustainable development and promoting human rights for all Sri Lankans," according to the statement released by President Media Division. In the congratulatory message to the Sri Lankan President, the Secretary-General said that the leadership of President Ranil Wickremesinghe will be crucial for building a favourable environment and stability to overcome the current challenges that the country is facing. Secretary-General Guterres acknowledged Wickremesinghe's commitment to forging a consensus among all political parties in formulating a national strategy to address these challenges. "He also encouraged dialogue among all stakeholders, including consultation with the public, while ensuring respect for the rule of law and basic human rights principles," the statement reads. "Furthermore, support has been expressed in recognizing Sri Lanka's efforts towards women's political participation and encouraging the President's leadership to accelerate progress," the statement added. With many Sri Lankans experiencing extreme shortages of essentials including food and fuel, peaceful protests began in March. The protests led then-Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to resign on May 9, and his brother, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, to flee the country on July 13 and resign the following day. Ranil Wickremesinghe became acting president, and parliament elected him as the new president on July 20 with the support of the Rajapaksas' political party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna. He had previously described some protesters as "fascists" and declared a state of emergency on July 18. On July 21, Wickremesinghe issued an order to "call out with effect from July 22, 2022, all the members of the Armed Forces . . . for the maintenance of public order." Under emergency powers, the president can override, amend, or suspend a provision of any law, except the Constitution. Emergency powers can be used to detain people while bypassing the ordinary process of the courts and have repeatedly been used in the past to enable human rights violations. (ANI) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday that Beijing's escalatory military manoeuvres are disproportionate to the "peaceful visit" of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan. "The total disproportion between a peaceful visit on the one hand, and escalatory military manoeuvres on the other, I think it is very clear and very clear to countries throughout the region," Blinken was quoted as saying by Sputnik during a press conference in the Philippines. The top US diplomat said China's disagreements with Taiwan must be resolved peacefully. On Tuesday, Pelosi visited Taipei while on an Asia tour despite warnings from China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes any direct official foreign contacts with the island. She is the highest-ranking US official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. The visit became a new point of tension in US-China relations in the Taiwan Strait. Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan's independence. The visit triggered a new round of tension in the Taiwan Strait. In addition to the launch of military exercises this week, Beijing has imposed sanctions against two Taiwanese foundations for separatist activities, suspended the export of natural sand to the island and the import of citrus fruits, as well as some types of fish products from Taiwan. The Chinese foreign ministry said that Washington and Taipei are yet to face all the negative consequences of the visit, which Beijing has opposed for several months. (ANI) "Moscow is seriously concerned about the new wave of armed violence in the zone of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The Israeli air force's airstrikes triggered another escalation on August 5, in response to which Palestinian armed militants launched a massive indiscriminate shelling of the Israeli territory," the ministry quoted Zakharova as saying. Russia expresses deep concerns about the situation, she said, adding that this "is fraught with the renewal of full-scale military confrontation and further deterioration of the already deplorable humanitarian situation in Gaza." "We are calling on all parties involved to exercise maximum restraint, prevent the escalation of hostilities, and immediately return to the sustainable ceasefire regime," Zakharova concluded. (ANI/Sputnik) At least eight people were killed and 18 others injured in Kabul on Friday during a Shia community mourning gathering following the holy month of Muharram. "UNAMA condemns yesterday's attack in a majority-Shia area of Kabul causing dozens of casualties. De facto authorities must prevent such indiscriminate attacks, launch thorough and transparent investigation. Our condolences to families of the killed and speedy recovery for the injured," UNAMA tweeted. A Taliban spokesperson said that the explosion took place in the Sarkariz area of the capital city, TOLO news reported. ISIS has claimed the responsibility for the bomb attack in Kabul, according to reports. The Shia community have been facing persecution in Afghanistan for many years. While condemning the attack in Hazara market, UN Special Rapporteur Richard Bennett said perpetrators of crimes must be brought to justice. "Another dreadful attack on civilians in crowded Hazara market. Kabul, continuing pattern of crimes claimed by ISIS. My sincere condolences to victims. Taliban authorities are responsible for protecting all Afghans. Perpetrators of Int crimes must be brought to justice," Bennett tweeted. Earlier, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan prohibited dozens of Shia mosques from holding Eid prayers. Since the Taliban regime took control of Afghanistan, blasts and attacks have become a regular affair with unabated human rights violations involving ceaseless murder of civilians, destroying mosques and temples, assaulting women, and fueling terror in the region. Last month, a bomb exploded near Karte Parwan Gurudwara in Kabul, a month after the holy place was attacked by members of the Islamic State. Religious minorities in Afghanistan, including the Sikh community, have been targets of violence in Afghanistan. (ANI) He was received by Agriculture Minister Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Dhaka Tribune reported. The Chinese Minister is set to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina tommorow. Wang Yi will also hold a bilateral meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart AK Abdul Momen. On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said they will have an exchange of views on bilateral relations and international and regional issues of shared interest. We highly value our relationship with Bangladesh, she added. "We hope the visit will provide an opportunity to further implement the common understandings between the leaders of the two countries, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and elevate the relationship to a new level," she said during a press conference. She said they "highly value" their relationship with Bangladesh and the Chinese Foreign Minister is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of Foreign Minister Momen. This visit comes even as tension is brewing in the Taiwan Strait after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's high profile visit to the self-governed island China claims as its territory. Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said it is closely following the developments in the Taiwan Strait and urges all parties concerned to exercise utmost restraint and refrain from any actions that may aggravate tensions and undermine peace and stability in the region and beyond. "Bangladesh reiterates her firm adherence to the One China policy and urges the parties concerned to resolve their differences in accordance with the UN Charter and through dialogue," the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said in a statement. (ANI) Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief and ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday announced he will contest bypolls on all the nine vacant Assembly seats after the Election Commission of Pakistan released the schedule for bypolls on Friday. The announcement first came from PTI's official Twitter account, and was later confirmed by the party's Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry while speaking at a press conference, the Dawn reported. According to the ARY News, in a meeting with journalists, Imran Khan said, "Elections would be held this year, government parties want to single him out....Would fight against the rulers at every platform." "The government alliance's plans to disqualify him would never be completed," he said, adding that appointing Sikandar Sultan Raja as the ECP chief was a major mistake. The former premier added that two foreign countries offered him funding in the past but he refused. Leaders with popular support cannot be eradicated, he added. Imran Khan's announcement to contest the bypolls on all nine seats has startled many, with some commentators questioning if the PTI chairman could not find any other suitable candidate and the expenses to be incurred on the subsequent by-elections should Imran Khan win multiple seats and quits all but one. According to the Dawn, a Representative of Free and Fair Election Network (Fafen) of Pakistan, Mudassir Rizvi said that the Constitution provided for by-elections to be held within a certain time-frame after a seat fell vacant, as well as allowing a candidate to contest on multiple seats but retain just one, in case the nominee wins from multiple constituencies. "That way our Constitution also allows state funds to be incurred on political ambitions of political leaders and parties. In just one constituency only, the kind of staff required, number of polling stations and booths set up, and at least a couple of thousand election staff involved, the expenses run into millions each time," he added. Election Commission of Pakistan on Friday announced that by-elections on nine National Assembly (NA) seats will be held on September 25. The poll body announced the schedule for the constituencies of NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib, as well asNA-237 Malir, NA-239 Korangi Karachi and NA-246 Karachi South. The nine seats are among the 11 vacated after acceptance of resignations of PTI MNAs by the National Assembly speaker, and their de-notification, last week, following the removal of the party chief Imran Khan from the office of the Prime minister earlier this year. The NA speaker had accepted the resignations of 11 PTI MNAs, including nine on general seats and two on reserved, under Article 64(1) of the Constitution of Pakistan. On July 28, National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accepted the resignations of the PTI Lawmakers three months after the en-mass resignation of the lawmakers on April 11 following the ouster of the former prime minister Imran Khan from the top office after the no-confidence motion moved by the joint opposition in the parliament against him succeeded. The government accepted the resignations of 11 PTI MNAs including Shireen Mazari, Ali Muhammad Khan, Ijaz Shah, Farrukh Habib, Shandana Gulzar, Fazal Muhammad, Fakhar Zaman, Abdul Shakoor Shad, Jameel Ahmed and Akram Cheema, ARY News reported. The confirmation of the acceptance of the resignations was issued by the NA Secretariat, which issued a list. Notably, the PTI members after approval of the party's leadership tendered their resignations from the National Assembly. PTI MNA Murad Saeed was the first PTI MNA who submitted his resignation to the National Assembly's speaker, ARY News reported. The then-Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri approved the resignations of the PTI MNAs. (ANI) Many flights were cancelled, some of them rerouted following China's military drills near Taiwan after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to the self-governed island. Korean Air, Asiana and Singapore Airlines are among the carriers who cancelled flights over a Chinese military exercise in the Taiwan Strait, reported Al Jazeera. The move comes after Beijing cautioned carriers to avoid six "danger zones" where the People's Liberation Army is conducting drills aimed at upholding "sovereignty and territorial integrity" after the veteran United States politician defied its warnings against a trip. South Korea's Korean Air cancelled all flights to Taiwan on Friday and Saturday, while local rival Asiana cancelled its Friday route, reported Al Jazeera. Korean Air also moved up the schedule for its Sunday flight to Taipei by an hour, after Asiana delayed its flight by three hours on Thursday. Singapore Airlines and its budget offshoot Scoot said they had cancelled all four flights between Singapore and Taipei scheduled for Friday and would monitor the situation for further changes, reported Al Jazeera. Japan's ANA and Japan Airlines have continued to operate all flights as scheduled but have adjusted the route on flights to Taipei, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia to avoid the affected airspace. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways said on Thursday it was avoiding designated zones around Taiwan, potentially adding to the duration of some flights. Taiwan's Civil Aeronautics Administration said it guided the rerouting of 74 passenger flights in and out of the island during a four-hour period on Thursday alone, the island's Central News Agency reported. Philippine Airlines, Taiwanese carriers China Airlines and EVA Air, and cargo carriers FedEx and United Parcel Service were still flying to the island on Friday, according to flight tracking service FlightRadar24. China is carrying out its biggest-ever military exercises in the Taiwan Strait until Sunday, firing ballistic missiles and deploying dozens of fighter jets and warships in six areas near the island. Beijing launched the exercises after Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, defied warnings not to visit the self-ruled island, which the Chinese Communist Party considers territory that should be "reunified" -- by force if necessary. Aviation safety cooperative OPSGROUP said China's military exercises would affect major routes between Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, forcing airlines to take longer and more expensive journeys, reported Al Jazeera. The disruption, however, is likely to pale in comparison to that caused by conflict in other parts of the world given the relatively small area of airspace involved. For example, airlines' decision to avoid Russian airspace following the invasion of Ukraine added four hours to flight times between Finland and Japan, reported Al Jazeera. (ANI) By Trend Azerbaijani Army has regained control over the Mount Buzdukh and the heights surrounding it, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend. The Azerbaijani flag was hoisted on Mount Buzdukh. --- Ankara [Turkey], August 6 (ANI/Sputnik): Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Saturday that Turkey and Russia have signed a roadmap for economic cooperation, intending to bring trade turnover between the countries to USD 100 billion. On Friday, a meeting between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin was held in Russia's Sochi. "During our bilateral meeting, we exchanged views on the further development of our trade and economic cooperation. We have previously stated that our trade target is USD 100 billion. In this direction, we want to develop our cooperation in such areas as energy, trade, tourism, and agriculture. We are determined to ensure a more balanced volume of bilateral trade. "A memorandum of understanding, a kind of a roadmap for our trade and economic relations was signed in Sochi by our Minister of Trade [Mehmet Mus], and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak," Erdogan told reporters upon his return from Sochi. Erdogan added that he also discussed with Putin the use of Russia's Mir payment card in Turkey, and that there is serious progress on the matter. (ANI/Sputnik) In response to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, Chinese hackers planted the flag of China on the websites of several local government agencies across Taiwan. While China's live-fire drills encircling Taiwan were taking place from Thursday, Chinese hackers covered a Kaohsiung government website with a China flag picture for over 10 hours from late Friday to Saturday morning, reported Taiwan News. On Friday morning, it was admitted the website of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs crashed for a few hours on Aug 2, 4, and 5. The ministry explained there was a brute force attempt to crash the server, with up to 17 million times per minute access attempts from numerous Chinese and Russian IP addresses, reported Taiwan News. As a result, central government agencies were told to stay on high alert for malicious internet activities. People familiar with the matter told Taiwan News that central government agencies have been ordered to keep tabs on websites and report problems up the chain of command to the Cabinet, every hour from Friday to noon on Monday (August 8). Emergency response guidelines issued by the Cabinet on Friday say a website has to be taken down immediately if it has been hacked. Furthermore, the Ministry of Education informed schools nationwide of its own emergency response guidelines to ensure cybersecurity, in which 24-hour security monitoring of each school website and an hourly update is required until next Monday, reported Taiwan News. As the tensions in the Twan strait heightened soon with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, China has been increasing its military activities. Multiple Chinese planes and ships were detected around Taiwan Strait, simulating an attack on its main island, the Defence Ministry said on Saturday adding that some of them have crossed the median line. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the armed forces responded to such a situation accordingly with surveillance systems, CAP aircraft, naval vessels and missile systems. "Multiple PLA craft were detected around Taiwan Strait, some have crossed the median line. Possible simulated attack against HVA. #ROCArmedForces have utilized alert broadcast, aircraft in CAP, patrolling naval vessels, and land-based missile systems in response to this situation," Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence tweeted today. Yesterday, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said that 68 Chinese military planes and 13 warships crossed over the median line to participate in drills. Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang blasted what he called "the evil neighbour" after China encircled the self-ruled island with a series of huge military drills that were condemned by the United States and other Western allies. China is holding threatening military exercises in six zones off Taiwan's coasts that it says will run through Sunday. Missiles have also been fired over Taiwan, defence officials told state media. The speaker is the highest-ranking US politician to visit Taiwan in 25 years. China opposes the self-governing island having its own contacts with foreign governments, but its response to the Pelosi visit has been unusually vociferous. (ANI) The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi on Saturday expressed alarm over shelling at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant. "I am extremely concerned by the shelling yesterday at Europe's largest nuclear power plant, which underlines the very real risk of a nuclear disaster that could threaten public health and the environment in Ukraine and beyond," said Grossi. The IAEA has received information about this serious situation - the latest in a long line of increasingly alarming reports from all sides. According to Ukraine, there has been no damage to the reactors themselves and no radiological release. However, there is damage elsewhere on the site. "Military action jeopardizing the safety and security of the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant is completely unacceptable and must be avoided at all costs," said the IAEA chief. He said that the Ukrainian staff operating the plant under Russian occupation must be able to carry out their important duties without threats or pressure undermining not only their own safety but also that of the facility itself. "Any military firepower directed at or from the facility would amount to playing with fire, with potentially catastrophic consequences," said Grossi. "I strongly and urgently appeal to all parties to exercise the utmost restraint in the vicinity of this important nuclear facility, with its six reactors. And I condemn any violent acts carried out at or near the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant or against its staff," he added. IAEA said that all have been compromised at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant over the past several months, and yet again, in the last 24 hours, several pillars have been violated. "In this highly volatile and dangerous situation, it is more important than ever that the seven indispensable safety pillars that I outlined at the beginning of the war, and that I reiterated at the United Nations in New York last Monday, are fully respected in order to maintain nuclear safety and security," added the IAEA chief. In order to help prevent the situation from spiralling even more out of control, the IAEA's presence to provide technical support for nuclear safety and security is of paramount importance. "Since the beginning of this tragic war, the IAEA - and I personally - has been working on supporting Ukraine in keeping all its nuclear facilities safe and secure. And for the last four months now, I have been ready to lead a mission of IAEA safety, security and safeguards experts to the country's biggest nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhya," said Grossi. IAEA meanwhile reiterated that the mission would play a crucial role in helping to stabilise the nuclear safety and security situation there, as it had done at the Chornobyl nuclear power plant and elsewhere in Ukraine in recent months where the mission has also delivered nuclear safety and security equipment that is urgently needed. Grossi also said that the IAEA safeguards inspectors would conduct essential verification activities at the plant. "We would also provide impartial and independent information about the status of the Zaporizhzhya facility. That this vital mission has not yet happened is not because of the IAEA. Despite our determined efforts, it has not been possible, so far. I will not give up. I will continue to push - and push again - for this IAEA mission to finally take place," said Grossi. He also urged cooperation from both Ukraine and Russia as well as from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "For the sake of protecting people in Ukraine and elsewhere from a potential nuclear accident, we must all set aside our differences and act, now," he said. (ANI) Days after a US drone strike killed Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in Kabul, another drone fired missiles in the Andaro area of Ghazni Province in Afghanistan and it seems that this one is also a HVT (High Value Target). A High-Value Target (HVT) is a target (a person or resource) that an enemy requires for completion of a mission. The term has been widely used in the media for Osama Bin Laden and high-ranking officers of Al-Qaeda and are considered essential to the completion of enemy operations. Taliban seems to have no information regarding the same. In a tweet, Sumaira Khan, a defence analyst of a media outlet wrote, "Reportedly another drone fired missiles aiming at high profile foreign-hailing target at Andaro area of Ghazni Saturday evening. The Taliban said there is no info on the nature of target." Another journalist Mushtaq Yusufzai confirmed the incident citing Taliban sources. "Taliban sources in Afghanistan said a drone fired missiles and hit a target in Andaro area of Afghanistan's Ghazni province on Saturday evening. Taliban said there is no information about the target but believed to be foreigners," he wrote. US President Joe Biden in a televised address on Monday announced that Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in an air strike by the United States stating that "Justice has been delivered." al-Zawahiri was one of the world's most wanted terrorists and a mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks was killed in a drone strike carried out by the US in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday. "On Saturday, at my direction, the United States successfully conducted an airstrike in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed the emir of al-Qa'ida: Ayman al-Zawahiri. Justice has been delivered and this terrorist leader is no more," Biden said in a video address from the Blue Room Balcony at the White House. "He will never again, never again, allow Afghanistan to become a terrorist safe haven because he is gone and we're going to make sure that nothing else happens," he added.Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon was deeply involved in the planning of 9/11 and he also acted as Osama Bin Laden's personal physician. In a background call to reporters, a senior Biden administration official said Zawahiri had been killed on the balcony of a house in Kabul in a drone strike, and that there had been no US boots on the ground in Afghanistan. The strike was conducted by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and was carried out by an Air Force drone. The official claimed that al-Zawahiri was the only person killed in the strike and that none of his family members was injured.Senior members of the Taliban and Haqqani Network were aware of al-Zawahiri's presence in Kabul before the drone strike, said the senior administration official. In fact, Haqqani Network members attempted to conceal that al-Zawahiri had been staying at the safehouse in the hours after he was killed. When asked about Al-Zawahri's killing and could he have been in the safe house without the direct knowledge of Pakistan's ISI, the official said: "What we know is that senior Haqqani Taliban were aware of his presence in Kabul and I can't comment further on other countries involvement." Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to the United States who is now with the Hudson Institute, said that this operation shows that the US can still find identified terrorist leaders in Afghanistan. "The question now would be, whether Taliban enabled Zawahiri's elimination or the US did it without assistance. His presence in the Afghanistan-Pakistan area confirms that the region is still home to international terrorist groups," Haqqani told ANI. "We will have to wait to find out whom the Americans believe to have helped keep Zawahiri in business from within the region," the former ambassador further added. Zawahiri's killing comes a year after the US' military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban's takeover of the country. The official noted that Zawahiri's presence in the Afghan capital Kabul was a "clear violation" of a deal the Taliban had signed with the US in Doha in 2020 that paved the way for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. (ANI) With the 20th Party Congress fast approaching, Chinese President Xi Jinping has full control over the country via the Communist Party of China (CPC) as one in every 15 Chinese is a CPC member and they are aware that if they show disloyalty towards the President it will be dealt with sternly. The argument is supported by facts as a significant proportion of the Chinese people are part of CPC and Xi is using these people to control China in a way which has not been witnessed before, reported Inside Over. CPC is an integral part of China's domestic politics and this reflects in the kind of massive membership that the CPC holds. As long as the CPC keeps on thriving, the country's internal politics will remain stable. Xi seems to understand this and is using this to serve his purpose to remain and lead a historical legacy. One of the significant aspects to note is that despite COVID-19, the country continued to seek an enhancement in the CPC numbers. Official data reveals that the CPC witnessed an increase of 3.4 million members from the end of 2020 to 96.7 million members in December 2021. This 3.7 per cent increase indicates that China was busy taking on members even though the country was amidst a pandemic and severe lockdown. Another thing which must not be missed is the release of Party membership figures at an unsual time. It generally gets released annually however this year it was done before because of the forthcoming Party Congress where President Xi is expected to seek a third term. Chinese citizens fully backed the CPC in its policies to tackle Covid, including lockdowns and intense food shortages. It indicated that they are subservient to Xi's regime. The core signal is that membership of the Party has increased most after President Xi came to power in 2012, showing his popularity. A note on the issue published in Xinhua states that 119,000 people joined the party before the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1949, while 14.2 million joined between 1949 and 1978, as per Inside Over media outlet. The note further states that an additional 60.8 million joined between 1979 and before 2011, the year before Xi officially came to power. Yet in the short span between 2012 and 2021, the CPC grew by an astounding 21 million members. At the core of the current drive to recruit more people into the Party is Xi Jinping's effort to assert the CPC's dominance and get members to reaffirm their commitment to the "Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era." President Xi is likely to remain paranoid, and focused on ensuring that the entire party, supports his bid for another term. This means all 96.7 million party members must assert their loyalty to him. Disloyalty has been sternly dealt with and at all levels. (ANI) Indian Embassy in New York has expressed grief over the death of Mandeep Kaur in Queens and said it is in touch with US authorities at all levels over the incident and will render all kinds of assistance required. This comes as a 30-year-old Indian-origin woman Mandeep Kaur, who went to New York after marriage was tortured by her husband allegedly for not bearing a son till she ended her life which left millions shocked in India and abroad. In a tweet, the Embassy wrote, "We are deeply saddened by the death of Mandeep Kaur in Queens, New York under most tragic circumstances. We are in touch with the US authorities at Federal and local level as well as the community. We stand ready to render all assistance." Kaur ended her life by hanging, but not before releasing a heart-rending video narrating the excruciatingly painful details of the torture she faced at the hands of her husband Ranjotveer Singh Sandhu following which a massive storm took over social media. Many questioned why Sandhu was still allowed to keep the couple's minor daughters while the Uttar Pradesh Police registered a case of abetment to suicide and domestic violence against her husband and in-laws. American authorities have also begin their own probe. Speaking to ANI, the victim's sister Kuldeep Kaur divulged the horrific details of what Mandeep went through on a daily basis for nearly eight years, since the day she was married. "My sister was married in February 2015. Soon, they went to New York and he started torturing her. He wanted a son and wanted Rs 50 lakh in dowry," said Kuldeep Kaur. An FIR has been registered at the Najibabad Police Station of Bijnor in UP against the husband and her in-laws. A case has been registered in Najibabad Police Station of Bijnor District on August 5 at 6:33 pm under sections 306 (Abetment of suicide), 498-A (Domestic violence), 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (Punishment for wrongful confinement) and Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, a police official said. The FIR was filed by Jaspal Singh, father of Mandeep Kaur wherein he accused Mukhtar Singh, father of Ranjotveer Singh Sandhu, Kuldeep Raj Kaur, mother of Ranjotveer Singh Sandhu and Jasveer Singh, brother of Ranjotveer Singh Sandhu for the suicide. The 30-year-old Indian-origin woman was domestically abused by her husband Ranjotveer Singh Sandhu for close to eight years. Another video also went viral on the net which purportedly showed the victim being beaten up. She is survived by her two daughters, aged four and six, whose custody currently is with Sandhu. Social media platforms went berserk after the incident was reported. Many users questioned why the two daughters still with him (Sandhu)? Why is he currently allowed to plan Mandeep's funeral, others questioned. While the deceased's husband and daughters are currently in Richmond Hill, New York, his family is reportedly from Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor. According to Instagram page @TheKaurMovement, the New York Police Department is investigating the case as a homicide rather than a case of suicide. "So sad! parents should understand a divorced daughter is better than a dead daughter. let her leave a toxic relationship. dnt force em to stay," tweeted another user. In one of the videos posted by the user, Mandeep is heard narrating her daily ordeal. She said that she tried her best for 8 years and that one day everything would be fine. She charged her husband with extra-marital affairs and daily beatings in an inebriated state. All through the video, she was seen sobbing and saying how she couldn't take being abused anymore right before she committed suicide. Tired of her husband's harassment, Mandeep made a video narrating her painful existence. Shortly after the video went viral on social media, she was found hanging by the fan of the house in New York where she lived. The family members of the deceased in Bijnore now painfully remember their daughter after seeing pictures in her ill-fated wedding album. (ANI) Taliban on Saturday urged the US to recognize the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The acting Minister of Defence, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid, in an interview with NPR, said that the recognition of the current government is in the interest of the United States because there is no other regime to deal with, reported Tolo News. "This is obvious," he said. "There are many countries that are more against America than us, but they recognize them officially," he said. "There are more countries in the world that pose more danger than Afghanistan to America, but still America recognized them officially. I think that recognition is a positive step toward a bigger change," said Mujahid. The acting Minister of Defence also said that the issue of closed girls' schools is a serious matter, but some improvements have been made in this regard, reported Tolo News. "This is a serious issue for us. There is some development, and hopefully, there will be more about it. We have a discussion about these issues, and we are hoping that soon the ground will be prepared for that," Mujahid added. Meanwhile, the Taliban has not completed the conditions for recognition which was offered by the international community. "The countries have made very clear demands and conditions for the recognition of the Taliban. Unfortunately, during this time, no positive steps have been taken to meet their demands. An inclusive government has not been established, and girls' schools are still closed," said Ghulam Sakhi Ehsani, a university lecturer. While discussing the situation in Afghanistan and the increasing hunger crisis in the country, the EU Ambassador to Afghanistan, Andreas Von Brandt said that there is a consensus on the non-recognition of the Taliban government in the western world. According to Brandt, the world is trying to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan, not to the government which came to power by means not provided for in the country's constitution, Khaama Press reported. Meanwhile, political analysts believe the current situation in Afghanistan could get worse if the Taliban leadership do not consider an inclusive government, saying such could also pave the way for the international community to offer formal recognition to the group. "The international community and the people of Afghanistan want the current government to include diverse layers of educated youth and representatives from different ethnic groups," another political analyst, Ahmad Monib Rasa said. The Taliban's claim of creating a peaceful atmosphere for men and women is so ironic to the real picture. Women are denied their basic rights like education and even freedom of speech, which was seen and condemned by the whole world but still the Taliban makes false claims. (ANI) Firefighters battled a two-alarm houseboat fire docked at a marina in Seattles Westlake neighborhood on Friday night. Just after 11 p.m., the Seattle Fire Department responded to the 2000 block of Westlake Avenue North after 911 callers reported a houseboat on fire. Upon arriving at the scene, crews found a fire that involved two houseboats and two boats docked in the area. Firefighters quickly evacuated all residents at the marina and had the fire under control by 12:25 a.m. SFD says the fire was uniquely challenging to extinguish because of the limited walkways and low weight limits of the floating dock where the houseboat was located. SFD rescue swimmers and Seattle Police Departments Harbor Patrol were also dispatched to the scene. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Two males were shot overnight in Pittsburghs Homewood South neighborhood. According to Pittsburgh police, responding officers arrived on the scene of a nine-round ShotSpotter alert in the 7200 block of Formosa Way just before 4:30 a.m. Police said there was a crime scene but no victims at that location. Two male gunshot victims arrived at a hospital by private means a short time later. One of the victims is in critical condition and the other is in stable condition. The Mobile Crime Unit processed the scene and the vehicle used to transport the victims to the hospital. Violent Crime Unit detectives are investigating. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: No criminal charges expected after group of children allegedly ransack Fayette County home Updated Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act goes into effect after 45 years without changes Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson reportedly split after 9 months VIDEO: Explainer: Dangers of lightning as strong storms move through Pittsburgh area DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts BRASILIA, BRAZIL (AP) Federal Police arrested three more suspects Saturday in a case arising from the slaying of a journalist and an Indigenous expert in the remote western reaches of Brazils Amazon rainforest in June. A police statement alleges the three were involved in the hiding of the bodies after the killing. It said they are relatives of Amarildo da Costa Oliveira, known as Pelado, a fisherman who is one of three men previously charged with murdering the victims. British journalist Dom Phillips, 57, and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, 41, were killed June 5 on their boat on the Itaquai river, near the entrance of the Javari Valley Indigenous Territory, which borders Peru and Colombia. A total of seven people have been arrested for alleged involvement in the killings or the attempted coverup. Prosecutors have said the three men charged with murder in the case are fishermen who killed Phllips and Pereira because the pair asked to photograph the suspects. The area is a hotspot for illegal fishing and poaching. In an investigation that has grown out of the murder case, police also identified a man arrested in early July for allegedly carrying false documents as Ruben Dario da Silva Villar, known as the Colombian. A Colombian citizen, he was using a Brazilian identity card and also a Peruvian document,the statement said. The statement described him as the leader and financier of an armed criminal association dedicated to the practice of illegal fishing in the region of Vale do Javari, which was responsible for commercializing a large amount of fish that was exported to neighboring countries. In addition to the three people arrested for suspected involvement in hiding the bodies of Philips and Pereira, two other people were arrested in the investigation of illegal fishing, police said. Dubai Chambers has announced a leadership change with Hamad Buamim, President and CEO, moving on after 16 years of exceptional service. He will continue to support Dubai Chambers for the next three months, said a Wam news agency report. Hassan Al Hashemi, Vice President, International Relations Dubai Chambers, has been appointed to the role of President and CEO in an acting capacity. Announcing the move, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chambers, lauded Buamim's instrumental role in the transformational growth and evolution of the entity, and in positioning Dubai as a strategic hub for global trade and commerce. Hamad Buamim said: "Dubai Chambers today serves over 320,000 members in a wide range of economic sectors. This would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our leadership and the guidance of the Dubai Chambers Board of Directors. As I move to pursue new interests including advisory and non-executive positions, I thank the leadership and the Dubai Chambers team for their dedication and commitment to achieve exceptional growth and to widen our geographic outreach." The many achievements of Buamim include growing the membership of Dubai Chambers by over four times from 80,000 to over 320,000, which made Dubai Chambers one of the top 10 chambers in the world and the largest membership-based organisation in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region. He launched 12 international offices and strengthened the focus of Dubai Chambers on emerging markets, including Latin America and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Buamim also played a defining role in unlocking partnerships with African nations and positioning Dubai as a global gateway to Africa. He also established the Dubai Association Centre, within the Chambers, and attracted more than 80 international Associations. He also established the Dubai Centre for Responsible Business, the first organsiation in Dubai focused on corporate social responsibility initiatives by businesses. The Daily Beast Photo Illustration by Kelly Caminero / The Daily Beast / GettyAt the risk of awarding the title prematurely, we think weve found the weirdest study published in 2022. Scientists strapped GoPro cameras to the bodies of six dolphins trained by the U.S. Navy, and recorded them hunting for food and consuming their prey in grisly detail. According to the study, there was a purpose behind this potential invasion of dolphin privacy; namely, to learn more about how the mammals hunted and ate.Scientists Afghan refugees settling in the Dayton area will be welcomed at a reception today at the Dayton Metro Library, according to a media release. >>Vandalia to close some public facilities Saturday following deadly Butler Twp. shooting The Afghan Welcome Event will take place at 10 a.m. at the librarys second floor community room on E. Third Street. The event will be hosted by Welcome Dayton in collaboration with Ohio Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and the Dayton Metro Library, the release said. Between October 2021 and July 2022, 119 Afghan refugees have settled in the Dayton region through the refugee resettlement program of Catholic Social Services of the Miami Valley. At todays event, Afghan refugees can connect with each other and learn about resources and opportunities available as they establish lives in the local community, according to the release. Granny talked a lot about her grandpa, Dr. Levi Jones (1836-1929). He was my great-great grandfather, and I always enjoyed hearing stories about family history. She said back before the Civil War, he had several slaves right here in Henderson County. They were brought into his 1856 marriage by his well-to-do wife, but as head of the new household, he freed them. As the Civil War progressed, he joined the Northern army because their values were more aligned to his own personal beliefs. Dr. Levi Jones (1836-1929) is seated with his family. He served in the Union Army during the Civil War and returned to Henderson County to farm, operate zircon mines, and work as a country doctor using his wartime medical training. While serving in the Unions 2nd N.C. Mounted Infantry, Company H, he received medical training and was promoted to Captain. While such medical skills would be elementary by todays standards, they were the best available for that time and place. In battlefield situations, soldiers were grateful for a medic. After serving honorably, Captain Jones returned to Henderson County where he became recognized as a country doctor. It was here that Dr. Jones continued to relieve pain and suffering by combining herbs with his wartime training. Medical personnel were not available for mountain people in the late 1800s, especially in rural areas of Henderson County. So, along with successful farming and experimental mining, Dr. Jones also served his community with health services. Granny had fond childhood memories of visiting her grandparents large farm. She liked to describe the beauty of abundant crops, fenced pastures with barns, and their nice home. Then, she sadly reminisced about the entire property being covered up with Lake Summit, when the new dam was constructed in 1920. Progress had many benefits for the community, and the expanded availability of electricity was one of them. Like other farmers and homeowners, Dr. Jones was compensated for his land and was able to successfully relocate. Still, Granny thought it was sad that her elderly grandpa had less than a decade to live after the upheaval of moving. His mining operation for zircons in the community, now known as Zirconia, North Carolina, helped bring local and national attention. Dr. Jones and other local mine owners invited both Thomas Edison and Henry Ford to evaluate the industrial-grade zircons found in Henderson County. These innovators assessment of the mines was that the quality of stones was incredibly good. However, the quantity was insufficient for their vast ongoing experiments. Still, residents of the little Zirconia community can be proud that our history includes some world-famous visitors. Story continues One of the community services Dr. Jones is remembered for is his sale of land for the Crossroads Baptist Church and Cemetery in Zirconia. Records indicate that he charged the congregation just one dollar. Apparently, this arrangement may have been suggested by his lawyer. But as he intended, the donated properties remain in use to this day with a thriving Baptist church in a new building. In fact, Levis own grave is in Crossroads Cemetery, along with his wifes, and perhaps several hundred of their generational descendants. It is interesting that his tombstone shows his Civil War service and rank of Captain with no mention of the widely known title of Doctor. It seems that he was proudest of serving his country in a time of internal conflict. Yet, upon his return, he used his wartime medical skills to help a community that lacked those services. Perhaps the carved words underneath his name sum up his life: A Friend To His Country And A Believer In Christ. Levi Jones donated land for Crossroads Baptist Church and Cemetery in Zirconia. His tombstone there shows his military rank, information about his Union Army service, and his lifes guideline: A Friend To His Country And A Believer In Christ. There are many Jones descendants in Henderson County who may know other Levi Jones legends. Family history is always fascinating, and I would like to learn more. Think about your own ancestors and the stories that were shared through the generations. It is honoring to our heritage to seek out information that could possibly be lost in time. Janie Mae Jones McKinley Janie Mae Jones McKinley's new book, "The Legacy of Bear Mountain, Volume 2," (340 pages) is available in Hendersonville at the Historic Court House Gift Shop, The Curb Market, Henderson County Genealogical & Historical Society, M. A. Pace General Store (Saluda) and at Amazon.com. Over three years of her Back in the Day newspaper columns are included, along with new stories of Grannys life on Bear Mountain. This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: BACK IN THE DAY: Great-great Grandpa Levi Jones served in Union Army The back story behind reality star and ousted Elite World Group CEO Julia Haarts losing court battle with estranged husband Silvio Scaglia has been revealed in a 52-page opinion by a judge from Delawares Chancery Court. The decision, written by vice chancellor Morgan T. Zurn and filed Aug. 4, exposes Scaglias efforts to maintain control of Elite World Group despite his public proclamations that he and Haart were equal partners. But the judgement concludes that neither party had unclean hands. More from WWD Haart, the former creative director of La Perla, was fired from her position as CEO of Elite last February, amid the couples deteriorating relationship. Hours after she was ousted, she filed for divorce from her Italian business mogul husband and in a separate Manhattan Supreme Court sued Scaglia characterizing him as a liar and a fraud, who owes her millions from her share of Elite parent Freedom Holding Inc, according to court documents. According to the Chancery Court motion, Freedom began reporting in financial statements that Scaglia and Haart owned Freedom equally. In reality, and apparently unbeknownst to Haart, Scaglia maintained one share more of Freedom stock than his wife. A razor thin margin of control that was apparently unbeknownst to Haart at the time. As Zurn wrote: Despite the appearance of an equal partnership, the evidence reveals that Haart never owned an equal stake of Freedoms preferred stock. But, according to court filings, Haart first became aware that her husband was deceiving her back in 2020. Thats when Freedom entered into a negotiation with Gabelli Group Capital Partners over a possible SPAC transaction for Elite. At the time, Haart was CEO of Elite, but Scaglia excluded her from the negotiations with Gabelli. During these negotiations, Haart learned for the first time that Freedom preferred shares existed, and that Scaglia owned all of them, writes Zurn. Haart testified she was devastated to learn that Scaglia had misled and lied to [her] and that he could make decisions for the business, including selling it to Gabelli, without her. Story continues Having been caught in this deceit, Scaglia showed contrition by appearing to transfer to Haart 50 percent of Freedom holdings. Zurn writes: The record contains a June 12 stock power purporting to transfer from Scaglia to Haart 61,832 of Freedoms 123,665 preferred shares (the Stock Power). The stock power was drafted by Scaglias corporate accountant Jeffrey Fineman of accounting firm DDK & Company; Fienman is named in Haarts lawsuit. But, as Zurn writes, the Stock Power, by its own terms, does not transfer half of Scaglias 123,665 preferred shares. Rather, it transfers one half share less than half, or 49.9995957%, of those preferred shares. Assuming the Stock Power was effective, Scaglia continued to hold the bare majority50.0004043%of Freedoms preferred shares. Both Scaglia and Feinman testified this structure was intentional. Christopher Milito, Haarts attorney said in a statement to WWD: The courts decision is a tour de force examination of the many years of Scaglias statements and documents confirming to Ms. Haart and to the world at large that she was a full fifty-percent owner. Ms. Haart disagrees with the ultimate decision and will appeal it. But in the event it stands, it will be the final piece of evidence proving Scaglias fraud against his wife, fraud for which Ms. Haart is already seeking redress in New York State Supreme Court. Marty Singer, who is not involved in the case but is representing Haart in other matters concerning Scaglia, weighed in as well: Court papers filed [Aug. 4] further confirm the falsity of Mr. Scaglias statements about Ms. Harts ownership of Freedom. Lanny Davis, a publicist for Mr. Scaglia, stated in a headline in a March 9, 2022, press release, The numbers dont lie. Mr. Scaglia owns more than 99% of the voting stock Ms. Haart owns less than .01%. Thats a fact. Documents dont lie either. Mr. Davis statement is belied by the judges statement in the ruling acknowledging the existence of a document signed by Mr. Scalia confirming his agreement to transfer 49.9995957% of the preferred or voting shares to Ms. Haart. But theres more. According to the filing, Haart was aware that Scaglia had maintained a one-share advantage by early 2021. By May 2021, Scaglia was in contact with investment bank Jeffries Group about a potential SPAC or IPO. At the time, Zurn writes, Scaglia was also hopeful that an upcoming Netflix series focusing on Haart would bring value to EWG and accelerate a potential deal. And while she discovered the stock discrepancy after the fact, she was aware of it when she filed her lawsuit. Zurn also highlights Haarts efforts to pressure Fineman, whom Zurn characterizes as an on-call personal assistant to Scaglia and Haart to parrot that she owned half of Freedom. Haart continued leaning on Feinman after this litigation began, adds Zurn, When Feinman complained about unpaid bills Haart owed, Haart responded: You want to get paid ? Plz help me help you! I cannot pay you without the truth first coming out and being acknowledged as a 50% owner which you know better than anyone that I am. In the end, the court rejected Haarts claims that the judgement in Scaglias favor should be overturned because of Scaglias documented duplicity. Zurn writes in a final, if syntactically challenged, conclusion: The exercise of looking at the litigants hands reveals dirt on Haarts. Peter A. Bicks, a partner at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe and lead counsel for Scaglia added: We are pleased that the Judge, after seeing Mr. Scaglia testify live, found him credible and that, in sharp contrast, Ms. Haart was determined to have dirt on her hands because she fabricated the truth in open court about her stock ownership in Freedom. We are grateful that the Court has made clear that Mr. Scaglia controls Freedom, the owner of EWG, and that the termination of Ms. Haart was entirely lawful. Protesters fill Indiana Statehouse corridors in Indianapolis on Friday as lawmakers vote to approve on a near-total abortion ban. (Arleigh Rodgers / Associated Press) The Biden administration and one of Indianas largest employers have condemned the states new ban on abortions, with the White House calling it another extreme attempt by Republicans to trample womens rights. Indiana on Friday became the first state in the nation to approve such legislation since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a 1973 landmark case that had protected the right to abortion nationwide. The Indiana Legislature took a devastating step as a result of the Supreme Courts extreme decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade and eliminate womens constitutionally protected right to abortion, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Saturday. And its another radical step by Republican legislators to take away womens reproductive rights and freedom, and put personal healthcare decisions in the hands of politicians rather than women and their doctors. The ban, which takes effect Sept. 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions will be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10 weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the woman; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest wont be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed. Under the bill, abortions can be performed only in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics will lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an illegal abortion or fails to file required reports will lose his or her medical license. Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co., which employs 10,400 people at its headquarters in Indianapolis, warned that the ban could lead it to reassess its presence in Indiana. We are concerned that this law will hinder Lillys and Indianas ability to attract diverse scientific, engineering and business talent from around the world, the company said in a statement Saturday. While we have expanded our employee health plan coverage to include travel for reproductive services unavailable locally, that may not be enough for some current and potential employees. Story continues Given this new law, we will be forced to plan for more employment growth outside our home state, it said. Lilly has research and development hubs in New York and in San Diego and San Francisco, and this year announced it would build a $700-million genetic medicine hub in Boston. Lilly was not among the more than 250 businesses that opposed abortion restrictions in a letter released July 21 by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Indianapolis Star reported. IU Health, Indianas largest healthcare system, said it was studying the new law. IU Healths priority remains ensuring our physicians and patients have clarity when making decisions about pregnancy within the limits of the law. We will take the next few weeks to fully understand the terms of the new law and how to incorporate the changes into our medical practice to protect our providers and care for the people seeking reproductive healthcare, it said in a statement. The Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce urged the General Assembly to proceed with caution. Over the last two weeks, the Indiana General Assembly has debated a substantial policy change on the issue of abortion in a compressed time frame, the chamber said in a statement Thursday. Such an expedited legislative process rushing to advance state policy on broad, complex issues is, at best, detrimental to Hoosiers, and at worst, reckless. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Aug. 5TUPELO Two brothers have admitted their guilt in the 2017 shooting death of a Baldwyn car dealer at his home. Ojerrin Burress, 23, and Quindaris Burress, 18, were arrested three years apart and were both originally charged with capital murder for the October 2017 killing of Henry Adams. The older brother pleaded guilty to manslaughter and armed robbery on Thursday and will spend the next 30 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. His younger brother pleaded guilty to second degree murder in May and awaits sentencing. Ojerrin Burress was scheduled to go to trial on Monday, Aug. 8, on the capital murder charge. The state was not seeking the death penalty. Late Thursday, he changed his mind and reached out to prosecutors about a possible plea. If the case had gone to trial, his younger brother would have been one of the first witnesses to take the stand. "As you get closer to a court date, the defense can get anxious and start to worry," District Attorney John Weddle said. "His attorneys were in court this week preparing for trial, and we were in court. It turned into a conversation about a possible agreement." Adams' daughter, Lesley Adams Berry, has worked closely with his office as they prepared the cases and got ready to prosecute. "I am happy with the outcome. It's the best outcome with what they had to work with when folks are not willing to talk," Adams said. "There will always be holes. I don't think we will ever know exactly what happened that night. That's something I will have to deal with, and that's tough." She does have the consolation of sitting in the courtroom when both faced the judge and admitted they robbed and killed her father. Ojerrin Burress stood before Senior Circuit Court Judge Paul Funderburk on Aug. 4 and pleaded guilty to the reduced charges of manslaughter and armed robbery. After accepting the plea, Funderburk sentenced the older brother to 20 years to be served day for day on the manslaughter charge. A 10-year sentence for the armed robbery will be served consecutively. Story continues Quindaris Burress was just 13 when he was arrested on Nov. 3, 2017. He has celebrated five birthdays inside the Lee County Jail. In May, he pleaded guilty to second degree murder in exchange for giving truthful testimony against his brother. He will be sentenced at a later date. Henry Adams Jr., 70, was robbed of $20, shot multiple times and left to bleed to death in his Baldwyn home on Oct. 22, 2017. He sold cars from his house on a heavily wooded and isolated stretch of South Second Street and was known to keep large amounts of cash. "Either dad opened the door or they bum-rushed him," Berry said in a 2021 interview. "They went looking for money but only got $10-$20. And they shot and killed him anyway." The trial of Quindaris Burress was initially set to begin in November 2018 but was postponed several times. There were issues scheduling a mental evaluation. Then the defense wanted a separate evaluation. The coronavirus pandemic caused further delays. The trial was on the spring docket in Lee County Circuit Court. When Ojerrin Burress was arrested in March, prosecutors began working to get the younger brother to plea and testify against the older brother. Since he was only 13 at the time of the crime, the maximum penalty for Quindaris Burress was life in prison for capital murder. william.moore@djournal.com By Brenda Goh SHANGHAI (Reuters) -The southern Chinese resort city of Sanya imposed a lockdown on Saturday and restricted transport links to try to stem a COVID-19 outbreak that comes as some 80,000 visitors were enjoying its beaches at peak season. The curbs came into force at 6 a.m. (2200 GMT) after authorities said the COVID situation was "very severe" and people's movements were being restricted. Authorities did not say when the measures might be lifted but said tourists wanting to leave the city, which is on Hainan island, would have to show five negative PCR tests over seven days. "We urge the general public and tourists to understand and give their support," authorities said in a statement on the city government's WeChat account. The city reported 263 COVID cases for Friday, up from 11 two days earlier. Authorities said they had detected the Omicron subvariant BA.5.1.3. The lockdown comes in the high tourist season for the city, which is also known for its duty-free shopping and is home to several high-end hotels run by international companies including IHG and Marriott International. The deputy mayor, He Shigang, told state broadcaster CCTV there were about 80,000 tourists in the city but that the cases were mainly among residents. Officials told a news conference later on Saturday that tourists would get hotels at half price if they had to extend their stays. "It really sucks," said Micah Hostetter, a business consultant based in Shanghai who was scheduled to leave on Sunday after a week-long stay. "We dont know how long were going to be here, we hope its not that long," said Hostetter, who endured nearly two and half-months of lockdown in Shanghai earlier in the year. The sale of railway tickets out of Sanya was suspended, CCTV reported, citing the national operator, and more than 80% of flights to and from Sanya had been cancelled, according to data provider Variflight. The city started imposing lockdown measures in some places on Thursday. More venues, including its duty-free malls which are popular with Chinese shoppers unable to travel abroad, were shut on Friday. (Reporting by Brenda Goh, dditional reporting by Josh Horwitz; Editing by Robert Birsel) Colorado Republican Senate nominee Joe O'Dea. AP Photo/David Zalubowski Colorado GOP Senate nominee Joe O'Dea on Friday dismissed a Trump presidential candidacy in 2024. "I think a lot of people are ready to move our country forward," O'Dea said on Friday. O'Dea, a first-time candidate, won a primary against a more conservative challenger in June. The Republican nominee for Senate in Colorado said on Friday that former President Donald Trump should not run for president in 2024. Joe O'Dea, who is running as a center-right candidate, said on "The Ross Kaminsky Show" that he didn't want the current commander-in-chief or Trump to run for the White House in 2024. O'Dea is vying for a seat in a state which in recent years has morphed from a conservative stronghold to Democratic-leaning swing state that backed President Joe Biden by 13 points in 2020. "As far as Trump's concerned, I hope he doesn't run," O'Dea said of Trump. "I don't want to see him as president." He continued: "I think that seeing a Biden-Trump rematch again in 2024 would rip the country apart. I think a lot of people are ready to move our country forward. So, I wouldn't support him running again." With regard to a Biden run, O'Dea, immediately dismissed the Democrat as "the worst president we've ever had." "Look, I don't think Biden should run for president ... we're done with that," he said. O'Dea will face two-term Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet after defeating state Rep. Ron Hanks in the June GOP primary. During the interview, O'Dea stressed that the party had plenty of fresh faces that would be suitable contenders for the White House, naming Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, and Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United States Ambassador to the United Nations. "There's a lot of great talent out there. We need to move this country forward," he said. O'Dea, a construction company executive, then said that the economy would be a major focus for him if he wins the election this fall. "I'm a fiscal conservative. We don't need more taxation; we need less spending. It's very simple. That's how you move our economy forward," he said. "I believe we need a voice in Washington that's going to support working Americans," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider A welcome sign on 6th Street greets visitors in San Bernardino. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A measure that would allow San Bernardino County supervisors to explore secession from the state of California could be put to county voters in November. The Board of Supervisors approved the ballot measure at a meeting Wednesday night after the issue had been raised at several board meetings. Wednesday's vote was the first step in adding the measure to the ballot, to be followed by a second and final reading and vote scheduled for next week. Do the citizens of San Bernardino County want the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors to study all options to obtain its fair share of state and federal resources, up to and including secession?" the proposed measure reads. Voters would select yes or no. Even if approved by voters, the county's secession from California, whether to become its own state or to become a part of a neighboring state, is extremely unlikely. The move would need to be approved by state legislators, Congress, the Senate and, eventually, the president. At last week's board meeting, speakers and board members expressed frustration at the amount of funding San Bernardino County receives from the state, a point that made its way into the proposed ballot language. Our Sheriffs Department, our judges, are constantly taxed with too much with not enough resources, Jeff Burum, chairman of development firm National Community Renaissance, said at the meeting. Burum urged the board to put a secession measure on the ballot and was backed by Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren and Upland Mayor Bill Velto. "The last line is the most controversial because the rest of it's like a no-brainer," board Chairman Curt Hagman said Wednesday, referring to the clause about options "up to and including secession." The measure would allow the board to expend staff resources to study the funding San Bernardino County receives from the state. "Then we can look at options," Hagman said. "How do we lobby for more? How do we put our state representatives on notice that, hey, we're not getting our fair share?" Story continues The threat of secession has long been a weapon for dissatisfied political minorities in California, the most populous state in the nation and one of the most liberal. Conservative forces in far Northern California have tried repeatedly to create their own state with no success. A proposal to break up California into multiple states also foundered. There is no indication this one would turn out any differently. Hagman told The Times that a vote on the issue would show "the seriousness of the public." Supervisor Dawn Rowe called secession an "extreme example" of an action that could be taken and expressed skepticism that splitting from the state would be feasible. "I received an overwhelming support in favor of looking at all of our options, [and] several that told us that we were crazy for considering such a thing," Rowe said. "They were interested in basically having a voice and having hope that their elected representatives were listening to them and that they were frustrated. "I do have significant concerns about what it would mean if we were to look at going off on our own independently," she said, citing concerns about secession's effects on school and mental health funding. Supervisor Joe Baca was more blunt in his assessment. "I am not in favor of secession," he said. "I just don't believe that we have the resources or wherewithal, the staff or ability to create our own state." "I'm proud to be from California. I love California," he said. Baca still voted in favor of putting the measure on the ballot, saying he supported looking at funding levels. "It's clear that people are hurting; let's go out and get more [funding], and let's make sure we help them," he said. Supervisor Janice Rutherford viewed the vote as a way for constituents to express "a growing palpable anger" at the state, while also adding that secession would be unfeasible. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT) and EDGE have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish the UAEs first Industry 4.0 Enablement Centre. The centre is aimed at promoting, enabling, and supporting the digital transformation and the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies across the countrys manufacturing sector. The Ministry and EDGE will explore how the Enablement Centre can leverage what has been achieved by the EDGE Learning & Innovation Factory (LIF), a state-of-the-art learning, innovation, and demonstration centre for Industry 4.0, operational excellence, and advanced technology. Its offerings include learning, innovation, and demonstration to the wider industrial ecosystem, said a statement. The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology; Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology; Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman of the Board of Directors, EDGE; and Mansour AlMulla, Managing Director & CEO, EDGE. It was signed by Mohammed Al Qassim, Director of Technology Development and Adoption at Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology; and Reda Nidhakou, Senior Vice President of Strategy & Portfolio Management, EDGE, at the EDGE Learning & Innovation Factory, located in Abu Dhabi. Dr Al Jaber, Al Amiri, and Al Qasim were received by Faisal Al Bannai and Mansour AlMulla, at the EDGE Learning & Innovation Factory for a comprehensive tour of the facility, where key insights were highlighted on how organisations can enhance their operations by adopting the right processes and methodologies, how they can further enhance operations by adopting the right technologies, and how they can leverage automation to ignite a data-driven organisation. EDGE LIF is an end-to-end automated and integrated factory that demonstrates digital manufacturing use cases to trainees. Each trainee will be able to participate in a simulation to explore how technology can empower production. In the simulation, trainees use an app to configure a small car, add a tagline, and track its production across the factorys 4 islands in less than 7 minutes. The Smart and Lean Production training at EDGE LIF is key to the Lean Digital curriculum. Lean Digital teaches how lead-times, quality and cost can be enhanced by the introduction of Industry 4.0 technologies. The EDGE Learning & Innovation Factory SLF simulation is conducted over three rounds. It covers traditional production processes, mechanisms for discovering manufacturing and productivity challenges, and implementation of technological solutions that support operations. This includes digital work instructions and a dashboard of key performance indicators, which can lead to more advanced technical solutions, integrate automated work tasks, and mechanisms. These solutions include logistics smartwatches and barcode scanning smart gloves. As part of this partnership, EDGE will host a series of initiatives, training courses, and programs at the facility from September this year with the aim of accelerating technology adoption in the industrial sector, enhancing collaboration within the UAEs advanced technology ecosystem, and enabling the co-creation and development of innovative solutions among industry players. The Industry 4.0 Enablement Centre will comprise various activities, including raising awareness around Industry 4.0 technologies and practices, upskilling manufacturers capabilities with specialised training curricula, demonstrating 4IR technology benefits, supporting the development of Industry 4.0 strategies, and creating a testbed and an open-access environment to pilot and co-develop innovative technologies. EDGE is part of the Champions Network, a group of leading national industrial companies that deploy 4IR technologies and solutions in their operations. It includes companies such as Adnoc, Honeywell, Unilever, Schneider Electric, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), Cisco, Siemens, Aveva, SAP, Etisalat, IBM, Huawei, Strata, Microsoft, PTC, and Ericsson. The Champions Network is a core pillar of UAE Industry 4.0 designed to accelerate the integration of 4IR solutions and applications across the UAEs industrial sector, enhancing the UAEs overall industrial competitiveness, driving down costs, increasing productivity and efficiency, enhancing quality, improving safety and creating new jobs. MoIAT, EDGE, and Emirates Development Bank (EDB) signed a mutual agreement during the Make it in the Emirates Forum in June this year to support the development of manufacturing at EDGE, one of the worlds top 25 advanced technology groups for defence. Under the agreement, EDB will provide financing of up to AED1 billion to support EDGE Groups effort to adopt advanced technology and manufacturing processes and will contribute to increasing its exports, supporting the growth of the national economy. MoIAT will provide EDGE with a robust roadmap which will reinforce the Groups position as one of the worlds leading and most financially sound suppliers of military hardware and technology. - TradeArabia News Service The Cuban government said it has accepted technical guidance offered by the United States to help the islands authorities put out a raging fire that threatens to engulf an oil storage facility at the port of Matanzas, in what could be one of the few examples of cooperation between the two countries in recent years. We deeply appreciate the condolences and expressions of help from people and organizations in the U.S. regarding the #Matanzas incident, including from the U.S. government, which offered technical advice, a proposal already in the hands of specialists for proper coordination, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Cubas vice minister of foreign affairs, said on Twitter. Cuban leader Miguel Diaz-Canel usually goes to Twitter to rail about U.S. sanctions against Cuba and criticize the Biden administration. But the severity of the fire and the firefighters unsuccessful attempt to contain the flames so far have moved authorities to accept the offer with a public thank you message. We express deep gratitude to the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile, which have promptly offered material aid in solidarity in the face of this complex situation, Diaz-Canel said. We also appreciate the offer of technical advice from the U.S. The State Department did not offer details of what was offered to Cuba. READ MORE: Cuba was already facing an electricity crisis. These explosions could make that much worse An agencys spokesperson said the Biden administration was closely tracking the situation, including any humanitarian needs that may emerge. The U.S. embargo authorizes U.S. persons to provide disaster relief and response in Cuba, the spokesperson said. Previously, the U.S. embassy in Havana had said it was in contact with Cuban authorities and sent condolences to the victims of the fire, which left 77 injured so far. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has become a close ally of Cuba, also sent workers from state oil company Pemex to help extinguish the fire. The fire started around 7 p.m. Friday, when lightning struck a crude oil storage tank in the unloading area in the port of Matanzas, Cuban authorities said. Despite the efforts of the firefighters to control it, there were at least four explosions in the early hours of Saturday, and the flames spread to a second tank. State media shared images showing one Cuban Armed Forces helicopter attempting to drop water over the flames. Cuba asked for help Saturday to contain a massive fire at a fuel depot that has left at least one person dead, 121 people injured and 17 firefighters missing. Some 1,900 people have been evacuated from the affected area, according to officials from the western Matanzas province, where lightning struck a fuel tank late Friday, triggering an explosion. Provincial health official Luis Armando Wong told a press conference Saturday evening a first body had been recovered at the site. Five people were critically injured, according to an update by the Cuban presidency on Twitter, with three others in a very serious condition in hospital. The wounded included Energy Minister Livan Arronte. The president's office said 17 firefighters were missing, those "who were closest" to the fire in an industrial zone of Matanzas, a city some 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Havana. "Cuba requested help and advice from friendly countries with experience in fuel" to help put out the fire, the presidency added in a statement. Later in the day, President Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed thanks to the governments of Mexico, Venezuela, Russia, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile, "which have promptly offered material aid." "We also appreciate the offer of technical advice from the US," he added. The US embassy in Havana said on Twitter: "We want to make clear that US law authorizes US entities and organizations to provide disaster relief and response in Cuba." The United States has had sanctions against the one-party Communist state for six decades. - 'The sky was yellow' - The fire broke out after a bolt of lightning struck a tank Friday at the depot on the outskirts of Matanzas, a city of 140,000 people. By the early hours of Saturday, the fire had spread to a second tank, causing another blast and sending a huge plume of black smoke into the sky. Helicopters were hard at work fighting the blaze on Saturday, with ambulances, water tanks and cranes at the scene. Exhausted firefighters were gathered at the plant, waiting to enter to look for their comrades who seemingly could not escape the second explosion. Story continues "We felt the blast, like a shock wave that pushed you back," Laura Martinez, a resident of La Ganadera, near the disaster zone, told AFP. Upon hearing the first explosion, 32-year-old Yuney Hernandez and her children fled their home just two kilometers from the depot. They returned a few hours later. Then, they heard more blasts in the early morning hours, "like pieces of the tank were falling," she said. Ginelva Hernandez, 33, said she, her husband and three children were asleep when the explosions rang out. "We threw ourselves out of bed; when we went out to the street, the sky was yellow," she told AFP. "The fear of people on the street is uncontrollable," she added. - 'Could take time' - Diaz-Canel said extinguishing the blaze "could take time," while Asbel Leal, director of the Cupet state oil company, said the country had never experienced a fire "of the magnitude we have today." According to Cupet, the first tank contained about 26,000 cubic meters of crude, about half its capacity, when it was struck by lightning. The second contained 52,000 cubic meters of fuel oil. Official newspaper Granma reported the fire was likely due to "a fault in the lightning-rod system, which could not withstand the energy from the electrical discharge." The depot supplies the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in Cuba, but service to the plant has not been interrupted, the official said. The disaster comes at a time when the island -- with an outdated energy network and persistent fuel shortages -- has faced mounting difficulties in meeting increased energy demands amid severe summer heat. Since May, authorities have imposed energy blackouts of up to 12 hours a day in some regions -- sparking at least 20 protests around the Portugal-sized nation of 11 million people. lp-cb/rd/dga/mlr/sw/to Saturday's effort to rescue 10 Mexican coal miners trapped in a flooded deposit for four days ended with little progress, relatives said, with hopes of reaching any survivors dwindling. More than 300 soldiers and other personnel, including six military scuba divers, have joined the bid to free the miners in the northern state of Coahuila following Wednesday's accident, the government said. Liliana Torres, the niece of one of the 10 workers, told reporters on Saturday night that she had witnessed the relentlessness of rescuers who "do not stop all day", but added that the families were increasingly "desperate". The water inside the flooded mine has only receded about 9.5 meters (31 feet) from the initial 34 feet, according to a report given to the relatives by the authorities at the end of Saturday's effort, and divers have been unable to enter. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had earlier declared Saturday "a decisive day" for the operation. "According to the experts, we'll know if it's possible for the divers to enter safely," he tweeted. The main problem has been the flooding, he said, adding that the pumping equipment was working at full capacity. After Saturday ended without success, some families joined a mass near their improvised camp in the community of Agujita. The Coahuila State prosecutor's office said it had interviewed the five workers who managed to escape from the crudely constructed mine. "Apparently they were expelled by a torrent of water," Coahuila attorney general Gerardo Marquez told the press. He added that his office had requested information from the landowner and mine concession holder, but declined to name them. - Water leak - Authorities said that the miners had been carrying out excavation work on three mine shafts that descended 60 meters (200 feet) when they hit an adjoining area full of water. Experts detected a leak coming from nearby mines and are trying to find its exact location so they can stop water from flowing into the area where the workers are trapped, said Coahuila's labor secretary, Nazira Zogbi. Story continues A French company has provided equipment to assist in the task, she said, without naming the firm. The arrival of more powerful pumping equipment was a reason for optimism, Zogbi said. Water seen flowing from the mine through drainage channels had initially lifted the hopes of relatives anxiously awaiting news. "We're still hoping that they're in a higher part (of the mine), although there's too much water... but we trust in God," Elva Hernandez, mother-in-law of one of the trapped workers, told AFP. - History of accidents - Coahuila, Mexico's main coal-producing region, has seen a series of fatal mining accidents over the years. Last year, seven miners died when they were trapped in the region. The worst accident was an explosion that claimed 65 lives at the Pasta de Conchos mine in 2006. Only two bodies were retrieved after that tragedy. Miners and their relatives painted a picture of a precarious profession fraught with risks due to lax safety standards. "When everything's fine, you don't think about the danger, but when things happen you think about quitting," said Luis Armando Ontiveros. However, looking for a new job does not seem like a viable option for the 48-year-old, whose father taught him to dig for coal at an early age. The father-of-three said he needed the monthly salary equivalent to about $500 to pay for his children's education so they do not have to follow in his footsteps. amr-jg-dr/lb/qan Aug. 6It has been about 10 years since Levi Anderson of Emmons served in the Iowa National Guard and about 18 since he was deployed to Iraq, but he'll be the first to tell you'd he'd do it all over again. "I wouldn't take away a single second of any of it," Anderson said. Anderson was a part of the 1133rd Transportation Company out of Mason City, serving from 2003 to 2012 and deploying with the U.S. Army to Iraq in 2003 and 2004. He said his dad was in the Navy, and he initially joined because he wanted to serve like the other members of his family. He had a friend from high school who had also joined, and he said it didn't seem like a bad idea. Being that his father was a truck driver his whole life, he decided to follow in his footsteps and became a truck driver in the Army. But while deployed on Logistics Base Seitz near Baghdad International Airport, he said one night just as the crew was winding down for the night, there was an attack on their living quarters. He was hit by a piece of shrapnel, injuring his hand, and he believes there were 13 altogether who were injured that night, some more serious than his own injury. No one was killed. He said his wound was bandaged up until it healed, and he was able to stay in the country and continue his deployment. He estimated about three or four were sent home after that attack. He and the other soldiers were awarded Purple Heart medals for their service, which are presented to service members who have been wounded or killed as a result of enemy action while serving in the U.S. military. According to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, more than 1.8 million Purple Heart medals have been presented to service members since the origin of the award in 1782. Anderson said he recalled a ceremony when the medals were given. Though he is no longer a part of the military these days, he said he looks back on his time of service fondly. "The biggest thing I miss about that is the people I served with," Anderson said. "We were a pretty close group from the same area. A lot of us knew each other and still do." Story continues He recalled being with them one weekend a month and a few weeks out of the summer. "I would definitely do it again," he said. He now works as a truck driver for a company called FirstFleet, traveling in the region, including Iowa, South Dakota, Minnesota and some of Wisconsin. A Delta Air Lines plane on final approach for landing. Nicolas Economou/Getty Images A Delta Air Lines passenger's flight was canceled twice in the space of a few hours. Dustin Olson, who works for a spirits producer, says he was traumatized by the experience. He was most shocked by a pilot telling passengers to "forcefully complain to his employer." Dustin Olson was hoping for a smooth journey from New Orleans to LaGuardia in New York on Delta Air Lines, but like so many travelers this summer he faced a host of "bizarre" problems that left him traumatized. Olson, who works for an alcoholic drinks company, told Insider: "I have certainly had longer delays in my travels, but I have never experienced a sequence of events quite as bizarre as what my fellow passengers and I went through." His flight from Louis Armstrong International Airport was scheduled for 2:26 pm on July 29. Flight tickets and text messages confirming the delays and cancellations have been viewed by Insider. After boarding the plane following some minor delays, the aircraft then remained at the gate before passengers were eventually told the flight had been canceled due to crew fatigue. Olson said he and his fellow passengers were "furiously trying to rebook or find accommodation" before being told that another crew had just landed and were being transferred to their flight. They were asked to get ready to board again. Screenshots of Delta messages showing delays. Dustin Olson After reboarding at 6:30 p.m. they waited a couple of hours before the pilot said the flight was being canceled again and encouraged passengers to complain about their experience to Delta. "I have never heard an airline employee plead with passengers to forcefully complain to his employer the way one of the pilots did when the flight was canceled for the second time," Olson said. "What struck me throughout was that every employee working on behalf of Delta really wanted to get us home, from the pilots to the flight attendants to the desk agents. But it was as if some invisible force behind the curtains was conspiring to keep us grounded." Story continues Olson managed to book a seat on a 7 a.m. flight the next morning before being told another crew had been found, with passengers asked to board for a third time. "By the time we were boarded for a third time, you could really sense that we were all so traumatized that we just assumed things would fall apart again. It wasn't until we actually took off that we actually believed we were going home," Olson said. He was disappointed by the compensation Delta offered of just 3,500 miles to use for his next flight. Given that it required 29,000 miles "I don't know why they think that's adequate." Olson is due to fly to Dublin at the end of this month. "Based on everything I've read and heard this summer, I feel like we have about a 50/50 chance of getting there without incident." Delta did not respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Amid the challenges that come with navigating their dual cultural identity or adapting to American life in general, most Asian Americans proudly call America their home, a new report from Pew Research Center revealed. The analysis, conducted in the fall of 2021 and released on Aug. 2, featured 264 participants divided into 66 focus groups. The focus groups were further organized into 18 distinct Asian ethnic backgrounds: Bangladeshi, Bhutanese, Burmese, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Nepalese, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Taiwanese, Thai and Vietnamese. The groups were moderated by members of the participants own ethnic groups and conducted in 18 languages. The participants, who were both born inside and outside of the U.S., came from a range of household incomes. More from NextShark: Report: A third of Asians in San Gabriel Valley experienced anti-Asian hate during the pandemic The resulting analysis features an exploration of the experiences and views of Asian Americans in their own voices. Pan-ethnic labels and identity Many of the participants expressed that pan-ethnic labels Asian or Asian American do not encapsulate how they perceive themselves. For them, their identity is influenced by birthplace and may further develop as they grow in life. More from NextShark: Anti-Asian hate incidents up by 47% in Canada, report reveals Overall, they share a sense of belonging in the U.S., which they consider to be a place with a diverse set of cultures. The participants also shared the contentious encounters they have experienced due to ignorance and misinformation about their Asian identity. According to them, they often find themselves frustrated when correcting a stereotype or having to explain their identity to others. Anti-Asian discrimination The study also highlighted the attacks and verbal abuse Indian or Pakistani participants received from people who blamed them for the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Story continues More from NextShark: Report: 1 in 4 Asian New Yorkers lived in poverty in 2020 One day, somebody put a poster about 9/11 [in front of] my business. He was wearing a gun. On the poster, it was written you Arabs, go back to your country. And then someone came inside. He pointed his gun at me and said Go back to your country., said an immigrant man of Pakistani origin in his mid-60s. As well, participants shared the racial slurs they were subjected to because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the beginning of the pandemic, a friend and I went to celebrate her birthday at a club and like these guys just kept calling us COVID, said a U.S.-born woman of Korean origin in her early 20s. More from NextShark: Japanese scientists grow living, self-healing human skin that can be put on robots Some Japanese participants shared that their families experiences during World War II, which involved forced incarceration and loss of possessions, had long-term effects on their lives. What it means to be American Some participants said their American identity is about the process of becoming culturally American. According to immigrant participants, their experiences in America shaped their views of what it means to be an American. For others, however, their familiarity with American culture and their ability to speak English aided their becoming American. Participants lamented the challenges attached to the model minority myth, with some sharing their struggles of not meeting their math and science teachers expectations in school. Others shared that some stereotypes worked in their favor, particularly in the job market. During discussions, immigrant participants further shared that they experienced challenges with adapting to life in the U.S., while U.S.-born participants encountered difficulties navigating their dual cultural identity. However, despite the challenges mentioned, focus group participants still call America their home. Participants also talked about combining their Asian heritage and culture with their American upbringing. For many, it is important to give back or support their community as well as share their cultural heritage with others. Pew noted that the study was designed to reflect the voices of less populous Asian American groups whose perspectives and experiences are not often covered in typical survey research. Pew Research Centers report was presented in a qualitative essay, along with a documentary, extended video clips and an interactive platform designed to filter participant responses. Featured Image via Pew Research Center Are cats really to blame for the worldwide loss of biodiversity? Dzurag/iStock via Getty Images Plus A number of conservationists claim cats are a zombie apocalypse for biodiversity that need to be removed from the outdoors by any means necessary coded language for shooting, trapping and poisoning. Various media outlets have portrayed cats as murderous superpredators. Australia has even declared an official war against cats. Moral panics emerge when people perceive an existential threat to themselves, society or the environment. When in the grip of a moral panic, the ability to think clearly and act responsibly is compromised. While the moral panic over cats arises from valid concerns over threats to native species, it obscures the real driver: humanitys exploitative treatment of the natural world. Crucially, errors of scientific reasoning also underwrite this false crisis. The (shaky) case against cats Conservationists and the media often claim that cats are a main contributor to a mass extinction, a catastrophic loss of species due to human activities, like habitat degradation and the killing of wildlife. As an interdisciplinary team of scientists and ethicists studying animals in conservation, we examined this claim and found it wanting. It is true that like any other predator, cats can suppress the populations of their prey. Yet the extent of this effect is ecologically complex. The potential impact of cats differs between urban environments, small islands and remote deserts. When humans denude regions of vegetation, small animals are particularly at risk from cats because they have no shelter in which to hide. Small animals are similarly vulnerable when humans kill apex predators that normally would suppress cat densities and activity. For instance, in the U.S., cats are a favorite meal for urban coyotes, who moderate feline impact; and in Australia, dingoes hunt wild cats, which relieves pressure on native small animals. Add in contrary evidence and the case against cats gets even shakier. For instance, in some ecological contexts, cats contribute to the conservation of endangered birds, by preying on rats and mice. There are also documented cases of coexistence between cats and native prey species. Story continues The fact is, cats play different predatory roles in different natural and humanized landscapes. Scientists cannot assume that because cats are a problem for some wildlife in some places, they are a problem in every place. Faulty scientific reasoning In our most recent publication in the journal Conservation Biology, we examine an error of reasoning that props up the moral panic over cats. Scientists do not simply collect data and analyze the results. They also establish a logical argument to explain what they observe. Thus, the reasoning behind a factual claim is equally important to the observations used to make that claim. And it is this reasoning about cats where claims about their threat to global biodiversity founder. In our analysis, we found it happens because many scientists take specific, local studies and overgeneralize those findings to the world at large. Even when specific studies are good overall, projecting the combined results onto the world at large can cause unscientific overgeneralizations, particularly when ecological context is ignored. It is akin to pulling a quote out of context and then assuming you understand its meaning. Ways forward So how might citizens and scientists chart a way forward to a more nuanced understanding of cat ecology and conservation? First, those examining this issue on all sides can acknowledge that both the well-being of cats and the survival of threatened species are legitimate concerns. Second, cats, like any other predator, affect their ecological communities. Whether that impact is good or bad is a complex value judgment, not a scientific fact. Third, there is a need for a more rigorous approach to the study of cats. Such an approach must be mindful of the importance of ecological context and avoid the pitfalls of faulty reasoning. It also means resisting the siren call of a silver (lethal) bullet. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Yet there are many options to consider. Protecting apex predators and their habitat is fundamental to enabling threatened species to coexist with cats. In some cases, people may choose to segregate domestic cats from vulnerable wildlife: for instance, with catios where cats can enjoy the outdoors while being kept apart from wildlife. In other cases, unhomed cats may be managed with trap-neuter-return programs and sanctuaries. Finally, contrary to the framing of some scientists and journalists, the dispute over cats is not primarily about the science. Rather, it evokes an ongoing debate over the ethics that ought to guide humanitys relationship with other animals and nature. This is the root of the moral panic over cats: the struggle to move beyond treating other beings with domination and control, toward fostering a relationship rooted in compassion and justice. Joann Lindenmayer, DVM, MPH is an associate professor in the Department of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University and contributed to this article. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: William S. Lynn, Clark University; Arian Wallach, University of Technology Sydney, and Francisco J. Santiago-Avila, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Read more: Arian Wallach receives funding from the Australian Research Council for research on cats, and from Alley Cat Allies for a workshop on cats in 2017. Francisco J. Santiago-Avila and William S. Lynn do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. STORY: The wildfires in the southern areas of the forest have been completely extinguished, and forces are being moved to the north, the Czech Fire Rescue Service said on Twitter on Saturday (August 6). The fire broke out on July 24 and has burned over 5,000 acres, according to the latest report. More than 500 firefighters had been working to extinguish the fires, including forces from Poland, Slovakia, and Italy. Wildfires raging through Europe this summer have burned the second-largest area on record, even though the region is only halfway through its typical fire season, according to data from the European Union's Joint Research Centre. The Cincinnati Zoos Fiona the hippo is officially a big sister and the zoo wants the publics help naming the new calf. The infant was born late Wednesday night but the sex of the calf likely will not be known for weeks. Fans on social media have already started brainstorming names like Bubbles, Melon, Fibi, Petunia and Glow, according to our news partners at WCPO. The Cincinnati Zoo wants to know all of your name ideas. You can submit your suggestion directly to the Cincinnati Zoo by clicking HERE. >> PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Baby Hippo Watch: Fiona is a big sister Zoo officials told WCPO the new baby looks huge compared to its first baby hippo star, Fiona. Keepers estimated that the newborn weighs about 60 pounds. Officials said Bibi and her newborn will be kept separated from 5-year-old Fiona and 19-year-old Tucker so that mom and baby have plenty of time to bond. Zoo members have access to live cams in the outdoor habitat and can watch all the action at Hippo Cove from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day. Members of the community are invited to join the fun at the Florida Blue Center as we head Back to School! Children will enjoy face painting and free back to school backpacks and supplies will be given to the first 200 families. The event lasts from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< There are opportunities learn more about member perks and the Center programming. You will have an opportunity to meet with your neighborhood Care team and learn how you can get help navigating your healthcare with a Florida Blue agent. Florida Blue wants to help our local community live well and get ready for school! [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Masdar, a major clean energy company, has signed an agreement with Tanzania Electric Supply Company (Tanesco) related to the development of renewable energy projects with a total capacity of up to 2 gigawatts (GW). In the presence of January Makamba, Minister for Energy for Tanzania, a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) was signed by Abdulla Zayed, Head of Business Development & Investment at Masdar, and Maharage Chande, Managing Director of Tanesco, on the sidelines of the Tanzania Energy Congress, said a Wam news agency report. The JDA envisages the establishment of a co-owned joint venture (JV) company by the two organisations to progress the project development. Chande said: "The agreement we are signing today will bring about a big revolution in the development of renewable energy in the country. Through the first phase of the collaboration, we expect to generate approximately 600 megawatts, and we will continue with other projects until we reach 2,000 megawatts." Zayed said: "Masdar and Tanesco are working together to support Tanzanias sustainable development and to provide a secure, clean source of energy for the people of Tanzania. The signing of this agreement demonstrates Masdars commitment to the Tanzanian market and to the nations energy transition, supporting the target to reach 5,000 MW capacity by 2025. We look forward to working with Tanesco to develop this ambitious programme and to provide a clean pathway for growth for Tanzania." Through the JV, the two companies are initially targeting the development of renewable energy projects with a capacity of about 600 megawatts (MW) starting with solar photovoltaic (PV) and onshore wind. The JV will further explore the development of projects with a total capacity of at least 2,000 megawatts. Tanesco, the sole provider of electricity in Tanzania, is looking to add more renewable energy sources to the national grid to meet the countrys growing demand for power and increase energy access. The Tanzanian government is targeting an electrification rate for the entire country of 75 percent by 2035. - TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Floridas medical board on Friday voted to begin the process of banning gender-affirming medical treatment for youths, a move that comes as Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has become increasingly vocal in his opposition to such therapies. After a public hearing that lasted more than three and a half hours in Fort Lauderdale, the 15-member Board of Medicine voted to start a process that could prohibit minors from receiving hormone therapy and undergoing surgical procedures as a treatment for gender dysphoria, which refers to the feelings of discomfort or distress some transgender people experience when their bodies dont align with their gender. The board also voted to start that process for requiring adults seeking such care to wait 24 hours before going forward with any medical procedures. University of Florida Professor and Chief of Pediatric Endocrinology Michael J. Haller, who testified during the hearing as an expert, called the proposal a political stunt. This has been pushed to the board as a political maneuver, Haller told the board members. Trans people have always existed, they will always exist, whether you choose to acknowledge that or not. The medical board was following guidance from the Florida Department of Health, which has claimed that theres not enough research and evidence showing such care is safe. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association support gender-affirming care for adults and adolescents. But medical experts said gender-affirming care for children rarely, if ever, includes surgery. Instead, doctors are more likely to recommend counseling, social transitioning and hormone replacement therapy. The proposed rule is the latest step taken by the DeSantis administration to tighten regulatory controls over gender-affirming care. Floridas Medicaid regulator is also considering a rule that would block state-subsidized health care from paying for treatments of transgender people. Story continues DeSantis has publicly voiced his opposition to transition-related medical care. During a press conference earlier this week on opioid addiction, he said doctors who perform gender-affirming surgical procedures should be sued and likened such treatment to castration. He also recently suspended Tampas top prosecutor, Andrew Warren, in part because the state attorney has expressed support for transition-related medical care. The medical boards vote on Friday begins a process to update the standard of care for gender-affirming treatments in Florida, the third most populous state in the country. Some audience members at Fridays hearing became unruly and shouted obscenities at the board members. Broward County Sheriff's deputies ushered some audience members out, including one person who said the ban would lead some kids to homelessness. Atlanta-based endocrinologist Quentin Van Meter, who also appeared before the board as an expert at the Fort Lauderdale meeting, was in favor of banning such treatments, claiming interest in gender-affirming care was spurred by the internet and blamed Covid-19 isolation for increased interest among young people in transition-related medical care. They live the Internet life, said Van Meter. This is a giant experiment on United States children. Anyone suggesting these things as a standard of care its a mirage. Van Meter, an outspoken critic of gender-affirming care, had previously been disqualified as an expert by a Texas judge overseeing a divorce case where van Meter was set to testify on whether a transgender youth should receive puberty blockers. Haller told the board that Van Meters assessment about the Internet and children cooped up at home because of the pandemic was not the scientific discussion the board had initially pledged to have. To say this is because of some social media contagion is absurd, Heller said, later adding, I suggest we stick to the topic of science. Haller was joined by University of Florida pediatric endocrinologist Kristin Dayton, who told the board that the standard of care she follows for treating gender dysphoria includes restrictions based on the age of a child. Treatments, she said, are generally limited to older teens around 17 years old. The medical board also heard more than an hour and a half of public testimony, including from Pompano Beach resident Ernie Sauve, who compared a desire to be transgender to wishing to be another ethnicity. I may identify as Hispanic but that does not make me Hispanic, he said. Kaleb Hobson-Garcia, a 20-year-old Florida State University student, said he received gender affirming care when he was 12 and voiced support for such therapies. Hobson-Garcia said his experience provided a wealth of information on such treatment. I urge you to think of the kids like me, who were scared and found comfort in being able to receive necessary health care, Hobson-Garcia said. My identity is not an epidemic. CORRECTION: This story has been updated to clarify that the board did not make a final decision on gender-affirming care but has started the process. Alex Jones is called up to testify at the Travis County Courthouse during the his defamation trial, in Austin, U.S. August 2, 2022 Briana Sanchez/Pool via Reuters Alex Jones began moving $11,000 per day into an alleged shell company he owns in late 2021, a forensic economist testified. A jury ordered Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages for claiming the Sandy Hook shooting was a hoax. The forensic economist testified that Jones benefits from his debt by making him look like it's worse than it really is. Infowars host Alex Jones began moving $11,000 per day into an alleged shell company he controls, a forensic economist testified Friday, in late 2021 around the time that he was found liable by default in several defamation suits filed by parents of children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. This week a jury was tasked with deliberating how much Jones should pay in damages to Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis two of the parents who sued Jones for defamation over his false claims that the school shooting was a government-orchestrated hoax. After the dramatic trial, the jury ordered Jones to pay more than $4 million in compensatory damages a fraction of the $150 million that Heslin and Lewis requested. During the trial, Jones claimed that any amount over $2 million would "sink" his channel Infowars, but he was cut off by the judge presiding over the defamation damages hearing. The jury ultimately ordered Jones to pay $45.2 million in punitive damages. On Friday, the jury heard testimony in relation to Jones' financial standing as they continued to assess punitive damages against him aimed at deterring similar behavior in the future. Bernard Pettingill, a forensic economist who testified during the defamation damages hearing, said Jones' net worth was unclear due to how little information he provided during litigation. The forensic economist estimated Infowars revenues average $53 million annually and put Jones and his company Free Speech Systems' net worth at $135 million to $270 million. While Free Speech Systems filed for bankruptcy last week, Pettingill said Jones' $53 million debt to another company owned by Jones makes him look like he's in deep financial trouble when he's actually not. Story continues "We can't really put a finger on what he does for a living, how he actually makes his money," Pettingill said but added that Jones "is a very successful man." Pettingill also claimed that the Infowars host was funneling $11,000 per day into a shell company he controls, with payments beginning in late September 2021. He was found liable by default in the Texas defamation cases around the same time, according to documents obtained by HuffPost on September 30, 2021. Jones' attorney disputed the claim and said it was a real company that matures when Jones is 74. Read the original article on Insider A sign welcomes guests to Front Range Community College in Fort Collins, Colo. on Wednesday, July 22, 2020. All Front Range Community College campuses went to remote learning and operations Friday after being in lockout status for about three hours Friday morning. All campuses were placed in lockout status after threats were made against a number of Colorado community colleges. Shortly after 9 a.m., Front Range Community College tweeted that out of an abundance of caution, the security team secured the perimeter at all three campuses due to a potential threat in the area. #FRCC is on lockout: Out of an abundance of caution, the security team at FRCC has secured the perimeter at all three campuses due to a potential threat in the area. This means all of our outside doors are locked, but activity inside the buildings is proceeding as usual. [1 of 3] FRCC (@frccedu) August 5, 2022 All outside doors were locked, but activity inside such as scheduled classes continued. Students, faculty and staff on campus were asked to stay indoors, and anyone outside the buildings were told they would not able to enter the buildings until law enforcement gave permission, according to the tweets. About 7:20 Friday morning, Westminster Police said they became aware of threats against the school. They said they contacted a person related to the threats but were unable to validate any threats against the school. They said the threats appeared to be a form of doxxing, or revealing private information about someone with malicious intent. Front Range Community College has campuses in Larimer County, Boulder County and Westminster. As of late Friday morning, the Westminster Police Department was the law-enforcement agency following the situation. Just before noon Friday, FRCC tweeted that campuses would close at noon and operations would move to remote for the remainder of the day through Saturday. Story continues Starting now, #FRCC is moving all college operations--at all FRCC campuses--to REMOTE for the rest of the day (Fri, Aug. 5) and for tomorrow (Sat, Aug. 6). Campuses are closing at noon. Upcoming events will have to be rescheduled for a later date. Sorry for any inconvenience! FRCC (@frccedu) August 5, 2022 Law enforcement officers were stationed at the Westminster and Larimer campuses Friday. Westminster police said on Twitter that they were continuing to investigate the origin of the threats and would share information as it comes. The Colorado Community Colleges System said on Twitter that a threat had been made against several metro-area CCCS colleges, including Arapahoe Community College, Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Front Range and Red Rocks Community College. Molly Bohannon covers city government for the Coloradoan. Follow her on Twitter @molboha or contact her at mbohannon@coloradoan.com. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: FRCC campuses across Colorado close, shift to remote after threats (Reuters) - Western governments are increasingly alarmed about deepening economic ties between Turkey and Russia, warning of the mounting risk that Turkey could be hit by punitive retaliation if it helps Russia avoid sanctions, the Financial Times reported on Saturday. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan agreed to boost cooperation in the transport, agriculture, finance and construction industries. Six Western officials told FT that they were concerned about the agreement. (Reporting by Maria Ponnezhath in Bengaluru; Editing by Frances Kerry) A Washington County grand jury recently declined to issue charges against a Hagerstown-area teenager in the May 8 stabbings of two others, including a Hagerstown teen who died, according to the Washington County States Attorneys Office. The grand jury declined in late June to issue charges against Mark Mefikeh Ngwafon because it determined the defendant acted in self-defense, Washington County States Attorney Gina Cirincion said. Ngwafon was previously charged as an adult with one count each of first- and second-degree murder, two counts each of first- and second-degree assault and two counts of reckless endangerment in the May 8 incident at a party south of Hagerstown in which the Washington County Sheriff's Office reported two people had been stabbed. Daeshon Banks, 17, of Hagerstown, died. The other stabbing victim was Alexander Green, who, according to the sheriffs office, is around the same age as the other two and also is from Hagerstown. Ngwafon was 17 at the time of the incident. Deputies responded to Brownstone Place in the Westfields subdivision south of Hagerstown for the incident, according to an earlier post on the sheriffs offices Facebook page. Washington County emergency dispatch received a 911 call at 12:25 a.m. for that area, with the incident first being reported as a disturbance and then upgraded to a stabbing, a 911 supervisor has said. There was a group of at least 30 people reported to be in the area, a 911 supervisor has said. As a courtesy to the two victims families, the states attorneys office informed both victims families of the grand jurys decision and showed the families video footage from the incident before officially dismissing the charges in Washington County District Court, Cirincion said. Defense attorney Lewis Metzner, representing Ngwafon, said there was a substantial amount of evidence, including cellphone and home-security video as well as eyewitnesses. Because of that, I think it was pretty clear that this was a case of self-defense, Metzner said. Story continues That is not to attribute blame to the victim, said Metzner, referring to Banks. Metzner said Banks was not a primary player in the incident. Both the police and the states attorneys office in this case were very cooperative and very interested in getting to the truth, Metzner said. Detective Sgt. Howard Ward said Thursday that no one else had been charged related to the incident in Westfields and the sheriff's office was, at this time, not investigating the matter any further. Metzner said he still didnt know why a group at the party went after his client. Metzner said the incident occurred in a nice neighborhood and was not a gang thing. During a May 9 hearing in district court, Assistant States Attorney Christina Palmer told the judge there was a group of people at a birthday party pushing and shoving each other. A Ring camera and cellphone footage showed the defendant holding a knife and swinging it toward people, Palmer said. Metzner said there was a group of people told to leave the party. Ngwafon was told the group had left and when he went outside, Ngwafon didn't see those people so he went back inside to get his stuff, Metzner said. When Ngwafon left, those people were there again, he said. Metzner said Ngwafon was not trying to engage these people. My client tried to get away, fell, and tried to get away again and did get away, Metzner said. Ngwafon was significantly cut and went to the hospital to get stitches in his arm, Metzner said. He went to Frederick Memorial Hospital for treatment after pulling up outside Meritus Medical Center and feeling in danger when he saw people from the incident outside the emergency department, Metzner said. Metzner called the entire incident a tragedy. The (deceased) victim in this case was not a bad person, Metzner said. My client, certainly, is not a bad person. Metzner said Ngwafon fully cooperated with authorities, providing a tape-recorded statement about everything. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Washington County grand jury declines to issue charges in stabbing KYIV (Reuters) -The head of Amnesty International's Ukraine office has quit the human rights body in a disagreement with it after the group accused Ukraine's armed forces of endangering civilians by basing troops in residential areas during the Russian invasion. Amnesty made the comments in a report published on Thursday that drew fierce criticism from the Ukrainian government. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy led denunciations of Amnesty's allegations, accusing the group of "trying to shift the responsibility from the aggressor to the victim". Amnesty's Ukraine head Oksana Pokalchuk said on Facebook late on Friday that she was resigning as she opposed the report's publication, and now understood that she could not get it changed or removed. Pokalchuk said Amnesty unwittingly "created material that sounded like support for Russian narratives of the invasion. In an effort to protect civilians, this study became a tool of Russian propaganda". "It pains me to admit it, but we disagreed with the leadership of Amnesty International on values. That's why I decided to leave the organization." Asked about Pokalchuk's resignation, an Amnesty spokesperson quoted Agnes Callamard, the organisation's secretary general, as saying: Oksana has been a valued member of Amnesty staff, and has led the Amnesty International Ukraine office for seven years with many significant human rights successes." "We are sorry to hear that she is leaving the organization, but we respect her decision and wish her well. Asked about the criticism of this week's report, Amnesty said it was preparing a further statement. Ukrainian officials say they take every possible measure to evacuate civilians from front-line areas. Russia denies targeting civilians in what it describes as a "special military operation" in Ukraine. (Reporting by Pavel PolityukEditing by Kim Coghill and Frances Kerry) By Ange Aboa ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara on Saturday said he had offered a presidential pardon to longtime rival Laurent Gbagbo, as part of a reconciliation drive with his predecessors ahead of elections in 2025. Gbagbo, president from 2000-2011, returned to Ivory Coast last year after being acquitted in 2019 by the Hague on war crimes charges for his role in a civil war sparked by his refusal to concede defeat after the 2010 election. Back home, he still faced a 20-year prison sentence for a 2019 conviction linked to the robbery of funds from the Abidjan central bank during the post-election period. He has always denied the charges. "In order to further strengthen social cohesion, I have signed a decree granting a presidential pardon to Laurent Gbagbo," Ouattara said in a televised speech to the nation ahead of its independence day on Sunday. He said he had also asked for Gbagbo's accounts to be unfrozen and for the payment of the arrears of his presidential lifetime annuity. The decision follows a rare meeting in July between Ouattara, Gbagbo, and former president Henri Konan Bedie. The trio have dominated Ivory Coast's fractious political scene since the 1990s. Bedie was president from 1993 until his ouster in a 1999 coup. Gbagbo governed from 2000 until his election defeat to Ouattara in 2010. Tensions came to a head most dramatically after the 2010 election. Gbagbo refused to concede defeat, leading to a brief civil war that killed about 3,000 people before rebel forces aligned with Ouattara swept into the main city Abidjan. Ouattara has presided over relative stability during his decade in power. But dozens of people were killed in clashes that broke out around the 2020 election, when he stood for a third term that Gbagbo and Bedie said was unconstitutional. The president has not yet said whether he plans to run for a fourth term in 2025. He has said he would like to step down but also suggested he would need Gbagbo and Bedie to commit to withdrawing from politics in order to do so. They have not so far indicated what their plans are. (Editing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by David Gregorio) Founder and CEO of the Northside Coalition of Jacksonville, Benjamin Frazier, departs on Saturday for his trip to Geneva, Switzerland where he has accepted an invitation to speak next Tuesday to the United Nations Committee to Eliminate Racial Discrimination (CERD). >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The Jacksonville activist and civil rights leader has been one of the most vocal activists against several recent laws passed in Florida. Many of which he has described as violations of human rights, especially the anti-riot bill passed last year. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The United Nations have been the guardians of human rights across the planet for 77 years. The UN Committee to Eliminate Racial Discrimination (CERD) comprises professionals from eighteen different countries, representing those countries and monitoring human rights violations across the globe. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. News that James Franco is set to play former Cuban president Fidel Castro in an upcoming film has some in Hollywood riled up. (No, not because of his sexual misconduct allegations.) Veteran actor John Leguizamo posted Deadline's casting news on Instagram, writing, "How is this still going on? How is Hollywood excluding us but stealing our narratives as well? No more appropriation Hollywood and streamers! Boycott!" Leguizamo, who was born in Bogota, Colombia, called the situation "[f*****] up." John Leguizamo calls out Hollywood for excluding Latinos as James Franco is reportedly cast as Fidel Castro in upcoming movie. (Photos: Getty Images) "Plus seriously difficult story to tell without aggrandizement which would b wrong! I don't got a prob with Franco but he ain't Latino," the Moulin Rouge! star added. Newly appointed The View co-host Ana Navarro commented that she plans to boycott for many reasons. "I'd like to think no Latino actor worth their salt would sign up to play and aggrandize a murderous dictator who terrorized the people of Cuba for six decades. For both reasons you articulated, I join you in the boycott," she wrote. Miguel Bardem's film Alina of Cuba stars Ana Villafane as Castro's daughter, Alina Fernandez, and follows the true-life story of her Cuban exile. The screenplay is by Oscar-nominated writer Jose Rivera and Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz. This is one of Franco's first major casting announcements since he was swept up in the #MeToo movement in 2018. In a rare interview in December, Franco admitted he used "fame like a lure," but said not all allegations were true. A Leon County Circuit Court Judge ruled Friday that Rebekah Jones could not stand for election as a Democrat in the primary election Aug. 23. Leon County Circuit Court Judge John Cooper disqualified Jones as a candidate at the conclusion of a virtual hearing Friday in a lawsuit brought by her Democratic opponent for Florida's 1st Congressional District, Peggy Schiller. "It's not a happy decision to make," Cooper said when explaining his ruling. "I think that anyone who puts themselves out for office should be commended." Rebekah Jones Peggy Schiller lawsuit: Opponent files lawsuit against Rebekah Jones challenging eligibility Hearing set: Is Rebekah Jones eligible for Florida office? Judge to hear arguments next week A Florida election law passed last year requires anyone running for a partisan office to be registered as a member of the party for a full year before qualifying begins in June. Jones put out a statement on her campaign's Facebook page Friday saying she would appeal the ruling. "We're appealing immediately, and voters can rest assured that we're not going to let Peggy Schiller, her GOP lawyer or anyone else steal this election from the voters," Jones wrote. Schiller, a retired corporate attorney who lives in Walton County and has been active in the local Democratic Party there, also issued a statement on her campaign Facebook page saying she was pleased with the ruling. "I believe justice has been served," Schiller said. Peggy Schiller Schiller said Jones would have been disqualified under the same legal arguments by Republicans had Jones won the Aug. 23 primary. "I have always wanted to make this campaign about defeating our poor excuse for a representative, Matt Gaetz," Schiller wrote. "This will now be our only focus, and we hope the constituents of the First Congressional District unite with me in achieving this goal." Florida's 1st Congressional District covers Northwest Florida and is a Republican stronghold. Rep. Matt Gaetz currently holds the seat but is facing a well-financed primary challenge from former FedEx executive and Vietnam veteran Mark Lombardo, as well as former military pilot Greg Merk. Story continues Gaetz reacted to the ruling on Twitter by saying he doesn't celebrate voters being denied a choice and it was "small" of Schiller to seek Jones' defeat in a courtroom rather than during the primary. "That said, it seems obvious that the Judge followed the law and that Rebekah Jones is a fraud in virtually all she does," Gaetz said. Jones became a national figure after she was fired from the Florida Department of Health in 2020. She accused top state health officials of firing her for refusing to manipulate COVID-19 data to support the push to reopen Florida after months of quarantine. She made several appearances in national media outlets to sound the alarm about manipulation of state data while administration officials raised doubts about her allegations from the start. A state inspector general granted her whistleblower status, but a state investigation completed earlier this year determined there was no evidence to support her claims. What the lawsuit against Rebekah Jones alleged Schiller's lawsuit alleged that while living in Maryland in 2021, Jones registered to vote in the state in April 2021 as a Democrat. She then changed her party affiliation to "unaffiliated" on June 11, 2021. The documents show Jones changed her affiliation back to Democratic on Aug. 11, which would mean Jones missed the registration requirement by about two months. Jones testified that she only registered to vote in Maryland once as a Democrat and the two other changes filed with the state of Maryland were not done by her. Rebekah Jones platform: Democrat Rebekah Jones says she can win in Northwest Florida Peggy Schiller: Anger drove Walton County's Peggy Schiller to run against U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz Ben Kuehne, Jones' attorney, pointed out during Jones' testimony that Jones gained wide publicity after her firing. Jones said she moved to Maryland because she was getting death threats. During an explanation of his ruling, Cooper said it's not impossible that someone hacked Jones or used her information to change her voter registration, but the weight of the other evidence made it unlikely. Jones filed to run for Congress with the Federal Elections Commission on June 25, 2021, as an independent candidate. She changed her candidacy to the Democratic Party with the FEC on Aug. 12, 2021, a day after Jones' voter registration in Maryland was changed back to Democratic. Kuehne also argued that Jones' decision to run as an independent in June 2021 before becoming a Democratic candidate in August 2021 had no bearing on her individual party affiliation remaining with Democratic Party. Cooper said he did not buy that legal argument. Rebekah Jones speaks as a crowd protests higher power bills in front of Pensacola City Hall before a meeting Feb. 10. One crucial point of information Kuehne repeatedly highlighted was the fact that the two changes Jones said she did not make to her Maryland voter registration did not include her middle name. J.C. Planas, Schiller's attorney and a former Republican state legislator who left the party after the election of Donald Trump, said Jones' argument did not stand up to scrutiny. "Someone having all her information, trying to defame her (by) making her be a nonparty registered voter in Maryland at the same time that she's filing to run for Congress as an independent and is telling the press she's running as an independent, her argument doesn't hold water at all," Planas said. Cooper said he was initially persuaded by the discrepancy in the names on the forms until he saw the FEC forms and Jones' own testimony that she did not prepare her campaign forms herself. "At some point, you can prove a crime with circumstantial evidence," Cooper said. "...There's no credible evidence of any other person doing this or any other person having a motivation. There's a lot of evidence for Ms. Jones or someone assisting Ms. Jones in her campaign to do this." Cooper said he did not enjoy having to rule the way he did but had no choice based on the evidence. "I don't think I can come to any conclusion other than Ms. Jones was not a registered member of the Democratic Party for almost two months during this (crucial) period," Cooper said. As Cooper was explaining his ruling, Jones interrupted him by saying she could provide documents proving she was hacked. The judge immediately kicked her out of the Zoom hearing, saying he didn't allow anyone to speak during a ruling, particularly a party in the case. Cooper let Jones back into the hearing with the direction that she was not allowed to speak. When she was allowed back into the virtual hearing, Jones said she didn't realize that she was not on mute when she was speaking earlier. Jones can appeal the ruling, and Cooper said he would enter the final order in the case by Monday to give Jones the maximum amount of time to appeal the case. Ballots in the race between Schiller and Jones have already been mailed out to voters. If the First District Court of Appeal upholds the ruling, Schiller will automatically win the Democratic Party nomination on Aug. 23, and any ballots cast for Jones will not be counted. Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Rebekah Jones disqualified from running as Democrat in Aug. 23 primary Inspector Shiraz Khan has received more than 20 rewards for outstanding service at the Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF). Basil Islam | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI Inspector Shiraz Khan, a native of Aurangabad, has been conferred the Union Home Ministers prestigious Utkrisht Seva Padak. Born to a middle-class family, Shiraz Khan studied at Milind Multipurpose Government High School in his hometown of Aurangabad. In 1999, Khan joined the forces to serve in Central Industrial Security Forces (CISF) and was first posted at Mumbai airport. Throughout his career in CISF, he has served in different airports in India, including Pune, Raipur and Aurangabad. He has been part of many vital government installation missions during his service. He is now posted in Assam. Shiraz Khan is appointed on deputation to Hajj Mission 2022 and is presently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In 2019, Inspector Khan received DG DISc at Aurangabad airport. He was also rewarded by the Senapati district Superintendent of Police Karthik Malladi IPS for peacefully carrying out the 12th State Assembly Election in Manipur. He has also received more than 20 rewards for outstanding service at the CISF. Utkrisht Seva Padak, along with Ati Utkrisht Seva Padak, was instituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, in 2018 for permanent police personnel and other permanent support staff in consideration of long service medal based on the length of service after 15/25 years of service. Inspector Shiraz Khan has been awarded this prestigious award for his longtime service of 23 years with CISF. Basil Islam is an independent journalist and researcher based in South India. He tweets at @baasiie The Daily Beast Pascal Deloche/Godong/Universal Images Group via GettyA Texas school district has pulled dozens of challenged books from its library shelvesincluding the Biblejust before the start of the academic year under a new policy introduced by conservative leaders.Attached is a list of all books that were challenged last year. By the end of today, I need all books pulled from the library and classrooms, Keller Independent School District executive curriculum director Jennifer Price instructed princip SHEIN X 100K Challenge 2021/Getty Images for SHEIN; George Pimentel/Getty Images Khloe Kardashian and her ex-boyfriend, Tristan Thompson, welcomed a second child via surrogacy. People confirmed the child, a boy, has not yet been named. Kardashian and Thompson, who split earlier this year, also have a daughter together, 4-year-old True. Khloe Kardashian and her on-again-off-again ex-boyfriend, Tristan Thompson, have welcomed a second child via surrogacy. A representative for Kardashian confirmed the birth of a baby boy to Insider. The child has not yet been named, People reported. The Good American co-founder and NBA player who once again split earlier this year also share a daughter, 4-year-old True. News broke in mid-July, seven months after their last breakup, that the former couple was expecting their second child. A representative for Kardashian confirmed to Insider that the child had been conceived via surrogacy in November 2021, saying that Kardashian was "incredibly grateful to the extraordinary surrogate for such a beautiful blessing." Kardashian has been public about her struggles with infertility and has undergone several failed rounds of IVF. The child was conceived before Kardashian learned that Thompson had fathered a baby with another woman in December. Thompson admitted at the time that he had cheated on Kardashian with fitness instructor Maralee Nichols, who was suing him for child support. Initially, Thompson denied the paternity of the child, who was born December 1, but later issued a public apology to Kardashian after a paternity test revealed that he was the father. When news broke that Kardashian and Thompson were expecting a second child, the pair were not romantically together. A source told Insider that they had not spoken since December "outside of coparenting matters." The two parent their daughter True, who Kardashian gave birth to in April 2018, together. Prior to the revelation that Thompson had fathered another child, they had gotten back together and were attending therapy. Read the original article on Insider IRYNA BALACHUK SATURDAY, 6 AUGUST, 2022, 09:08 Serhii Haidai, head of the Luhansk Oblast Military Administration, has said that the invaders in the destroyed settlements are canvassing using propaganda to lure people to the so-called referendum for the annexation of the Luhansk region to Russia, under the pretext of providing food and building materials. Source: Haidai on Telegram Quote from the head of the Oblast Military Administration: "An intensified propaganda and explanatory component of the preparations for the referendum on Luhansk Oblasts entry into the Russian Federation is currently underway in the region. The occupation authorities and a collaborationist social movement, under the guise of providing food or construction materials, are organising meetings with the population of the recently occupied territories of the region." Details: Haidai said that the invaders are extorting residents personal data and urging them to go to the so-called "referendum", forcing people to "exchange their free will for food, drinking water and sheets of OSB [oriented strand board - ed.]." Meetings like this are being held by the invaders in Lysychansk, Sievierodonetsk, Popasna, Rubizhne, Hirske, Zolote and settlements in these hromadas (Amalgamated Territorial Communities). Photo from Telegram Haidai As for the situation at the front, Haidai said that Russian forces continue to attack, but Ukrainian defence forces are inflicting losses on them on all fronts. In the course of the day on 5 August, Russian forces fired 5 rockets in the area of the front between the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, and in addition, the occupiers fired their tubed and rocket artillery 6 times. The invaders fired mortars three times, while the assault actions of the Russians were supported by tank fire and aircraft. The Russians tried to capture more favourable lines on several fronts and improve their tactical position, but were forced to withdraw. The invaders are now advancing towards Bakhmut and fighting continues. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda! Machine Gun Kelly is addressing the person who vandalized a tour bus in Nebraska on Thursday. "Couldnt even do the right crime smh," Kelly, whose real name is Colson Baker, said on his Instagram story. "Youre so dumb. You spray-painted a bus thinking it was my bus wrong bus, you fking idiot. Do the first part of the crime right." The perpetrator spray-painted a homophobic slur on one side of the tour bus on Thursday and painted a penis on the other side. Machine Gun Kelly called out the person who vandalized a tour bus with a homophobic slur on Thursday. Getty Images Before heading to Omaha, Nebraska, Kelly uploaded pictures of his tour buses to his Instagram story. "Taking the power rangers to OMAHA," he wrote alongside an image of the buses which are all different colors. MEGAN FOX REVEALS SHE KNEW MACHINE GUN KELLY WAS HER 'SOUL MATE' THE FIRST TIME SHE LOOKED INTO HIS EYES On Thursday, Kelly continued to call out the unidentified suspect. "I was by the buses until 4:30 in the morning, which means you waited until 5 a.m. to spray paint a d-k," Kelly said. "You could have been at home cuddling with your partner [or] doing something, but instead you were like, God da----, I just wish he would go up to his hotel room so I could spray paint this d-k You suck." Kelly said the vulgar spray paint was removed from the bus "before I even saw it." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Local news outlet KETV reported that law enforcement was alerted to the vandalism outside The Farnam Hotel early Thursday morning. So far, no suspects have been named. During a show in New York in June, Megan Fox's fiancee injured himself when he broke a champagne flute over his head. He explained the following night on the "Late Night With Seth Meyer" show that the incident left him with a gash above his eye. Kelly is currently touring the United States with his next show taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Saturday. He will conclude his domestic shows next week and then head overseas until the middle of October. A man is behind bars at the Allegheny County Jail after being charged in a violent attack and rape on the North Side early Saturday morning. Dillon Jolly is also accused of committing two additional sexual assaults on July 30 and Aug. 3, also in the East Allegheny neighborhood of the North Side. A woman who works nearby tells Channel 11 she is disgusted by these attacks. Its terrible that no women are safe, she says. All of this needs to stop. We should be able to feel safe. The victim from Saturday morning tells police the man approached her on East Ohio and Middle streets, asking for a sex act. She tells police he wouldnt take no for an answer. The victim told police she ran from East Ohio Street into the Emlin Street alley to get away from her alleged rapist, but she says he followed her into a garage under construction. She tells police thats when he pulled her by her hair and choked her. The victim said she couldnt breathe and was raped. Court paperwork says Jolly told her that he would kill her and nobody would ever find her if she didnt comply. Jolly was found with his distinct motorcycle and specific outfit at a Sunoco just blocks away. Detectives say a man in the surveillance video from the time of the first two sex assaults matches Jollys description. Court paperwork says the third victim and a friend of the first victim identified Jolly as the attacker in the gas station parking lot. In 2017, Jolly was also charged with three counts of luring a child in Washington County. In that case, three underage victims told police on different occasions Jolly followed them and asked, Do you want a ride? Police say Jolly stalked a victim while she was alone. Jolly was able to take a plea and have the child luring charges dismissed. That news didnt sit well with women on the North Side. Give him life, a woman tells Channel 11. Hes never to get released ever again. Thats how I feel. People like that need to be seeing life in prison. Story continues As for the recent, early morning sex assaults in East Allegheny, that woman shares this advice for others: Just be safe, she says. Have some type of weapon a little knife you can carry, pepper spray and be careful and be safe. Jolly is in jail and unable to post $50,000 bond. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: No criminal charges expected after group of children allegedly ransack Fayette County home Updated Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act goes into effect after 45 years without changes Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson reportedly split after 9 months VIDEO: Explainer: Dangers of lightning as strong storms move through Pittsburgh area DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Police in Maryland arrested a man on Friday who they believe vandalized a church and wrote an offensive message on its door. The incident happened on Aug. 3 when Donald Eugene Hood, Jr., 66, allegedly vandalized Kingdom Celebration Center in Gambrills, Maryland, at about 9:15 p.m., according to the Anne Arundel County Police Department. When police officers arrived at the scene, they found an "offensive message" on the door of the church. Police said the suspect was identified through surveillance cameras. MAJOR CITIES SEE 50% INCREASE IN HOMICIDES SINCE 2019: POLICE ORG Hood was arrested on Friday and charged with malicious destruction of property, three counts related to destruction, harassment and targeting a group based on their racial, ethnic, sexual orientation or disability status. Police said Hood was released on his own recognizance after an initial hearing. Jeremy Alford A healthy portion of the statewide voter turnout yielded by the current election cycle will be driven by the middle of the November ballot. Thats where youll find mayoral contests in nearly every corner of Louisiana. Hundreds of candidates in 49 different parishes have signed up for these premier municipal elections, pointing to a growing interest in local-level politics. In some areas, like Shreveport and Alexandria, voters are engaged early and emotions are already running high. Yet there are also notable battles being waged across the state in locales as far-flung as Lockport and Ville Platte, and from Hammond to Minden. We may be entering an election cycle where the real draw is at home and in our backyards, not at the top of the ballot with the well-financed, nationalized politics of cable news networks. The size of Louisianas mayoral class is impressive and under-appreciated. There are 300 elected mayors in the state, according to a database of officials compiled by the Secretary of States Office. Most, but not all, are represented on the November ballot. Theres no practical way to touch on each mayoral election and candidate in this column. Just know that for every mayors race simply mentioned here, there are several others playing out in Louisianas smaller towns and villages, like Baldwin, Berwick, Dixie Inn, Epps, Erath, Lecompte and Ridgecrest, to mention just a few. Believe it or not, St. Landry Parish alone has 12 different races for mayor. For our most fortunate politicians, there will be no bids at all in November. Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker was elected without opposition, and so were Denham Springs Mayor Gerard Landry and Eunice Mayor Scott Fontenot. A few dozen other mayoral qualifiers overwhelmingly from towns and villages were unopposed as well. Then theres Shreveport, where interest in this years race for mayor, both inside and outside of the city, is through the roof. The candidates are packing rooms, too. There was a massive crowd last week for a mayoral forum hosted by the YMCA of Northwest Louisiana. All 10 candidates who qualified for the race participated in the community forum, which drew sparse attendance just four years ago. Story continues Under fire for the citys crime challenges and still fielding criticism for a failed U.S. Senate bid during his first term in office, incumbent Mayor Adrian Perkins is viewed as vulnerable by local politicos. By far, the "sounds of gunshots in the night" a direct quote from more than one candidate and blight are the leading issues in this race. Some of the lesser-known candidates even managed to capture the attention of the crowd on the topic. "You better get you a gangsta to run Shreveport, Louisiana, if you wanna stop any of this type of crime," said Melvin "No Limit" Slack. No one in the field can touch state Sen. Greg Tarver when it comes to fundraising. The senator is sitting on more than $389,000. That tally includes $277,000 from his personal campaign account, according to the latest filings, and another $112,000 from his leadership account, known as Mo PAC. Perkins has just $104,000 in his state re-election account, but his failed U.S. Senate bid has a federal account attached thats still holding an additional $155,000. Perkins will not be allowed to use that federal account on a local race, but he could always donate the cash to a supportive super PAC or other outfit in Louisiana that would in turn work to boost his chances. On the other side of the political spectrum, attorney Tom Arceneaux is the strongest GOP contender in the field, and the only Republican aside from Slack. Arceneaux, in comparison, is running as a traditional conservative and reported more money in his state account $117,000 than the mayor did. Arceneaux, who is among several contenders, has struck a positive tone in his campaign. While Tarver declared that Shreveport is "going down faster than the Titanic," Arceneaux used last weeks forum to paint a picture of a city that could heal quickly. "Can these dry bones live?" Arceneaux asked the crowd. "Oh yes, they can." There are similar storylines playing out in mayoral races across the state. In Alexandria, a former mayor is challenging the current mayor on the November ballot. In Ville Platte, the sitting mayor, whos also the president of the Louisiana Municipal Association, is facing organized opposition. In Lockport, the former mayor resigned, prompting a special election that the same former mayor now wants to join. So if youre in search of political action this fall, and the top of the ballot just isnt doing it for you, remember you can always look local. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Mayoral mania prevails on fall ballot A sheriff's deputy carries the remains of a McKinney fire victim from a destroyed home in Klamath National Forest. (Noah Berger / Associated Press) The McKinney fire, which has killed four people, has destroyed 132 structures including 87 homes as it scorched nearly 60,000 acres in the Klamath National Forest, officials said Friday. Meanwhile, firefighters have slowed down the fire's pace one week after it ignited, but fire officials warned flames could still make a run. Crews were keeping an eye on the fire burning near the California-Oregon border as containment increased to 30% Friday night. In the last 24 hours, officials with the Klamath National Forest said the fire had burned about 300 acres, a significant slowdown after it had burned through 59,666 in the last seven days. "We did see some growth in the fire," said Dennis Burns, fire behavior analyst for the U.S. Forest Service during a briefing Friday. "It was all within lines." After battling through mudslides and thunderstorms Wednesday, firefighters on Thursday saw warming temperatures and dryer air, prime conditions for fire growth. "The fire responded in kind," Burns said. Years of drought have also had an effect, he said during a community meeting Friday night, adding that fuels were the driest he's seen in 40 years of firefighting. The 2,700 firefighters on hand saw short-range spotting in the southwest and west corners of the fire, but the fire's short advance remained in areas that firefighters could keep in check. "Everything was staying where we wanted it to stay," Burns said. Crews have been able to build fire lines across most of the blaze, impeding its growth, he said. On the east side of the fire, Burns said, there was still a threat that the flames could cut through those lines and advance. On Wednesday, the eastern half saw about 3 inches of rainfall through thunderstorms, but the water had no effect on the flames. "The fire was responding as if it never rained at all," he said. Officials noted at Friday night's meeting that after storms produced lightning strikes in the area, new fire starts will require crews and other resources, but firefighters on the McKinney fire remain dedicated to full suppression, they said. Story continues Darryl Laws, a unified incident commander with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said the firefighting effort was "in a different place" than in the first days when the blaze exploded in size, throwing up a raging pyrocumulonimbus cloud. "It's going to take a lot of people to put this thing to bed," Laws said. "It kind of laid down there and it's waiting to jump up. We're going to have some tough weather. We're going to have some winds. We're not out of the woods yet." As a precaution, firefighters were building contingency lines with bulldozers in case the fire lines do not hold. Over the weekend, firefighters will probably continue to extend containment lines in high heat. Temperatures were expected to reach the mid-90s Saturday. On Sunday, temperatures could reach triple digits. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Luis Cortes and Daina Beth Solomon SABINAS, Mexico (Reuters) -Large pumps sucked water from a flooded coal mine in Mexico on Saturday as authorities weighed whether to send divers to try to save 10 miners who have been trapped underground for more than three days. The miners became trapped at a mine in the northern border state of Coahuila on Wednesday afternoon when their excavation work caused a tunnel wall to collapse, triggering flooding in three wells. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Saturday would be "decisive" in determining whether divers could safely enter the mine. But by afternoon, Coahuila Governor Miguel Riquelme said water levels were still too high. "Time is against us," he told families at the site, Mexican media reported. Relatives keeping vigil outside said they were pinning their hopes on the possibility the miners had found a pocket of air. "We're tired, we're desperate, but with a little bit (of) hope," said Cecilia Cruz, adding that she had heard about mining accidents in her native Coahuila for decades before the incident that trapped her nephew, 42-year-old Sergio Cruz. The possibility of mud-filled tunnels and underground collapses could make it impossible for rescue teams to search for the miners, even if enough water is extracted, she noted. "Do they want to risk more lives? It would be an even bigger tragedy," she said. Six divers from Mexican Special Forces were sent to aid the effort at the mine, where three wells, each 60 meters (200 feet) deep, were initially more than half-flooded. Five miners managed to escape. One, Fernando Pompa, recounted in an interview with a Coahuila radio station how he was hauled above ground in a cart used to transport coal after the accident unleashed a huge gush of water. "The hope is that there's a little bubble of air," he said. The mine, in the municipality of Sabinas, opened in January and had no "record of complaints for any type of abnormality," according to the Labor Ministry. Story continues Sergio Martinez, whose brother Jorge Luis Martinez, 34, is trapped, said workers above ground told him they heard a thundering noise accompanied by an jet of air when the accident happened. They raced to the mine and threw down a rope, pulling up workers by hand, but didn't reach Jorge Luis. "We hope there's a miracle so he gets out alive," Martinez said. (Reporting by Luis Cortes in Sabinas; Daina Beth Solomon and Marion Giraldo in Mexico City; Editing by Will Dunham and Jonathan Oatis) A line for the monkeypox vaccine at Eugene Obregon Park in Boyle Heights. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles County's monkeypox vaccination effort will focus for now on getting first shots into arms. To be fully vaccinated against monkeypox, people need to get two doses of the Jynneos vaccine four weeks apart. Ward Carpenter, director of health services for the Los Angeles LGBT Center, said Friday that he received new guidance from the L.A. County Department of Public Health advising that giving out first doses should be prioritized over administering the second shot. On its website with guidance for healthcare professionals, the department said it "asks that all providers prioritize administering first doses of JYNNEOS vaccine to eligible immunocompetent persons to protect as many at-risk people as possible. Second dose appointments should be deferred until more doses of JYNNEOS become available." A spokesperson confirmed the new vaccine prioritization via email. "The county is officially changing the strategy to deferring second doses. This is a big change," Carpenter said. It will help get more people partial protection against monkeypox, but at the same time, "it's going to create a lot of anguish and concern among people who need their second dose." "There is good science" to back that change, he said, and "we are in support of that recommendation, but what that means is the question will be on everyone's mind: How protected am I with the first dose?" And the answer to that question is: No one knows right now. The vaccine currently being given for monkeypox is actually a smallpox vaccine (both diseases are caused by orthopoxviruses). Data show the vaccine is safe in humans and effective in animals and in test tubes. But it hasn't been tested on humans under these circumstances before. "We just don't have good data on vaccine effectiveness, especially as it relates to sexual transmission," said Anne Rimoin, a professor of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and a member of the World Health Organization's emergency committee on monkeypox. "That's not to say it won't work. We just don't have enough data to make definitive statements." Story continues The health department reopened its list of pre-registration slots for monkeypox vaccination appointments on Friday afternoon. If you are eligible and there are still appointments available, you can click this link to sign up: https://lacpublichealth.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_aY96Sxs2lUgUZb8. The list closes when no more spots are available. The county has a newsletter that will send you an email when more spots have opened. You can sign up for that at the top of the page here: http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/media/monkeypox. You must be 18 years or older and meet at least one of the following criteria to be eligible: You are a gay or bisexual man or a transgender person who has had multiple sex partners in the last 14 days, including (but not limited to) having sex in exchange for food, shelter or other goods or needs. You are on HIV PrEP medication. You've had anonymous sex or sex with multiple people within the last 21 days at a commercial sex venue or other venue. You've had high or intermediate exposure to monkeypox (the CDC has a list of what qualifies as exposure at those levels). You've attended an event or venue where there was a high risk of exposure via skin-to-skin or sexual contact with people with monkeypox. You are experiencing homelessness and engaging in high-risk behaviors. You are a gay or bisexual man or a transgender person who's had gonorrhea or early syphilis in the last 12 months. You are in jail and have been identified as high-risk by clinical staff. You are severely immunocompromised for instance, if you are undergoing chemotherapy, are on high-dose steroids or other immunosuppressants, or have advanced or uncontrolled HIV. Right now, Carpenter said, your best bet for getting a monkeypox vaccine is to sign up for the county's alert newsletter and check the pre-registration link frequently for availability. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Tesla CEO Elon Musk spoke about the imprisonment in Russia of Brittney Griner , an American basketball superstar and Olympic gold medalist, and expressed confusion at the White House's efforts to bring her back while drug users in the U.S. remain jailed. Musk questioned the aggressive push by the White House to negotiate Griner's release while marijuana remains federally illegal on an episode of the "Full Send" podcast this week. "If the president is working so hard to free someone who is in jail in Russia for some weed, shouldn't we free people in America?" Musk asked on the show. "There are people in jail in America for the same stuff. Shouldn't we free them too? My opinion is that people should not be in jail for non-violent drug crimes." FORMER US MARINE DESCRIBES 'TERRIBLE' TIME IN RUSSIA PRISON AS BIDEN ADMIN NEGOTIATES RELEASING GRINER, WHELAN Elon Musk gestures as he speaks during a press conference at SpaceX's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Village in South Texas Feb. 10, 2022. JIm Watson/AFP via Getty Images A Russian judge convicted Griner of drug possession and drug smuggling and sentenced her to nine years in prison. She was also fined 1 million rubles, the equivalent of about $16,200. The United States will "pursue" a prisoner swap with Russia for U.S. citizens Griner and Paul Whelan, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in Cambodia Friday morning. Blinkens comment came as he was asked at the foreign ministers meeting at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, about remarks Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made regarding a potential prisoner swap. "We put forward, as you know, a substantial proposal that Russia should engage with us on. And what Foreign Minister Lavrov said this morning and said publicly is that they are prepared to engage through channels we've established to do just that, and we'll be pursuing," Blinken said during a press conference at ASEAN. President Biden speaks before signing two bills at the White House Aug. 5, 2022. Evan Vucci/Pool/AFP via Getty Images Musk is not a regular drug user himself, saying that he finds marijuana compromising to his work. "I find weed's not that good for productivity," Musk said. "I do actually have to make the rockets work and the cars work and make the factories work." Story continues The tech mogul was shown once smoking marijuana on an episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast. NASA IS LOOKING INTO ELON MUSK'S MARIJUANA USAGE AND WHETHER IT MIGHT BE 'A KEY CONCERN' Musk smoked marijuana on an episode of Rogan's show in 2018. Musk said he was not a regular user and asked if it was legal. After taking one puff from the tobacco-marijuana filled joint, the tech mogul passed it back. In California, where the podcast was recorded, recreational marijuana use is legal, but SpaceX maintains federal contracts, and the use of marijuana is against federal law. Brittany Griner Getty Images Musk described the podcast incident as damaging. "I didn't think I'd get that much backlash. The consequences for me and for SpaceX were not good," Musk said. "Because it's still federally illegal. It was pretty nutty, actually, because I had to have random drug tests and stuff after that to prove I'm not a drug addict." Musk said that the increased scrutiny on his employees upset him, recalling that he apologized, saying, "Sorry guys, I didn't realize it'd be this big of a deal." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is being slammed on social media for comments she made about her "connection" with China that she spoke about during a press conference on Thursday. Pelosi said that she has always had a special connection with China because of a childhood memory. "When I was a little girl, I was told at the beach if I dug a hole deep enough, we would reach China, so we've always felt a connection there," Pelosi said. Pelosi made the comment during a trip to the Indo-Pacific. NANCY PELOSI LANDS IN TAIWAN AMID CHINESE THREATS, MILITARY ACTIVITY "We are truly led by imbeciles," Outkick founder Clay Travis said. "LOL what?," Turning Point USA's Benny Johnson said. "Make sure we look like idiots to the rest of the world, a Twitter user said. PELOSI TAIWAN TRIP: 4 US WARSHIPS POSITIONED EAST OF ISLAND "youre telling me this person was our best choice to visit taiwan?," another Twitter user said. Pelosi made the trip to the Indo-Pacific in the past week and stopped in Taiwan on Tuesday, despite multiple threats from China advising her not to visit the island. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (L) shakes hands with Hiroyuki Hosoda, speaker of Japan's House of Representatives, during a meeting in Tokyo. Photo by Kazuhiro Nogi/Afp/AFP via Getty Images "Our visit is one of several Congressional delegations to Taiwan and it in no way contradicts longstanding United States policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, U.S.-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances," Pelosi said in a statement. "The United States continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo." Fox News' Timothy H.J. Nerozzi contributed to this report. North Miami Police Department take part in an active shooter drill at North Miami Senior High on July 24, 2018. Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images A North Carolina school system gave its six schools AR-15 rifles to protect against mass shooters. The guns were added after a horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that left 19 children dead. "I want my guys to be as prepared as prepared can be," Madison County Sheriff Buddy Harwood said. A North Carolina school system has given AR-15 rifles to every school in an effort to protect kids against mass shooters, according to a report from the Asheville Citizen-Times. "We were able to put an AR-15 rifle and safe in all of our schools in the county," Madison County Sheriff Buddy Harwood told the Citizen-Times. "We've also got breaching tools to go into those safes. We've got extra magazines with ammo in those safes." Six elementary, middle, and high schools were given a rifle, ammo, and a safe, Harwood said. The guns were added to the schools following the devastating school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in May. Police said the gunman killed 19 children and two adults in the shooting. "Those officers were in that building for so long, and that suspect was able to infiltrate that building and injure and kill so many kids," Harwood said. "I just want to make sure my deputies are prepared in the event that happens." "The reason we put the breaching tools in the safes is that in the event we have someone barricaded in a door, we won't have to wait on the fire department to get there," Harwood added. "We'll have those tools to be able to breach that door if needed. I do not want to have to run back out to the car to grab an AR, because that's time lost. Hopefully, we'll never need it, but I want my guys to be as prepared as prepared can be." So far in 2022, there have been 27 school shootings, according to Education Week's tracker. In 2021, there were 34 school shootings. And this year, the number of school shootings is rapidly creeping up and could easily surpass last year's figure. Following the Uvalde shooting, four companies that manufacture bulletproof gear told Insider they have seen more customers searching for and purchasing bulletproof backpacks since a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School in Texas. Story continues The manufacturers, however, noted that the presence of some of the bulletproof gear might scare parents. Harwood told the Citizen-Times he believes the guns and ammo are necessary to protect students in the event of a shooting. "I hate that we've come to a place in our nation where I've got to put a safe in our schools, and lock that safe up for my deputies to be able to acquire an AR-15. But, we can't shut it off and say it won't happen in Madison County, but we never know," he said. "I want the parents of Madison County to know we're going to take every measure necessary to ensure our kids are safe in this school system. If my parents, as a whole, want me to stand at that door with that AR strapped around that officer's neck, then I'm going to do whatever my parents want as a whole to keep our kids safe." Read the original article on Insider On the 77th anniversary of the worlds first atomic bombing at Hiroshima, UN secretary general Antonio Guterres doubled down on his harsh critique of nuclear weapons by saying they must be wiped off the face of the Earth. Mr Guterres had earlier said at the start of a UN conference that the world was just one misunderstanding, one miscalculation away from nuclear annihilation. This time, he warned of a new global arms race putting the nuclear threat back in focus at a gathering in Hiroshima. The UN chief joined thousands of others on Saturday at Peace Park in the centre of the Japanese city to mark the anniversary of the bombing that killed 140,000 before the end of 1945. As the Peace Bell sounded, the crowd gathered at the park, including Japan prime minister Fumio Kishida, observed a moment of silence at the exact time the bomb exploded. Nuclear weapons are nonsense. They guarantee no safety - only death and destruction, Mr Guterres said at the occasion. Three quarters of a century later, we must ask what weve learned from the mushroom cloud that swelled above this city in 1945. People pray in remembrance of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. 6 August 2022 marks the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during the Second World War in which between 90,000-146,000 people were killed and the entire city destroyed in the first use of a nuclear weapon in armed conflict (Getty Images) We cannot forget the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We must act in their memory and wipe nuclear weapons off the face of the earth once and for all, Mr Guterres later tweeted. At a time when geopolitical tensions are rising and the nuclear threat is back in focus, Japans strong and consistent voice on peace is more important than ever, he added. However, the UN chief sidestepped a direct mention of Russia, which calls its invasion of Ukraine a special military operation. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres lays a wreath at the cenotaph for the atomic bombing victims at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park during the ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the atomic bombing in the city (AP) Prime minister Kishida said the use of nuclear weapons is once again becoming a real problem, adding that the momentum for a world free of nuclear weapons is seemingly receding. We must not repeat the tragedy of the use of nuclear weapons, I appeal to the people of the world with a loud voice, Mr Kishida said. This is the responsibility of Japan, the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings, and my pledge as Prime Minister, who hails from Hiroshima, he added. Story continues In Hiroshima today, I paid tribute to the tens of thousands of people killed by atomic bombs 77 years ago. We cannot forget the lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We must act in their memory & wipe nuclear weapons off the face of the earth once and for all. pic.twitter.com/taMQFAjD92 Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) August 6, 2022 Criticising Moscows military action against Ukraine, Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui said the Russian leader elected to protect the lives and property of his people, is using them as instruments of war. Around the world, the notion that peace depends on nuclear deterrence gains momentum, Mr Matsui warned, according to Reuters. These errors betray humanitys determination, born of our experiences of war, to achieve a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons. To accept the status quo and abandon the ideal of peace maintained without military force is to threaten the very survival of the human race, he said. Earlier on Friday, Mr Kishida said Chinas military exercises aimed at Taiwan following the visit of US House speaker Nancy Pelosi to the island represents a grave problem threatening regional peace and security that needs to be stopped immediately. The OPFL party is also appealing its ban in Ukraine These appeals were filed by the following parties: Read also: How Anatoly Shariy became such an odious, influential Ukrainian figure Socialists Union of the Left Opposition Platform for Life Party of Shariy Socialist Party of Ukraine Progressive Socialist Party of Ukraine Happy Ukraine Read also: Moscow leverages food supply to coerce people in Luhansk Oblast to sign up for sham referendum The Supreme Court has already begun to consider the appeals of the Union of Left Forces and the Socialist Party, with the first hearings in these cases already having occurred. On March 20, the National Security and Defense Council decided to suspend any activity of political forces associated with Russia during martial law. In particular, the parties Opposition Platform for Life, the Party of Shariy and the Opposition Bloc and Ours were mentioned. On May 3, the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraines parliament banned the activities of all pro-Russian parties on the territory of Ukraine. Read also: Zelensky confirms Medvedchuk captured while trying to flee Ukraine Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Officials in Nashua are responding to the scene of a suspicious death, according to a release issued by the New Hampshire Attorney General. Officials say an adult female has been found at a home in Nashua. This marks the second death deemed suspicious that officials have responded to in Nashua, Friday. Earlier in the day police responded to the shooting death of a 53-year-old man by the name of Lee Knoetig. Police arrested 19-year-old Alexander Wheeler in connection with Mr. Knoetigs death. [ UPDATE: Arrest made in Nashua deadly shooting ] At this time, officials have not indicated these two incidents are connected. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW LOS ANGELES (AP) Star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A San Antonio either Saturday or Sunday, San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin said. Tatis took batting practice with the Padres at Dodger Stadium on Friday afternoon and then left for Texas. Tatis has been sidelined since having surgery in mid-March on his fractured left wrist, reportedly suffered in an offseason motorcycle accident in his native Dominican Republic. Although there's no timetable for his return, starting the rehab assignment is a big step for Tatis and the Padres. He didnt have a spring and hasnt played in the field yet, so well monitor as we go along, Melvin said. Tatis will play shortstop, center field and spend time as the designated hitter. When Tatis returns, hell be in a new-look lineup with newly acquired superstar Juan Soto, Josh Bell and Brandon Drury, all obtained before Tuesday's trade deadline. San Diego also landed All-Star closer Josh Hader. Tatis was an All-Star in 2021 and finished third in voting for NL MVP. He batted .282 with an NL-leading 42 home runs and 97 RBIs. ___ More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports A Nashville panel on Friday evening denied parents request to stop a controversial school voucher program. The Educational Savings Account program will allow low-income parents in Memphis-Shelby County Schools and Nashville Metro Schools to use state money to send their kids to private schools. The Constitution demands adequate and equal public support, not throwing our hands up and saying, Lets move to private school and further de-fund problems, said Chris Wood, an attorney arguing against the vouchers. Thats going to exacerbate the challenges that we are already facing and cause further harm. Its not an answer to any inadequacies within the public school system. RELATED: Tennessee to launch controversial school voucher program A family of four must make less than $72,000 a year to qualify for the program, which would award a family nearly $8,200 to the private school of their choice. However, FOX13 reported that the average cost of private school in the state is about $10,000. Last month, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee visited Saint Benedict at Auburndale, a private school in Cordova, to advocate for the program. He said 40 schools have committed to the program so far. The state claims 2,200 families have applied for the program. So, if a parent now has a choice, another option for the education for their child that they believe is a better option, then it certainly stands to reason that it will benefit that child, Lee said. Opponents argue that the program would move much-needed taxpayer dollars out of public schools. Both Nashville and Shelby County have robust public school choice options already, said Wood. If folks are unhappy with their schools, they can opt to go to many different other public schools. School starts on Monday in Shelby County. Download the FOX13 Memphis app to receive alerts from breaking news in your neighborhood. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD Trending stories: Pittsburgh police have made an arrest in Thursdays non-fatal shooting of two teenaged girls in Homewood. According to police, 20-year-old Temani Lewis of Wilkinsburg has been arrested for the shooting of two 18-year-old victims. PREVIOUS STORY: 2 teenage girls taken to hospital after shooting in Pittsburghs Homewood neighborhood Both females were shot in the 7400 block of Stranahan Street. Lewis has been charged with aggravated assault, criminal attempt homicide, firearms not to be carried without a license and recklessly endangering another person. She has been taken to Allegheny County Jail. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: No criminal charges expected after group of children allegedly ransack Fayette County home Updated Pennsylvania Minimum Wage Act goes into effect after 45 years without changes Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson reportedly split after 9 months VIDEO: Explainer: Dangers of lightning as strong storms move through Pittsburgh area DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts (Bloomberg) -- PredictIt, a market that built its name by letting Americans bet on who will be elected to Congress or the next president, has lost its legal authority to operate in the US. Most Read from Bloomberg The move by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on Aug. 4 to revoke the regulatory letter relied on by the platform sent shock waves through the political-gambling industry. Since 2014, PredictIt has used the permission granted for research purposes to a New Zealand university to let Americans bet on US elections, something thats generally forbidden. The focus on politics thrust PredictIt into the forefront of an emerging asset class that easily lets people wager on the outcomes of real-world events using derivatives. Odds based on PredictIt wagers have been widely cited by major media, and while the sites origins were rooted in academia and bets are capped at $850, its become a favorite among American gamblers. The CFTC said that PredictIt trading in contracts listed under the 2014 legal interpretation must end by Feb. 15, 2023. The regulators move didnt involve an enforcement action. As of Friday afternoon in Washington, traders still could use PredictIt to bet on everything from whether former President Donald Trump or Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would win the 2024 presidential election to whether New Yorks Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will file to run for president before 2024. The website included a disclaimer that read: Predictit.org is an experimental project operated for academic purposes under permission from the CFTC. The CFTC didnt specify its exact rationale for revoking its letter to Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, other than stating that the university had not operated its market in compliance with the terms of the 2014 determination. Story continues The letter gave the university the ability to list the products for research and academic purposes. Because of PredictIts relationship with the university, the platform never registered with the CFTC as a derivatives exchange -- an onerous process that involves intense scrutiny from the regulator. In a statement, PredictIt said it disagreed with the agencys decision and maintains that all active markets are not only within the terms of the no-action letter but are also consistent with commission interpretations conveyed to us over the past eight years. It added that it intends to continue normal operations until the Feb. 15 deadline. The platform hasnt yet decided how contracts with end dates after Feb. 15 will be settled, Margaret Hyland, a Vice-Provost at Victoria University of Wellington, said in a separate statement. The decision to revoke the CFTCs letter that effectively told the university it wouldnt get sued for offering the contracts came after CFTC staff determined it had allowed PredictIt to stray too far from the original remit of being a small-scale market designed to facilitate academic research, according to four people familiar with the matter. PredictIt is operated by Aristotle Inc. and it attracts a cadre of professional gamblers. The uncertainty over whether the exchange was actually being operated as a for-profit entity, given its ties to Aristotle, which provides technology, data and other services to political campaigns, also drew concern within the agency, said the people who asked not to be named discussing internal deliberations. The CFTC declined to comment. In a statement, Aristotle said that American voters, politicians, journalists and academics rely on PredictIt for the valuable data it provides. Over the past eight years we have always strived to be a good actor in an industry rife with bad ones and have worked with the CFTC since the beginning and would like to continue working with them, Aristotle spokeswoman Brandi Travis said in an email. The CFTC has known for years about the extent to which Aristotle was involved with PredictIt day to day, as this was disclosed to them by us many years ago, Travis said. Victoria University of Wellington said in a statement that the PredictIt platform remains a project of the university, operated by Aristotle. There has been no sale by the university to Aristotle. PredictIt didnt respond to a request for comment on the arrangements between it, the university and Aristotle. Regulatory microscope Recently, the regulator has become more focused on event contracts, an area which has grown in popularity amid the recent explosion in retail trading. In January, Polymarket, a crypto-based event market, agreed to pay a $1.4 million to settle CFTC allegations it had been running an unregistered trading platform. The firm didnt admit or deny wrongdoing in the settlement. Meanwhile, Kalshi, a Silicon Valley startup with venture capital backing, became the first exchange granted CFTC registration to run a fully-commercial event market in 2020. Kalshi doesnt currently offer trading in election outcomes, but recently filed papers with the agency to begin listing events contracts tied to the 2022 midterm elections, two of the people said. Kalshi didnt respond to a request for comment. In general, prediction markets have been viewed with a mixture of fascination and skepticism from some in the US news media and election watchers. While backers say theyre more accurate than polling, there have been occasional concerns about market manipulation to increase the perception of a candidates performance. Rajiv Sethi, an economics professor at Barnard College, Columbia University says hes found PredictIt data to be useful in his research. The CFTC decision means that elections-watchers could lose a major source of data ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections, he added. For those who are interested in market based predictions of political outcomes, including journalists and researchers, there is really no close substitute, Sethi said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. A Florida woman who was acquitted of murdering her husband, a prominent official at the University of Central Florida, was sentenced Friday to a year of probation for tampering with evidence. A judge sentenced Danielle Redlick in state court in Orlando. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Last month, a jury acquitted Danielle Redlick of second-degree murder in the death of her husband, Michael Redlick. Danielle Redlick said she had killed her husband out out of self-defense during a fight inside their home in which he had tried to smother her to death. Jurors found Danielle Redlick guilty of evidence tampering for cleaning up her husbands blood after stabbing him. Detectives found a pile of bloody towels, a bloody mop, bloody footprints and the strong smell of bleach in the house. She spent three years in jail prior to the trial. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Michael Redlick was the director of external affairs and partnership relations for the DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida. He had previously worked for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Cleveland Browns and Memphis Grizzlies. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Court records showed that the Redlicks had been going through a divorce before the case was dismissed from a lack of action by Danielle Redlick, who initiated the court proceeding. In a divorce petition, Danielle Redlick said the marriage was irretrievably broken and she was asking for alimony because she said she was unable to support herself without assistance. She listed herself as an unemployed photographer and multimedia professional. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A Pasco police officers two shots that killed a man in 2019 saved his life and the lives of his two fellow officers, according to Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant. Sant ruled Pasco police officers did not break the law when their attempt to arrest Alejandro Bentancourt-Mendoza, 18, turned into a melee that ended with the teen dead, two officers seriously hurt, and his cousin behind bars. On Friday afternoon, the prosecutor sent out a 10-page release explaining his decision on the Dec. 14, 2019 shooting at 2100 block of North 18th Drive in Pasco. Officer (Ben) Boykins use of deadly force was reasonable and justified under the circumstances in this case and prevented the loss of life to himself and his fellow officers, Sant wrote. When Boykin fired the fatal shots, an artery in his arm had been cut, and Bentancourt-Mendoza had cut Peoples face. Sant put much of the blame on the situation on Martin Mendozas attempt to free his cousin, and on Bentancourt-Mendozas choice to attack officers with the knife. Following the shooting, Pasco police asked the Regional Special Investigations Unit to handle the investigation. The unit handles officer-involved shootings across Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties. No Pasco police officers investigated the shooting. The shooting was the first one caught on video using the departments body camera system. While the system is not perfect, Sant said it was a significant help in providing additional information about what happened. In this case, the cameras were limited because everything was happening quickly in a poorly lit area. In some cases, detectives needed to analyze some of the video frame by frame. They are not a replacement for people getting involved, Sant told the Herald. If you are a witness, we need you as part of that investigation. Sants decision was delayed by a number of factors. In this case. Martin Mendoza, was facing charges connected to the melee. He pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and three counts of third-degree assault in 2021, and is serving a four-year prison sentence. Story continues Additionally, in the past year the prosecutors office has been down several attorneys and seen an increase in the number of cases it has handled. Burglary Pasco police Officers Ben Boykin, Kierra Peoples and Jason Griffin arrived at the home on 18th Drive after a 12-year-old girl called 911 to report her uncle was stealing cellphones out of the house. The three officers arrived shortly after 8 p.m. and Peoples met the caller who was waiting in a car outside of the house. A short time later, Betancourt-Mendoza walked into the rear door of the home and into the dining room area Family members identified him as the one who had stolen the phones. Shortly after he walked into the house, officers were talking with him. According to officers and the cameras, Betancourt-Mendoza kept putting his hands near a tactical folding-style knife that was clipped to his pocket. When Griffin tried to take the knife away from the teen, Bentancourt-Mendoza started to resist. According to witness statements, Griffin threw the teen against the wall and then brought him down to the ground. Boykin and Peoples jointed him as they struggled to get him under control. The three officers nearly had Betancourt-Mendoza under control when Martin Mendoza, the 18-year-olds cousin, decided to enter the fray. According to witnesses, the then 24-year-old man charged out of his room, past family members who tried to stop him, and into the living room where he headed toward Griffin. This set off a chain reaction of events that would end with two officers wounded and his cousin dead. Chaos erupts Griffin told investigators that he saw Martin Mendoza heading straight for him and let go of the teen as the other man grabbed him by the bulletproof vest.. Mendoza yelled at the officers as he went for Griffin, according to documents. As he started struggling with the other man, Boykin joined in, leaving Peoples alone on Betancourt-Mendoza. Peoples didnt have enough weight to keep Betancourt-Mendoza pinned on the floor and he threw her off and pulled out his knife, according to Sants report. He cut Boykin several times, including once where he cut deep into his arm. At this point, Peoples managed to wrestle him back to the floor. He was on his back cutting and stabbing Peoples in the face. Boykin pulled out his gun, yelled a warning to Bentancourt-Mendoza, and then came within a foot of him before shooting the teen twice in the chest. After the shots, the teen drops the knife. Griffin was still fighting with Martin Mendoza when Boykin fired the shots, Sant said. After the shooting happened, family members can be heard yelling at Martin Mendoza to stop fighting. As other officers are arriving, Peoples put a tourniquet on Boykins arm and drove them both to Lourdes hospital in Pasco, where they were treated. Boykin needed emergency surgery to treat his wound, and Peoples needed stitches to close the two wounds on her face. She later suffered severe swelling and an infection. After the shooting, Martin can be heard telling officers he was sorry for his actions, Sant said. Martin indicated he was trying to protect his cousin. Mendoza said he was trying to stop his cousin from going back to jail. The Daily Beast Tennessee Department of CorrectionA woman who shared a kiss with a prisoner during a visitation in Tennessee has been charged with murder after the inmate died shortly after their exchange.Rachel Dollard was taken into custody over the weekend by special agents from the Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) and the Dickson County Sheriffs Department, the TDOC confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. She is accused of smuggling drugs into the Turney Center Industrial Complex.Dollard is facing ch Surfers cross the railroad tracks near San Clemente's North Beach. San Clemente Councilman Steve Knoblock has proposed that the city become a "sanctuary for life." (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) Linda Verraster cannot imagine why elected officials in San Clemente would spend time debating abortion. The coastal Orange County city has no hospitals or clinics that perform abortions, and it has no power to stop residents from seeking the procedure elsewhere. There are other issues that need attention, Verraster says, like homelessness and affordable housing. Still, a debate about abortion has been consuming the city and putting it in the spotlight, after Councilman Steve Knoblock proposed that it become a sanctuary for life, which would make it an abortion-free zone after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade. Knoblock's proposal, which is largely symbolic, has upset residents across the political spectrum, including some of his conservative colleagues as well as abortion rights supporters like Verraster. On Saturday, the council will consider whether to remove the proposal from its Aug. 16 meeting agenda. Its so far out of their lane that it seems so ridiculous they would bring up something so divisive, said Verraster, 68, a registered nurse and Democrat who has lived in San Clemente for nearly three decades. The vibe of Orange Countys southernmost city, with its Spanish-style architecture and famous surf culture, is one of a laid-back beach town. San Clemente also has an enduring reputation as a conservative bastion, even as much of Orange County has become more politically diverse. Last year, the San Clemente council declared it a "Second Amendment Freedom City." A busy summer day at the beach south of the San Clemente pier on Thursday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) But Knoblock's proposal, a draft of which was made public last week, was a bridge too far even for some abortion opponents. It states that life begins at conception and opposes the establishment of clinics that provide abortions. Councilmembers have been flooded with emails from residents perplexed by the document's religious bent and angered that their government is weighing in on what many see as a personal health issue. Some residents plan to hold a rally next week near the San Clemente pier to air their concerns. Story continues No matter what happens in San Clemente, the right to an abortion in heavily Democratic California will continue to be protected by state officials. "This is really an exercise in chest pounding," said Fran Sdao, 69, a Mission Viejo resident. "We live in California. This means nothing in California. This is just a waste of paper." In an interview with The Times, Knoblock said that zoning and permitting could be possible tools to keep abortion clinics out of the city. Knoblock said he wants to send a message to the rest of California that "we think life is important, and we think 60 million unborn babies that have been killed in the womb is a sad thing and shouldn't be continued." Knoblock has a history of proposals that many see as outside the purview of local government. In 2008, he suggested that the council declare support for Proposition 8, a statewide ballot measure that would have banned same-sex marriage. He failed to gain enough buy-in from his colleagues. That same year, Knoblock successfully advocated to have the phrase "In God We Trust" placed on the city's logo. Knoblock's stance on abortion is at odds with the majority of Californians and Orange County residents who support access to the procedure. Among likely voters in the state, 76% said they did not want Roe vs. Wade overturned, according to a poll this year by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California. Support lagged just slightly in Orange County, with 69% of likely voters opposed to overturning the nearly 50-year-old constitutional precedent. A Planned Parenthood clinic in Mission Viejo the closest one to San Clemente had more than 22,000 medical visits last year. It is unclear how many of those visits were abortions, though the organization said the procedure amounts to a fraction of the services it provides. "This resolution is an example of an extreme politician that serves on the council basically attempting to push a personal agenda not reflecting the views of their constituents," said Robert Armenta, senior vice president of public affairs at Planned Parenthood of Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Knoblock's colleagues on the San Clemente City Council, which is majority Republican, described his proposal as overreach. Councilwoman Kathy Ward called the proposal "ludicrous," saying in an email to The Times that she does not "take up issues that are not city issues." Councilwoman Laura Ferguson said she believes in a woman's right to choose, with certain limitations, and believes the council should focus on more pressing issues, like homelessness and pension liabilities. Mayor Gene James, who is opposed to abortion, said he was initially in favor of a council resolution expressing support for the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. But he said he was "appalled" and "embarrassed" after reading the specifics that Knoblock drafted. Ward, Ferguson and James are all Republicans. "The fact that he was delving into issues of medicine, where none of us are qualified to opine on that, is disturbing," James said. "California is a state where abortion is legal, and there's nothing the San Clemente City Council can do about that, regardless of whether we're pro-life or pro-choice." Mayor Pro Tem Chris Duncan, a Democrat who is running for state Assembly, said Knoblock's efforts to ban abortion are "extreme and completely out of step with our community's basic values." Cheri Lyon, who has lived in San Clemente for 15 years, said she was horrified that Knoblock's resolution blurred the line between church and state. The resolution states that its intention is to "not only protect life, but also to honor God, who gives life." It continues that "we believe that life is God-ordained and God is the author and finisher of every life." "I read it and was like, 'What is happening here?'" said Lyon, 46, who favors abortion rights. "It's not even filled with an argument that it should be a state issue. It was all about God and preserving life. Why [Knoblock] thinks this is something the citizens of San Clemente want is very perplexing to me." Lyon said she's thankful to live in a state whose government has affirmed the right to an abortion but is concerned about what Knoblock's resolution signals about the future of her city. Residents and tourists walk along Avenida Del Mar on Thursday. (Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times) San Clemente's registered voters are about 44% Republican, 28% Democratic and 21% no party. The city's support for conservative candidates and causes dates back decades. In the 1970s, Richard Nixon sought refuge post-Watergate in his beachfront mansion in San Clemente, known as the Western White House. In 2020, San Clemente was the setting for a public mask burning at the pier led by Alan Hostetter, a resident later criminally charged for his alleged role in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Knoblock and Hostetter shared the stage at a Donald Trump rally in the city in 2020. American flags and banners celebrating the U.S. Marine Corps pepper homes across San Clemente, which is roughly 20 miles north of Camp Pendleton. These days, lawn signs for liberal candidates, as well as gay and transgender pride flags, also appear in the city with more regularity. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By Greg Torode HONG KONG (Reuters) - China's cutting of some of its few communication links with the U.S. military raises the risk of an accidental escalation of tension over Taiwan at a critical moment, according to security analysts, diplomats and U.S. officials. China called off planned formal talks involving theatre-level commands, defence policy co-ordination and military maritime consultations on Friday as part of its retaliation against U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan this week. In an editorial on Saturday, the Communist Party's People's Daily newspaper described the response, along with sanctions against Pelosi and her family, as "effective measures that fully demonstrates that China is fully determined and capable of safeguarding national unity and safeguarding ... sovereignty and territorial integrity". Christopher Twomey, a security scholar at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in California, told Reuters the severing of the communication links was worrying, coming at what he believed was the beginning of a new Taiwan crisis. China fired ballistic missiles over Taipei as part of four days of unprecedented military drills around the island it claims as its own - exercises due to end at noon on Sunday. "This increased density of forces, in the context of an intensifying crisis, raises the prospect for inadvertent escalation that neither side wants," Twomey said, speaking in a private capacity. "That is precisely the time you would want to have more opportunities to talk to the other side ... Losing those channels greatly reduces the ability of the two sides to de-conflict military forces as various exercises and operations continue." As Chinese warships, fighter jets and drones manoeuvre around Taiwan, at least four powerful U.S. vessels, including the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam are east of Taiwan, Reuters has confirmed. Story continues NOT TAKING CALLS Bonnie Glaser, a Washington-based security analyst with the German Marshall Fund of the United States, said, more broadly, prospects were "extremely low for holding talks on risk reduction measures or stability". Over time, she said she expected the specific talks called off this week would resume but "right now, China has to signal toughness and resolve". A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Chinese officials had not responded to calls from senior Pentagon officials this week but that was seen as China showing displeasure over Pelosi's trip rather than the severing of the channel between senior defence officials, including U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. [L1N2ZH19D] Austin pushed for improved communication between the rival forces when met Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of Shangri-la Dialogue security meeting in Singapore in June. Both Asian and Western diplomats said U.S. military chiefs had been pushing for more frequent theatre-level command talks for some time, given China's growing deployments across Asia, where the U.S. navy has traditionally been the dominant power. The Pentagon said on Friday that China was overreacting and the United States was still open to building crisis communication mechanisms. "Part of this overreaction has been strictly limiting its defence engagements when any responsible state would recognise that we need them now the most," acting Pentagon spokesman Todd Breasseale said. (Reporting By Greg Torode; additional reporting by Michael Martina and Idrees Ali in Washington; Editing by Robert Birsel) A West Seattle man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for drug dealing, possession of a gun and obstructing justice, according to the U.S. attorneys office for the Western District of Washington. David Rosario, 30, was arrested in August 2020 for selling drugs to an undercover agent. Five months later, he was arrested for committing additional crimes while released on bond. Even after his arrest on federal charges, Mr. Rosario continued to endanger the community with guns and drugs and ultimately the fire he used to intimidate a witness, said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. Detectives first found out about Rosario when an informant told investigators that Rosario was known for selling large amounts of drugs and stolen firearms. According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, an undercover agent bought heroin, methamphetamine and a .22-caliber gun from Rosario in late May 2020. Over a two-month period, Rosario reportedly sold the undercover officer more meth and three additional guns. On Aug. 11, law enforcement arrested Rosario for gun and drug trafficking, but he was released from jail pending trial. Officials said after Rosario was released, he attempted to retaliate against the informant by paying a person he sold drugs to set fire to the informants car. The person Rosario contacted threw a Molotov cocktail into the informants car while it was parked at a carport at an apartment complex in November 2020, according to the release. Officials said a resident at the complex called 911 after smelling burning rubber and firefighters put out the fire before anyone was injured. An arson investigator determined that the fire would have spread to apartments, possibly killing innocent residents had it not been immediately discovered. During the investigation, law enforcement found out that Rosario violated his bond by changing his residence, possessing guns and selling meth and fentanyl. Authorities said he also sold fentanyl while attending his required online drug treatment classes. Story continues Officials said when Rosario was arrested in January 2021, his phone contained numerous photos showing guns, cash, fentanyl pills and a photo of a burned-out car. Rosario pleaded guilty to carrying a gun during a drug trafficking crime, distribution of meth, unlawful receipt of a gun and conspiracy to use fire to obstruct justice. Following Rosarios prison sentence, he will also spend four years on supervised release. More news from KIRO 7 DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP A St. Paul police officer rescued four children, ages 3 to 7, from heavy smoke and flames in their home this week. Bill Beaudette, a law enforcement officer of 29 years, was patrolling on the East Side Thursday morning. It was a quiet shift, but he knew something was wrong when he saw smoke in the area of Case Avenue and Forest Street. A duplex was on fire and Beaudette contacted the fire department. He helped a resident from the upper unit get outside and, when she mentioned there may be children downstairs, Beaudette knew something had to be done. I was trying to wait for the fire department, but I couldnt because (the house) was starting to fill with smoke. So I kicked the door in and found the four kids, Beaudette said, tearing up as she spoke on Friday. The childrens father had stepped out of the house before the fire began. Gathering the kids and bringing them to safety took roughly 15 seconds, Beaudette recalled. By 11:08 a.m. Thursday, five minutes after contacting the fire department, firefighters were there to put out the fire. I did what 95 percent of the police department and fire department would do, Beaudette said. I was just in the right place at the right time. The children werent injured, according to police. Deputy Fire Chief Ken Adams said Beaudettes actions were life saving. One of the things we know about young children and fires is that they become scared, and when they become scared they dont go out, they hide, he said. Theyll hide under beds, theyll hide in closets, trying to get away from the smoke thats coming into the building. Its a death trap. Related Articles FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. The Parkland building where a teenage gunman shot and killed 17 people will continue to stand at least until next year, even though the jury deciding the gunmans fate has already finished its tour of the crime scene. The former freshman building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was originally preserved so that its blood-stained hallways and classrooms could be shown to the jury deciding whether confessed killer Nikolas Cruz should be sentenced to life in prison or death. But earlier this year, another judge ordered the buildings preservation so that a second jury can visit it. The second jury will decide what happens to the only other person charged in connection with the 2018 mass shooting, former Broward Sheriffs Deputy Scot Peterson, the school resource officer accused of child neglect for taking cover when the shooting started instead of trying to find Cruz. The decision to preserve the scene has been the source of anguished debate in the four-and-a-half years since the shooting, which also injured 17. Everyone agrees it should come down, but in the case against Cruz, prosecutors wanted the building to remain intact so jurors could put the testimony of witnesses and medical experts into context. Defense lawyers for Cruz warned that the site visit would overwhelm the jury emotionally and jeopardize the defendants right to a fair trial. In the Peterson case, the defense wants jurors to tour the scene. Only then, said defense lawyer Mark Eiglarsh, can the jury gain an understanding of why Peterson believed the shooting might have been coming from somewhere other than the inside of the freshman building. Prosecutors in the Peterson case did not oppose Eiglarshs motion to preserve the scene, but they want the jury to go into the 1200 building as well. Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein, who is presiding over the Peterson case, has not ruled on the extent of the upcoming jurys visit. Jury selection is slated to begin in early February. Story continues In the meantime, the building will remain in place, a constant reminder to the Stoneman Douglas and Parkland communities of the terror of 2018. Demolition cannot begin until the next jurys work is complete. The Broward school district has yet to even hire someone to knock the building down because no one can reliably set a demolition date. At a recent school board workshop, Deputy Superintendent for Operations Judith Marte said the district will try to have a vendor in place to make sure that building comes down as soon as possible once courts no longer determine its needed as evidence in criminal trials. (Staff writer Scott Travis contributed to this report.) Sudan's foreign ministry on Saturday condemned the killing of 18 Sudanese people during an attack by an armed group from Chad, state media reported. The killings took place Thursday when Sudanese herders from West Darfur state were ambushed while following the trails of camels looted by the Chadians the day before, according to Sudan's ruling Sovereign Council. On Saturday, Sudan's acting Foreign Minister Ali al-Sadiq conveyed his country's "protest and condemnation of the incident", in a meeting with Chad's ambassador to Khartoum. He also "demanded that Chad exerts an effort to arrest the assailants and to recover the stolen items," according to Sudan's official news agency SUNA. Sudan has faced deepening unrest since army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan led a military coup in October last year. The putsch upended a transition to civilian rule put in place following the 2019 ouster of president Omar al-Bashir. The power grab exacerbated political and economic turmoil in the country. The security situation has deteriorated, with a spike in ethnic clashes in Sudan's far-flung regions. Thursday's incident sparked anger among Sudanese living in Geneina, the capital of West Darfur state near the border with Chad. The deputy head of the Sovereign Council, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, had on Thursday been in N'Djamena where he discussed border security in a meeting with Chad's leader General Mahamat Idriss Deby. On Friday, Daglo called for restraint and vowed during the funeral of the slain Sudanese herders to take actions to bring "the chaos" along the border under control. Daglo commands the powerful paramilitary Rapid Support Forces which emerged from the Janjaweed militia unleashed in Darfur by the government of then-president Bashir. A Bashir ally, Ali Muhammad Ali Abd-Al-Rahman, is on trial at the International Criminal Court in the Hague for war crimes allegedly committed in Darfur roughly two decades ago when he was a Janjaweed commander. Story continues Bashir is also wanted by the court. Last month, Burhan pledged to step aside and make way for civilian groups to form a new government but Sudan's main civilian bloc dismissed the move as a "ruse". mz/it By Yimou Lee and David Brunnstrom TAIPEI (Reuters) -Chinese and Taiwanese warships played high seas "cat and mouse" on Sunday ahead of the scheduled end of four days of unprecedented Chinese military exercises launched in reaction to a visit to Taiwan by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi's visit last week infuriated China, which regards the self-ruled island as its territory and which responded with test launches of ballistic missiles over the island's capital for the first time and the cutting of some areas of dialogue with Washington. About 10 warships each from China and Taiwan sailed at close quarters in the Taiwan Strait, with some Chinese vessels crossing the median line, an unofficial buffer separating the two sides, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. The island's defence ministry said multiple Chinese military ships, aircraft, and drones were simulating attacks on the island and its navy. It said it had sent aircraft and ships to react "appropriately". In a statement later on Sunday, the ministry said it had detected 14 Chinese warships and 66 Chinese aircraft in and around the Taiwan Strait. It was not immediately clear if China had ended the drills on Sunday, as previously announced. But a late-evening commentator on Chinese state television said the Chinese military would now conduct "regular" drills on the Taiwan side of the line, saying the "historic task" of China's "reunification" could be realised. As Chinese forces "pressed" the line, as they did on Saturday, the Taiwan side stayed close to monitor and, where possible, deny the Chinese the ability to cross, said the person with knowledge of the situation who declined to be identified. "The two sides are showing restraint," the person said, describing the manoeuvres as high seas "cat and mouse". Taiwan said its shore-based anti-ship missiles and its Patriot surface-to-air-missiles were on stand-by. Story continues The defence ministry said its F-16 jet fighters were flying with advanced anti-aircraft missiles. It issued photographs of Harpoon anti-ship weapons being loaded on another. Speaking during a visit to Bangladesh, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said his country's actions were "legitimate, reasonable, in accordance with the law," and aimed at protecting China's "sacred sovereignty". "It must be borne in mind that Taiwan is not a part of the United States - it is China's territory," Wang's ministry cited him as saying. LIFTING RESTRICTIONS The Chinese exercises, centred on six locations around the island, began on Thursday and were scheduled to last until midday on Sunday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported last week. There was no announcement from China on Sunday on whether the exercises had ended and Taiwan said it was unable to verify whether China had stopped them as scheduled. Nevertheless, Taiwan's transport ministry it was gradually lifting restrictions on flights through its airspace, saying notifications for the drills were no longer in effect. But it added that Taiwan would continue to direct flights and ships away from one of the drill zones off its east coast until Monday morning. China's military has said the sea and air joint exercises, north, southwest and east of Taiwan, had a focus on land-strike and sea-assault capabilities. The United States called the exercises a significant escalation in China's efforts to change the status quo. "They are provocative, irresponsible and raise the risk of miscalculation," a White House spokesperson said. "They are also at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." 'POLITICAL STUNT' China says its relations with Taiwan are an internal matter and it reserves the right to bring the island under its control, by force if necessary. Taiwan rejects China's claim, saying only Taiwan's people can decide their future. China has warned the United States not to "act rashly" and create a greater crisis and the state-run Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary that Pelosi had staged a "political stunt" out of self-interest. "Insisting on going to the island, she apparently does not care about harming China-U.S. ties, or putting peace across the Taiwan Strait on the line," it said. Pelosi, a long-time China critic and a political ally of President Joe Biden, arrived in Taiwan late on Tuesday on the highest-level visit to the island by an American official in decades, despite Chinese warnings. She said her visit showed unwavering U.S. commitment to supporting Taiwan's democracy. Speaking at a news conference in Japan on Friday, Pelosi said her trip to Asia was "not about changing the status quo in Taiwan or the region". Taiwan's foreign ministry condemned China's "aggressive and provocative" exercises and urged it "to immediately stop such tension-escalating behaviours that have endangered the common good of the region and the world". As part of its response to Pelosi's visit, China has halted dialogue with the United States in a series of areas including contacts between theatre-level military commanders and on climate change. Chiang Kai-shek's defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war to Mao Zedong's communists, who proclaimed the People's Republic of China in Beijing. (Reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei, David Brunnstrom in Manila, Brenda Goh in Shanghai, Meg Shen in Hong Kong, Jeff Mason in WashingtonAdditional reporting by Ryan WooWriting by Tony Munroe and Greg TorodeEditing by Robert Birsel and Frances Kerry) A U.N. watchdog group has highlighted the possibility that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan could secure a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council in October. U.N Watch tweeted out a press release discussing the Maldives intention to run for a seat on the Human Rights Council and noted that other candidates vying for the open Asian seats include South Korea, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. The U.N. Human Rights Council is no stranger to controversy and having undemocratic, dictatorial members on the council is nothing new. Earlier this year, Russia was voted off the council by the U.N. General Assembly. Other controversial members include China, Cuba and Venezuela. TALIBAN CLAIMS IT WAS UNAWARE AL-QAEDA CHIEF AL-ZAWAHRI WAS IN AFGHANISTAN BEFORE US DRONE STRIKE Afghanistan would occupy one of the fourteen seats up for election. The former government of Afghanistan retains control of the U.N. permanent mission, but the Taliban nominated one of its spokesmen to take the position as ambassador, a decision left up to a nine-member credential committee that includes China, Russia and the United States. The committee has yet to rule on the Taliban's request. U.N. Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer called it "two steps" for the Taliban to obtain a seat on the council. The Human Rights Council scorecard on Afghanistan has more marks against it than in support of it. The current Afghan government has not ratified the nine core international human rights treaties, nor has it developed or published a plan for the implementation of Universal Periodic Review recommendations. The U.N. convened an "urgent debate" on Afghanistan July 1, addressing concerns regarding the Talibans control of the country. A report from the U.N. Mission in Afghanistan released only a few weeks later confirmed the validity of many of the concerns raised in the aftermath of this change in power. BIDEN'S FAILED AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL LET TALIBAN TURN NATION INTO A TERRORIST STATE Story continues The report noted that the Taliban have "limited dissent by cracking down on protests and curbing media freedoms," also noting the erosion of the rights of women and girls, including restrictions on the rights to access education and the workplace and participation in public life. Taliban fighters stand guard next to a Taliban flag during a gathering where Afghan Hazara elders pledged support to the country's new Taliban rulers in Kabul Nov. 25, 2021. Aref Karimi/AFP via Getty Images The report raised concerns that the Taliban act with "impunity," and that nationwide economic, financial and humanitarian crisis has exacerbated the situation. AFGHAN SIKHS SEEK REFUGE IN INDIA DUE TO RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION AT HOME "Education is not only a basic human right but the key to the development of a nation," said Markus Potzel, the U.N. acting special representative for Afghanistan. Taliban forces block roads around an airport, while a woman with a Burqa walks by in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 27, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer "It is beyond time for all Afghans to be able to live in peace and rebuild their lives after 20 years of armed conflict," he added. "Our monitoring reveals that, despite the improved security situation since (August 15), the people of Afghanistan, in particular women and girls, are deprived of the full enjoyment of their human rights." At least 59% of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, a significant increase of six million people since the start of 2021, according to the report. A U.N. Human Rights Council spokesman stressed that the Taliban do not have any representation on any U.N. body and that it was Afghanistan that retains a representative at the permanent mission. A General Assembly spokesperson did not respond to questions on the U.N.s stance regarding the pending decision. The U.S. stepped away from the Human Rights Council in 2018 over concerns the group protected human rights abusers and was "a cesspool of political bias." President Biden sought re-election to the council shortly after taking office, securing a seat for the 2022-2024 term. A teen has been arrested for murder in the shooting death of a Clover man who was found dead along the Lake Wylie shore in June, York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said. Deputies on Saturday charged ZiQuavious Jkwon LaTravis Caldwell, 17, the Sheriffs Office said in a written statement. Caldwell was located at apartments off Paces River Avenue near Interstate 77 and Celanese Road in Rock Hill, the Sheriffs Office said. Caldwell is charged as an adult with murder, armed robbery and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, Tolson said. Terron T.J. Hubert, 20, of Clover, was found dead June 6 along the Lake Wylie shore, deputies said. A walker found Huberts body at Quigley Park off S.C. 49 near the North Carolina state line southwest of Charlotte. Hubert had been shot several times, deputies said. NEW: After a two-months long intensive investigation YCSO Detectives make an arrest for the death of 20-year-old Terron Hubert in June of this year near Lake Wylie, SC. READ MORE https://t.co/uERBvaTxCq #YCSONews #Breaking #LakeWylie pic.twitter.com/lQXHsOqAsc York County Sheriff (@YCSO_SC) August 6, 2022 On Thursday, the sheriffs office made a public plea for information in the case. Detectives had worked the case for two months, Tolson said. We're still looking for answers to this murder investigation if you have any information that can help our Detectives solve this crime please call us! Or you can give a tip anonymously at #CrimeStoppers. #YCSONews pic.twitter.com/PVjr2bxFn5 York County Sheriff (@YCSO_SC) August 4, 2022 Every victim matters, Tolson said Saturday. Story continues Detectives believe Caldwell robbed and shot Hubert after an argument, according to the statement from the Sheriffs Office that was posted online. It remains unclear how the 17-year-old Caldwell possessed a gun at the time of the killing, Tolson told The Herald Saturday. It remains unclear if the two men knew each other before the incident, or why the two men were in the Lake Wylie area at the time of the killing. Caldwell faces up to life in prison if convicted of all charges under South Carolina law. Murder carries 30 years to life in South Carolina for a conviction, and armed robbery carries 10 years up to 30 years. The weapon charge carries up to five years. Trent Faris, spokesman for the Sheriffs Office, told The Herald Saturday the case remains under investigation. Caldwell remains at the York County jail without bond, records show. Editor's note: The Daily Advertiser is not naming the subordinate who said former Lafayette Police Officer Sgt. Wayne Griffin sent sexually explicit messages to protect her from potential retaliation. This story was updated on Aug. 10, 2022, to reflect a new date for Griffin's hearing. Former Lafayette Interim Chief Wayne Griffin sent sexually explicit texts to a subordinate and told investigators he never sent those messages, which a cell phone analyst determined were sent from his phone, according to an Internal Affairs investigation. Griffin sent multiple texts from a personal phone to a subordinate's personal phone indicating that he wanted to have sex with her and asked about her sex life. Griffin and his attorney suggested the messages were fabricated with a third-party application. But a cell phone analyst determined Griffin sent the messages using his Apple account, something that would be almost impossible to fabricate, the analyst said in his report. Lafayette Consolidated Government previously redacted documents related to the investigation to a point where most of its contents were not readable. The investigation and interviews with Griffin and witnesses were included as evidence for a hearing with the Lafayette Fire and Police Civil Service Board. The hearing was delayed Wednesday after Griffin's attorney Allyson Melancon argued she should have been entitled to the police department's Internal Affairs' standard operating procedures. Michael Cory, the attorney for LCG, said the document was privileged. He said the request was part of a "fishing expedition" by Griffin and Melancon. Melancon said she needed the document to properly question an Internal Affairs investigator whether Griffin's Officer Bill of Rights were violated. The attorneys will reach out to a district judge for an opinion on whether it is privileged. The new hearing is scheduled for October, pending that opinion. Sgt. Wayne Griffin speaking at press conference at City Hall. Friday, April 3, 2020. When Griffin has his hearing, he and Melancon will argue LPD's Internal Affairs and Human Resources Director Rick Zeno failed to comply with the minimum standards for a law enforcement officer under investigation, according to Melancon's pre-hearing filing. Story continues She argued because those standards were not met, the discipline should be nullified and Griffin should get his job back. The Daily Advertiser has reached out to Melancon for further comment. Previous coverage: Former Lafayette Police Chief Griffin fired for lying to investigators, harassment Griffin was dismissed in January after being placed on leave in October when LCG received a sexual harassment complaint against him. At the time, he had been appointed interim chief of police after Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory abruptly fired Chief Thomas Glover, Sr. Griffin, a 19-year department veteran, was only in the position about two weeks before the complaint was brought forward. He was stripped of the interim title and returned to his previous rank of sergeant in January but remained on leave until he was fired. Maj. Monte Potier, who has been with the department since 1993, has been in charge of the department's operations since Griffin was placed on leave. The city is still working to replace Glover. 'So I have a question' The subordinate told another officer that she had received unsolicited sexual text messages from Griffin while he was her supervisor. She asked the officer not tell anyone what she said, according to the investigation. But the officer reported what the subordinate said and an investigation was launched. The officer said in his report he was not filing a complaint, only reporting what had been disclosed to him. The woman told Internal Affairs investigators that Griffin started to make sexual remarks to her in March 2021. He would make comments about her appearance. She said he would bring up a training trip they took with another officer in October 2016 and he told her he regretted not having the opportunity to have sex with her on that trip, according to the investigation. Griffin would ask the woman about her sexual activity, including when she last had sex, the subordinate told investigators. He would say her bad attitude was because she had not had sex, according to the documents. The woman said she didn't report the harassment because she feared losing her position or her job, according to an interview with investigators. "She was intimidated by Interim Chief Griffin due to him being her supervisor who generated performance evaluations on her," investigators wrote in their report. "She advised that she played along with his advances because she saw how he previously embarrassed another female employee." 'Nobody steps in': Female officers describe culture of sexual harassment at LPD In April 2021, Griffin sent the woman a text that said, "So I have a question." The woman responded, "Sure, what's up?" Griffin responded, "Is the p---- even good? #askingforafriend." "Of course it is," she responded. "If the right (eggplant emoji) makes it nice and (water drops emoji)." A few texts later, Griffin asked the woman if he could get an "out of the shower pic also." The woman told investigators she had sent a text to him in January that was meant for another person. In the text, she said she would sneak a picture once she was out of the shower but immediately apologized for sending the text to the wrong person. The woman responded to Griffin's request and said, "Oh u remember that." He said he did and when she sent a laughing face emoji, he replied "#waiting." The woman said to appease his request, she sent a picture of her back. She was sitting in her bra and underwear. Her face is not in the photo. She told investigators she sent the picture because Griffin would often ask her for naked photos and she thought sending it would placate him. She also told them she responded the way she did to his advances because she "did not want to anger (Griffin) and possibly jeopardize her position." "She further advised that while she never informed him of her discomfort, she did feel uncomfortable," the investigators wrote in their report. CONSIDER SUBSCRIBING TODAY: Help support local journalists like Ashley White The woman said the sexual conversations continued in person and in text. In one instance, Griffin asked her in person why she wouldn't have sex with him, according to the documents. She told him she didn't want to change the dynamics of their friendship. Then he followed up with a text in July 2021. "Problem is... I kno u got that good. I've inquired," he texted, according to the documents. After she responded that only one person at the police department could comment on that, Griffin texted, "you put that thing on me you might be doing your own evals lol." The woman responded with a laughing emoji. Griffin texted, "Right. What's up with a 'big girl' pic. Sorry. Hennessy (cognac) just texted that." During his interview with investigators, Griffin denied sending the text messages or receiving the picture of the woman. He said he never threatened his subordinate's job or attempted sexual advances of any nature, according to the investigation. When asked why the woman would make an allegation against him, Griffin said she did not make the accusation until after her job duties were changed but said those changes came at the direction of Guillory and his administration. A Human Resources director told investigators Guillory said Griffin was told of issues with the woman but not mandated to change her job duties. Blue Wall of Silence: USA TODAY investigation exposes culture of retaliation against police whistleblowers He said he got a new phone about a month before the investigation and didn't have text messages from before then. Griffin's attorney, Melancon, suggested to investigators the text messages may have been manipulated through a third-party app that allows users to change the name and origin phone number. Lafayette Interim Police Chief Wayne Griffin speaking at City Council Meeting. Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Both the woman's and Griffin's phones were analyzed by an employee with Forensic Data Corp., third party that specializes in the forensic examination of electronic devices. Forensic Data Corp. told Internal Affairs investigators that after analyzing the woman's phone, he determined the messages were legitimate and could not have been fabricated by an app, according to the documents. The examiner said he did not know of a service that would allow iMessages, which can be exchanged between two iPhone users, to be fabricated. He examined Griffin's phone but the phone was set up in August and there was no data pertinent to the investigation. What happened after the investigation? Internal Affairs investigators concluded Griffin violated five sections of the department's general orders: professional conduct and responsibilities; department discipline; internal investigation, responsibility of department personnel to cooperate; conditions of employment; and anti-harassment and anti-discrimination. They did not sustain that Griffin violated the department's sexual harassment policy, but the anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy outlines sexual harassment as a type of harassment. He was fired on Jan. 20. Griffin and his attorney appealed his termination to the Lafayette Fire and Police Civil Service Board, which will hear arguments and can uphold the discipline, offer lesser discipline or decide no discipline should have been handed down. Melancon wrote in her filing that Griffin wasn't given an opportunity to address allegations except for the allegation of sexual harassment, despite reserving the right to do so. She said there had been no pre-disciplinary hearing related to the allegations for which he was fired. "Simply stated, he was never investigated for the things he was terminated for and no discipline was rendered for the thing he was investigated for," Melancon wrote. As part of her evidence, Melancon filed nearly three dozen commendations Griffin has received while a police officer. The board meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the council meeting room at city hall. Contact Ashley White at adwhite@theadvertiser.com or on Twitter @AshleyyDi. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Former interim Lafayette Police chief sent sexual messages to employee Culzean platform - Andy Buchanan/AFP Treasury ministers have been accused of a whitewash over an official analysis claiming its windfall tax on oil and gas profits will not have a significant impact on the economy. Energy firms said the impact assessment underplayed the risk of the tax hike discouraging vital investment in the UK, while one Conservative MP claimed it had been written to promote the measure advocated by the Treasury. The document was signed off by Lucy Frazer, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, days after Rishi Sunak quit as chancellor. The energy profits levy, which was announced by Mr Sunak in May, aims to raise revenue to help with the cost of living by introducing a temporary 25 per cent tax on UK oil and gas companies. It has increased the effective tax rate for the industry to 65 per cent and is expected to bring in about 5 billion in its first year. The Government had long resisted calls from Labour to impose the tax, with Boris Johnson initially claiming it would deter investment in new energy supply. Deirdre Michie - Andrew Milligan/PA One Government source admitted: The major issue with windfall taxes is their unpredictable nature. Businesses want certainty and a windfall tax can make a difference between a project going ahead or not. However, an impact assessment produced by HM Revenue and Customs for the Treasury last month suggests the levy will not hit the economy because it has been coupled with a tax relief on new investments. The analysis stated that while tax increases can weigh on the economy, the measure is structured to incentivise the affected companies to increase their investment. Overall, taking into account these counterbalancing effects, the measure is not expected to have a significant macroeconomic impact, it said. The conclusion has sparked claims that the wider impact of the tax on the UKs business environment has been ignored. Need to invest in North Sea Deirdre Michie, chief executive of the Offshore Energies UK industry body, said there was an urgent need to invest in North Sea oil and gas and offshore wind. Story continues Sudden changes in the tax regime risk discouraging that vital investment, partly because they reduce profits but mostly because they damage confidence in the UK as a safe place to invest, she said. The energy profits levy impact assessment said very little about these damaging potential impacts and certainly did not reflect the concern felt in our industry about the potential impact on investment and on the nations future energy security. The tone of the impact assessment stands in stark contrast to a similar analysis produced by HMRC last year on the National Insurance increase, which said the tax hike could impact family formation, stability or breakdown by cutting the income of individuals who were just about managing financially. Craig Mackinlay - Geoff Pugh/The Telegraph Craig Mackinlay, chair of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group of Tory MPs, claimed the windfall analysis was a whitewash. This is the trouble with the current orthodoxy of the Treasury, he said. They dont play a game of chess. They play a move at a time. They say, oh if we put this rate up to this, or knock it down by that, this will be the tax effect. It takes no account of behavioural differences at all. Companies around the world will say, do you know what, Britain is not a benign place to do business anymore. It is uncertain, its not stable in terms of its tax regime, and if weve got money to spend well do it elsewhere thanks very much. He added: It will have been written to support the tax measure the Treasury wanted to promote, of course it will; it wouldnt be objective. A Treasury spokesman said: Following record high oil and gas prices we introduced the energy profits levy to help fund cost-of-living support for UK families facing significant increases in their energy bills. The levy is designed with a generous super-deduction-style investment allowance, which is expected to lead to an overall increase in investment in oil and gas production in the North Sea. The row comes at a time when the energy industry is under fierce scrutiny, with firms reporting bumper profits while families annual bills are forecast to hit more than 3,600 this year. In the Tory leadership race, frontrunner Liz Truss has insisted it is not time for another windfall tax. Former President Donald Trump speaks during a "Save America" rally in Anchorage, Alaska, on July 9, 2022. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Former President Donald Trump again promised to return to the White House after the 2024 election. Speaking at a Friday rally in Wisconsin, Trump appeared to make a bunch of campaign promises. "We will restore law and order in America," he said to cheers. At a Wisconsin rally on Friday night, former President Donald Trump made a series of what appeared to resemble campaign promises he also vowed that to return to the White House. "We are going to take back our magnificent White House, we're going to take it back," he said to cheers. After losing the 2020 presidential election to Joe Biden, the former president began hosting a series of rallies that have served as a barometer of his popularity among conservatives and could help him maintain momentum for a potential campaign bid. On Friday, he targeted Biden's policies and named various initiatives he'd lead in the White House. "We will shut down Biden's border disaster, reinstitute our strong remain in Mexico policy, strengthen the patriots of ICE and border control," he said. "We will again end catch and release, one of the dumbest programs ever," he added. "We will end chain migration. We will end the visa lottery and we will clamp down on illegal immigration just like we did less than two years ago." "We will stop the crime wave in Democrat-run cities, we will give our police the power they need and the respect they deserve and we will not take immunity protection away from our police," he continued." "We will restore law and order in America. We will hold China accountable for unleashing the virus upon the world. We will protect innocent life. We will defend our constitution. We will defend our totally under siege Second Amendment." Since losing, Trump has said at various times that he expects to win in 2024 should he run in the next presidential election. Friday's rally marked only the latest time that he made such a claim. During an American Freedom Tour in March, for example, Trump promised to return to the White House in 2024. "With the support of everyone in this room, we will take back the House, we will take back the Senate and we will take back our country, and then most importantly in 2024, we are going to take back our beautiful White House," he said, addressing a crowd of rallygoers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Read the original article on Business Insider Vietnam to hold new school year opening ceremony on September 5 Schools in Vietnam will organise their opening ceremony for the new 2022-2023 academic year on September 5. On Friday, the Ministry of Education and Training issued a plan for the 2022-2023 new school year. Under the plan, first-grade students could return to school at least two weeks before the new school year opening ceremony. While students in other years could return a week before. Schools in Vietnam will organise their opening ceremony for the new 2022-2023 academic year on September 5 The first term is scheduled to be finished before January 15, 2023. Meanwhile, the second term completion is slated before May 31. The recognition of primary and secondary school graduation will finish before June 30, 2023. Meanwhile, the enrollment of the first, sixth and tenth grades will be completed before July 31. A vulnerability in Twitter's software that exposed an undetermined number of owners of anonymous accounts to potential identity compromise last year was apparently exploited by a malicious actor, the social media company said Friday. It did not confirm a report that data on 5.4 million users was offered for sale online as a result but said users worldwide were affected. The breach is especially worrisome because many Twitter account owners, including human rights activists, do not disclose their identities in their profiles for security reasons that include fear of persecution by repressive authorities. This is very bad for many who use pseudonymous Twitter accounts," U.S. Naval Academy data security expert Jeff Kosseff tweeted. The vulnerability allowed someone to determine during log-in whether a particular phone number or email address was tied to an existing Twitter account, thereby revealing account owners, the company said. Twitter said it did not know how many users may have been affected, and stressed that no passwords were exposed. We can confirm the impact was global, a Twitter spokesperson said via email. We cannot determine exactly how many accounts were impacted or the location of the account holders." Twitter's acknowledgment in a blog post Friday followed a report last month by t he digital privacy advocacy group Restore Privacy detailing how data presumably obtained from the vulnerability was being sold on a popular hacking forum for $30,000. A security researcher discovered the flaw in January, informed Twitter and was paid a reported $5,000 bounty. Twitter said the bug, introduced in a June 2021 software update, was immediately fixed. Twitter said it learned about the data sale on the hacking forum from media reports and confirmed that a bad actor had taken advantage of the issue before it was addressed. It said it was directly notifying all account owners that it can confirm were affected. Story continues We are publishing this update because we arent able to confirm every account that was potentially impacted, and are particularly mindful of people with pseudonymous accounts who can be targeted by state or other actors, the company said. It recommended users seeking to keep their identities veiled not add a publicly known phone number or email address to their Twitter account. If you operate a pseudonymous Twitter account, we understand the risks an incident like this can introduce and deeply regret that this happened, it said. The revelation of the breach comes while Twitter is in a legal battle with Tesla CEO Elon Musk over his attempt to back out from his previous offer to buy San Francisco-based Twitter for $44 billion. Temperatures are set to soar into the 30s this week as another heatwave grips the UK. Britain will see temperatures of up to 28C on Sunday before the heatwave rolls over into next week during what is expected to be an unusually dry August, forecasters said. The Met Office urged people to avoid midday sun and stay in the shade as the arid weather looks set to last another seven to 10 days. Highs of 27C and 28C are expected to hit parts of south and South East England on Sunday, with sunny spells forecast throughout the day for most of the country. High pressure moving in from the Atlantic will bring in lots of settled weather across England and Wales, Met Office forecaster Greg Dewhurst told The Independent. Northern Ireland and Scotland will see some cloud at first but as high pressure builds further into next week, the warm weather will push further north as well. The mercury is set to soar into the 30s this week as forecasters have predicted another heatwave is on the cards for the UK (Met Office) Temperatures are expected to coast along the mid-20s at the start of week before they increase to the low-30 range and reach into mid-30s by the end of next week. The build-up of warmer weather means that high proportions of the UK will meet the heatwave criteria, Mr Dewhurst said. The last heatwave in July saw temperatures rise above 40C in the UK for the first time. The extreme heat fuelled wildfires around the country and led to severely dry conditions which have forced water companies to impose hosepipe bans in some parts of England. A woman sunbathes on parched ground in Greenwich Park in London (EPA) However, the Met forecaster said that it is very unlikely next week would bring a repeat of Julys record-breaking temperatures. Rebekah Sherwin, deputy chief meteorologist at the Met Office, said: There is some uncertainty about next weeks temperatures, although in early August sunshine in the UK doesnt have the heating potential of mid-July as the sun is lower in the sky and the hours of daylight are marginally shorter. Both of these factors suggest that were very unlikely to see temperatures peak much above low to mid 30s. However, this would still be a hot spell of weather. Story continues Temps above 40C unlikely as August sunshine does not have heating potential equal to July, forecaster says (PA) Met Office Outlook Sunday: Dry with sunny periods for many, best of the sunshine in the south. Warmer than Saturday for many. Cloudier in the far northwest where patchy rain over hills and coasts. Outlook for Monday to Wednesday: Cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the far north, otherwise dry with long period of sunshine. Increasingly warm across England and Wales The Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed at least six Russian ammunition points in Kherson Oblast on 5 August. Source: Operational Command Pivden (South) on Facebook Details: The ammunition points were located in the Beryslav and Kherson districts. In addition, the Armed Forces of Ukraine carried out four airstrikes on a concentration of Russian troops, two of their strong points and an ammunition point, all located in the Beryslav and Kherson districts. Additionally, 79 Russian servicemen have been killed and the following weapons and equipment have been destroyed: 4 T-72 tanks, 2 Msta-S self-propelled howitzers, an artillery system, a radar station, a command vehicle, 10 armoured vehicles and 11 other vehicles. The Armed Forces of Ukraine also struck two Russian command posts of the 76th Guards Air Assault Division and the 49th [Combined Arms] Army in the village of Chornobaivka, the command and observation post of a Russian Battalion Tactical Group in the village of Brusynske, and a concentration of Russian weapons and equipment in the town of Oleshky. The exact losses of the Russian forces are being established. port our work! Destroyed Russian equipment Read also: Ukraines Armed Forces hit Antonivsky railway bridge in Kherson The Armed Forces were also reportedly able to eliminate at least six Russian ammunition depots in Kherson Oblast that same day. In total, the enemy lost: Read also: Russian troops in Kherson look for bomb shelters and scour for boats, Ukrainian intelligence says 79 troops; four T-72 tanks; two Msta-S self-propelled howitzers; An artillery system; A radar station; A command and liaison vehicle; 10 units of armored vehicles; 11 units of other automotive equipment. The Ukrainian military also carried out four airstrikes on an enemy cluster, two strongholds, and an ammunition dump in the Beryslav and Kherson districts. According to reports, two control points of the Russian 76th Guards Air Assault Division and their 49th Army in Chornobayivka, as well as a command and observation post belonging to an enemy battalion tactical group in Bruskynske, were struck. Read also: Russians fire anti-tank weapon at civilian bus near Kherson, killing three Earlier, presidential advisor Oleksiy Arestovych, said that Ukrainian combat aircraft had carried out the largest-scale attack so far on the Russians in Kherson Oblast. "Wonderful things happened in Kherson Oblast today, he noted. Read also: Russians desert posts in occupied Kherson Oblast amid Ukrainian advance, regional governor says In terms of the number of strikes, our aviation demonstrated something that we had not seen in the entire war. Probably, there were 8-10 warplanes in one sortie at a time, and there was more than one sortie." Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Mark Hall reportedly shared a 10-second recording to Snapchat, where it was reposted on Facebook, prompting a viral response. A 49-year-old white man in Mississippi may soon face hate crime charges after sharing a video online where he is threatening to run down Black children in the street. Mark Hall was arrested Tuesday and charged with nine counts of simple assault, according to People. Hall reportedly shared the 10-second video to Snapchat, where a viewer recorded it and reposted it on Facebook, prompting a viral response. A white Mississippi man may soon face hate crime charges in Ripley, Mississippi, after sharing a video to Snapchat in which hes threatening to run down Black children playing in the street. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com) In the video, the man is heard saying, Aww, hell, 50 points, as he drives toward several Black children riding bicycles. He speeds toward them, nearly striking one as he laughs and mutters, Stupid (n-word). Hall will also face one count of attempted assault by physical menace to create fear. Mark Hall, 49, arrested Tuesday and charged with nine counts of simple assault after he posted a video online where he threatened to run down Black children riding their bikes in Ripley, MS. The police are considering hate crime charges WTAF? THIS IS AN ATTEMPTED HATE CRIME. pic.twitter.com/KcyUjDsr3E (@LanceUSA70) July 27, 2022 Scott White, the police chief of Ripley, Mississippi, told a crowd of residents that the investigation is ongoing. He added that state prosecutors would consult with federal authorities to determine whether the suspect will face federal hate crime charges. Additionally, White confirmed that investigators believe that Halls truck did make contact with at least one of the childrens bikes. He could have hurt those guys, Clarence Holmes, the father of someone in the video, told Fox 13 Memphis. He could have killed somebody or anything, but he had no regard for those Black lives that were out there. We are living in a time that is supposed to be progressive, he continued. We are supposed to be progressive people, but we are still dealing with the same things that we were dealing with back when my grandparents and great grandparents were around. Story continues Jakai Holmes, one of the teens riding their bikes, expressed his dismay that theyd be targeted. It wasnt right, he said. We are just trying to go around and be kids and ride our bikes around the neighborhood and be together, and its sad that people will try to take your fun away from you. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post White driver in Mississippi charged after allegedly recording attempt to run over Black children appeared first on TheGrio. Shutterstock A woman suffered a stillbirth after consuming listeria-contaminated spinach, a lawsuit claims. Listeria can cause listeriosis, which is more common, and more dangerous, in pregnancy. About 22% of cases of listeriosis in pregnancy result in stillbirth or newborn death. A Philadelphia woman who suffered a stillbirth says the baby spinach she added to her smoothies a few days prior is to blame, according to a new lawsuit. The spinach, made by Fresh Express, was contaminated with Listeria, although the woman didn't know that at the time, the lawsuit says. Listeria, a bacteria that causes the disease Listeriosis, is far more likely and much more dangerous in pregnancy, and is a known cause of pregnancy loss, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The woman, identified by NBC News as 25-year-old Mecca Shabazz, is suing Fresh Express and the grocery store for "wrongful death of the unborn child, and bodily injury and emotional stress to the expectant mother," the law firm's press release says. "In addition to the tragic loss of this baby, we are fighting to raise awareness with the public who blindly relies upon food manufacturers and distributors to provide clean, safe and uncontaminated food products," attorney Julianna Merback Burdo, a partner in Wapner Newman's Catastrophic Injury Practice, said in the release. "Safety within the food chain must start with those who process, package, transport and sell us food," Merback Burdo added. Shabazz was quarantining at home with COVID-19 when she consumed the spinach Shabazz, then over 30 weeks pregnant, went to the hospital with flu-like symptoms on December 11, 2021. Doctors confirmed the fetus was healthy and sent her home to quarantine, the press release says. While resting, her grandmother purchased Fresh Express baby spinach from Fresh Grocer for Shabazz to use in smoothies. On December 15, Shabazz returned to the hospital with bleeding and painful contractions. There, providers found no fetal movement or heartbeat, and Shabazz delivered the stillborn baby the same day, the lawsuit says. Story continues An autopsy confirmed the sole cause of death was due to Listeria. Five days later, Fresh Express announced a "precautionary recall" on its leafy greens days due to a listeria outbreak in Pennsylvania and other states. The recall included the baby spinach the mother consumed, according to the suit. The baby would have been Shabazz and her husband's first. "This baby could have been born the day before this spinach was consumed and survived and thrived," Burdo told NBC. Fresh Express and its parent company, Chiquita Brands International, did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Listeria is dangerous in pregnancy Listeria is a "big issue in pregnancy" and known cause of stillbirth, Dr. Stephanie Ros, an OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Florida, told Insider. That's why pregnant woman are advised to stay away from foods that are more likely to be affected by it, like deli meat, soft cheese, and raw sprouts. Spinach is not a food pregnant people are typically told to avoid; in fact, it's encouraged as a great source of folic acid, which can help prevent miscarriages. While healthy people who accidentally consume listeria-infected foods don't usually get sick, people with compromised immune systems, including those who are pregnant, are more likely to get listeriosis and to get seriously ill from it, according to the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Specifically, pregnant women are 20 times more likely to become infected than non-pregnant healthy adults, and about 17% of pregnant patients get listeriosis. The infection can pass to the fetus, and can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature labor, and low birth weight, the organization reports. Newborns with Listeriosis who survive birth can suffer from respiratory issues, fever, rash, lethargy, and even death. Pregnant women who have Listeriosis with symptoms including fever should be treated with IV antibiotics, ACOG says. Read the original article on Insider A man in New York was arrested by police after allegedly climbing a house while he was naked and attempting to sexually assault a woman. The incident happened on Thursday in Stillwater, New York when Nicholas Lesson, 42, allegedly scaled the exterior of a house and climbed in through a second-floor porch while "fully nude," according to the Saratoga County Sheriff's Office. Lesson then attempted to sexually abuse a woman who was sleeping in the home, but was chased out of the house by the victim and her husband, according to the sheriff's office. After allegedly fleeing the scene, Lesson was located at his house by police, officials said. He was arrested and charged with 2nd-degree burglary and two counts of 1st-degree attempted sexual abuse. Lesson wasn't given bail and was taken to the to Saratoga County Jail, according to police. IRYNA BALACHUK FRIDAY, 5 AUGUST 2022, 23:01 Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo by the Office of the President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, reported that as of 5 August, Ukraine has confiscated 28 billion hryvnias worth of Russian assets, and the work is continuing. Source: the evening video address of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, on 5 August Quote: "Today I held a meeting devoted to the sanctions policy and the confiscation of Russian assets. As government officials reported, assets worth 28 billion hryvnias have already been forcibly seized in Ukraine, and this work continues". Details: Suggestions have been made to confiscate more than 900 additional assets belonging to Russia. At the same time, if confiscation is not limited to property belonging to the Russian state but is extended to that of its residents, then 36,000 more items are to be seized. Zelenskyy stressed that the resulting funds will be used to reimburse damages which Russia has been causing with its war and terror. The President also reported that, at the moment, Europe and the USA are working on draft laws which will expand the possibilities for the confiscation of Russian assets abroad for Ukraine. Background: On 12 May the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine adopted a law on the confiscation of property belonging to physical and legal entities of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The document introduces the new sanction of transferring to the state treasury the assets seized from a physical or legal entity, as well as any assets which may be directly or indirectly used by said entity. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Become our patron, support our work! College students in the area will return to campus over the next few weeks to begin the fall semester. Some students will move into on-campus dorms and have roommates, making them responsible for keeping their living space clean. The American Cleaning Institute aims to help with that idea as it recently published a guide and toolkit giving incoming students advice. This is the second installment of this guide, an initial idea motivated by students returning to campus for the first time following the pandemic. Given that students hadnt perhaps been on campus for a while, we thought it was important just to have a useful guide to cleaning and laundering for college students, said Brian Sansoni, ACI senior vice president of communications, outreach and membership. The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research, a research firm ACI works closely with that specializes in surveying communities across the country. They surveyed 500 U.S. college undergraduates between June 9 and June 17, using email invitations and an online survey. The cleaning expert group wanted to get a sense of the students habits, overall thoughts and attitudes towards cleaning. Courtney Kelsey, director of housing and residence life at the University of Lynchburg, said with the pandemic, staff have seen an increase in the use of Clorox wipes and students packing them amongst their belongings. Students are coming prepared with cleaning supplies in ways that we may not have seen. That has actually been a silver lining from the pandemic, Kelsey said in an email. According to the survey, 92% of college students recognized a clean room helps them feel their best both mentally and physically. The study also showed nearly 75% were less than completely prepared to clean on their own upon arriving at college and 50% of the participants cited a lack of time. If we can help provide just some basic advice to do it the right way, thats one less thing that they have to worry about, Sansoni said. Dusting, laundry and disinfecting surfaces are the most important things to consider, according to Sansoni. The senior vice president suggests that students should set a reminder once a week and find a small time frame within their schedule to do those three things. An important area to keep track of is the bathroom, because everyone living in the dorm or housing will use that area multiple times per day. In the cases where students have communal bathrooms, the college janitorial staff will work to keep the area as clean as possible. However, Sansoni said if students notice anything, they should suggest something to their resident assistant. That is a space you are using a couple of times a day and thats where a bit of sloppiness can show up, Sansoni said. If you do have a bathroom that you are sharing in your space, thats ... I think one of the most important places to regularly clean to avoid conflict. The toolkit also gives advice on how to be a good roommate. Sansoni said as a roommate, a student can convey they care about cleaning if housemates see them take the time out to clean once per week. He suggest simple tasks such as cleaning up after yourself and keeping your area of the dorm clean can be helpful. If your roommate gets sick, you should try to disinfect more often. In the survey, 71% of survey respondents with roommates argue over how to clean. Kelsey said many of the University of Lynchburgs roommate conflicts dont necessarily relate to cleanliness or lack thereof. However, as a staff they encourage students to have conversations regarding their expectations for the shared space and complete living agreements. They want students to clearly outline those expectations and accountability measures for when those expectations are not met. Cleanliness is a key part of those conversations. We encourage students to develop expectations around keeping spaces tidy, Kelsey said in an email. We find these conversations to be particularly crucial in our apartment and townhouse residences where students are cleaning their own kitchens and bathrooms, which often leads to more trash. The survey showed 20% of students say a lack of cleaning supplies or cleaning knowledge prevents them from keeping tidy while 53% cited a lack of motivation. The cleaning materials Sansoni suggested for students are portable hand sanitizers, disinfectant wipes, laundry detergent, cleaning wipes and dust sheets to dust surfaces and floors. He said its simpler for college students to clean today than it ever has been. Having basic cleaning supplies and building small habits is key. It is about learning great habits that can last a lifetime, Sansoni said. About a year after beginning the process, a Lynchburg filmmaker is preparing to send his latest short off for national and international film festivals. Sam Van Fossen, a 2014 theater graduate of Liberty University, is not new to writing, directing, starring in, and producing short films, but his latest project, Fleeced, is the longest film he has done to date, coming in at about 22 minutes. The milestone endeavor was fully funded by his TikTok followers. The production, shot at several locations in Lynchburg within a six-day span and featuring a small but dedicated cast and crew of about a dozen people, was made possible by Van Fossens roughly 900,000 TikTok followers. The online community raised more than $15,000, with an additional $3,000 in direct donations, surpassing the initial fundraising goal of $10,000. Written, directed by, and starring Van Fossen, the story centers on a child star-turned-serial killer haunted by his past. Fitting perfectly into Van Fossens primary film genre of thriller/horror, it explores the psychological, traumatic results of a person exploited by the producers, agents, and other authority figures who controlled and raised a child celebrity. The only thing I tried to make different with this was, it wasnt just a typical thriller, but there is kind of a message of mental illness in it, Van Fossen said. Not saying that everyone with a mental illness is going to become a serial killer or anything like that, he quickly added. This was a film Van Fossen had been wanting to make for some time, and it was heavily inspired by stories of former child stars who shared their stories of exploitation in the industry. The #MeToo movement also provided inspiration. I remember watching an interview with Corey Feldman, who was a child actor who had been in several different films The Goonies and whatnot and growing up seeing him in these films, you always think being a child star I bet is awesome. You get to deal with some cool stuff! But his interview was very dark, he said. Feldman spoke up about experiencing, and surviving, sexual abuse and exploitation in the Hollywood industry as a child star during the late 1980s and early 1990s. His testimony highlighted the plight many child stars face. Horror/thriller is not Van Fossens limit: His TikTok account is for comedy. While his short films are thriller/horror, the comedy genre features heavily in his resume of other theater productions and TikTok. Acting and film were things Van Fossen ultimately fell into. Van Fossen was a self-described class clown in high school, and a drama teacher constantly encouraged him to join the high school drama club. Van Fossen always responded he was too shy and reserved to do so. It all seemed fated to be, though. After a professor in his Acting I class at LU saw his potential and encouraged him to switch majors and pursue a career in the industry, the Ohio transplant realized he truly loved film production, theater, and everything related. At first, Van Fossen had not planned on joining TikTok. So many of my friends before that were like, Sam, you really should get on TikTok. I was like, No. Vine was the only thing, and its not the new Vine. I hate it already. I dont want to be a part of it, the 31-year-old said, referring to a former video-based platform. But when COVID started and we were all in quarantine, I downloaded it. I was like, Let me see whats going on. At first you see all these dancing videos. Its all these tweens dancing and stuff, and its just like, Why? Who wants to watch this stuff? But the more I was on there looking, I see other people are doing comedy sketches, and stories, and Im like, Oh, I can get into that! Thats where my platform really took off. Van Fossen ultimately established his TikTok following based on comedy, so when he informed his growing community that he was interested in creating another short film in the horror genre, the dark theme was a bit of a shock but it was met with great support. Starting production of Fleeced one year ago with about 725,000 TikTok followers, Van Fossens community has since grown to about 900,000. Id say for the most part, I have a very supportive community that follows me. Im just very amazed at how uplifting strangers can be, Van Fossen said. The Lynchburg community was immensely hospitable when it came to finding filming locations, Van Fossen said. The businesses he approached with requests to film on their property opened their doors wide, offering enthusiastic support and sometimes asking if they could observe the filming process, or help in some way. From a downtown parking garage, to a coffee shop, to Liberty University and the Academy Center of the Arts, to the halls of the Kirkley Hotel, the Lynchburg community was supportive and generous, and Van Fossen is grateful. All sorts of places opened their doors to us. We didnt have to pay for everything, he said. Some additional scenes were filmed in Van Fossens home state of Ohio, in Pennsylvania, and in Richmond. Although there were some hiccups, and a nearly heart-stopping incident of data corruption that made Van Fossen fear significant amounts of footage could not be salvaged, the team on Fleeced made everything come together. Hours of painstaking editing were poured into fixing corrupted data, courtesy of the films editor Bobby Orme, a professional freelance, award-winning film editor. He literally was able to take the frames that had the data corruption, these little pixelated things in the footage, and put it into Photoshop and literally edit out each pixilation to where the footage was perfect. Thats taken him months, but hes finally done with it, Van Fossen said. Correcting the data corruption, which occurred during the transfer of footage from camera to computer, took up at least half the editing time, Orme said. However, it was not the first time he had encountered such an issue, so he was equipped to handle the situation. A major focus of Ormes career in film editing is the psychology behind it. This specialization is part of why he fit the role of editor for Fleeced so well, given its heavily psychological nature Theres a whole science behind it that a lot of people arent aware of, Orme said. You can change the different times and the different beats. The body picks up on beats and rhythms, and you can make somebody feel happy, or sad, or angry... you can get the emotion out of your audience by the way you cut the film. Van Fossen plans on sending Fleeced to some national and international film festivals. Although he has entered about eight smaller independent film competitions since 2015, Fleeced was a production he and his team put extra effort into, and he wants to aim higher and become more intentional about networking within the industry. Bigger film festivals are the way to do that, he said. A trailer for Fleeced is expected this fall, and after the film has been submitted to and screened at major film festivals, it will become available for the public to view. You can make a film and put it up online anytime you want, but I just wanted something we were super proud of. Show people what were capable of, Van Fossen said. Japans minister for gender equality and childrens issues, Seiko Noda, said that the countrys male-dominated parliament has treated its dramatic population decline with indifference and ignorance. Noda warned Japan faces an existential crisis that many politicians are reluctant to address head-on. Japan has one of the worst gender gaps in the world, thanks to a culture that often forces women to choose between children and career. As a result, one in four women say they have no interest in marriage, citing concerns that they alone will be tasked with raising a family. ... continue reading A Japanese Cabinet minister has denied that politics played any role in a decision by the government to certify the then-Unification Church's name change in 2015. The religious group has been drawing attention since last month's fatal shooting of former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. The suspect in the shooting reportedly believed Abe was close to the group, now known as the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification. He blamed it for the breakdown of his family. Critics have charged that the Cultural Affairs Agency's approval of the religious group's name change resulted in more people falling victim to its marketing schemes and coercive donation drives. Education minister Suematsu Shinsuke addressed the issue on Friday. His ministry oversees the Cultural Affairs Agency. The group reportedly consulted the agency about a possible name change in 1997. But it didn't submit its filing until 2015, when Shimomura Hakubun was the education minister. Suematsu said he doesn't know why the group waited until 2015 to file an application. The education minister acknowledged that Shimomura was informed before the application was received and before it was approved. But he said these unusual steps were taken because the religious group was subject to high public attention. He said he has confirmed with an agency official in charge at the time that Shimomura issued no instructions in the matter. A number of politicians and Cabinet ministers have denied having close ties with the religious group since the shooting of Abe. ...continue reading Actor Andrew Koji, who is half Japanese and was born and raised in England, said hes always felt out of place. But in the new action-comedy film Bullet Train, Koji plays a Japanese character, and in the process, he found a new appreciation for his heritage. This film, and the last couple years, made me really look into [my roots] and find pride in it, and for that half of my culture, Koji said. Bullet Train, which is in theaters Friday, is adapted from the Japanese novel Maria Beetle by Kotaro Isaka. It is set in Japan and takes place entirely on a bullet train. There are seven assassins on board, all working a job so theres plenty of fights, blood and quippy one-liners (one character likes to quote Thomas the Tank Engine, a detail that was in the original novel). In the film, Koji plays Kimura, a hired hand and an alcoholic, whose son is pushed off of a roof. Kimuras father, the Elder (played by Japanese action star Hiroyuki Sanada), is disappointed in him for not protecting his family. Koji boards the bullet train to get revenge on the person who harmed his son. Bullet Train was the subject of criticism before its release. The novel is set in Japan with ostensibly Japanese characters. While the film is still set in Japan, many of the characters are not Japanese. The cast contains white actors, Black actors, Latinx actors and Japanese actors, and thus some have said the Japanese characters from the novel had been whitewashed. In an interview with The New York Times, Isaka said he didnt mind that the film has a more multiracial cast, saying his characters are not real people, and maybe theyre not even Japanese. Koji said whitewashing is a nonissue for Bullet Train. The Japanese characters Kimura and the Elder, his father are very much the heart of it, Koji said. Though Bullet Train predominantly featured Brad Pitt in its marketing materials, the film opens with Kimura, and the film's screenwriter, Zak Olkewicz, told the Times that the plot pretty much kind of is about the Japanese characters and their story lines getting that resolution. Koji was a relatively unknown actor and stuntman when he was chosen after a worldwide casting call to be the lead in Warrior, a martial arts series about Americas first Chinatown in the 1870s, based on the writings of Bruce Lee. Koji's character, the Chinese immigrant Ah Sahm, became his breakout role. Since Warrior, Koji has starred opposite Henry Golding in Snake Eyes, and now he is starring alongside Pitt. ...continue reading YONAGUNI ISLAND, Japan For years it was known as the "Two Gun" island one gun for each of the two policemen stationed here. Yonaguni, Japan's most westerly island, can feel like a peaceful paradise it is covered in tropical forests and hammerhead sharks glide through its azure waters. But there is trouble on the horizon. Almost 70 miles away lies the island of Taiwan the self-governing democracy which once again finds itself in the headlines. On Thursday, six Chinese ballistic missiles landed in water near Japan's southwestern islands, one of them near Yonaguni and five others within Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone, according to the Japanese authorities. The missiles were part of large-scale military exercises China is conducting in response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's overnight trip to Taiwan this week. She is the highest-ranking elected U.S. official to visit the island in 25 years. China sees Pelosi's trip as a show of support for Taiwanese separatist forces. In the past, Beijing has threatened to invade the island, if it declares independence. ...continue reading Japan's agricultural and seafood exports hit a record high in the first six months of 2022 owing to increased overseas demand as more people dine out amid a decline in COVID-19 infections, the government said in a report Friday. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, exports in the recording period jumped 13.1 percent year on year to 52.5 billion yen, propelled by a weak yen and increasing shipments to the United States. China was the biggest buyer of agricultural exports by market, however, with shipments up 18.0 percent to 120.1 billion yen. Those to the U.S. were up 34.5 percent to 104.6 billion yen in the January to June period, the ministry's data showed. ...continue reading Japan's prime minister on Friday condemned China's firing of ballistic missiles during military drills around Taiwan, calling them a "serious problem that impacts our national security and the safety of our citizens." For more analysis on the heightened tensions in the Taiwan Strait, FRANCE 24 is joined by military security expert Zhaohan Shen. "The scale of this exercise is unprecedented," explains Mr. Shen. "This is the first time we had long-range ballistic missiles shot over the medium line separating the Taiwanese island and mainland China." Mr. Shen describes China's deployment of fighter jets and barrage of missiles flying over Taiwan's capital city, with additional missiles landing in the waters of Japan's economic exclusive zone (EEZ), as a "historic" move to "show off its military strength." He says that China's actions only serve to "escalate tensions both diplomatically and militarily with the Taiwanese authorities." As dusk settles over the expectant crowd at this months Bikes on the 100 Block, flames will roar to life along North 2nd Street in anticipation of Scotty Scrub Millers attempt at breaking the world record for riding a motorcycle through burning walls of wood, which, yes, is a real thing. Miller, a Council Bluffs native, began riding motorcycles when he was 13, and he raced professionally until he injured his knee during an accident in 2019. After rehab, he switched to stunt work, which was easier on his knees, leaving racing in the dust. Im very passionate about my riding and about my racing, and Im glad that I can take this further than just the racing portion, and actually really show my talents and my abilities, Miller said. The current record for powering through fiery wooden walls on a motorcycle is held by San Diego native Vicki Golden, who in 2019 broke what had been a 12-year-old record on the tarmac of the San Bernardino International Airport. At the time of her attempt, Golden was a 27-year-old three-time X Games gold medalist in Moto X Racing. She barreled through 13 wooden walls of flame; Miller is attempting to break through 15. When I saw (Golden) do that, I was like, God, I could do that, said the 33-year-old Miller. I feel like I could do that. I could definitely do that, but never had the opportunity or place or the resources to put it together. Enter Bobby Edwards, general manager of Council Bluffs-based Edwards Motorsports and sponsor of Bikes on the 100 Block. We always try to add a sense of Evel Knievel to the experience of Bikes on the 100 Block at least twice a year, Edwards said. At the August 2021 Bikes on the 100 Block, Miller jumped a Harley-Davidson motorcycle off of a freestyle ramp. Last year, Bobby approached me about asking me if it was possible to jump a Harley, Miller said. I didnt know if that was even possible, but I agreed to it, and we ended up making it happen. Last year was the first time the Harleys ever been jumped off a freestyle ramp. So when Miller spoke to Edwards about breaking the firewall record, he was all for it, Miller said. Bikes on the 100 Block has brought nearly 5,000 people to West Broadway in previous months, according to Edwards. With Millers record-breaking attempt, hes aiming to double that. (Bobby has) been awesome to me, Miller said. The whole Edwards crew has been really behind me on this journey. A lot of the stuff I do is because of Bobby, and because he trusts me enough to let me perform in front of 10,000 people. To prepare for the fiery stunt, Miller has been practicing ramming his bike a 2017 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 through walls made of different types of wood to see what wood burns best, and what wood is cost efficient, he said. I kind of have to figure it out on my own, Miller said. Its kind of a trial and error situation. The wooden boards will be doused in kerosene It burns really good, nice and big, with no smoke, no soot, no fumes and ignited remotely, like you see at a professional fireworks show. The pyrotechnic company brought in to set up and supervise the stunt is Outlet Fireworks, from Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Owner John Masters will be the lead pyrotechnic operator. Council Bluffs Fire Chief Justin James said that he doesnt expect there to be much of a safety risk to the expected crowd. The street will be double-fenced to keep spectators away from the flames, and the fire department will have a fire suppression system onsite in case of any mishaps. The pyrotechnic company will also have carbon dioxide fire extinguishers on hand. The biggest risk is for the guy riding the bike, if he were to lose control, James said. Miller thinks the biggest issues hes going to face are maintaining control and speed after each collision, and keeping his vision clear. I dont wanna be going too fast where the walls are coming too quickly and I can't brace for them in time, but I don't wanna be going too slow where I won't be able to make it through, Miller said. So that's a very fine line that I will be riding on. Miller expects to be doing between 30-40 mph throughout the stunt, though hes not 100% certain of that. I don't have a speedometer on my bike, Miller said. I took all that off for stunting, but thats what it feels like for me. So Ill be hitting them around that 35 mph mark. With the flames reaching about 10 feet high, and burning brightly on the darkened street, Miller knows that his vision could become compromised early in his attempt. Vision is going to be a big problem, Miller said. But, even if his vision is impaired, Miller thinks hell be able to stay the course. It's more off a feel, because I know roughly how far apart the walls are and how long it takes me to get from wall to wall, Miller said. So if I do lose my vision, I'll always be able to subconsciously know roughly where I'm gonna be at for the next wall. When Golden broke the previous firewall record in 2019, she dealt with flaming debris striking her after each collision and 2,000 degree temperatures. Like Golden, Miller will be wearing a flame-resistant suit, with a flame-resistant head sock under his helmet. Having only seen the firewall stunt performed on video, and never attempted a stunt like this himself, Miller doesnt really know what to expect, but hell be ready to go the night of the stunt. Not too many people are smashing through walls on a Harley, you know? Miller said. It's more of a confidence thing, believing in myself and my own ability to control myself through the walls and everything. Miller is so excited about showcasing his stunt work, hes already looking ahead to next years stunt spectacle. Were going to take the Harley jump and the firewall and put em together, Miller said. Thats about all I can explain right now. This isnt the sort of thing Miller had in mind when he first started racing bikes at 13, but he wasnt about to let that knee injury in 2019 stop him from getting back in the saddle. I knew there was more in the tank, Miller said. I just didn't know what it was going to be or where it was gonna lead me. But it's been an awesome, awesome journey so far. The upcoming Bikes on the 100 Block is set for Thursday, Aug. 18, from 5-10 p.m. Millers record-breaking attempt will begin at dusk. An Omaha man was sentenced to more than six years in prison on firearms charges. Jesse Dean Seifert, 33, was sentenced on Wednesday to 77 months in prison on charges of possession of an unregistered firearm and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. Upon release, Seifert must also serve a three-year term of supervised release. In September 2021, police attempted to stop Seifert, who was driving a stolen dump truck, according to the press release from the Southern District of Iowa. Seifert eluded police, and abandoned the truck in a residential neighborhood. He fled on foot. As he fled, Seifert dropped a loaded sawed-off shotgun. Police apprehended Seifert a short distance from the weapon. He was also in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The Council Bluffs Police Department, Pottawattamie County Sheriffs Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. The case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer for everyone. The former Algerian Minister of Relations with Parliament, Tahar Khaoua, was sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years in prison for corruption. Tahar Khaouas son, Zakaria, was given a four-year prison sentence with the confiscation of all assets and real estate of the accused, according to local media citing judicial sources. The same sources added that Tahar and Zakaria Khaoua were also ordered to pay jointly to the Treasury 100 million dinars (MAD 7.1 million). The former wali of Batna, Mohamed Slamani, accused in the same case, was handed a sentence of three years in prison and a fine of 100,000 dinars. A suspended sentence of one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 dinars was also imposed against the former director of the CPA Agency of Batna, Abdelaziz Abdelhak, for the crime of non-reporting. The other defendants in this case were acquitted by the court which ordered the release of their judicial supervision. The co-defendants in this case are charged with influence peddling to obtain undue advantages, illicit enrichment, and money laundering among other accusations. Extensive investigations into corruption and nepotism launched after the April 2019 resignation of former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, under pressure from an unprecedented popular Hirak protest movement, have led to a series of trials that are still ongoing. Several personalities and former politicians, as well as powerful bosses, senior civil servants and army officers are being prosecuted, among other things, for corruption and illicit enrichment. North Platte Rail Days offers nirvana for train buffs. One could tell that already Friday morning, the opening day of the three-day festival, by the license plates from 16 states in the Golden Spike Tower parking lot. Many were there for the first of seven bus tours of Bailey Yard three Friday, the others planned Saturday starting and ending at the parking lot of the eight-story-tall observation tower outside and above the yard. People from the first 11 a.m. tour were flooding the towers ground-floor gift shop as the lunch hour neared. It gets much quieter there when the buses are rolling, said Executive Director Kirsten Parker and her staff members. But the towers observation decks offering North Plattes best overall view of the worlds largest rail yard were hardly bereft of rail fans. Some were planning to visit the Rail Days Model Train Show in the Canteen Districts Venue 304 at East Fifth Street and Bailey Avenue. Others had already paid homage to the Union Pacifics long-retired Challenger No. 3977 steamer and Centennial No. 6922 diesel, parked alongside each other on the southeast end of Cody Park. Two Kansas City-area rail buffs, Lucas Koirtyohann and Landon Logsdon, were shooting photos from the towers seventh-floor open-air deck. We were in South Dakota, so we decided to come by, said Logsdon, who lives in Ottawa, Kansas. They were quickly rewarded. Logsdon called out to Koirtyohann, of Independence, Missouri, that he had spotted U.P. Engine No. 2010, a commemorative diesel bearing the Boy Scouts of America logo for that organizations 2010 centennial. Neither was ever a Scout, but I saw it when I was little. I said, I want to catch that thing, Logsdon said. It was kind of interesting to see it in its lettering paint. They also hadnt known about Baileys colossal size and its handling of 10,000 train cars and more each day, he and Koirtyohann said. Santa Fe Junction takes the cake, said Logsdon, referring to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe yards in Kansas City, Kansas. It gets over 150 trains a day. Upstairs, sisters Annie Harding of Cambridge, Cris Burks of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and LaDonna Humphrey of Lincoln were taking in the view from the top-floor enclosed deck. All three grew up on a farm near Stratton, close to the BNSF line that carries Amtrak passenger trains from Denver to Lincoln and Omaha. Humphrey and Harding had brought friends and relatives to the tower before, but it was Burks first time. When you grow up close by, you dont take the time to see the things around your house like Bailey Yard, Humphrey said. Burks noted that she had gotten a close-up view a year ago of U.P.s Big Boy No. 4014 near Chappell. The restored locomotive, the largest operating steam engine in the world, was headed for last years Rail Days. I was working right next to the railroad, and I made sure the day that Big Boy came through, I was right where I was supposed to be, she said. For Harry Abramovitz of Denver, however, Rail Days was just the latest in a long line of excuses to come to the tower and marvel at the yard below. Ive been a train fan as long as I can remember, said Abramovitz, who wears a yellow vest declaring himself a Ferroequinologist of Colorado that is, an aficionado of the Iron Horse. I just love everything about the railroad, though Ive never worked for the railroad a day in my life. But he knew nothing about Bailey Yard until he happened upon a Google entry for the tower last year. I was looking for the real Golden Spike location where the U.P. and Central Pacific rails were joined at Promontory Point, Utah, he said. He came up to North Platte for the first time in April 2021, and hes made it a point to come monthly since. I have found the definitive Mecca of railroading, Abramovitz said. As I tell people, youre like a kid in a candy store if you love trains. I tell people if you come here, give it at least an hour. Dont stay just five minutes. Its worth it. A five-time convicted felon who randomly attacked a 62-year-old man in downtown Lincoln last year has been sentenced to three to five years in prison. Gabriel A. Sterling, 36, told Lancaster County District Judge Kevin McManaman at his sentencing Thursday that he didn't remember the incident. "But that still doesn't excuse anything. There's a reason I didn't remember and that's because I chose to use drugs," he said. Sterling said he was sorry about his actions. "He was out enjoying himself on a walk, minding his own business, and I had absolutely no reason to approach him," he said. Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Jessica Murphy said Sterling, a five-time convicted felon, shows the dangers of drug use and how it can alter a person's state of mind "to the detriment of a stranger walking down the street who ends up assaulted." At about 7:45 a.m. Feb. 5, 2021, police were called to 11th and N streets on an assault. A 62-year-old man told them a stranger had charged him and punched him repeatedly in the head and body. He had been knocked unconscious and suffered significant injuries to his face from the beating and a gash on his elbow from falling to the ground that required a half dozen stitches. Security video from a nearby apartment building caught the incident, and officers ultimately identified Sterling as the attacker. McManaman said when he reviewed the video he was able to see the nature of the crime and the presence of significant violence. When Sterling hit the victim, the victim fell limp to the ground, he said. "(He was) just a fellow out walking on the city streets of Lincoln, as far as I can tell. Which should be safe," the judge said. "People should be free from assault." He said the safety of the community was important here, then gave his sentence, rejecting defense attorney Bill Chapin's argument for probation. The 42-year-old man suspected of killing four of his neighbors in the small northeast Nebraska town of Laurel has been charged with 10 felonies including four counts of first-degree murder for his alleged role in the crimes which rattled the town of less than 1,000 residents about 40 minutes west of Sioux City, Iowa. Investigators arrested Jason A. Jones, who had lived on Elm Street in Laurel since at least 2019, after a pair of receipts and a gun left at the scene of two Thursday morning house fires were linked to him, according to an affidavit for a search warrant filed in Cedar County. Authorities found the first of four bodies around 3 a.m. Thursday after responding to a reported explosion at 209 Elm St., according to the Nebraska State Patrol. Michele Ebeling, 53, was found dead of two gunshots wounds in the home where she lived, according to the patrol. Another fire was reported three blocks away around 9:30 a.m., according to court filings, though Col. John Bolduc, the state patrol's superintendent, said the fires are thought to have been started around the same time. At the scene of the second fire, police found Gene Twiford, 86; his wife Janet Twiford, 85; and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55. All three were residents of the home at 503 Elm St. and found dead with apparent gunshot wounds, State Patrol Investigator Michael Henry said in the affidavit for the search warrant. At Ebeling's house, where authorities first responded, investigators found three receipts including one for gas at the local Rath's Mini Mart, another for a six-gallon gas cannister at a Sioux City hardware store. The MasterCard used for both purchases belongs to Jones, Henry said in the affidavit. At the Twifords' house, police found a Ruger .57 caliber pistol, a firearm magazine and a Molotov cocktail, Henry said. Investigators determined Jones is the registered owner of the gun. He had purchased it in February 2021. Security footage from the Mini Mart showed Jones filling two gas canisters there around 8 p.m. Wednesday, Henry said in the affidavit. Police arrested Jones, who lived across the street from the Twifords, at his home around 2:30 a.m. Friday, Bolduc said at a morning new conference in the town's fire station. Bolduc said Jones had serious burns over a large part of his body" upon his arrest, apparently stemming from the pair of fires set at the victims' homes. He was taken by helicopter to CHI St. Elizabeth in Lincoln, where he remains in serious condition. Prosecutors have formally charged Jones with the four counts of first-degree murder along with two counts of first-degree arson and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony, according to court filings. A Cedar County judge appointed the Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy to represent Jones. The commission's lead attorney offered no comment on Friday. Any connection between the deceased and Jones aside from their proximity remains unclear. At Friday's news conference, Bolduc declined to share a suspected motive for the alleged crimes. I want to acknowledge the indescribable grief that this community is experiencing right now, Bolduc said. And thats gonna be compounded by the betrayal of trust that theyre gonna feel, because a community member here is alleged to have committed these crimes. Bolduc saluted the efforts of first responders and, specifically, thanked the fire crews who he said "preserved the evidence that led us directly" to Jones. It's unclear if Jones, who lived at 206 Elm St., ever left Laurel in the aftermath of the crimes. Bolduc faced scrutiny from reporters on Friday for authorities unclear guidance on whether local businesses should enter lockdown. We were limited to the facts that had at the time, he said. Certainly, with 60-plus law enforcement officers in town yesterday, we felt like the community was pretty safe. Bolduc also walked back his agencys Thursday warning about a Black man who they said was seen driving a silver sedan away from Laurel in the aftermath of the incident. Jones, the State Patrol confirmed, is white. We dont believe thats the same person, Bolduc said. But we would like to talk to that person as a witness if we are able to identify them. But, certainly, as the information has developed, that lead became less significant. Journal Star reporters Lori Pilger and Chris Dunker contributed to this report. My cheeks hurt from smiling, and my arms are sore from waving. What a fun day this has been! This morning, I started getting texts and calls from folks who heard journalist Terri Stacy mention my Ugly Lamp Competition blue ribbon on WIBC. How fun is that? I walked to the Indiana State Fair this morning, which is a great way to arrive. I started the day in Pioneer Village, watching demonstrations, chatting with the volunteers, and trying to stay out of the way. The very generous Karen and Ron McCord offered me a ride in the 1:00 PM Daily Parade or tractor parade as I think of it. Of course, I jumped at the chance. I even got to pull a wooden ducky on wheels behind me. I was too busy giggling and waving and making sure I didnt goof up my duck duty that I didnt snap any photographs. After the parade, I watched the Vintage Machinery in Action demonstration. They show the evolution of farming from people's power to animals, and then machinery. Did you know that in 1930 each farmer fed about 9.8 other people (the world population was two billion)? In 2011 each farmer fed about 155 other people (the world population was 6.8 billion). I jumped on the shuttle to the other side of the Fairgrounds to watch the King Arthur Baking Company Youth Cookie Contest. My friend, Lisa, and the 2022 Indiana State Fair Queen, Alyssa McKillip, were the judges. The cookies all looked delicious! It was another grand day at the Indiana State Fair. Ill see you tomorrow! Sunday State Fair Happenings: 9:00 AM 4-H Heifer competition (Coliseum) 10:00 AM Ice Cream Crank Off Contest (Indiana Arts Building) 2:00 & 4:00 PM Vintage Farm Machinery in Action (Pioneer Village) 2:30 History of Quilts in America (Pioneer Village) 7:00 PM 4-H Animals Grand Drive (Coliseum) Writer Beer & Society There is nothing that cannot be discussed and worked out over a beer. Join me as I explore local beer, breweries and how they can civilize us. Three candidatesSarah Jane Levine, Sonny Moreman and Leah Billye Welburnare vying for the Auburn City Council seat in Ward 5. Each has a bachelors degree from Auburn University and experience in small business. The community will have an opportunity to hear from each of them during a candidate forum on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, 714 Glenn Ave. The Ward 5 seat is currently held by Steven Dixon, who is not running for reelection. Heres a look at each candidate: Sarah Jane Levine Levine has lived in Auburn for five years. She received her bachelors degree from Auburn University, majoring in apparel merchandising. Levine is the owner of Lily Jane Boutique, which she opened four years ago. She is a member of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce, the Auburn Young Professionals and the Auburn University Alumni Association Young Alumni Council, and is a chapter advisor for her sorority. Raised in a military family, she says she has come to call Auburn home and wants to give back to the community that has supported her as a small business owner. My roots are definitely in Auburn, as you can tell by planting a small business in Auburn, Levine said. I think all the things that Ive done in my past, at such a young age, Ive really conquered. This is just one more thing and a great way to give back to the city. Levine believes the various organizations shes served with and her experience as a business owner will be beneficial if shes elected to the city council. If she wins, Levine plans to work alongside Mayor Ron Anders on his 2040 plan, address infrastructure and traffic flow as the city continues to grow, and focus on school safety. Id be humbled to serve Ward 5 as I just continue on this path of success, Levine said. As a person, Im extremely motivated and dedicated in my work ethic. So, Im just super excited to be able to continue to serve Auburn. Sonny Moreman Sonny Moreman was raised in Auburn. He graduated from Auburn University in 1973 with a degree in business and served in the Air Force for 28 years before retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He has been a financial advisor for 20 years and owns several rental properties in Lee County. Moreman says that Auburn is in his blood. Ive lived in this ward for over 40 years of my life, he said. This is who I am, and I want to be a part of it, not just a bystander. Moreman says longevity, wisdom and integrity are all qualities that would allow him to do well in office if elected. He says his years as a financial consultant and teaching finance at the college level will help him if he is elected to the city council. He said he believes his role throughout the election and on the city council would be to listen and make informed decisions. Moreman says he stands behind the city councils short-term rentals decision and wants to see it enforced. If elected, he would like to focus on controlled, orderly and logical growth. He says he will fight hard to retain old Auburn flavor. Im very grateful to be running for this office, Moreman said. And Im very grateful for the support that Ive seen so far. And I do certainly look forward to serving the people of this city. Leah Billye Welburn Leah Billye Welburn is originally from Chappaqua, New York, but graduated from Auburn University in 2012 with a degree in industrial and systems Engineering. After graduation, Welburn decided to make Auburn home and is a freelancer who owns a small business called Free Your Stuff LLC and works in childcare. Welburn has been interested in running for public office for some time, calling the position one that fits very nicely into my freelance lifestyle. Welburn decided to run for office after seeing peoples passions during the redistricting process. Im already very community-minded and looking to make connections, Welburn said. So, it seems like something that appeals to me and that I already do in some capacity. Welburn says Auburns redistricting process was unsatisfactory and that Welburn has the natural leadership ability to help when such moments of import come up. Welburn lists personal strengths as efficiency and effectiveness, leadership, familiarity with Roberts Rules and experience in grassroots political efforts. Welburn interests include housing justice, equity, diversity and environmental sustainability. As citizens, there is plenty that we can do to make a difference, Welburn said. Whether or not I win the city council seat, I intend to continue working for the betterment of Auburn for everyone. Whoa, at first I thought a car crashed into *HER* house bc someone mentioned she might have been naked. But she was driving around and crashed TWICE? and after that woman took out that entire family also drunk driving? Reply Thread Link do you mean the accident on la brea? more information is coming out about the victims and it's horrific. not even going to write it here because it's too hard... the fault is of course 100% with the driver but also the city has known it was a dangerous intersection for so long and done nothing. even today, the traffic lights were out and there was no one directing traffic. LA gov't is a corrupt shit show Edited at 2022-08-06 02:08 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I think these two accidents got conflate because I saw someone say the Windsor Hills crash at fault driver was am actress. That was a fucked situation. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Traffic in LA constantly looks like a shit show, because these are two (technically 3 I guess) incidents in what, 2 days and there ae more we aren't hearing. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I keep thinking about the poor baby that was killed in that crash while the driver at fault survived. It's so unfair. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link my god..the la brea accident is fucking horrific. im sick about it. what the FUCK? i cannot believe the driver survived. i dont even know what to say. my heart breaks for the 6* people she killed and their loved ones. unimaginable. there are no fricken words Edited at 2022-08-06 02:58 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I read something about that crash that I wish I could unread. So fucking chilling. Car CRASHES (NOT accidents) will only continue to be worse as long as we continue to center the car in city infrastructure Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The car accident that took out a family of 5 (with a PREGNANT WOMAN!) was a different (possibly also) drunk driving accident. A nurse in a white Mercedes Benz going 80 MPH, reports said she was spotted previously drunk and fighting with her boyfriend. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I remember reading in her IMDB a few years ago about her having a psychotic episode in the 90's in the desert where she was hallucinating and saying aliens brought her to a stranger's house. And since basically only she and Ellen were out at that point in terms of "people mainstream Americans know are gay," she was criticized bc it was Not A Good Luck For The Gays (clearly everyone was SO sympathetic to her mental health then /s). Reply Parent Thread Link I hope she makes it okay but lol she better face charges after! Reply Thread Link fuuuuck that video of her speeding. She's lucky she didn't kill anyone or herself. Reply Thread Link Gave me vertigo just watching. Girl... what could possibly make this necessary? Reply Parent Thread Link This is horrifying, be careful some outlets are posting a less covered picture. Reply Thread Link Did they confirm it was her? It's her car but they hadn't confirmed she was the driver (I assume she was) Reply Thread Link There is a picture of her in her car at another site, before the burn crush, but after the garage crash Reply Parent Thread Link This is horrific. She couldve hurt or killed someone. Poor Anne has been going through it all her life. I hope she recovers. she sat up and was trying to leave again. I read somewhere that running away was common for burn victims because theyre just in so much pain Edited at 2022-08-06 01:57 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link was there a fire after the 1st AND the 2nd car crashes? I thought the 1st was just a regular crash and the 2nd crash was the fire. If it's both that's extra nuts that she kept driving. Reply Parent Thread Link She's been in an unfortunate state for a while now. She's very lucky she didn't hurt someone. Also, people who flee the scene of accidents they caused are lower than pond dirt. Reply Thread Link https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Heche I didn't know about her estate until I read your comment and looked it up. Her personal life section is rough. Family drama doesn't even begin to cover it. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh jesus h christ... i had no idea. Reply Parent Thread Link wow :( Reply Parent Thread Link I've known her from her work on Another World. She was BRILLIANT. But I had no idea of her history. DAMN! Reply Parent Thread Link Damn, she was obviously smashed out of her mind on something. Hopefully she recovers, gets help, and then faces consequences. Reply Thread Link Hopefully she will get the help she needs after this. And thankfully it sounds like she was the only person hurt, but I feel terribly for the home owner who now has to deal with the mess of all of this. Reply Thread Link I dont know if the cause if that is drugs, mental illness, or (I assume) both, but whatever it is, how fucking horrifying. I hope she didnt kill or seriously injure anyone, and I hope she has peace. Edited at 2022-08-06 01:57 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Omg. She's so lucky she didn't kill anyone else. This whole thing is horrifying, but this sentence is the stuff of nightmares: First responders initially thought the driver didnt survive. After she was placed on the stretcher, she sat up and was trying to leave again. It's on the news right now. Apparently the homeowner only survived because they happened to be in the back room at the time... The car launched 30 feet into their house. JFC. Edited at 2022-08-06 02:03 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link Yeah, there's video of that moment from a news helicopter. Reply Parent Thread Link sounds scary to see irl Reply Parent Thread Link The video of her sitting up is disturbing- truly looks like they covered her with the white sheet as if she was deceased and she suddenly springs up Reply Parent Thread Link How tf is Anne alive honestly.....30 ft into a HOUSE Reply Parent Thread Link If they do a tox screen and find out she was drunk that would explain it. Drunk Drivers are nearly always perfectly fine after the horrific crashes they cause. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link welp Reply Parent Thread Link this is so terrifying. i hope she's able to recover. i also thought initial reports were saying that she crashed into her own home, even worse that it was somebody else's Reply Thread Link as an american, my immediate thoughts (after learning nobody died) are about the medical bills she's going to get. wouldn't surprise me if she went bankrupt Reply Thread Link if she survives, the person whose house she destroyed will probably sue her into oblivion Reply Parent Thread Link I wonder how much they'll get from insurance...."car crashes into your house and destroys it in a fiery blaze" probably isn't on their policy...but maybe they'll just chalk it up fire damage Reply Parent Thread Expand Link There was even roof damage from how intense the fire was. like wtf Reply Parent Thread Link electric chair.. and that drunk NURSE who caused that horrible windsor hills crash too every single one of you mfers drinking behind the wheel: Reply Thread Link Go look at the pics of the car, I think you will see what she did to herself is way worse than the electric chair already. No way she survives that, the tires are melted off Reply Parent Thread Link Unfortunately, there are pictures of her sitting, chillin on the sidewalk afterwards oops I meant the OTHER car crash in LA.. Edited at 2022-08-06 09:04 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link She has a history of mental illness. I don't think it's just the drunk driving factoring in here. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Its always been so upsetting to me reading drunk drivers survive while their victims die, and get a slap on the hand for killing someone. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It creeps me the f out when I'm watching American tv and characters drink and drive, like some mundane Modern Family episode where they go to a restaurant and clearly drink and off they go in their own cars. Stop normalizing this shit. Reply Parent Thread Link Neither Uzbekistan, which enjoys cordial relations with the Taliban, nor Tajikistan, which does not, have turned off the lights over the unpaid debts. While the country has been able to settle outstanding debts owed to Uzbekistan, it is still scrambling to settle with neighboring Tajikistan. Afghanistan has struggled to pay its energy debts due to sanctions on the Taliban government. Afghanistan has settled its multimillion-dollar outstanding debts owed to Uzbekistan for electric power supplies, the Uzbek Energy Ministry has announced. The Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat, or DABS, power company has fully settled what it owed Uzbekistan for the 2,151.3 kilowatt hours of electricity supplied in 2021, the ministry reported on August 1. DABS is also paying on time for this years supplies, it said. The Energy Ministry did not specify the size of the debt that had been owed. However, in May the Afghan government said it owed Uzbekistan and Tajikistan $100 million for electricity, the bulk of it, in the region of $70 million, due to Uzbekistan. It had been unable to pay because of problems with the countrys sanctioned Taliban rulers transferring funds via the international banking system. Now it has found a solution of some sort, although neither side explained what that was. Tajikistan, by contrast, says it remains unable to receive the funds it is owed. Makhmadumar Asozoda, the director of the national power supplier Barqi Tojik, said on August 2 that the company had been unable to resolve the problem of outstanding debts since the Taliban seized power a year ago. Owing to the geopolitical situation in the region and in the world, when some banks financing the purchase of electricity came under sanctions, it has become complicated to transfer funds from the Breshna [DABS] company to Barqi Tojik, Radio Ozodi quoted him as saying. The Afghan company is working on the matter, he added. Related: Kazakhstans 300,000-Bpd Kashagan Oilfield Halts Output In July Tajikistan received $2 million from Afghanistan toward the debt, which now stands at $28 million, Asozoda said. The debt has increased since February, when Afghanistan had owed $27 million, though it is down from $33 million at the start of the year. Afghanistan imports over 80 percent of its electricity, at an annual cost of some $220 million, according to the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), a watchdog created by the U.S. Congress. Uzbekistan is its biggest electricity supplier. This year, around half of Afghanistans imported power is coming from Uzbekistan, and most of the rest from Tajikistan. Both have long-duration electricity supply agreements signed before the Taliban returned to power, which are adjusted annually. Uzbekistan is contracted to supply Afghanistan with 2.2 billion kilowatt hours of power this year, of which it has already supplied 770 million, the Energy Ministry said. Last month the ministry said it had reached an agreement with Afghanistan to restart a project to build a new power supply line from Uzbekistan which had stalled after the Taliban takeover. Construction inside Uzbekistan is complete, and it has now been agreed that building will resume in Afghanistan by the end of August. Tajikistan is committed to supplying 1.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity to Afghanistan this year, of which Asozoda said it had already sent 734 million. The Afghans are contracted to pay Uzbekistan $100 million and Tajikistan $69 million for the power supplies. Neither Uzbekistan, which enjoys cordial relations with the Taliban, nor Tajikistan, which does not, have turned off the lights over the unpaid debts, luckily for their neighbors over the border. Any halt to electricity supplies from Central Asia risks leaving over 10 million Afghans in the dark, the United Nations Development Program, or UNDP, has previously warned. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China also hit back against Pelosi, sanctioning the speaker over the "egregious provocation" of her overnight trip to Taiwan. China has begun its retaliation against Washington by announcing Friday the cancelation of a series of meetings with the United States, namely the suspension of issues it was working bilaterally with the US on, including related to military dialogue, climate change and anti-drug projects. Most important among these at a moment Washington has expressed concern that "the risk of a mistake could actually lead to some sort of conflict" (in John Kirby's words Thursday) - is the cancelation of military ties. This comes in addition to unveiling undefined sanctions against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the "egregious provocation" of her overnight trip to Taiwan earlier in the week, which saw China immediately respond with ongoing live fire drills which have surrounded the self-ruled island, as well as ballistic missile firings in the vicinity. The foreign ministry said in a statement, "In disregard of Chinas strong opposition and serious representations, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi visited Chinas Taiwan region," and announced the following countermeasures in response: Canceling China-U.S. Theater Commanders Talk. Canceling China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks (DPCT). Canceling China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement (MMCA) meetings. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on the repatriation of illegal immigrants. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation on legal assistance in criminal matters. Suspending China-U.S. cooperation against transnational crimes. Suspending China-U.S. counternarcotics cooperation. Suspending China-U.S. talks on climate change. Among the most directly threatening actions thus far has been the PLA military firing ballistic missiles over Taiwan; however, which Taipei on Wednesday refused to confirm actually flew directly over the island, despite many international reports reporting such. Meanwhile, on climate "dialogue"... Related: OPEC+ To Boost Production Target By 100,000 Bpd In September Literally hundreds of Chinse military aircraft and ships have also buzzed or breach Taiwan-claimed airspace and waters at this point, as the largest drills in recent history have continued to ramp up. After Beijing declared the "median line" has practically ceased to exist, dozens of aircraft have since crossed over what conventionally demarcated territorial waters of the democratic-run island. Taiwan said in a defense ministry statement that about 20 Chinese military aircraft briefly cross the Taiwan median line on Friday morning, according to Reuters. Pelosi while in Japan on Friday, the last stop of her Asia tour, said "The Chinese made their strikes, probably using our visit as an excuse." She added: "They may try to keep Taiwan from visiting or participating in other places but they will not isolate Taiwan. They are not doing our traveling schedule, the Chinese government is not doing that." She then underscored the US won't let China isolate Taiwan, stressing, "We had high-level visits, senators in the spring, the bi-partisan way, continuing visits, and we will not allow them to isolate Taiwan." This is similar to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby's assessment given Thursday, wherein he charged Beijing with overreacting. "We condemn these actions, which are irresponsible and at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the region," Kirby told reporters at a White House briefing. "China has chosen to overreact and use the speaker's visit as a pretext to increase provocative military activity in and around the Taiwan Strait." By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is set to headline a major gathering of Republicans in South Carolina this month as he considers a 2024 White House bid that could pit him against his onetime boss, former President Donald Trump. Pompeo will speak Aug. 22 at the Faith & Freedom BBQ in Anderson, according to the host of the event, U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan. The tenets of faith and freedom "are ingrained into the very fabric of our nation, and I am looking forward to celebrating them surrounded by veterans, first responders, and other patriotic Americans who make our country great! Pompeo said in a written statement Tuesday provided to The Associated Press. The fundraiser, which benefits Duncan's campaign, has long been a showcase for possible White House contenders, including South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, then-Vice President Mike Pence, Sens. Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst and Marco Rubio, and former U.N. Ambassador and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. According to Duncan, who represents South Carolinas 3rd Congressional District, the event is the states largest annual gathering of Republicans, typically drawing more than 1,000 attendees. Mike Pompeo epitomizes service to country and community over self, Duncan said, touting Pompeos unwavering commitment to America first foreign policy and his willingness to stand up to adversaries like China. Last year, Pompeo headlined a fundraiser for the state Republican Party in South Carolina, home to the first presidential votes in the South. His super PAC, which has raised nearly $6 million, last month released a digital ad in South Carolina and Iowa another early-voting state where he has been making appearances touting religious freedoms. Pompeo and Pence are among the former Trump administration officials attempting to establish themselves in the state as Trump continues to tease a 2024 bid. Pompeo, who served as CIA director and top diplomat, has remained on good terms with his former boss, continuing to defend him after the Jan. 6, 2021, siege of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters. Pence has made several recent visits to the state, including last year when he made his first public address since leaving office. Already this year, he has given commencement remarks at the Christian Columbia International University, spoken at a crisis pregnancy center fundraiser and outlined his policy vision for a post-Roe world. Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) For the past three decades, South Carolina lawmakers have chipped away at abortion access, requiring ultrasounds, parental consent and 24-hour waiting periods, and banning the procedure early in the pregnancy: first after 20 weeks, then after six. But now that the U.S. Supreme Court has cleared a path to ban abortion entirely in the state, some are taking a step back. Politicians, mostly Republican, are noting what happened this month in Kansas, where nearly 60% of voters rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the state's conservative Legislature to ban abortion. Republican Donald Trump received 56% of the 2020 presidential vote in Kansas. Trump won 55% in South Carolina. The Kansas vote affirms what most of us know," said Sen. Sandy Senn, the only Republican senator to vote against the six-week abortion ban that passed 18 months ago. Its the people in my party, most all of them men, yelling the loudest that women should have zero choice from the moment of conception. Senn says that while she personally believes all babies should be born, she also thinks people should be able to decide for themselves whether to continue a pregnancy during the first few months. South Carolina lawmakers are also watching other Republican-dominated legislatures. Indiana passed a nearly total abortion ban Friday after several days of debate, while West Virginias House and Senate couldnt immediately agree on further restrictions. A total abortion ban with exceptions only if the life of the mother is in danger has just started its way through the South Carolina General Assembly. Committee hearings and floor debates in the House and Senate will have to take place before any bill lands on Republican Gov. Henry McMaster's desk. Republican legislative leaders agreed to the special session after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. But instead of a rehash of the arguments lawmakers had in early 2021, when they passed a ban on abortions after cardiac activity is detected at about six weeks some Republicans have begun to reevaluate their positions. Its like you are playing with live ammunition right now. What you are deciding is going to have immediate effect on a lot of South Carolinians, said Republican Rep. Tom Davis, who voted for the cardiac-activity abortion ban last year after exceptions were added for pregnancies caused by rape and incest and those that put the pregnant person's life at risk. Davis said he is now rethinking the whole issue, weighing the rights of a fetus to live against the rights of someone to control their own body. He says he also will consider the views of people in his well-off coastal district around Hilton Head Island. And he plans to introduce measures to improve prenatal care and give people more emotional and financial support during and after pregnancies. Rep. Bill Taylor stood just behind McMaster as he signed the six-week ban into law. Last month he sent an email to his constituents with the all-caps title WHATS THE RUSH, saying South Carolina shouldnt hurry to pass a full ban now. Instead, the state should step back for a few years to see how its new law banning the procedure after six weeks works, the Republican lawmaker said. South Carolina should also examine what happens in states that now have a total ban and others that allow abortions later into pregnancies and study the foster care and other social service programs to see what can be done to help them handle an influx of births, he said. About 6,300 abortions were performed in South Carolina in 2021. So many questions, so few answers, and solutions, Taylor wrote in the email, which also included the statement: "I treasure Gods amazing gift of life. I readily accept the label pro-life. One reason some abortion opponents don't want to wait to pass a stricter abortion ban is McMaster, who is up for reelection in November. His Democratic opponent, Joe Cunningham, has promised to veto any bill restricting abortion further. Republicans are a few votes short of the two-thirds needed to override vetoes in both the House and Senate. Abortion opponents have followed a long path to get South Carolina where it is. Lawmakers first rallied in a significant way in the late 1980s, then ramped up their actions even further in the following decades. In 1990, they passed a bill requiring the consent of either a parent or judge before a minor could have an abortion. In 1994, they enacted strict requirements for abortion clinics. And in 1997, they passed a law banning partial birth abortions, which are rare. In 2008, a law required mothers to sign a form that they were told they could look at an ultrasound before an abortion and in 2010, a 24-hour waiting period was passed. A ban on abortion after 20 weeks, which proponents say is the point that a fetus can feel pain, passed in 2018. Prior to its June ruling, the Supreme Court had never allowed states to ban abortion before the point at roughly 24 weeks when a fetus can survive outside the womb. Republican Sen. Larry Grooms, who has made ending abortion one of the biggest issues of his 25 years in the Senate, said he wants a full ban because his goal is to save every life he can but he isnt going to demand a certain bill because when you make it all or nothing, you can end up with nothing. Every pro-life bill weve passed over the past 25 years has helped people understand the humanity of the child, Grooms said. Democrats in the legislature say its too late for reflection, given the Supreme Court's decision and the fact that the state has already restricted abortion so severely. They fear anything is on the table, including criminalizing women who seek abortions in some way. I think we will land between crazy and insane," Democratic House Minority Leader Todd Rutherford said. Where that line is wont make any sense. And we shouldnt be in this position in the first place. Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP. Arica Bagley has continued her march through the Maxim cover girl competition, and shes asking for more help to reach the final. The Lincoln mother found out Friday that she had reached the semifinals. The winner among the chosen contestants earns $25,000, plus a cover spot with the international mens magazine, which has a monthly worldwide circulation of about 9 million. Bagley hopes to share the cover opportunity with Kaelynn Partlow from the television show Love on the Spectrum. Bagley, who has two children, said they are the only contestants shes seen who are donating the entirety of the prize money. Partlow is an advocate for kids with autism. Bagley is an advocate for abused children. We saw it was an opportunity to bring international awareness to our causes, Bagley said. We will never stop fighting to bring awareness for autistic and abused children. Bagley, a hairstylist who also is studying film at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, was plucked from thousands of submissions. She needs votes to continue in the competition. Supporters can vote once every 24 hours until Aug. 11 at maximcovergirl.com/2022/arica-bagley. There is no way we can win this competition without the support of our community daily, she said. Six decades ago, the Strategic Air Command realized it needed a plane that could survive Armageddon. So SAC, headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base, launched a program called the National Emergency Airborne Command Post, or Night Watch in February 1962. Three four-engine KC-135A jets were modified with 12 state-of-the-art communications systems to serve as airborne command posts for the president and other top leaders in the event of nuclear war. Since then, the aircraft have gotten bigger and the comms systems more sophisticated and numerous. But the planes and their crews still stand by 24/7, at Offutt and other sites, hoping doomsday never arrives but ready to carry on if it does. This week, the 595th Command and Control Group the Offutt-based unit that operates the fleet of four E-4B Nightwatch (the current spelling) jets is celebrating its 60 years of service with a banquet Saturday at Omahas CHI Health Center. Were honoring all the men and women who have served on it, and the community that has supported it, over six decades, said Col. Brian Golden, the 595th Groups commander. Former Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, who also represented Nebraska in the U.S. Senate, will be the keynote speaker. Adm. Charles Richard, who heads U.S. Strategic Command, and Gen. Anthony Cotton, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, are among the expected 760 guests. The unit also has been giving tours of its new $16 million E-4B flight simulator, which opened in May at an industrial park in La Vista. It is the first time that Nightwatch crews have had a dedicated simulator. Previously, the crews had been forced to travel to Denver or Miami for simulator training. More practice time also took place aboard the actual aircraft, which at $147,000 an hour is the Air Forces most expensive jet to fly. Simulator time, by comparison, costs only a few hundred dollars an hour. We are fully utilizing the simulator, Golden said. Its been amazing. In the late 1960s, the original KC-135 jets gave way to EC-135J aircraft, similar to the ones used for SACs Cold War command-and-control Looking Glass. They were replaced by E-4As which are modified version of the commercial Boeing 747-200 in the late 1970s, and eventually upgraded to E-4Bs. The mission crews increased from 39 to 112 as the number of the communications systems grew, from 12 on the first jets to 42 today. But they are now showing their age. Only a few commercial 747-200s are still flying, all as cargo jets. The Air Force, which flies two models called VC-25s as Air Force One presidential jets in addition to the four E-4Bs, now operates the largest fleet of that type. Golden said spare parts are getting harder and more expensive to find. The 595th Command and Control Group has endured a series of upheavals since the new unit was stood up in 2016 to take over the Nightwatch mission from the 55th Wing. The following year, and EF-1 tornado struck the Offutt flight line, causing $8.3 million in damage to two of the E-4Bs. The already overextended fleet was left short for two months. Then, in 2019, the 595ths hangar was damaged and its offices and alert facility wrecked during the massive flooding that left one-third of Offutt Air Force Base submerged for several weeks. Finally, a complete reconstruction of Offutts runway unrelated to the flood forced the unit to temporarily move its flight operations to the Lincoln Airport in March 2021. Now, as the Nightwatch marks its 60th birthday, the unit and its mission are on the verge of major changes. The 595ths leadership already has moved into the Riggs Building, the former home of SAC and StratCom and now headquarters for the 55th Wing. Flight operations are expected to resume at Offutt on Oct. 1, with the completion of the runway rebuild. And within a few years, the 595th will have a brand-new alert facility as part of Offutts post-flood reconstruction. By the end of the decade, Golden said, the 595th will begin fielding a new and larger fleet of planes called E-4Cs. The Air Force has specified that the new aircraft must be a commercial model, and it must have four engines. Those limits mean it will almost certainly be a Boeing 747-800, a newer version of the 747-200 that has been in production since 2008. It is the only large four-engine airliner currently in production; all others are twin-engine jets. Our mission set cant take any risks, Golden said. If either of those engines were to fail, we would have to abandon the mission. Golden also said the fleet needs to expand to 8-10 aircraft in order to accommodate additional jobs such as serving as a global command and control jet for the secretary of defense, as well as several classified missions. When factoring in training needs and maintenance, We have no margin at all, he said. This fleet was never (given) enough aircraft. ... Were always needed more. Expanding the fleet wont come cheap. With their up-to-date electronic kit, each aircraft is expected to cost $1.2 billion, Golden said. With Rep. Liz Cheney's defeat Tuesday, the fate of the 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Donald Trump is known. Here's how they fared. LIND, Wash. (AP) A small town in Washington state that was evacuated due to a fast-moving fire was largely spared Friday, while in California crews made progress against the state's deadliest and largest wildfire of the year. Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner said the fire that had been threating the eastern Washington town of Lind was contained after burning six homes and eight other structures. He said firefighters were watching over hot spots. The sheriff's office had told Lind's residents to evacuate on Thursday afternoon because of the encroaching flames. With the help of state and local resources, the fire started to calm down and by 8 p.m. Thursday all evacuation orders were lifted for the community of about 500 people approximately 75 miles (121 kilometers) southwest of Spokane. Wagner said Friday that a firefighter who suffered smoke inhalation and was flown to Spokane for treatment had been released and was recuperating at home. State officials said Friday that Washington is experiencing its worst fire activity of the year between the fire in Lind and several others that sparked this week, The Seattle Times reported. With rising temperatures and thunderstorms in the forecast, its likely to get worse before it gets better, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and officials with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources said at a media briefing. Meanwhile, in California, fire crews on Friday had a massive wildfire 30% contained and had managed to carve firebreaks around much of the week-old blaze. The McKinney Fire destroyed much of the small hamlet of Klamath River near the Oregon border and killed four people, whose identities haven't been confirmed by authorities. The blaze forced thousands from their homes and destroyed more than 100 buildings, including at least 87 residences, authorities said at a Friday night community meeting. The fire hasn't advanced much for days as thunderstorms dumped brief but heavy rain on the fire's eastern flanks and more firefighting resources were sent to battle the blaze, which has burned about 93 square miles (241 square kilometers). However, some of the storms didn't produce much rain but released gusty winds that drove flames especially when the blaze first erupted on July 29 and lightning that sparked dozens of smaller blazes, which firefighters managed to prevent from spreading. Forecasts were calling for triple-digit temperatures and plunging humidity levels this weekend, along with possible winds that could create conditions for further wildfire growth. The conditions Sunday and Monday are going to be almost identical to when this fire started," fire behavior analyst Dennis Burns said. The biggest fear is that ... we have a jackpot of unburned fuel within the fire perimeter." The concern is that the tinder-dry trees and brush could burn so hot that they create a towering pillar of smoke that can make its own weather, including lightning, Burns said. California and much of the rest of the West is in drought and wildfire danger is high, with the historically worst of the fire season still to come. Fires are burning throughout the region. The Moose Fire in Idaho as of Friday had burned more than 105 square miles (273 square kilometers) in the Salmon-Challis National Forest near the town of Salmon. Steep terrain and extremely dry fuel conditions were continuing to pose challenges for firefighters but officials said firefighters were hoping to extend and strengthen containment lines with more favorable weather forecast in the next few days. Scientists say climate change has made the West warmer and drier over the last three decades and will continue to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive. California has seen its largest, most destructive and deadliest wildfires in the last five years. Associated Press reporters Christopher Weber in Los Angeles, Haven Daley in Klamath River, Calif., and Lisa Baumann in Seattle contributed to this report. A man suspected of killing four of his neighbors in the northeast Nebraska town of Laurel on Thursday was charged Friday with 10 felonies stemming from the chaos that enveloped the tight-knit community. The tragedy unfolded early Thursday when four bodies, all with gunshot wounds, were discovered in two homes that had been set on fire. The next morning, law enforcement arrested a suspect in his home just across the street from the first fire. The Nebraska State Patrols SWAT team surrounded the home of Jason Jones, a 42-year-old Laurel resident, around 2:30 a.m. Friday, according to the patrol. Jones did not come out willingly but was taken into custody without incident after officers entered the home. Speaking at a Friday morning press conference, Col. John Bolduc with the State Patrol said it was too early in the investigation to provide a motive for the killings. He said he couldnt comment on possible connections between the victims and Jones. According to an arrest affidavit for Jones obtained by The World-Herald, the first 911 call came into Cedar County dispatch at 3:11 a.m. Thursday. The caller reported that an explosion had occurred at 209 Elm St. in Laurel. Local volunteer firefighters and medics responded to the scene. They found Michelle Ebeling, 53, down in a pool of blood inside of the back entry to the home. She had been shot once in the head and once in the chest, and a bullet casing was found by her body. She was pronounced dead at the scene. According to Laurel Police Chief Ron Lundahl, Ebeling had moved to the city within the past few years. Inside her residence, burn marks were present on the floor, walls and furniture. First responders noted smelling gasoline and smoke, according to the affidavit, and a red fuel container was found inside of the front door. Officials were still investigating the first fire when another 911 call came in at 9:30 a.m. A neighbor called to report smoke coming from a residence at 503 Elm St. Inside of that home, three people were found dead: Gene Twiford, 86, Janet Twiford, 85, and Dana Twiford, 55. They all sustained gunshot wounds and a Molotov cocktail was found in the residence. A pry bar was used to pry open the back door, according to the affidavit. Smoke and soot damage was present in the home. The Twifords had lived in Laurel their entire lives and were a fixture in the community, Lundahl said. Despite the disparity in call times, law enforcement believes that both incidents occurred around 3 a.m. Thursday. Signs of fire were not visible from outside the Twiford home until later in the morning. Police executed search warrants in both residences Thursday morning. In the Twiford home, a Ruger .57 pistol was found on the floor of the living room. Law enforcement tracked the gun and found that Jones bought it in February 2021, according to the affidavit. The pistol was used to shoot the Twiford family, according to the affidavit, but authorities believe Ebeling was killed with a different gun that has not yet been found. A black backpack was found in the kitchen of Ebelings residence. Multiple receipts were found inside of the backpack, indicating multiple purchases at local gas stations and the purchase of an auto-shutoff gas can from Fleet Farm in Sioux City, Iowa. Police have linked those receipts to Jones, according to the affidavit. One receipt for a purchase at Raths Mini Mart, a gas station in Laurel, led police to security footage of Jones pumping gas into two red gas cans on Wednesday evening. According to the affidavit, the cans seen in the video resemble the ones that were found at the first scene. Jones has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony and two counts of arson. He is currently receiving treatment for severe burns at a hospital in Lincoln. As of Friday morning, Bolduc said the patrol had not identified any additional suspects and he did not believe the community faced any additional danger. Correction: This article has been updated with the correct first name of Janet Twiford. LINCOLN After being arrested on suspicion of third-degree assault and second-degree trespassing outside the Nebraska GOP convention in Kearney last month, Republican Matt Innis wont face criminal charges. Buffalo County Attorney Shawn Eatherton said Friday that his office did not have strong enough evidence to prosecute Innis or anyone else involved in the case. In a letter sent to Innis on Thursday, Eatherton told Innis that he was not required to appear in court on Aug. 10. Based on the information this office received and a review of the evidence, please be advised our office has decided NOT to file a case against you at this time, Eatherton said in the letter. Therefore, you do not need to appear in court on August 10, 2022, at 2:30 p.m. Innis, of Crete, could not be reached for comment Friday. He was arrested after he tried to enter the convention center and was stopped by security staff, leading to a scuffle that prompted staff to call the police, the Nebraska Examiner reported. One staffer alleged that Innis lunged at him and assaulted him, though Innis claimed he was shoved or grabbed by someone and he defended himself, not knowing it was security. In a social media post, Innis disputed the account by security staff, writing that when someone came forward stating a video shows the head of security was lying about the initial incident, the security people were then removed, the person they claimed was such a threat was allowed into the convention, and the convention continued without any security on site. Eatherton said his office reviewed video footage and witness testimony among the evidence of the incident. Innis, a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump who hasnt been afraid to criticize fellow Republicans, was one of six Republicans who had their credentials revoked so they could not serve as delegates at the convention. Some said they had their credentials revoked because they had vocally criticized or directly challenged Republican leadership or nominees, including Gov. Pete Ricketts and Republican gubernatorial candidate Jim Pillen. Innis, along with at least one other delegate who was denied entry, Fanchon Blythe, arrived at the convention center to challenge the decision. Their removal was the subject of one of many heated debates that day. Some delegates argued that revoking their credentials was an attack on free speech. After Innis arrest, the remaining delegates voted to reinstate his credentials, along with four of the other delegates, including Blythe. Innis later returned to the convention center to serve as a delegate. Later that day, a majority of delegates voted to fire GOP Chairman Dan Welch and elected Eric Underwood as the new chairman. Days later, Innis and Blythe both attended a media event at GOP headquarters where Underwood weighed in on the partys goals and direction going forward. Lake Houston Spillway Dam Infrastructure Project HOUSTON, TX - In 2017, immediately after Hurricane Harvey devastated the Lake Houston Area, Mayor Pro Tem Martin began the task of transitioning Lake Houston from solely a water reservoir to a water reservoir with flood mitigation infrastructure. This would allow Lake Houston to not only provide our region with needed drinking water but also protect our area in the event of a flood. Equipping the Lake Houston Spillway Dam with flood gates allows a systematic lowering of Lake Houston, during a flood event, reducing the risk of flooding to area homes and businesses. An improvement project of this magnitude normally takes between five and twelve years, however determined to advance this project as quickly as possible Mayor Pro Tem Martin coordinated with federal, state, and local elected officials shrinking the timeline to between five and seven years. Entering the fifth-year post Harvey and still in the design process for the Lake Houston Spillway Dam Improvement Project (LHSDIP) is not where Mayor Pro Tem believed where the City of Houston would be. The age of the Lake Houston Spillway dam, built in 1953, is proving to be a huge obstacle for this project as it continues to move forward. Originally, six different alternatives of the project were proposed. Another factor complicating this project is the cost variations between alternatives as project costs are outside of the existing federally funded amount, $48 million. The City of Houston is working with the Texas Division of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency to find the option with the highest Benefit to Cost Ratio (BCR). The range for a favorable BCR on a project like this is between .75 and 1. The two alternatives in preliminary design only yielded a BCR of .48, largely due to the aging structure of the existing spillway dam. Mayor Pro Tem Martin continues to persist on finding a path forward. Currently, the final design of LHSDIP is paused to complete a study on alternative 1A looking at constructing five new tainter-gates on the existing embankment located on the east side of the dam. The BCR analysis for the embankment alternative will be completed by end of September 2022. Mayor Pro Tem Martin is continuing his due diligence taking multiple avenues working to find additional funding for the project and reaching a favorable BCR with both federal and state partners. Including the exploration of additional funding through the upcoming Texas Legislative Session with outgoing State Representative Dan Huberty and incoming State Representative Charles Cunningham. It is easy to be discouraged with the perceived lack of progress on this project, however, obstacles have only fortified Mayor Pro Tem Martins resolve to see this project through and defining a clear path forward. More information will be forthcoming in a fall public meeting and Mayor Pro Tem Martin is optimistic by October the LHSDIP will have an attractive BCR for the 1A design. The City of Houston is committed to continuing to utilize the existing Lake Houston pre-release strategy which has occurred each time there has been a forecasted rain event of 3 inches or more within the San Jacinto Watershed, since Hurricane Harvey, which has worked extremely well. This strategy has been used more than twenty times in the past four years. Many thanks to Congressman Dan Crenshaw, Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Commissioner Tom Ramsey, State Senator Brandon Creighton, State Representative Dan Huberty, State Representative-Elect Charles Cunningham, TDEM-Chief Nim Kidd, Mayor Sylvester Turner, Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello, and Harris County Flood Control District. All parties are committed to constructing these additional gates to ensure protection against future flood events. 100 years ago Aug. 6, 1922: Commissioner John G. Welch of the department of parks and public property stated that he is endeavoring to devise some method of ridding Miller Park lake of a school of carp, which he believes are playing havoc with the bass, perch and other fish. He avers that some of these carp have attained an immense size and that they will eventually rid the waters of other fish. 75 years ago Aug. 6, 1947: Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey circus "The Greatest Show on Earth" returns to Bloomington-Normal Aug. 19 for the first time in 11 years. The big show, to be held in O'Neil Park, will arrive from Peoria in the first show-owned fleet of air-conditioned sleeping cars in circus history, plus the many special cars needed for its array of animals and equipment. 50 years ago Aug. 6, 1972: Federal funds may be used to hire a conservationist who would work on recreation and environmental development plans for Evergreen Lake. The McLean County Regional Planning Commission, which is authorized to administer the federal Emergency Employment Act program in the county, has asked for $10,800 for the conservationist in its application for funding of the program. 25 years ago Aug. 6, 1997: It took $18,000 in donations, sponsors and grants and 100 volunteers to make Bloomington's National Night Out at Miller Park a reality, said organizer Dee Wheat. An estimated 5,000 were present during the first hour of the four-hour event, which was kicked off by an impromptu performance of the national anthem by Sen. Carol Moseley-Braun, D-Illinois. SPRINGFIELD One is the daughter of public school teachers. The other is a scion of one of the most prominent families in American agribusiness. Both are competing to become the congresswoman for Illinois' 13th Congressional District, a central and southern Illinois-based district that could be at the forefront in the battle for control of Congress in 2022. The former, Nikki Budzinski, easily won the Democratic primary while the latter, Regan Deering, eked out a close victory in a competitive four-way Republican primary in late June. This set the stage for the November election, when voters will ultimately decide which candidate they want representing them in Congress. Budzinski, a Peoria native who now lives in Springfield, is a former senior adviser to Gov. J.B. Pritzker and served as chief of staff to the federal Office of Budget and Management under President Joe Biden. Deering, a Decatur native, is a former educator and community activist involved in several causes. Most notably, she was president of the board of directors for the Northeast Community Fund, an organization that serves low-income Decatur families by helping with food, clothing, financial assistance and advising programs. They are running in a string bean-shaped district that stretches from the Metro East region near St. Louis to Champaign-Urbana, picking up the urban cores Springfield and Decatur in between. It is largely urban in character, but also includes all of Macoupin County and other rural areas in Central Illinois. It's a condensed version of the current district, represented by Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, who was drawn into the new 15th Congressional District during the once-a-decade redistricting process. He ran in that district but lost the Republican primary to Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland. The new 13th, on the other hand, leans Democratic, voting for Biden in the 2020 presidential election by an 11-point margin. The district is a mix of blue collar with factory jobs in places like Decatur and Granite City, for example and white collar industries that dot the terrain that is otherwise filled with fertile farmland. In this backdrop, both candidates' broad scale messaging touches on similar themes, with Deering emphasizing "kitchen table issues" impacting voters and Budzinski saying that her campaign is centered around "issues that help working people." But that is where the similarities end, with the candidates offering starkly contrasting views on policy and different personal backgrounds. Budzinski, the granddaughter of a union painter and daughter of schoolteachers, spent a significant portion of her career in the labor movement, including stints with the International Association of Firefighters and later the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. She also worked on Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and previously worked for former Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes. "So I'm a trade unionist, a made-in-America Democrat," Budzinski said in an interview with Lee Enterprises. "I'm not a typical Democrat." Budzinski said that her background in the labor movement helps form her views and keeps her attuned to the labor-heavy constituency she hopes to represent, which she said is a contrast to Deering. "I'm one of the few congressional candidates that has been on multiple kill floors," Budzinski said. "I know what dangerous work looks like." "Regan Deering is a woman of significant means that has inherited family wealth," she continued. "I grew up middle class. I really struggle to see how she can really understand the real issues that are confronting working families in central and southern Illinois." Deering is a member of the Andreas family, which ran Archer Daniels Midland Co. for nearly four decades and, in the process, transformed it from a modest regional grain processor into a world-leading company. Her grandfather, the late Dwayne Andreas, served as president and CEO from 1970 to 1997 and counted American presidents and world leaders as friends. Deering's father, the late Michael "Mick" Andreas, had been in line to succeed his father as president and CEO until he was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison for his role in the 1990s ADM price-fixing scandal. It is a family background that Deering does not shy away from. "I'm very proud of my family (and) to be an Andreas," Deering said in an interview with Lee Enterprises. "I know that my grandfather came to this community in Decatur to be able to work towards elevating ADM. We've got them now on the global stage tremendous job creators, tremendous economic drivers here in this community. "I know that as a family with means, we did make a strong commitment to staying here," she continued. "We love the Decatur community. My siblings and I, we went to schools here, we own businesses here now, we're raising our families here." Deering was born in Decatur but spent most of her adolescence in the Chicago region, moving back to Soy City after getting married. She has since been involved in various philanthropic endeavors and was a small business owner. Deering campaign spokeswoman Whitney Barnes, responding to Budzinski questioning Deering's ability to relate with working class people, said that "Regan has been actively working on the ground to help her whole community, especially low and middle income families, for years." "If Ms. Budzinski was serious about helping working families, instead of acting with Gov. Pritzker to shut down power plants like CWLP," Barnes said, referring to Springfield's municipally owned coal-fired plant, "or helping President Biden increase our dependence on foreign oil, she would know that the energy industry supports union and non-union families throughout our district." Deering said she considers herself a practitioner of "common sense conservatism." She has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, but said she "applauded" bipartisan talks on gun safety. Though she is against abortion, a position formed by her own background as an adoptee, Deering said that she supports exceptions for rape, incest and the life and health of the mother. "I want to support women who are finding themselves in crisis as well," Deering said. "And I think that our communities have those resources. We need to continue to elevate those resources. But as a candidate, I will do all that I can to continue to support life." Asked about a possible national abortion ban, Deering said she believed policies should be left to the states, even if she personally disagrees with the policies of states like Illinois. "I'm not going to align with everyone 100% of the time, especially knowing this is a Democratic-leaning district," Deering said. "But I do want to be able to meet people where they are and know that I'm an elected representative that wants to listen to them, wants to hear both sides of an argument and know that they have my commitment to voting appropriately for what's best for my district." On the abortion question, Budzinski said she "will always fight for a woman to make her own health care decisions." And on guns, though she said she supports the Second Amendment, Budzinski said she was for "sensible gun safety measures." On economic issues, Budzinski takes a different tack than some members of her own party, calling it a "more pragmatic ... all of the above" energy approach. She supported the construction of the Land of Lincoln Energy Center, a proposed natural gas plant in Pawnee, for instance. She is also in favor of more populist economic policies that will lead to more manufacturing in the United States. She said such proposals are often bipartisan. "They are mainstream economic issues that provide relief and help people keep more of what they earn," Budzinski said. "That's not all Democrats. I'm not every other Democrat. I can actually work together with people on both sides of the aisle to get things done. It's what I've done my entire career." Financially, Budzinski started the general election with more than $1 million cash on hand, a significant advantage over Deering, who had just over $37,000 in the bank and more than $233,000 in campaign debt. But Deering, who loaned her campaign $150,000 in the primary, is believed to have enough personal wealth to tap should she choose to do so. According to the Cook Political Report, a national elections handicapper, the race currently "leans Democratic." But both sides believe it will be competitive. "I don't think there's any doubt that it's gonna be competitive," said Bill Houlihan, the district's Democratic State Central Committeeman. "The question is for both candidates is what kind of resources are they going to be able to spend and who does a better job of turning out the vote?" Deering, who said she voted for former President Donald Trump in 2020, did not directly answer whether she thought the former president should run again. "I think this election this year is more about progress and policy than personalities," Deering said. "So I think that I want to continue to meet people where they are and talk about what my priorities are for them and being a good listener and knowing that I'm advocating for the people as their elected official." Budzinski, though not shying away from her service for Biden, whose approval ratings are currently low, said that despite a challenging political environment, her labor ties and focus on working class issues will get her across the finish line. "It's all economic issues and it's about how we're going to help working families," Budzinski said. Private citizen Joe Biden and the Democratic Party were absolutely right way back when they kept demanding an investigation of what wed just learned: Russia had interfered big-time in Americas 2016 elections running video ads and doing lots more that helped Donald Trump win the presidency. Then Biden and his fellow Democrats were absolutely right, yet again, in voicing outrage when special counsel Robert Muellers March 2019 report following an in-depth investigation didnt produce a national determination to safeguard our democracy from those who seek to manipulate our voters, overturn our elections and destroy our democracy. Muellers report had given us a detailed warning: Russia had successfully used social media to undermine the U.S. electoral system through what it termed information warfare. The (Russian) operation also included the purchase of political advertisements on social media that by early 2016 favored candidate Trump and disparaged candidate (Hillary) Clinton. So today it is no wonder many of us are rightly outraged. We are witnessing another carefully schemed effort by a very different surprise perpetrator to manipulate voters in the 2022 midterm elections. Once again, an unexpected source has been purchasing video ads to promote pro-Trump Republican candidates in a number of states. But this time you are not hearing expressions of outrage from President Joe Biden or the Democratic Party leaders. Thats because this years manipulative pro-Trumper ads are being paid for by not Russia, not Trump the Democratic Party. (Readers: Do not adjust your news screens or newsprint. You read that right.) In one of the most cynical campaign efforts ever seen anywhere, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) have been buying ads promoting the messages and themes of stop-the-steal, pro-Trump Republicans in primaries for governor, Senate and House. Why? Democratic schemers think they can manipulate opposition primaries so they can run in November against pro-Trump, Love-the-Big-Lie candidates who will be easy to defeat. So they think. So far, this super cynical Democratic manipulation plan has achieved its initial goals in several states. In Michigan, Republican Rep. Peter Meijer, who was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, was challenged and narrowly defeated by pro-Trump conservative John Gibbs. The DCCCs TV ad that featured the Capitol in the background and the words that were drawn from a Gibbs tweet: John Gibbs and Donald Trump, Same Policies. The Democratic ad also called Gibbs too conservative for West Michigan but of course in a Republican primary, that really isnt a negative attack, its a positive vote-getter. And heres the bottom line: The DCCC spent $435,000 on its ad featuring Gibbs; Gibbs spent only $334,000 on his own GOP primary campaign and won. In Maryland, term-limited Republican Gov. Larry Hogan endorsed moderate Kelly Schultz but she was challenged by Trumper Dan Cox. The Democratic Governors Association ad featured a Cox tweet saying: Dan Cox: Reject Fraudulent Elections on Jan. 6, and also a Fox channels screenshot saying: Cox fought the certification of the 2020 election results. Speaking of Jan. 6, on the anniversary of that insurrection, the chairman of the DGA, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, tweeted: Governors must help lead the way in standing up for the truth, protecting our democracy and making sure that its the vote of the people that decides elections. But Cooper didnt put his DGA money where his tweet was: The DGA spent a reported $2 million on ads showcasing Trump-endorsed Coxs message. Last month, Cox won decisively. And yet, the compelling words Cooper tweeted on Jan. 6 were very much on the mind of Michigans secretary of state, Democrat Jocelyn Benson, as she told The Washington Post what she thought about the real message her fellow Democrats were sending when they played in Republican primary sandboxes. If we are going to say as a party or as leaders that we believe in a healthy democracy, which requires citizens to be informed and engaged, we have to live out those values in everything we do, said Benson. Interference with another partys primary does not reflect those values. The last time Democratic schemers were this too-clever-by-a-half was way back in the summer of 2015. We had just seen a most un-political spectacle: A reality TV rich man gliding past on his gold-colored escalator, through his pink marble lobby and into a role the political smart set knew hed never fit. TVs prime-time pundits and late-night comedians were making The Donald their national punchline. Except for one faraway amateur pundit with access to a bit of a bankroll and an office with a fine view of Red Square. Professor Ken Agyeman Attafuah has warned Ghanaians not to engage in double registration for Ghana Card. According to the NIA Boss, the Authority is clothed with the power to have any person who registers twice to be arrested, revealing it is a criminal offence. "Some people have done double registration. The double registration is potential criminal offence and it also warrants an investigation on a case by case basis", he said in an interview on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme. He made this revelation while explaining why many Ghanaians who have registered for their Ghana Cards haven't received them. He disclosed that over 17 million Ghanaians have registered but not all registered persons will receive their cards because they have to be investigated. "The law says we should make sure that the data that is given to us that we capture in the database permanently is accurate and reliable. So, if it (cards) stays in the queue which is translated as logical and technical queue...it has to be investigated on a case by case basis." 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. Featured Video Fifty years after Ugandan Asians were forced to leave the country by leader Idi Amin, the country's foreign minister says such a decision will never be made again. "We have expressed our regrets on many occasions and given reassurances that never again will we allow such a thing happen to the Asians or any minority group in our country," Henry Okello told the BBC. More than 27,000 Asians were expelled by Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 1972, and thousands settled in Leicester. Mr Okello said at the time "Indians were the major merchants... every aspect of business belonged to Indians". Those expelled have previously complained of lack of adequate compensation by the Ugandan government, but the minister says their lack faith in the new administration was the problem. "Some did not have faith in the current government and when their properties were given back to them they quickly sold them off for peanuts," he said. Mr Okello said there was "a lot that still needs to be done to ensure there is more assimilation of Asians in Uganda" even as cases of mixed marriages grow. "Things have changed now. Today there's a new leadership, there's a new spirit and they should take advantage of it," he added. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Life expectancy is rising in Africa - with people living nearly 10 years longer, from 46 years to 56 years, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The rise is because of better access to health services in the continent although the numbers are "still well below the global average of 64 years", according to the health agency. Life expectancy is the number of years on average a person is expected to live - based on their age, gender and country. WHO analyzed life expectancy data from 47 African countries between 2000 and 2019. It said the rise of life expectancy in Africa was greater than in any other region of the world, but warned the Covid pandemic could affect the gains. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Some poles belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) that transmit power to some areas in the Krobo area in the Eastern Region have come under attack. It was discovered on Friday that the poles are being vandalised by what ECG officials have described as "unscrupulous people". In a picture and video shared with Graphic Online, at least one pole has been seen cut, with a logging machine. ECG officials accompanied by personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces were seen inspecting the damaged pole. A source at the ECG told Graphic Online that a particular pole has since been replaced and power restored. Last week the chiefs and the people of Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region appealed to the ECG to restore power supply to the area to save businesses and economic activities from collapse. Since July 27, 2022, the area has been without electricity due to the decision of the ECG to cut power to the area following actions by a section of the people not to allow the company to replace their postpaid meters with prepaid ones. ECG poles under attack in the Krobo area of the Eastern Region pic.twitter.com/znUHbB5o4F GraphicOnline (@Graphicgh) August 6, 2022 Event Addressing a press conference in Somanya, the Divisional Chief of Okper, Nene Anyeenorgu Teye Agor IX, said the people had no problem with the ECG and would, therefore, continue to support the company in its prepaid meter installation activities. "We want to state categorically and emphatically that no citizen of Yilo Krobo has, on record, ever resisted or confronted or obstructed the ECG in its line of duty since the company started the prepaid meter installation exercise some few weeks ago, he said. According to him, there had not been any reported incident of attack or threat, or difficulty encountered by the staff of the ECG by residents of Yilo Krobo because "Yilo Krobo citizens are law-abiding and will never do anything untoward to disturb the peace". "The ECG has always been working hand in hand with the Yilo Krobo paramountcy in the execution and administration of its statutory mandate and responsibility. The company has, at no time, complained to the paramountcy or chiefs of having difficulty with residents of Yilo Krobo during the ongoing installation of the prepaid meters," the chief added. He further pleaded with the ECG to temper justice with mercy and restore power to the area, saying: "The power outage is affecting every facet of our lives in the Yilo Krobo Traditional Area, especially Somanya, the traditional and municipal capital, where schools are suffering and every economic activity has come a halt." Disappointment Nene Agor said the people of Yilo Krobo felt disappointed, deceived and saddened by the decision of the ECG to indefinitely shut down power, not only in communities where some people had disrupted ECG activities but also extended it to Yilo Krobo, where the people were always cooperating with the company in the deployment of prepaid meters, adding: "The effect of this general disconnection is more harmful and costly to the country than one can imagine. "National Security and the Public Utilities Regulation Commission (PURC) are aware of the way Yilo Krobo is helping to resolve ECG challenges in the area, he said. Source: graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The national executive body of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has cautioned the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi for openly endorsing one of the party's flagbearer hopefuls. In a press statement on Friday, August 5, 2022, the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said "the attention of National Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been drawn to a video in circulation, in which Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Party, openly endorsed one of the party's presidential hopefuls. The General Secretary subsequently extended an invitation to Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, and engaged him on the need for officers of the party at all levels, to desist from such conduct". Below is a copy of statement The attention of National Executives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been drawn to a video in circulation, in which Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Party, openly endorsed one of the party's presidential hopefuls. The General Secretary subsequently extended an invitation to Mr. Antwi-Boasiako, and engaged him on the need for officers of the party at all levels, to desist from such conduct. It would be recalled that the National Council of the Party, on July 27, 2021, issued a Code of Conduct for the Party's presidential and parliamentary primaries. In line with Articles 2(3) and 2(4) of the Party's Constitution, the Code of Conduct seeks to foster the spirit of healthy intra-party contests by guaranteeing equal opportunity for all stakeholders. For emphasis, the Code of Conduct provides in Section 1 (f) that: "Members, supporters, sympathizers of the Party at all levels shall desist from using their public office or portfolio within or outside the party to promote the interest of any prospective presidential or parliamentary candidate in order to gain unfair political advantage. In obedience to the Party's Constitution and the Code of Conduct, herein, all National, Regional, and Constituency Executives of the Party are once again cautioned to refrain from either endorsing or openly campaigning for any presidential or parliamentary aspirant. Equally, until the Party duly opens nominations for presidential and parliamentary primaries, all prospective presidential and parliamentary aspirants are to desist from all forms of campaign activities including mounting of billboards and holding meetings with Party executives as that would be in breach of the Code of Conduct. Failure to comply with this directive, may lead to huge consequences and sanctions against such offending officer, member or prospective aspirant in line with the grievance procedures stipulated in the Code of Conduct. It is worthy of note that the institution of these disciplinary measures is to avert the menace of internal Party wrangling, and factionalism, which usually arise when Party executives openly declare support for aspirants, thereby dividing the Party front in the lead-up to general elections. It is also intended to avoid the repetition of the electoral misfortunes of our tradition in the 1979 and 2008 general elections which were linked to Party officials openly leading the campaign of aspirants. There is no gainsaying that the NPP's quest to winning a historic third consecutive general election (breaking the eight) cannot be achieved if Party executives are allowed to flagrantly disregard directives meant to achieve the conduct of free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections. The National Officers of the Party are, therefore, committed to enforcing to the latter, the Code of Conduct for the Party's presidential and parliamentary primaries, which has been attached to this statement. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation in the interest of our Party and tradition. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A retired public servant Mr. Samuel Kwasi Ankamah has laid credence to the fact that current Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was indeed a member of the Boys Brigade of the Methodist Church. He described Dr. Bawumia as a unifier who does not discriminate on religious lines, explaining that it was a lifestyle he grew up with wondering why many are trying to make a mockery of his disclosure that he was once a member of the association in the church. Dr. Bawumia while speaking at the launch of the 175th-anniversary celebrations of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana (EPCG) last week underscored the need for peaceful co-existence between the different religions in Ghana. We live in a society where a mother and some children could be Christians and a father and some children could be Muslims. As a young boy at Sakasaka primary school in Tamale, I was born to a Methodist mother (then Susana Mariama) and a Muslim father. Growing up I was an active member of the Methodist Boys Brigade until my mum changed to Islam. I suspect I am the only Muslim member of the Boys Brigade, he recounted. His comments appeared to have been given a slant by some propagandists who tried making political capital of them but his senior has mounted a spirited defense. According to Mr. Samuel Kwasi Ankamah Bawumias quest for religious tolerance is not new to him because they grew up together and as an elder brother he saw those traits in him I want to confirm that Dr. Bawumia the current Vice President was indeed a Brigade member. When we were children, he joined us at the Methodist Church in Tamale. We had two sections; the seniors and the juniors and he was with the juniors with my younger brother Kwame Brefo Ankamah and my other brother called Raja, he disclosed I wish to add that he somebody who is a unifier in the sense that he does not discriminate among religions. I would say because he is a Muslim he would not join Christians in worship. I remember when our mother died, he came for the funeral on a Saturday. I come from Nsuta Kyebi and the Church Service was held at Nsutahe came for the funeral after that he left. I thought that was all until Sunday while we were at home preparing for Church he had already arrived with his wife and was at the Church premises. He joined us in the services, he added. Source: MyNewsGH Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video " " Usain Bolt of Jamaica carries his country's flag during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games. Bolt is the current world record holder in the 100m and 200m races and considered to be "the fastest man alive." Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images When you think of Jamaica, if you do think of Jamaica, what images come into your mind? Bob Marley? Beaches? Sebastian the Crab from "The Little Mermaid"? For an island of just 2.8 million people living on about 4,244 square miles (10,991 square kilometers), Jamaica is surprisingly well-known around the globe. It's sometimes called "The biggest little country in the world." Some people know Jamaica from having spent a holiday on its renowned white-sand beaches. Others have been captivated by reggae music, popularized by Jamaican artists like Marley and Peter Tosh. Or they've seen Jamaican Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, the "world's fastest man" on TV, blazing through various track events. They may have also seen news coverage pictures of crime and violence. Each of these is a part of Jamaica. Advertisement These are conflicting images: A laid-back, mellow, "no problem, man" society contrasted with an underbelly of aggression. Jamaica has one of the highest murder rates in the world. There were 1,463 murders in 2021, one of the highest homicide rates in the world [source: Statista]. Much of this is fueled by inner-city gang violence. The poverty rate is also high, 23 percent in 2020 while the 2021 unemployment rate was 9 percent [sources: UNAIDS, Macrotrends]. The combination of poverty and crime has fueled widespread emigration. In fact, an astounding 85 percent of college-educated Jamaicans have emigrated [source: Trading Economics]. There are probably as many Jamaicans living outside of Jamaica as there are on the island. And this has helped spread Jamaican culture abroad. Despite these conflicting images, Jamaicans always go home to visit -- and tourists come in droves. All told, Jamaica is one of the most naturally beautiful places you'll ever see. It will get under your skin and you can't let go of it. That said, Jamaica is a study in contrasts and always will be. The island's history may help explain why: Christopher Columbus "discovered" Jamaica in 1494. The island was originally populated by the Taino Indians, who were wiped out when Spain colonized it in the 1500s. In 1655, England captured the island and imported large numbers of African slaves to work the sugar plantations. After slavery was abolished, England imported Chinese and Indian indentured servants to the island. Jamaica won independence from England in 1962, but the racial melting pot that came from past colonization created an entirely new culture -- and a new set of cultural traditions. We'll start by introducing you to some of these traditions firsthand, courtesy of the writer, who was born in Jamaica. Let's start with the holidays. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Experts are ignoring the worst possible climate change catastrophic scenarios, including collapse of society or the potential extinction of humans, however unlikely, a group of top scientists claim. Eleven scientists from around the world are calling on the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world's authoritative climate science organization, to do a special science report on "catastrophic climate change" to "bring into focus how much is at stake in a worst-case scenario." In their perspective piece in Monday's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences they raise the idea of human extinction and worldwide societal collapse in the third sentence, calling it "a dangerously underexplored topic." The scientists said they aren't saying that worst is going to happen. They say the trouble is no one knows how likely or unlikely a "climate endgame" is and the world needs those calculations to battle global warming. "I think it's highly unlikely you are going to see anything close to even extinction over the next century simply because humans are incredibly resilient," said study lead author Luke Kemp at the Center for the Study of Existential Risk at the University of Cambridge in England. "Even if we have a 1% chance of having a global catastrophe, going extinct over the coming century, that 1%, that is way too high." Catastrophic climate scenarios "appear likely enough to warrant attention" and can lead to prevention and warning systems, Kemp said. Good risk analyses consider both what's most likely and what's the worst that could happen, study authors said. But because of push back from non-scientists who reject climate change, mainstream climate science has concentrated on looking at what's most likely and also disproportionately on low-temperature warming scenarios that come close to international goals, said co-author Tim Lenton, director of the Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter in England. There is, Lenton said, "not enough emphasis on how things, the risks, the big risks, could go plausibly badly wrong." It's like an airplane, Lenton said. It's overwhelmingly likely that it will land safely, but it's only because so much attention was made to calculate the worst case scenario and then figure out how to avoid a crash. It only works if you research what could go badly wrong and that isn't being done enough with climate change, he said. "The stakes may be higher than we thought," said University of Michigan environment dean Jonathan Overpeck, who wasn't part of the study. He worries that the world "may stumble" upon climate risks it doesn't know about. When global science organizations look at climate change they tend to just look at what happens in the world: extreme weather, higher temperatures, melting ice sheets, rising seas and plant and animal extinctions. But they aren't factoring enough how these reverberate in human societies and interact with existing problemslike war, hunger and diseasestudy authors said. "If we don't look at the intersecting risks, we'll be painfully surprised," said University of Washington public health and climate professor Kristie Ebi, a co-author who like Lenton has been part of United Nations global climate assessments. It was a mistake health professionals made before COVID-19 when assessing possible pandemics, Ebi said. They talked about disease spread, but not lockdowns, supply chain problems and spiraling economies. Study authors said they worry about societal collapsewar, famine, economic criseslinked to climate change more than the physical changes to Earth itself. Outside climate scientists and risk experts were both welcoming and wary of focusing on the worst of the worst, even as many reject climate doom talk. "I do not believe civilization as we know it will make it out of this century," University of Victoria climate scientist Andrew Weaver, a former British Columbia legislator for the Green Party, said in an email. "Resilient humans will survive, but our societies that have urbanized and are supported by rural agriculture will not." Climate scientist Zeke Hausfather of the tech company Stripe and Berkeley Earth has criticized climate scientists in the past for using future scenarios of greatly increasing carbon pollution when the world is no longer on those paths to more rapid warming. Yet, he said it does make sense to look at catastrophic scenarios "as long as we are careful not to conflate the worst case with the most likely outcome." Talking about extinction of humans is not "a very effective communications device," said Brown University climate scientist Kim Cobb. "People tend to immediately say, well, that's just, you know, arm waving or doomsday mongering." What's happening short of extinction is bad enough, she said. Co-author Tim Lenton said researching worst case scenarios could find nothing to worry about: "Maybe it's that you can thoroughly rule out a number of these bad scenarios. Well, that's actually really well worth spending your time doing that. Then we should all cheer up a bit." 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. WARRENSBURG It was already hot and humid before 11 a.m., as 4-H members and interested families milled around at the Warren County Youth Fair on Saturday. There were 114 exhibits submitted this year by children and teens in 4-H clubs, according to the fairs interim executive director, John Bowe. Submissions ranged from homegrown vegetables, photography, art, sewing and even Legos. Bowe said they are still trying to get back up to pre-COVID numbers. Once people got out of the habit of coming because of COVID, it was easy just not to come once things started back up again, but we are rebuilding, he said on Saturday. The dedication of the kids involved is the same, the numbers are just less. Bowe said Cornell Cooperative Extension of Warren County will be expanding its building at 377 Schroon River Road in Warrensburg soon, hoping to add a pavilion that can be used for shade during outdoor events and storage. He explained the pandemic slowed down or paused many grant applications, so officials were applying for a 2019 grant that would require the construction to be completed before 2024. Though small in number of contestants. the talent show Saturday was one of the days highlights. Eden Shambach won a red ribbon for her trumpet playing and Ehren Auer won a red ribbon for playing his viola because the only two contestants were in different age groups. In addition to the tables of youth-submitted fair entries, there were tables and tents with opportunities for games or outdoor cooking lessons or yarn spinning. Beth Olsen, from Lily of the Valley Farm in Shushan, sat barefoot next to her husband, Ray, outside the exhibition building spinning wool from their own sheep into yarn. Were just doing something people have been doing for a thousand years, she said. This was the couples first year at the fair, but their granddaughter, now a paramedic, participated in the 4-H Sheep and Kids club when she was young. Bill Osborn of the Ben Osborn Memorial Fund was set up with a table of books in the corner of the exhibition room taking a picture with a 4-H member and Ben Osborn scholarship winner. He lost his son, Ben, 12 years ago while he was fighting in Afghanistan when he was only 27 years old. Ben lived by two words: help and give, so thats how I keep his memory alive, Osborn said. The fair also included games, light snacks and a pie-eating competition. LAKE LUZERNE The Lake Luzerne Association, working in coordination with the Lake Luzerne Town Board, New York State Federation of Lakes Association and local volunteers, collected water samples last week as a part of the towns milfoil removal action plan. On July 29, a group of volunteers from the Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP) gathered on Lake Luzerne to conduct the sixth of nine rounds of water testing. The testing is help combat the spread of the invasive plant species Eurasian milfoil, which can be harmful to a lakes native plant life. In the Lake Luzerne Associations winter newsletter, it was announced that the town hired A&E Milfoil Contractors to address the invasive species removal for the 10th year on the lake. Greater awareness than ever before is being dedicated to the removal of invasive species at the local, state and national levels, the newsletter stated. Howard Schaffer, vice president of the association, likened the removal of milfoil to mowing a lawn, a regular, recurring process. CSLAP water collection, as well as plant removal, is ongoing from June until September. Jim Niles, town councilman and former New York State Energy Research and Development Authority project manager, has been working closely with the contractors as well as attending water collection sessions on Lake Luzerne. Niles moved to Lake Luzerne 10 years ago, but said he didnt become seriously involved with water quality in the lake until last year. He said he was most grateful for the collaboration and participation from the lake association. I am most proud of the determination and dedication of the Lake Luzerne Association. They are a private group that takes time to educate themselves and participate in the CSLAP program which can only make the water quality better in our lake, Niles said. Lake Luzerne is the pearl of our little community here. What is CSLAP? The Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program is a volunteer lake monitoring program initiated in 1985, run by the state Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York State Federation of Lake Associations. The states program was modeled after successful volunteer programs in Vermont, Maine, Illinois and Minnesota. NYSFOLA, founded in 1983, serves 166 lake associations, as well as individual and corporate members. More than 600 volunteers participated in the program this year on 174 sites, according to Nancy Mueller, executive director of NYSFOLA and CSLAP coordinator. Mueller said the program began as a pilot with only 25 lakes and it now covers lakes in every corner of the state. Citizen volunteers from NYSFOLA-member lake associations are tasked with collecting biweekly water quality data and samples from the lake, June through September. Volunteers in the program often go on to get involved in town governments or associations or simply continue volunteering year after year, once they become engaged in the improvement of their lake, according to Mueller. Some of the volunteers have been with the program since it started 30 years ago and we even have some second-generation volunteers now, she told The Post-Star. The investigation into her death is ongoing, but state police do not believe that it is suspicious, nor that there is any associated threat to the public, according to the news release. MOREAU A petition asking people to Say no to pollution in the Adirondacks has gained 625 signatures since the community organized group Not Moreaus 70-person protest on July 29. The group is comprised of citizens concerned with the plans moving forward for a carbon fertilizer factory to be built in the Moreau Industrial Park. The proposed plant would process up to 15% of New Yorks biosolids, as well as waste from surrounding states, including Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Biosolids are solid waste from wastewater treatment plants that Saratoga Biochar Solutions would process into carbon fertilizer. Those who are opposed are concerned that the process the plant uses, known as pyrolysis, would emit long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, these chemicals have been found in the environment, and overexposure to them can cause harmful health effects to humans and animals. According to Saratoga Biochar Solutions website, the plant would utilize state-of-the-art air quality controls to recover solids instead of burning them like an incinerator. One of Not Moreaus organizers, Holly Johnson, said residents of Moreau and the surrounding communities are entitled to more information on a topic even the EPA does not fully understand yet. Biochar CEO Ray Apy said Not Moreaus questions have already been answered. The concerns that continue to be raised by the Not Moreau group have already been addressed extensively through the town Planning Boards review and public hearing process over the past 15 months. The Not Moreau group just refuses to accept the answers, or believes anyone other than themselves. They do not believe in the town leadership, or the Planning Board, or the New York State DEC, or Saratoga Biochar, Apy said on Friday. He acknowledged the growing number of supporters the group had gained, but also cited the new group in town, Yes Moreau. The community-organized group has placed signs around the town that read Learn the facts and include the Saratoga Biochar website. He said the new group was in favor of growth, development and eco-friendly businesses such as Saratoga Biochar. Apy told The Post-Star he believes the project will be approved because of the support for the facility. We believe the town Planning Board will vote to approve our application as it is backed by a multitude of third-party reviews ranging from NYS DEC (air and water facility permits and compliance), the towns own water/wastewater and highway superintendents, the city of Glens Falls wastewater treatment plant authorities, the South Glens Falls fire department along with Saratoga County Emergency Response, and the towns own designated third party engineering firm, the LaBerge Group, Apy said. Given the scope and depth of those reviews, the Planning Board voted against additional third party review, deeming it an unnecessary, duplicative step, he added. Johnson said she understands Apys point of view on the additional study costing time and money, but thinks the residents deserve a third-party review. In December, the Planning Board members agreed to have a third-party expert study, paid for by Saratoga Biochar, conducted to confirm the answers provided by the company. Something happened and that changed, no one was ever told why. The people just want to know why, she said. Johnson said the members of her group just want the board to take another look at the proposal and the potential impacts on the community. We understand that this is hard work, its a difficult position, I get that, she said. But we are really hoping the Planning Board will hire an independent consultant to review the data. There is just still so much unknown. Apy, however, said the group has a different motive entirely. It has become crystal clear that the Not Moreau movement is really about not wanting an industrial park in town, or any industrial development at all, as they are now promoting the concept of getting the industrial park rezoned. I do not believe that a majority of area residents agree with that, he said. He also returned to the subject of the lawful tacit approval, which occurs when the board does not vote on a project within a certain timeframe. The companys lawyer and the towns attorney reminded the board of this at the last meeting, but Apy said he would prefer their process to come to its natural conclusion with a majority vote. Johnson recently posted copies of the State Environmental Quality Review, or SEQR, workbook, completed by the company and the pages completed by the Moreau Planning Board, to the groups Facebook page. Her post urges residents to submit comments to the DEC expressing their concerns. She said after review of the documents, the DEC will open a public comment period. Apy said his company is discouraged by the posts on the groups Facebook page and fears they are spreading misinformation. Very recently, we see claims that Saratoga Biochar would import toxic and even radioactive waste, which is an outright lie and took root when Planning Board member (Ann) Purdue read a speech at the last meeting and purposefully used those inflammatory words, Apy said. We also see EPA documents being misrepresented extensively, and a complete ignoring of the extensive third-party research and testing literature that we and others have provided. Apy said all DEC permit applications for waste handling require the applicant to address such topics as radioactive and hazardous waste, regardless of whether or not the applicant is actually applying for permission to handle such materials. Johnson said one of the biggest issues with the SEQR that was submitted was the use of a 25-year-old traffic study. To me, its insane to rely on a 25-year-old study in a town that has grown exponentially since then, Johnson laughed. Apy said he is not against the community. We know that the folks of Not Moreau are good people and they have a right to be heard. We just hope that the balance of the community is able to distinguish opinions and inflammatory statements from facts, he said. The next vote regarding the Biochar plant has not been set by the board since an option for an additional 45 days to craft a resolution was taken at Julys meeting. ATLANTIC CITY Could outdoor gambling be at least a partial solution to an impasse between Atlantic City casino workers who want smoking banned indoors, and gambling executives who fear a smoking ban would hurt business and cost jobs? It may depend on what the definition of outdoors is. For more than two years, many casino workers have been pushing for the enactment of a state law that would ban smoking inside Atlantic Citys nine casinos virtually the only workplaces in New Jersey where indoor smoking is still allowed. A bill that would end smoking in the casinos has sat untouched in the state Legislature for months and has yet to have a hearing even though more than half the entire state Legislature has signed onto it as sponsors or co-sponsors. An identical bill introduced last year suffered the same fate, languishing without action. The Casino Association of New Jersey, the industrys trade association, opposes a smoking ban, saying it would lead to lower earnings and fewer jobs. But a group of casino workers is adamant that any solution include two non-negotiable demands: That no smoking be allowed inside the casinos, and that no casino worker is exposed to second-hand smoke. Atlantic City currently allows smoking on 25% of the casino floor, but the areas are not contiguous. Its spread throughout the floor, which essentially makes the entire casino floor a smoking area, said Corinne Orlando of the American Heart Association. A partial solution is instead being discussed among workers, casino officials and state Legislators: Creating some outdoor gambling spaces where smoking would be permitted. However, there is no wide agreement on just what constitutes an outdoor area. The devil is in the details, said Pete Naccarelli, a dealer at the Borgata and a leader of the movement to ban smoking in Atlantic City casinos. As long as no worker is exposed to second-hand smoke, a truly outdoor area could be a workable solution. Las Vegas, with its desert climate, has long offered outdoor gambling, including near and sometimes even in swimming pools. Gamblers can play cards at swim-up gambling tables. In Maryland, outdoor gambling areas at casinos in Baltimore and Hanover appear to be largely enclosed spaces with a roof and walls, and some openings to let air in. In Ohio, Hard Rocks Cincinnati casino also has what it calls a smoking patio, separate from the main casino floor, that has ventilation systems and some direct air flow from outside. Smoking opponents cite the outdoor smoking area that Harrahs in New Orleans opened about five years ago as a better alternative with open walls and no live table games requiring dealers. Those outdoor areas cost between $10 million to $15 million to build, however a price tag that does not appear to be within reach of all of Atlantic Citys casinos. Ten years ago, Atlantic Citys Golden Nugget opened an outdoor gambling area on its deck for use during warm weather. But it is exposed to the elements, not enclosed, and cant be used for much of the year. The Golden Nugget did not respond to a request for comment. Bob McDevitt, president of Local 54 of the Unite Here casino workers union that represents housekeeping, food and beverage and other workers, said the idea of outdoor gambling has been talked about for months as at least a partial solution. Weve been speaking about this idea with the industry and with the state government since before the summer, he said. We want to resolve this with a solution that works for everyone, and I believe thats attainable. He said such areas could be heated during colder months, and that casinos would need to allow workers who dont want to breathe in smoke to opt out of working in them. That idea has led to another suggestion being discussed: creating indoor smoking rooms staffed by dealers who agree to work there. Democratic state Sen. Shirley Turner, one of the smoking ban bills main sponsors, called it imperative that indoor smoking come to an end in casinos. There are solutions such as truly outdoor areas for guests who smoke that do not compromise worker health, she said. Joe Lupo, president of the casino association, reiterated its longstanding contention that unilaterally banning smoking in Atlantic City casinos while nearby jurisdictions still permit it would hurt the industry, leading to fewer jobs and less tax money to fund state programs for senior citizens. Additional time is required to devise and implement a solution that will address the concerns of our employees without jeopardizing jobs and benefits to seniors, he said. Absecon police investigating shots fired at Oyster Bay condo complex: Absecon police are investigating gun shots fired Thursday night at the Oyster Bay condominium complex. Officers responded to the complex around 11:15 p.m. after shots were reported. Evidence of gunfire was found at the scene, police said. Police did not say if anyone was injured by the gunfire or if any particular person was considered a target. Information about the incident should be given to city police at 609-641-0667. Tips or reports can also be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers, at 1-800-658-8477 or by texting TIPCOP, followed by the information, to 274637. Arrest made in Brigantine Acme theft: Brigantine police tracked down a Delaware man accused of stealing money from the citys Acme grocery store last month. After investigating the July 13 incident, Logan J. Dunn, of Camden-Wyoming, was arrested and charged with fourth-degree theft of movable property. He was released on a summons, police said Thursday. Dunn allegedly stole cash from an outdoor register at the Acme, police said. After the theft was reported, police issued a social media post that featured an image of a suspected SUV and asked for help to track down the vehicle. Anyone with additional information about the theft should contact city police at 609-266-7414. Man with machete arrested: Bridgeton police on Tuesday arrested a city man who reportedly chased a woman with a machete. After speaking with the woman, police charged Edgar R. Escalante-Perez, 43, with contempt, harassment, unlawful possession of a weapon and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, police said Wednesday. He was taken to the Cumberland County jail. Escalante-Perez also had outstanding warrants when he was arrested, police said. Detours coming for Coombs Douglas Run: Drivers traveling throughout Town Bank and North Cape May the morning of Aug. 13 may be forced to adjust their routes while the Coombs Douglas Run is ongoing. The run starts at 8:30 a.m., causing detours on Town Bank Road, Clubhouse Road, Miramar Avenue, Beach Drive, Shore Road and at Douglass Park, Upper Township police said Thursday. Drivers are asked to avoid that area from 8 to 11 a.m. on Aug. 13, police said. Douglass Park will be closed from 10 p.m. Aug. 13 until the race ends on the following morning, police said. Missing man might be in AC: A missing Camden County man may be in the Atlantic City area, having possibly traveled there by public transportation, police said. Edward Bruce was last seen in the townships Sicklerville section on Thursday. Hes 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds, police said. Police believe Bruce may have used NJ Transit since he does not drive a car. Information about Bruce or his whereabouts should be directed to township police at 609-567-0700. Tuckerton man faces child porn charge: The Ocean County Prosecutors Office tracked child pornography downloaded from the internet to a Tuckerton man, leading to his arrest. Jeremy Bradley-Forman, 34, was arrested Thursday and charged with possession of child pornography, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said Friday. The county prosecutor was notified by the State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that it detected a Google user downloading the pornography. The Prosecutors Office then was lead to Bradley-Formans address, it said. When Bradley-Formans residence was searched by authorities, a desktop with a hard drive storing child pornographic images was discovered, officials said. Other electronic devices were seized as well and were being given forensic tests, the Prosecutors Office said. Bradley-Forman was arrested, taken to the borough police headquarters and then transported to the Ocean County jail. He will stay there until a detention hearing, the Prosecutors Office said. Press staff reports BRIDGETON A city man retried for having sex with a child under 13 years old in the early 2000s was again found guilty, the Cumberland County Prosecutors Office said on Friday. Pascual Matias, 53, was convicted Thursday of aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Matias appealed a 2017 guilty verdict for the same charges and was granted a new trial, the Prosecutors Office said. Matias new trial was heard by Judge Cristen P. DArrigo, starting with jury selection on July 12. Testimonies began July 28, the Prosecutors Office said. The charges stem from assaults that transpired from November 2006 to November 2009, the Prosecutors Office said. Police were told by officials at a city school that a student informed them they were sexually assaulted by their uncle. County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae previously said the child was between ages 6 and 8 when the assaults occurred. On Friday, the Prosecutors Office said the assaults happened in Bridgeton and Greenwich Township. Matias was previously sentenced to 16 years in prison for the assaults. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender under Megans Law. Matias is not currently listed in New Jerseys sex offender database. After his retrial, he faces up to 20 years for his assault charge and up to five years for child endangerment, the Prosecutors Office said. He is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 30. LACEY TOWNSHIP Authorities arrested two men last week after an investigation revealed a home in the township was being used to store and dis Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union are dropping their legal challenge of Iowas 24-hour waiting period on abortions, which the state Supreme Court allowed to go into effect in June, the groups announced Friday. Instead of pursuing the litigation, the groups said they are focusing on fighting Gov. Kim Reynolds request for the courts to reinstate the so-called fetal heartbeat law, a 2018 law struck down by a district court that would ban abortions after six weeks. Politicians never should have passed this law, but we have made the decision to instead focus our efforts on fighting the governor's suggested reimposing of a six week abortion ban, ACLU of Iowa spokesperson Veronica Fowler said. Abortion is still legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks, but the 24-hour waiting period took effect in July, requiring people to get two separate appointments within 24 hours in order to get an abortion. The groups also said they will focus attention to fighting a proposed constitutional amendment that would establish that the state constitution does not protect the right to an abortion. The Iowa Legislature passed the proposal in 2021. If the Legislature passes it in 2023 or 2024, it will show up on a future ballot and be subject to a popular vote. The 24-hour waiting period was first blocked by a district court, but in June the Iowa Supreme Court allowed it to go into effect, overturning a 2018 decision that established a fundamental right to an abortion in the state. The decision weakened abortion protections in the states constitution, but it left in place the undue burden standard that had been in place under federal law, noting there was potential for that standard to be litigated further. Just a week later, on June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 court case that established a federal right to an abortion, causing abortion bans to go into effect in several states. Shortly after, Reynolds said she would ask a district court to lift the injunction on the six-week abortion ban and let it go into effect. She also asked the Supreme Court to revisit its decision in the 24-hour waiting period. The Supreme Court denied hearing the second request, sending it back to a district court. Weve got two laws in place, and so were going to move forward with that and wait and see what the ruling is based on that, and then well reassess after that point, Reynolds said after announcing the legal action. Fowler called the six-week ban almost a complete ban on abortion, because most women dont know theyre pregnant by six weeks. We know that most Iowans support safe and legal abortion and value their reproductive freedom, said Planned Parenthood North Central States Iowa Public Affairs Director Mazie Stilwell. We will never stop fighting to preserve our rights and take politicians out of our health care choices." Bloomberg Like Osama bin Laden, his predecessor as leader of al-Qaida, Ayman al-Zawahri had the blood of thousands of innocents on his hands. His death, announced by the White House on Monday, should be welcomed not just in the United States but everywhere his terrorist organization has wrought havoc over the past decades. Al-Zawahris killing was a feat of patient, effective intelligence work. U.S. spies tracked him through his family to Kabul earlier this year, then spent months confirming his presence and observing how he spent his days. That information allowed an American drone to target him while he was standing alone on his balcony; the two Hellfire missiles that took him out killed no one else, according to U.S. officials. In announcing the strike, President Joe Biden was right to pay tribute to the intelligence professionals who spent decades tracking down the Egyptian terrorist leader and who devised the plan to eliminate him. There was no doubt he had it coming. In addition to helping plot the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks which he called a victory in 2002 al-Zawahri had a hand in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which killed more than 200 people; the 2000 attack against the USS Cole, which took the lives of 17 U.S. sailors; the 2005 London transit bombings, which killed 52 civilians; and numerous other atrocities. Few terrorists of his generation were responsible for more bloodshed. While assessments of al-Qaidas remaining strength vary, al-Zawahri had been its best-known remaining leader and a rallying point for its affiliates in Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Though lacking in bin Ladens charisma, he had managed to keep those offshoots within the fold despite efforts by Islamic State to win them over. Zawahri himself was continuing to encourage attacks against the U.S.; the affiliates he cultivated remain a threat to carry them out. The strike suggests two further lessons. First, its difficult but not impossible for the U.S. to gather intelligence, conduct surveillance and eliminate terrorist threats in Afghanistan despite having ceded the country to the Taliban a year ago. Biden pledged at the time to use such over-the-horizon operations to keep Americans safe. His administration should redouble efforts to improve its capabilities by working out overflight and basing agreements with Afghanistans neighbors, while expanding intelligence cooperation with Pakistan, India and others worried about extremist groups being sheltered by the Taliban. Second, the Taliban clearly cant be trusted to uphold its promises to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a base. al-Zawahri was apparently living under the protection of the Haqqani branch of the Taliban; U.S. officials say Haqqani operatives spirited away al-Zawahris family after the strike to eliminate evidence of his presence. At the very least, those open links violate the spirit of the Doha Agreement, which paved the way for the U.S. withdrawal. The Taliban have been pursuing aid and international recognition ever since; they should receive neither as long as they continue to coddle terrorists. For now, its enough to say that justice has been served and that the world is a safer place with Ayman al-Zawahri in his grave. A 19-year-old was flown to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in Iowa City after sustaining life-threatening injuries Wednesday night at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds, police said. At about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, police, fire and EMS responded to reports of a person hit by a vehicle in the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds's southwest parking lot, according to a press release from Davenport Police Department. Authorities said they located a 19-year-old man who had sustained life-threatening injuries and transported him to a local hospital. He was later airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics by Medforce. Davenport police said in a press release the incident was still under investigation. The Mississippi Valley Fair runs through Sunday, Aug. 7, and draws thousands of people to the grounds in west Davenport for nighttime concerts and daytime activities. Holidays are hard for Patty Thorington. Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays gathering with family just reminds her that her son isn't there. July 27 was supposed to be Robert Mitchell's golden birthday, and to celebrate, his nieces took a sign depicting a picture of him and the phrase "happy birthday, Bobby" on the Channel Cat Water Taxi. Thorington said that it helped them feel close to their uncle on what was supposed to be his special day. "It's hard for them, the girls, they miss their Uncle Bobby a lot," said Thorington, voice cracking. "They decorate his grave quite a bit for every little occasion they can." It's been almost four years since Mitchell and a passenger were stopped at the Menard's parking lot on North Brady Street by Scott County Deputy Greg Hill for a faulty brake light. According to a report from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, over the course of the stop, which occurred at 1:08 a.m. Oct. 23, 2018, Hill learned that Mitchell had a suspended driver's license and an extraditable warrant out in Indiana. Deputy Meghann Messmore was also on the scene. Hill attempted to arrest Mitchell, and a struggle ensued, with Mitchell still in the car. Mitchell drove the car back and forth as the deputy clung to the car. Hill then shot Mitchell who drove off and was found later in the Kwik Shop parking lot near Division Street and Kimberly Road. Mitchell died 17 hours later from his wounds. Thorington spent as much time as she was allowed with Mitchell in the hospital before he died. Seeing her son in a hospital bed, one bullet wound in his torso and another in his arm, was one of the most horrifying things she'd ever seen. "[A Davenport police officer] told me to try not to go in there a lot because if something bad were to happen, I don't want to remember Bobby like that I want to remember how he was," Thorington said. "I should have followed that a little better, because I have terrible images in my mind of the scene of that night." After filing a $5 million wrongful death suit with attorney David O'Brien against Hill and Scott County last year, the Davenport mother has decided to speak out against the defense's methods, which she said stretch the truth specifically, a video submitted as evidence that she described as a cartoon. The defense has submitted an interlocutory appeal to the Iowa Supreme Court, and created a video from dash cam footage of the incident that O'Brien said animated the scene to look different from what really happened. He said the county spent $66,000 on the video. If the interlocutory appeal is denied, trial is set for May 2023. The appeal could delay trial proceedings if accepted. "I know Patty believed that her fellow citizens in Scott County should know what the county is doing to try to cover up its wrongful conduct, including spending lots of money, more than the average annual salary for its citizens, to create a cartoon that does not accurately depict what happened," O'Brien said. Ian Russell is an attorney from the firm Lane & Waterman who, along with The Sotos Law Firm, represents Hill and Scott County. He said he was not in the position to confirm or comment on the cost of the video analysis, and was unable at the time to show the video. "The dangerous and fast-moving conditions created by Mr. Mitchell put multiple deputies in danger," Russell said in a statement. "Video evidence of the incident will be presented to the jury in a format that will allow the jury to see the full story in a clear and understandable way." Mitchell was far from a perfect person, Thorington said. He'd gotten into trouble before and had struggles. But he loved his family fiercely and would help anyone in need, to his own detriment if necessary. One of the last holidays Mitchell spent with his nieces was Valentine's Day, Thorington said. He took them to get their faces painted. Thorington has a photo of them together hanging on her wall. He'd gotten some Slim Jim's from the food bank he volunteered at, and gave them to the girls as presents for the holiday. Now they leave Slim Jims on his grave. "He was a really loving, caring person, and he deserved to be in trouble I would tell him, 'You deserve to go to jail, Bobby. You did wrong. You deserve to go to jail," Thorington said. "But he did not deserve to be murdered." The Black Hills Weed Shop, nestled inside a former mechanics bay off Deadwood Avenue in Rapid City, is ready to be the first medical cannabis dispensary to open in Rapid City. They just need the weed. Owner Michael Graham has had the location since September, but the shine of owning a weed shop has gone, Graham said theyre ready to open. When will that be? An official opening date hasnt been set, for one simple reason: the product isnt ready. Graham is working with three local cultivators, and the first round is a guessing game. Hes hopeful their doors will open in two to three weeks, but hes waiting on the phone call. Its brand new, Graham said. Thats the biggest thing about this, is just figuring out all the rules and working your way through it. South Dakota's medical cannabis legislation has one giant stipulation all of the marijuana product must be grown and cultivated in the state. Most cultivators have only had their licenses since April, with supply chain issues creating delays in facility construction, pushing back the entire growing process. While future grows will create more consistency, for now, its a race of the three cultivators. Whichever gets their product ready first holds the key to opening the Weed Shops doors. Some cultivators have harvested, and are in the testing phase coordinating with testers to make sure the product is ready for a dispensary. Once they receive the product, the shop will have just flower, Graham said five different strains. Theyll be looking at manufactured products two to four weeks after opening. Graham said their shop has received upwards of 50 calls a day, and foot traffic through their door in the 20s daily. The people are ready, and so is the shop. As soon as they receive the product, they can open the next day, Graham said. Graham described the shop as a family business, and the only small business dispensary in Rapid City. He moved to South Dakota from North Carolina, along with his mom, son and brother, James also an owner when medical marijuana was legalized in 2020. Theyve been working on the shop ever since. Graham said hes wanted to get into the industry for the past decade, but can trace his ties to the plant back to his grandfather. He used to grow it in between tomatoes, Graham said. The plant isnt clinical to Graham its personal, which is why he named the shop The Black Hills Weed Shop." We just tried to be straightforward, he said. Graham said hed never heard the term cannabis until 2013. It was grass or pot. The shop has a classic rock theme, from the '60s and '70s, but it all started with Jimi, Graham said. A towering Jimi Hendrix poster, swirling with primary colors and a tight frame of Hendrixs face, greets customers at the end of a small entryway, dead ahead as they enter the shop. The wall leading to Jimi is lined with other classic rock posters. His business partner, Frank Michela, is a Marine, Graham said, and had the poster since high school. When he joined the Marines, his mom had it framed, and its traveled with him all over the world, Graham said. So the whole shop came from Jimi. The posters lend themselves to a laid-back atmosphere, with open space and rock music playing overheard. The walls are currently lined with paraphernalia such as bongs and pipes even an apparatus called a bubbler, or a mini bong, as Graham described it. Another shelf carries smell-proof bags, complete with locking combinations and a tag reading come back with a warrant. Rolling trays, grinders, wraps and paper are among other products on the shelves, awaiting the main attraction. An open, central area lined with green carpet pays homage to the green plant, with countertop running across one side of the room and four large televisions mounted on the wall above. The TVs will eventually display menus, once the shop has product, and the counter will display product samples. Behind the counter customers will find two bud tenders, passionate and eager to assist and educate on any and all things cannabis. Liana Hedlund and Danielle Bradford came from California and Kentucky when medical cannabis was legalized, rounding out a staff of four, with Graham and his brother James. Hedlund has personally experienced the benefits of medical marijuana, saying its helped her with her own health problems. As soon as South Dakota legalized medical marijuana, she saw an opportunity to help educate other people, she said. Education is a big part of the job, Graham said consulting with customers on exactly what the effects of each product are and how they fit into customers lives. Bradford said she moved to South Dakota from Kentucky for much the same reason, having experienced the benefits of cannabis within her own family, including a loved one suffering from PTSD. It makes me excited to be in the very beginning stages, Hedlund said. The shop, according to Graham, will not only be the first to open in Rapid City, but the biggest. As they wait on their first cultivator to reach the finish line, theyve been directing curious customers to their website and Facebook page. We just want to sell weed and have a good time, Graham said. Those interested in more information on the shop, or when it will officially open, can keep an eye on both at www.TheBlackHillsWeedShop.com or www.facebook.com/BHWS2022. Name: Candi Preheim Age: 44 From: Bessemer, Michigan How many rallies have you attended previously? This is my 12th year. Favorite thing about the rally? The sound of the bikes. I love the sound of the bikes. Everything is great. Everybody is so awesome and welcoming, and just cool as hell here. I can run around half naked and it's okay. Name: Heinz Woelki Age: 72 From: Undisclosed How many rallies have you attended previously? This is my 54th year at the rally. Favorite thing about the rally? The bikes. I ride. Name: Erica Backer Age: 50 From: Virginia Beach, Virginia How many rallies have you attended previously? We've been coming for about seven years. Favorite thing about the rally? The rides in the mountains, seeing Mount Rushmore and just getting away. Name: Lauren Martens Age: 34 From: Wichita, Kansas How many rallies have you attended previously? First rally. Favorite thing about the rally? Definitely excited for the people-watching of this community because it's been something else so far. A veteran Petersburg police officer was acquitted Thursday of assault charges stemming from an October incident in which he twice used a Taser on a suspect who reportedly was seen walking the streets carrying two handguns tucked in his waistband and possibly carrying a rifle. After an all-day trial in Henrico Circuit Court, retired Judge James S. Yoffy found Lt. Jason Sharp, 50, not guilty of two misdemeanor assault charges and one count of making false statements in a police report. Yoffy ruled that Sharps use of his police-issued Taser on William Antonio Scott was reasonable and appropriate under the circumstances. Sharp and Petersburg Officer Jonai Jackson went to Scotts home in the 600 block of Pegram Street on Oct. 4 to investigate a 911 call about an armed man walking the streets with several weapons. Before arriving at Scotts home, the officers were informed that Scott had previously been violent and resisted arrest, that he was a two-time convicted felon and was mentally unstable, said defense attorney Doug Ramseur. Upon arrival, Jackson walked to the front door, knocked and ordered Scott to come out with his hands up, according to police body-cam footage of the encounter. When Scott came out he appeared visibly agitated, and when Jackson again commanded him to put his hands up, he repeatedly refused and made angry gestures and cursed at the officer. Because of where she was positioned on the enclosed front porch, Jackson couldnt move past Scott, and at that point Sharp intervened and directed Scotts attention to him by saying, Whats going on today? the footage shows. Scott, dressed in shorts with no shirt, then began walking down the porch steps toward Sharp, telling him to Get the f- off his property. Sharp then drew his Taser and fired it at Scott, striking him as he stood on the first step, according to the footage. Sharp then directed Jackson, a rookie officer who had recently graduated from the academy, to come lock him up. But Scott appeared to have recovered from the Taser shock, and when he began to move around, Sharp fired his Taser again, hitting Scott a second time. Ill keep doing it! Sharp can be heard saying. Put the cuffs on him. Scott then complied and put his hands behind his back as instructed to be handcuffed. Scott sustained minor injuries from the Taser and was treated at the scene before being taken to Southside Regional Medical Center for an emergency psychiatric evaluation, said Powhatan Deputy Commonwealths Attorney Robert Cerullo, who was appointed special prosecutor in the case. Cerullo argued that Sharps use of the Taser was unnecessary and excessive. In order to Taser someone, legally there has to be two elements, the prosecutor said. One you have to have a reasonable fear that he or someone else is in harms way. And there has to be an overt act on the part of the offender. So, I could be afraid of you but if you dont approach me or come near me or take a swing at me, thats not an overt act. And I didnt think there was an overt act in this case. Cerullo called as a witness Dennis OKeeffe, a former Henrico County police officer who now is director of security for HCA Hospitals Capital Division, who reviewed the body camera footage. OKeefee testified that he didnt think there was an immediate threat to the officers that justified the use of the Taser. The prosecutor also called Jackson, who during cross examination by Ramseur, admitted that she felt threatened by Scotts actions. That was a big turning point, Ramseur said. Another witness, Petersburg Lt. Dan Felthoff, who originally was a prosecution witness, ended up testifying for the defense. He testified that he thought that this use of the Taser was reasonable and in line with Petersburgs policies, Ramseur said. It was also disclosed during the trial that Petersburg police had received a 911 call earlier in the day from a woman who claimed Scott had held a knife to her throat. However, Cerullo said there was no evidence to corroborate the womans allegation. I dont know if that happened or not, he said. People call 911 and make allegations all the time. Ultimately, Scott was not charged in the incident. Obviously, reasonable minds can disagree, and there were experts on both sides and they disagreed , Cerullo said of the outcome. And my charging decision took that into account, and I felt that only a judge or a jury is qualified to make that determination. I, as the prosecutor, is not going to say, this guy is not guilty just because hes a police officer. Cerullo said he accepts the judges decision. It was a close call, we stand behind the evidence and we are disappointed. Ramseur said Sharp was suspended without pay since he was indicted on the charges in November, and is looking forward to returning to work. The Richmond Region League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is calling on Richmond Public Schools to establish a commission to support the success of Latino students in the district. According to state data from the fall of 2020, 18.5% of the districts student body was Hispanic, while Black students made up 55.4% of the student body and white students accounted for 21%. For the past three school years, according to state data and the organizations letter, Latino students in RPS have trailed all of their peers with on-time graduation rates. For example in the 2020-21 school year, 57.2% of Latino students graduated from RPS, compared with 80.1% of Black students, 93.3% of white students and 78.5% of all students, according to state data. Why these Chesterfield students are heading back to class now Hundreds of Chesterfield County students returned to classrooms on Monday, marking the begin Establishing a communitywide Commission on the Status of Latino students in RPS is needed to comprehensively assess current issues related to the academic and non-academic success of Latino students (including English learners) and to identify policy, programmatic, and administrative steps aimed at significantly improving academic and non-academic outcomes for RPS Latino students, according to an Aug. 1 letter from the Richmond chapter of LULAC. A report on K-12 performance that the Youngkin administration released in May found that following the states public school closures during COVID-19, the most devastating learning loss affected Black and Hispanic students and students living in poverty. Vilma Seymour, president of the Richmond branch, submitted the letter last week to RPS Superintendent Jason Kamras and School Board Chairwoman Shonda Harris-Muhammed. Seymour also read portions of the letter during public comment during Mondays School Board meeting. There was no formal discussion of the proposal. However, later during the meeting, School Board member Stephanie Rizzi asked her colleagues to consider LULACs proposal in full, including forming the commission. Harris-Muhammed immediately concurred. The proposal looks to charge a commission with assessing existing programming that is designed to meet the needs of Latino students and English learners, develop a multiyear plan to improve academic outcomes and the well-being of Latino students, gather perspectives from the Latino community and more. [While] Latino students are the fastest-growing segment of RPS enrollment ... RPS has never focused sustained system-wide priority attention on specific issues impacting the well-being and achievement of Latino students, the proposal letter reads. Youngkin names new members to Board of Education Gov. Glenn Youngkins new appointees to the Virginia Board of Education include members whos The commission, according to the proposal, would have between four and six community members (including parents of RPS Latino and English learner students), two or three Latino high school students, community organization representatives, RPS staff, two School Board members (with at least one representing a South Side district) and more. The Richmond LULAC chapter wrote that its proposal is consistent with the Dreams4RPS Strategic Plan and the districts overall commitment for equity for all students. Dreams4RPS, a five-year plan that ends in 2023, includes prioritizing safe and loving school cultures, hiring high-quality staff, fostering a passion for learning with engaging instruction, establishing community and family partnerships, and modernizing buildings. In a July appearance before the School Board, Seymour asked for the commission to be formed. She brought a letter from a concerned member of the George Wythe High community that she said detailed unacceptable treatment of the Latino and English learner population at the school. Seymour said English-learner students are crammed into small classrooms with not enough desks, forcing some to sit on the floor. Spanish-speaking school visitors are routinely ignored by front desk personnel, said Seymour, adding that teachers have been told they will not receive a substitute to cover their class because the substitutes only want to work with students who speak English. The Richmond LULAC chapter is asking for the commission to be established ahead of the upcoming school year and for members to be named no later than Sept. 20. The 2022-23 academic year begins Aug. 29. The name of Richmonds new bike lane street sweeper has been chosen, and its MF BROOM. Venture Richmond launched a Sweet 16 tournament-style bracket for the public to choose the new name for the sweeper on Twitter. The final vote came down to The Grim Sweeper vs. MF BROOM. MF BROOM is a play on the name of MF DOOM, an underground hip-hop artist who died in 2020. The MF stands for Metal Face. Over 600 votes were cast on the final bracket with 59.1% voting for MF BROOM and 40.9% going to The Grim Sweeper. I remain a fan of LeBroom James, but the people have spoken. Congratulations MF Broom! Mayor Levar Stoney said via email on Friday, referencing one of the early names knocked out of the running. The naming contest was aimed as a way to generate city pride for its new mini-street sweeper. The bike lane sweeper is smaller than the average street sweeper and will keep bike lanes clear of debris and help make them safer for cyclists. Brantley Tyndall, director of Bike Walk RVA, said the group had been advocating for a bike lane sweeper for years. He said he was thrilled to see the Richmond biking community be enthusiastically engaged with the naming contest. The selection process got really energetic at times with the rivalry between runner up Meryl Sweep and winner MF Broom, Tyndall said via email. MF Broom is a fitting and clever name for the sweeper, as its namesake, MF Doom, was a thoughtful and innovative rap artist cherished for his flowing lines, interesting brand, and compelling message of inclusivity that I think is a foundation of the biking movement in Richmond, he added. The city of Richmond will host a naming ceremony with details to be released at a later date. Until then, if you see the mini-street sweeper go by, you can call it by its new name, MF BROOM! CHESTER With less than three weeks before the start of the 2022-23 school year, children across the commonwealth are soaking up the final joy-filled days of summer vacation at pools, camps, beaches and beyond. For roughly two dozen students at C.C. Wells Elementary School in Chesterfield County, their source of joy on Thursday was returning to school for a special ribbon-cutting event. Through a partnership with Niagara Bottling and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, their STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) classroom was remodeled into a brand new lab, loaded with engaging activities. Over a three-day period, Niagara Bottling volunteers engineered the room overhaul. This included a fresh paint job; new wall graphics, storage cabinets, tables and chairs; and state-of-the-art equipment, from robots to a 3D printer. The new lab will help C.C. Wells students realize some of the Virginia Department of Educations key STEAM principles: problem-solving through multiple approaches and perspectives, which prepares them for tomorrows world. Its a transformative space that already is igniting their love of learning. No student or teacher could have prepared for how the COVID-19 pandemic upended the school world. STEAM is a highly hands-on subject area, and virtual learning could not replicate the quality of the in-person experience. You couldnt touch the same things, so that was difficult, STEAM teacher Sherry Nyquist said to the students during an opening discussion at the schools library. But you know what? Did we give up on STEAM? No. We just readjusted. We tried something different. We improved. And we started again. You know how we called it the fab lab? Nyquist added with a smile. Oh now its the fab lab. Students expectations were met. C.C. Wells Principal Fritz Geissler said the group ranged from grades 2-5, and for a little more than an hour, the children were able to explore six different stations. Niagara Bottling and Ripken Foundation volunteers guided them through each set of tasks, and teachers also received training a day earlier. One of the highlights was the Bee-Bots, a set of programmable robots that helps introduce students to coding. Using directional arrows, the kids directed the devices to travel up to 30 different ways across a mini city board. Another coding opportunity was the Ozobot table. These robots are programmed through different color-coded patterns. The students used markers to draw rectangular commands on paper that determined the devices speed, direction and more. Other stations involved circuitry skills, led by Snap Circuits kits. Basic engineering and electronic concepts came to life as the students assembled fans, lights and sirens on a base grid of rows and columns. Nyquist told The Times-Dispatch that C.C. Wells 650 students across grades K-5 meet with her for 45 minutes of learning each week. The space also will serve her STEAM, robotics and ecology clubs. But with all of the new tools at the schools disposal, teachers throughout the building will have the chance to be cross-trained and incorporate STEAM curriculum into their classes. That means more learning opportunities for everyone, thanks to the kindness provided through this partnership. They wanted to give you this amazing new space because theyve seen you persevere, Nyquist said to her students. Theyve seen what youve been through and they said, These kids deserve that. They deserve this new space. After two trying school years that were upended by a public health crisis, its worth recognizing moments like this formative experiences that ignite our students love of learning. Chris Gentilviso Homebuyers looking for digs in Richmonds Midtown district are about to get more options. A new infill development will bring 21 luxury town homes to a one-acre site located at the southeastern corner of East Main and South Foushee streets. The town homes in the Foushee Mews community will be three and four stories tall, with outdoor terraces, two-car garages and community green spaces with trees and benches. It combines the charm of Historic Richmond with the sophisticated flair of modern downtown living, said Brian Busbee, vice president of sales and marketing for Henrico County-based Eagle Construction of VA. Eagle, which is the developer and sole builder in Foushee Mews, has the first of the communitys six town home buildings under roof. The community will be a major makeover for a site that had been a parking lot for many years, and its a good example of how some infill projects are returning urban sites to residential use. The 1905 Sanborn map shows a row of townhouses facing East Main Street called the Leigh Flats, said Chris Novelli, an architectural historian with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The bay windows on the fronts indicate that they were built after the Civil War. There was a house on the corner without a bay window, which was probably from before the war. Eagle began negotiating with the parcels owner three years ago because the company was looking for an attractive location for infill construction in the city, Busbee said. It completed the sale late last year. Foushee Mews is one of three infill communities Eagle is developing within city limits. It has sold half of the 26 luxury town homes in McRae & Lacy in the Manchester neighborhood, and its in the planning stages to bring 14 luxury townhomes to The Row at Westhampton, a development near the intersection of Libbie and Grove avenues. The town homes in Foushee Mews are designed in the Georgian style with accented brick elevations. The goal of our design is to complement and reflect the local vernacular, said Nathan Blinn, Eagles vice president of construction and strategic innovation. The town homes will range in size from 2,350 to 3,500 square feet. Busbee said the company anticipates prices to be in the upper $700,000s, but it hasnt finalized pricing yet. Busbee said he expects sales to be brisk when the community opens to buyers later this month. FOREST After almost a year and a half of construction, and many years more of dreaming and planning, Thomas Jeffersons Poplar Forest celebrated the grand opening of the Poplar Forest Parkway on Friday. Visitors to Thomas Jeffersons Bedford County retreat home will now be able to directly access the site via the 2.2-mile drive connecting to Enterprise Drive. The route is intended to make the site more accessible and easier to find, and to greatly expand opportunities for site interpretation and education. The completion of the parkway brings to fruition more than two centuries later the 2.2-mile carriage drive Jefferson himself designed and planned to construct. The Poplar Forest Parkway was built based on the plans the third U.S. president drew up, winding along the route he had chosen. Donors, sponsors, and grant money paid for the $5.5 million project, allowing the organization to complete the parkway project debt-free, said Alyson Ramsey, CEO and president of Poplar Forest. A trail system runs alongside the parkway that will provide expanded opportunities for site interpretation, education, and a way to be active outdoors. The trails already are in use by the community. Kathryn Pumphrey, chair of Poplar Forests board of directors, read an excerpt from a letter Thomas Jefferson sent to his friend and fellow former president John Adams one August. Jefferson stated that, I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past, Pumphrey said. We are so happy today, with all of us joined here for this celebration, to be able to see the completion of one of Jeffersons dreams for the future. In the ceremony following the ribbon-cutting, accompanied by a band, guests gathered under the shelter of a large tent. Donors, sponsors, engineers on the project, Poplar Forest staff and members of the organizations board, as well as Bedford County and City of Lynchburg officials came to celebrate the achievement. Thomas Jefferson interpreter Bill Barker, who also participated in the parkway projects groundbreaking, was in attendance and cut the ribbon. The long-envisioned project was a massive, collaborative team effort. With the purchase of the land over two decades ago, through the leadership of several boards of directors, and the extraordinary generosity of many of you, this was an idea that has stood the test of time, Ramsey said. Lynchburg Mayor MaryJane Dolan said the parkway will help continue driving tourism in the area, with ease of access and visibility to Poplar Forest as a significant historic destination. This property has been an important part of our communitys history for over 200 years, Dolan said. It is a treasured jewel, and a tourism anchor for our city and our region, drawing thousands of visitors to our area to explore its architecture, archaeology, and living history. During the ceremony, Poplar Forest announced its forthcoming project: new exhibits and interpretive signage honoring the people who built Poplar Forest, and made its lands prosper the enslaved residents. Despite authoring the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson was a slaveowner. The independence he believed in was not extended to African Americans. It is a paradox many have discussed and explored over the years. The focus of Poplar Forests upcoming exhibits aims to educate others on the ones who built and maintained Poplar Forest, to tell their stories and restore their humanity. Their reach expanded far beyond the acres of Poplar Forest. Through a series of wayside exhibits and trailhead markers that will be installed later this year, visitors will learn about aspects of Poplar Forest not adequately addressed through our current exhibit offerings, said Leslie King, co-founder of Poplar Forests African American Advisory Panel. These new exhibits will uncover the stories of Jefferson, the plantation, and its enslaved residents through well-research texts and stunning original artwork. With watercolor illustrations commissioned from award-winning African American artist E. B. Lewis, the new signage about the enslaved population at Poplar Forest is expected to be installed later this year. A new, expanded exhibit at the slave quarters site will be set up in the coming months, Ramsey said. Future wayside exhibits will include archaeological sites both newly discovered and well-documented, including Native American encampments on the land. With opportunity comes responsibility, Ramsey said. We as a corporation must be ready to dig deeper into an understanding of the enslaved people who built and maintained this plantation. We must be ready to tell their stories to the countless new guests that will drive this parkway in search of names, and answers. We must dig deeper and try harder to name their names, tell their stories, and convey their reality in the 21st century. HARTSVILLE Hartsvilles newest nonprofit organization, And Still We Rise, had its first Countdown to Kindergarten Celebration Friday. Its mission is to get children in 4k and 5k ready for their first experience of school. Downtown Hartsville was full of bubbles and families preparing to send their children off to school for the first time. The celebration included free entry to the EdVenture Childrens Museum, free food, a mobile arcade, bounce houses, vision screenings, hearing screening, dental check-ups, and free haircuts for children. Jabari Clyburn, who created the event, said he felt compelled to create an organization to honor the legacy of his late great-grandfather. My great-grandfather was one of the first black business owners in Hartsville, he said. His entrepreneurship was established during a time when African American faced the daily humiliation of Jim Crow. The Hartsville community believed in my grandfathers vision and supported him in the toughest of times and we wanted to give back to the community that believed in him. Clyburn said the event was made possible because of South Carolina First Steps. South Carolina First Steps is a state agency that works collaboratively to ensure that all children start school ready to reach their highest potential with engaged support from their parents, caregivers, and communities. He said he was confident that the event will continue next year. Our event was an extended reminder that parents are their childs first and most important teacher, Clyburn said. When children are supported by familiar figures during their transitions from early childhood into kindergarten, they experience less stress and are more likely to thrive in their new learning environment. Clyburn said his desire for this nonprofit organization was to ultimately give back to Hartsville. And Still We Rise was established by my family who are deeply rooted in Hartsville, he said. Our commitment to creating change and growth in our community is personal. Hartsville is a town that defines us more than anything else. We want to make sure that the shaping of Hartsvilles next generation is as pure and encouraging as my grandfathers was. Clyburn said it was important to provide free haircuts and dental care because it gives children confidence and confidence is essential to success. Proper grooming and oral care sometimes feels like its awarded to everyone but that isnt always the case, he said. Our celebration today made sure that opportunity was provided to some of our communitys most vulnerable children. Clyburn said his family has been and will always be a family of service. And Still We Rise harnesses my familys collective appetite to serve our community, he said. We deeply believe that the intimacy of such a small village proves the large impact that service can have within a community. Hartsville is home and home will always taken care of. DARLINGTON, S.C. A pothole on B Avenue in Darlington has residents like Gracie Lyde, who is faced with a view of the pothole every morning, angered and asking the city to do something. The hole has been there two months according to Lyde. Charles Shugart, director of Water & Sewer in Darlington said the water department will make the repair. Shugart said the repair was supposed to be made by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, but the city will fix it. Gracie Lyde says it has taken too long. The pothole is in front of her residence. The hole has been outside my front door for two months, Lyde said. I feel like the hole should be fixed by now. If the hole was in another area of Darlington it would have been fixed by now because it is dangerous. Lyde said if the pothole was downtown it would have been fixed. I called the city and it didnt do any good, she said. Nothing was done. It is as if our concerns fall on deaf ears and with other people in other parts of Darlington their concerns are heard and that is not right. Lyde said the City Council is not supposed to favor one side of the city, but represent all parts of the city. They just put that road-closed sign up today, she said. I went to the doctor and I came back and the sign was up. Before then, there was nothing there. If anybody came through this street at night they would have fallen right into that hole. I prayed to God that no one would get hurt or killed in front of my home on account of that hole. South Carolina Department of Transportation representative Kevin Williams said the city of Darlingtons Sewer Department is responsible for repairing the pothole. Williams said an inspector was sent to the site to determine if the pothole was a SCDOT issue or a city Water Department issue. The city of Darlington Water Department had a sewer line that went through their storm drain that they were supposed to repair, he said. Charles Shugart, director of Water & Sewer Darlington, said SCDOT officials agreed that it was a Department of Transportation issue and said they would make repairs. After one of the SCDOT officials was injured and was out of work, SCDOT decided to not make repairs, he said. SCDOT is providing materials to make the repairs and the city of Darlington is going to fix it for SCDOT. 2022 17.38 1000-1500 1.15213.85% 7178.3 19.1% 6 4.3% 17 186 18% 71228.17 0.96% 3700 17% 35498 8.29 1%318 186.19 56% 0.46% 8% 1 20Donki tcl17%8% 7 10% 1 13.8 4158% 8.71 5.727.12% 8291.94.98% Be one of the first to move into Siouxlands latest subdivision Elk Creek. This new construction "1372 Duplex" with an open concept floor plan. Estimated completion in mid-August by Brown Wegher Residential LLC \ 1J Homes. 2-bedroom, 2 bath townhouse featuring: master suite with walk-in tile shower, main floor laundry plus mud room, quartz kitchen counters. Concrete patio off living room plus ready to finish basement. High efficiency furnace with programmable thermostat. The information provided is to be used as a guideline only. During the construction process the builder may make changes. Homeowners Association fee of $250 per month covers: lawn care (mowing, fertilizer, irrigation) snow removal plus Club House with Gym and pool for further details see elkcreek.com. Ask about the City of Sioux City tax abatement... If you havent examined your monthly utility bill lately, brace for a shock when the cost of air-conditioning comes due in the next few weeks. If the AC bill doesnt raise your pulse, your heating tab next January might, assuming that global energy markets remain unsettled. According to the most recent Consumer Price Index data, energy prices rose 41.6% in the last year, the largest 12-month increase since April 1980. Energy led all other categories: The price of fuel oils is up 70%; piped gas is up 38%; and electricity is up 14%. What can the average consumer do to rein in the costs? You can adjust the thermostat up in the summer (or dial it down in the winter). Draw the shades on hot days. Buy a box fan to keep the air moving. Put on a sweater in the winter. Convert to low-wattage LED lighting. The U.S. Department of Energys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy provides a step-by-step guide, including many suggestions for changes in behavior that require no commitment of money. Or you can make some serious moves to improve your homes energy efficiency. The cost of the upgrades could return dividends more quickly now that energy prices are higher. Dont wait for the weather to change Energy experts say consumers were just beginning to catch on to the idea of upgrading their homes when big heating bills started to land last winter. But then the weather turns nice, and we forget about energy efficiency until later, said George Mullikin, the program manager for CleaResult, which conducts energy audits for Peco Energy customers. So theres definitely a seasonal aspect that drives it. Brett Baird, the office manager for Green Home Solutions, which does weatherization work in Pennsylvania and New Jersey under agreements with local utilities, said consumers are just beginning to wise up. Generally speaking, people tend to be a little bit more concerned as the wintertime approaches because thats where the lions share of their costs are. Get an energy audit Before you launch an energy-efficiency project, get a professional energy assessment of your house. Most utilities will offer discounted assessments from a certified auditor. A walk-through energy assessment will set forth a plan of attack: It will recommend areas that need insulation, such as in the attic or crawl space, weather stripping and sealing opportunities, and lighting, appliances or heating and ventilation systems that are in need of repair or replacement. Seal up that thermal envelope Experts who do weatherization work on behalf of utilities and publicly funded programs, who need to justify the work as cost-effective, say the best way to reduce energy costs is to reduce the leakage of air from inside a home by adding insulation and by filling cracks otherwise known as sealing a homes thermal envelope. Air-sealing is by far the most cost-effective thing that you can do in virtually any home, even more important than insulation, said Steve Luxton, the executive director of the Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA), the Philadelphia nonprofit that weatherizes homes for low-income clients in the region. Insulation and weather stripping are super boring khaki-pants kind of stuff that dont give you many bragging rights in the neighborhood, such as a new electric vehicle might. But there is a quiet satisfaction in knowing your crawl space is airtight with new foam insulation. Buy high-efficiency systems If your current air-conditioning or heating system is old and inefficient, it may also be worth the expense of replacing the system with newer high-efficiency models. If you have a furnace that was built in the 70s or the 80s, the efficiency is going to be in the 60% range, said Baird. Were going to install a new one thats about 96% to 98% efficiency. So theres a massive savings just on that alone. Help paying repair bills Most utilities offer rebates to support the cost of new energy-efficient appliances or heating systems. The money is often paid by ratepayers, as part of government energy conservation mandates. Peco says its customers can realize as much as $435 in rebates for homes with central air and non-electric heating if they work through a participating contractor. New Jersey utilities provide 0% financing and incentives up to $4,000 for whole-house energy-efficient upgrades done by certified contractors, according to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. New Jerseys incentives are definitely more attractive, said Baird, whose company works on both sides of the Delaware River. They have a really phenomenal financing option. Low-income customers have an additional menu of options available through organizations such as the Energy Coordinating Agency. The U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program, which is for low-income families, saves the average household $372 a year in energy costs. Pennsylvania this month authorized a onetime $125 million allocation of unspent coronavirus money from the American Rescue Plan for a new program called Whole-Home Repair, which provides grants as much as $50,000 to homeowners for projects including weatherization and energy efficiency. The funding allows homeowners to repair leaky roofs, which need to be fixed before contractors add new insulation to an attic. The main sponsor of the legislation was State Sen. Nikil Saval (D., Philadelphia). ECA also recently received a onetime grant of $150,000 for emergency water heater replacements, which are not usually covered under low-income programs. ECA is administering the program through its Heater Hotline: 215-568-7190. The grant came from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services at the request of State Sen. Sharif Street (D., Philadelphia). The U.S. Department of Energy also recently announced more than $40 million in federal funding to help deliver home energy retrofits to low-income and underserved households. What about the windows? Often the first thing that consumers ask about is a window replacement. Everybody has heard the radio ads, promising big energy savings with new windows. If Im ever having a boring day and I want to pick a fight, all I have to say is this: Windows are the least cost-effective thing you can put in a home, said Luxton. And thats guaranteed to get somebody from the window industry up in arms. Windows are an energy sieve, Luxton said. Glass hasnt changed, it might have a coating that ever so fractionally slows down the transmission of energy, but the energy still moves through it, he said. So putting in a new window does not really do anything at all, or very little, anyway, compared to things that do a lot. Most energy-efficiency programs funded by utilities or with public money wont pay for window replacements, said Mullikin. If your windows operate well, if theyre not too leaky or can be sealed up with some inexpensive materials to make them less drafty, then thats probably good enough. Replacing those windows can be very expensive, and theres not a lot of payback. Theres all kinds of reasons to replace windows, but energy efficiency is probably not a good reason. For more information The U.S. Department of Energys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy provides a step-by-step guide on energy programs. A good starting point is to reach out to your energy utility, which will provide an array of products and services for free or at a discount. Most of them will help arrange an energy assessment or audit, which will give a homeowner a cost-effective roadmap for reducing energy. 2022 The Philadelphia Inquirer. Visit inquirer.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Buying a new home is a major life event. So, making such an important decision in front of a national television audience only elevates the stakes. However, Kirstie Thomas was up to the challenge when she filmed an episode of "House Hunters" that will air on HGTV at 9 p.m. Wednesday. A Clarinda native, Thomas now lives in Omaha. Over the course of the episode, viewers will follow Thomas, along with her boyfriend Kyle Kinman, as they view three potential homes in Omaha. The episode will conclude with the reveal of which house she chose. Filming for the episode was completed in March, and Thomas has since moved into the new home. "I love it," she said. What makes Thomas' story stand out from many of the other home buyers featured on the popular program is the fact that she is also a real estate agent. She is licensed in both Nebraska, working with eXp Realty of Omaha, and Iowa, where she works with Thomas Realty, which is owned by her father, Chuck Thomas of Clarinda. "They had been in contact with me in the past as an agent. So, when I started my own house search, I reached out to them with the idea I could be both the Realtor and the buyer. They kind of liked that idea," Thomas said. Thomas pitched the idea for the episode to officials with HGTV in early January and learned she had been selected for the show in February. "I was super excited. I called everyone I could to let them know. But the first call I made was to my dad, because he is also a real estate agent and was the one who got me involved in real estate. So that was a super exciting moment for both of us," Thomas said. "My daughter spearheaded the whole thing. She put out some feelers and lo and behold the producers got ahold of us and said they would be interested. It just kind of escalated from there," Chuck Thomas said. "I was a little reluctant to do it at first, but my family wanted me to do it. I was excited for them and excited we could show off Clarinda to a national audience." Chuck said the opening scenes of the episode take place in the living room of his mother, Shirley Thomas of Clarinda, as Kirstie speaks to her boyfriend; grandmother; brother, Korbin Thomas, who also works for Thomas Realty; and Chuck about her upcoming house search. Kirstie said there is also scenic footage of Clarinda in the episode. "This was the first time they have ever been to Southwest Iowa," Kirstie said. "It meant a lot to have them drive to Clarinda and comment on how awesome the area was. It meant a lot to me to share this experience with my family, and I wanted the town I grew up in included." "I thought it was interesting a national television program would have interest in look at a small town like Clarinda," Chuck said. "It was nice we could showcase our hometown on national TV and Thomas Realty on national TV. We have worked hard over the years, so this was a little bit of a reward to learn people like seeing stories about the Midwest and small towns like Clarinda." The episode shifts to Omaha as Kirstie, with the aid of her family members, starts her house hunt. She said the filming was completed over the course of five days as a camera crew followed them on their tour of the potential homes. "It was really cool, but definitely a learning experience as well. It was a whirlwind of a week as they filmed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. to take advantage of the daytime hours. It was crazy how many different scenes we did within that week to go into a 25-minute episode. It was a surreal and unique experience," Kirstie said. Chuck said he enjoyed going through the different houses and hearing Kirstie and her boyfriend discuss the qualities of the properties. "My daughter is chattier than I am, so she did most of the talking," Chuck said. With a handheld screen, Kirstie said, she had the opportunity to view scenes right after they were filmed with her family. "That was cool. But the best part about being on national TV was sharing that experience with my family and having them there with me," Kirstie said. Weve all been there. We didnt think the sun was that hot. We didnt think we needed sunscreen. And we ended up with a sunburn. As painful as a sunburn can be, at least it will turn to a tan, right? Not necessarily. Chances are pretty good your skin is going to start peeling. According to the Mayo Clinic, your body may start to heal itself by peeling the top layer of damaged skin. This usually happens within a couple of days of being sunburned. Your first urge will be to pull at the peeling skin to speed up the process, but experts say thats a bad idea. Do not pick peeling skin, because it can make you more prone to infection, Shari Lipner, a dermatology professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, told Insider. How? Pulling or scratching off peeling skin can expose unhealed skin and leave it vulnerable to bacteria. Your skin will usually stop peeling on its own once the sunburn has healed. Until then, there are steps you can take to minimize damage. Cool down It might not stop the peeling, but taking a cold shower or using a cool compress will help to take the sting out of a sunburn. Lipner cautions against exfoliating using a loofah or scrubbing brush while in the shower, however. Its important not to put ice directly on your sunburn, Insider cautions. Severe cold can cause more damage and can delay the healing process. Moisturize Look in a sun lovers bathroom, and youll find a bottle of aloe vera gel. Aloe vera is rich in water and skin-soothing sugars that form a protective seal over the surface of the skin, Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital, told Insider. In addition to aloe, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends using soy-based moisturizers, which contain antioxidants that can help fight the free radicals caused by sun exposure. Before buying a moisturizer, check to be sure it doesnt contain petroleum or oil-based creams, which can trap heat and further irritate your sunburned skin. Soak Just like a cold shower, a cool soak can help reduce the pain of a sunburn. Throw some colloidal oatmeal in the mix, however, and you can also moisturize your injured skin and bring down any swelling. Before you reach for that cylinder of Quaker oats, you should know colloidal oats arent the same thing. Insider says you can put some uncooked whole oats into a food processor or blender to make a fine powder. Then add about 1 cup to your bath, and soak for 10 to 15 minutes. ___ SIOUX CITY The timing couldn't have been much better. Twenty-nine years and one day after she first enlisted with the U.S. armed forces, Col. Sonya Morrison obtained the highest rank of her career on Saturday when she was officially installed as the first female commander of the Iowa Air National Guard's 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City . At the ceremony, which began at noon in the base's fuel cell hangar, Morrison participated in the change of command with outgoing leader Col. Mark Muckey, a Sioux City native who occupied the post for more than three years and has served for 38 years in total. Just after 12:30 p.m., Morrison finally got to speak as the 15th commander of the Air Refueling Wing. "I will always strive to be the best commander I'm capable of being to you," Morrison told the crowd of more than 200 service members. In taking over a unit that's won more than a dozen Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for exceptionally meritorious service, Morrison will work to further the 185th's main mission of mid-air refueling and moving people and equipment around the world. To get to the point of commanding the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Morrison, an Osceola, Iowa native and University of Northern Iowa graduate, previously served as the vice wing commander of the 185th where she helped prepare almost 1,000 airmen for the possibility of mobilization during state and federal operations. Prior to her leadership roles with the Air Refueling Wing, Morrison trained as a helicopter pilot with the Iowa Army National Guard and then logged hours as an F-16 fighter pilot with the 132nd Fighter Wing out of Des Moines. Morrison also claimed the titles of 185th Support Group commander and state director of staff at the Joint Forces Headquarters at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. She flew 500-plus combat hours for Operation(s) Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Freedom Sentinel and Inherent Resolve. While speaking, Morrison touched on her varied history with the armed forces and on the historical nature of her installation as the first female wing commander of the 185th but didn't spend a great deal of time expounding on either point. "Sometimes being first at something has a lot to do with timing," Morrison said. When she was named the new commander on April 28, Morrison struck a humble tone then, too. "I just look at it as I do my job and do what I need to do and serve the Air Force," she said. Muckey, who spoke before Morrison, was effusive in his praise of her ability to "draw one hell of a crowd" and admired her great potential as a leader. "I know you have the right commander at the right time," said Muckey, who was away from Sioux City for 30 years before returning to assume command of the 185th. After the pageantry of the day ended, Muckey added to his admiration of Morrison: "She has a uniquely diverse background," he said. "She comes uniquely suited with both her leadership skills and her background to really take the wings here." Even though Morrison knew for months she would be taking over for Muckey, she confessed to being a bit in awe of the change of command ceremony once it got going. But still kept her focus on the mission ahead. "Some of it is a little overwhelming but just really a lot of excitement...after working for so many years and learning from others and trying to take all of that to do a better job and continue to improve upon things that I've learned from previous commanders." EMERSON, Neb. When the Post 60 Market grocery store opens soon in Emerson, the community literally will run the store. If needed, many residents here just might be willing to work there for free. A number of them already have, showing up once, twice or three times to voluntarily unpack shipments of dry and canned goods and stock the shelves. They're thrilled to have a grocery store back in town and will do whatever it takes to make sure they're not without one again. "We have a lot of community support for it," Emerson resident Mark Graf said. "It's come together better than expected, and that's exciting. But most of all, I'm excited to have a grocery store back in town." He and the rest of the 800 or so residents of this community, the only one in Nebraska to be located in three counties Dakota, Dixon and Thurston. But since 2018, the number of greater importance here was 0, as in zero grocery stores in town after Mike's Food Town closed. "We went from having groceries in town to driving 20-30 minutes for the nearest groceries," Graf said of the inconvenience everyone, especially elderly residents who have a harder time getting around, has experienced. They won't be making those drives to Pender, Wayne, West Point, South Sioux City or farther much longer. As soon as the cash registers arrive, Post 60 Market could open, store manager Brian Horak said on a recent day when more than a dozen volunteers were helping him stock the shelves with the latest grocery shipment. "Every time I need help, a lot of volunteers show up," Horak said. "Every town needs a grocery store." You won't find anyone in Emerson who disagrees. "That's what the town needs to keep it going. We want to make a go of it," said Fred Sebade, an Emerson farmer who was among the volunteer stockers. In 2020, a group of citizens, along with the village board, began looking for ways to bring a store back to town. With help from the University of Nebraska Extension, they formed a steering committee to explore feasibility and ownership models. It's a challenge many small, rural towns face, said Charlotte Narjes, a rural prosperity Extension educator. Without a grocery store in town, elderly residents who have difficulties driving may choose to move to a community that does have groceries. The presence or absence of a grocery store can play a role when relocating families decide which town to settle in. "That grocery store is an anchor institution," Narjes said. Emerson residents didn't want to be weighed down by the lack of a grocery store any longer. The community formed the Emerson Grocery Cooperative, an ownership model that gives those who buy shares a vote in how the store operates. More than 160 shares have been sold to date, raising more than $120,000, said Graf, chairman of the co-op's board. With the former grocery store building sold and unavailable, the co-op board needed a location. In stepped Emerson's American Legion Post 60, looking to sell its Main Street building that was in need of some work. Proceeds from share sales, grants, donations and loans funded the purchase and extensive renovation of the former Legion hall. The store was named Post 60 Market in honor of the Legion, which will retain a meeting room inside. "It worked out perfect for both the store and the Legion," said Horak, an Emerson native who as a high school student worked at Mike's Food Town and at one time operated a grocery store with his brother in Springfield, Nebraska. Horak will analyze shoppers' purchases to determine which goods to add or discontinue at the store, which will employ two full-time and six part-time workers. "The town's going to manage the store in a way, and I'm going to make it happen," he said. "It's the town's store." Emerson residents appear ready to make it work. Down the aisle from Sebade, fellow shareholder and shelf-stocking volunteer Janie Gutzmann said she, along with nearly everyone in town, is excited to have a grocery store back in town. It's added some much-needed buzz, and traffic. "It's nice to see cars on Main Street, and that's what Emerson's going to have again is cars on Main Street," Gutzmann said. And those cars will be heading downtown, not down the road, for groceries. ONAWA, Iowa Looking straight at Jay Lee Neubaum, one of his victims told him she was forever changed when he raped her when she was 13 years old, and so were other girls he assaulted. "We live in fear because of you," the girl said. "Someday I hope you realize what you have done, and I hope you open your eyes and realize the pain you have caused." A second victim told District Judge Zachary Hindman that after she was raped at age 14 by Neubaum, she shut down. "I was broken down and hurt in many ways. ... He has taken away my innocence in ways I'll never get back," the girl said Friday in Monona County District Court. Neubaum, 19, of Onawa, stared forward while the girls spoke, not appearing to meet their eyes or glance in their direction. He did not speak when given the chance before Hindman sentenced him to 20 years in prison on three counts of third-degree sexual abuse. Hindman ordered the sentence to be added to a 50-year sentence Neubaum is currently serving for second-degree murder, increasing his total sentence to 70 years. He could be released on parole before serving the whole sentence. If he is, he will be on court supervision for the remainder of his life because of the sexual abuse conviction and he also must register with the Iowa Sex Offender Registry for life. Hindman presided over Neubaum's trial in December and in June announced his verdict, finding Neubaum guilty of two counts involving the rape and assault of one of the girls and one count for the rape of the other. Hindman found Neubaum not guilty of seven other counts of sexual abuse involving five more girls, saying he had reasonable doubt about their claims because of inconsistencies in their trial testimony and statements. Neubaum had been charged with assaulting the girls, ranging in age from 13-16 at the time, from August 2019 through March 2020 in and around Mapleton, Iowa, where he attended school. Neubaum's attorney, Theresa Rachel, had asked for all of Neubaum's sentences to be served concurrently, or at the same time. Going further, she asked for a suspended sentence on the sexual abuse charges so Neubaum could be on probation when he's paroled from prison on his murder charge. She said Neubaum is better off out of prison because he's currently receiving no counseling or therapy services, though he desires them. If he were released from prison, he could resume the therapy he was receiving while on pretrial release before his murder trial. He also could receive sex offender treatment, which has not yet been provided to him in prison. "We are not asking for leniency, we are asking for rehabilitation," Rachel said. Rachel called Neubaum to the witness stand to talk about his progress toward his high school diploma and also his lack of access to counseling. If given probation and released on parole, Neubaum said, he would get a job and continue counseling sessions to prove he's not a threat to the community. "People call me a murderer and stuff. I take that pretty serious," Neubaum said. Calling for consecutive prison sentences, Monona County Attorney Ian McConaughey countered that Neubaum has shown no remorse for any of his crimes. Neubaum is currently incarcerated at the Anamosa State Penitentiary, where he's serving his second-degree murder sentence for the Jan. 31, 2020, shooting death of 16-year-old Joseph Hopkins in Mapleton. A Monona County jury convicted him of the crime in May 2021. Hopkins, of Mapleton, was shot once in the forehead with a 12-gauge shotgun while he, Neubaum and two other teenage boys were working on a demolition derby car in a garage. The Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction last month. Erika Rojas, 38, pleaded guilty in March in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. She was sentenced to 102 months in prison. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Rojas admitted to her role in a drug ring that sold large quantities of meth in the tri-state area. She and her co-defendants received meth from Mexico through the mail in the form of decorative masks that covered a wax/meth mixture. They would then extract the meth from the masks and sell it throughout the Sioux City area. Authorities searching Rojas' storage locker found masks and multiple pounds of meth. SIOUX CITY A teacher who propositioned a 14-year-old girl for sex has pleaded not guilty. Andrew Heller, 38, of Sergeant Bluff, entered his written plea Thursday in Woodbury County District Court to charges of enticing away a minor and prostitution. At the time of his arrest, Heller was a social studies teacher at Wynot, Nebraska, Public Schools. His photo and name no longer appear on the school district's website. School authorities could not be reached to confirm his employment status. According to court documents, FBI investigators had been monitoring communications between Heller and the 14-year-old, in which Heller asked her for sex and offered her $200. When Heller was arrested on July 14, authorities found alcoholic beverages meant to be shared with the girl, a box of condoms and more than $200 in cash. During an interview with authorities after his arrest, Heller admitted he knew the girl was 14 and said he had intended to pay her for sex. LAUREL, NEB. More than 24 hours after four people were found dead at two different crime scenes in the 1,000-person town of Laurel, a 42-year-old resident was charged on Friday with 10 felonies including four counts of first-degree murder. According to the Lincoln Journal Star, an affidavit for a search warrant filed in Cedar County details that Jason A. Jones, who lived across the street from one of the two crime scenes since at least 2019, left three receipts including one for gas at Rath's Mini Mart in Laurel and another for a six-gallon gas canister from a Sioux City hardware store and a gun at the site of a Thursday morning house fire linked to him. In the affidavit, reported on by the Journal Star, State Patrol Investigator Michael Henry said security footage from Rath's captured Jones filling up two gas canisters at about 8 p.m. Wednesday. According to Nebraska State Patrol Col. John Bolduc, law enforcement officers arrested Jones around 2:30 a.m. on Friday after performing a SWAT team raid of his home at 206 Elm St. Bolduc said at a Friday morning press conference that the SWAT team did use "flash-diversionary devices" during the raid but did not exchange any gunfire with Jones. "When he was arrested, it was discovered that he had serious burns over a large part of his body therefore he was airlifted to a hospital in Lincoln. Hes believed to be in serious condition," Bolduc said. Jones lived across the road from the residence of Michele Ebeling, 53, who authorities say they found dead of two gunshot wounds in her home at 209 Elm St. The Nebraska State Patrol has said Ebeling was discovered after officials responded to a reported explosion around 3 a.m. on Thursday, according to a Journal Star report. A second fire at 503 Elm St. is believed to have been started at the same time. Once authorities responded, they found Gene Twiford, 86, his wife Janet Twiford, 85, and their daughter Dana Twiford, 55, dead with apparent gunshot wounds, according to Henry in the affidavit, relayed by the Journal Star. Henry also said in the affidavit that police located a Ruger .57 caliber pistol, a firearm magazine and a Molotov cocktail. In the court filings, prosecutors charged Jones with two counts of first-degree arson and four counts of use of a firearm to commit a felony along with the four counts of first-degree murder, the Lincoln Journal Star has reported. Through Friday afternoon, investigators still had not been able to identify a solid link between the two crime scenes. "First of all, I want to acknowledge the indescribable grief that this community is experiencing right now and thats going to be compounded by the betrayal of trust that theyre going to feel because a community member here is alleged to have committed these crimes," Bolduc said. A number of buildings in Laurel went into lockdown on Thursday. Bolduc didn't speak to how long the suspect may have stayed in town for but pointed out there were more than 60 law enforcement officers in Laurel to keep the community safe. "It cannot be understated that this has been an entire team effort," Bolduc said. "Not only by our law enforcement partners (and) our firefighters but the entire community who has stepped up, offered assistance (and) cooperated fully with investigators." However, Bolduc added that the work is far from over as investigators will need to process a tremendous amount of evidence which firefighters worked to preserve while attempting to put out two fires. During the initial press conference on Thursday, Bolduc said there was reason to believe accelerants may have been used in both fires. Shortly after the second fire was reported, Bolduc said law enforcement received a tip about a silver sedan seen leaving Laurel. The vehicle was headed westbound on Highway 20. The nature of the report has since changed. "We don't believe that's the same person but we would like to talk to that person as a witness if we are able to identify them," Bolduc said. Racquel Holloway, who has lived in Laurel since 1998, told The Journal she saw emergency lights a few blocks away from her home, but didn't give the sight a second thought, at first. Once she heard what had happened, her reaction changed. "Oh my gosh, I just walked to my car. And, if the suspect was anywhere around, I could've been..." she said, trailing off. As the Friday press conference came to a close, Cedar County Sheriff Larry Koranda appeared to get choked up while talking about the town of Laurel. "A good community," he said. Journal Star reporters Andrew Wegley, Lori Pilger and Chris Dunker contributed to this story. Authorities say four people were shot to death in Ohio and a man considered armed and dangerous is being sought. Police in Montgomery Countys Butler Township said officers were sent shortly after noon Friday after a report of shots fired. Chief John Porter said four victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Their names weren't released and police said the motive for the shooting wasn't yet clear. Police are seeking 39-year-old Stephen Marlow, who was believed to have fled the area in a sport utility vehicle and was considered armed and dangerous. A message seeking comment was left Saturday at a number listed in his name. Ministry proposes removing coal plants from energy plan The Ministry of Industry and Trade has suggested the Government remove coal-fired plants with a capacity of 14,120 megawatts from Power Development Plan VIII (for 2021-30), which is currently being drafted. Illustrative image (Source: VNA) The move aims to achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2050, the ministry explained, adding that the plants were included in Power Development Plan VII (for 2011-20). Out of the 14,120 MW, 8,420 MW are from coal plants where State-owned enterprises have been assigned as the main investors, including Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN) and the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group. The ministry also wants to reduce the ratio of coal-fired power sources from 25.7-31% in 2030 to around 10% in 2045. It plans to increase output from LNG-fueled and renewable plants to offset the cut in coal use, with about 14,000 MW of LNG during the 2030-2045 period, and 11,700-13,921 MW of wind power by 2030./. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Police in New Mexicos largest city are trying to determine if the ambush shooting deaths of three Muslim men over the past nine months could be connected. Albuquerque police have confirmed that local detectives and federal law enforcement officers are looking for possible ties among the separate crimes. Two of the men Muhammed Afzaal Hussain, 27, and Aftab Hussein, 41 were killed in the past week, and both were from Pakistan and members of the same mosque. The third case involves the November killing of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, a Muslim man of South Asian descent. Deputy Police Commander Kyle Hartsock wouldn't share specifics, but he said the commonality among the victims is race and religion. We are taking this very seriously. We want the publics help in identifying this cowardly individual, Hartsock said during a news conference Thursday in front of the Islamic Center of New Mexico. The governor, Albuquerques mayor and civil rights groups have raised concerns, saying violence against members of the community based on race or religion will not be tolerated. Hartsock reiterated that authorities cant say yet if the shootings were hate crimes until they have identified a suspect and can determine a motive. The killings came as Albuquerque is on pace for another record-setting year of homicides. The Council on American-Islamic Relations on Friday offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the shooting deaths. The council is the nations largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization. If a bias-motive is determined, state and federal authorities should apply appropriate hate crime charges, said Nihad Awad, the director of the national group. The two most recent killings were in southeast Albuquerque. Ahmadi was killed behind the market and cafe he owned with his brother. "In all three cases, the victims were ambushed with no warning, fired on and killed, Hartsock said. Ahmad Assed, the president of Islamic Center of New Mexico, said he didnt believe the three victims knew one another, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The community certainly is in need of understanding the egregiousness of the conduct displayed in all three of theses shootings, Assed said at a news conference. If its true that we were targeted as Muslims, then they need to be very vigilant in protecting themselves and taking measures of precaution. They need to watch out for their surroundings. SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) Prosecutors in Northern California filed murder charges against the parents of a 15-month-old toddler who died in May after she ingested fentanyl authorities believe her mother had been using. Prosecutors on Thursday also charged Evan Frostick, 26, and Madison Bernard, 23, with child cruelty and tacked on a sentence-enhancing charge alleging their actions willfully caused the suffering of a child, the Press Democrat reported. The couple, who police have described as boyfriend and girlfriend, were briefly arrested on suspicion of child cruelty on May 9, the day their daughter died, but they were released two days later pending further investigation to determine whether fentanyl played a role in the childs death. Frostick is being represented by the Sonoma County public defender Lynn Slater, who said Friday she took over the case Thursday and couldn't comment. It was not immediately known if Bernard has an attorney who can speak on her behalf. She is not represented by the public defender's office. The Sonoma County Coroners Office determined last month that acute fentanyl intoxication caused the death of 15-month-old Charlotte Frostick. According to the coroners report, Bernard used fentanyl and went to sleep while drugs and paraphernalia were on the bed she shared with Charlotte inside their Sonoma Avenue apartment. Investigators believe Charlotte ingested the fentanyl by touching it and then possibly putting her hands in her mouth or eyes, the newspaper reported. Charlotte Frostick died nearly three years after the opioid-related death of another Santa Rosa toddler. In September 2019, fentanyl was blamed for the deaths of Patrick ONeill, 29, and his 13-month-old son, Liam, who were discovered inside their Santa Rosa home. Three defendants were charged with supplying ONeill the opioids. They were convicted in federal court on lesser charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. In the city of Brentwood, a mother was charged with murder in Contra Costa County Superior Court after her 2-year-old son consumed fentanyl in November 2020. In July 2021, she pleaded no contest to one count of voluntary manslaughter and was later sentenced to 11 years in prison, court records show. The owner of the sole abortion clinic in North Dakota has been busy getting a new location ready in Moorhead, Minnesota. Tammi Kromenaker was directing traffic Friday outside a commercial building she bought just a few miles away from her current location in Fargo. Kromenaker has a lawsuit pending that seeks to block North Dakota's abortion ban on the grounds that it's contrary to the state constitution. She'll have to shut down later this month unless a judge intervenes. Kromenaker hasn't said when the new location will open but has said patients won't see any interruption in service. The way heat and humidity affect people depends on factors like the weather that's typical where they are. Hans Huber/Westend61 via Getty Images Launching the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) and the heat.gov site on July 26, 2022, the Biden administration cited heat waves and the warming climate as serious health threats. As the new initiative promises a science informed response to hotter conditions, five stories from The Conversations archive explain what researchers know about heat and health. 1. Its the humidity Heat waves can be deadly in a variety of ways, wrote William Calvin, who teaches physiology and neuroscience at the University of Washington. Heat waves can kill via the dehydration caused by heavy sweating; the altered sodium and potassium concentrations in the blood confuse both heart and nerve cells, and so breathing or heartbeat may suddenly stop, he wrote. Calvin explained that human bodies have not evolved to handle extreme heat with humidity. Normally, sweat evaporates off your skin and you cool down. But with high humidity, the air is already saturated with water vapor, and so evaporative cooling stops. However, you keep sweating anyway, threatening dehydration. Read more: How dangerous heat waves can kill Sweating is one way the body stays cool. In heat stroke, sweating stops, leaving the body in danger of fatally overheating. Veronique Beranger/The Image Bank via Getty Images 2. Lower tolerance for higher temps That combination of temperature and humidity whereby the persons core temperature starts to rise is called the critical environmental limit, wrote a group of Penn State University scholars researching the health effects of heat: W. Larry Kenney, Daniel Vecellio, Rachel Cottle and S. Tony Wolf. In a rare lab test of the human bodys heat tolerance, the researchers found that the limit is lower than previously thought. When the air temperature is around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), people can begin to feel ill effects at just 60% humidity a higher temperature and lower humidity than researchers determined in 2010. Above those limits, core temperature rises continuously and risk of heat-related illnesses with prolonged exposures is increased, they wrote. The results of these tests show an even greater cause for concern. 3. Age matters Extremely hot whether is particularly dangerous for those over 70, according to family physician Dr. Gabriel Neal, who teaches at the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine. In his article on avoiding heat stroke, Neal described factors making older adults vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. As people age, our bodies ability to cool declines, and the elderly often take medication that further impairs this ability, Neal wrote. In addition, the elderly may not be aware of the dangerous heat wave and may not have working air conditioning in their home, nor have anyone to check on them. Hydration is key to staying well in the heat. Nawarit Rittiyotee/ EyeEm via Getty Images 4. Wet or dry, hot is hot Hot desert climates are stressful due to extreme temperatures, while humid subtropical climates are stressful because the body has trouble removing heat when sweat doesnt evaporate readily, he wrote. Smith added that how heat and humidity affect people depends on factors like the weather thats typical where they are, and the cooling systems in local homes and buildings. Read more: Knowing how heat and humidity affect your body can help you stay safe during heat waves 5. Warming up food Tufts University epidemiologist Elena Naumova warns that keeping food safe to eat is becoming more challenging in a warming climate. Thats because warm, wet weather conditions stimulate bacterial growth, she wrote. Naumova named several climate-related factors in spreading foodborne illnesses. One growing problem is that heat waves, wildfires and severe storms are increasingly triggering power outages, which in turn affect food storage and food handling practices in stores, production and distribution sites and homes, she wrote. Editors note: This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversations archives. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. The new Predator film, Prey, has one of the best bear scenes in recent action-movie memory. A huge, scarred grizzly traps and harasses the movies teenage protagonist, Naru (Amber Midthunder), and her dog. This bear is incredibly fastlike real bears are!and absolutely terrifying. Naru is done foruntil a certain alien in a shimmering invisibility suit lifts the bears body up into the air like a stuffie, and the creature starts to look quite smalland deadin comparison. Advertisement Filmed in Alberta, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, in the Stoney Nakoda Nation, Prey, a prequel about a 1719 encounter between a Comanche band and a visiting Predator, takes full advantage of its gorgeous location and the charismatic megafauna (mountain lion! wolf! snake!) living there. One of the films producers, Jhane Myers, is a member of the Comanche and Blackfeet nations, the cast is mostly Native actors, and the visuals and music and material culture of the movie were created with Native involvement. (The Native characters mostly speak in English, but there is a Comanche-language dub of the film available on Hulu.) All of this adds up to a very interesting, unusually intentionally constructed background for the latest installment in a science-fiction story about alien visitors who see Earth as a hunting ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some have called this the first good Predator movie in almost forty years, but thats not quite fair. This franchise is extremely tonally uneven, its true. Arnolds Predator (1987), the classic jungle story, gave us if it bleeds, we can kill it, not to mention CIA got you pushing too many pencils? Predator 2 (1990) is a city story, with Danny Glover as a very capable cop pursuing the creature through an extravagantly violent near-future Los Angeles. Then, its back to the jungle with Predators (2010), a Most Dangerous Game tale with a group of miscreants (Adrien Brody and Walton Goggins among them) transported to an alien planet to provide the Predators with sport. The Predator (2018) takes place in suburbia, features misfit soldiers led by sniper Boyd Holbrook , and tries (and often succeeds) to be funny in a way the others arent. Advertisement All of these movies are worth seeing, especially for people into science fiction who dont mind seeing spines ripped out on screen. (The Alien vs. Predator offshoots are very much not worth seeing, but they did give us the immortal tagline, No matter who wins, we lose.) But Prey dispatches with a great deal of the previous Predators baggage, and tries to pare the fat. Dan Trachtenberg, the movies director, told Variety that he saw the movies story as pure and elementalvery uncomplicated. In large part, the gambit succeeds. Advertisement There is something confusing about the way Prey handles Narus motivations and challenges. She wants to hunt; her family and tribe discourage it, or so the capsule description would have it. But the film only somewhat commits to this Disney-esque story line (I got real Mulan vibes). Its not entirely clear from the dialogue whether the people around Naru discourage her from hunting because she is a girl, or because shes simply not good at it. Sometimes her mother says, Its just that youre so good at so many other things! Other times, the teenage boys she joins on the hunt try to forcibly stop her from coming along. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Butis she bad at hunting, or not? At the beginning of the film, shes able to fling her axe into a tree with great accuracy, but unable to bring down a deer. Then, she moves back to needing to tie a rope to the axe to bring it back to hersomething that we learn from a boys derision is seen as below a real hunter. Then, all in a burst, she finds herself able to kill French traders and Predators alike, displaying an intelligence and ruthlessness that you dont acquire overnight. Advertisement Advertisement The more interesting questions in Prey are not about gender, but about cultural contact. The Predator movies are always at their best when they think hard about how the creatures deadliness and technological dominance psyches out the humans who perceive themselves as being at the top of the food chain. Those who would defeat the alien must get over their shock, first. Advertisement In Prey, theres more than one layer to this dynamic. The French traders Naru encounters partway through the film are striking villains, who clearly think of themselves as predators at play in the world of the Comanche. We first find out about their presence when Narus dog gets stuck in one of their traps. The next sign is a field of dead buffalo, which you first think might have been skinned by the Predator, until you remember that the aliens canonically consider killing the defenseless to be beneath them. Naru finds a stub of a cigar, and you realize this was the traders doing. The film leaves the French traders scenes in French, keeping the viewer in the point of view of the Comanche characters. These traders are large, bumbling, and dirty, predatory toward Naru, and cruel to her brother, Taabe (Dakota Beavers). There are not very many funny moments in Prey, but the running gag of the traders 18th-century firearms failing when people need them most is one. (One particular flintlock pistol, which a trader gives Naru in exchange for her help, connects Prey to Predator 2 in a way that doesnt quite make sense to us yetbut may, in time.) When it comes to facing the Predator, Naru and Taabe, who think ahead and do brave (and cinematic!) things like leaping from horseback onto the aliens head, have a decisive advantage over those who depend on guns. Advertisement Advertisement The other Predator sequels bring elaborations to the universe of the aliens. We find out there are two types of Predator alien, and they fight one another; there are Predator dogs; some types of Predator have human DNA, and so on. Prey strips that stuff away. The Predator creature in Prey is supposed to be a bit more animalistic (as the actor Dane DiLiegro, who plays the alien, described it) than some of the recent iterations. Trachtenberg said: I wanted to get away from any vestige of the 80s, of it feeling too much like a man in a suit, too much like a professional wrestler lumbering around. I wanted this to feel much more alien. For those who have, like me, indulged in quite a bit of Predator content over the years, its a little hard to reclaim the sense of surprise the franchise once provoked. But this choice of locationin place, and in timegives me new hope for Predator movies to come. More time travel, please! More interesting interplay between Predator tech and the human setting! More protagonists who arent the worlds ultimate cop/SEAL/sniper/body-builder badasses, but can put the hurt on an alien, nonetheless! Im here for it. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled My wife Karen and I have just finished reading your article concerning the effects of the Ukrainian refugee crisis on your country. "We are trying to find a way to help and are planning a trip from our home in Hawaii to Eastern Europe in late June. We have a family charity and will be donating a fairly large amount of money, probably through Catholic Charities, but also want to help in a more personal way. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement "Would you be willing to advise us on the possibility of helping in Slovakia? The email from Paul came in early May, shortly after NBC published my essay describing for American readers how Slovaks were going out of their way to help Ukrainians fleeing the war. At first, it did not strike me as particularly unusual. The staff at The Slovak Spectator get all kinds of enquiries about Slovakia from foreigners and we try hard to help if we can. In this case we could, so I sent back a brief answer, unaware that a story I would never forget had just started to unfold, and that these people would give me a lesson why telling good stories matters. Seven weeks later, the couple from Hawaii were sitting at my kitchen table, eating pizza that my husband had baked for them to mark the final day of their visit to Slovakia, telling us about the week they had spent with refugees and the people who work with them. We love being around people who are helping people, Paul told us. As I watched them enjoy the simple meal we served them, I thought: so do I. Letter to Hawaii About 150 firefighters from several departments battled a large fire on West Overland Thursday night and into Friday morning. Firefighters with Scottsbluff Rural, Scottsbluff and Gering Fire Departments responded to a structure fire at Paradise Acres on West Overland after 9 p.m. on Thursday. Multiple structures were threatened and the size of the fire increased rapidly due to wind speeds and an inability to access. It was a very fast moving fire, with heavy timber and other materials feeding the fire, Scottsbluff Rural Fire Chief Carissa Schank told the Star-Herald. She said the cause of the fire is being investigated by the Nebraska State Fire Marshals Office. The fire started in Paradise Acres, which Schank explained is a group of homes south of West Overland. It quickly progressed to north and west of KOLT Lane and Highway 92. She said that Highway 92 acted as a barrier to preventing additional spread of the fire. About 170 acres were burned in the fire. Crews have determined that one home and 10 outbuildings were destroyed in the fire. Firefighter Ministry is assisting the man who lived in the home and have made referrals to other organizations. Some radio infrastructure on KOLT Lane was also damaged. There were no injuries, though Schank said some instances of heat exhaustion were reported among firefighters. Firefighters with several departments, such as Lyman, Western Nebraska Regional Airport, Minatare-Melbeta, Morrill Banner County and Torrington, also responded and provided mutual aid. By 3 a.m., all forward progress of the fire had stopped, Region 23 Emergency Management reported in a press release. By 5 a.m., two departments remained on scene after the fire was able to be contained and extinguished. Schank did report that Scottsbluff Rural and Banner County firefighters remained on scene Friday, monitoring the fire which did have some spots rekindle. Many of the other departments had been pressed into response in this weeks Carter Canyon fire, Schank told the Star-Herald. During the fire, firefighters freed horses and livestock in the area. Riverside Discovery Center reportedly evacuated some of its animals to the Panhandle Humane Society. Residents in the area were also notified through alerts that they may need to evacuate. Law enforcement had to be used to block off a large area around the fire due to people going to the area to the see the blaze. Traffic had to be blocked on West Overland, Highway 92 and South Beltline Highway and other areas to prevent people from going into the fire area and obstructing firefighting efforts. In some instances, law enforcement reported, people were stopping cars in roadways to photograph or film the fire. On social media, people living in the area reported people parking in their yards and hindering their abilities to evacuate. NEMA also responded to the fire. Classrooms are taking shape across Scottsbluff as teachers prepare their lessons and bulletin boards for the upcoming school year. While the district does not welcome students back until Thursday, Aug. 18, teachers will be busy throughout the coming weeks getting ready for the 2022-23 year. Anne Schmall, a Family and Consumer Sciences teacher at Scottsbluff High School, and Kristen Juelfs, a third grade teacher at Westmoor Elementary, have been busy preparing their classrooms. Schmall returned to her classroom Thursday to continue working on bulletin boards, taking inspiration from the classes she teaches. I dont want it to be so blank or bare that it feels institutional, but I also dont want it to be so full of stuff that they are overwhelmed or distracted, she said. There are usually a few quotes up that I believe to be important or inspiring, information related to Educators Rising and FCCLA and then resources for lessons I will be teaching like a poster about the stages of development in the first year of life or Maslows Hierarchy or the career wheel. She is in her 15th year of teaching and third year at SHS. She created a list of tasks she needs to accomplish at the start of every year and updates it as she thinks of something that needs to be done. She also keeps a list on her phone and whiteboard. Then I start with the easy stuff to get motivated and in the back-to-school mindset, Schmall said. My number one priority is to get my room physically ready, get things out of storage and get stuff up on the walls. Once the physical space is prepared, I feel better and energized to work on the other stuff. Her next priorities are setting up her Google classrooms, calendars and update the class documents and website. She will teach human growth and development, exploring education, best practices in education, introduction to human sciences and education, family supports and intervention, careers in human services, child development and field experience in education. Getting ready to go back to school is always exciting, a little overwhelming, and exhausting, Schmall said. I believe that teachers want to create a physical space that is warm and welcoming for all of their students. It provides the best possible learning environment while also sharing part of the teachers personality and the subjects that they teach. Juelfs also has a routine when she returns from summer break where she thinks through what she wants the upcoming school year to look like and how setting up her room will support that effort. She is in her tenth year teaching, but her third year teaching in Scottsbluff. She previously taught in Colorado. At Westmoor Elementary, the school staff select a theme for the year, which Juelfs said is exciting every year. This year its Launch into Learning and its all about space, she said. Our theme is space, so I found some fun, different things to brighten things up and change the classroom. She was excited about the theme as it ties into some of the third grade curriculum. One of our modules for our Wit and Wisdom curriculum is space for third grade, she said. Its going to be nice to have that tie in this year when we get to that in the second quarter. Students name tags on their desks and lockers will have a space-theme as well as bulletin boards throughout the classroom. Im most excited this year about getting to meet the new kids, Juelfs said. That first week is always fun to see their personalities and get to know them, even across the grade level because my co-teachers and I will do activities together. In addition to preparing for her classes, Schmall also works on plans for the two career and technical student organizations she advises, Educators Rising and FCCLA. She has even recruited some help from students. I have three large bulletin boards in my classroom and after my first year here I recognized that my future educators students love to make bulletin boards so I recruited several to make bulletin boards for the next year and then covered them up to protect them over the summer, she said. When I returned in the fall all I had to do was uncover the boards and they were ready for students. This year, Schmall saved one board for her to design as a chance to be creative and put her spin on the start of the year. I find that as I start to take things out of cupboards or pull up rosters and lesson plans I get excited to start teaching the classes and seeing the students all of the things that I do really help me to get mentally prepared for the upcoming school year. While Scottsbluff Public Schools teachers are busy setting up their classrooms, they also are busy reviewing state standards, updating lesson plans, syllabi and district policies to build on the successes and grow from the struggles from the previous school year. Could you use a different classroom layout for seating, and organizing of your supplies, maybe you want to have different classroom rules to address behavior, Schmall said. All of these things need to be determined and put into place prior to students arriving so you start the year introducing them to kids on day one. Juelfs likes to have a focus wall in her classroom so students can look at that wall to see what topics they will learn. She also hopes her classroom is a welcoming environment. Ive been preparing my room at the moment until we get our class list next week, she said. Then I will start getting material ready for individual students. With a lot of learning ahead, the teachers are making preparation for another successful school year. The West Nebraska Arts Center, with the support of the Nebraska Arts Council, the Nebraska Cultural Endowment, and the National Endowment for the Arts, presents Artist Becoming: The Growth of a Young Artist Erin Gallagher. The arts centers exhibition will be a collection of artworks from a former local artist who does the posters for the Old West Balloon Fest. She also has included some art from a special collection of Colleen Johnson. Since the number of paintings is fewer than usual, WNAC will be using the pieces from the 2022 Presidents Show: Icons to fill the gallery. Gallaghers talent is inspiring. The public is encouraged to support this beautiful display. At a young age, Gallagher drew on every scrap of paper she could find. She would enter her own world of fantasy and draw for hours. Her mother, Colleen Johnson knew she had to support this and enrolled Gallagher in art courses. Johnson found a hands-on art centered elementary school called the Renaissance School to nurture her creativity. Gallaghers art teacher in second grade submitted her work Squashed Bug to the Douglas County student show where she won the first-place prize. When Gallagher was 7, she visited her grandparents who lived in Amsterdam at the time and her grandmother took her to the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum. She was enthralled and at that point decided to become an artist. She has been one ever since. Gallagher got her BFA in Illustration at California College of the Arts. After college, she traveled to India to study traditional Tibetan Buddhist Thangka painting. She has spent eight summers in Italy working as the studio manager at La Romita School of Art. Gallaghers work is greatly influenced by her travels and particularly the study of the Late Renaissance. Gallagher is an art educator, fine artist, muralist, illustrator and has worked in theater as a scenic painter, set designer, costume designer and props artisan. This exhibition will be on display at the West Nebraska Arts Center through Aug. 28. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Joe Kent is closing the gap with Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler in the primary election, due in part to what the Clark County Auditor described as an "unprecedented number" of ballots cast on the day of the election. Kent performed significantly better in the ballots counted Thursday and Friday for the state's District 3 House of Representatives race than in the results from the previous two days. From a 5,000-vote deficit on Tuesday night, Kent trailed Herrera Beutler by around 250 votes as of Friday afternoon close enough to trigger a mandatory recount if the results hold. Friday's updated counts were less positive for Kent than the update on Thursday but still maintain a path for him to overtake Herrera Beutler and make it to the general election. Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez has guaranteed her position in first place in the primary results and will face either top Republican in November. Whichever Republican candidate makes it through will have earned less than 23% of the total votes in the primary as a result of how fractured the field has been. They would still be favored to win the general election in November as District 3 maintains a strong Republican lean. Kent is the most prominent of several conservative candidates who ran against Herrera Beutler when she voted to impeach Donald Trump after the Jan. 6 insurrection. Trump endorsed Kent in the District 3 election and Kent, in turn, has attacked the Jan. 6 committee hearings and called for President Joe Biden to be impeached. Outstanding count in Clark County An overwhelming majority of the outstanding ballots in District 3 have come from Clark County, which Clark County Auditor Greg Kimsey said has created delayed results. County election officials were able to verify signatures on early ballots ahead of the count on Election Day, but the large number of same-day ballots are still being processed. "We are going through them methodically and carefully to ensure the accuracy of the process. Right now we are focused on quality and not speed," Kimsey said. Kimsey said the same-day voters tended to lean more conservatively in previous elections, which would help Kent continue to push back into the race. The results posted by Clark County on the night of the election showed 37% of the votes going to Perez and 17% going to Kent. In the votes counted by Clark County on Thursday, which were predominately from later voters, Perez's share dropped to 30% while Kent climbed up to 26%. Friday's updated count was closer to the election night split but still helped Kent catch up. Cowlitz County had extremely close primary results as of Friday afternoon. With more than 22,000 votes cast in the county, Herrera Beutler was ahead of Perez for the top spot by 35 votes. Further down the Cowlitz County ballot, Kent trailed fellow Republican challenger Heidi St. John by just 25 votes. Kent's campaign manager Ozzie Gonzalez told The Daily News on Friday they would not hold media interviews until after the final election results were certified. "Im only 1% behind (Republican in Name Only) Beutler despite millions spent against me & the establishment supporting 2 spoiler candidates to split the MAGA vote," Kent tweeted on Friday before linking to the donations page on his campaign website. Recount rules in Washington Washington has rules to trigger a mandatory machine recount in a primary or general election. The machine recount will come into play if the candidates are separated by less than 2,000 votes and the difference between their vote totals is less than 0.5% of the combined number of votes they received. Given the current number of ballots that are still uncounted, Herrera Beutler and Kent could receive roughly 85,000 votes combined. If they reach that amount, a mandatory machine recount would be triggered if the final difference is 425 votes or fewer. If the difference between the vote totals is 0.25%, or fewer than 200 votes, Washington state law would require a manual recount. Either candidate could file to request a recount from the Office of the Secretary of State if the vote difference ends up being too large for an automatic recount. The candidate would need to pay 15 cents per ballot for a machine recount. Photo: Contributed Youve probably heard the adage, Thats the way the cookie crumbles. Relating cookies to the general events of our life seems obvious now, since they are a ubiquitous snack. But did you know that cookies have been around for over 5,000 years? Cookies were found in graves in China (probably left as sustenance for those dearly departed souls for their journey to the otherworld). But biscuits have existed ever since grain has been domesticated. Nowadays, a biscuit is what a cookie is often called in the U.K. But in ancient times, the original biscuits were rusks, a dried piece of bread with about ten percent water content. Rusks were often reconstituted with liquid to consume them, sometimes with water but more often with beer in the beginning. It was the Romans who first coined the term biscuit, which means twice cooked. They were still unsweetened, until Arabic bakers started experimenting with the crystallized sugar they invented. Biscuits were first adapted with nuts and dried fruit and then spices as the spice trade moved ingredients across regions. It was the Spanish and Italians who developed the idea of eating these sweet, hard treats at the end of a meal. In those days, sugar was seen as very healthy, and many spices were valued for their medicinal value. Biscuits also lead the way in the Industrial Revolution. They were the first food produced by a steam-powered machine the first flat biscuits that didnt have a rusk/bread shape. (If youve ever had a Carrs Water Cracker, or Biscuit if youre in the U.K, you have sampled a descendant of these historic wonders.) Cadburys was the first company to advertise a chocolate biscuit in the early 1900s, but those didnt really catch on until they were covered in chocolate (remember, there were no chocolate chips yet). Even in North America, the term biscuit was used before cookie. The largest bakery in the world is a plant where Nabisco makes many of its products (biscuits, crackers and cookies included.) Their original name was the National Biscuit Company. In Canada, their products use the Christie brand. In 1912, a quintessential cookie was invented. But did you know it was not the original one of its style? The famous Oreo cookie, made by Nabisco, was an offshoot of the Hydrox, another chocolate sandwich biscuit with vanilla filling. Nabisco had more marketing power than the smaller company making Hydrox, so they eventually won out as the popular choice. The most popular cookie of all though, for North American audiences, is the chocolate chip cookie. Legend has it that a home baker named Ruth Wakefield invented it by accident and made it famous in her inn that was on a toll road, called The Toll House (hence toll house cookie). The story is that she possibly ran out of butter, or bits of chocolate fell in the dough. But Ruth herself debunked this in conversations with reporters over the years. And there is evidence other recipes were published earlier than hers, as many as 10 to 20 years before Ruths famous cookie. Chocolate Jumbles, as the earlier recipe was called, originally had grated chocolate. If youve ever tried to grate chocolate you can understand why someone decided to stop grating and start chopping. The pieces of chocolate were called chips, just as wood chips or potato chips. Despite not being the original effort, Ruth Wakefields recipe using a generous amount of brown sugar just as she did in her well-loved butterscotch cookie, is the one that became the most common source for the cookie we know today. She started giving it out to newspapers and it was picked up by Nestle to put on their bags of machine-made chocolate morsels. What kind of cookie is your favourite? Are you a dunker of crispy cookies, or do you call them biscuits? Maybe youre a muncher of soft cookies. Any way the cookie crumbles is fine by me, as long as there are enough for everyone. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet. For his 91st birthday, Bob Baldwin is leaving Longview this weekend for a stay in the mountains. Baldwin will be spending eight days visiting Glacier National Park in Montana and Waterton Lakes National Park directly across the border in Canada. The trip will be a milestone not just for his birthday, but as the 50th trip Baldwin has participated in through Road Scholar, a not-for-profit organization that plans a variety of trips for older travelers. "It just opened up a whole world for me. Things I never thought I would do I ended up doing," Baldwin said. Baldwin said that he had always been a hiker and was interested in travel, but his work as a forester for Weyerhaeuser didn't leave him with a lot of free time for intensive trips. After retiring Baldwin planned his first trip, a short sailing program through the Puget Sound, with his wife Marilyn before she died in 1994. "Rather than stay at home and mope around, I decided to stay with the trip. I found it pretty satisfying and I kind of got hooked on the programs they offer," Baldwin said. Baldwin took his first trips while Road Scholar operated under its previous name, Elderhostel. Road Scholar's website says the company works with more than 100,000 travelers every year and has programs that visit more than 100 countries. Prices for the most popular recent trips generally range between $1,000 and $3,000 for trips in the United States or North America. Some of the Road Scholar trips Baldwin has taken have been straightforward hikes on popular trails in Alaska or Arizona. Others have been more elaborate treks. Back in the late 1990s, Baldwin took two lengthy biking trips in Europe, one along the Danube River in Germany and Austria and another through Denmark a year later. "We would go through the little towns and villages to stop and pick up lunch at a market, have a break there, move on to the rest of the day. It's really a great, fun way to do it," Baldwin said. Road Scholar What: A not-for-profit that provides educational travel opportunities for older adults. Phone: 800-454-5768 Email: contact@roadscholar.org Online: www.roadscholar.org The majority of the trips Baldwin has taken with Road Scholar meant traveling and bonding with a small group of other vacationers around his age. Baldwin said he's made some long-distance friendships with people he met on the trips and has visited again. Over the years, Baldwin brought along his grandchildren on a few of the trips that are specifically billed as intergenerational programs. The family trips included visits to Yellowstone National Park, Greece and the Netherlands. The pandemic and age have slowed down the extent of Baldwin's travels. The trip in August will be Baldwin's first major trip in three years. He said he has shifted his focus to some of the less physically-demanding options provided by Road Scholar. Ten scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each have been awarded to local graduates from Mark Morris, R.A. Long and Toutle high schools by the Rotary Club of Longview. Three of the club scholarship were created to honor deceased Rotarians with family and friends of Rotary contributing to the scholarship funds. The Bill Davis Scholarship is awarded to a student who will study business and perhaps own a business. Davis owned his own business. Mark Morris High School graduate Carson Allen is the recipient. He will attend the University of Washington. The Jim Stacie Scholarship honors Stacie who was a longtime Rotarian. Mark Morris High School graduate Adam Nixon is the recipient. He will attend the University of Washington. The Travis Cavens scholarship honors the local longtime doctor, traveler and historian, who with his wife, Phyllis, started the Child & Adolescent Clinic in Longview. Toutle Lake High School graduate Jordyn Grabenhorst is the recipient. She will attend Eastern Washington University. The Phil Henderson scholarship honors the beloved physician who delivered thousands of local children during more than three decades of practice. R.A. Long High School graduate Mia Dam is the recipient. She will attend Lower Columbia College. Other students receiving scholarships Mark Morris High School: Brianna Johnson, who will attend Embry Riddle Aeronautical University; and Emily Williams, who will attend Washington State University. R.A. Long High School: Lizbeth Lopez Robles, who will attend Pacific Lutheran University; Hannah Tornow, who will attend Montana State University; Kha Ngo, who will attend Lower Columbia College; and Maddie McCoy, who will attend the University of Montana. The Rotary Club of Longview raises money for scholarships through projects such as The Freedom Flag program, Squirrel Fest and the Tour de Blast bicycle event at Mount St. Helens. WASHINGTON Now that WNBA star Brittney Griner has been convicted of drug possession and sentenced to nine years in prison, attention turns to the prospect of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia that could get her home. Secretary of State Antony Blinken went public with that possibility last week, revealing in an unusual announcement that the U.S. had made a substantial proposal aimed at securing the release of Griner and another jailed American, Paul Whelan. With her court case concluded and her sentence pronounced, such a deal assuming one can be reached with the Russians is Griners best chance of being freed early. Though the guilty verdict was seen as a foregone conclusion, the imposition of a sentence her lawyers decried as far longer than average could give the U.S. extra impetus to strike a deal palatable to Russia as soon as possible. And the formal end of the court case could be the opening both sides need to forge a diplomatic resolution, too. WHAT DID THE U.S. OFFER? Blinken did not specify the terms other than to describe the offer as substantial and something that he intended to discuss with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. A person familiar with the situation said that the U.S. offered to release Viktor Bout, a convicted Russian arms dealer serving a 25-year prison sentence on charges that he conspired to sell tens of millions of dollars in weapons to Colombias former FARC guerrilla army. At the time of his conviction, the group was classified by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization, though that designation was lifted last year. The officials did wind up speaking by phone last Friday, the highest-level known contact between the two sides since Russia invaded Ukraine. They are also in Cambodia for meetings involving foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries. WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE? Minimal, at least in public. Blinken did not provide details after his call with Lavrov about his response. The Russians gave no hint about their interest in the offer, other than a statement chiding the U.S. to pursue the Americans freedom through quiet diplomacy, without releases of speculative information. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the Russian government had responded in a bad faith manner with an offer that U.S. officials did not regard as serious. She did not elaborate, though CNN reported last week that Moscow also wanted the release of a former colonel from one of its spy agencies who was convicted of murder in Germany last year. WOULD THERE BE A PRECEDENT? In many ways, yes and a recent one too. In April, Russia traded Marine veteran Trevor Reed, convicted of a physical altercation with police in Moscow, for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot imprisoned for a cocaine trafficking conspiracy. Yet that involved a Russian with far less notoriety than Bout, a former Soviet air force officer who once inspired a Hollywood movie and who earned the nickname the Merchant of Death over allegations that he supplied weapons used for civil wars in countries around the globe. He has adamantly maintained his innocence. But theres not much recent precedent for public discussions of prisoner swaps, at least by the U.S. government, before the deal is done and planes are in the air. Thats what made Blinkens announcement from the State Department briefing room all the more striking. On one hand, it seemed intended to communicate to the public that the administration will do whatever it needs to do to bring home wrongfully detained Americans. But such a public overture also risks weakening the administrations negotiating hand to the extent it makes the U.S. look overly desperate for a deal, or signals to other countries that it is willing to meet potentially unreasonable demands. WILL THE DEAL TAKE PLACE? Its hard to say, but the contact between Blinken and Lavrov does suggest more progress than has been made before. It also reinforces the idea that the two countries are willing to maintain communication despite extraordinary tensions related to Moscows invasion of Ukraine. Griner is the most prominent American detained by a foreign country. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist detained since February when police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage at an airport in Moscow. And though some Republicans including former President Donald Trump have expressed opposition to a deal, the conviction and sentence will only ramp up pressure on the administration to reach an agreement that can get her out soon. Todays sentencing of Brittney Griner was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn, Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griners agent, tweeted Thursday. She said getting a deal done for Griner and Whelan, a Michigan corporate security executive imprisoned on an espionage conviction he and his family says is baseless, may be difficult but it is urgent and the right thing to do. The U.S. government also regards Whelan as wrongfully convicted. For their part, Russian authorities have suggested that they regard a conviction as basically a prerequisite for a prisoner swap. On Thursday, President Joe Biden again urged Russia to release Griner immediately. My administration will continue to work tirelessly and pursue every possible avenue to bring Brittney and Paul Whelan home safely as soon as possible, he said in a statement. Samsung One UI 5 update is now available on a beta form to try on the Galaxy S22 series. Here is all you need to know. Android 13 is in its final stages ahead of an expected August release and if things go well, the Google Pixel devices will be getting it first hand. That also means other smartphone makers will now need to begin the process of rolling out their custom version of Android for their handsets. Samsung is now one of the few brands that is already rolling out the test version of the next version of One UI interface. Called One UI 5, the trial version is available for users of the Samsung Galaxy S22 series. The first public beta of One UI 5 is now finally rolling out to Samsung Galaxy S22 models in Germany. This includes all the three models the Galaxy S22, the Galaxy S22 Plus, and the Galaxy S22 Ultra. Samsung is yet to announce One Ui 5 officially but we believe it would be done at the Galaxy Unpacked event on August 10, where the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 are expected to be launched. Samsung One UI 5 update rolling out The German changelog is harder to comprehend but this is what we could figure out. The One UI update brings in most the changes that are part of Android 13, which is obvious given that the update is based on Android 13 itself. One can experience smoother animations, a new redesigned notifications shade, OCR feature in the Gallery, and smarter contextual actions across the interface. The OCR feature will be similar to the iOS 15 feature that lets you copy text from images. There are several multitasking boosting functions as well with One UI 5. Additionally, the camera app gets a histogram in the Pro mode, a new zoom bar, Food mode for the telephoto camera, and some more. Plus, all the Samsung first apps will get a fresh coat of paint with the update. Given Samsung's excellent track record of being the only company to beat Google at releasing updates, we expect the Android 13 based One UI 5 update to hit the Galaxy S22 series by October 2022. Before the end of 2022, Samsung could be updating most of its 2022 and 2021 flagships. Asteroids and comets are the near-Earth object that can even hit the planet. However no known asteroid poses a significant risk of impact with Earth over the next 100 years, according to NASA. Galaxies, planets, stars, Sun, Asteroids, Moons, and what not! Space is full of so many objects. Even every object has some other near object. Earth too has objects near it, which even sometimes gets attracted towards the planet because of its gravitational pull. Though, not every near-Earth object manages to reach the surface of the planet. The object needs to be large enough to survive the fire that starts by entering the atmospheric layer of Earth. But wait, do you know what is a near-Earth object? Asteroid or comet that can pass within 30 million miles or 50 million kilometers of Earth's orbit are known as near-Earth object or NEO. According to NASA, "A near-Earth object (NEO) is an asteroid or comet whose orbit brings it within a zone approximately 121 million miles (195 million kilometers) from the Sun, meaning that it can pass within about 30 million miles (50 million kilometers) of Earth's orbit." NASA further informed that the vast majority of NEOs that enter Earth's atmosphere disintegrate before reaching the surface (and more than 100 tons of dust particles disintegrate in Earth's atmosphere daily), those NEOs that are larger than around 98 to 164 feet (30 to 50 meters) in size and could cause widespread damage in and around their impact sites. A potentially hazardous object (PHO) is a near-Earth object whose orbit brings it within 4.7 million miles (7.5 million km) of Earth's orbit, and is greater than 500 feet (140 meters) in size. Also Read: Forget asteroids, comets, solar storms, NASA is EXCITED about this It can be known that like the planets, asteroids and comets also orbit the Sun. Some of the smaller moons of other planets may be captured asteroids. Most asteroids are in what is called the main belt between Mars and Jupiter. The vast majority of near-Earth asteroids have come from inner part of the main belt where, over tens of millions of years, their orbits were altered by the gravitational influence of Jupiter and Mars, and some by mutual collisions. How many times do near-Earth objects come close to Earth Small asteroids a few meters in size are detected passing between Earth and the Moon's orbit several times a month. Meteoroids very small fragments of asteroids and comets less than 3 feet (1 meter) in size hit Earth's atmosphere and explode virtually every day, causing the bright meteor events that people see at night and sometimes leave remnants meteorites on the ground. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Center for NEO Studies maintains close approach tables that are updated daily, NASA informed. Also, till date no known asteroid poses a significant risk of impact with Earth over the next 100 years. The highest risk of impact for a known asteroid is a 1 in 714 chance of impact by an asteroid designated 2009 FD in 2185. This means that the possibility that it could impact then is less than 0.2 percent. NASA said, "One asteroid that NASA is studying up close, called Bennu, has a 1/2700 chance of impacting Earth between 2175 and 2195. The OSIRIS-REx spacecraft will complete a 2-year investigation of Bennu before plucking a sample of asteroid material off its surface and delivering it back to Earth." Also Read: James Webb Space Telescope captures glowing Jupiter in its infrared gaze How can we prevent an asteroid from hitting Earth? Currently, an asteroid impact is the only natural disaster that NASA might be able to prevent. There are a few methods that NASA is studying to deflect an asteroid on a course to impact Earth. One of these techniques is called a gravity tractorit involves a spacecraft that would rendezvous with an asteroid (but not land on its surface) and maintain its relative, optimal position to use the mutual gravity attraction between the satellite and the asteroid to slowly alter the course of the asteroid. A kinetic impactor is currently the simplest and most technologically mature method available to defend against asteroids. In this technique, a spacecraft is launched that simply slams itself into the asteroid at several km per second speed. Nuclear explosive device methods are considered the last resort when it comes to NEO deflection, though they may be the most effective for preventing a cataclysmic event. When warning time is short or the asteroid is large, deploying a nuclear device is the most effective option. An asteroid missed the Earth recently, just a few days after its discovery by NASA. The last minute discovery of the asteroid means that NASA or any space agency had virtually no time to deflect or destroy it if it had headed straight for earth. Earth escaped a giant asteroid by a wafer thin margin! This giant asteroid, known as Asteroid 2022 OE2 was recently spotted by NASA for the first time and within a few days, it made its closest approach to the Earth. The last minute discovery of the asteroid means that NASA or any space agency had virtually no time to deflect or destroy it if it had headed straight for Earth. The asteroid passed at a distance of just 3.2 million miles away from the Earth. It is equal to 10 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Around 380 meters wide in diameter, this huge asteroid made its closest approach to Earth on August 4. It is one of the 15,000 Apollo-class asteroids, which orbit around the Sun in such a way that they cross our orbit. The interesting fact is that it was found only a few ago on July 26! That means, in less than two weeks from its first appearance, the asteroid marked the close approach to the Earth. However, NASA keeps an eye on all the near-Earth objects in space to detect any potential harm from the celestial objects in advance. This way, NASA tracks thousands of such near-Earth objects, but many remain unknown! According to the space agency, there are less than half of the 25,00 NEOs that are larger than 140 meters and are yet to be found in the depth of space! The small size of asteroids can often make the task difficult. NASA mentioned, "Near-Earth objects are asteroids and comets with orbits that bring them to within 120 million miles of the Sun, which means they can circulate through the Earth's orbital neighborhood. Most near-Earth objects are asteroids that range in size from about 10 feet (a few meters) to nearly 25 miles across. Still, there is always a minor chance of an asteroid strike, in case it deviates from its orbit! To avoid any mishap NASA and other space agencies have launched planetary protection programmes in an attempt to limit those risks. They have even included a major space mission to test any possible response such as NASA's Dart mission. It will crash into an asteroid to understand it is possible to change the path of any unpredictable hazardous asteroid which may pose a risk to Earth. While dangerous asteroids, comets and solar storms grab eyeballs, here is what NASA is really excited about. Check out the Earth System Observatory, which will give a 3D, holistic view of the planet. While dangerous asteroids, comets and solar storms grab eyeballs NASA is really excited about this mission Earth. Like every other planet, Moons, galaxies, or any other object out in space, Earth too has several interesting aspects for research. In fact, a lot of secrets are still hiding and require increasingly complex tech to flush them out into the open for humanity to see, understand and, if possible, profitably use, to ensure welfare of future generations. Scientists are looking to find out more about our planet with a new set of Earth-focused missions. Also, as per the information provided by NASA Earth, with more Earth-focused missions, the Earth System Observatory will give a 3D, holistic view of Earth, from bedrock to atmosphere. "We're e-s-SO excited! With a new set of Earth-focused missions, the Earth System Observatory will give us a 3D, holistic view of Earth, from bedrock to atmosphere," NASA Earth tweeted. We're e-s-SO excited! With a new set of Earth-focused missions, the Earth System Observatory will give us a 3D, holistic view of Earth, from bedrock to atmosphere. https://t.co/2iMAO9dkaG NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) August 4, 2022 Saying the same, NASA Earth retweeted Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator, NASA, Science Mission Directorate, tweet which informed that they have established an Independent Review Board (IRB) to help understanding our changing planet. "In efforts to ensure the success of the @NASAEarth System Observatory, we have established an Independent Review Board (IRB) to help propel us forward in understanding our changing planet, " the tweet read. "NASA will design a new set of Earth-focused missions to provide key information to guide efforts related to climate change, natural hazard mitigation, fighting forest fires, and improving real-time agricultural processes. Each uniquely designed satellite in the Earth System Observatory will complement the others, working in tandem to create a 3D, holistic view of Earth, from bedrock to atmosphere," NASA said in a report. It can be known that the Earth System Observatory has been designed to give the most comprehensive view yet of how Earth is changing. Researchers and scientists at NASA believe that by strengthening scientific understanding, they will be able to provide information to communities around the world to plan for the future. Also Read: James Webb Space Telescope captures glowing Jupiter in its infrared gaze The areas of focus for core of the observatory include aerosols, cloud, convection and precipitation, mass change, surface biology and geology, surface deformation and change. NASA is currently initiating the formulation phase for the core observatory. The trailblazer for the observatory is a NASA partnership with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) that brings together two different kinds of radar systems that can measure changes in Earth's surface to less than a half-inch. This mission, called NISAR (NASA-ISRO synthetic aperture radar), will measure some of the planet's most complex processes such as ice-sheet collapse and natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides. NISAR can assist planners and decision makers with managing both hazards and natural resources in the future. Also Read: NASA game planned contingencies for International Space Station as Russian alliance continued- sources NASA establishes board to review initial Earth System Observatory plans As per the information provided by NASA, the independent review board (IRB) will help NASA review the technical concepts developed during preliminary formulation so far for robustness, as well as the ability to satisfy the mission's essential requirements. It will help ensure NASA is adopting lessons learned from experience with previous large, strategic science missions. The observatory seeks to implement recommendations from the 2017 Earth Science Decadal Survey by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which lays out ambitious but critically necessary research and observation guidance for our changing planet. The volatile surface of the Sun can unleash strong solar flares! Know how they can impact Earth. The surface of the Sun is filled with electrically charged gases that generate areas of powerful magnetic forces, known as magnetic fields. These electrically-charged hot gases on the Sun are constantly moving, tangling, stretching and twisting these magnetic fields. These can then lead to a sudden explosion of energy and we call these phenomena solar flares. The Sun follows a certain schedule and it is called a solar cycle that lasts for 11 years after which the activity subsides. During this active period, the most worrying things about the Sun's activities are these giant solar flares that it generates and sends shooting out into space and some of them are directed at Earth. NASA says, "If a solar flare is very intense, the radiation it releases can interfere with our radio communications here on Earth." Not just radio, the really massive solar flares can even knock out satellites, and cause power grid failures on Earth. Apart from that, solar flares also spark those mesmerizing lights in the sky on the poles. These are the auroras on the poles of the planet. Solar flares are not the only worry for humans. NASA reveals, "Solar flares are sometimes accompanied by a coronal mass ejection (CME). CMEs are huge bubbles of radiation and particles from the Sun. They explode into space at very high speed when the Sun's magnetic field lines suddenly reorganize." It is when these charged particles from a CME reach areas near Earth, that they trigger these auroras. Scientists closely monitor solar activity every day to find out what the Sun is doing and if there is a massive solar flare being generated, then they can take steps to protect infrastructure on Earth as well as astronauts and satellites in the sky.. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A California regulator has accused Tesla of misleading consumers about its driver assistance systems, and has filed complaints that could potentially prevent the automaker from selling its cars in the state, US media reported Friday. In its filing, the Department of Motor Vehicles said Tesla advertised its Autopilot and Self-Driving technologies as more capable than they actually are, according to the Los Angeles Times. The company "made or disseminated statements that are untrue or misleading, and not based on facts," the DMV reportedly said in its complaints, filed with the quasi-judicial tribunal the Office of Administrative Hearings on July 28. Tesla cars could never "and cannot now, operate as autonomous vehicles," the DMV said, according to the California newspaper. The DMV did not immediately return AFP's request for comment. Tesla's website describes its Autopilot as having "full self-driving capability." "All you will need to do is get in and tell your car where to go," it says. "If you don't say anything, your car will look at your calendar and take you there as the assumed destination." A ruling in favor of the California regulator could have severe consequences for the electric carmaker, including the possible revocation of the licenses authorizing Tesla to manufacture or sell its cars in the state, according to the Times. But a DMV spokesperson told the newspaper that actual remedies the agency would seek included having Tesla better educate drivers about its autonomous vehicles and feature a warning on the limitations of its technology. Tesla vehicles equipped with autonomous driving software have been involved in 273 accidents in the United States, according to a report released in June by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is investigating the automaker. In June, Tesla boss Elon Musk stressed the importance of fully autonomous driving, claiming that without it the value of his company would be "close to zero". Tesla shares plunged at the close of the New York Stock Exchange on Friday, giving up 6.63 percent to $864.51. Explore further US agency probes Tesla crashes that killed 2 motorcyclists 2022 AFP Photo: Contributed Some travellers in an out of Vancouver International Airport are using an Apple AirTag, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, a Tile Pro, or another smart tracking device to locate their luggage as it moves around the world. If you've checked a bag on a recent flight and didn't have any issues, count yourself lucky. Throngs of frustrated flyers have seen their luggage go missing for days, weeks, and even months as airports around the globe struggle with unprecedented congestion; some particularly unlucky travellers never see their baggage again. For example, a Surrey, B.C. man told Vancouver Is Awesome that he was "absolutely disgusted" after being reunited with his bag over a month after his trip with Air Canada. But the outraged air passenger isn't the only local with a baggage horror tale to tell. A Vancouver woman wrote on Twitter that the airline she flew with lost her luggage and still hasn't recovered it. "Now a week later Im trying to get home and my plane makes an unscheduled landing to switch pilots only to find out the new pilots actually cant do it and I have to spend the night in Edmonton of all places," she adds. Tanya from Burnaby wrote that her luggage was delayed for five days during a layover at Toronto's Lester B. Pearson (YYZ) airport. She added that she almost missed her connecting flight due to the handicap assistance being delayed for over an hour. Ben of Vancouver also expressed his astonishment with the baggage handling on a recent flight from Albania. In a tweet, the local said, "The whole bottom floor was a massive pile of luggage. EasyJet told us the bags were never loaded onto the plane. At least half the plane was missing luggage." A Vancouverite who goes by Betty Black on social media expressed sheer relief upon receiving her luggage after visiting the airport a whopping six times in her attempt to locate it. She writes in a tweet that it was lost after WestJet put "the wrong bag tag on [her] suitcase." A Langley resident wrote that he hasn't seen his luggage in three days since he arrived at Vancouver International Airport (YVR). Is there a way to keep track of your luggage on a flight? Some travellers have been trying to get ahead of the issue by placing non-traditional luggage tags on their bags to prevent losing them on their journeys. Whether you pick up an Apple AirTag, Samsung Galaxy SmartTag, a Tile Pro, or another "smart" tracking device, you can locate your luggage from anywhere in the world. According to Samsung, its SmartTag can even be used offline, with its Galaxy Find Network. You use scanned data to find the bag privately. "And its easy to scroll through a history of where the tags been to retrace it. You can also use other devices you own to locate your items," claims the company. The Apple AirTag utilizes similar technology, allowing you to keep track of your belongings through its "Find My app" feature, which you can also use to track down your Apple devices. Apple says the AirTag sends out a "secure Bluetooth signal that can be detected by nearby devices in the Find My network." The devices send the location of your AirTag to iCloud and you simply use the "Find My" application to view it on a map. The AirTag can also be put into "Lost Mode." If you put it in this mode, when its detected by a device in the network, youll automatically get a notification. According to Vancouverite Morgan, she could see that her luggage was sitting at the Dublin airport for two days via her AirTag. "Weve filed for delayed baggage, weve tried calling you, the airport, everyone and no one will respond. Please give it back and stop ruining our honeymoon," the frustrated traveller tweeted in an appeal to WestJet. A Canadian woman also shared her story of using Apple's smart tag to keep track of her luggage between Saint John and Toronto. Kelly Liang writes on TikTok that she was "testing out two different tracking devices in my luggage." In a follow-up video, she said the "Tile did its job" but that the "AirTag is a little more accurate than the Tile." While they both "worked great," she preferred the latter as she "already had an Apple device." What can you do if the airport loses your bags or delays them significantly? On July 6, the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) released a new resource for travellers who experience flight delays, cancellations, and baggage loss. The document outlines information about travellers' rights and what they should do if their flight is delayed or cancelled, according to the online Air Passenger Protection (APP) document. It also provides information on the steps to take if their baggage is lost, damaged, or delayed. But air passenger rights advocates say the CTA isn't acting in the passengers' interests. Ultimately, however, you may want to pack light. The best way to prevent losing your luggage on a long-haul flight is by keeping it with you. Obviously, this may not be possible in all circumstances, particularly if you must pack a smorgasbord of options for a multifaceted travel experience. Find packing tips and other ways to keep your luggage safe in our comprehensive baggage guide. Texas dairy producers pushed into third place nationally at the beginning of 2022 and have experienced historically high prices and input costs, according to a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service expert. Jennifer Spencer, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension dairy specialist, said prices are good for producers and demand continues to be high for milk and milk products from cheese to ice cream, while fluid milk consumption continues to decline. Spencer predicted last year that Texas would move past Idaho and into the No. 3 milk production spot nationally as more processing facilities opened. Two cheese processing plants Abilene and Amarillo broke ground last summer and will increase the capacity for producers in the Texas Plains, where 80% of the states milk is produced. But even without the added processing capacity, Texas milk producers increased the number of dairy cows by 20,000 head, which helped Texas surpass Idaho in milk production between January and April. Texas dairies produced 1.4 billion pounds of milk compared to 1.39 billion pounds produced in Idaho. Texas slipped back to fourth as higher temperatures set in, according to the Texas Association of Dairymen. Spencer said milk production in June 2022 increased 6.9% compared to June 2021. Texas milk production totaled 15.6 billion pounds in 2021, up 5% from 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Total cash receipts were around $2.83 billion for the Texas dairy industry. Idaho has been struggling with drought and heat as well, but we have extreme heat, humidity and limited water availability to contend with, she said. But where most states are shrinking or maintaining production, Texas is consistently increasing milk production, demonstrating how dairy is a thriving agricultural industry in the state. Prices high, but costs up as well Historically good prices are welcome news to dairy producers as the industry recovers from pandemic restrictions that impacted consumption of products from carton milk for schools to butter and cheese used in restaurants. Prices per hundredweight have ranged between $23 and $25 between January and April, and a USDA report priced milk at $25.13 per hundredweight for August and a peak of $25.87 in June and July. Pre-pandemic prices were around $19 per hundredweight, but prices averaged around $15 per hundredweight in 2020. The price per hundredweight was around $17 in June 2021. Milk prices typically rise during the summer months, as higher temperatures impact output, and demand for ice cream and other summertime favorites increases, Spencer said. But despite the good prices, Spencer said dairy producers have also faced much higher input costs. Feed, fuel and fertilizer prices have driven the break-even price per hundredweight of milk higher as well. That break-even price is operation-specific where they are, what they feed and the size of the dairy but input costs have pushed that price too close for some, she said. Spencer said dairy industry trends continue to show the number of dairies declining as dairy size and overall production continue to rise. Demand for milk and the range of dairy-based products from protein powder, cheese and ice cream continues to rise despite fluid milk demand being down 2.4% from this time in 2021. Export demands continue to be strong as well. Texas has been doing extremely well among the top 24 dairy producing states, and I expect that trend to continue, she said. Weve been in a back-and-forth battle for third place, but with the production increases weve experienced and the processing facilities coming, dairy production in Texas is looking strong. LAUREL Police on Friday arrested a man in the killings of four people in a small northeast Nebraska town where it had been more than 100 years since it last saw such violence. Around 2:30 a.m. Friday, a police team surrounded the Laurel home of 42-year-old Jason Jones and barged inside, with guns drawn and using flash bangs. Jones home is just off the main downtown street in the town of 1,000 people and directly across the street from one of two houses where occupants were shot before the homes were set ablaze, police said. Jones was so badly burned that he had to be flown to a hospital in Lincoln instead of being booked into jail, Nebraska State Patrol Col. John Bolduc said. Jones was charged later Friday with 10 felonies, including four counts of first-degree murder. The Nebraska Commission on Public Advocacy which often handles capital murder cases was appointed to represent Jones and declined to comment on the case. Police allege that Jones killed 53-year-old Michele Ebeling early Thursday morning before causing some type of explosion and fire in her home thats across the street from him. According to police, Jones then went about three blocks south, broke into another home and killed Gene Twiford, 86; his wife, Janet Twiford, 85; and their daughter, Dana Twiford, 55. Charging documents allege Jones carried out some of the killings in the course of a burglary, but Bolduc declined to give a possible motive for the slayings or say if Jones knew the victims. Several people in Laurel said they knew little about Jones, other than he had moved into the home within the last few years. Court records say Jones had lived in the Elm Street house since at least 2019. Receipts and a gun left at the scene of the killings were linked to him. The killings came as a shock to the community thats about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Omaha. Despite its small size, Laurel is home to five churches and the Knuckleheadz bar that also serves as the towns cafe. The last criminal homicide in Laurel happened in 2005, when a man died following a bar fight and that case was deemed to be manslaughter, not murder. To find the towns last known multiple murder, one would have to go back more than 100 years to 1918, when Dr. C.C. Sackett and Harold Crownover were shot and killed by suspected burglars they had been chasing, according to town historian Roger Tryon. Tryon writes a column titled Pages of History for the weekly Laurel Advocate. People still talk about it. That was the crime of the 20th century for Laurel, Tryon said. I suspect whats happened here this week will be the crime of the 21st century. Michele Ebelings daughter, Richele Ebeling, 31, of Oklahoma City, told The Associated Press that her mother moved to Laurel about two years ago with her boyfriend, who travels for his job and was not home when she was attacked. Honestly, this is so bizarre and so surreal that I cannot even wrap my head around this, she said, noting she had last talked with her mom around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday by phone. She said it is not clear whether her mother knew Jones or whether she knew the Twiford family down the street. The Twifords were lifelong Laurel residents, and almost everyone there knew them. Their next-door neighbors, Doug and Lynette Krie, said they didnt hear anything like gunshots before dawn Thursday. They were alerted to trouble around 9:30 a.m., when they spotted the towns lone law enforcement officer in their driveway, who said a passerby had noticed smoke coming from the Twifords home. The officer and the Kries then went over to the Twiford home together to check the doors. They were all secure and then I saw one of the doors in the back cracked open, Lynette Krie said. Firefighters from the towns volunteer department then went in to find the source of the smoke. When they emerged, they fell to their knees. Thats when I knew they were gone, Krie said, fighting back tears. But the Kries and many others in town didnt find out about the shootings until later. We just assumed they had died of smoke inhalation or something, Doug Krie said. Nobody expected this. Under the hot summer sun, the sounds of giggling and the click-clack of polyurethane wheels over cracks in the concrete filled the Miller Park neighborhood. It was the final day of skate school, a two-month, twice-a-week program for fourth and fifth grade students at Nelson Mandela Elementary School. As instructors asked the students to reflect on the experience, the group of tie-dye shirt-clad kids grew impatient as they eyed a row of brand-new skateboards. From the crowd, a common refrain: Do we get to keep the boards? The instructors exchanged a knowing glance as they continued with their questions. This summer marks the second year that Rabble Mill, a Nebraska-based nonprofit centered around skateboarding, digital art and music, partnered with Nelson Mandela Elementary, a private, tuition-free K-5 school in North Omaha. I think our missions align well, which is why we choose to keep working with them, Katie Temple, the education programming manager at Rabble Mill, said of the partnership. Opened in 2015 and fully funded by the Lozier Foundation, the school prioritizes offering a high-quality, tailored education to kids in the Miller Park area. This includes having music lessons built into the curriculum, requiring parents to be actively involved in the school community and a year-round school schedule with a three-week summer vacation in August. Throughout June and July, 76 students spent some of their school day on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the smoothly paved parking lot. Rabble Mill instructors set up a makeshift skate park, complete with obstacles to maneuver around and small ramps to practice gaining speed. Connor Johnson, 21, has been skating for most of his life. When his friends told him about the chance to teach kids to skate through Rabble Mill, he jumped on the opportunity. When I started skating back in the day, there was a group of skater kids who lived in my neighborhood, he said. They were the older, cooler dudes, and I wanted to be like them. The coolest thing about working with kids is that you are the cool older kid now. They want your advice and they look up to you in that way. Many of the kids had never stepped foot on a skateboard before this summer. The instructors focused on building confidence and meeting each student at their respective skill level. As some students were eager to learn new tricks, others were still getting comfortable balancing on the board. Regardless of their skill, Johnson says that all the students made great strides from where they started. Thats why each kid got a skateboard and a helmet to take home with them. A few weeks before the final lesson, six Rabble Mill employees gathered around a box of skateboard parts. For more than three hours, they went through the same tedious process of assembling a skateboard 76 times: measuring the board, adding grip tape, sanding the edges, poking the holes, inserting bearings and attaching wheels and trucks. The hard work paid off when instructors told the kids that they would be able to keep practicing on their very own boards. Squeals and cheers were audible from around the neighborhood as the students ran to take their pick. They were so psyched, Johnson said. Theyve all been working so hard, and they truly deserve these boards. Id be working with some of the kids and theyd talk about how they want to skate more and practice, but they dont have a board. For the rest of the lesson, students used paint pens to decorate the new gear and sign their names on each others boards. Johnson and the other instructors watched with a smile as the kids rolled back and forth across the parking lot. Before retiring back into the school building, the students thanked their instructors for the skateboards, of course, but also for helping many of them find a new hobby. Thank you, one student said. I didnt know that I loved skateboarding until now. MARION Marion is going to the dogs this weekend with the 64th Crab Orchard Kennel Club Dog Show. The show will begin and 8:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at The Pavilion, 1602 Sioux Drive. We have 460 dogs entered for Saturday and 490 entered on Sunday, Cheri White, Crab Orchard Kennel Club president, said. White was the assistant chairman of the show committee. She stepped in as chairman when Donna Davison became ill. The event started Friday evening with Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog testing. The event is two separate conformation shows, one Saturday and one Sunday. After the best in show competition on Saturday, a puppy show, Advanced Canine Good Citizen and Urban Canine Good Citizen tests, along with Trick Dog, are planned. White explained that the club is affiliated with the American Kennel Club. That means the purpose of the dog show is to select breeding stock, like the judging of sheep or cattle at a county fair. A lot of people call a dog show a beauty contest, but its not. The judge has written standards for a breed and dogs are judged against that standard, White said. Each breed is first judged against other dogs of the same breed and a best of breed is chosen. The best of breeds are next judged against other dogs in their groups. The show includes seven groups: sporting, working, hound, terrier, toy, non-sporting and herding. Winners of the seven groups will be named best of group. The group winners will go on to compete for best of show. Best of show means the dog that is the best example of the breed standards for its breed. The end result is one best of show. Everybodys a winner at 8:30 in the morning, White said. They also will go through the judging process for dogs handled by their owners. Crab Orchard Kennel Club will have a junior handler's show Saturday and Sunday. The winner of each day's competition will receive a $300 scholarship to be used for college or a trade school. White said people are welcome to come and watch the shows. Pets will not be allowed into the Pavilion for their safety. She said show dogs travel and may expose pets to germs they might not get otherwise. Pet dogs also can be stressed in the show atmosphere. The show includes vendors in the lobby of the Pavilion. Theyve got all the dog stuff youd ever want, White said. Food will also be available at The Pavilion. The club will have a raffle for dog-related items. Tickets will be sold Saturday and early Sunday. Prizes will be awarded at 10 a.m. Sunday. A 50-50 drawing will be held at the same time. For more information, visit Crab Orchard Kennel Clubs Facebook page. CHARLESTON -- James Thomas Bramlette, 42, of Salt Lake City, Utah, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prisons after pleading guilty to wire and tax fraud. Evidence presented to the Court showed that Bramlette and his co-conspirators raised over $10 million from investors to develop Melrose Resort on Daufuskie Island, knowing the resort was in dire financial condition and subject to foreclosure by the original lender. Bramlette and his co-conspirators repeatedly told investors their funds were being used to develop the resort when, in reality, the funds were used to pay the original lender not to foreclose, pay previous investors, and to pay employees, utilities, and taxes at the resort. Bramlette also used at least $1.8 million from investors for personal use and to live a lavish lifestyle. Mr. Bramlettes prison sentence reflects the seriousness of his offense and the United States Attorneys Offices dedication to deterring fraud, said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. This office will continue to prosecute those who cheat their fellow citizens and steal federal tax dollars. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Bramlette to 63 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Concerning the wire fraud charge, in Sept. 2016 Melrose Resort owed more than $500,000 in past due property taxes. The Beaufort County Treasurers Office notified Bramlette that the resort would be auctioned at a tax sale if the property taxes were not paid. In order to prevent the resort from being sold at the tax sale, Bramlette created a fake wire receipt that falsely represented that Melrose Resort had wired money to the Beaufort County Treasurers Office to pay the property taxes. Instead of being truthful about the continued financial problems at Melrose Resort, Bramlette defrauded investors and misled others who had interests in the property, said Susan Ferensic, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. With this sentence, he will pay the consequences in prison and will no longer be able to continue his lavish lifestyle at the expense of those who put their trust in him. As to tax fraud charge, Bramlette was required to collect and pay federal payroll taxes from the wages of all employees at Melrose Resort. Bramlette collected payroll taxes from the employees, but he failed to turn over these taxes to the IRS. In total, Bramlette failed to turn over to the IRS approximately $1 million in payroll taxes. "Employment tax evasion results in the loss of tax revenue to the United States Government. stated Donald Trey Eakins, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Special Agent in Charge, Charlotte Field Office. "Failure to pay over withheld taxes is a serious offense. Corporate executives have a responsibility to withhold income taxes for their employees and then remit those taxes to the IRS. IRS Criminal Investigation will vigorously pursue anyone who collects these taxes and uses the funds for their own personal gain." The case was investigated by the FBI and the IRS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower prosecuted. Claflin University faculty and staff will now have more opportunities for living near campus. The university celebrated the grand opening of The Villas at Claflin on Friday. The Villas are a nine-unit townhouse complex located at 2005 Magnolia Street, across the street from the campus. The two-floor, two-bedroom and 1-1/2 bath townhouses are reserved specifically for Claflin faculty and staff. Here we grow again, Claflin University President Dr. Dwaun J. Warmack said. This is part of the elevation and transformation agenda and we are looking forward to continuing to be an anchor in this community. The townhouses contain a living room area and a kitchen complete all-new stainless steel appliances. The units are not furnished. Minority-owned RHI did the contract work to upgrade and renovate the apartments. The monthly cost for a townhouse is $850 a month. They are going fast, Warmack said, noting the apartments are at about 90% occupancy. They are a sight unseen: for the price, for the location directly across from campus, people are getting them very fast. Warmack said the apartments are a positive recruitment tool for the university. It is phenomenal, he said. To find quality housing in Orangeburg at a below market rate makes a world of a difference. Warmack said three of the faculty that have applied for the apartments are new to the university. This was a selling point for three of them, he said. They were not going to come unless this was available. The university is in early conversations about other affordable housing opportunities, he said. Warmack said the townhouses are a part of his vision for economic and workforce development. As a pillar of this community that has been around 153 years, we have a civic and moral responsibility to continue to build up the community and to have an economic impact, Warmack said. This is just a start of that piece. Warmack said hes excited about the opportunities for faculty and staff. We continue to invest in the students. You can see the student center that is being built, residence halls, but we also have to think about faculty and staff and their commitment, Warmack said. This is a special place, he said. According to Orangeburg County property records, Claflin purchased the property in August 2021 for $550,000 from Magnolia Apartments LLC. This is debt-free, Warmack said. We owe no debt on this. That is why we can offer it at a below market rate to ensure that we did not put the cost back on our faculty and staff. The townhouses are not the only developments the university has recently announced. The university has received $3 million in federal funds to improve the Way Building on Memorial Plaza to turn it into the Claflin University Downtown Community Center. It will house the Claflin University Center for Social Justice, Pathway from Prison program, young professionals studio housing and a business incubator site. The building, which is located at the corner of Russell Street and Church Street, could also house some retail. Earlier this year, the university also broke ground on a $30 million, three-story student center. Plans call for the center to include a theatre, performing arts center, 800-seat ballroom, eSports center, meeting/conference rooms and a food court with national, name-brand eateries. The university hopes to have the 85,000-square-foot center open by June 2023. Itll be located at the corner of Magnolia Street and Goff Avenue. (TBTCO) - Truoc e nghi a uoc Thu tuong Pham Minh Chinh nhieu lan e cap trong cac cuoc gap, Tong Giam oc Tap oan Samsung ien tu (Han Quoc) cho biet, Tap oan ang chuan bi cac ieu kien e san xuat thu cac san pham luoi bong chip ban dan va se san xuat ai tra tu thang 7/2023 tai Viet Nam. (TBTCO) - Thi truong chung khoan hom nay co them mot phien xanh vo o long. Ap luc ban a ro hon trong phien hom nay do khong co nhom co phieu nao noi bat dan dat, viec thi truong con giu uoc thanh qua trong phien la do luc keo tu cac co phieu tru, voi cong au en tu VIC. On Thursday morning, the vice president of the Professional Union of the Luxembourg Army (SPAL) discussed current issues at the Herrenberg base in an interview on RTL Radio. The Luxembourg Army is in a strong position in terms of budget and mission diversity, explained Braquet. However, there is still a lot of room for improvement in the areas of recruitment and the overall desirability of the profession. "Having staff shortages has almost become a tradition in the Luxembourg Army", stated Braquet during the interview. Not enough people apply, which in return puts the accomplishment of their missions at risk. The SPAL vice president argued that the entry exam represents an issue, same as the direct competition from the extensive recruitment of the Grand Ducal Police. The union therefore hopes that the planned reform of the army law will help improve work conditions at the Herrenberg base. Braquet explained that not enough people who enter the Army also choose to pursue a military career. At the moment, the armed forces consist of 1,000 people, out of whom 400 are professional soldiers. The rest are volunteers and civilians. Braquet estimates that an additional 100 soldiers and 50 professional soldiers are currently needed. Asked about the planned Belgian-Luxembourgish battalion for the United Nations, Braquet expressed SPAL's general support for the initiative. However, it is not yet clear how many Luxembourgish soldiers will be needed. Minister of Defence Francois Bausch and Commander-in-Chief Steve Thull both announced different numbers. The final issue that Braquet addressed during the interview was the so-called Rico law, which regulates the compensation of soldiers' training hours. In 2019, the Confederation of Public Servants (CGFP) and Minister Bausch came to an agreement, but three years later, it seems to have become void. One hour now only counts as 30 minutes, which SPAS intends to fight. Interview in Luxembourgish POST Luxembourg has announced new prices will come into effect from 1 September, with standard letters rising from 0.80 to one euro. The price increases will affect both domestic and international post. Standard letters sent to Luxembourg addresses will now cost 20 cents more, while international letters have increased by 35 cents. Post This marks the first price increase for POST Luxembourg since 1 May 2019. In a statement published on Friday, the service said the increases were due to rising labour costs, as well as infrastructure and transport. Domestic post for standard letters will now cost 1 euro, while letters to Europe will rise to 1.40 and post to the rest of the world will cost 1.75. Postage for parcels will also be subjected to price increases. The new tariffs have been approved by the Luxembourg Institute of Regulation (ILR). The average Luxembourg household used just 6 stamps in 2021. Five youths were arrested in the capital on Thursday evening for assault and theft after being caught in the act by police. Officers from Bonnevoie, Hesperange, Hollerich and Luxembourg City collaborated on Thursday to arrest five young people suspected of having committed a number of criminal acts, including theft and severe assault, after catching them in the act. During the subsequent investigation, two of the suspects were identified as having been involved in an assault shortly before their arrest, in which the victim was left with a broken arm. Police conducted searches of the suspects' homes, locating a number of stolen items in the process. Two of the suspects, who are thought to be part of a teenage gang connected to violent crimes, were taken to the UNISEC secure facility for young people in Dreiborn by order of the public prosecutor. The other three suspects are still under investigation. Police have asked any potential witnesses to the crimes to come forward if they have not already been in touch with the authorities. Luxembourg's food safety authority has issued a warning regarding the cake brand, which is exclusively sold in Auchan, after metal particles were discovered. The particles could pose a suffocation or injury risk if consumed. Auchan has recalled the following items: Name Barre Quatre-Quarts Brand AUCHAN Product weight 800 g Barcode 325 456 088 6803 Use-by date (DLC) 15/08/2022; 16/08/2022; 22/08/2022; 04/09/2022 Lot B168; B167; B174; B187 Auchan Name Barre Quatre-Quarts Brand AUCHAN Product weight 500 g Barcode 325 456 002 6452 Use-by date (DLC) 16/08/2022; 28/08/2022 Lot B168; B180 Auchan Name Barre Quatre-Quarts Brand AUCHAN Product weight 250 g Barcode 325 456 080 4302 Use-by date (DLC) 19/08/2022; 06/09/2022 Lot B171; B189 On Aug. 9, 2002, the Pony Express rode into Casper carrying a message from the president. This new center will provide a unique opportunity for people from around the world to learn about the historic trails that converged in Casper and the lives of those who took part in the westward expansion of our country, George W. Bush wrote. The National Historic Trails Interpretive Center which opened that day would be entrusted with preserving trails-era history and educating the public about it. Twenty years later, its still serving that purpose. The center will host a series of special events next week to celebrate its 20th birthday, according to a news release from the Bureau of Land Management. As Bushs words implied, the Casper area played an important role in U.S. westward expansion. Back in the 19th century, three pioneer highways passed through the region: the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail and the California Trail. The Pony Express had stations in the region, too. (Reenactors with the National Pony Express Association still ride from Missouri to California every year hence the former presidents letter.) The Trails Center features a handful of interactive exhibits teaching people about trails history and culture: from the daily struggles of pioneer life, to the U.S.s devastating impact on Indigenous nations, to the invention of the telegraph and the railroad. Its about to add one new display, just in time for its 20th birthday. On Wednesday, the Trails Center will premiere a new documentary accompanying its exhibit on the Battle of Red Buttes, which opened earlier this summer. The conflict, which took place in 1865 near present-day Casper, was part of the Cheyenne, Lakota and Arapaho Native Americans resistance against U.S. expansion and brutality. The documentary and exhibit use records, live-action reenactments and interviews with historians to tell the story behind the battle. Some of the historians interviewed are relatives of Native Americans who fought in the battle. The film will play periodically at the center all day for the rest of the year. At a later time, itll also be available for free online, according to a news release from the Bureau of Land Management. The same day the documentary premieres, the Trails Center will be giving covered wagon rides outside on the prairie. On Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the museum will host a meet-and-greet with Josh Kirk, a Wyoming homesteader and mountaineer featured on the History Channels TV series, Mountain Men. Saturday will feature the following special events: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guest John Rose will offer samples of food made with a Dutch oven, the kind of cookware pioneers used; From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Trails Center will host a performance by fiddler Erica Floam; From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Wyomings state archaeologist, Spencer Pelton, will talk about artifacts discovered at the Powars II site in Platte County. The site was a hematite quarry used by Paleoindian peoples more than 12,000 years ago, according to the release. Living history performers Jean Smart and the Merchant family will also be at the Trails Center all day Aug. 13 and 14. Theyll be showing guests what it was like to live at a pioneer camp, according to the BLMs news release. For the majority of the week Tuesday through Aug. 13 the Trails Center will have shaved ice from the Curly Wolf Den. To help raise money for the museum, itll also be selling bags of a special Trails Center coffee roast by Metro Coffee Company for $20. (Guests can stop by the center on Tuesday for free coffee and snacks, as well.) For the month of August, itll also have a tap handle at Gruner Brothers Brewing, along with a bucket there for anyone who wants to donate. Conceived in the early 90s, it took about a decade of planning and fundraising before the Trails Center opened in August 2002. It cost some $11 million to build including at least $40,000 in public donations, $1.5 million from Caspers 1-cent fund and $6.5 million in federal dollars, the Star-Tribune reported at the time. The National Historic Trails Center was made possible through a unique partnership between The National Historic Trails Foundation the centers governing nonprofit and the BLM. That partnership was set up by Congress while the museum was still being planned, said Gena Jensen, The National Historic Trails Foundations executive director. The BLM owns the land the center sits on, takes care of building and staffs it with their rangers. The foundation, on the other hand, is in charge of fundraising and maintaining the exhibits, Jensen said. The Trails Center can offer free public admission thanks to a BLM grant it has to renew every couple of years. Other costs are supported with donations from the public. Keeping the museum in good shape is more expensive than people realize, said Jensen the exhibits use special electronics that periodically have to be updated and replaced. Some 40,000 people visit every year. A lot of those are tourists. The Trails Center is often the first thing people see when they drive to Casper, Jensen said. But she wishes the museum had a greater presence in the local community. Jensen meets a lot of people who say they havent visited since elementary school. Theyre missing out, she said the center regularly hosts new programming, including arts and culture demonstrations, academic talks and activities for kids. We need more local engagement, because thats where a lot of our funding comes from, she said. The Trails Center, located at 1501 N. Poplar Street, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Editor's note: this story has been changed to reflect the Trails Center's correct hours of operation. The Star-Tribune regrets this error. Former president Donald Trump on Friday endorsed Wyoming Superintendent of Public Instruction Brian Schroeder in his bid for election to the post. Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Schroeder to the position in January after former superintendent Jillian Balow left to take a similar job in Virginia. Now he's running for election to the post against four other candidates three Republicans and one Democrat. Another former Republican candidate, Thomas Kelly, dropped out of the race on Monday to cast his vote for Schroeder. Brian is the only other candidate who really seems to get the federal government attempts to influence Wyoming through monetary policy, and hes more likely to win than I am, Kelly told the Star-Tribune on Tuesday. It didnt make any sense for me to stay in for my own personal ego. Republican state schools superintendent candidate drops out of race to support incumbent Republican candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas Kelly has dropped out of the race to cast his vote for incumbent Brian Schroeder. Schroeder is the former head of Veritas Academy, a private Christian school in Cody, and has experience as a family and youth coordinator and as a teacher and administrator in private schools in California, Wisconsin, Michigan and Wyoming. He's deeply conservative; he's called for Wyoming to enact a law similar to Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act, which, among other things, "prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels." He advocates for more parental control in public schools. He opposes the teaching of critical race theory (it isn't currently taught in Wyoming public schools). In addition to Trump, Schroeder has also received endorsements from Gun Owners of America and Montana State Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. "Brian Schroeder asked for Superintendent Arntzens endorsement and in their discussion, he showed commitment to partnering on her priorities as she works to bring the focus in education back to the basics," a spokesperson for Arntzen said in a Wednesday email to the Star-Tribune. State superintendent candidates shared their views in a forum. Here are some takeaways. Community members got to hear from GOP candidates for the Wyoming superintendent of public instruction position during an election forum in Casper. Here are the candidates' take on some issues. Schroeder reached out to Arntzen and the state superintendents of North Dakota, South Dakota, Florida and Texas in regards to a May USDA Food and Nutrition Service nondiscrimination policy update to include protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. The update means any organization that gets money from the Food and Nutrition Service, which includes public schools in Wyoming, has to investigate allegations of discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation and update their non-discrimination policies and signage to include prohibitions against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, the USDA statement says. The update is meant to give LGBTQ+ individuals an avenue to file a complaint if they experience discrimination by or within a Food Nutrition Service program, a USDA spokesperson previously told the Star-Tribune. Emails show disconnect between school chief's public statements, private guidance Wyoming's schools leader suggested a federal nondiscrimination update on gender and sexual orientation would impact pronouns and locker rooms, when the guidance he received behind-the-scenes indicated otherwise. Schroeder denounced the update in several statements and called for Wyoming to reject federal funds for nutrition programs. We categorically reject gender ideology and will not bow to the coercive will of a bully government," he said in one of his statements. Some teachers and organizations, including Wyoming Equality, the Wyoming Education Association and ACLU of Wyoming, pushed back on Schroeder's statements. Schools have a moral and legal duty to follow the law and to provide a safe learning environment for all students, and the penalties for discriminating against a student because they are transgender are no different than the penalties for any other kind of sex discrimination, ACLU of Wyoming Campaigns Director Libby Skarin said in a June statement. The other Republican candidates in the superintendent race are Megan Degenfelder, formerly chief policy officer at the education department and currently the government and regulatory affairs manager for Morningstar Partners Oil & Gas, Casper-based substitute teacher and cosmetologist Jennifer Zerba and underground trona miner Robert White. Degenfelder, a sixth generation Wyomingite, has been endorsed by former state superintendent Judy Catchpole, among other current and former state leaders. She wants to "empower parents as the number one voice in their childrens education," increase direct classroom spending, improve K-3 literacy and "fight back against anti-American curriculum and policies." Megan Degenfelder announces bid for schools superintendent A former top official at the Wyoming Department of Education announced Thursday she will run for superintendent of public instruction. Zerba said that parents and teachers should work together to find alternatives if a parent disagrees with what their child is being taught. She's a proponent of upholding and bringing more attention to the educational opportunities that the state already has to offer and increasing financial transparency in schools. White is the only candidate without a background in education, an attribute he previously said gives him more ability to think outside of the box. He was formerly an amphibious assault vehicle crew chief and a corporal in the Marine Corps. His top priority is addressing school safety. In addition to Schroeder, Trump has also endorsed another Wyoming candidate, land attorney Harriet Hageman, who is running against Rep. Liz Cheney for Wyoming's lone House seat. The primary elections end on Aug. 16. After that, the winning Republican superintendent candidate will face off in the general elections against Democrat candidate Sergio Maldonado, a member of the Northern Arapaho tribe who has been a teacher, college administrator and school board trustee in Arizona and Wyoming. He has also served on the National Advisory Council on Indian Education under former President George H.W. Bush and as the liaison with the Northern Arapaho Tribe under former Gov. Matt Mead. Maldonado has received the endorsement of the Wyoming Education Association. Former President Donald Trump made endorsements in three of Wyomings state races Friday evening. He announced his support for incumbent Curt Meier in the state treasurer race, Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, in the secretary of state race and Brian Schroeder in the superintendent of public instruction race. Both the superintendent of public instruction and the secretary of state races appear to be close, heated races, and Trump threw his support behind the two most hard-line Republicans in those races. Gray is running as somewhat of a 2020 election denier, although he hasnt said outright that it was stolen for President Joe Biden. Gray frequently hones in on banning ballot drop boxes, which have become a target after the movie 2000 Mules was released, a film that unsuccessfully claims to demonstrate widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Gray has also sponsored numerous showings of the movie throughout Wyoming while on the campaign trail. According to a database maintained by the right-leaning Heritage Foundation, Wyoming has seen just three instances of voter fraud in 40 years, and none since 2014. I continue for the endorsement and the vote of the people of Wyoming, said Grays opponent Sen. Tara Nethercott, R-Cheyenne. Neither of the two are incumbents, as current Secretary of State Ed Buchanan plans to vacate his post to take a position as a judge. Gov. Mark Gordon appointed Schroeder to the position of superintendent in January after former superintendent Jillian Balow left to take a similar job in Virginia. Now hes running for election to the post against four other candidates three Republicans and one Democrat. Another former Republican candidate, Thomas Kelly, dropped out of the race on Monday to cast his vote for Schroeder. Brian is the only other candidate who really seems to get the federal government attempts to influence Wyoming through monetary policy, and hes more likely to win that I am, Kelly told the Star-Tribune on Tuesday. It didnt make any sense for me to stay in for my own personal ego. Schroeder is the former head of Veritas Academy, a private Christian school in Cody, and has experience as a family and youth coordinator and as a teacher and administrator in private schools in California, Wisconsin, Michigan and Wyoming. Hes deeply conservative; hes called for Wyoming to enact a law similar to Floridas Parental Rights in Education Act, which, among other things, prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels. He advocates for more parental control in public schools. He opposes the teaching of critical race theory (which is not currently taught in Wyoming public schools). The other Republican candidates in the superintendent race are Megan Degenfelder, formerly chief policy officer at the education department and currently the government and regulatory affairs manager for Morningstar Partners Oil & Gas, Casper-based substitute teacher and cosmetologist Jennifer Zerba and underground trona miner Robert White. Trump has risen to a new level of importance in Wyoming after Rep. Liz Cheney became one of his main political adversaries when she voted to impeach him over the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, continually criticized him and served as vice chairwoman of the Jan. 6 committee. He endorsed land attorney Harriet Hageman nearly a year ago to unseat Cheney. There has so far been no endorsement in the Wyoming governors race, in which Gordon is being challenged by retired colonel Brent Bien and veterinarian Rex Rammell. We found it to be important to pursue the voters of Wyoming, said Sam Rubino, Biens campaign manager. It takes a lot to get that endorsement and were a late momentum campaign. Were the most pro trump campaign there is. Its a frustrating time in Wyoming when our own federal government is working against us, actively making things harder on people. Sadly, its not by accident or oversight its by design, through the horrible policies flowing out of the Biden administration. We need a member of Congress who understands us and fights for the same things that we care about. Its why I wholeheartedly support Harriet Hageman for the U.S. House of Representatives and encourage you to do the same. After I served eight years in the state Legislature, the people of Wyoming honored me with the privilege of serving them in Congress for 14 years. Being the lone representative of a state as unique as ours requires someone with a deep understanding of what makes us tick and the ability to command respect for our points of view. I have known Harriet Hageman for many years, and I know that she is the person we need today. Harriet is a fourth generation Wyomingite, having grown up on her familys ranch near Fort Laramie. She went to grade school and high school here, and graduated from college and law school here, earning both degrees from the University of Wyoming. She is Wyoming through-and-through. I was fortunate to serve with Harriets father in the Wyoming Legislature. He was one of the finest Legislators we ever had honest, dedicated, knowledgeable and absolutely loyal to Wyoming. Harriet is much like her father, and he would be proud of her accomplishments. Its fitting that when choosing a career, Harriet threw herself into the law, but not just any kind of law. For over 25 years, shes been a constitutional attorney fighting for the rights of individuals in Wyoming, mostly against the insatiable advances of the federal government, which always seems to want to tell us what to do. Shes racked up impressive victories for the people over Washington, D.C., winning cases against the USDA, EPA and USFWS, among others. Harriet was quick to file suit against the Biden administration for their unlawful COVID-19 vaccine mandates which violated the individual right to bodily autonomy. Wyoming is in an ongoing battle with Washington over who gets to determine our destiny D.C. bureaucrats or the people of Wyoming and there is no question that Harriet is the congresswoman we want in our corner. Many states send their representatives to the nations capital with the idea of funneling taxpayer money back to their districts. And while Harriet will ensure that Wyoming receives our fair share, she knows that much of the time we want to be left alone. And her professional record shows that shes already been winning that fight for decades. Our member of Congress should be standing up for our resource industries, making sure that we can produce the energy and food that weve always produced for ourselves and the rest of the nation. Our congresswoman should be shouting from the rooftops about the Biden policies that are killing our businesses, our jobs and our way of life. I am among the many who believe that, sadly, we do not have such representation right now. Its heartening to see that Harriet has already established relationships with many Republican leaders in Congress, meaning that she will have a platform the day she arrives. Its also promising to see that House leadership has already endorsed her request to be seated on the Natural Resources Committee, which is of vital importance to us here, should she be elected. Its plain that Harriet is already having an impact well before she would take the oath of office. In her first ad of this campaign, Harriet harkened back to the phrase, ride for the brand. In Wyoming, that means staying loyal to the outfit that hired you. In the case of our elected representatives, it means remembering that it was the people of Wyoming who gave you the job in the first place. I know that Harriet will never forget and will always put Wyoming first and represent our values with consistency. On Aug. 16, voters will go to the polls in a primary election to select the Republican nominee for the House, who will be an overwhelming favorite to win the general election in November. I dont get involved in party primaries lightly, and I would not do it if I were not certain. I urge my fellow citizens to vote for Harriet Hageman for the U.S. House of Representatives because she is the best candidate for Wyoming. THE recent, and perhaps ongoing, difference of opinion between Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) and the Tobago House of Assemblyover the limitations on the national air carriers service on the Tobago routeled me to question whether CAL needs to be responsible for the domestic airbridge. Local photographer Lincoln Schatz takes photos of Lake Michigan and the sky at North Avenue Beach on July 19, 2022. Schatz has been coming to the lake to photograph the lake and sky, without buildings or people. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) The other day, I was down by Lake Michigan early in the morning, sitting by the water and reading a book, when I noticed a woman take a photograph of the lake. She held her phone sideways and turned herself toward the horizon and snapped. As far as I could tell, considering where she stood, there would be nothing in that image but a lot of water and sky. No beach, boats, birds, people, planes, a water crib or even the Chicago skyline. I have watched people do this my whole life. As a child in New England, the body of water was the Atlantic. As a Chicago resident in middle age, its Lake Michigan. Advertisement Somewhere there is proof on faded 70s Polaroids that I did this myself once or twice. I took a picture of water, sky, horizon and nothing else, not even sunset or sunrise. But even then I thought what I thought as I watched that woman photograph Lake Michigan: Why? Advertisement Go down to the lake right now and youll see this phenomenon: Someone is there pointing their camera at nothing, at a wild expanse of lake that stretches into even more lake. Im guessing they are struck by the beauty and immensity of the nature before them and assume the picture they are capturing will reflect the wonder they are feeling. I also guess they will eventually realize that their awe didnt translate to the photograph. I assume they will never look at that empty blue-on-blue-on-gray-on-blue image again. So on a whim, I asked that woman why why was she taking a photo of Lake Michigan itself. And it was as if she had been waiting for someone to ask. Her name was Maureen McLaughlin, an acupuncturist from Evanston, and she told me: Throughout the pandemic, I got into a routine where I would walk down to the lake. And now I do it five days a week. I take pictures of the lake because the pictures are often serene. So this has become my serenity, to stand here like this and just look and take a photo. The lake doesnt judge. The lake is unconditional. And also, it is never the same lake twice. Her eyes went misty. It was the morning after the Highland Park shooting. These days, serenity seems important. But the lake is there to absorb the moment, the shooting, the country just everything. Im reminded there is still peace in this world. A photo of Lake Michigan and the sky taken by photographer Lincoln Schatz at North Avenue Beach on July 19, 2022. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) For whatever reason, I had never connected people taking photos of the lake to long traditions of wellness and urban health. Victorian physicians would prescribe sea air as just the thing for city dwellers nursing a host of ailments. Kind of like how, whenever I had a boo-boo as a kid, my family would tell me to hold it in the ocean. The salt was magical. Or at least a placebo. For the past few years, BlueHealth, a research project funded by the European Commission, has studied the benefits of blue space on public health taking a cue from the countless studies that have cataloged the benefits of green space. They gathered information from more than 18,000 people in 18 countries and found that even the most modest body of water (a public fountain, a small creek) had positive effects on our well-being. Similarly, a decade ago, the European Centre for Environment & Human Health asked thousands of research participants to randomly record both their immediate environments and how they were feeling. The study eventually correlated stress levels with the amount of water found in images on 20,000 smartphones. Its hardly news if youve ever had a day at the beach, but coastal spots were the happiest. Beyond that therapeutic self-help, though, you could also link Chicagos Lake Michigan photographers to the important, even longer tradition of pictures of nothing as a critic once called the impressionistic oceans of English painter J.M.W. Turner, whose indistinct colors blurring into smoky skies revolutionized the idea of landscape as a kind of mutable abstraction. Of course, the allure of nothing much at all has a rich history think of the prosaic images of Ed Ruschas self-descriptive Twentysix Gasoline Stations (1963) and its riveting sequel, Thirtyfour Parking Lots (1967). Still, in those photos, there is something. Even in Turners work, there is often a hint of landscape. Comparably, Japanese photographer Hiroshi Sugimotos Lake Michigan, Gills Rock (1995) part of his ongoing, 40-plus year Seascapes series really does show nothing. Just sky, water, a bisecting horizon. Its Rothko-like in its elemental simplicity. And again, not exactly nothing. Advertisement Which brings us to Lincoln Schatz, a lifelong Chicagoan whose own Lake Michigan project should enshrine him as the patron saint of anyone taking a seemingly pointless lake photo. In 2015, on a whim, he went down to the lake and decided that every day for a month, he would take a photo of the lake, the sky and nothing else. In fact, if anything extraneous even a bird inserted itself, he would edit it from the completed image. One month became two months. Two months became six months. Seven years later, its now a daily ritual, resulting in at least 28,000 images of Lake Michigan at a glance, every one a variation of the same image of lake, horizon, sky and nothing more. Photographer Lincoln Schatz has come to the lakefront for the past 7 years, resulting in at least 28,000 images of Lake Michigan. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) His subject, he told me, is the passage of time and the way we understand our time. The tonal range of the colors in his images can look so narrow, you struggle to see where sky and water connect. But there are always three basic elements in these pictures: Sky and water and time. Out of those comes everything you see when you look out. So the more I shot it, the more the lake beguiled me. I think of it now as a form of wilderness, one not controlled by humankind. You could argue with locks and other things, it is. But essentially this is Chicagos mountain range. You stand there before it and you are presented with a raging bit of nature that reifies your inconsequentialness. Days blur into days, the landscape looks the way it looked yesterday. Yet no two days are alike. As Virginia Woolf wrote, Each wave of the sea has a different light, just as the beauty of who we love. That could be the motto of the small community of like-minded artists that Schatz has met while photographing the lake every day. Such as David Travis, who established the department of photography at the Art Institute (then ran it for 36 years); hes a lake photographer, too. And Louise LeBourgeois, a North Side artist who for decades has painted landscapes of Lake Michigan water and sky, sometimes with waves, sometimes perfectly calm, sometimes with clouds releasing curtains of rain. If you live in Chicago, what all these people share with everyone else who lives here is this constant picture a vast rectangular horizon and beneath it, a blue carpet of water. Advertisement Naturally, we take it for granted. Schatz said hes always surprised at how many people buy his work who already live in a house or apartment where they can see the lake by just looking out of their windows. But then many of us keep photos of the people in our lives we see all day, every day. Maybe taking a picture of that big body of water just east of Chicago and then keeping it is a bit like that? I asked Maureen McLaughlin of Evanston to look at the image that she had just taken. She turned her phone and showed me something I hadnt expected, a lake and sky I hadnt expected. The water was placid, the clouds dark but between the darkest escaped rays of light. She and I were looking at the same thing, but I hadnt seen that. Photograph of Lake Michigan taken by Maureen McLaughlin on July 5, 2022. cborrelli@chicagotribune.com The public is advised that as at 1:05 a.m., with the exception of a small segment at St Luci The magical charm of the Manzanilla-to-Mayaro vista is not the only gift of nature that could be lost to future generations. Natural phenomena combined with the human-induced impacts of climate change are already altering our lives, and are projected to do so in even more drastic and dramatic ways within the lifetimes of most people alive today. Kids who are new to a school or community may find the start of a school year especially hard. These books, available at the Pima County library, might help. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana on Friday became the first state in the nation to approve abortion restrictions since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, as the Republican governor quickly signed a near-total ban on the procedure shortly after lawmakers approved it. The ban, which takes effect Sept. 15, includes some exceptions. Abortions would be permitted in cases of rape and incest, before 10-weeks post-fertilization; to protect the life and physical health of the mother; and if a fetus is diagnosed with a lethal anomaly. Victims of rape and incest would not be required to sign a notarized affidavit attesting to an attack, as had once been proposed. Under the bill, abortions can be performed only in hospitals or outpatient centers owned by hospitals, meaning all abortion clinics would lose their licenses. A doctor who performs an illegal abortion or fails to file required reports must also lose their medical license wording that tightens current Indiana law that says a doctor may lose their license. "I am personally most proud of each Hoosier who came forward to courageously share their views in a debate that is unlikely to cease any time soon, Gov. Eric Holcomb said in the statement announcing that he had signed the measure. For my part as your governor, I will continue to keep an open ear. His approval came after the Senate approved the ban 28-19 and the House advanced it 62-38. Indiana was among the earliest Republican-run state legislatures to debate tighter abortion laws after the Supreme Court ruling in June that removed constitutional protections for the procedure. But it is the first state to pass a ban through both chambers, after West Virginia lawmakers on July 29 passed up the chance to be that state. Happy to be completed with this, one of the more challenging things that weve ever done as a state General Assembly, at least certainly while Ive been here, Senate President Pro-Tem Rodric Bray told reporters after the vote. I think this is a huge opportunity, and well build on that as we go forward from here. Sen. Sue Glick of LaGrange, who sponsored the bill, said that she does not think all states will come down at the same place but that most Indiana residents support aspects of the bill. Some senators in both parties lamented the bill's provisions and the impact it would have on the state, including low-income women and the health care system. Eight Republicans joined all 11 Democrats in voting against the bill, though their reasons to thwart the measure were mixed. We are backsliding on democracy, said Democratic Sen. Jean Breaux of Indianapolis, who wore a green ribbon Friday signifying support for abortion rights, on her lapel. What other freedoms, what other liberties are on the chopping block, waiting to be stripped away? Republican Sen. Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores spoke about his 21-year-old-daughter, who has Down syndrome. Bohacek voted against the bill, saying it does not have adequate protections for women with disabilities who are raped. If she lost her favorite stuffed animal, shed be inconsolable. Imagine making her carry a child to term, he said before he started to choke up, then threw his notes on his seat and exited the chamber. Republican Sen. Mike Young of Indianapolis, however, said the bills enforcement provisions against doctors are not stringent enough. Such debates demonstrated Indiana residents' own divisions on the issue, displayed in hours of testimony lawmakers heard over the past two weeks. Residents rarely, if ever, expressed support for the the legislation in their testimony, as abortion-rights supporters said the bill goes too far while anti-abortion activists expressed it doesnt go far enough. The debates came amid an evolving landscape of abortion politics across the country as Republicans face some party divisions and Democrats see a possible election-year boost. Republican Rep. Wendy McNamara of Evansville, who sponsored the House bill, told reporters after the House vote that the legislation makes Indiana one of the most pro-life states in the nation." Outside the chambers, abortion-rights activists often chanted over lawmakers' remarks, carrying signs like Roe roe roe your vote and Build this wall between church and state. Some House Democrats wore blazers over pink Bans Off Our Bodies T-shirts. Indiana's ban followed the political firestorm over a 10-year-old rape victim who traveled to the state from neighboring Ohio to end her pregnancy. The case gained attention when an Indianapolis doctor said the child came to Indiana because of Ohios fetal heartbeat ban. Religion was a persistent theme during legislative debates, both in residents testimony and lawmakers' comments. In advocating against the House bill, Rep. Ann Vermilion condemned fellow Republicans who have called women murderers for getting an abortion. I think that the Lords promise is for grace and kindness, she said. He would not be jumping to condemn these women. Arleigh Rodgers 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. Follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/arleighrodgers Find APs full coverage of the overturning of Roe v. Wade at: https://apnews.com/hub/abortion The Santa Cruz Valley Regional Hospital promised employees extended health insurance and pay when it announced mass layoffs in June, but those promises disintegrated when the now-closed hospital fired everybody in July. Roughly 300 health-care providers and other employees, about 200 full-time, were working for Green Valleys only hospital when it shut down June 30. The companys former CEO, Stephen Harris, said during a previous interview that workers would receive pay and health insurance through Aug. 20. Employees say they were also told theyd receive compensation for up to 80 hours of unused vacation pay. This formal 60-day notice was given under the protection of the WARN Act, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor and stands for Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act. But on July 21, employees received a termination letter in which they were told, you will no longer be entitled to any further compensation, monies, or other benefits from SCVRH, including coverage under any benefits plans or programs sponsored by SCVRH, except as described hereinbelow. The letter then details that the final paycheck, deposited on or before July 29, would include full pay. Several employees said that is not what happened, however. Instead, only partial pay was included and any paid-time-off employees used to round out their hours was removed from the paycheck. They also still had insurance withdrawals made, even though their insurance is no longer effective. I have former co-workers who dont have money for groceries, or have to decide between their rent and food right now and it is absolutely heartbreaking, said registered nurse Stephanie Garrett of her colleagues. I was supposed to get paid for 80 hours and I only was paid for 24 hours, and I was supposed to be paid 44 hours of unused vacation time and they have decided not to pay that either. Dont know where to start Employees may be able to file a claim alleging WARN Act violations in federal court, said attorney Roscoe J. Mutz, a partner with Tucsons Farhang and Medcoff. While Mutz is not representing the Green Valley employees, he is familiar with WARN Act guidelines. During an interview Thursday, he said it appears a strong argument could be made for back pay and benefits. Arizona law does not generally mandate accrued time off be compensated during a layoff, but if the employees were promised that as part of the WARN agreement or an existing company policy, Mutz said that also could be covered. For now, the wait is challenging as many try to figure out whats next, and how to get by without the money and benefits they were counting on. Garrett said some have applied for unemployment but their claims are being dismissed because they are still listed as active employees. Rochelle Bryant, an ultrasound technician, decided Southern Arizona would be a good place to settle when she moved here from California eight months ago for a new job. She was about to put her house in California up for sale when the layoffs occurred. We dont know where to start, we dont know what to do, she said of herself and former colleagues. Some people are saying, Forget it. Were not even going to get paid because now they are talking about filing for bankruptcy. Long-beleaguered hospital The hospital, initially called Green Valley Hospital, was built in 2015 for about $77 million. The owners filed for bankruptcy in 2017, and the hospital was renamed after being purchased for $26 million by California-based Lateral Investment Management. The relaunch of the Santa Cruz Valley Regional Hospital was fraught with challenges and change. A doctors group called Global Hospitalist Solutions sued the hospital in 2019, claiming it was owed more than $1.9 million. The suit was settled later in the year with terms kept confidential. In 2021, a Rochester, New York, company call Broadstone Net Lease, Inc. bought the hospital for $60 million with Lateral Investment remaining the operator. Harris, who declined interview requests for this story but answered a few questions by email, said the Broadstone sale money was used to pay off the real estate mortgage and to fund the hospitals losses. Further details on the companys growth and losses were not available at the time of publication. Lateral Investments Richard de Silva, and Jeremiah Foster of Resolute Commercial Services who has been hired as the chief restructuring officer did not respond to interview requests. Since the start of the pandemic, the hospital has been flooded with public funds including $5.9 million in federal paycheck protection program money, $5.4 million from the states COVID-19 Crisis Contingency and Safety Net Fund, and $6.4 million in advanced Medicare payments. In a previous interview, Harris said the Medicare money was needed to stay open during the pandemic, but then became an unmanageable debt to pay back at $400,000 per month. Payments were going to drop to $50,000 per month in September, he said. For a while, it appeared Tucsons TMC HealthCare was going to buy the facility but that plan fell through in June for reasons that have not been made public. Investigation needed Hosanna Hembree has worked in nursing 27 years and started at the hospital when it opened in 2015. After layoffs, Hembree said they were told they could work four or five hours a day to get the hospital ready to close, but then clock a full day. Instead, she said their last check only included pay for the hours they worked. She attributes the closure entirely to mismanagement. The COVID money the hospital received that should have gone back to equipment and funding and staff, she said, but we did not see any of that money. Michael Culver worked in maintenance at the hospital for a few months, and was out of town when the layoffs occurred. He called in, he said, and was relieved to hear he still had a job. That didnt last even a full day. I was promised to be there until October, to keep everything running, but apparently that changed, he said. They just told me, We cant pay you any more. Culver said he relocated here for the job, and had planned to work at the hospital until he retired. Honestly, he said, there needs to be a government investigation of the whole thing. RELATED: National nonprofit ranks 2 Pima County hospitals as area's safest The most common problems at Tucson-area hospitals include patient falls or injuries, poor communication at the time of discharge, infections after surgery, and inadequate communication from doctors and nurses to patients. El Rio, Banner partner to operate Tucson health clinic The two providers will partner to allow El Rio to create a federally qualified center at The Abrams Clinic, 3950 S. Country Club Rd, on Tucson's south side. Glen Canyon Dams archaic design could spell trouble for the federal governments ability to release adequate water supplies from Lake Powell downstream to Lake Mead, a new environmentalist report finds. That, in turn, could make it impossible for the four Upper Basin states to meet their legal requirements under the 1922 Colorado River Compact to deliver water to the Lower Basin states, including Arizona, the report says. The climate impacts on the Colorado River hydrology have exposed a major engineering flaw at Glen Canyon Dam, which raises the specter of a serious problem for the desert Southwest: How will the Lower Basin deal with dramatically reduced water deliveries from the antique plumbing inside the dam, and will there be consequences to the Upper Basin for delivering reduced quantities of water to the Lower Basin? the report asks. The report focuses on the problems Lake Powell, with its declining water levels, could face delivering water when and if it drops below 3,490 feet. At that level, about 45 feet below where Powell stands today, the dam would have to stop generating electricity, which is done by sending river water into the dams turbines through penstocks, or large steel pipes. Then, the water instead would have to be sent through steel outlet tubes lying alongside the dam tubes that dont have the wherewithal to accommodate nearly as much water as the turbines. The report also registers harsh criticism for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, alleging the bureau should have but didnt address the dams infrastructure problems long ago. It offers two detailed, technical solutions to the problem. Both involve reengineering the dam, so it can release more water at lower lake elevations, by sending it around rather than through the dam. Alarmingly, there has been relatively little public dialogue about this problem and its solution, says the Aug. 3 report written by the Utah Rivers Council, the Great Basin Water Network and the Glen Canyon Institute. The report urges congressional action to finance the necessary studies, permitting actions and construction to retrofit the dam. This work must begin immediately to avoid a water delivery crisis since Glen Canyon Dam is effectively becoming an obstacle to delivering water to downstream water users, warns the report. If the scenario outlined by this report took place, that would mean less water delivered each year to the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada from the Upper Basin states of Utah, New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. That in turn would mean less water for Tucson, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and for farmers and tribes in California and Arizona, including the Tohono Oodham and Pascua Yaqui tribes in the Tucson area and the Gila River Indian Community near Sacaton. A toxic asset The report appears as the river and the states that depend on it already are in a crisis or at least on the edge of one. Under orders from the Interior Department, Reclamations parent agency, the basin states have been negotiating since mid-June to try to find cuts in the range of 14% to 28% in their annual use of river water, to keep the two reservoirs from falling too low. Theyre due to come up with an agreement on cuts by mid-August. Also, the bureau has already agreed to spend $2 million over the next two years to study engineering solutions that would allow it to generate power when and if Powell falls below 3,490 feet. But the report says the lakes potential problems in delivering water are more significant than the possibility it couldnt generate electricity, because of the Upper Basins water delivery obligations under the compact. One of the solutions the report proposes to reengineer the dam is similar to what the Glen Canyon Institute has already proposed to significantly lower Lake Powell and reestablish the historic Glen Canyon that the reservoir drowned decades ago. But, for anyone to accuse us of having ulterior motives about caring about sustainability and nature misses the point, said Zach Frankel, the Utah Rivers Councils director. We have a toxic asset with Glen Canyon Dams antique plumbing. Unless its remedied, we cant do anything to manage the reservoir. The Bureau of Reclamation declined immediate comment on the report. Agency spokeswoman Becki Bryant said its officials want to wait to respond and answer questions about it at an Aug. 16 news conference that will also deal with the efforts to cut water use. Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke endorsed the idea of studying potential fixes for the dams infrastructure. An ADWR spokesman, Doug MacEachern, said, however, that Buschatzke hasnt read the report and has no comment on it, other than to encourage an examination of the dams infrastructure that may lead to enhancements of its ability to move large volumes of water safely. Given the current uncertainties facing the Colorado River system, as well as the engineering uncertainties involving moving water through the existing infrastructure of Glen Canyon Dam with historically low levels, it would be prudent to thoroughly investigate all reasonable options for making changes to the infrastructure, Buschatzke said. Water delivery obligations The report focuses on the four outlet tubes lying at 3,370 feet elevation. Thats about 330 feet below the reservoirs maximum level of 3,700 and about 165 feet below the reservoirs current elevation of 3,535.7 feet, a level thats expected to keep dropping until next springs runoff begins. At 3,370 feet, Powell would be at dead pool, the level at which it couldnt deliver any water downstream. But the ability to deliver water through the outlet tubes starts to decline at higher elevations, when the lake falls below 3,490 feet. At 3,430 feet, the outlet tubes would be unable to deliver the 7.5 million acre-feet a year that the Upper Basin is supposed to deliver to the Lower Basin over a 10-year period, the report says. The actual requirement under the compact is for the Upper Basin to not deplete the rivers water so it cant supply 75 million acre-feet over 10 years, to allow for cyclic fluctuations in available water supplies. If the U.S. obligation to deliver 1.5 million acre-feet of additional water annually to Mexico is also taken into account, the Upper Basins obligation then grows to 8.25 million acre-feet a year over 10 years. At 3,440 feet at Powell, the outlet works could no longer deliver that much water every year, the report says. Many legal scholars, however, have disputed whether the Upper Basin actually is obligated under the compact to deliver that additional water to Mexico. As the report notes, the outlet tubes were designed for emergency purposes and not to routinely deliver water. That means serious questions exist regarding whether these outlets are capable of functioning long-term, as will be required when Lake Powell falls below 3,490. The outlet tubes are limited in how much water they can convey, partly because there are fewer of them than there are penstocks, which take water in from the dam and lead to the dams turbines. The outlet tubes are also smaller in diameter than the penstocks. As the lake declines, so too does the water pressure at the river outlet tubes intakes, the report says. That reduces the amount of water that can pass through the outlet works at a given time. Shocking observation The limits on the outlet tubes ability to deliver water at Lake Powell are well documented, in a 1970 Bureau of Reclamation technical report and in a white paper prepared in recent years by Utah State Universitys Center for Colorado River Studies, the new report says. But, public officials remain tightlipped about the engineering and operational conundrum at Glen Canyon Dam stemming from its antique plumbing system. If future conditions on the Colorado River system mimic the dry period we have experienced in the 21st century to date, a significant part of the 40 million people who depend on the water in the river and its tributaries could be in jeopardy. This shocking observation leads observers to rightly ask how we could have found ourselves so unprepared for the future, says the report. Potential problems with the outlet works were mentioned in April 2022 by Assistant Interior Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo, when she proposed, then approved a plan to hold back 480,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Powell that had been planned for release to Lake Mead. But her comments were in more general terms, as she said the departments major concern is uncertainty about how the dams infrastructure will respond if Powell falls below 3,490. Our operators have not seen these conditions before. They havent operated the system using those jet tubes for any extended period, Trujillo said at the time. They dont know exactly how the infrastructure will respond. These and other comments were pretty nebulous, said the Utah Rivers Councils Frankel. Why, Frankel asked, were officials only having this conversation in April, when the bureau has known about this problem for decades? Other issues cited David Wegner, a retired Bureau of Reclamation official and a former science director for the Glen Canyon Institute, praised the report. Overall, the report is correct in what it states. It is a good consolidation of lots of technical data with some excellent graphics, said Wegner, who later became staff director for a U.S. House water resources subcommittee and now serves on various advisory boards, including one for the National Academy of Sciences. But what the report doesnt say is that the same issues it raises about limits on the ability to deliver water through Powell at low elevations also apply to six other reservoirs in the rivers Upper Basin, Wegner said. You draw them down to move water to prop up Lake Powell, that reduces their ability to supply water in the future, Wegner said. The report also didnt mention that existing declines in Glen Canyon Dams ability to deliver electricity have already reduced power sale revenues to the point where financing of conservation programs for endangered species has been effected, said Wegner, who was also a founding trustee for the institute. These conservation programs have been funded through power revenues, and without those funds, the government and states may be in violation of commitments made under the Endangered Species Act, Wegner said. Also, those power revenues pay for operation and maintenance of the dams and a great deal of the supporting infrastructure. Without that revenue, he said, Congress will have to fund more projects for the bureau at increased costs, or dam safety could be compromised. NESCOPECK, Pa. (AP) Fire tore quickly through a house in northeastern Pennsylvania early Friday morning, killing seven adults and three children and horrifying a volunteer firefighter who arrived to battle the blaze only to discover the victims were his own family, authorities said. The children who died were ages 5, 6 and 7, Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release, while the seven adults ranged from their late teens to a 79-year-old man. Autopsies were planned for this weekend. Harold Baker, a volunteer firefighter in the town of Nescopeck, said the 10 victims included his son, daughter, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, three grandchildren and two other relatives. He said his two children and the other young victims were visiting their aunt and uncle's home for swimming and other summertime fun. He said 13 dogs were also in the two-story home, but didnt say if he knew whether any survived. All I wanted to do was go in there and get to these people, my family. Thats all that I was thinking about, getting in to them, Baker said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. Baker grabbed a hose and air pack, and started pouring water on the fire, desperate to make his way inside and calling out to his son. His chief realized whose house it was, and fellow firefighters escorted Baker back to the firehouse. A preliminary investigation suggests the fire broke out on the front porch at around 2:30 a.m., Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce said Friday evening. The information I have is that the fire started and progressed very quickly, making it very difficult to get out, he said. Three people were able to escape the blaze, Sanguedolce said. Four state police fire marshals are involved in the investigation, although it won't be classified as a criminal probe unless they determine the fire was intentionally set, he said. Nescopeck is a small town on the Susquehanna River, about 20 miles southwest of Wilkes-Barre. The house was on a residential street of largely owner-occupied, single family homes. Baker said the address initially given for the call was a neighboring house. He realized it was his family members' residence as the firetruck approached. He said his unit was the first on scene, and the house was already engulfed in flames. There wasn't nothing we could've done to get in there. We tried, but we couldn't get in, said Baker, 57, who's been a firefighter for 40 years. His son, 19-year-old Dale Baker, had followed both of his parents into the fire service, joining when he was 16. He said it all his life, he was just going to be like his dad, Harold Baker said. Heidi Knorr, the Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Company secretary, called Dale Baker such a fun-loving soul. He just loved life. The family was always willing to help lend a hand to anyone in need, Knorr said. Dale's mother was not among the dead listed by Harold Baker. Mike Swank, who lives two doors away across the street, said he happened to be awake early Friday and looked outside after hearing a sharp explosion. He saw the porch was really going and went outside, using another neighbors hose to keep the blaze from spreading to a garage. I seen two guys outside and they were in various states of hysteria, Swank told the AP by phone. One man was on a cellphone, and Im trying to ask him if everybodys out, he said. The other guy was out in the street and he was just running around in circles. Swank said he wasnt able to get information from them. A fence prevented him from getting to the back of the property. Baker said 14 people were living in the home. One was out delivering newspapers, and three others escaped. Swank said the family had moved in a few months ago under what he understood to be a rent-to-own agreement, and spent a lot of time on the cluttered front porch. It was so quick and so much smoke, you just knew nobody was going to make it out, Swank said. He saw cadaver dogs being used to search the scene until the bodies were located. Scolforo and Brooke Schultz reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Schultz 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. Theres a coda at the end of Kasi Lemmonss Harriet that you almost wish was its own movie. Thats how rich and exciting and important Harriet Tubmans life was, and it underscores the necessity of the films existence, a rousing biopic of the former slave who escaped alone and led many slaves to freedom as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. The incredible Tubman deserves the starry movie treatment, a cinematic rendering of her phenomenal life that goes beyond elementary school history books. Director and co-writer Lemmons (she co-wrote the script with Gregory Allen Howard) has done just that, with a remarkable performance by Cynthia Erivo in the lead. What Lemmons and Howard impress the most in this film about a young woman battered by a brutal life of slavery is her unerring faith. Harriet has a staunch faith in God, enhanced by the mysterious spells she experiences, a possible result of a head injury she received as a child, where she has visions of her past and future. Her faith is what allows Harriet to press on during a harrowing journey to freedom that she undertakes alone, traveling 100 miles by foot from Maryland to Philadelphia. Harriet is a deeply spiritual film that asks the audience to take Harriets experience and religious beliefs at face value, but its fascinating to watch how Harriets faith in God evolves and expands to include faith in herself and her own power. Advertisement Harriet follows a standard template for this particular type of movie about slavery. Its generic yet inspiring, and it hits all the big, emotional moments just right. However, its fascinating to see the way Lemmons, as a black woman, approaches the genre. She doesnt use exploitative imagery of torture or sexual violence to drive home the horrors of slavery. Lemmons uses violence sparingly, effectively, and doesnt punish the audience with gory displays. Rather, she evokes the experience of slavery through the voices of former slaves, including Harriet, who tell their stories to William Still (Leslie Odom Jr.), a black abolitionist who becomes one of Harriets most trusted allies. The film is at its strongest when focusing on Harriets inner growth, following her journey as she learns to step into her power, which culminates in a powerful speech to Underground Railroad organizers in New York, and in a cathartic showdown with her sadistic and manipulative former owner, Gideon (Joe Alwyn). Some of Harriets transitional moments feel a bit rushed, but Erivo sells the physical and emotional evolution of a scared girl who becomes an empowered woman through her own sheer will and desire for justice. Advertisement Some of the supporting characters are a bit underwritten, but there are several standout performances, including Janelle Monae as a free Philadelphia woman who offers Harriet a home and work, and Henry Hunter Hall (Lemmons son), who plays a sort of trickster slave tracker named Walter. Halls father/Lemmons husband, Vondie Curtis-Hall, gives a memorable performance as the plantations preacher. Lemmons puts Erivos Tony-winning vocal chops to use in the coded spirituals that Harriet sings to communicate with her people, saying goodbye, hello, lets go, Im sorry. In her first starring role, Erivo has a huge responsibility to carrying the story of Tubmans life, and she does so with hope, soul and sheer determination. Lemmons and Erivo have crafted a stirring tribute to a truly iconic American. Harriet 3 stars MPAA rating: PG-13 (mature thematic elements; violence and coarse language, including racial epithets) Running time: 2:05 Opens: Friday The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer: The U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade stripped away the long-standing federal right of tens of millions of women to make critical decisions about their own bodies. Now, Arizona leaders have a critical decision themselves: Continue to attack womens health care and bodily autonomy, or protect them and their freedoms. As a family physician and abortion care provider, I implore them to protect my patients health and rights. Without federal protections for abortion access, Arizona women and physicians are left with a confusing tangle of laws to interpret. One law passed earlier this year by Republicans in the Legislature and Gov. Doug Ducey would ban abortions after 15 weeks. But recently, Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced hell seek to enforce a 120-year-old law banning all abortions except to save the personss life. This confusion makes it difficult for physicians to know what we can do, impeding our ability to do the jobs we were trained to do. Worse, both of these laws interfere with personal health care decisions that should be made between patients and doctors not by politicians. The vast majority of Arizonans agree. Polling from May shows that 87% of Arizona voters want abortion to remain legal in all or some cases. Arizonas confusing abortion bans are not just unpopular, theyre dangerous. Doctors know how important it is to be able to use the full range of treatment options when serious medical complications arise in pregnancy. Sometimes, that includes abortion. Abortions are a safe, integral part of health care. For many patients, abortion is vital to overall health and well-being. The American Medical Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Nurse Midwives, and many professional medical associations agree. A ban on abortion in Arizona, whether at 15 weeks or a total ban, will force Arizona women seeking care to scrape together funds to travel to other states. Those who cant afford to travel or take time off will be forced to remain pregnant. That can be dangerous, especially here. Compared to 10 similarly developed nations, the United States has the worst maternal care and highest maternal mortality rate. Banning abortions means many women will be forced to carry pregnancies to term, even with serious medical conditions that could lead to more adverse health outcomes and even deaths. Even without medical concerns, women who just dont want to be pregnant shouldnt be forced to give birth. By banning abortions, politicians are forcing victims of rape and incest to give birth to the child of their rapists. They are preventing people in abusive relationships from being able to get out. Gov. Doug Ducey and his radical allies in the Arizona Legislature have been working for years to put up barriers to abortion: Patients must wait 24 hours to get an abortion, safe and approved self-managed abortion medications cant be prescribed by telemedicine, and patients must undergo an ultrasound 24 hours before an abortion and be told they have the option of seeing the image. Banning abortion after 15 weeks, or banning nearly all abortions, even in cases of incest and rape, as Attorney General Brnovich seeks to do, will only threaten womens health and freedom further. In the face of these dangerous prohibitions against a basic element in health care, Arizonans who care about the safety and well-being of our loved ones must demand politicians put their radical partisanship aside and protect abortion. At the same time, as a physician, I urge policymakers to listen to doctors and the majority of Arizonans who agree that decisions around abortion belong between women and their doctors. Every Arizonan deserves the freedom to decide what happens to their bodies, free of political meddling. The health, safety and lives of countless Arizonans are on the line. The following column is the opinion and analysis of the writer: In spite of last Saturdays political heartburn, I returned to the Arroyo Cafe. To needle Sour Frank. Hey, Frank, your party went with the Trump Trifecta of trolls! Kari Fake, Blake and Finchem the Fixer! The election deniers! Im the happiest satirist in America! Frank smiled. Ill have the last laugh. Theyre going to win in November. Youre as deluded as they are. Lurlene elbowed Frank. Now that Karis won Im sure Miss Trump in Pumps will share her proof of the shenanigans she was yapping about before she won. Unless its possible a Fox anchor would lie. Frank ignored Lurlenes guffaws. Rosa? Can I get a fresh cup? Rosa poured. Did you see where Brnovich found there was no evidence of voter fraud in 2020, Frank? None. Frank smiled. Fake news, Rosa. Biden stole the election. Rosa smiled. Youve gone over the edge, Frank. If Trumps tool, Finchem, becomes Arizonas secretary of state hell steal the election in 2024! If you want to stop the real steal from taking place you got to stop Finchem. Frank laughed at Rosas panic. Hell clean up our elections. Youll see. Lurlene said: Hey Frank, now that Lake, Finchem and Masters have won, will they have to give up their Twilight Zone residency and move to Arizona? Fitz, can you believe Finchem still claims the 2020 election was rigged? And he believes his mustache makes him look like that famous TV star Sam Elliott? Wilford Brimley. Did you know hes a member of oat eaters? Carlos corrected me. Finchem is an Oath Keeper. Lurlene corrected Carlos. Actually hes an Oaf Keeper. Hell do everything in his power to keep that orange oaf in the White House. Hey, Frank, I asked, when will your beloved Oath Keepers condemn President Trumps failure to uphold his oath to preserve, protect and defend our Constitution? Frank rolled his eyes. The day you libs admit our borders in chaos. Thank God, Blake Masters will be looking out for us. I rolled my eyes. Your millionaire election denier wont be looking out for you. Hell be looking out for Americas billionaires! What a bunch of suckers! Lurlene said: Amen to that. What can you expect from Arizona? The state where you dont need a college degree to teach. Carlos, who taught for 20 years before he retired to open his dream cafe, spoke from experience: As if anyone with a college degree would volunteer for slavery in this Third World hellhole micromanaged by right-wing nuts who hate education. Why would they focus on funding education, raising our low test scores and fixing our terrible student teacher ratio when they can rile whites with their bogus Critical Race Theory crap? Tom Horne is back, and you can bet hes going to run on the culture war garbage. Frank sneered. I admire Mr. Horne for going after the pedophiles grooming our precious children with their sick sex education. Carlos winced. Frank! Youre unhinged! Hornes scapegoating gays as predators like we were back in the 50s. And you know what, Frank? Just like in your good old pre-sex-ed days, more girls will seek abortions. Not less. Frank waved Carlos off. Fake news. You socialists will lose big in 2024. Carlos sighed over his sizzling stove. I miss the days when being delusional disqualified a citizen from running for public office. Now its a prerequisite. Frank, did you know Finchem said Jan. 6 was instigated by leftists? Lurlene nodded. Finchemd know. He was there. And he said hed never trust the FBI and Obama was trying to establish a dictatorship and Charlottesville was a Deep State Operation and Marxist pedophiles are everywhere. What district is Finchem from? Carlos said: Hes not from a district. Hes from a Hangar. Hangar 51. Lurlene asked Frank how he felt about the anti-Semitic founder of Gab, Andrew Torba, endorsing Finchem. More fake news. Lurlene shook her head as Frank opined about the economy, MSDNC, and Bidens senility. I interrupted Frank. Hey, Frank, what do you think about Rusty Bowers? The Republican who told the truth about Trumps lies and mob tactics and was rewarded with a pink slip? Another RINO traitor. I gagged. This all feels like the rise of the fascists in Germany in the 30s. Youre nuts. Thatll never happen here. Unless you socialist elites take away our guns. This is a Christian nation. Really? Why would Christians vote for stooges who promoted the lies of an immoral narcissist a criminal who plotted a putsch to overthrow our government? Frank smugly said, Fake news. We fell silent. The 19-year-old accused of preying upon and raping or attempting to rape three women in east Tulsa last year pleaded guilty to his crimes Friday. Ticking off the punishment terms for 14 felonies, Associate District Judge Clifford Smith told Brandon Bills hed allow him one mercy: concurrent sentences. Smith assessed Bills four life sentences for two counts of first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree attempted rape; two 20-year sentences for two counts of first-degree burglary; six 10-year terms for two counts of forcible sodomy, two counts of sexual battery and one count each of first-degree robbery and larceny; and two five-year sentences for two counts of peeping Tom with photographic or electronic equipment. Its not often I deal with cases that have me at a loss, Smith said, but Bills is such a case. The judge expressed dismay at Bills age and new title: serial rapist. He was one of the few in the courtroom who were required to watch the graphic videos prosecutors presented of Bills assaults on strangers, which Bills recorded on his cellphone. Their audio, however, was inescapable. As court staff turned their faces from the flat screen rolled in front of the bench, Bills hung his head and stared at his shackled hands, listening to his own hushed, sadistic orders. Bills mother left the courtroom while the videos were presented. Tulsa police arrested Bills in October after linking him to three sexual assaults that occurred from late August to September 2021 at a grouping of apartments near 41st Street and 129th East Avenue. Each was within walking distance from Bills apartment the high school graduate was saving for a car and he seems to have targeted Hispanic women, Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Elmore said. All three victims testified against Bills during a preliminary hearing in December, two via translators, and investigators and prosecutors lauded their strength and bravery. The investigation that led police to Bills began with one report. That woman, a 41-year-old mother of two teenagers, told police the night of her assault, Aug. 21, 2021, that she was raped and assaulted upon awaking in her home at the Polo Club apartments to find a person on top of her. She said she complied with the mans demands during the lengthy assault because she feared for her 14-year-old daughter, who was asleep in another room. Bills eventually found her daughter, and the mother dashed out the door screaming for help, she said. Bills fled. About a month later, Bills tackled a 20-year-old on the front porch of her Polo Club apartment as she returned home from a late shift. Her screaming awoke her father inside, and Bills fled. Days later, a 33-year-old mother of two at the nearby Alexis Park apartments told police she awoke in her home to find a person with his hands on her neck. Bills didnt stop the assault even upon hearing her young child, who was sharing a bed with her, cry out, but she fought him, and he eventually fled. One victim wrote to the judge requesting the maximum sentence, life without parole, because she never wanted to see Bills again. Arguing for the same, Elmore reminded Smith that investigators found pictures of apartment doors on Bills phone and notes describing possible prey, especially women who appeared to be single and didnt seem to have a habit of locking their doors. Bills was sober during the attacks, Elmore said, and theres no evidence or claim that he ever used substances. He lacks a criminal history, and investigators found little indication that he was on a path to commit such violent crimes beyond up-skirt photos of unidentifiable women and a tendency to focus on a specific type of pornography. There were certain pornographic videos that appear to focus on Hispanics, focus on specific sexual acts, that it does appear that (Bills) followed through on, Elmore said. What was saved on his phone, it all stemmed and started around that August timeline and continued on through September, so it was on his mind at the time, Assistant District Attorney Alison Nutt added. In addition to giving police a full confession upon his arrest, Bills told investigators he watched the videos of his assaults repeatedly, Elmore said. Assistant Public Defender Christine Mescher asked Smith not to take the videos of the assaults into account when determining Bills sentencing, saying although its unfortunate that the assaults were recorded, they should not elevate the cases severity above that of any other statutory rape that wasnt recorded. Mescher also asked Smith to consider Bills guilty pleas entered 10 days before his scheduled trial to his credit. Its not a last-minute plea, Mescher said, but shows that Bills accepts accountability for his actions. Bills declined to give a statement to the court, and Smith told him he would factor into his sentencing his decision to plead guilty as it relieved the victims of reliving their trauma at a trial. The courtroom was heavy with silence after Smith left the room, and Bills glanced at his mother as a deputy escorted him away. The women in this case showed tremendous strength and courage in not only fighting off their attacker, but also in coming forward to report and testify, Elmore said in a news release. Their bravery and strength is highlighted when contrasted with the cowardly acts of (Bills). Our office also commends the fine work of the Tulsa Police Department for finding and apprehending this violent sexual predator. Several members of the Police Departments Special Victims Unit attended the proceeding. A life sentence in Oklahoma is 45 years, and because Bills crimes require him to serve at least 85% of his sentence, he will be eligible for parole in a little more than 38 years. If he is released, Bills must register as a sex offender for life. A Navajo woman is walking from Arizona to Washington, D.C., to bring a spotlight to the missing and murdered indigenous people crisis that has taken one of her own relatives. Seraphine Warren made several stops in the Cherokee Nation on Friday on her long journey from Sweetwater, Arizona where her aunt, Ella Mae Begay, was last seen on June 15, 2021 which began June 15, the one-year anniversary of her aunts disappearance. Begay is a well-regarded rug weaver, a boarding school survivor, a mother and a grandmother. She always wanted everyone to be OK and to live at peace, Warren said. I just want to see her the way we last saw her. Warrens walk, called Trailing Ella Mae, has started conversations about the missing and murdered indigenous people or MMIP crisis, and its start coincides almost to the day with the disappearance of a Muscogee man who was last seen in Holdenville on June 17. Warrens walk has a two-fold mission, to shed light on the MMIP crisis across the country and to make people see that Indigenous women and people are important. I want all these cases to be treated how Gabby Petitos case was treated, Warren said of all MMIP cases. Its unfair. I feel devalued, that we dont have any value. The Petito case highlighted the disparity in police resources and media attention often focused on missing white women compared to missing people of color and generated calls for law enforcement to treat all cases similarly, NBC News reported after Petitos body was found in Teton National Forest in Wyoming. Warren said the Navajo Nation, as well as many other tribal nations, lacks the police resources and equipment to properly search for missing people, and there are only a handful of FBI agents across the 27,413-square-mile Navajo Reservation. Within her own reservation, Warren said she still worries about her adult daughter being out on her own. My daughter is 23, but I still have to make sure I know where shes at, Warren said. Thats how bad it is. I cant even go into the mountain and meditate without letting someone know, or I worry them. Of her aunt, Warren said she hopes she can go home after her cross-country walk and find out what happened to Begay. The pain her loss causes almost makes her at a loss for words. I dont know how I can live, Warren said through tears. When can I just turn around and not have to look for her anymore? When Im done with my walk, if we still havent found her, what more can I do? I feel like Im stuck. That feeling is echoed in Indigenous people throughout the U.S., and in south-central Oklahoma, Tiffany Cully said she feels the same pang of loss for her missing husband. Daniel Cully, a Muscogee citizen, was last seen near Holdenville Lake in Holdenville, where he was dropped off by a family member on June 17 to meet someone for a job. He has not been seen or heard from since. He had been acting unlike himself the day before he disappeared, Tiffany Cully said, and she worries about whom he was meeting, because none of his friends have seen him, either. The family has searched areas around Holdenville, Okmulgee, Ada, Seminole and even McAlester to no avail, and his Red Alert missing poster has been plastered on MMIP organization Facebook pages for the last two months. In the roughly 50 days since his disappearance, Tiffany Cully said she has been stuck in limbo, not knowing what to do. I dont know, Tiffany Cully said of how she feels. Do I move on without him? Do I wait for him to come back? Did something happen? I feel lost. It tore my world apart. So many questions have been asked, but Im just lost right now. After turning his life around from a stint in prison, Daniel Cully got his GED, was starting a reintegration program at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and hoped to soon get his associate degree from the College of the Muscogee Nation, his wife said. We were starting a new chapter in our life, she said. We just want to know hes OK. A week before he disappeared, he had punctured his foot on a screw and had a limp, she said, so she is worried about infection or further injuries. Anyone who may have information about Daniel Cully is asked to contact the Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police Department at 918-732-7800. Seraphine Warrens Trailing Ella Mae walk, which will end in Washington around October, can be followed through the walks Facebook Page, and a GoFundMe account has been set up to help with her mission. EDITORS NOTE: An earlier update had one of the identified persons name reversed. The story has been updated Bixby police have identified the two people involved in a murder-suicide at a Bixby shopping center Friday night. Jin Yu Wang, a Bixby resident and owner of a local spa, was leaving a business located near 131st Street and Memorial Drive around 8:30 p.m. with an acquaintance when Vincenzo Rocchio drove up in a vehicle, blocking the pair from leaving. Police say Yu Wang and Rocchio had a prior relationship. Surveillance footage from a nearby security camera showed Yu Wang getting out of her vehicle and into an argument with Rocchio. During the argument, Rocchio produced a weapon and shot Yu Wang. Rocchio then turned the gun on himself and fired. Both were dead at the scene. Bixby Police Department is conducting an investigation and being assisted by OSBI crime scene technicians. The case is pending the results of crime scene processing, but it will be classified as a murder-suicide resulting from a domestic altercation, police said. The audio from an implicit bias training session deemed to be in violation of a state law meant to limit instruction on race and gender is a recording of a male voice reading text verbatim from a visual presentation. A review of a copy obtained by the Tulsa World late Friday shows that concepts covered in the 18-minute course offered to Tulsa Public Schools employees through a third-party vendor include: Acknowledging that implicit biases can bring about uncomfortable feelings and expose unwanted or unintentional negative beliefs. Asking teachers to be aware of their own racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds and how they affect their perceptions. Asking teachers to review students academic and behavioral data for gaps by race, socioeconomic status and gender. Explaining the difference between fact and opinion while avoiding imposing personal values in the classroom. According to Tulsa Public Schools, participants took the online class at their own pace without a live instructor. In both his remarks to the State Board of Education in June and July, as well as his July 7 letter to both the complaining teacher and TPS, Oklahoma State Department of Education general counsel Brad Clark said that while the visual slides from the August 2021 course were not problematic, the audio from the presentation violated the spirit, if not the letter, of House Bill 1775. That in turn prompted the State Board of Education to vote 4-2 on July 28 to accredit TPS with a warning for the 2022-23 school year, despite not having heard the recording for themselves. The Tulsa World's access to the session in question was limited to note-taking and does not extend to republication. Although TPS confirmed that the audio is what was provided to the Oklahoma State Department of Education for its investigation, a spokesman for the department said Friday night that the audio reviewed by departments legal office was not a verbatim reading of the slides. Adopted in 2021, HB 1775 prohibits teaching that one race or sex is inherently superior to another. It also prohibits causing a student to feel guilty or uncomfortable because of their race or gender, as well as teaching that anyone is inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or otherwise. Under the law and administrative rules previously approved by the State Board of Education, a violation of that law is considered a deficiency with respect to accreditation. TPS was one of two districts statewide to be accredited with a warning due to a violation of HB 1775. The other district, Mustang Public Schools, self-reported an investigation and violation after the boards June 23 meeting, prompting the Oklahoma State Department of Education to originally recommend that it be accredited with one deficiency. TPS came under scrutiny after a science teacher from Memorial High School filed a written complaint with the State Department of Education in February, claiming that the training had a section that includes statements that specifically shame white people for past offenses in history, and state that all are implicitly racially biased by nature. The sessions slides and audio reviewed by the Tulsa World refer to implicit bias as a universal, widespread phenomenon and state that education and other systems were originally built for populations that are vastly different than those that attend our schools today. In a section on valuing diversity, the slides and audio include a statement that because our culture has shifted from one predominantly designed around White, middle-class systems to one that is much more multi-cultural, we can no longer assume every child will respond to the same strategies. Additionally, both also reference nationwide racial statistics for school suspensions and note that racial bias is implicated as a contributing factor for disproportionately higher suspension rates among Black, Hispanic and Alaska Native students. In a statement issued Saturday afternoon, Oklahoma State Department of Education Executive Director of Communications Rob Crissinger said that while some of the language in HB 1775 could be left open to interpretation, the department still maintains that the training session broke the law. While the OSDE stands by its conclusion that the training presentation violated House Bill 1775, it is clear that the audio recording, which was reviewed weeks after review of the slide-deck, had a greater impact on the agencys review team," he said. "The concepts put forth, regardless of whether read or heard, violated the spirit of that law. As stated previously by OSDEs general counsel, the decision was a close call and, as such, recommended a deficiency for the school district as required, not the decidedly more severe penalty imposed by the State Board of Education in a 4-2 vote. This instance underscores how the vague language of HB 1775 invites imprecise judgement calls, which in turn can have a chilling effect on classroom instruction. Meanwhile, in a letter separately obtained Friday evening, TPS Superintendent Deborah Gist formally asked the State Board of Education to reconsider its decisions not only to downgrade TPS accreditation but also to accept the State Department of Education's finding that the district violated HB 1775. TPS school board President Stacey Woolley sent a similar letter to the state school board earlier in the week. When reached Friday night, Woolley she had not heard the training sessions audio when she made her request for reconsideration. In her letter, Gist referred to the state boards decision as arbitrary and capricious, in part because its members did not have access to the audio from the training. Citing a limited access agreement with the third-party vendor, the audio was not provided to state school board members at the July 28 meeting. That in turn prompted an objection from Tulsa-based state board member Carlisha Williams Bradley, one of two board members who voted against demoting TPS accreditation status. It is clear the OSDE erred in this determination because from the beginning of the training video to the end the written language on the slides and the words heard in the audio are identical, Gist wrote. Stated another way, because the OSDE found that there was no violation of HB 1775 in the slides, it is factually impossible for the audio to be unlawful. While it is frustrating that the state department misconstrued the message in the training and also heard audio that is no different from the words on the slides, it is entirely unacceptable for such a misunderstanding to be the basis for its issuance of an accreditation deficiency of any kind. It is even more egregious and outrageous for the State Board of Education to take the additional step of escalating the penalty to an accreditation warning without having seen or heard any of the training or even request the ability to view it. Featured video: Tulsa Public Schools accredited with a warning over HB 1775 violation Featured video: Education Board adopts temporary rules on teaching race, gender in Oklahoma public schools For years, candidates for Tulsas District 8 City Council seat have been asked what they think about constructing a bridge over the Arkansas River. This year is no different. But first, some recent history. In January, Tulsa, Jenks, Bixby, Tulsa County and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation agreed to each pay $6,000 to help fund a traffic and revenue study to determine the feasibility of building a south Tulsa toll bridge. That decision was made after more than two years of private meetings among mayors, city engineers and other officials from those same government entities regarding a proposal to build a privately funded toll bridge. The businessmen behind the plan, Howard Kelsey and Bill Bacon, have been working on a bridge proposal off and on for about 20 years. This time around, they had the support of Jenks City Councilor Donna Ogez, who organized the meetings. I wanted to talk about this more than anything, because I really think there is a better way as far as this private entity involved that would benefit both municipalities quicker, and it doesnt cost us anything, Ogez said. According to the developers, the proposal called for a 75-year agreement under which Tulsa and Jenks would each receive 45% of the toll revenue and Kelsey-Bacon & Associates and its investors 10%. Kelsey and Bacon would also receive a $6 million developers fee and be reimbursed for costs they have already incurred to put the project together. The estimated revenue over that period was between $1.8 billion and $2.4 billion, funds the developers argue their public partners could use to pay for support infrastructure such as improvements to adjacent roadways and maintenance of the proposed south Tulsa low-water dam. The four-lane toll bridge would go from 131st Street and Yale Place on the Jenks side of the river to one of at least nine landing spots from 131st Street and Sheridan Avenue to 121st and Riverside Drive on the Tulsa side. The estimated $75 million cost of the project would be paid for through a loan from a New York-based financier who the developers have not named publicly but who has met twice with Jenks officials, according to a timeline provided by Ogez. I am a very, very, very skeptical person when it comes to finance, Ogez said. I mean, I worked in finance and collections for years and years and years, so my first tendency is always to question, question, question the money. Always. And I was completely sold as far as (it being) a viable option, absolutely viable. The developers plan also includes funding for bridge maintenance for the life of the agreement and money to construct the approaches to the bridge, the developers said. Ogez said the plan had significant buy-in but not from the city of Tulsa, who was represented in the talks by Mayor G.T. Bynum, District 8 Councilor Phil Lakin and others. Lakin, 55, is chief executive officer of the Tulsa Community Foundation and chairman of the board of directors of the George Kaiser Family Foundation He was first elected in 2011. He is seeking a seventh term in the Aug. 23 nonpartisan general election. His opponent, Scott Houston, 67, is vice president of a life insurance company. This is his first run at elected office. Lakin said he was not the only representative of the city of Tulsa who opposed the Kelsey/Bacon plan and that his concerns about it were many. The other parties presented a non-negotiable plan that, in my opinion, utilized decades-old data; had the most potential for neighborhood harm; failed to mitigate noise, traffic, and congestion; and, asked Tulsans to pay a high price while private developers aimed to pocket an estimated $250 million, Lakin said. As a councilor, I have a moral duty and fiscal responsibility to the citizens of Tulsa. Lakin said his position on a south Tulsa bridge has not changed. My constituents and I havent opposed a bridge quite the opposite for most but we do have expectations and conditions that have been stated and restated for decades, he said. Those include ensuring that the bridge lands away from existing homes and does not add any traffic to south Tulsas overcrowded, two-lane roads. Unless and until existing roads were widened and improved to handle the additional loads, we have always opposed any bridge connection directly to Yale, which is lined with neighborhoods and a large elementary school, Lakin said. Weve generally believed that the southern part of Riverside Drive should be converted into a divided, four-lane parkway, like it is north of the Creek Turnpike, to receive and move traffic that could come from a bridge and the turnpike, and 121st be widened so traffic can flow from Riverside toward the already-upgraded Memorial Drive corridor. No bridge in the city of Tulsa intersects a road other than Riverside, and the one in south Tulsa, if built, shouldnt either. Kelsey and Bacon say they received a positive response from local municipalities, including officials in Jenks, and stressed that they worked hard to respond to the concerns raised by other parties throughout their discussions, as evidenced by their willingness to offer multiple landing spots for the bridge on the Tulsa side of the river. They also noted that they have used the same company as the municipalities are using to gather their traffic study and revenue data. Ogez said the data presented by the developers was not old and was good enough for the investor backing the plan. You dont have investors like that that are willing to do something like that in a municipality unless they are convinced it is good information, she said. Bacon said its important to note that the private option is a way to get the bridge built without costing taxpayers any money. I want the citizens on the south side to know that they had a free bridge, a 100% nonrecourse financed bridge, available, Bacon said. Lakin questioned that assertion, noting that the developers could earn approximately $200 million to $250 million over the life of the agreement. Houston acknowledged that he has a lot to learn about the subject. He said hes heard from District 8 residents who enthusiastically support building a bridge and those who are equally passionate in their opposition to the idea. Its very divisive, he said. Houston said he plans to meet with people on both sides of the issue, because if I am elected, it is going to be an issue. So I am going to have meetings with citizens in neighborhoods, neighborhood HOAs, that kind of thing, as well as with developers, people who want this to go forward. I just dont have that information yet, he said. Featured video: PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Southeast Asian foreign ministers issued a joint statement Friday after a series of meetings in the Cambodian capital criticizing Myanmar for its lack of progress in ending violence there, but with weaker language than several countries had hoped for. Myanmars military-led government, which seized power from elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, has been accused of thousands of extrajudicial killings, and last week carried out its first official executions in decades, raising an outcry from several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and countries around the world. ASEAN has been trying to implement a five-point consensus it reached on Myanmar last year, calling for dialogue among all concerned parties, provision of humanitarian assistance and an immediate cessation of violence, among other things. Following news of the late-July executions, Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah accused Myanmar of making a mockery of the five-point process. Still, in their joint statement Friday, the foreign ministers only expressed our concerns over the prolonged political crisis in the country, including the execution of four opposition activists," while adding they were deeply disappointed by the limited progress in the implementation of the five-point consensus. Myanmar's foreign ministry issued a statement later Friday saying it objected to a reference in the ASEAN joint statement to a lack of progress in implementing the five-point consensus because it neglects Myanmars efforts on its implementation. The ministry's statement, released to journalists in Myanmar, decried efforts by some ASEAN and Western nations to contact opposition forces in Myanmar known as the National Unity Government and its affiliated armed wing, the People Defense Force, which it branded terrorists. If ASEAN member states and external partners genuinely wish to help Myanmar in restoring normalcy, they should not encourage engaging with the terrorist groups such as NUG and PDF and should avoid any actions that could encourage terrorism," it said. The statement said Myanmar will continue to cooperate in implementing ASEAN's five-point consensus through a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led process without compromising its national sovereignty. Cambodia currently holds the rotating chairmanship of ASEAN, which also includes the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei in addition to Myanmar. With the ongoing violence in Myanmar, the country was asked not to send any political representative to the ASEAN meetings. In protest, Myanmars military government said it would send no delegate at all, so was unrepresented in the talks. But in preliminary discussions leading up to the main meetings, a lower-level representative from Myanmar expressed objections to the proposed wording of the joint statement, which led to the exclusion of stronger criticism being proposed by Malaysia, Singapore and others, according to a diplomat who was involved in the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private meetings. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who has in the past urged ASEAN to do more to confront Myanmar, also known as Burma, noted that the executions of the four political prisoners had occurred despite Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in his capacity as ASEAN chair, pushing Myanmar to reconsider. I urge my fellow ministers to continue to press the regime to end its brutal violence, to release those unjustly detained to allow humanitarian access and restore Burmas path to democracy, Blinken said at a news conference after the foreign ministers' statement was released. "We also have to increase economic pressure to do more to stop the flow of arms and revenue to the regime, insist on accountability for the atrocities committed. Russia is Myanmars top arms supplier, and Blinken took a swipe at Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's visit to Myanmar on his way to the ASEAN meetings and calling the country a friendly partner." That directly flies in the face of ASEAN's hard work to bring the violence to an end, Blinken said. Although ASEAN has tried to project itself as a showcase of regional unity with its leaders and top diplomats locking their hands in an unusual group handshake photo-op in their annual summits, the diverse bloc has been perennially buffeted by conflicting agendas within. Following their daylong meeting on Wednesday, they delayed issuing the joint statement due to differences over the section on Myanmar, the diplomat said. Cambodia forged a compromise Thursday night which paved the way for the belated release of the weaker statement on Friday, the diplomat said. There were concerns that if a compromise was not reached, the contrasting viewpoints on Myanmar could have blocked the issuance of the statement like in a similar embarrassing incident about a decade ago when Cambodia also hosted the ministerial gathering, the diplomat said. In the 2012 meeting, the unresolved impasse centered on whether Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea should be included in the joint statement. Cambodia then was accused by the Philippines and Vietnam of blocking mention of the increasingly tense territorial conflicts. It was the first time that the bloc, founded in 1967, had failed to issue a post-conference joint statement in its history. The military's overthrow of Suu Kyi's government triggered widespread peaceful protests that were violently suppressed. They have evolved into an armed resistance and the country has slipped into what some U.N. experts characterize as a civil war. More than 2,100 people have been killed by the military government since it took power and nearly 15,000 have been arrested, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-governmental organization that tracks killings and arrests. Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. China's Ambassador to the U.S. was summoned to the White House Thursday after his country conducted military activities near Taiwan following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's defiant visit this week to the self-governing island that China considers its territory. According to a Chinese state broadcaster, the Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army engaged in long-range, live-fire exercises and "precision strikes" on eastern parts of the Taiwan Strait, The Washington Post reported. Taiwan's Defense Ministry said the 11 missiles hit waters off the island's northeastern and southwestern coasts on Thursday afternoon. On Wednesday night, Chinese naval ships and planes also conducted drills in waters around Taiwan, crossing the halfway point between the island and mainland China known as the median line, Taiwan's defense ministry said, calling it a "highly provocative act," CNN reported. "After China's actions overnight, we summoned [People's Republic of China] Ambassador Qin Gang to the White House to demarche him about the PRC's provocative actions," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in a statement, according to CNN and the Post. "We condemned the PRC's military actions, which are irresponsible and at odds with our long-standing goal of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait." In summoning the Chinese ambassador to condemn through diplomatic channels the military actions, the White House also told Qin that the U.S. hopes to continue communications and reiterated that U.S. policy on China and Taiwan has not changed. America's long-standing One China Policy recognizes Beijing as the only legitimate government of China. "We also made clear that the United States is prepared for what Beijing chooses to do," Kirby said in the statement. "We will not seek and do not want a crisis. At the same time, we will not be deterred from operating in the seas and skies of the Western Pacific, consistent with international law, as we have for decades supporting Taiwan and defending a free and open Indo-Pacific." Nancy Pelosi touched down in Taipei Tuesday and met with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen the next day as part of her defiant visit to the island. China's strong objection to the House speaker's trip, which made her the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Taiwan in a quarter century, came with warnings and ignited concerns among the American military as well as inside President Joe Biden's White House. "Our discussions with Taiwan leadership will focus on reaffirming our support for our partner and on promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region," Pelosi said in a statement released after her arrival in Taipei. "America's solidarity with the 23 million people of Taiwan is more important today than ever, as the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy." Pelosi went ahead with the trip despite warnings from Chinese officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijiang, who said last week: "If the U.S. side insists on making the visit and challenges China's red line, it will be met with resolute countermeasures. The U.S. must assume full responsibility for any serious consequence arising thereof." Before his White House meeting, which was first reported by The Washington Post, Qin wrote in an op-ed for the paper about Pelosi's visit. "By order of succession, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is the third-highest-ranking official in the U.S. government. Traveling in a military aircraft, Pelosi paid a high-profile 'official visit to Taiwan' this week, as her office described it in her arrival statement, and was given full-protocol treatment by Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party authorities, who make no secret of pursuing independence in their party platform. Such a visit has openly broken America's commitment not to develop official relations with Taiwan," the Chinese ambassador wrote. "These are extremely irresponsible, provocative and dangerous moves." A 14-year-old girl has died after a vehicle slammed into her and a woman standing at bus stop Friday night in the Gresham neighborhood, Chicago police said. A 32-year-old man driving a gold Mercedes west on 79th Street around 6:35 p.m. failed to stop at a red light and slammed into a black Jeep Cherokee that was southbound on Racine Avenue, police said. Advertisement The Jeep veered into two female pedestrians, one of which was the 14-year-old girl, who were standing near a bus stop. The girl was thrown several feet while the Jeep pinned the 48-year-old woman to a Walgreens sign, according to a police report of the crash. The Mercedes, whose sole occupant was the 32-year-old motorist, went on to crash into another vehicle. Advertisement The still-unidentified girl was taken to Comers Childrens Hospital by the Chicago Fire Department and was pronounced dead at 7:38 p.m., said police and the Cook County medical examiners office. The 48-year-old woman was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition, the man driving the Mercedes was also taken to the same hospital in serious condition while a 42-year-old man from the Jeep was taken to St. Bernard Hospital, where he was in fair condition, police said. The man driving the Mercedes was arrested and police recovered a gun from the Mercedes, according to the traffic crash report. Additionally, he was given traffic citations, including not having insurance. The police departments Major Accidents unit is investigating the crash. President Joe Biden has tested negative for Covid-19 but will remain in isolation pending a second test, his physician announced in a letter Saturday. "The President continues to feel very well," Dr. Kevin O'Connor wrote. "Given his rebound positivity which we reported last Saturday, we have continued daily monitoring. This morning, his SARS-CoV-2 antigen testing was negative. In an abundance of caution, the President will continue his strict isolation measures pending a second negative test as previously described." During isolation, the President has participated virtually in public events from the White House residence. On two occasions, he delivered socially distanced remarks to a restricted pool from the Blue Room balcony, announcing a successful strike that killed al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri Monday and signing two bills cracking down on Covid-19 relief fraud Friday. The President and first lady Jill Biden are scheduled to travel on Monday to visit Kentucky after deadly floods in the eastern part of the state killed dozens of people and devastated the area. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "People with recurrence of COVID-19 symptoms or a new positive viral test after having tested negative should restart isolation and isolate again for at least 5 days." During Biden's first bout with the disease, he experienced mild symptoms, including runny nose, fatigue, high temperature and a cough, according to his doctor. The five-day course of Paxlovid the President completed requires a doctor's prescription and is available via emergency use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for treatment of mild-to-moderate Covid-19 in people 12 and older who are at high risk of severe illness. The CDC issued a health alert to doctors on May 24 advising that Covid-19 symptoms sometimes come back, and that may just be how the infection plays out in some people, regardless of whether they're vaccinated or treated with medications such as Paxlovid. The CDC said that most rebound cases involve mild disease and that there have been no reports of serious illness. Biden is fully vaccinated and received two booster shots. He received his first two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine ahead of his inauguration in January 2021, his first booster shot in September and his second booster vaccination in March. The-CNN-Wire & 2022 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. OKLAHOMA CITY Two former top-ranking members of the Oklahoma Veterans Commission filed suit against Gov. Kevin Stitt on Friday, alleging that he violated their First Amendment right to support his political opponent. Larry Wayne Van Schuyver, former Veterans Commission chairman and a retired Navy command master chief, and Paul D. Costilow, former vice chairman and a retired Army brigadier general who served in Vietnam, filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. They allege that Stitt removed them from the Oklahoma Veterans Commission for supporting Joel Kintsel in his bid to unseat the governor. They were notified of their removal two days after Stitt defeated Kintsel in the primary. Kintsel is executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs. The commission hires and fires the executive director. Stitt has replaced commission members who voted to give Kintsel a leave of absence to run for governor, Van Schuyver said. Mark Hammons, an attorney for the plaintiffs, said Stitt violated the right of political affiliation. Ironically, he has denied that right to the people who fought to make sure we would have that right in this country, Hammons said. Retaliating against someone for exercising a First Amendment right is unlawful, he added. The suit also says the plaintiffs did not support a plan by Stitt to privatize the states seven veterans centers. Van Schuyver, who was wounded while deployed to Iraq, opposed the plan because he believes it would outsource management of veterans care, reduce the quality of service and increase the cost, according to the suit. About half of the Oklahoma veterans in the homes would not qualify to continue living there under privatization, Van Schuyver claims, adding in an interview with the Tulsa World on Friday that he thinks Stitt probably wants to give operation of those homes to his cronies. Hammons said another suit will be filed next week to challenge one of Stitts appointees. Stitt appointed Robert W. Allen Jr. on Thursday to replace Van Schuyver and Scott B. Sweeney to replace Costilow. Hammons claims that Stitt did not follow the law in appointing Allen. Hammons said the appointment had to come from among five names submitted by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, and Van Schuyver, who is commander of the organization, said he had never heard of Allen. The organization did not offer Allens name for consideration, Van Schuyver said. He doesnt get to go out and pick a political buddy, Hammons said. Van Schuyver said the end goal for him is to put the governor in his place and make it a fair process for appointing commissioners. Despite the two new appointments, the nine-member Veterans Commission failed to reach a quorum to meet on Friday. An agenda item for the slated meeting was a discussion about the roles of the commission and the secretary of military and veterans affairs. Stitt recently appointed John Nash to that post, and Nash received Senate confirmation. Kintsel said Nash is trying to exercise power over the agency, for which there is no legal authority. We are starting to struggle mightily as to who is in what lane, Kintsel said. Under the law, the secretary plays no role operationally. And this seems to be difficult for this appointee to understand. Stitts office did not respond to a request for comment. Tulsa World Opinion podcast: Tulsa Public Schools targeted by state leaders South Korean conglomerate Samsung Electronics will make a business and investment expansion in Vietnam, with a target of US$69 billion worth of exports and an additional investment of US$3.3 billion this year, among other activities, the groups leader has said. Samsung CEO Roh Tae Moon told Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh about the giants expansion of operations in Vietnam at their meeting on Friday, as part of his ongoing working visit in the Southeast Asian country. Specifically, Samsung will manufacture semiconductor products at its Samsung Electro-Mechanics Vietnam, located in northern Thai Nguyen Province, in July 2023, the CEO said. The group will also inaugurate its research and development (R&D) center in Hanoi late this year or early next year to serve not only Vietnam but other Southeast Asian countries as well. In addition, Samsung plans to assist 50 Vietnamese enterprises in improving their competitiveness under a smart factory model, while promoting its cooperation with Vietnamese universities and research institutions. CEO Roh highly appreciated Vietnams efforts and achievements in the COVID-19 fight as well as in its economic recovery and development from the pandemic. He thanked the Vietnamese government for helping Samsung overcome the pandemic-caused difficulties and for creating a favorable environment for the groups operations in the current context of a changing world. He suggested that Vietnam should improve the quality of human resources through training to meet the needs of enterprises and investors. PM Chinh suggested that Samsung expand investment in manufacturing semiconductors, one of the groups three strengths in Vietnam, besides its current effective production lines for mobile devices and consumer electronics products. He also urged the group to accelerate the construction of the R&D center in Hanoi so that it can be complete by the end of the year. With a cooperation spirit based on sincerity, trust and efficiency and on the principle of harmonious benefits, shared risks, the Vietnamese government is committed to creating favorable conditions and improving the investment environment for foreign investors in general and Samsung in particular, PM Chinh said. He suggested Samsung continue giving feedback on Vietnams relevant policies and mechanisms, adding that the Vietnamese government will deal with the groups recommendations. Chinh also asked Samsung to play as a bridge to bring more investors from South Korea as well as from other countries to Vietnam. In the first half of this year, Samsung Vietnam gained $34.3 billion from exports, up about 18 percent on year, and aims to earn a total turnover of $69 billion for the whole year, Roh said. The group will also inject $3.3 billion to its business in Vietnam, the CEO said. Currently, South Korea is Vietnams third largest trading partner after China and the U.S., and the largest foreign investor in Vietnam with 9,383 operating projects worth nearly $80 billion. Last year the two-way trade between the two countries amounted to $78.1 billion, up 18.33 percent from 2020, and accounting for 11.6 percent of Vietnams total trade value, according to official figures. Samsung currently has eight facilities in Vietnam, including six manufacturing plants, one R&D center, and one sales entity. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss today: COVID-19 Updates -- Vietnams Ministry of Health reported 2,075 COVID-19 cases on Friday, raising the national tally to 11,192,043, with 9,957,655 recoveries and 43,094 deaths. Society -- Police in northern province of Hoa Binh on Thursday have successfully helped a Vietnamese man to locate his missing family after ten years of living in China. -- Police in Tien Giang Province, Vietnams Mekong Delta, said on Friday that they had arrested three men for stabbing another person to death over love conflicts earlier this week. -- The Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) brought eight men, including three Vietnamese nationals, to the Federal High Court in Lagos, the African countrys largest city, for illegally possessing 397.5 kilograms of pangolin scales last week. -- A Vietnamese national was severely injured after a club in Chonburi Province, Thailand bursted into flames on Friday, according to Thai newspaper Prachachat. Business -- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Samsung Electronics of South Korea to expand its operations in Vietnam during a reception for the groups CEO Roh Tae-Moon in Hanoi on Friday. Lifestyle -- Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recognized the Le hoi chua Ba cang thi Nuoc Man festival in south-central Binh Dinh Province as a national intangible cultural heritage, according to local authorities on Friday. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A restaurant in Hanoi that was recently fined because a staff member had long fingernails explained that the individual in question is actually a staffs friend who happened to be in the kitchen when the inspectors arrived. Khiem Restaurant, located on Hoa Ma Street in Hai Ba Trung District, was fined VND2 million (US$85) for having an employee who directly processed food without cutting her nails short. The facility was in the list of 32 food and beverage establishments in Hai Ba Trung District that violated food safety regulations between June 16 and July 30. The list was signed by deputy head of the districts health office Ngo Lan Huong. Some common violations include failure to store food samples, lacking food safety certificate, failure to wear gloves when in direct contact with food, and not covering food properly. Duong Van Khiem, owner of Khiem Restaurant, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Friday morning that the person in question is not an employee of the venue. She is a friend of an employee who works in the restaurants kitchen, Khiem explained. While in between jobs, she came to the restaurant and hung around with her friend in the kitchen. She was helping her friend cut carrot flowers when a group of inspectors arrived to examine the facility. As the womans nails were not cut short, the restaurant was booked for the violation even though the owner had tried to explain it. The officials stated that people who are not on duty are not allowed to enter the kitchen, according to Khiem. The owner affirmed that his restaurant has legitimate business license and food safety certificate, and requires all employees to wear gloves when processing food. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has arrested eight members, including three Vietnamese, of a wildlife trafficking ring that was found illegally possessing nearly 400kg of pangolin scales. According to initial investigations, these Vietnamese nationals were high-ranking members of an organized crime group involved in the trafficking of ivory, pangolin scales, rhino horns and lion bones from Mozambique and South Africa through Nigeria to Vietnam, Nigerian daily Blueprint reported on Friday. The names and other details of the three Vietnamese traffickers have yet to be announced. NCS smashed the ring on August 3, in conjunction with Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), an international body that works to disrupt and dismantle networks of illegal wildlife trade, said NCS spokesman Timi Bomodi. The joint forces seized from the ring 397.5kg of pangolin scales, according to NCS. The crackdown of this ring will help authorities to have more clues to expand the investigation of the illegal wildlife trade line, and at the same time identify other ring members. This is the fourth largest wildlife seizure in Nigeria over the past year thanks to the coordination between NCS, WJC and the governments of some other African countries, Bomodi said. Initial crackdowns in 2021 resulted in the confiscation by NCS of 7.1 metric tons of pangolin scales and 850 kilograms of ivory, he added. Earlier on July 20, NCS brought to court seven men, including three Vietnamese nationals, for allegedly trafficking pangolin scales and elephant ivory. They and their four accomplices, including two Nigerians, one Guinean and one Cameroonian, were arrested in May and June, which later led to the seizure of six metric tons of ivory, pangolin scales and other wildlife items in Port Klang, Malaysia on July 10. As all defendants pleaded not guilty and sought bail, the justice remanded the defendants in an NCS facility and adjourned the trial until September 30. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Photographer Lam Duc Hien of World Press Photo Contest fame sat down with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper during his time at the 2022 Hue Festival to reflect on the portraits that made his name, the life-or-death experiences, and the state of modern photojournalism after spending three decades in the ever-changing industry. How did you get your start in photography? At the beginning, I did not even plan to do photography professionally. It started when I joined a non-governmental organization (NGO) because I want to help people. I went to Romania with them in 1990 and they asked me to take pictures. [In 1990, the country was experiencing perpetual social unrest and political battles following the Romanian Revolution in December 1989]. The pictures were used in campaigns to raise money for Romanian children, and after that, the NGO said they got a lot of donations. It made me understand the power of a picture - a good one can help mobilize a lot of money. They [the NGO] then asked me to work for them, but I was still in art school at the time, so I only went on missions with them as a volunteer during holidays. The pay was low but I didnt care, because I didnt need money at the time. I got to stay at friends' houses and was traveling everywhere, and because of that, I felt like I was very rich. A 17-year-old boy from Sierra Leone, photographed in a refugee camp in Guinea in May 2001. Excerpt from Lam Duc Hiens Faces photobook. Photo: Le Xuan Phong / Matca You also spent time working as the head of a mission for an NGO, is that correct? Yes, I was the head of a mission in Iraq. I organized work for doctors and nurses who came from France. We also distributed food for children in school. When I returned 20 - 25 years later, I could still feel the gratitude from the people I helped. You never know - people you helped can become like a farmer or a president - after 30 years. [Several Kurdish fighters photographed by Lam Duc Hien in 1990 later became political figures, assuming the roles of president and vice-president of Iraqs Kurdistan autonomous region]. I think I was the only foreigner photographer in Iraq after 1991. I was in Baghdad, traveling south to Basra, everywhere. [I was able to do that] because I know how to make good contact with people, and also because of my Asian physique. When you say to the Saddam Hussein [regime] authority that you are Vietnamese, its like Youre brave people who won the war against America. They give me a visa every time. However, it's still not easy: During Saddam times, you always have the Secret Service following and keeping an eye on you. At the time, they had just caught an English journalist and hung him after accusing him of being a spy, so I had to be very careful when taking pictures as well. I think your Iraqi series that won the World Press Photo Contest 2001 for Portraits was also shot during this time? Correct. After 1991, they [the United Nations Security Council] imposed an embargo on Iraq, and it was really hard for the Iraqi people. You cannot import things like graphite or chlorine [for water filtration] because they could also be used for nuclear bombs, so the people were dying from diarrhea. I was against the embargo, and I took pictures of local people to show the consequences of it. My agency (Agence VU) tried to get these pictures out, but nobody cared. I was fatigued, so in my next work, I did not want to show any context - just the sadness in the face of survivors. I took one portrait and repeated it after one or two years, and I started to realize how their condition worsened in the picture. I didnt think they were photojournalism, but my agency convinced me to submit them to World Press Photo - then I got the first prize for Portraits. After that, the press and the people became interested. The biggest newspaper in France published it - double page - and sent me back to Iraq - with money and everything - to cover the conflict. A journalist once asked me why I did the Iraqis project, and I said Because I have a big ego. I kept doing it because in each pair of eyes of the people, I see myself. When I take these pictures, I feel like Im picturing myself. I see my family, my mother, and my sisters. I take pictures of them the same way I wanted people to photograph me when I was a refugee - with a lot of respect and humility. A young girl living in Baghdad. Part of the Iraqi series, 1st prize winner in Portraits at the World Press Photo Contest 2021. Photo: Lan Duc Hien / Agence VU You have an education background in arts, but then decided to pursue photojournalism. Do you think there is a clear distinction between the two disciplines? They are not so different for me. When I first worked in an NGO, they asked me for pictures that could be used for the press, but I did not want to make documentary pictures - I wanted to put my personality onto the photos. I dont really care about subjectivity or objectivity. I was lucky to find Agency VU. The director at the time (Christian Cajouelle) liked to recruit photographers with personalities. I came to this agency because they dont care if you work with the press, galleries or anything - you are a photographer first, not a journalist or an artist, and your photography should be able to convey ideas before anything. Do you consider yourself a war photographer? No, I'm not a war photographer. War photographers are a little bit obsessed with violence, and Im not. When you leave your country because of the violence of a war, and then you face domestic violence in your family, you know how terrible it is. I once had an assignment for an NGO where I covered violence against women in the war zones of Africa and South America. In Africa, rape was sometimes used as a weapon, and some female victims contracted AIDS. They have no self confidence; they dont even want to show their face. Some other photographers spent only five days with them, but I stated that I needed three weeks. I spent time with the social workers before visiting the women, and only then did I take pictures. I printed out the best shots and showed it to the subjects; they appreciated it, saying He looks at me as a woman, not an animal or non-human, and accepted my presence. I think thats part of your photographic process: Approaching the subjects, then making them forget about our existence. Exactly, I call that lam quen (get to know) and lam quen (make one forgets.) When I take pictures, I need to be invisible. It can take me hours to take one photo if the subjects cant forget about me. Because I don't always have time, I have to find out another way, such as asking people to pose for the portraits. Sometimes, it looks like the photo takes one second to make, but theres still a lot of work behind it. Its the genius of the artist, and it comes from working hard, not a gift from God. You have pursued photography for a long while, and have just got done teaching a photo camp in Hue City. Do you plan to become a photography professor in the future? No, I dont think so. It's good to pass on your passion, but I feel a little bit ashamed to teach photography today, because there's barely any jobs for photographers - the market is very bad. If you want to earn money, don't do photography - that's what I say to them. People pay a lot of money to attend photography workshops in Europe, not to mention travel costs to make reports in another country. Its like a passion project, and only rich people can do it. I know that you have many many places to call home. How would you describe your relationship to Vietnam? I think it's related to my grandmother. When I was living with my grandmother as a kid, I got to sleep next to her. She breastfed me to help me stop crying - even though she cannot lactate anymore. She cooked and bought food for me throughout my childhood. I have always remembered those things growing up, so when I come to Vietnam, I instantly feel like I'm home. But I also think about myself as an exile, traumatized by the war. I don't have a fixed home; Im always on the go. But after all, I take it like: It made me resilient because I can live anywhere. Home is not a place - I bring it with me in my heart and mind. With my suitcase, my camera, I can go anywhere. Lam Duc Hien (1966) was born on the shores of the Mekong River in Pakse, southern Laos. He arrived in France in 1977 after spending two years in a refugee camp in Thailand. He has testified to the consequences of the 20th and 21st centurys major conflicts on civilians around the world, including in Romania, Russia, Bosnia, Chechnya, Rwanda, South Sudan, and above all in Iraq, which he has covered for over 25 years. Hien has won numerous awards, including the Leica Prize, the Great European Award of the city of Vevey, and the World Press Photo, among others. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A state v state cuisine battle is back on Seven with MKR. Judges Nigella Lawson and Manu Feildel kick off the first of two groups cooking in their own homes. The winner takes out a $100,000 prize. Inviting people into your home and cooking for them is, by its very nature, intimate. I felt so grateful to be the recipient of such personal generosity, said Nigella. While the focus was on the food, I loved getting to know the teams and having a bit of a nosy-around in their kitchens. And frankly, sitting around a table with people eating and talking about food is my idea of heaven! Manu added, I love it when the contestants showcase their local ingredients. When we were in Western Australia, beautiful fresh marron was on the menu. You just cant beat the beautiful local produce. Also joining this season is Matt Preston as judge, with Colin Fassnidge and Curtis Stone as guest judges. MKR is now produced by ITV Studios Australia for the Seven Network. Group 1 Peter and Alice, VIC Dad and daughter Kate and Mary, QLD Fine diners Ashlee and Mat, WA Foodie parents Janelle and Monzir, NSW Dating Arrnott and Fuzz, NSW Fashionista friends Steven and Frena, SA Engaged Steven & Frena NSW Engaged South Australian lovebirds Steven, 31, and Frena, 25, believe their rock-solid relationship is one of their biggest strengths in the MKR competition. Growing up between Singapore and Malaysia, Frena loves Chinese, Indonesian and Javanese flavours and has been finding her way around the kitchen since she was five. Fiance Steven was born in Australia to British parents and experienced a childhood filled with his grans roast dinners. In the kitchen, the couple work as one making their curry pastes, condiments and pasta from scratch. A win in the competition would kick-start their dream of opening a Malaysian street cafe in Adelaide. What does cooking and food mean to you? Frena: Food has always been a big part of my life; I have Singaporean and Malaysian heritage. I memorise textures and tastes when travelling to be able to recreate those experiences and moments. Food is also a love language for me. I appreciate that I have fed family and friends and provided a sense of home and comfort through food. Steven: Food is creativity and passion. It is about indulging in your senses; if it doesnt work, you can always try again. Why did you want to compete on MKR? Frena: I have buried this dream for a very long time, but now I have found my person in Steven and we are a team. Were best friends, and hes made me believe I can achieve anything. As a teenager watching MKR in Malaysia, I never thought my skills would match up, but having a supportive partner means a lot. How do you spend your time out of the kitchen? Frena: We are a chilled and laidback couple who love a good laugh. We enjoy the simplicity of life, including long walks and travel. Were planning a Southeast Asian trip with cooking classes to improve our cooking skills and recreate the dishes when we return home. Peter & Alice VIC Father and daughter Nothing is off limits for this animated Victorian father and daughter team, Peter, 56, and Alice, 31. While the pair dont often see eye to eye, both firmly believe in the ethos that there is always room for one more at the family dinner table. Alice says its time for her to spread her wings after five years of working in the family cafe. Winning MKR would bring her one step closer to realising her food truck dreams: Asian small eats with big flavours and no fuss. Former banker Peter wants to open a high tea room, combining his love for baking and entertaining. What does cooking and food mean to you? Alice: Food is family. Food is love. Being with loved ones and sharing food and stories is the most wonderful thing about my upbringing. Peter: Food is family, past and present. Its a way of connecting the generations. I love it when my sister rings to tell me that shes just made a batch of Dads biscuits. Creating something your mother or grandmother used to make is a very powerful way of keeping memories alive. How would you describe your team dynamic? Alice: Dad and I have a very tumultuous but hilarious relationship. We are very similar in our approach to everything, which is why we often butt heads. We are both very dramatic, so things often blow up into epic situations. Peter: Alice and I have always had a turbulent relationship. Some say its because we are so much alike. With us, its always been on or off, hot or cold rarely any middle ground. How would you describe yourself as a cook? Alice: Im an intuitive cook. I dont measure or follow recipes. I read cookbooks like thrillers, and I add things as I go. Peter: Messy and a little bit disorganised! Kate & Mary QLD Fine diners Radiation therapists and close friends Kate and Mary love to host dinner parties and long lunches, bringing people together through food. They have an immense passion for cooking with high-end premium ingredients and favour no-fuss simple cooking served on share platters. They dont believe in wasting time on bad food or being timid with constructive criticism. Visiting and critiquing new restaurants is one of their favourite sports! What does cooking and food mean to you? Kate: Cooking and sharing a meal is the most joyful human experience. It is how I show love to family and friends, celebrate wins and create comforting commiserations too. Mary: I get enormous pleasure from cooking for family and friends and sharing a table; you could say I am a feeder. It is my relaxation, artistic outlet and gift to those I entertain. Why did you want to compete on MKR? Kate: I love to cook. Im gagging for some high-intensity cooking and the chance to critique some of my fellow contestants dishes. Mary: I love what I do; it fulfils me professionally, mentally and emotionally, but my underlying passion is food and everything it stands for. Nourishment, sharing, creating and adventure are all aspects of food which feed my passion. I love my friendship with Kate and look forward to experiencing this adventure with her. How would you describe your team dynamic? Kate: Mary and I are the fun and loud people at work. We try to bring some light and laughter to a profession that can be quite heavy, stressful and sad. We are both quite opinionated and emotional at times, so we need to calm the other down by cracking a joke. Mary: Although Kate and I are almost a generation apart, we seem to be forged from the same stone. We are both loud and outspoken, have a sense of fun, and spend our time on the edge of trouble. We have a passion for food which dominates most of our conversations. I love eating with her as it makes a meal an experience. Janelle & Monzir NSW Dating Sassy baker Janelle, 27, and partner Monzir, 26, say they have what it takes to claim the MKR champion title. With solid teamwork and a winning menu that draws on their blended Turkish/Filipino and Sudanese heritage, winning the competition would be the icing on the cake for this loved-up couple. A dab hand on the BBQ, Monzir loves full-flavoured spice rubs and cooking over coals with his two special ingredients: chilli and peanut butter. Dubbed by friends as the Kardashian of cakes, Janelle runs a successful cake decorating business, has a fine eye for detail and says food presentation must be perfect. How would you describe your team? Janelle: We are a young couple from Sydney. Our families are quite traditional and we come from two different cultures. We did not tell our families we were dating before coming on MKR. We decided to go on reality TV and announce it to everybody! Subtle is not my thing. What type of food are you known for? Janelle: My friends call me the Kim Kardashian of cakes. I own a cake decorating business in Sydney. My favourite thing about cakes is that you start at nothing and end up with something beautiful, special and sweet. Monzir: BBQ skewers with Sudanese spices. Its special to me because my dad taught me this dish; its a secret family recipe that we enjoy eating as a family. Ashlee & Mat WA Foodie parents Margaret Rivers husband and wife team, Ashlee, 36, and Mat, 39, have a wide range of cuisines under their belt coming into the MKR competition, including Dutch, Asian and Italian. Ashlee is speedy in the kitchen and although Mat operates at a slightly slower pace the couple of 18 years make a powerful team, have strong food knowledge and know how to balance flavours. The pair love entertaining, but Ashlee has one hard and fast rule for visiting friends and family: she plans and cooks all breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Why did you want to compete on MKR? Ashlee: I have wanted to apply for years but always chickened out. My family encouraged me, so I figured this was the year. My kids are such foodies; I feel like theyre judging me every night, so the professionals might as well judge me. Mat: I wanted to support my wife. She is an awesome cook and I think together, we will be great. What does cooking and food mean to you? Ashlee: Everything! Cooking is my only passion; I love cooking for family and friends. Mat: I love food. What is your favourite go-to entree? Ashlee: I would serve an entree of beetroot carpaccio, herb oil and stracciatella cheese. Mat: Tempura Akoya oysters with Szechuan oil. How would you describe your team dynamic? Ashlee: We are the perfect combination of loud and quiet, bossy and chill, fast and slow, so we balance each other out. Im someone who wants something done now and Mat is someone who has an Ill do it later attitude. He loves to help in the kitchen and hes a pretty good cook, but sometimes he makes more work for me by making a mess. Mat: My wife is the leader. Thats it! Arrnott & Fuzz NSW Fashionista friends Besties and co-workers Arrnott, 44, and Fuzz, 34, call themselves the fabulous Fijians and were drawn together by their love of cooking, food and creativity. Fashion stylist Fuzz and designer Arrnott both love making people feel good in their own skin and say food is their love language. Growing up surrounded by big families who all loved to eat, Arrnott and Fuzz learned to cook from much-loved family members. Both are excited to showcase their Fijian heritage, serving a slice of tropical paradise through punchy flavours, colours and textures. Why did you want to compete on MKR? Arrnott: I dont think many people know much about Fijian food, so wed love to introduce them to it. We love cooking seafood because its in our DNA. Fuzz: Im doing this for my culture and to tell the story of my people. How would you describe yourself as a cook? Arrnott: Creative, instinctual and orderly. Fuzz: I am an instinctual cook. I dont do measurements or weigh things. I just throw things in and feel things out as I go. What does cooking and food mean to you? Arrnott: Food means family, friendship, celebration, and comfort. Food is at the centre of all our gatherings, and our entire families get involved in preparing food. Food is a shared experience and holds memories. Fuzz: Food is at the centre whenever we gather, whether to celebrate or commiserate. Its how we express love. Group 2 Che and David, WA Chilli mates Rosie and Hayley, QLD Aunt and niece Matt and KT, VIC Best friends Leanne and Milena, VIC Italian sisters Nicky and Jose, SA Spanish foodies Sophie and Katherine, NSW Posh friends Sophie & Katherine NSW Posh friends Business partners and great friends Sophie, 53, and Katherine, 55, met 18 years ago on a camping trip and love to cook and laugh together over a wine or two. The outspoken, fun-loving, entrepreneurial mums own The Dinner Ladies, a successful food service delivering ready-to-eat meals. Both are confident home cooks who favour nutritious food and showcase fresh ingredients. They want their instant restaurant to be a warm and inviting space where everyone feels at home. What does cooking and food mean to you? Katherine: Food is everything. Its one of lifes greatest pleasures. Food is how we demonstrate our love for our family and friends. But we also love the process of making food; cooking is always changing and moving with the times, and it gives you the chance to be inventive and artistic too. Sophie: Cooking and the love of good food is central to the large, close family I grew up in and the family I co-created. My three sisters, 88-year-old mother and I still talk daily about what were cooking and eating. Food is an expression of love when were together and self-care when were alone. What is your go-to main dish for guests? Katherine: Brined loin of porchetta with crackling, apple and fennel slaw and parmesan mash. Sophie: Barbacoa, fresh corn tortillas, lime crema and fermented tomato salsa. How would you describe your team dynamic? Katherine: They say that when equal but opposing forces meet, perfect harmony is achieved and thats how it is with Sophie and me. We are quite different and disagree with monotonous regularity, but we always find ways to work through our differences. And after all these years, she still makes me laugh almost daily. Sophie: Dynamic is the right word. Its a robust, often argumentative meeting of two strong individuals. We know each other so well, its like a marriage, but we can still surprise each other. Rosie & Hayley QLD Aunt and niece Queensland aunty and niece MKR team Rosie, 53, and Hayley, 29, say their relationship has become even closer as they have gotten older. Rosie, a breast cancer survivor, says her diagnosis changed her, instilling an attitude that sees her make the most of every opportunity. Rosies lifes too short motto means the pair try not to take themselves too seriously, laugh loud and take chances. Rosie and Hayley love entertaining friends and family with their casual Italian cooking style. With Rosies perfectionism and Hayleys can-do attitude, this team is set to be a contender. What do cooking and food mean to you? Rosie: It brings the family together; it brings people together. Youre sitting, laughing and sharing stories; its the bond you can create over a good meal. Hayley: I love nothing more than when people say I am an amazing cook. Im sure thats the main reason I have a boyfriend. But of course, that comes with a love of food. Every snack at our house is so extra its Instagramable. And usually tastes delicious. Whats your go-to entree for guests? Rosie: A layered tower of crab meat, avocado, prawns, and chopped tomato with a lime dressing. Hayley: A bruschetta medley. Why are you competing on MKR? Rosie: Being a breast cancer survivor, Ive found life is too short not to take chances. Doing this takes me out of my safe haven. I love to entertain and create, and Im at my happiest when Im doing that. Hayley: I live for dinner parties and entertaining, so why not do it on national television? Nicky & Jose SA Spanish foodies Fitness fanatics Nicky, 46, and Jose, 51, live life to the max. They met on a dancefloor six years ago and have been together since. They are not married or engaged but share a matching tattoo. Jose is Spanish and grew up around Spanish food, which has been a constant theme in his life with his parents owning a restaurant and both his grandparents training and working as chefs. What does cooking and food mean to you? Nicky: Cooking means everything to me. As a child my dream was to open a cafe. Ive been working in hospitality since I was 15. I work in the same cafe where I started as a teenager. Jose: Food has always played a big part in my family, but since meeting Nicky, I have learned much more about cooking. Cooking now gives me so much joy. Why did you want to compete on MKR? Nicky: We love to cook and host dinner parties, meet new people and enjoy experiencing new dishes. Jose: MKR is a bucket list item for Nicky and me. I love having new challenges thrown at me and working together to develop new ideas under pressure. How would you describe your relationship dynamic? Nicky: Im Polish and German, and Jose is Spanish. As they say, opposites attract. Im the alpha; he has a very calm and easy-going attitude. I am very loud and I find it hard to sit still. Jose: We are opposite in many ways, but it works for us. Nicky is an energiser bunny, very loud and not scared to voice her opinion. I tend to keep things private. She is the alpha in our relationship, but I love that as she keeps me on my toes. Matt & KT VIC Best friends Victorian best friends, Matt, 36, and KT, 33, met at a friends 18th birthday party and say theyre more like siblings. Matt grew up a proud Yamaji man from the Gascoyne region in Western Australia with a nose-to-tail food philosophy. Matt and KT are passionate about using Australian native ingredients and transporting their guests to the Australian Outback during their MKR instant restaurant. They dream of opening their own native cooking store, offering hard-to-find native ingredients and products. What does cooking and food mean to you? Matt: I would say that the main thing that KT and I have in common is our love for food. KT: I love how food brings people together, creates memories and brings back old ones. Cooking food I would normally enjoy with my family and friends makes me feel closer to home, especially during lockdown when we couldnt see each other. How would you describe your personality? Matt: I am a very direct, passionate person who loves to laugh. I dont take life too seriously and I dont have a mean bone in my body. Im compassionate and always determined to be the best. KT: I am loyal, genuine, independent and love to laugh. How did you learn to cook? Matt: I was self-taught. My mum worked three jobs simultaneously to provide for my sister and me, so she was rarely home. I learned to cook from my sister, aunties, uncles and grandma. KT: I learned to cook by watching my mum. I didnt start cooking myself until I moved out of home, but I definitely get my inspiration from my mum and shes the first person I call for advice. Leanne & Milena VIC Italian sisters Italian sisters Leanne, 50, and Milena, 52, are best friends. The fiery pair learned to cook from their mother, who was constantly in the kitchen cooking for her eight children. The team describe their cooking style as easy Italian, saying it only takes a few ingredients to make a great-tasting plate. The sisters, who make their own salami, pancetta, olives and pasta, decided to compete on MKR to put their beloved mums food on the map. How would you describe your personality? Leanne: Everyone says its boring if Leanne isnt at the party or gathering! Im very friendly, caring and most of all, I love to enjoy life! Milena: Fun, happy, kind and I love to enjoy life. Im very loyal and have a great sense of humour. How would you describe your team dynamic? Leanne: We are inseparable; were incredibly close. Our father brainwashed us to believe that blood is thicker than water, so watch out if anyone comes for us! How did you learn to cook? Leanne: My mother was my teacher. As a child, I learned how to make delicious Italian cuisine and make salamis, sauce, olives, and breads. I lived in Italy for seven years eating the best food. I was always visiting the kitchens of restaurants to watch the chefs. They couldnt refuse a blonde Australian. Milena: My mother and sisters are my food inspiration. I do love to use my cookbooks from time to time. Can you remember the first dish you ever prepared? Leanne: Yes. It was pasta with meatballs made with my mum. Milena: It was making bread and pasta with our mama in the wood oven. Che & David WA Chilli mates Western Australian mates Che, 43, and David, 35, love chilli. Che owns an award-winning hot sauce company and David is revered in the competitive chilli-eating world. The pair met on the chilli scene and quickly bonded over all things chilli and cooking. They describe their entertaining style as relaxed but say teams would be making a big mistake if they underestimated their skill in the kitchen just because theyre chilli heads. What does cooking and food mean to you? Che: It is my whole world. As a coeliac with two coeliac children, I have had to learn how to cook. I love to make all meals gluten-free to show people that you can make gluten-free food taste good. I like to entertain, host dinners and make people happy with the food I create. David: Cooking and food mean everything to me. I wind down by cooking when I get home from work. Getting to cook for my family is a bonus. Why did you want to compete on MKR? Che: I have always wanted to compete on MKR. Im ready for a new challenge and David and I love cooking together. We have a good time. I believe we would make Western Australia proud. David: I love the art of cooking and Im ready for the next challenge. How would you describe your team dynamic? Che: We have weekly dates for drinks and BBQs. Our partners tend to complain as we dont invite them! We bounce off each other, and were both huge street food fans and love cooking. Dave: We work great as a team. Hes there when I need him. Good mates, banter and good food. Sunday Wednesday on Seven. Former ABC journalist and broadcaster John Tingle, has died, aged 90. Daughter and ABC political correspondent Laura Tingle announced his death on Twitter. John Saxon Tingle. November 2 1931 August 5 2022. Love you Dadda she wrote. His career started in journalism, where he worked as a broadcaster and news editor for 2QN Deniliquin from 1949 until 1951. He joined ABC from 1951 to 1968 becoming supervisor of ABC TV News and chief of staff of the ABC News service, among other positions. He later worked in radio for 2SM, 2GB and 2CH. Tingle also presented TV programs on Seven and Nine in Sydney, ABC TV Queensland and Northern Territory, WIN4 Wollongong and SBS. Two of Tingles Channel 9 programs included the Sunday morning current affairs program Probe and a Sunday evening program called Police Five. Laura Tingle attributed her choice in career and success to her father. Apart from all else of course he was my greatest urger-on, fan and critic in my professional life and so proud I had followed him into journalism, she wrote on Instagram. He taught me at 15 what was the most important question to ask, cheered me on to tackle the small and mean people in politics, and to not be afraid to celebrate the transformative people and moments it sometimes gives us. And to always report what you believe to be true. Tingle also founded the Shooters Party in 1992. He was also its vice-chairman until 1995. The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party offer our deepest condolences for the passing of party founder John Tingle to his family and friends, the party said in a statement. The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party will miss John greatly as a mentor and a guiding light who encompassed the true spirit of independence and freedom. Source: ABC A 29-year-old man was shot and killed while riding on a Red Line train early Saturday on the South Side and the Chicago Police Department said they will be increasing their presence on the CTA as soon as Sunday. The Red Line attack was a senseless act of violence that has no place anywhere in the city, and especially not on the CTA, said President Dorval Carter Jr. during a news conference Saturday afternoon at police headquarters in the South Loop. Advertisement The CTA is doing everything they can to stem these egregious acts of violence, Carter added. The man was riding a northbound train in the 100 block of West 79th Street about 2:05 a.m. when he was shot multiple times. Advertisement That man one of four fatal shootings in the city overnight was pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Violent crime is up, and thats why police are adding more resources, said Superintendent David Brown during the news conference. Incidents like these, whether on the CTA or in our neighborhoods have no place in this city, Brown said. It is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. No resident should think twice about their safety on any part of the CTA or in our neighborhoods. The police department is committed to do whatever it takes to make the CTA and the city safer overall and announced another team of Chicago police officers including K-9 dogs will be added to the CTA Sunday, Brown said. Brown did not disclose how many more officers will be added or where they will focus their efforts. The CTA is a priority for this department and for this city, Brown said, adding that protecting every neighborhood and city agency is a balancing act, because many people are seeking more security and there are only so many resources at hand. We are collaborating with the CTA to enhance safety for our riders, and we know the CTA is vital to our culture and our commerce and its how hardworking Chicagoans get to work, school and countless other places and events and back home again, Brown said. Brown said the department continues to expand their presence on the CTA, by adding more and more Chicago police officers to the CTA. Advertisement In addition, CTA will also bring back K-9 security guard teams, according to Carter, who said the details of canine deployment are still being worked out but expects to have an announcement with more information in the very near future. In the meantime, both CPD and CTA will remain focused on keeping the system safe and seeking any ways that we can to make it even safer, Carter said. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > Three additional homicides occurred overnight and were brought up at the news conference. One of the three happened about 3:15 a.m. at 210 W. 87th St. in the citys West Chatham neighborhood, where a 26-year-old man was standing in a parking lot with several people, and one or two unknown individuals fired shots in the groups direction, said Chicago police Deputy Chief of Detectives Rahman Muhammad during the meeting. The man was hit multiple times and was pronounced after being taken to Stroger Hospital. Another man, 29, was killed in the citys Printers Row neighborhood in the Loop at 430 S. Clark St., around 3:20 a.m. that also left another person injured, Muhammad said. The man was taken to Northwestern Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was pronounced dead. The second person, a 23-year-old man, was also taken to Northwestern Hospital with gunshot wounds to the right leg and arm. Advertisement Muhammad said the 23-year-old man told police there was an argument or altercation leading up to the shooting, and multiple shots were fired in the direction of the two men. The most recent fatal shooting happened about 5:15 a.m. on the West Side, at 4040 W. Monroe St., Muhammad said. There, a 30-year-old man was found unresponsive and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with a gunshot wound to the back and neck. He was later pronounced at the hospital. Muhammad said no one is in custody for any of the homicides, and they continue to probe the attacks. The UCF softball team had 14 members named as 2021-22 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes, per the NFCA's release on Monday afternoon.As a team, the Knights posted a 3.56 GPA over the course of the previous school year. Members of the 2021-22 squad who earned higher than a 3.5 and were recognized as an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete are listed below:The Knights were close to cracking the top 10 when it came to overall team GPA, missing the mark by 0.09 grade points. Over 7,500 student-athletes were named 2021-22 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes. The rankings and honors recognize the academic prowess of softball teams across the Association's membership categories.Stay tuned to UCF Softball on Facebook (/UCFSoftball), Twitter (@UCF_Softball) and Instagram (@UCF.Softball) for the latest on the UCF softball team.Never miss any UCF Knights news from your favorite team by downloading the free UCF Knights app right to your iOS or Android phone! The app provides personalized information for men's and women's teams, scores, schedules, loyalty programs and even breaking news. Download the app now! Credit: PA Images Australia captain Michael Hooper will miss their Rugby Championship game against Argentina due to personal reasons and is set to return home. The vastly-experienced back-row has said he is not in the mindset to skipper and play for his country at this time and made the decision to stand down. Hooper addressed his teammates to inform them and stated that he has the utmost confidence in the squad to get the job done in Mendoza on Saturday. James Slipper to step in as skipper Fellow Test centurion James Slipper will captain Australia against Argentina, while the Reds Fraser McReight has replaced Hooper in the seven jersey. While this decision did not come easily I know it is the right one for me and the team at this point in time, said Hooper, who has won 121 Test caps. My whole career I have looked to put the team first and I dont feel I am able to fulfil my responsibilities at the moment in my current mindset. Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie said: Michaels one of the most professional and impressive men Ive coached I know this has been a difficult decision for him. Hes shown true courage by acknowledging where he is at and acting on it. We will support him in any way we can and I know the team will be focused on getting the job done tomorrow. Incredible leader and brave man Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos added: Michael is an incredible leader, it takes a brave man to identify where hes at and come forward whilst having the best interests of the team at heart. His wellbeing is and remains the highest priority right now where Rugby Australia and the Australian Rugby community will do everything to support him and his family. Rugby Australia concluded the statement by requesting that Hooper and his familys privacy is respected at this time. Australia (revised): 15 Tom Wright, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 James Slipper (c) Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Jake Gordon, 23 Reece Hodge READ MORE: Rugby Championship preview: Los Pumas to catch Wallabies cold in Mendoza The article Michael Hooper: Wallabies captain withdraws from Argentina clash and will return home due to personal reasons appeared first on Planetrugby.com. Debris suspected to be from a Chinese rocket booster in Sepupok, Malaysia. Malaysia News Agency Mysterious large pieces of wreckage were discovered across Southeast Asia over the weekend, and evidence is growing that they came from a Chinese rocket booster that fell to Earth uncontrolled. The booster of China's 25-ton Long March 5B rocket pushed a new segment of the country's space station into orbit in late July. Then, instead of pushing itself into the Pacific Ocean a standard practice called controlled reentry the booster entered Earth's orbit and slowly lost altitude over the course of a week, ensuring that it would fall randomly in an unpredictable location. On Saturday, the booster succumbed to gravity and fell to Earth, breaking apart in the atmosphere. Soon photos of scattered objects that appear to be parts of the rocket emerged from Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines along the path of the booster's uncontrolled fall. Two people in hazmat suits test for radioactivity on an object believed to be part of the Long March 5B rocket booster, in Sarawak, Malaysia. Malaysia News Agency Only China can officially confirm that those pieces belong to its rocket booster, but orbital-debris experts say they have no doubt that the mystery objects are chunks of Long March 5B. "They sure look like rocket parts to me," Ted Muelhaupt, a consultant for the Aerospace Corporation's Chief Engineer's Office, told Insider, adding, "I've got no reason to dispute that it's pieces of this rocket." There's a roughly 10% chance that debris will hit one or more people within a decade, according to a study published in the journal Nature in July. Even if they don't strike anybody, pieces of spacecraft that have fallen through the atmosphere are dangerous to approach because rocket fuel can linger on them. Photos suggest the booster disintegrated piece by piece as it fell A mysterious metal object discovered in Balaikarangan, Indonesia, in a screenshot from local news reports, on July 31, 2022. Malaysia News Agency In the village of Pengadang, near Balaikarangan, on the Indonesian side of the island of Borneo, locals discovered a large rounded object resembling the Chinese rocket's core stage. The image above comes from Borneo News Network footage. Story continues "There's a picture of the big piece at the end of the fuel tank sitting on a field that's very convincing. It's the right diameter. It looks like a piece that sort of survived reentry and is right on the path of the reentry," Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and avid tracker of objects in Earth's orbit, told Insider. A map shows the Long March 5B booster's descent path (orange line) passing over Balaikarangan, where mysterious debris was discovered. Jonathan McDowell Muelhaupt agreed that object looks like the dome of a fuel tank. Two smaller pieces of debris were discovered in the small towns of Batu Niah and Sepupok in Sarawak, on the Malaysian side of Borneo, according to the Borneo News Network and The Star, a Malaysian news outlet. A map shows the Long March 5B booster's descent path (orange line) passing over Batu Niah, where more mysterious debris was discovered. Jonathan McDowell Photos show "a little piece of metal dug in the ground, which may well be a bit of the rocket, but it's just too hard to tell," McDowell said. The rocket's launch dropped debris, too The Long March 5B rocket, rolling to the launchpad in July, has the same flag and space-agency symbol that photos of debris in the Philippines, circulated on the social media platform Weibo, claim to show. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images Images circulated on China's social media platform Weibo claimed to show pieces of the rocket's fairing, which falls away during launch, in the Philippines' Mindoro Strait. The photos, which Insider has not independently verified, show people pulling panels from the water marked with the same Chinese flag and blue space-agency symbol that are on the rocket fairing. On Wednesday, the Philippine Space Agency released a statement saying the torn metal sheet found by fisherman off the coast of Mamburao was part of the rocket's fairing. The agency also said that parts of the falling booster may have dropped off the coast, in the Sulu Sea. McDowell and Muelhaupt also said they believe these images show parts of the rocket fairing, dropped during launch. Fire department workers examine debris suspected to be from a Chinese booster rocket in Sepupok, Malaysia. Malaysia News Agency Then, when the rocket's booster fell from space, its descent path carried it right over the Mindoro Strait. "This means we've been hit twice by debris from this launch: at the beginning, and at the end of the rocket's flight," Jay Batongbacal, a professor at the University of the Philippines Institute for the Maritime Affairs and the Law of the Sea, told Philippine news outlet the Inquirer. "This shows that the risk is higher for us, because we are under the flight path of most Chinese rocket launches," he said. However, no government agency has reported debris from the uncontrolled fall in the Philippines. This is the third time China has launched a Long March 5B rocket and allowed its body to fall to Earth uncontrolled. In May 2021, pieces of another Long March 5B landed in the Indian Ocean. And in May of 2020, another launch ended in an uncontrolled fall that dumped debris near two villages in Ivory Coast, leading to reports of property damage. Read the original article on Business Insider The repercussions of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis (D-CA) controversial and highly publicized visit to Taiwan on Tuesday are being felt by countries and companies throughout the world as tensions rise amid the prospect of a world war. China issued multiple warnings during the weeks leading up to Pelosis visit to Taiwan, which the communist country strongly condemned. Last week, Chinese President Xi Jinping warned U.S. President Joe Biden during a historic two-hour phone call that those who play with fire will only get burnt, referring to the U.S. potential support of the islands independence. Although the House speakers trip to Taiwan lasted less than a day, it evoked strong reactions from countries around the world who understood the geopolitical impact of having one of Americas most high-ranking officials visit the island and promise that its support of Taiwans democracy remained ironclad. More from NextShark: Taiwan conducts air defense drills amid Chinas threats against Nancy Pelosis planned visit Pelosi reiterated her commitment during her visit to Japan on Thursday, where she stated during a news conference in the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo that China may try to keep Taiwan from visiting or participating in other places, but it would not isolate Taiwan by preventing us to travel there. We will not allow them to isolate Taiwan, she emphasized. Chinas reactions On Friday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China released a statement announcing sanctions on House Speaker Pelosi. More from NextShark: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrives in Taiwan; China suspends imports and deploys warships to Strait In disregard of Chinas grave concerns and firm opposition, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi insisted on visiting Chinas Taiwan region, it read. This constitutes a gross interference in Chinas internal affairs. It gravely undermines Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity, seriously tramples on the one-China principle, and severely threatens peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. In response to Pelosis egregious provocation, China decides to adopt sanctions on Pelosi and her immediate family members in accordance with relevant laws of the Peoples Republic of China. Story continues China has upped its military presence in the area since Pelosis visit, sending a record number of planes to the median line that runs down the Taiwan Strait on Friday. [We] condemn the communist military for deliberately crossing the median line of the strait and harassing the sea and air around Taiwan, said Taiwans defense ministry in its latest statement after Beijing deployed 68 Chinese fighter jets and 13 warships in the area that day. More from NextShark: Sadako from The Ring joins survival horror game Dead By Daylight shortly after becoming a YouTuber China also announced that the country would be halting dialogue with the U.S. in several areas, including between theater-level military commanders and regarding the climate crisis. Despite the aggressive rhetoric and military reactions from China, Wuer Kaixi, who was a former student leader during the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests in China, told Reuters in an interview that Pelosis visit to Taiwan is a clear win for the island and that it was not as threatening to China relations as expected. Nancy Pelosi came to Taiwan in such a high profile, made sure the whole world see her and then made sure the United States military, regional defense force all came forward and say were going to die protecting our Speaker, explained Wuer. More from NextShark: Meet Chinas chicken parents,' a new cult of tiger moms on steroids The whole world watched the United States change. What did China respond to that? Military exercise; nothing they havent done before. Wuer added that while the military drills are on a scarier scale, they are nevertheless just exercises and there is no imminent military threat. The 1,000 missiles that are currently being pointed at Taiwan are nothing new, concluded Wuer, reminding viewers that it has been this way for the past three decades. Companies take caution The former Tiananmen Square protest leaders views were not shared by all, as other countries and companies took extra precautions to avoid stirring more drama surrounding the delicate issue. On Friday, tech giant Apple told its suppliers to strictly abide by Chinese customs regulations that parts from Taiwan be labeled as being made from either in Taiwan, China or Chinese Taipei. In another case, food company Mars Wrigley apologized on Friday for its latest Snicker bar ad, which counted Taiwan as a country. During a promotion of a limited-edition Snickers bar, the video stated that the product was only available in the countries of South Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan. Mars Wrigley issued a statement of apology on its Snickers China Weibo account, saying that the relevant material had been amended: Mars Wrigley respects Chinas national sovereignty and territorial integrity and conducts its business operations in strict compliance with local Chinese law and regulations. Some Chinese netizens were dissatisfied with the apology, however, angry that the companys statement did not explicitly claim Taiwan as a part of China. Say it: Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinas territory! wrote one user whose comment has received over 8,000 likes. Possible War? In response to Chinas increasingly aggressive military exercises, Taiwan and its residents have also taken action. On Aug. 5, Taiwanese microchip tycoon Robert Tsao, 75, pledged $100 million to Taiwans defense department after China launched an aggressive series of missile drills the day before. During a press conference, Tsao urged Taiwanese residents to see through the evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party, according to Taiwan News. Tsaos two sons, one of whom recently completed his compulsory military training and another who will enter training this upcoming summer break, would both fight the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) if China were to invade Taiwan. Japan has also been on high alert after five Chinese ballistic missiles landed in the waters near Japans southwestern islands on Thursday, the closest of which landed about 80 kilometers north-northwest of Yonaguni Island, which lies in the countrys Exclusive Economic Zone. With roughly 1,700 inhabitants, the residents of Yonaguni fear that their home could be on the frontline of the conflict and become the target of an attack. During the Vietnam War, boat people came here, explained Ryuichi Ikema, a director of a history museum on the island. In case of a Taiwanese contingency, millions of Taiwanese could come here. Were the closest island, and I wonder: how can we deal with it? While it is unclear whether tensions between the U.S., Taiwan and China will increase, the conflict is not isolated between the three and will have long-term impacts on the bigger geopolitical picture. Featured Image via Guardian News / ABC News Editor's Note: a previous version of this story stated that Taiwanese tycoon Robert Tsao's sons would be fighting "in" the People's Liberation Army, however, the piece has been updated to say that his sons would be fighting against the People's Liberation Army. If Donald Trump runs for president a third time, Republicans on Capitol Hill will have to face all sorts of things they had hoped were gone forever constantly having to answer for his tweets, worrying about being the target of his tweets and a return to the chaos parade that characterized his administration. But theres another possible twist that, so far at least, most Republicans in the Senate dont even want to think about: Trump running and then getting indicted for his Jan. 6 conduct. That would give the nation a modern political first a major party candidate with a realistic chance of winning the nomination while facing a felony criminal charge. Republican senators say that so far, they have not given the idea much thought at least not that theyre willing to admit and declined to say if an indictment for breaking the law would be disqualifying for a person vying to be constitutionally charged with carrying out the nations laws. Youre talking about supposition. Wait till things happen and then well talk, OK? Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama told HuffPost this week. Wow, I dont know. I dont know what the rules are, said Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio. I just havent thought about it. The possibility is not as far-fetched as it might sound. Trump has seemingly all but announced plans to run again, hinting broadly his supporters will be happy with his decision. At the same time, signs have emerged that the Department of Justice is further along than had been thought with its investigation of the Jan. 6 attempted insurrection and what role Trump played in it. On July 26, Washington Post reported that Trump was being investigated for possible crimes related to Jan. 6, and CNN reported recently that Trumps lawyers were in contact with the Justice Department about the probe and had warned Trump he could be charged. Youre talking about supposition. Wait till things happen and then well talk, OK?Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) Story continues Trumps legal defense team has warned him that indictments are possible, CNN said, citing unspecified sources. As for Portmans question whether catching an indictment would be against the rules, there is nothing in the Republican Partys official rules that mentions indictments or charges, nor in the last party platform adopted in 2016. Thats different from even the House Republicans rules, which explicitly say members of the party have to resign from their committee seats if indicted. In other words, an indictment could force a rank-and-file House Republican to resign from the third-tier House Budget Committee but have no formal impact on who can run for the partys presidential nomination. Of GOP senators who had an opinion on what should happen if Trump runs as an indicted candidate, the feelings ranged the full spectrum. Sen. Rick Scott (Fla.), who heads the National Republican Senatorial Campaign charged with winning back the chamber for the GOP, said the call whether to run was Trumps. This is a choice that President Trump gets to make and that the voters get to decide, he told HuffPost. Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.), a 2016 candidate for president, said an indictment would just be akin to criminalizing political differences. I think prosecuting someone for their political beliefs or stances is not appropriate in a democracy, he said. Whether or not you think the governor should approve the electors or the Secretary of State or the state legislature sounds like a political point of view. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican in a battle for reelection against a Trump-endorsed opponent, said talk of an indicted Trump running was talking about scenarios way far down the road. But asked if she thought an indictment would be disqualifying, Murkowski said, Sure. Sure.Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), on whether she thought an indictment would disqualify Trump from running for president again Floridas Marco Rubio, another GOP presidential candidate Trump defeated in 2016, declined to comment, saying Im not doing any of that speculative stuff. GOP leaders were also quiet on the question. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells (Ky.) office declined to comment, though McConnell has hinted in the past Trump may be a nonissue for the GOP because it will have a crowded field of potential 2024 nominees. A request for comment with House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthys office was not returned. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who ran for president in 2020, said if Republicans want to embrace an indicted candidate for president Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who ran for president in 2020, said if Republicans want to embrace an indicted candidate for president "no one can stop them." (Photo: Tom Williams via Getty Images) One former Democratic presidential candidate did have an opinion, though. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.), one of the last of the 2020 Democratic candidates to fall before President Joe Biden won the partys nomination, said it shouldnt take a formal charge to bar Trump. Trump should be disqualified by the American voters who, by this point, should be appalled by all that has come out, she said. If the Republicans want to embrace a person under indictment for treasonous acts against the United States of America, then no one can stop them, Warren added. The Republicans have gone so far out that the American people and that includes Democrats, Republicans and independents have said, No, were not going there with you. Also on HuffPost This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Kenya goes to the polls on 9 August 2022. Farmers, who constitute a critical sector of the economy, say they have lost faith in the political process. The high cost of production, farm inputs, and climate change have all affected the agriculture sector adversely, even though politicians promise to strengthen the position of farmers every time there's an election. The agriculture sector makes up 65 percent of national exports and 70 percent of employment in rural areas. Farming provides a livelihood to approximately 85 percent of Kenyans. Those vying for the presidency have already released their manifestos. Despite the pledges to reform education, security, technology and agriculture, farmers say that the promises are likely to remain no more than promises. Presidential contenders Raila Odinga, William Ruto, George Wajackoyah and David Mwaure have promised to introduce and promote smart agriculture so that farmers can reap value for their efforts. All four have promised to subsidise agriculture by providing farm inputs, seeds, fertilisers and chemicals. Politicians fail farmers According to Mungai Njoroge, a farmer in Nderu village on the outskirts of Limuru town in Kiambu County, farmers are tired of the promises made by politicians as the agriculture sector has continued to suffer from neglect. The politicians promise but they do not deliver. In the past there were agricultural officers walking around the fields, but nowadays they are nowhere to be seen, Njoroge tells Africa Calling podcast. So as the politicians say they will help the farmers; first let them give the farmers experts to train them, Njoroge says adding that politicians should seek to live by their word. Njoroge notes that politicians rally around farmers to elect them but once they get into office they forget them. They will promise projects such as dams for irrigation but once they get elected into office the dream of those projects ends there, he says. Story continues The county government did dig dams but farmers complain that the projects didn't benefit them. "The dams were dug in the wrong sites where there is no water. For us small scale farmers, if they provide us with proper dam liners, this will help us a lot, Njoroge observes. NGOs fill the gap However, not all farmers agree that the politicians dont keep their word. Jane Kabui, a small-scale farmer at Tiekunu village within Kiambu County, says the previous county government tried to help farmers. "Although I havent received any help from the current administration, I can confirm that I received it in the previous county government. It was very helpful as we got livestock free of charge, she says. There was a time when each farmer in this village received ten chicks, women groups were also given goats. In the last five years I havent seen any help, Kabui adds. The vacuum left by government officials has been filled by non-governmental organizations which have played a major role by visiting farms and advising farmers. Government agriculture officers are nowhere to be found. NGOs such as Biovision Trust and Trees for the Future have helped us so much. We have been relying so much on them since we dont see the government officials at all and we dont even know them, Kabui says. Food insecurity focus important The Right to Food Coalition, a lobby group that brings together 12 civil society organizations, launched the food manifesto which had policy proposals for political parties and leaders to adopt on their platforms. According to Elizabeth Kimani-Murage, a senior research scientist and leader of the nutrition and food systems unit at the African Population and Health Research Center, the political class should critically think about how to boost food security in Kenya. We ask political leaders to include the agenda of food in their political manifestos...and put in place structures and mechanisms to be able to address the issue of food security in Kenya, she says. The group recommends that food and nutrition security be placed at the top of national agenda and at the same level with national security. "Without food security, there can be no national security, she adds. A recent report released by the National Drought Management Authority indicated that more than 4.1 million Kenyans are at risk of starvation. Experts stress the need to transform the countrys food systems. We need to work with farmers, on how we should address these issues of the rights to food, says Martin Oulu, Coordinator at Inter-Sectoral Forum for Agroecology and Agrobiodiversity. An image has been shared repeatedly in Korean-language social media posts that claim it shows a poster issued by Japan's health ministry warning against receiving a fourth dose of the Covid-19 vaccine due to the risk of decreased immunity. The image has also been shared elsewhere alongside a claim it was issued by the Japan Medical Association (JMA), the country's largest doctors' association. These claims, however, are false. The poster was issued by a voluntary doctors' group in Japan that opposes additional Covid-19 jabs. Japan's health ministry and the JMA both recommend vaccinations for vulnerable groups, and health experts told AFP there is no evidence multiple vaccine doses weaken immunity. The image of the poster was shared in a Facebook post here on July 17, 2022. The Korean-language post translates to: "You must never receive a 4th dose! "The more jabs you receive, the more you will get infected. Not only will there be more positive PCR cases, but the risk of dying will also rise. [The vaccine will] lower immunity. In Japan, the number of people who tested positive for Covid is soaring due to 3rd jabs. "Vaccines cannot stop infections, nor stop the disease from worsening. You must never get 4th jabs." Screenshot of the misleading Facebook post, captured on July 20, 2022 The same image was also shared in a Naver Blog post alongside a claim that it was issued by the Japan Medical Association (JMA), the largest professional association of licensed physicians in Japan. The same poster with similar claims was also shared on Facebook here, here and here. However, the poster was not issued by either Japan's health ministry or the JMA. Poster from anti-booster group The Japanese-language text in the poster, titled "Opposing fourth jab of the new coronavirus vaccine", does not indicate it has been issued by the country's health ministry. Instead, the poster questions the ministry's official statistics on infections. A combined reverse image search and keyword searches on Google found the corresponding poster posted here on the website of the Honbetsu Cardiovascular Medicine Clinic, a local clinic located in the town of Honbetsu in Hokkaido, Japan. Story continues The poster covers two pages. Below is a screenshot comparison of the poster shared in the misleading Facebook posts (left) and the first page of the poster on the website of the Honbetsu clinic (right): It is attributed to the Hokkaido Voluntary Doctors' Association -- a local voluntary group -- at the bottom of the second page, which was not circulated in the Korean-language social media posts. Several of the association's members have also added their names to the poster. Below is a screenshot of the second page of the poster on the website of the Honbetsu clinic, with the attribution to the Hokkaido Voluntary Doctors' Association highlighted in red by AFP: The website of the Hokkaido Voluntary Doctors' Association says the organisation "strongly advocates the immediate cessation of all Covid-19 vaccinations from the third dose, for children between the ages of 5 to 11 and for pregnant women." A joint statement from the group's members posted on the website contains several claims about Covid-19 vaccines, including that they have no proven efficacy for newer Covid-19 variants, and that they can produce various adverse effects in recipients, including blood clots and lowered immunity levels. Other documents posted on the website also link to the Honbetsu Cardiovascular Medicine Clinic. 'No evidence' boosters weaken immunity Claims in the poster that booster shots diminish a person's immunity, leaving them susceptible to further Covid-19 infections and possibly death, are not supported by evidence, say medical experts. "There is no evidence to support this claim," Professor Eom Jung-shik, an infectious disease expert at the Gachon University Gil Medical Center, told AFP on August 3. "To prove that vaccines weaken your immunity, one must show that after vaccination, either the T cell count diminishes or is weakened, or that antibodies decrease," Eom said. "But the fact, observed through quantitative and qualitative evidence, is that vaccines increase antibodies and reduce the risk of serious illness." Professor Kim Woo-joo, an expert in infectious diseases at Korea University, also noted there was "a lack of evidence" to support the idea that multiple doses weaken immunity. Kim added: "The claim may have gained momentum because Covid-19 vaccines have shown lower efficacy due to the increase in the number of variants, which in turn has produced higher breakthrough infection rates. "Nonetheless, there is plenty of evidence to show vaccines have saved lives and prevented serious illnesses." Fourth doses in Japan Japan's health ministry offers fourth doses of the Covid-19 vaccine for those above the age of 60 and people aged 18 and over who are considered to be at a higher risk from the disease, according to the ministry's official website. The country will provide fourth jabs between May 25 and September 30, 2022. The JMA also recommends vaccinations on its website, saying "the spread of infections can be limited if as many people as possible receive vaccinations." A letter from the organisation issued on July 28, 2022, to regional medical association branches says fourth jabs are recommended for "workers between the ages of 18 to 59 who provide service to people at higher risk of developing severe symptoms at medical facilities, elderly care facilities and facilities for the disabled." " " "These are the words that Moses addressed to all Israel on the other side of the Jordan..." (Deut. 1:1) Photograph by Munir Alawi, 1839: the banks of the Jordan. These are the opening words of this week's Torah portion, and the opening words of the book of D'varim, Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy is the last of the Five Books. If we're starting Deuteronomy, then the Days of Awe must be just around the corner. (They are.) This is the moment in our ancestral story when we pause and take stock. The children of Israel have been wandering in the wilderness for forty years -- in Torah's language, a lifetime. So we encamp by the river, and Moshe tells the story of the wilderness wandering. He's speaking to the generation born in the wilderness -- those who experienced the Exodus are now gone. When he's done retelling the story, he will cross over into whatever comes after this life. The people will cross over into the next chapter of their journey. And we will cross over into 5783, a new year full of unknowns. For Moshe and the children of Israel, this is a moment to pause and take stock of where we've been, who we've been, and what we want to carry forward. Of course, the same is true for us every year when we reach this point in our story. It's a little bit like the moment in Disney's cartoon Amphibia where the protagonist Anne looks at the blank page inscribed, "Who am I?" Asking the question of herself helps her realize that she chooses to be someone who does the right thing. As Jews, we ask ourselves that question all the time. Some of us nightly before the bedtime shema. Some of us weekly, before Shabbat. All of us annually, before the Days of Awe. Which is to say... now. In the midst of this, here comes Moshe in this week's Torah portion, retelling the story of the scouts. Remember Shlach? The giant grapes? Mirror illustration by Steve Silbert. Remember, twelve men went into the Land. They retrieved giant grapes. They said they felt like grasshoppers compared to the giants they saw there. When they came back, ten of them said "we can't do this," and only two said "sure we can." And the people believed the ten who despaired. So God said, if the people don't have faith, they won't enter the land. This whole generation that knew slavery is going to die in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb. Moshe tells that story more or less the way we heard it the first time. But he makes one significant change. "Because of you," he says, "'' was incensed with me too, saying: You shall not enter it either." Hold up. That's not the reason Torah gave for why Moshe won't enter the land! An artist's rendering of what actually kept Moshe out of the Land of Promise. God makes that call when Moshe angrily hits a rock to make it produce water, instead of speaking to it as God instructed him. We might quibble with that decision-making. Was it really fair for God to punish Moshe that much for one moment of anger? But fair or not, that's definitely how the story went. And now Moshe's changing it up. He's conveniently forgetting that the reason he won't live to enter the Land is because he chose violence instead of speech. It's because of his own actions and choices -- not because the people lost faith. As our ancestral story pauses on the banks of the Jordan, we're at the edge of a new year. Because it's human nature, maybe we're tempted to do what Moshe just did: to retell the story of the last year in a way that avoids taking responsibility. Where do we want to pretend away our own poor choices? How often do we want to say, "it's their fault," pointing a finger at someone else because that feels more comfortable than admitting that we messed up? It's okay to feel the impulse to do what Moshe did. It's not okay to actually follow in his footsteps here. Our spiritual tradition asks us to do better than that. This is the inner work of teshuvah -- repentance; return; turning our lives around. Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg writes that there are five specific steps to repentance work: (I can't wait for her new book on this subject, On Repentance and Repair, due just before Rosh Hashanah.) Unfortunately we don't get to see Moshe doing this kind of repentance work. He blames his misfortune on somebody else -- the scouts who brought back a negative report. Tradition teaches that the scouts returned with that negative report on Tisha b'Av, which begins tonight -- though it's Shabbat, so we'll observe the day on Sunday instead. Tisha b'Av is a day of mourning. In addition to being the anniversary of the scouts' screw-up, Tisha b'Av is the date when Babylon destroyed the first Temple, the date when Rome destroyed the second Temple, the date when the first Crusade began in 1096. Also the date of many other tragedies visited on the Jewish people through our history. Tradition also teaches that the 9th of Av is the day when moshiach will be born -- the messiah, redemption, ultimate hope, or maybe the age or era when the work of healing creation will be complete. It's as though recognizing that wow, the world is really broken can be the first step toward repair. (It can.) On Sunday we'll take first steps toward the repair inherent in a new year, full of new possibility. We'll begin the reverse Omer count -- 49 days until Rosh Hashanah. In the spring, after Pesach, we count seven weeks of the Omer as we prepare ourselves to receive Torah anew at Sinai on Shavuot. Now, as fall approaches, we count seven weeks as we prepare ourselves to enter a new year. So much has happened in the last year that it may feel like a lifetime. Who have we been, over the lifetime of the last year? When were we hopeful, and when did we despair? What do we feel proud of, and what do we wish we could pretend never happened (or wish we could blame on someone else)? What's the inner work we need to do, in order to do the outer relational and healing work that others can see? Rosh Hashanah begins seven weeks from Sunday night. Who have we been this year, and who will we choose to become? This is the d'varling that Rabbi Rachel offered at Kabbalat Shabbat services at Congregation Beth Israel of the Berkshires (cross-posted to the From the Rabbi blog at the new CBI website.) Ukraine native Kateryna Shvartsman at Dwyer Park on Aug. 1, 2022, in Winnetka. Kateryna and her 12-year-old son Oleksandr fled war-torn Mariupol in March after narrowly surviving a blast that destroyed their apartment and shelling. They are the only members of their family to survive the war. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Under heavy Russian shelling, Kateryna Shvartsman and her 12-year-old son Oleksandr hastily grabbed a few possessions and ran for cover to the basement beneath their apartment building in war-ravaged Mariupol, a coastal city in southeastern Ukraine. At one point, the mother briefly left the makeshift bunker to go outside in search of water. A Russian jet whirred overhead, and she watched as it dropped a bomb on her apartment complex. The explosion leveled the 19-floor structure, killing many of her neighbors who were inside. Advertisement Those who stayed in the building and couldnt make it out in time, they stayed there forever, said Kateryna, 38, through an interpreter. Kateryna and Oleksandr narrowly escaped Mariupol in mid-March, a few days after that bombing. They traveled by car and airplane through a half-dozen countries before arriving in the Chicago area in April. Advertisement The Shvartsmans are among the roughly 103,000 Ukrainians who have taken refuge in the United States since Russia invaded in February, exceeding President Joe Bidens promise in March to welcome 100,000 Ukrainians displaced by the war. The federal government in April launched Uniting for Ukraine, a streamlined process where those fleeing war can apply for admission to the United States under humanitarian parole, a legal status that allows individuals to live and work here temporarily. As of Aug. 3, more than 67,000 Ukrainians have been authorized to come to the United States through Uniting for Ukraine and nearly 31,000 of them have already arrived, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. An additional 72,000 Ukrainians have also come to the United States since late March through other immigration paths outside of Uniting for Ukraine, the agency said. Homeland Security officials added that Bidens pledge was never a cap, indicating that more displaced Ukrainians are expected to arrive soon. We are deeply proud to help provide refuge for Ukrainians fleeing Russias unprovoked invasion, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a written statement. DHS will continue to welcome additional Ukrainians in the weeks and months to come, consistent with President Bidens commitment. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has also vowed to support newly arrived Ukrainians, though its unclear how many have arrived locally since February. Officials from RefugeeOne a Chicago refugee resettlement agency assisting Kateryna and Oleksandr said theyve helped more than 200 cases from Ukraine since the war began, which includes individuals and families. The agency estimated the number of cases equals roughly 650 newly arrived Ukrainians. More than 200 cases from Ukraine are also on a wait list, according to RefugeeOne. Advertisement We will continue to support Ukrainian refugees as they arrive to the United States and strongly hope for a just end to Russias war on Ukraine, the agency said in a July report. The Shvartsmans have been living with a family friend in northwest suburban Wheeling, trying to craft a new life here. Ukrainian humanitarian parolee Kateryna Shvartzman holds a photo of herself and her 12-year-old son Oleksandr in Lviv as they fled war-torn Mariupol in March. A nurse back in her home country, Kateryna is navigating the lengthy process of getting documents to work in the United States. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) On a recent weekday, Kateryna scrolled through photos on her phone capturing her last few days in Mariupol. One image showed the rubble that was once her home, surrounded by bodies scattered on the street out front. She said she loves living in the United States. Most importantly, its safe she said. Advertisement Dont stop, just run Kateryna and Oleksandr had tried several times to evacuate Mariupol through humanitarian corridors but were turned away on each occasion, only to return to the basement of their apartment building or other below-ground shelters in the area, the safest places they could find. They lived underground in various basement structures for roughly 10 days. I was begging them to let us out (of Mariupol), she recalled. And every time I would get denied. The last time we attempted to get out of the city through a corridor, as we were running under fire for shelter, the people were dropping dead. My son saw it and he stopped. I told him dont stop, just run. One day a rocket pierced the ceiling of a basement garage where they were sheltering. In another instance, during particularly heavy shelling, the mother frantically wrote her childs last name and blood type on his arm. Stay here with me, because Im really scared, she recalled the boy saying, as he sobbed and clutched her hand. Advertisement But the mom instructed the child to leave her behind, if necessary. If anything happens to me, just leave me alone, she told him. Just run and seek from help from other people. The Shvartsmans were finally able to flee by car on March 16, taking country roads through Russian-controlled territory to get to Lviv in western Ukraine. They were driven by a friend, because Katerynas car had been blown up during a previous attack. The only place she thought to go was the Chicago area, where her mothers best friend had moved some 30 years ago, when Kateryna was a child. Over the course of several weeks, the mother and son continued driving until they got to Italy; from there, they traveled by airplane to Spain, then Colombia and finally Mexico, where they were helped by Ukrainian volunteers at the U.S. southern border. The nearly monthlong trip totaled more than 10,000 miles. Kateryna showed border patrol agents her passport her only document that wasnt destroyed in the war and gave them her family friends name and contact information. She was granted humanitarian parole, allowing her to stay in the United States, according to her passport stamp. Advertisement Her mothers friend traveled to greet them at the border, where they all embraced and cried. War crimes, capture Ever since Russia forcibly annexed the Crimean Peninsula in 2014, Kateryna said, the sounds of war were a part of daily life in Mariupol. Although the port city had generally been safe over the years, its located just a few miles from fighting along the eastern front, which had been controlled by Russian-backed separatists. Wed been living on the border area, on the border of the war zone, the war thats been going on since 2014, she said. We would hear the firing and shootings. We were kind of used to it. The Feb. 24 Russian invasion took her by surprise. Nobody expected the full-blown attack, full war, she said. Advertisement The city awakened before dawn to massive explosions, she recalled. We realized the threat and we came out of the building, she said. The whole city was in chaos. She and her son spent the first 48 hours trying to figure out how to reach relatives on the other side of the city, but Russian forces blew up the bridges that connected parts of town. Right after that, they blew up the railroad, she said. There was no way to leave the city by train. Anyone who tried to escape in a car would go under heavy shelling and a lot of people were dying. Kateryna worked as a nurse before the war. During the siege, she said she tried to give first aid to as many of the victims as possible, when it was relatively safe to do so. I was basically a field nurse, she said. I was trying to save as many people as I could. People were literally dying as I was holding them. I was holding their hands as they were bleeding out and dying, just to support them in their last minutes. Advertisement After the mother and son fled, the carnage in Mariupol only intensified. On March 16, the day the Shvartsmans evacuated, a Russian airstrike of a theater where hundreds of civilians were sheltering killed an estimated 600 people, according to The Associated Press. This is one big mass grave, one survivor told the AP. Amnesty International in June called the attack a clear war crime by Russian forces. The theater was a hub for the distribution of medicine, food and water, and a designated gathering point for people hoping to be evacuated through humanitarian corridors, the nonprofit said. Locals had also written the giant Cyrillic letters Russian for children on forecourts on either side of the building, which would have been clearly visible to Russian pilots and also on satellite imagery. After a nearly three-month siege, Moscow claimed to take full control of Mariupol in late May; its capture completed a land corridor between Russia and the Crimean Peninsula eight years after its seizure from Ukraine. Advertisement Before the war, the population of Mariupol was around 450,000. By May, only about 100,000 people were estimated to remain, and many were trapped without water, electricity or heat, AP reported. Millions have fled Ukraine since late February. More than 6 million Ukrainian refugees have been recorded in Europe, many settling in neighboring Poland, Slovakia and Moldova, according to the United Nations. As for the Shvartsmans, Oleksandr has been taking English classes and attending a summer camp. Kateryna has been trying to get the proper documents so shell be authorized to work in the United States, a process that typically takes six months or more, according to officials at RefugeeOne. She would like to get a job in nursing one day. Although Kateryna and Oleksandr are here and safe, the emotional scars of war remain. Whenever an airplane flies overhead, Oleksandr automatically ducks and covers his head with his hands, shaking. Kateryna said the boom, crackle and popping sounds of fireworks around the July Fourth holiday were particularly terrifying for her. Advertisement Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > I cried, because Im scared, she said. I cant even control it. Its just a shock. Its like, instinctive. She said its a sense of fear that others cant comprehend. They dont get it, she said. Nobody understands. Despite these moments of anxiety, Kateryna said she has been able to relax more since theyve been out of harms way. She hopes to remain in the Chicago area permanently, thousands of miles from the war front. I would love to stay here, she said. Because there is no place to go back to. The Associated Press contributed. Advertisement eleventis@chicagotribune.com PHNOM PENH Members of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) convened on Friday in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, agreeing to give priority to cooperation in the areas of disaster relief, counter-terrorism, transnational crime, maritime security, defence cooperation, as well as nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. During the 29th ARF held within the framework of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, the delegates discussed many regional and international issues, especially those with complicated developments such as in the South China Sea, Myanmar, Ukraine, Korean Peninsula and Taiwan Strait in the spirit of frank and substantive dialogue. Vietnamese Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasised the importance of goodwill dialogue and cooperation, and responsible contributions for the common goal of peace, security, stability and development. Affirming ASEAN's principled stance on the South China Sea issue, the minister stressed the importance of ensuring peace, security, stability, safety, freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, calling for building the South China Sea into a sea of peace, stability and cooperation. ASEAN and China continue to make efforts to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and soon implement the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea in accordance with international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. Following recent developments in the region, the minister reiterated the stances of ASEAN and Viet Nam, calling on all parties to exercise restraint, avoid complicating the situation, and resolve disagreements and disputes by peaceful means and compliance with international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). The minister also said that ASEAN will maintain its engagement with Myanmar, promote the implementation of the ASEAN leaders' Five-Point Consensus for the benefit of the people of Myanmar and for peace, stability and development in the region. During the event, participating countries adopted the ARF declarations on promoting peace and stability through confidence-building measures and preventive diplomacy, maintaining a nuclear-weapon-free Southeast Asia region, and the ARF framework document on inclusive processes for conflict prevention and resolution diplomacy. Established in 1994, the ARF is an important platform for security dialogue in the Indo-Pacific. Characterised by consensus-based decision-making and frank dialogue, the forum comprises 27 members: the 10 ASEAN member states (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam); 10 ASEAN Dialogue Partners, including Australia, Canada, China, the European Union (EU), India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea (ROK), Russia and the United States; Bangladesh, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. VNS HA NOI Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea to expand its operations in Viet Nam during a reception for the groups CEO Roh Tae-Moon in Ha Noi on Friday. He suggested that Samsung continue to play a leading role in supporting personnel training and capacity building for Vietnamese enterprises so that more of them can join Samsungs supply chain and development ecosystem. The Government leader highlighted the outstanding development of the strategic cooperative partnership between Viet Nam and the RoK in all fields. He noted that the RoK is now the third largest trade partner of Viet Nam, with bilateral trade value reaching US$78 billion in 2021, accounting for 11.6 per cent of Vietnams total foreign trade. The RoK is the largest foreign investor in Viet Nam with 9,383 valid investment projects worth nearly $80 billion, he said, describing Samsungs investment in Viet Nam as a bright example. The Vietnamese government is committed to creating the best possible conditions for foreign investors in general and Samsung in particular, Chinh said, pledging to seriously consider and actively handle Samsungs proposals, including training human resources to meet the requirements of enterprises and investors. He also called on Samsung to continue giving feedback on Viet Nams policies, institutions and mechanisms and act as a bridge to bring more investors from the RoK and over the world to Viet Nam, thus diversifying supply chains. The Samsung executive appreciated Viet Nams efforts and measures to put the pandemic under control and restore socio-economic development. He thanked the Government and agencies of Viet Nam for their support, which he said helped Samsung overcome pandemic-caused difficulties and created a favourable environment for the groups operations amidst a changing world. He informed PM Chinh that Samsung Viet Nam earned $34.3 billion from exports in the first six months of 2022, up 18 per cent from the same period last year, adding that the company aims for $69 billion in export turnover this year and plans to invest an additional $3.3 billion in Viet Nam. According to Roh, Samsung Electronics is preparing for the trial production of the Flip-chip Ball Grid Array in Viet Nam and commercial production is slated to begin in July next year at its factory in Thai Nguyen Province, northern Viet Nam. The group also plans to launch an R&D centre in Ha Noi in late 2022 or early 2023, serving Viet Nam and the entire Southeast Asian region. The Samsung CEO added that the group would help improve the competitive capacity of 50 Vietnamese suppliers and promote cooperation with Vietnamese universities and research establishments. VNS HCM CITY Huynh Kim Tuoc, managing director of Sai Gon Innovation Hub's (SiHub) Start-up Support Centre under the HCM City Department of Science and Technology, affirmed Viet Nam holds tremendous potential for technology development and transfer thanks to its highly qualified experts and intellectuals with rich experiences in this field, especially young and talented human resources at universities. Tuoc said that at a recent workshop in HCM City on promoting the establishment of technology transfer offices (TTOs) in universities, which was co-organised by SiHub, Australia's University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Singapore's leading incubator fund Expara. The workshop attracted a large number of domestic and foreign experts, and representatives of universities in the southern provinces and cities to exchange, discuss and assess the current situation, advantages, difficulties and challenges as well as propose effective models and solutions that bring practical benefits from the establishment of technology transfer offices at universities. Over the past 50 years, Viet Nam has focused its resources on training and research, but has not developed commercialisation of research and inventions. SiHub now has about 300,000 technology research projects at universities nationwide and a network of 100,000 technology firms based around the world, Tuoc said. The commercialisation of the universities inventions and products in the country is expected to be developed in the future, he said. The centre focuses on promoting the development of existing potential in technology development at universities, he said. It is choosing universities to consult, build processes and organise apparatus to establish technology transfer in order to commercialise research and invention that bring economic value. Douglas Abrams, founder and CEO of Expara, said Viet Nam has great potential for high quality human resources and entrepreneurial spirit that can make significant contributions to the country's technology development. Intellectual assets from universities and research institutes are the foundation to support start-ups, he said. The role of universities is to connect potential ideas, build strong teams, and interact with businesses to successfully conduct commercialisation, he said. Nguyen Diep from UTS said the universitys technology transfer model is being deployed to many partners. The number of inventions of universities in Viet Nam is still very low compared to universities in Thailand and Singapore, but they have a lot of potential, he said. Experts pointed out many challenges of technology transfer and commercialisation such as the science and technology ecosystem does not have a clear orientation, with low connectivity and interaction. They agreed that local universities need to be more active in participating in technology transfer activities, promote both quantity and quality of inventions, and build a technology transfer ecosystem with the participation of businesses. It also needs to enhance the legal framework, develop technical and financial infrastructure, and promote creativity and innovation capacity, capacity in management and investment in universities, they said. Many successful models of commercialising university research were introduced at the workshop, such as TTO of TNG Holdings Vietnam and the Sai Gon High-Tech Park's High-tech Business Incubation Centre. On this occasion, SiHub, UTS, Expara and universities in the southern region signed cooperation agreements to promote technology transfer activities in the following years. Building smart schools Recently, a workshop on application of technology in building smart schools for promoting smart city development was held by the Sai Gon High-Tech Park's High-tech Business Incubation Centre, the citys Department of Science and Technologys Centre for Statistics and Science and Technology Information, and TitKul Joint Stock Company. Experts in education and training and information technology enterprises attended the workshop to assess the current situation, and discuss the needs and solutions of information technology application in order to serve the management and administration in the education and training sector adapting to the digital transformation trend. A recent survey shows that the need for digital transformation in the education and training sector is increasing, especially at schools after experiencing online work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Nguyen uc Tuan, acting director of the Centre for Statistics and Science and Technology Information. Basically, digital transformation in education and training is the application of technology to optimise management solutions, administration, and teaching methods. Applying technology in the classroom will create a flexible educational environment and unlimited access to learning materials, increase interactivity and practical experience, improve the quality of education, and reduce training costs, he said. The application of technology in building smart classrooms and schools also helps to build a modern and effective education and training sector based on digital technology platforms, he said. Le Thi Thao, principal of Cat Lai Secondary School in Thu uc City, highly appreciated the digital transformation in the education and training sector. The use of AI robots has made it easier and faster to check and control the pandemic, she said. To build a smart school, since 2017 the school has equipped smart devices such as smart TVs and projectors, and improved internet connection for easy access by students in class and teachers getting materials from shared data, she said. Titkul JSC introduced its TK Smart Vision Edu app at the workshop which helps schools to monitor, manage, and connect students, teachers, and school staff effectively, easily, and save more time with just a single system. In particular, its TK Robot AI can recognise faces even when wearing a mask, and automatically measure body temperature and spray hand sanitiser for non-contact students. Trinh Minh Tri, sales director of Titkul JSC, said these applications could help the schools to integrate the use of smart cards in libraries, school medical rooms, canteens and parking lots when they are further developed. Many solutions by artificial intelligence and data synthesis, processing and analysis for teaching and learning activities were among issues discussed at the workshop. Cooperation agreements were signed between schools and businesses to apply technology in building smart schools. VNS With little more than a week to go until jury selection, R. Kellys federal trial in Chicago is shaping up to be a hotblooded, bare-knuckle legal brawl. A barrage of last-minute filings from attorneys representing Kelly and his two co-defendants have shown little hesitance to bring new fights to the forefront a far more aggressive approach than the legal team that defended Kelly at his trial last year in New York. Advertisement At issue in recent motions: A prosecutors purportedly mysterious, clandestine, and totally inappropriate communications with possible witnesses. A request for more information about an underage victim that was public, then quickly sealed. A longtime Chicago journalist who has been subpoenaed as a possible witness. Meanwhile, some 100 prospective jurors are slated to show up at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in about a week. Advertisement Kelly, 55, was indicted in July 2019 on charges of conspiring with his former business manager, Derrel McDavid, and another associate, Milton June Brown, to rig his 2008 child pornography case in Cook County and hide years of alleged sexual abuse of underage girls. The trial is slated to begin Aug. 15 and likely will last at least a month. Attorneys for McDavid early Friday filed paperwork with new allegations about Assistant U.S. Attorney Angel Krull, one of the lead prosecutors in the case until 2020 when she transferred to another district of the U.S. attorneys office. Sources told the Tribune she left Chicago to be closer to an ailing relative. Prosecutors have requested until Tuesday to respond to the allegations. McDavids attorneys allege Krull had inappropriate communications with a central witness in the case: the victim at the center of multiple child-pornography tapes that are expected to be played for jurors at trial. The victim, who is now an adult, is expected to testify that she was the underage girl in the videos, and that she lied about it to investigators at the behest of Kelly and his associates. Krull had the womans number saved in her contacts under the name Boss Baby, and texted with her about meeting outside of work hours. And an investigator sent Krull selfies showing the womans pregnancy and Krull later complimented the woman on how she looked, saying that she was beautiful and glowing, according to McDavids attorneys. The behavior was extremely familiar and oddly personal in a way that is simply not consistent with the professional standards of the U.S. Attorneys Office, the attorneys alleged. There were also meetings and phone calls between the two women that were not memorialized in reports, a lapse in procedure that McDavid alleges could amount to a constitutional violation. Meanwhile, the Chicago journalist who helped break the news of Kellys alleged sexual misconduct more than two decades ago has been subpoenaed as a possible trial witness, according to McDavids attorneys. Jim DeRogatis also communicated with Krull in the early stages of the case, though Krull for some reason used an email with the pseudonym Demetrius Slovenski. DeRogatis has previously told the Tribune that he reached out to Krull first, in an unsuccessful attempt to cultivate her as a source. In court earlier this week prosecutors were adamant that DeRogatis is not being considered a potential government witness. McDavids attorneys confirmed in a court filing Friday that DeRogatis has been subpoenaed to testify at trial, presumably by McDavids attorneys. Advertisement DeRogatis, then a music critic for the Chicago Sun-Times, received the sex tape at the center of Kellys 2002 case from an unknown sender. He also was called to the stand at R. Kellys first trial six years later; he declined to answer questions, citing reporters privilege and the First and Fifth amendments. Meanwhile, attorneys for Kelly on Friday filed paperwork alleging that prosecutors made clerks seal a motion that would paint one of their witnesses in an unflattering light. The defense motion, still under seal, requested more information about potential illegal activity by one of the victims in the case, according to Fridays filing. Prosecutors responded saying they were obligated to keep the filing private since it refers to a minor victim who is not publicly known and whose identity could be determined by the information in the motion. They told Kellys attorneys that they believed it should be filed under seal, and warned that if it were filed publicly, they would get it back under seal until a judge could sort it out. When Kellys attorneys filed it publicly, prosecutors acted within minutes to get it off the public docket, according to their response. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > Kellys Chicago trial comes on the heels of his sentencing in federal court in Brooklyn. In June, he was sentenced to a 30-year prison term for racketeering. He is appealing both the jurys verdict and the judges sentence. At the hearing Wednesday, Judge Harry Leinenweber revealed that a pool of 100 potential jurors would arrive at the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse next week to fill out questionnaires ahead of jury selection an attempt to weed out ineligible or potentially biased jurors before any in-court questioning. All of the jurors coming in have already indicated that they would be able to sit for a lengthy trial. Over defense attorneys objections, Leinenweber ruled that jurors names, occupations and other identifying information would not be revealed to the public. Prosecutors said they worried that Kellys die-hard fans would harass jurors if their identities were made known; attorneys for the defense said jurors could get the idea that they should fear for their safety, which could bias them against the defendants. Advertisement Leinenweber noted that there is, in fact, a rather large group of people quite active in expressing disagreement with (Kellys) treatment, and so the jurors identities would remain concealed. But in an effort to address the defenses concerns, Leinenweber said he will tell jurors they are anonymous simply so that the media does not contact them. The trial is the biggest to take place since the beginning of the pandemic at Chicagos federal courthouse, where many COVID-19 restrictions remain in place, including masks for anyone not speaking in court, frequent COVID testing for jurors, witnesses and lawyers, and strict social distancing guidelines. To accommodate all the parties, the trial is being held in the large ceremonial courtroom on the 25th floor, which has been in high demand. In fact, Leinenweber was adamant on Wednesday that the trial could take no longer than a month, since another trial is slated to start in the ceremonial room in late September. Were going to get it done in four weeks come hell or high water, Leinenweber said. I have a reputation of moving a case along. Hidden Gem Nestled in the midst of primeval mountains in remote Van Ho District, Son La Province, Nang Tien Waterfall is a breathtaking landscape that could amaze anyone. Although lesser known to the public, this is definitely a place not to be missed if you want to explore the stunning nature of Viet Nam. Hanoi - The Heads of Civil Service Meeting themed Modernising civil service towards a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community kicked off on August 5 as part of the 21st ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM 21). ASEAN heads of civil service meet in Hanoi on August 5 (Photo: VNA) In her opening remarks, Vietnamese Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, who is also Chairwoman of ACCSM 21, emphasised the important contributions of the civil service in the ASEAN communitys adaptation process to new challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past two years. Modernising the administrative system has helped both respond to new challenges and better serve people and businesses, contributing to supporting and maintaining stable socio-economic development in the region, she said. She expressed her hope that the important results at the meeting will contribute to shaping a professional, shared and sustainable ASEAN civil service, towards building a prosperous and sustainable ASEAN Community, thus strengthening the position of ASEAN in the world in general, and each of its member countries in particular. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang said the ACCSM 21 Work Plan for the 2021-2025 period is still on schedule. After the senior officials meeting (SOM) and the 6th SOM 3 in the framework of ACCSM 21 held on August 3, the ASEAN Secretariat compiled a report to send to ASEAN member countries. On behalf of the ASEAN Secretariat, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN Ekkaphab Phantavong briefed the participants on relevant decisions of other ASEAN meetings, including the formulation of the ASEAN Community Vision after 2025; the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework (ACRF), the ASEAN Comprehensive Framework on Care Economy, the Consolidated Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution for ASEAN; as well as ASEAN's strategic policy framework on promoting an adaptive ASEAN Community with a broader understanding, tolerance and sense of regional traditions among the peoples of ASEAN. Within the meetings agenda, the officials exchanged views on the framework of ACCSMs strategic partnership. This framework supports the role of ACCSM as a specialised body on cross-pillar issues of good governance, including anti-corruption. They also agreed on how to expand ACCSM's cooperation with other ASEAN sectoral bodies and external agencies by using the framework as a guide. Regarding the action plan to implement the ASEAN Declaration on strengthening their civil service to be more resilient and adaptive to new challenges, Chu Tuan Tu, head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the action plan includes initiative activities to be implemented at the national and regional levels. Minister Tra, who is also Chairwoman of ACCSM 21, officially transferred the role of the Chair of ACCSM22 to Brunei. In her conclusion speech, Tra said after more than two years, ministers, leaders and representatives of ASEAN member countries had a full meeting at ACCSM 21, showing their confidence and determination to cooperate for a modern civil service and a cohesive and adaptive ASEAN Community that serves the people. She expressed her belief that the results achieved at ACCSM 21 will be further promoted and developed by Brunei in the role of the rotating chair of ACCSM 22, towards an ASEAN Community with a vision of extensive connectivity and integration, proactive adaptation, comprehensive recovery and sustainable development. Trade within ASEAN adding fresh layers With all ASEAN member states pledging to further facilitate trade and investment links via the upgrade and implementation of trade deals, Vietnam is taking advantage to amplify ties with regional nations. ASEAN Online Sale Day 2022 to take place next month The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Online Sale Day 2022 is scheduled to be held from August 8 -10 to mark ASEANs 55th founding anniversary, according to the Vietnam E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Indonesia, RoK to enhance cooperation in different fields President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Yoon Suk-yeol will hold a summit with his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo in Seoul this week and discuss cooperation in defence, infrastructure and other areas, Korean National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han said on July 25. Myanmar pledges to implement five-point consensus with ASEAN this year Myanmar's leader Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing has said that some points of a consensus reached with the ASEAN to end the country's ongoing crisis will be implemented this year. Businesses blamed the decrease on the global semiconductor crisis and the lack of chips, as well as the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the political situation in some regions. Automobile sales down 42 per cent on chip shortage / Infographic Doan Tung The figure included 17,826 passenger cars, down 49 per cent; 6,821 commercial vehicles, down 14 per cent, and 512 special-purpose vehicles, plunging 24 per cent month-on-month. Of the sold units, 11,044 were domestically assembled cars, a drop of 57 per cent, while the other 14,115 were imported, down 23 per cent from the previous month. During the first half of this year, VAMA members sold 201,840 units, rising 34 per cent year-on-year. Sales of passenger cars surged 50 per cent to 157,935, while those of commercial vehicles were down 5 per cent to 40,498, and special-purpose vehicles up 12 per cent to 3,407. Among non-VAMA members, TC Motor supplied 36,397 vehicles to the market. Its factory in the northern province of Ninh Binh only managed to meet a fraction of demand, while VinFast sold 14,695 automobiles in the six months, it said. Toyota Vietnam topped the list of sellers in June with 5,179 units. It was followed by TC Group, Mitsubishi Vietnam, Ford Vietnam, Thaco Mazda and Honda Vietnam. Minh Thang, a car trader in Ha Noi, predicted that the domestic auto market would undergo a challenging period in sales in the remaining months of this year. Between January and June, the country imported over 63,730 CBU cars worth some US$1.6 billion, down 21.4 per cent in volume and 14.4 per cent in value year-on-year, according to data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Last year, VAMA members sales fell by 8 per cent to 296,634 units as the COVID-19 pandemic battered the economy, hitting peoples incomes and discretionary spending. Domestic automobile manufacturers getting crowded out by imports Import cars, especially under-nine-seaters, have been flooding Vietnam and putting pressure on domestic automobile manufacturers. Local automobile manufacturers ask for more support Viet Nam's automobile industry is small compared to regional markets and local suppliers are asking for more support from the Government. Mitsubishi Motors plans to develop automobile manufacturing in Binh Dinh Car maker from Japan Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has intention to build an automobile manufacturing plants in the south-central province of Binh Dinh, marking its second manufacturing facility in Vietnam. Honda Vietnams motorcycle sales down, auto sales up in June Motorcycle sales of Honda Vietnam decreased 3 percent in June, while its auto sales expanded 17 percent, the company unveiled on July 10. VinFast buys automobile testing centre in Australia The purchase of a testing centre in Australia marks another step for VinFast, Vietnams first electric car manufacturer, in its strategy to become a global automobile brand. New Delhi A programme introducing Da Nang citys tourism was held in New Delhi, India on August 4. Delegates to the programme (Photo: VNA) The event was jointly held by the Peoples Committee of Vietnams central city and Vietjet Air, aiming to popularise destinations and introducing the carriers direct air routes linking Da Nang and Indian cities. Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau said that the average number of visas for Indians to enter Vietnam has surged after COVID-19, from 250 visas per day before the pandemic to 6000 at present. Nguyen Duc Quynh, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, said that India will be an important market for many tourist destinations during the post-pandemic recovery period. According to him, India's positive open-door policy and the great travel demand of its people can help Vietnam make up for the number of visitors from the traditional Northeast Asian markets, which have not yet reopened fully after the pandemic. The signing of the cooperation agreement between Da Nang and Indian partner. (Photo: VNA) Within the framework of this programme, cooperation agreements were signed between the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre (DTPC) and Indias Global Aviation Services Plt Ltd to promote the destination of Da Nang in India; and between the Da Nang Tourism Association and the Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA). A representative of Vietjet Air also introduced to Indian partners its direct flight network from major Indian cities to Vietnam, including Da Nang. Accordingly, the first two direct flights from Mumbai and New Delhi to Da Nang will be launched on October 17 and 18. The airline will also operate three new routes to Da Nang from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad on November 28, November 29 and December 1, respectively. Da Nang by Night piloted to revive pandemic-hit tourism Chairman of the Peoples Committee of central Da Nang city Le Trung Chinh has signed a plan to pilot the Da Nang by Night programme, to revive tourism and services hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic while implementing the city's scheme to develop the night-time economy. Da Nang joins hands with central provinces to promote domestic tourism A joint domestic tourism stimulus programme has been announced by the Da Nang Department of Tourism in coordination with three localities in the central region. Lotus flowers in blossom in Da Nang city The lotus ponds in the central coastal city of Da Nang are in full bloom, jubilantly showing off their pink beauty. Da Nang to host Routes Asia 2022 The Asian route development forum 2020 (Routes Asia 2022) will be held in the central city of Da Nang, with the municipal Peoples Committee and Department of Tourism, and IPP Travel Retail being selected as the hosts of the event. The Filmore Da Nang pursues high-touch living concept Applying its high-touch philosophy to living space development helps Filmore attract widespread attention, setting its flagship project, The Filmore Da Nang, apart in the real estate market. Tourists to Da Nang on holiday surge The central city of Da Nang welcomed more than 254,000 tourists in the four-day holiday of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1), a 3.4-fold increase compared to that of the same period last year. Vu Trong Tai, general manager of RX Tradex Vietnam, the organizer of METALEX Vietnam 2022 stated, Despite being impacted by the pandemic, Vietnam's economy has proven its resilience thanks to the adaptable reaction of enterprises and the prompt actions of the government. The changing geopolitical trends and the timely execution of economic cooperation will further strengthen Vietnams position. This is a good opportunity for Vietnamese entrepreneurs." Vu Trong Tai, general manager of RX Tradex Vietnam Matsumoto, chief representative of Japan External Trade Organization's (JETRO) Ho Chi Minh office, echoed the sentiment that Vietnams standing is improving. "Trade and investment between Vietnam and Japan have made substantial achievements in recent years. According to statistics, 55.3 per cent of enterprises plan to expand their operations in Vietnam during the next one to two years, the highest number in Southeast Asia. In comparison to the rest of Asia, only India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan surpass this number. In contrast, only 2.2 per cent of enterprises in Vietnam indicated that they would narrow their operations, the smallest percentage in Southeast Asia and the second-smallest in Asia after Pakistan," Matsumoto said. Matsumoto, chief representative of JETRO's Ho Chi Minh office Furthermore, beginning in 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry implemented an aid policy aimed at diversifying overseas supply chains. If the number of projects selected is divided by country, 103 projects have been selected, with Vietnam accounting for the most, with 41 projects. This demonstrates the level of interest in the project. Nonetheless, Vietnamese enterprises face many obstacles. According to Vu Trong Tai, "In order to take advantage of international corporations' opportunities to invest and expand factories in Vietnam and participate deeply in the global supply chain, Vietnamese manufacturers must improve their competitiveness by updating new technologies, increasing productivity, reducing consumption, enhancing human resources, and linking and cooperating in chains." Matsumoto also brought up a number of problems, such as "the quality of products and the lack of complete techniques, which make it hard to get parts and supplies in Vietnam." METALEX Vietnam 2022 is ready to come back on October 68 at SECC, 799 Nguyen Van Linh, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. This will assist Vietnamese manufacturers in modernising technology, building networks, and deeply participating in the global supply chain. RX Tradex also collaborates with the JETRO, the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Supporting Industries Development, and the Investment and Trade Promotion Center to organise the Supporting Industry Exhibition 2022 at the same time and location as METALEX Vietnam 2022. The fair will be attended by more than 250 brands from 20 countries, including Accretech, Epson, Mitutoyo, Takamaz, Yamaha, Hiwin, LKM, New Century, Delta, Showadenki, and companies from international pavilions such as India, Taiwan, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand. There are many activities at METALEX, including technology showcases, a conference from the Vietnam Welding Society, the Engineering Master Class from the Ho Chi Minh City Mechanical-Electrical Enterprise Association, the Final Round of the Welding Competition, Technology Runway, and Business Matchmaking Event. In addition, the METALEX Vietnam team arranges intense events such as the M-TALKS The Series programme and factory visits. Attendees can delve deeper into the most recent market trends, interact with partners, and receive advice directly from industry professionals. The Welding Competition 2022, organised nationwide with generous support from the Vietnam Welding Society, is a bright spot for the Vietnamese welding community. The competition aims to recognise outstanding individuals and groups in the field of welding technology, with the opportunity to shine at the final round during the METALEX Vietnam 2022 exhibition. Finally, the forum "Navigate the future manufacturing Deeply participate in global supply chains, which aims to provide Vietnamese manufacturers with a comprehensive understanding of all aspects of the manufacturing industry, allows them to enter the supply chain with confidence. METALEX Vietnam 2022 will continue to promote its important position in Vietnam's manufacturing community, becoming an ideal destination for suppliers and customers. For more information about METALEX Vietnam 2022, please visit metalexvietnam.com Hanoi Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea to expand its operations in Vietnam during a reception for the groups CEO Roh Tae-Moon in Hanoi on August 5. PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Samsung Electronics CEO Roh Tae-Moon at the reception in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) He suggested that Samsung continue to play a leading role in supporting personnel training and capacity building for Vietnamese enterprises so that more of them will be able to join Samsungs supply chain and development ecosystem. The Government leader highlighted the outstanding development of the strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and the RoK in all fields. He noted that the RoK is now the third largest trade partner of Vietnam, with bilateral trade value reaching 78 billion USD in 2021, accounting for 11.6% of Vietnams total foreign trade. The RoK is the largest foreign investor in Vietnam with 9,383 valid investment projects worth nearly 80 billion USD, he said, describing Samsungs investment in Vietnam as a bright example. The Vietnamese government is committed to creating the best possible conditions for foreign investors in general and Samsung in particular, Chinh said, pledging to seriously consider and actively handle Samsungs proposals, including the training of human resources to meet the requirements of enterprises and investors. He also called on Samsung to continue giving feedback on Vietnams policies, institutions and mechanisms, and act as a bridge to bring more investors from the RoK and over the world to Vietnam, thus diversifying supply chains. The Samsung executive appreciated Vietnams efforts and measures to put the pandemic under control and restore socio-economic development. He thanked the Government and agencies of Vietnam for their support which he said helped Samsung overcome pandemic-caused difficulties and created a favourable environment for the groups operations amidst a changing world. He informed PM Chinh that Samsung Vietnam earned 34.3 billion USD from exports in the first six months of 2022, up 18 percent from the same period last year, adding that the company aims for 69 billion USD in export turnover this year and plans to invest an additional 3.3 billion USD in Vietnam. According to Roh, Samsung Electronics is preparing for the trial production of Flip-chip Ball Grid Array in Vietnam and commercial production is slated to begin in July next year at its factory in Thai Nguyen province, northern Vietnam. The group also plans to launch a R&D centre in Hanoi in late 2022 or early 2023, which will serve not only Vietnam but also the entire Southeast Asian region. The Samsung CEO added that the group will help improve competitive capacity for 50 Vietnamese suppliers, and promote cooperation with Vietnamese universities and research establishments. RoK firms expand investment in research and development in Vietnam Leading enterprises from the Republic of Korea (RoK) including Samsung Electronics, Naver and Revu Corporation have further promoted investment in research and development (R&D) centres in Vietnam to fully tap high-quality and low-cost human resources. Global manufacturers gradually focus on Vietnam Many manufacturers in the global supply chain of major firms are gradually focusing on Vietnam. Samsung Engineering acquires stake in DNP Water Samsung Engineering, one of the worlds leading engineering, procurement, construction and project management companies announced on July 5, that it has acquired a 24-per-cent stake in the Vietnamese water treatment company DNP Water for about $41 million. Samsung imprinting essential role in fostering capital inflows Consecutive expansions from Samsung and other big foreign electronics groups have proved crucial in boosting Vietnams foreign-invested capital statistics for the first half of 2022. Several southern suppliers receiving support from Samsung The second phase of the Smart Factory Development Cooperation will forge ahead in the southern region from August, benefitting 12 businesses. Hanoi Labour, employment and social cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea since the two countries established diplomatic relations 30 years ago was reviewed at a workshop in Hanoi on August 3. Delegates to the workshop (Photo: VNA) The event was co-organised by Vietnams Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the RoKs Ministry of Employment and Labour. Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan affirmed at the workshop that the two countries have conducted many cooperative activities in labour, employment, occupational education, human resources development, labour safety and hygiene, social security, social insurance and gender equality. Such collaboration has brought economic benefits to both people and enterprises of the two countries, he said. At present, the RoK is the biggest foreign investor in Vietnam with 9,223 valid projects and aggregate capital of 74.7 billion USD as of December 2021. Bilateral trade totaled 78.1 billion USD in 2021. More than 9,000 Korean-invested enterprises are operating in Vietnam, creating jobs for over 700,000 labourers. Meanwhile, 39,659 Vietnamese labourers are working in the RoK. At the workshop, delegates focused their discussion on issues related to labour and migrant workers, and skill development, which they said are a pillar of the bilateral cooperation. They also shared good models of labour cooperation, such as programmes for workers returning to Vietnam from the RoK and partnership between universities of the two countries. RoK firms expand investment in research and development in Vietnam Leading enterprises from the Republic of Korea (RoK) including Samsung Electronics, Naver and Revu Corporation have further promoted investment in research and development (R&D) centres in Vietnam to fully tap high-quality and low-cost human resources. RoK international airport to reopen routes linking Vietnam The Muan International Airport in the Republic of Korea (RoK)s South Jeolla province will allow the resumption of international flights, including those to Vietnam, this July. Vietnam, RoK seek stronger investment, innovation partnership Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) sought ways to improve the efficiency of their partnership in investment and innovation during a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on June 17. PM holds dialogue with RoK enterprises Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a dialogue with the Republic of Korea (RoK)s Ambassador Park Noh-wan and representatives of Korean associations and businesses in Vietnam in Hanoi on July 30. Apparently Waco is becoming quite the sun worshipper. An entity called Environment Texas Research & Policy Center wrote glowingly in a press release on a report it recently published, saying Waco has more than doubled its solar generation capacity in just two years. The city is now home to 5.8 megawatts of solar capacity total, which amounts to about 41 watts per person, an explainer says. Waco received good reviews in the organizations eighth edition of Shining Cities: The Top U.S. Cities for Solar Energy. The policy centers executive director, Luke Metzger, said in the press release that Waco has great capacity for solar power and its exciting to see the city take advantage of that. The lengthy, detailed analysis ranked Waco 37th among 200 communities statewide in total solar capacity. But what really jumped off the page were the rankings of Bruceville-Eddy at second, Marlin at seventh and Robinson at 11th in the category of watts per capita. The smaller cities are punching well above their weight class when the subject turns to solar energy. Surely not coincidentally, new solar farms have materialized in or near Marlin, Robinson and Bruceville-Eddy in recent years. Gas prices Texas has the lowest gas prices in the country, average-wise, according to the AAA Texas auto club. The statewide average on Thursday stood at $3.64 per gallon for regular unleaded, a 14-cent drop from the previous week. Still, the price remains 80 cents higher than this time last year. Texas has the lowest gas price average of any state in the country according to Gasprices.AAA.com, AAA spokesperson Daniel Armbruster said in a press release. It remains to be seen how far gasoline prices can actually fall with the busy summer driving season still underway. AAA reported reduced demand and increased regional supplies led to falling prices. OPEC has pledged to slightly increase crude oil production, which could lead to further price reductions. Wacos average dropped 12 cents over the week, from $3.65 to $3.53. State of the Nation lunch Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce will have its annual State of the Nation luncheon Aug. 31 at McLane Stadiums Baylor Club. It will include presentations by Ron Eidshaug, a vice president for government affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Rob Engstrom, chief political strategist for the American Bankers Association; and Republican Rep. Pete Sessions, whose 17th Congressional District includes Waco. Visit wacochamber.com to register for the event. New Starbucks A building permit valued at $600,000 has been issued for Starbucks at 18th Street and northbound Interstate 35, according to the local Associated General Contractors of America office. Real estate agent Raynor Campbell brokered the deal bringing Starbucks to that site. Campbell is staying busy elsewhere, listing with Jim Peevey a 169,000-square-foot speculative building on Exchange Parkway, across from the new Amazon fulfillment center. Airrex USA, which specializes in portable air conditioners, heating equipment and humidifiers, and which has a presence on Woodway Drive, already has secured 40,000 square feet. Campbell said five or six groups are looking hard at the remaining 129,000 square feet, with spaces ranging from 40,000 to 70,000 square feet most in demand. He said one prospect needs food grade accommodations. The building should prove ready for occupancy by January. Sales tax holiday Sunday is the final day of Texas sales tax holiday on back-to-school items and clothing. Shoppers can save about $8 on qualified purchases of $100, as the Texas Comptrollers Office is waiving sales tax collections. Qualifying items can be bought tax-free online or by telephone, mail, custom order or other means if the item is delivered to and paid for by the customer during the exemption period. Purchases also are allowed if the customer orders and pays for an item, and the seller accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment. For details about what qualifies, go to TexasTaxHoliday.org. Baylors trustworthiness Morning Consult, a consulting firm specializing in market research conducted a survey asking about the most trusted universities in the United States. Baylor University finished ninth among 135 doctoral research universities, according to a Baylor press release. The top 10, in order, were Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, University of Notre Dame, Cornell University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, Yale University, Harvard University, Baylor University and Princeton University, the press release states. Baylor was ranked No. 2 among Most Trusted Universities among parents, behind Princeton and ahead of Duke, Notre Dame and Yale. Findings were based on a survey of 11,050 adults in mid-June, and 1,000 high school students ages 16 to 18. $1 million bathrooms Even simple things may cost a lot these days. Baylor University has secured a building permit valued at $1 million to install restrooms, drinking fountains and hardware at 801 Washington Ave., an off-campus building serving as home to the Baylor School of Social Work and the Baylor Mind-Body Medicine Research Laboratory. Meanwhile, Poppa Rollos Pizza will shell out $50,000 for a new roof at its 703 N. Valley Mills Drive location. Lotta dough, that is. About 35 people gathered outside a four-bedroom house in Humboldt Park on Friday enjoying some sunshine, music and food. They were stationed there to serve as a barrier between the people who lived in the house and the people trying to push them out. The home was one of four houses that about 12 people were illegally locked out of, on July 26, said social researcher Emma Tamplin, 26, who is helping the people who have called 1629 N. Washtenaw Ave. their home since the new year. Advertisement KD Williams, 39, and Wilson Mather-Glass, 25, are two of those occupants. They said they moved in Jan. 1 after seeing a homeless encampment pop up in the neighborhood, while a large number of homes allegedly owned by the Chicago Housing Authorities remained vacant. The housing authority has owned the property at 1629 N. Washtenaw Ave. since 1996, according to city records. Advertisement Williams said there was no notice of eviction prior to July 26, which is when employees from the Hispanic Housing Development Corp. allegedly showed up to the house and removed some of their belongings and asked Williams, Mather-Glass and a third roommate, who was out of town Friday, to remove the rest. They broke down our door, broke a bunch of our things, threatened us, used many homophobic and transphobic slurs, Williams said. People gathered outside 1629 N. Washtenaw Ave. in Chicago on Aug. 5, 2022, to protest against the Chicago Housing Authority and the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation are told by police that they must move off the residential block. (Terrence Antonio James / Chicago Tribune) A representative for the Hispanic Housing Development Corporation said Friday all requests for comment would be referred to the CHA. The housing authority said in a statement, CHA takes these issues seriously and follows all appropriate legal processes to remove squatters from our property. We have viewed the video of the encounter on July 26 and have concerns about how this situation was handled by our third-party property manager and this incident is under investigation. As of Friday, Williams and Mather-Glass have made their way back inside the home with their stuff. Williams said occupying vacant houses is a way to stand up against the housing authoritys practice of holding houses vacant for years. Tamplin, Williams and Mather-Glass call their initiative the Humboldt Park Housing Project. Advertisement The house at 1629 N. Washtenaw Ave. had several code violations as of 2019, according to city building permit and inspection records, including not registering the building vacant within 30 days of it becoming vacant or within 30 days after assuming ownership of an existing vacant building. The house was also cited for failure to maintain the exterior walls and keeping the structure free of holes, breaks and any other conditions that could allow rain or moisture into the walls. Williams, who works as a teacher and is also studying civil engineering, said its clear the house was not built to last.None of these vacant houses have been maintained because theyre all falling apart, Williams said. Then thats their excuse for leaving them vacant. The housing authority said it maintains more than 16,000 units of public housing and a portion of the units are vacant for a number of reasons at any given time, including scheduled redevelopment, work such as painting and minor repairs and units undergoing more extensive capital improvement work. As units become ready to be occupied, they are offered to applicants on the housing authoritys public housing waiting lists, which are open and subject to HUD regulations, the housing authority said. CHA provides safe and stable housing to 63,000 families throughout the city, according to the statement. We partner closely with other city and nonprofit agencies to provide housing opportunities to address homelessness, including recently issuing nearly 1,200 emergency housing vouchers. Advertisement Tamplin said the four homes that about 12 people were locked out of last week were vacant for several years. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > As of Friday, she wasnt sure if any of the other three houses had been reoccupied since July 26, two of which were previously occupied by more vulnerable folks experiencing homelessness that the Humboldt Park Housing Project is trying to protect, she said. The biggest thing is turning over these vacant houses, Tamplin said. They need to be made available to people who need them. Its absurd. People need housing, and if theyre going to go on about the need for affordable housing, they should do the bare minimum and spend what theyre paid every year to take care of these places and make them available immediately. Mather-Glass, 25, is a special education classroom assistant, musician, activist and restaurant worker, and he said the community has been supportive of the groups efforts. There have been no signs of trouble from the group, Mather-Glass said, and at the end of the day, most people are primarily worried about keeping their neighborhood safe. We hear about it every day, but where is this violence coming from, Mather-Glass said. What are the things that are pushing people into the streets and pushing people into desperation? Not having a home, that foundation being removed from under you, that is square one. Once that happens, youre sliding down. Advertisement sahmad@chicagotribune.com rsobol@chicagotribune.com Chinese rhetoric over Taiwan is getting more strident all the time. Its hard to believe the Chinese will go beyond the kind of big talk weve been hearing since Chiang Kai-shek fled there with his defeated forces before the victory of Maos Red Army on the mainland in 1949, but the shrill nature of Chinese intimidation there and elsewhere is cause for mounting concern. The implications are clear. If China were to move militarily against Taiwan, the United States and Japan would get involved. The United States has no troops, no advisers and no defense pact with Taiwan, with which it has no formal diplomatic relations. But we may be sure Americans would enter the war initially as advisers. In a real showdown, the United States might also provide air support from bases in Okinawa and Guam, as well as aircraft carriers, while rushing in billions of dollars worth of supplies as it is doing for Ukraine. Ominously, from the viewpoint of nations worried about a resurgence of Japanese military power, the Chinese invasion of Taiwan would be just what Japanese conservatives need to nullify Article 9 of Japans no war constitution, drafted in 1947 during the American occupation, barring the Japanese from waging war beyond Japans immediate borders. The Japanese could then rename their Self-Defense Forces as simply their armed forces and double the military budget from 1 percent of the countrys gross domestic product, expected to exceed $5 trillion this year, to 2 percent. War for Taiwan would give members of Japans long-ruling Liberal Democratic Party a boost in which they could fantasize about Japan again becoming a military force in Asia. The prospect of Japans military revival arouses distinctly mixed feelings among other Asian countries, especially South Korea. Yes, Japan could provide much-needed support if the flames of war leaped from Taiwan to the Korean Peninsula, and North Korea attacked the South. With memories of a colonial past under Japanese rule and many difficulties since then, however, Koreans would have reason to fear whatever the Japanese might do on the Korean Peninsula, North and South. As war clouds loom over Taiwan, the chances are high that the fighting would spread first to the Senkaku Islands, not far from Taiwan. The Japanese zealously hold this uninhabited island cluster, defending it with coast guard vessels capable of firing water cannons on Chinese fishing boats, laden with electronic surveillance gear when they come too close and sending planes in hot pursuit when Chinese aircraft violate the Senkaku air space. The Chinese claim the islands, which they call Diaoyu, as assiduously as they claim Taiwan. Its not difficult to imagine Japan or China setting up a military base on the largest islands. For that reason alone, the Japanese see them as worth fighting for too valuable to abandon. Chinese ambitions extend to Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent and beyond. So far there appears no way to talk the Chinese into yielding their absurd view that the entire South China Sea belongs to them. As American warships and planes regularly intrude into Chinas self-declared space, a war for Taiwan could just as easily spread southward. The Chinese are already looking for bases in the South Pacific, striking up deals with some of the small island nations occupied by Japan before the Americans drove them out in some of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Just as easily, the fighting could flare northward from the initial flashpoint, Taiwan. The dark forces unleashed by war across the 100-mile-wide straits between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland would quickly reach the Korean Peninsula. The atmosphere in South Korea, for now, appears tranquil and peaceful, but the rhetoric from North Korea resembles that of Chinese claims to Taiwan. Its difficult to imagine another Korean War. Kim Jong-un, however, could go on the offensive, beginning with an artillery barrage across the Demilitarized Zone or an attack on the small islands held by South Korea in the West or Yellow Sea not far from North Koreas southwestern shores. Or he could launch his dreaded missiles, pummeling American and South Korean bases. Might nuclear war be next? Anythings possible as the Chinese edge closer to war for Taiwan than theyve ever done previously. We have to hope theyre only bluffing, as theyve done so often in the past. Even after two years of big surpluses, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is telling state agencies not to get their hopes up for more money. Office of Planning and Budget Director Kelly Farr says agencies shouldnt ask for any more money next year than they got in the current budget, which started July 1. Farr cites inflation as a reason to be cautious. That's also a reason budgets might not stretch as far next year. The governor in January will propose changes to the current budgets as well as a new spending plan for the year beginning next July. Back in late June, we posted a small article HERE about the East Mississippi Veterans Foundation and their effort to create a memorial park to Mississippis military veterans in a plot of land adjacent to historic Key Field, which hosts an Air National Guard facility in Meridian, Mississippi. A major element for this new memorial park had just arrived on site at time of last writing, this being McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II 67-0438. The aircraft, following decades of desert storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, had made the long journey to Meridian on the back of a low-loader. A team off-loaded the weather-beaten jet and mounted it atop a pylon, where it was due to receive some significant TLC for formal display in late August. As it happened, the company slated to cosmetically restore the Phantom, Ponsford Ltd of Acworth, Georgia, was able to get to work on the historic jet far sooner than originally anticipated. After completing the refurbishment of another pole-mounted Phantom (F-4E 66-0456 in Rome, New York), the Ponsford team were in Meridian to begin work on the RF-4C by July 13th. The refurbishing team first sanded the airframe gently, to give the new coat of paint a solid purchase on the airframe. They then removed the spraylat preservative coating from the aircrafts more delicate sections, a legacy of the jets storage period in the Arizona boneyard. After this, the Phantom needed a good hose-down to remove the remaining dust and grime. Then the real work could begin; a layer of primer paint followed by the application of camouflage, and finally the finishing details such as the squadron markings and national insignia. Ponsford completed their work on 438 by July 25th, presenting the aircraft in the same livery she wore while serving with the locally-based 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (now the 186th Air Refuelling Wing). She looks magnificent on her new perch. Rather poignantly, although in perfect keeping with the Memorial Parks intent, the cockpit canopies are dedicated to two 186th TRG crews who lost their lives while flying RF-4Cs with the unit. The left side features the names of pilot Maj. James H. Wells, 36, of Meridian, Mississippi and his Weapons Systems Officer (WSO) Capt. Gary A. Mullins, 33, also of Meridian, who ejected, albeit fatally, from RF-4C 67-0439 during a training sortie near Pine Hill, Marion in western Alabama on March 26th, 1980. Meanwhile, the right side bears the names of pilot Maj. George K. Dugas, 38, of Germantown, Tennessee and his WSO, Capt. Raymond E. Bryson, 31, of Montgomery, Alabama who crashed in RF-4C 66-0413 on December 3rd, 1989 near the very same patch of Alabama swampland over which the earlier crew had died. Getting the Phantom so beautifully finished was no mean feat, especially considering the short space of time over which it occurred. The East Mississippi Veterans Foundation has much to be proud of, and can now focus on completing the rest of the Memorial project, as they recently stated on their Facebook page: From Boneyard to finished restoration in a little over 45 days, Meridians Jet stands in honor of all service members, veterans, and their families from Meridian and East Mississippi! A hearty THANK YOU to everyone for supporting this project. This project would not be were it is now without everyones generous contributions. Up next is Build the Wall the Wall of Remembrance. Anyone wishing to help the East Mississippi Veterans Foundation with their endeavors should click HERE to find out how they can contribute. DES MOINES Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union are dropping their legal challenge to Iowas 24-hour waiting period on abortions that the state Supreme Court allowed to go into effect in June, the groups announced Friday. Instead of pursuing the litigation, the groups will focus on fighting Gov. Kim Reynolds request for the courts to reinstate the so-called fetal heartbeat law, a 2018 law struck down by a district court that would ban abortions after six weeks. Politicians never should have passed this law, but we have made the decision to instead focus our efforts on fighting the governors suggested reimposing of a six-week abortion ban, ACLU of Iowa spokesperson Veronica Fowler said. Abortion is still legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks, but the 24-hour waiting period took effect in July, requiring people to get two separate appointments within 24 hours in order to get an abortion. The groups also will focus attention on fighting a proposed constitutional amendment that would establish that the state constitution does not protect the right to an abortion. The Iowa Legislature passed the proposal in 2021. If the Legislature passes it in 2023 or 2024, it will show up on a future ballot and be subject to a popular vote. The 24-hour waiting period was first blocked by a district court, but in June the Iowa Supreme Court allowed it to go into effect, overturning a 2018 decision that established a fundamental right to an abortion in the state. The decision weakened abortion protections in the states constitution, but it left in place the undue burden standard that had been in place under federal law, noting there was potential for that standard to be litigated further. Just a week later, on June 28, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 court case that established a federal right to an abortion, causing abortion bans to go into effect in several states. Shortly after, Reynolds said she would ask a district court to lift the injunction on the six-week abortion ban and let it go into effect. She also asked the Supreme Court to revisit its decision on the 24-hour waiting period. The Supreme Court denied hearing the second request, sending it back to a district court. Weve got two laws in place, and so were going to move forward with that and wait and see what the ruling is based on that, and then well reassess after that point, Reynolds said after announcing the legal action. Fowler called the six-week ban almost a complete ban on abortion, because most women dont know theyre pregnant by six weeks. We know that most Iowans support safe and legal abortion and value their reproductive freedom, said Planned Parenthood North Central States Iowa Public Affairs Director Mazie Stilwell. We will never stop fighting to preserve our rights and take politicians out of our health care choices. In total, all this creates risks in terms of achieving the grain harvest of 130 million tons. Of course, we will fully provide our market, there will be no problems with this. However, if the planned volumes are not achieved, we will have to revise our export plans of 50 million tons. And this may have a negative impact on the world grain market, Patrushev said. Okay here we go again The key words in the above statement by Patrushev is, our market (Our being friends and family!) It is all good and nice countries will get their grain from Russia, but what is really said is that bad countries whom have sanctioned Russia and that includes those sanctions that hinder grain transportation, will not get Russian grain. Why? Well again and again, Oops, grain harvest is just not as good as it could be Except, I was just remarking to whom would listen, as I drove and watched the harvest coming in. How much more grain there is this year, trucks lining the highways, men discussing where to put all the grain, non stop hauling of grain and temporary shelters being erected to keep the grain from the weather. They have just started to harvest and they have full silos already around these parts. The small grain storage at a local village had twenty of more trucks full of grain waiting to see where they would unload it. This year they even have local dump trucks for rock hauling, loaded with grain and nowhere to put it. Looks like some infrastructure still needs to be built around these parts. Yet, they have reopened hundreds of storage sheds this year all around after they re-roofed them and such. They are trying Yet, you see, grain stores well. Grain is also important to Russian people and they come first, especially now that the West has done everything it can to destroy the grain flow around the world and that means, why should Russia care about the West? 10 rubles for a loaf of white bread and 8 rubles for a loaf of black bread yesterday at the local store in the Big Village. Seriously, 10 rubles a loaf and lots of it available I have dozens and dozens of articles about Russia and her grain manipulations. They never messed with Gaz, but the grain market? Russia will do everything they can to make that price escalate when they get the contracts being signed I use to get upset at this manipulation, for Russia is very good about literally everything else to do with resources, but grain, is always a manipulated issue with Russia and that tells me something Grain is the power! Not oil, not gaz, not gold and silver, but grain feeds the masses and the masses are whom kill governments when they do not eat. Nothing placates the plebs better than a loaf of bread Just a few articles above that I have talked about this subject in the past. I watch this game played every year and smile as it plays out. Later we find out that Russia has unbelievable surpluses of grain Nowadays, I say more power to you Russia. Grain is the power that makes the world go around and Russia has grain and I have been watching all that grain being harvested, just like in the past Russia is correct and friends and home country come first Is your country a friend and family of Russia? WtR Weather Alert ...Thunderstorm Chances Through Thursday... * Monsoon moisture will bring thunderstorms to the region this week, with the best chances extending through Thursday before diminishing into the weekend. * A few light showers are occurring early this morning, with thunderstorms developing again this afternoon. Most areas will see a 25-50% chance of storms in the afternoon and early evening hours today and Thursday. Nocturnal showers and thunderstorms are expected tonight as well. * Impacts will range from lightning, new fire starts, and strong outflow winds with blowing dust, to periods of heavy rainfall and flash flooding. * Ensure you have a way of receiving weather alerts. If you live in a flash flood prone area, especially near a burn scar, be ready to act quickly if heavy rainfall occurs. Kris Hauschildt holds a photograph of her parents, who died of carbon monoxide poisoning while staying in a hotel in North Carolina, in Kalama, Wash., on July 1, 2022. (Kristina Barker/NYT) He was not the first guest to fall ill in Room 205. Just when Pawel Markowski thought that nothing could shake him more than nearly losing his life to a carbon monoxide leak at a hotel in Catoosa, Oklahoma, his lawyer sent him the Fire Departments report. We have previously responded to this exact room number two other times in the last two weeks, wrote Denus Benton, Catoosas fire chief. Advertisement I dont know what these people were waiting for someone to die? said Markowski, 44, whom a colleague discovered unresponsive on the floor of his hotel room March 16, according to medical reports. Incidents like Markowskis rarely break through beyond the local news. But when, in May, a carbon monoxide leak killed three Americans at the luxurious Sandals Emerald Bay resort in the Bahamas, it generated hundreds of news stories and sparked conversations about the invisible, odorless gas. Advertisement After the tragedy, Sandals announced that it would install carbon monoxide detectors in all its hotel rooms in the Caribbean. In doing so, the company inadvertently called attention to the fact that most resorts and hotels the world over do not place detectors in guest rooms. Pawel Markowski with a portable carbon monoxide detector at his home in York, Pa., on July 17, 2022. (ANDREW MANGUM/NYT) The companys action also fed into a simmering debate about how to prevent carbon monoxide poisonings in hotels in the United States. Although smoke alarms are normally required in U.S. hotel rooms, no state and few hotel brands require in-room carbon monoxide detectors, which can be purchased for as little as $30. Some firefighters, doctors, activists and lawmakers have been pushing hotels to install them in every room. The lodging industry says that is unnecessary and too expensive. Those who want stricter detector requirements say the frequency of incidents necessitates change. In the past year, in addition to Markowskis almost-fatal stay at a Hampton Inn & Suites outside Tulsa, carbon monoxide leaks at six other U.S. hotels killed two and injured at least 35 other guests and employees, including 10 children. In most of these cases, there was no working detector on site, according to interviews with fire officials, front-desk staff and local news reports. In the past 20 years, at least 1,090 people have been injured by carbon monoxide leaks in U.S. hotels, with 32 people including 7 children dying, according to the Jenkins Foundation, a nonprofit that tracks carbon monoxide incidents at hotels. A study published in the journal Preventive Medicine Reports last year suggested that these figures could be many times higher given that so few incidents are publicly reported. The International Fire Code, which guides state and corporate policies but does not carry the force of law, was updated in 2012 to say that hotels should either place carbon monoxide monitors in common areas or in guest rooms. But when the code was updated in 2015, the lodging industry successfully lobbied to remove that requirement, according to interviews with key stakeholders. Many states and brands do require carbon monoxide detectors in rooms with fireplaces and near fuel-burning appliances, such as hot water heaters, in compliance with the current International Fire Code and other building codes. But in more than a dozen states, this only applies to newer hotels. At least six states do not require detectors in hotels at all. An array of portable carbon monoxide monitors, which range in cost from $20 to $200. (Kristina Barker/NYT) Both Airbnb and VRBO, which have dealt with at least 10 carbon monoxide deaths in Brazil and Mexico over the past four years, urge hosts to install detectors near every sleeping area but do not require them. Airbnb offers hosts free detectors, but in a 2018 study, public health researchers found that only 58% of hosts said they had installed them. How many people need to die and be permanently brain injured for it to matter to them as an industry? asked Kris Hauschildt, whose parents died from carbon monoxide poisoning in a hotel room in Boone, North Carolina, in 2013. It was only seven weeks later, after an 11-year-old boy died in the same room, that investigators identified a leak from a pool heater. Advertisement Hauschildt created the Jenkins Foundation, in part, to track the poisonings at hotels, something no entity was previously doing. In 2021, her findings helped compel the National Fire Protection Association, a nonprofit group that establishes safety codes that set some state policies, to require detectors in both new and old hotels. The lodging industry generally takes the position that poisonings are too rare to rationalize costly changes like requiring detectors in every one of the countrys 5 million or so guest rooms. Proper maintenance and installing detectors near devices capable of emitting carbon monoxide should prevent virtually all poisonings, lobbyists representing major hotel chains have argued. Few hotel guest rooms have fireplaces or fuel-fired appliances capable of producing carbon monoxide, so warning devices such as CO alarms are a secondary defense, a spokesperson for the American Hotel & Lodging Association, which represents Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and many other hotel companies, said in an email. The proper maintenance of fuel-fired appliances precludes the likelihood of an inadvertent carbon monoxide exposure. Room 205 and the Great Mimicker Markowski, who lives in York, Pennsylvania, has been traveling to Catoosa almost every week since early 2019, when he became the general manager of a factory there. He chose the Hampton Inn & Suites, which is owned by Hilton, because it is about 6 miles from the factory. His first inkling that something was wrong came soon after he checked into Room 205 on the evening of March 14, when he struggled to fall asleep. But he dismissed it as just another bad night, just as he dismissed the feeling of being unusually tired the next day. It was only the next night, back in Room 205, that he could no longer deny there was something wrong. I felt kind of drunk or something, he said. Advertisement He vaguely recalls descending to the lobby to ask if there might be something wrong with the room. It is not clear whether the front-desk clerk knew that two other guests had recently called 911 from Room 205. One guest was throwing up and the other had chest pain, according to Benton, Catoosas fire chief. They went to the hospital, Benton said, referring to the two earlier guests. The hospital turned them loose. It is common for hotel staff and doctors to miss the signs of carbon monoxide poisoning, experts say. This is partly because the symptoms headache, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, confusion, blurred vision, tingling of the lips could be caused by so many things. Thats why they call it the great mimicker, said Charon McNabb, a co-founder of the National Carbon Monoxide Awareness Association, a nonprofit based in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Diagnostic confusion also seemed to have played a role in the Sandals case. The night before they were supposed to check out, two of the people who died, Robbie Phillips, 65, a travel adviser who was actually one of the top sellers for Sandals, and her husband, Michael, 68, visited a medical facility complaining of nausea and vomiting, according to local authorities. Donnis Chiarella, 65, who was staying on the other side of the wall, also visited a clinic, her son told ABC News. All returned to their adjoining beachfront villas, where the Phillipses and Chiarellas husband, Vincent, 64, were found unresponsive the next morning, according to local authorities. Later that day, all three were pronounced dead. Donnis Chiarella, who had to be hospitalized, was the lone survivor. Further complicating diagnosis is the fact that there often arent any major hints before the invisible, odorless gas renders someone too disoriented to take action, said Patrick Morrison, the chief of field services for the International Association of Fire Fighters, the largest union of firefighters and paramedics in the United States. He said his union supports requiring detectors in all hotel sleeping quarters for this reason. Advertisement If you cannot get out to fresh air, youll be overcome by it, Morrison said. Thats why people die in their sleep. Markowski returned to his room, where at some point, he recalls lying on the floor screaming. Fuel and a Birds Nest Carbon monoxide is released when a device burns a fuel such as gas, oil, propane, kerosene, wood or charcoal. The most common causes of carbon monoxide poisoning in hotels are boilers and heaters used to warm swimming pools and water for an entire wing, said Dr. Lindell Weaver, who specializes in carbon monoxide poisoning at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City. Gas dryers, fireplaces, portable gas-powered pool-cleaning devices and portable generators are other sources of carbon monoxide leaks. If these devices are working properly or, in the case of generators, if they are used in a safe location outside they shouldnt pose a danger. Carbon monoxide, in tiny amounts, will exit through the exhaust vent. Problems typically occur when the device malfunctions or the vent is blocked or broken. In Markowskis case, fire reports identified a birds nest plugging the vents in the room with the hot water tanks. The gas can follow air currents through vents, tiny holes and even drywall, sometimes ending up far away from the original source of the leak. In this case, the gas likely entered Room 205 through holes and crevasses in the floor, according to fire authorities. Filling a room with carbon monoxide causes an effect similar to removing oxygen from the air. Thats because when people breathe in carbon monoxide, it binds with hemoglobin in the blood, causing less oxygen to get transported to vital organs such as the brain and heart. Advertisement A Missed 7:30 Meeting Early on the morning of March 16, Jason Morgan, the plant manager at the factory, learned that his boss, Markowski, had failed to show up to a 7:30 a.m. meeting. Calling and texting did not elicit a response. Upon arriving at the hotel, Morgan spotted the Kia Soul Markowski always rented outside. After convincing the woman at the front desk to let him into the room, he found his boss curled up in a fetal position on the floor. He couldnt talk. He didnt know where he was at, he said. Firefighters responding to Morgans call realized that this was their third call to Room 205 in recent weeks and pulled out a carbon monoxide detector. Most in-room alarms are calibrated to go off at levels at which people could be injured if they stay in the room somewhere around 70 parts per million for more than an hour or 400 ppm for more than four minutes, said Weaver. Markowskis room was at 764 ppm, according to Fire Department reports. The water heater room registered at 1,500 ppm. At the hospital, doctors screened Markowskis blood for the percentage of red blood cells bound with carbon monoxide; the level is affected by the severity of the leak to which a person has been exposed and the length of their exposure. A normal reading is around 2.5%; 50% is almost always fatal; people with heart disease or lung disease often die at around 35%, said Weaver. Markowskis blood registered at 37.2%, according to medical reports. He said that doctors told him he was lucky to be alive. Im 44 years old, and Im in pretty good shape, so maybe that helped me, he said. Advertisement Among those who are poisoned, about 30-50% experience lasting effects, including cognitive issues and heart damage, said Weaver, who travels with a portable carbon monoxide detector. Isolated Incidents or a Systemic Problem? In Markowskis case, in addition to the birds nest, two exhaust flues were found detached from the hot water tanks, according to fire reports. In contradiction of safety codes in Oklahoma, there was no carbon monoxide alarm near the tanks, according to a lawsuit that Markowski filed against both the hotel owner and Hilton Worldwide Holdings, the company that licenses its name and sets standards for around 2,200 franchise hotels. When contacted for comment, Hilton said that the Catoosa hotel was independently owned and operated and that questions should go to the hotels owner. Kalpesh Desai, the owner, said he could not comment because he was involved in active litigation. Josie Hill, a spokesperson for Hilton, referred questions about carbon monoxide policies to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. The lodging association said that it encourages members to adhere to the International Fire Code, which urges installing detectors near fuel-burning devices. Thomas Daly, a consultant and former Hilton employee who has helped the lodging association lobby against stricter carbon monoxide rules, said detectors arent the issue. If equipment isnt maintained and there is leak, thats human error, he said. Requiring detectors in every room is outrageously expensive, he said, because it involves not only installing a detector every six years or so but also testing and upkeep. Its also the wrong place to put monitors, Daly said, given that its smarter to catch leaks at the source. Advertisement But others say that Markowskis case is representative of a broken system where it often takes multiple poisoning incidents before leaks are identified and many people only survive because someone happens to come looking for them. It should be on lawmakers and hotel brands to ensure safety, they say. Desais hotel was built in 2010, before Oklahoma required detectors in hotels. The state later required them near fuel-burning devices, but there was no compliance mechanism. Benton said he didnt think hotels were aware of the new rule; he didnt even know of the requirement. Fewer than one-third of states have statutes that outline who is responsible for verifying that hotels have detectors. Regardless, the emphasis on fuel-burning devices is a real red herring, said Gordon Johnson, a lawyer specializing in carbon monoxide cases. The issue, he said, is not where the carbon dioxide is created; its where it escapes and that can be multiple floors or rooms away from the source. Leslie Lienemann, a lawyer from Minnesota who, with her son, was poisoned by a carbon monoxide leak in a Warren, Michigan, hotel in 2019, said the lodging industrys cost argument is offensive. She and her son wound up in the emergency room because a plumber had incorrectly installed a water heater without an exhaust pipe at a Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham. There was no working detector anywhere at the hotel, according to court documents. They later learned that three years earlier, a cleaning woman had stumbled on two guests in another room whod passed out from a leak. My sons life is worth more than the $35 that youd spend on a carbon monoxide detector, said Lienemann, who is suing the company that owns the hotel and the plumbing company that installed the water heater. In a statement, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts said that the hotel is individually owned and operated and required to abide by local laws. Michigan requires carbon monoxide detectors in hotels built after 2009. The owner and the plumber did not respond to calls or emails. Advertisement Soon after the incident, the hotel replaced the fire alarms in every guest room with combination fire alarm-carbon monoxide detectors that cost $31.99 each. During a deposition, a hotel manager who was not accused of any wrongdoing shared that not long after they were installed, one of the alarms revealed that a new pool heater vent, angled up too high, was releasing carbon monoxide into a guests open window. It was detected, thank God, said Bassam Mikhael, the manager. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. I Got Mine: Confessions of a Midlist Writer is about the ups and downs and the ins and outs of John Nichols vibrant life. At 82, Nichols, a New Mexico literary treasure, is still writing. If one had to pick his most well-remembered book, it would probably be his 1974 comic novel The Milagro Beanfield War. It has long been a cult classic, though never a bestseller. Its underlying conflict is over land and water rights. Among its colorful characters are a developer who wants to turn a recreation area into a posh vacation resort. Opponents of the development are a group of the Hispanic farmers and sheep men of the fictional town of Milagro. The action is triggered when farmer Joe Mondragon illegally irrigates his beanfield. The book is based on the personalities and events Nichols covered for the monthly New Mexico Review on his Taos neighbors, and on aspects of local Hispanic culture, especially what he learned from the locals attempt to defeat a conservancy district and dam. I Got Mine:Confessions of a Midlist Writer is a rich, earthy memoir in which Nichols examines what it has meant for him to be a writer. Not just the act of writing. Nichols candidly describes his foibles, his joys, his family, his friends, his politics. They seem linked to his writings, including The Milagro Beanfield War. The novel was banged out in desperation to keep my fiction-writing career alive and provide for my family, he writes. The author and his wife, Ruby, separated for one year; she in Albuquerque, he in Taos, their two children splitting time with their parents via bus. In the memoir, Nichols recalls the frenzy of correcting and editing the first draft (rereading and rewriting each page 30 times!) He retyped the draft on a portable typewriter that bounced on the kitchen table with each stroke. I attribute much of my enthusiasm to the departure of American troops from Vietnam, Nichols writes. Nichols politics unabashedly lean left. He mentions his anti-capitalism when an editor at publisher Holt, Rinehart and Winston agreed to pay him $5,000 for Milagro plus another $5,000 on publication day the next year. Nichols can hardly live with himself: Oh my god, how awful. Saved again by capitalism! How could I ever come to terms with such hypocrisy? He does. His many friendships course through Nichols life. One friend was Rini Templeton, a New Mexico artist friend, who critiqued many chapters of Milagro. Her laughter at many scenes buoyed me up. She agreed to illustrate the part headings and jacket cover when I finished, Nichols wrote. Another friend was Marian Wood, his editor at Holt for 25 years or so. Though I didnt know it at the start, she was going to give me a literary life in New York City publishing, Nichols wrote. the heart of my career and modest reputation was created by works that Marian published with Holt Besides Milagro those books have included The Magic Journey, The Nirvana Blues, American Blood and An Elegy for September. In 1969, Nichols had moved his family from New York City to Taos, a town he fell in love with. It became the model for Milagro. If he painted Taos as almost idyllic, he confessed, he wanted to fix that impression: We arrived during a migration of counterculture longhairs to maybe a dozen sketchy communes around Taos, an invasion that had become a Hippie-Chicano War. Researching Milagro meant Nichols read at least a half-dozen books on water-adjudication lawsuits, land battles, culture, history and justice in New Mexico and the Southwest. His literary output had begun with the earlier novels The Sterile Cuckoo and The Wizard of Loneliness. In all, he has written 13 works of fiction and 11 nonfiction books, including I Got Mine:Confessions of a Midlist Writer. Hes also written screenplays and drafts for screenplays. Whats the source of the subtitle of I Got Mine? The epilogue explains that years ago the publishing industry labeled him a midlist writer, a mediocre joker who never sells more than 10,000 copies. His last 10 publishing efforts probably averaged no more than 1,000 copies each, or less, Nichols notes. Which, to him, made sense, given his attitude toward money and fame. A blue tone creeps into the books aftermath. Nichols has been living alone in his 800-square-foot Taos home since his last divorce in 1996: Usually I feel upbeat, yet lately the state of affairs on earth makes me sad. And for the first time ever, I feel lonely. Perhaps the loneliness was related to the hiatus of the six-piece jam band hes played guitar in Ricky and the Rewrites. They jammed for 14 years before the COVID-19 lockdown. Down to four musicians, the band is back playing every other Monday. I love it. Theyre the players. Im the pet monkey, Nichols kidded about his role in a phone interview. Recently, Nichols has been trying to edit the hundreds of essays, speeches, etc. hes written/presented over the years into a new collection. Hes also organizing his manuscripts, journals and correspondence for the archives of University of New Mexicos Center for Southwest Research. I need to get them in order before I croak. Its a tribulation, Nichols said. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The National Transportation Safety Board has released its preliminary report into a helicopter crash that killed four first responders in northern New Mexico last month. The report does not say what caused the July 16 crash, but it did provide more details. A full report could take one to two years. Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office Undersheriff Larry Koren, Lt. Fred Beers, Deputy Michael Levison and Bernalillo County Fire Department rescue specialist Matthew King died at the scene. The four men had been helping crews fight the East Mesa fire outside of Las Vegas and were on their way home to Albuquerque when they crashed. According to the report, the helicopter fueled up and left the staging area at 7:15 p.m. and its last data point was recorded five minutes later, about a half-mile east of where it would crash. Two people who were watching the sunset from a nearby ridge reported the helicopter flew past their location westbound, then rapidly descended without making any turns, the report states. A large plume of dust occurred when the helicopter impacted the ground. The report states that when investigators arrived, the tail rotor tip cap was partially buried in the ground and the left and right skids were 38 feet and 77 feet from where the helicopter hit the ground. The main wreckage was 160 feet away and the tail boom was 20 feet away. Funerals for the four men were held this week and last week. People sprinkle dirt over the grave of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque, N.M., on Friday, August 5, 2022. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. Both Muslim men were shot and killed near their homes only six days apart and law enforcement believes one suspect could be responsible for killing three Muslim men in the past nine months. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Altaf Hussain cries over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque on Friday. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Mourners spread dirt over Aftab Husseins grave at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque on Friday. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Altaf Hussain sprinkles dirt over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque on Friday. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Altaf Hussain receives a hug as he stands over the grave of his brother Aftab Hussein at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque on Friday. A funeral service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Prayer over the grave of Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at Fairview Memorial Park in Albuquerque on Friday. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) A funeral prayer service was held for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. Both Muslim men were shot and killed near their homes only six days apart. Law enforcement believes one suspect could be responsible for killing three Muslim men in the past nine months. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Women are reflected in the glass windows looking out into the men's room during a funeral prayer and service for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday, August 5, 2022. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Deena Assad prays with her daughter Aliyah, 2, during a funeral prayer for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday, August 5, 2022. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Women pray during a funeral prayer for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Women pray during a funeral prayer for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Women pray during a funeral prayer for Aftab Hussein, 41, and Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal) Prev 1 of 12 Next More than 1,000 mourners gathered at the Islamic Center of New Mexico on Friday afternoon for the funerals of two Muslim men who were ambushed and shot to death in the past week and a half. Police have said they are investigating whether the same person or persons is responsible for their deaths and that of another Muslim man, 62-year-old Mohammad Ahmadi, who was killed in November behind the halal market he and his brother owned. Muhammad Afzaal Hussain, 27, was killed on Monday less than a block from his apartment in a neighborhood south of the University of New Mexico and Aftab Hussein, 41, was killed on July 26 on Rhode Island NE, near Wyoming and Copper. The crowd mostly, but not entirely, Muslim filled the mosque for the reading of the Friday prayer and the funeral prayer. Several police cars were parked nearby. An Albuquerque Police Department spokesman said community leaders had requested their presence as a precaution. APD is also increasing its presence at all mosques in the city for the foreseeable future. Imam Mahmoud Eldenawi spoke in Arabic, reciting from the Quran, about life and death, and the recent homicides. All of us, not only Muslim, all other communities, they were shocked and saddened by such type of death to those people that are innocent they did nothing, Eldenawi said. But this evil guy who committed this crime, he doesnt have any kind of religion, doesnt have any kind of sympathy, passion, mercy at all. Meanwhile, the nations largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, based in Washington, D.C., announced it is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case. If a bias-motive is determined, state and federal authorities should apply appropriate hate crime charges, said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. After news reports on the incidents began circulating, the Anti-Defamation Leagues Mountain States Region also called for prosecutors to pursue hate charges. The league cited FBI statistics that found religion-based hate crimes reached an historically high level in 2020 the most recent year for which statistics are available. It said Muslims were the group that experienced the second-highest number of hate crimes across the country. It is abhorrent that anyone would be attacked simply because of who they are, and we express our deep concern and support to the Muslim community of New Mexico, said Regional Director Scott Levin. We thank members of law enforcement for investigating and taking the matter seriously, and we strongly encourage prosecutors to pursue hate crime charges if the evidence shows that the murders were committed because of the victims Muslim identity. Tips: Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact Crime Stoppers at 843-STOP. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal The Independent Petroleum Association of New Mexico filed a legal appeal Friday challenging new state regulations aimed at reducing ozone pollution in the oil and gas industry. New Mexicos Environmental Improvement Board adopted the new rules in April and they went into effect officially on Friday. Oil and gas operators in high-ozone counties must now have emissions data certified by an engineer. IPANM executive director Jim Winchester said the rule contains provisions that will force companies to plug productive wells and inflict economic hardship on residents. At a time when the public supports responsible domestic production to reduce gasoline prices and a decrease in our dependency on foreign sources of energy that are unquestionably worse for the environment, IPANM strongly feels this is the wrong rule at the wrong time, he said. Under the new rule, companies must quickly find and fix leaks, and retrofit control devices. NMEDs new regulations apply to operations in Chaves, Dona Ana, Eddy, Lea, Rio Arriba, Sandoval, San Juan and Valencia counties, which have high ozone pollution. When the EIB adopted the rules earlier this year, state Environment Secretary James Kenney said the agency would begin robust and innovative monitoring to ensure oil and gas companies are following the regulations. This rule is an enormous win for communities impacted by unhealthy air quality caused by oil and gas operations, Kenney said. The notice of appeal, filed Friday in state appeals court, will likely be followed by technical arguments submitted to the court within the month. IPANM, which represents about 350 members, is not citing specific objections to the rule at this point. But the organization and other oil and gas groups did object to several provisions during the Environmental Improvement Board deliberations. NMED removed exemptions for low-producing wells, or stripper wells, in its final regulations. The agency also required more leak inspections for wells within 1,000 feet of homes and schools. Ozone rules were designed to work in tandem with the Oil Conservation Divisions methane regulations, which treat the greenhouse gas as industry waste. The state agency banned routine venting and flaring of natural gas, and now requires operators to report emissions data. Operators must also meet a 98% gas capture rate by the end of 2026. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal In 50 years, Rio Grande flows in New Mexico could decline by 30%. Water in reservoirs such as Elephant Butte is expected to evaporate much faster, and soil and trees across the state will suffer with scorching temperatures and less water. The scale of climate change impacts on the states water supplies demands immediate action from every level of government, according to the draft 50-year water plan released by the Interstate Stream Commission this week. Andrew Erdmann, who manages the state water planning program, said the plan wont solve every water problem. But the agency wants the plan to be a living document that wont just sit on a shelf. This is really about moving us forward in terms of addressing climate change, Erdmann said. The report, requested by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, has as its foundation a leap-ahead climate analysis by a state panel of scientists. That research found New Mexicos average annual statewide temperatures in 50 years could increase by as much as 7 degrees. Higher temperatures will create a more arid climate. A drier New Mexico increases the likelihood for hotter, more intense droughts. Snowpack may decrease, and runoff could happen earlier in the year. Were looking at lower streamflow and aquifer recharge, Erdmann said. Those diminished water levels could stress plants and soil statewide. In the 50-year plan, the water team warns that future generations will bear the burden of our inaction if we choose not to plan and prepare for climate impacts on ecology and communities. The report recommends ways to plan for a hotter future with less water. New Mexico should protect upland watersheds from forest fires that can impact water quality. Water resilience means devoting equal resources to managing groundwater and surface water supplies, said ISC director Rolf Schmidt-Petersen. Ultimately, as we go through drier time periods, it is these underground aquifer systems that we rely on, he said. The state may look to alternative sources as New Mexico faces less water supply and more demand. Those backup supplies could include treated oilfield or municipal wastewater, deep wells, brackish water and cloud seeding. Aron Balok, an ISC commissioner and superintendent of the Pecos Valley Artesian Conservancy District, said using diverse water sources is only half of the equation. If I havent made arrangements to replenish that supply and Im mining that (groundwater), all Ive done is kick the can pretty hard, Balok said. The irrigation expert also cautioned against overreliance on fallowing farm fields to reduce water use, a practice he warned could have irreversible effects on agriculture. Other plan recommendations: Protect acequias and other community-managed irrigation systems Help farmers and municipalities conserve water Modernize water rights administration and enforcement New Mexicos water infrastructure was not built for climate change, according to the planning team. The water plan encourages the Legislature, state agencies and communities to take advantage of a historic influx of project funding. New Mexico is slated to receive $355 million from the federal governments bipartisan infrastructure law for water projects. Drought and aridity are not new for the state. But the plan warns that climate change will upend the historical trends on which water use practices and interstate compacts are based. Current state water policies may not hold up to the future water reality. In most regions, the planning team writes, any new use of water such as cannabis cultivation or expansion of existing water use must come at the expense of an existing water use. The report recommends learning from tribes, pueblos and acequia communities that have centuries of experience managing slim water supplies. Tribes and acequia groups contributed recommendations to the report. Commissioner Paula Garcia, who is also executive director of the New Mexico Acequia Association, said policies should revolve around being good stewards and preserving water for future generations. The report highlights projects that are good examples of resilient water management, including: Agencies that work together to boost Rio Chama flows for weekend rafting and fish habitat The state strategic water reserve, which allows for leased water rights to be used in important river stretches Cities such as Albuquerque and Santa Fe that have diverse water supplies and encourage conservation. The 50-year plan is separate from the state water plan, which must be updated every five years. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Virgin Galactics VSS Unity passenger rocket is nearly ready to fly, but slow-moving upgrades on the carrier craft Eve which flies Unity part way to space means another three-month delay for commercial launch, the company announced on Thursday. Its the second time this year Virgin Galactic has postponed its planned tourist rides to suborbit from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico. In February, the company had said the mothership Eve and Unity would both return to the spaceport this summer following structural enhancements in Caifornia, allowing resumption of test flights by mid-year, and then spaceflights for paying passengers in the fall. But in May, Virgin Galactic said supply-chain problems and labor shortages slowed the upgrades, setting resumption of test flights back to this fall, and commercial launch until winter in early 2023. Now, the company says modifications on the mothership are taking longer than expected, forcing yet another delay. That means the ships wont return to New Mexico until early next year, with flight tests resuming in winter 2023, followed by the first passenger trips in the spring of 2023, said company CEO Michael Colglazier during a second-quarter earnings call with investors Thursday afternoon. Despite our best efforts, progress on our enhancement program in Mojave particularly the complex work to prepare Eve for commercial service has taken longer than we planned, Colglazier said. Work on Unity is nearly complete, potentially allowing the passenger rocket to return to service faster than the mothership. But upgrades on Eve must first be completed, since the carrier craft is designed to fly Unity on its underbelly to about 50,000 feet, where the six-passenger rocket then breaks away and fires up its motors to shoot into suborbit. That allows space tourists to float for a few minutes in microgravity and enjoy spectacular views of Earth below. Assuming there are no more delays going forward, Unity is expected to provide monthly tourist flights once commercial service begins, Colglazier said. But while that may be welcome news for some of the 800-plus Virgin Galatic customers who have already paid for reservations on forthcoming spaceflights, it means only six passengers per month will be able to fly. And the flight rate wont increase until the companys second spaceship, the VSS Imagine, comes into service, potentially paving the way for three rocket rides per month. Under the new launch schedule, however, Imagine wont even begin test flights until mid-2023, with passenger service now delayed until fall of next year, at the earliest, and possibly until early 2024. Thats because the company transferred personnel and resources away from work on Imagine to speed up the needed enhancements on Eve, slowing progress on the second spaceship, Colglazier told investors Imagine is a new vehicle, and requires a sequence of planned test flights before it carries private astronauts, Colglazier said. The variability inherent in flight tests makes it prudent to allow for appropriate schedule flexibility, which could potentially extend Imagines window of private astronaut service into early 2024. Laying the spaceflight groundwork Unity has already flown to suborbit four times with Virgin Galactic pilots and team members, including the history-making flight by company founder Sir Richard Branson in July 2021. But after Bransons flight, the company announced a hiatus to prepare both Eve and Unity for long-term passenger service, making structural improvements to both ships to increase their durability and allow for rapid turnaround between flights once commercial operations begin. Thats particularly important for Eve, a 14-year-old craft that has flown many times. Improvements include work on Eves central wing section to upgrade the pylon that attaches the rocket ship to the carrier plane. Thats a time-consuming enhancement that requires new designs by highly skilled engineers, Colglazier said. Still, despite the slow progress in upgrading the companys existing ships, Virgin Galactic is simultaneously working to build a solid manufacturing base for its next-generation Delta Class passenger rockets, and for new motherships to service those rockets. In July, the company announced a new partnership with Boeing Subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences to build two more motherships. Aurora will help design and manufacture them, with Virgin Galactic doing final assembly at its facilities in California. The first one will be ready for service by 2025, just as Virgin Galactics new Delta ships begin emerging from production. The company is subcontracting other aerospace firms to build subassemblies for the Delta rockets for final assembly by Virgin Galactic at a new facility its constructing in Arizona. That plant, to be located adjacent to the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, will be equipped to produce up to six Delta ships per year, Colglazier said. Construction has already started, and we anticipate the facility will be fully operational by late 2023, supporting our goal of rolling out the first Delta ships in 2025, he said. In addition, last Monday, the company said it acquired land in Sierra County to build a new astronaut campus and training facility for its spaceflight customers and their families. Its located in driving proximity to Spaceport America, Colglazier said. Burning through cash Eventually, Virgin Galactic expects to conduct up to 400 flights per year out of Spaceport America. But with commercial launch still nearly a year away, and then only a slow ramp up in flights until the Delta ships enter service in 2025, the company is burning through a lot of cash. And it wont start generating any significant revenue until spaceflights begin. The company reported a net loss of $111 million in the second quarter, up from a $93 million loss in the first quarter. And as Virgin Galactic invests in new manufacturing facilities and ship production, it projects losses growing to between $110 and $120 million in coming quarters. Still, the company has a lot of money on hand to cover escalating expenses, said Chief Financial Officer Doug Ahrens. Our balance sheet remains strong, with over $1.1 billion in cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities, Ahrens told investors. The company also announced plans Thursday to sell up to $350 million more in stock. Its stock price, however, remains markedly depressed, given the continuing delays in commercial launch. The price fell from $8.19 per share on Thursday to $7.02 on Friday afternoon. Thats down from a high of $62.80 a share in February 2021. Despite years of rumors and speculation over whether In-N-Out Burger is coming to New Mexico, the beloved chain has officially confirmed it has no plans to franchise in the state. To reach the closest In-N-Out, New Mexicans will have to trek over 5 hours to Colorado Springs. We know there are wonderful communities in New Mexico, but we dont have any immediate plans to open stores there at this time, said Mike Abbate, assistant vice president of real estate and development at In-N-Out, in an email to the Journal. Abbate said the company is currently focused on expanding in the markets it already serves. The company has a strong presence in the Southwest, with more than 200 locations in California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah. Earlier this year, In-N-Out proposed two new locations in Boise, Idaho. In-N-Out was founded in California and is headquartered in Irvine. You are here: Business China's State Administration for Market Regulation has conducted investigations on activities of bidding up coal prices, the administration said Friday. Three investigation teams have been sent to provincial-level regions of Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi, the country's major coal-producing regions, to advance regulations on coal price gouging. After investigation, a total of 18 coal enterprises were suspected of driving up coal prices, and three trading centers were suspected of not adopting government pricing, the administration said. The administration will continue to strengthen supervision over coal prices and guide the prices to operate within a reasonable range. Michael Shackelford has been hired as the chief investment officer at the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico. Shackelford has almost 30 years of investment management experience. Most recently, he served as director of investments for the North Dakota State Department of Trust Lands starting in 2019. At that position, he managed the states sovereign wealth fund totaling $7 billion in assets. Shackelford graduated with a bachelors degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin and received his masters degree in economics from California State University. On Friday afternoon, Naeem Hussain attended the funeral service for two Muslim men who were killed in the past two weeks. He joined other mourners afterward, sharing a meal, at the Islamic Center of New Mexico. Then he left. Several hours later, a little before midnight, Naeem Hussain was shot to death in a parking lot of an organization that offers services for refugees and asylum seekers near San Mateo and Copper NE, according to the Islamic Centers spokesman. His death was the latest in what police suspect is a string of homicides targeting Muslim men based on their race and religion. Now, people are beginning to panic, said Tahir Gauba, the director of public affairs with the Islamic Center of New Mexico, who added that he had been fielding phone calls all day about the death. The two men who were buried Friday 41-year-old Aftab Hussein and 27-year-old Muhammad Afzaal Hussain were shot near their homes on July 26 and Aug. 1, respectively. Police say they were ambushed. On Saturday, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman said the recent homicides have led detectives to try to determine whether the Nov. 7 fatal shooting of Mohammad Ahmadi, 62, is also related. Ahmadi was killed behind a halal market he owned with his brother. An APD official had previously said that there was a strong possibility that all three of the prior homicides were related. Gauba said the Muslim community especially the student population who live near the area where two most recent shootings happened is feeling very afraid. He said Naeem Hussain is from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Right now it is really tough to deal with it, Gauba said. I mean especially right after the funeral, the same day, that thing happened again. So its just really crazy. Every possible resource At a hastily-convened news conference at APD headquarters Saturday afternoon, leaders from local law enforcement and the city denounced the violence and assured the community that they are working together and devoting every possible resource to the investigation. Translators speaking Arabic, Farsi, Dari and Urdu translated remarks from the citys Office of Equity and Inclusion. We urge our entire interfaith community of Albuquerque and all the people of Albuquerque to help law enforcement identify and catch the person or persons responsible, said Michelle Melendez, the offices director. Please, please, call with any bit of information. Police Chief Harold Medina who addressed reporters via zoom because he is in isolation with COVID-19 said the department is working closely with the FBI. The New Mexico State Police, the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service are also assisting. On top of our investigations into this murder, were devoting resources to key patrol areas and neighborhoods within Albuquerque, Medina said. We lifted overtime caps for our officers so that we could utilize several of our specialized units to help ensure the strong presence of Albuquerque officers to keep the community safe. Deputy Chief Josh Brown, with APDs Field Services Bureau, said the department consulted with its partners in the Muslim community to determine what they need and where theyre most vulnerable when deciding where to put its resources. Were going to have multiple command posts stationed throughout key areas in the city, Brown said. This will allow people who if they see something, and dont have immediate access to phone or communication to stop by, drop off tips, talk to law enforcement officers who are there and available in the area. On Saturday, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced she will send additional State Police to Albuquerque to patrol and work with APD and the FBI. I am angered and saddened that this is happening in New Mexico, a place that prides itself on diversity of culture and thought. This is not who we are, Lujan Grisham said. We will not stop in our pursuit of justice for the victims and their families and are bringing every resource to bear to apprehend the killer or killers and we WILL find them. APD has increased the priority for calls involving the Muslim community, Medina said, and he urged Muslims to be especially vigilant and watch out for one another. Let individuals know when youre coming in and out, make it very obvious that others are watching when youre leaving your car to your house, Medina said. I think its important to let everybody know that were all watching out for one another. A really kind person By mid-day Saturday the intersection of Truman and Grand NE was quiet. The only sign of the overnight violence that remained was shattered glass from Naeem Hussains car windows in the parking lot of Lutheran Family Services. A friend of Naeem Hussain told the Journal she met him about six years ago through the organization. She said he used to work with the program and had a meeting there Friday night. She said she had been told that Naeem Hussain, who police say was in his mid-20s, became a U.S. citizen just two weeks ago. He was a really kind person and no reason for someone to kill him like this, she said. Its just unexpected, what happened. This is really heartbreaking for the families. Gauba, with the Islamic Center of New Mexico, said Naeem Hussain was on the phone with his fiancee, who lives in Virginia, when he was shot. She heard the gunshot I think and she freaked out, Gauba said. So he didnt respond after that, so she called one of his friends. His friend went over there and his friend is the one who called 911. You are here: China The Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Friday continued joint combat exercises and training in the waters and airspace around the Taiwan Island. The exercises took place in the waters and airspace off the northern, southwestern and eastern coasts of the island. More than 10 destroyers and frigates conducted joint blockade operations in the waters around the island, while a number of frigates, missile ships and ground-to-ship missile units engaged in stimulated assaults aimed at major maritime targets. The theater command's air force corps deployed multiple types of warplanes, including fighters, bombers, early warning aircraft and electronic reconnaissance planes, on missions such as reconnaissance, airspace control, support and cover, and airstrikes. Meanwhile, the army corps and conventional missile force of the Eastern Theater Command remained in a state of readiness and conducted supporting tasks. All units have been placed on high alert for any possible emergencies. D2C beauty & personal care brand Pilgrim, recently announced their collaboration with premium frozen yogurt brand MyFroyoLand for their latest brand campaign. The brand campaign promotes Pilgrims newly launched Lip-Care Range. As part of the campaign, MyFroyoLand will be serving bespoke PilgrimXMyFroyoLand flavours in their outlets across India to promote the exciting new flavours of the lip range. Customers can buy the exclusive PilgrimXMyFroyoLand yogurt flavours- blueberry, peppermint, and bubblegum at all MyFroyoLand stores across the country. They will also be able to engage in fun in-store activities and giveaways arranged at all outlets. This promotion is applicable to 10 cities including Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Pune, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Hyderabad. Pilgrim has also roped in food and lifestyle influencers for the campaign who will be visiting select outlets to try on the exclusive yogurt flavours and share their experiences. Anurag Kedia, the co-founder of Pilgrim, added We are elated to kickstart this campaign with MyFroyoLand for the launch of our new lip care range. We truly feel that this clutter-breaking collaboration will offer a never-seen-before visual and flavourful treat with skincare. We look forward to working with their dynamic team and disrupting this industry with their support. This extensive lip care range is a part of Pilgrims Secrets of Seville, Spain range. The key ingredient of this range is Squalane which is derived from Spanish olives. Squalane is beneficial in treating dry and chapped lips and has the ability to lock moisture in, leaving skin beautifully moisturised and healthy. These Squalane-based lip formulations also include Pomegranate Extracts, Shea Butter, and Cocoa Butter. The squalane range, launched in March 2022 contributes 10% to the total revenue with major demand coming in from Maharashtra and Delhi. After giving a gist of its mysterious world with the trailer, the first song 'Waqt Ke Jungle' from the albums of Ektaa R Kapoors & Anurag Kashyaps new-age thriller Dobaaraa is ready for its launch. Considering the vibes of the song, the makers will be launching the song in a college in Mumbai to make it more relatable amongst the youth. Bringing up the first song of the film 'Waqt Ke Jungle', the cast of Dobaaraa will be visiting a college in Mumbai for the launch on 8th August. The makers have decided to launch the song in the college as it carries the vibes that will be easily relatable to the youths and they can able to find their attachment with the same. 'Waqt Ke Jungle' is a melody that is sung by Armaan Malik while it has been composed by Gaurav Chatterji. The relatable and heart-touching lyrics of the songs are written by Hussain Haidry. The song will capture glimpses from the film while it will take the audience deep into the suspenseful world of Dobaaraa. Starring award-winning actress Taapsee Pannu, the film is directed by the acclaimed director Anurag Kashyap and produced by Shobha Kapoor & Ektaa R Kapoor's Cult Movies, a new wing under Balaji Telefilms and Sunir Kheterpal & Gaurav Bose (Athena). India @75 India @75: Prasoon Pandey on when India stopped aping the West In conversation with Adgully, Prasoon Pandey, Director, Corcoise Films, speaks about some of the landmark campaigns in Indian advertising, as well as some key milestones over the years. India @75: Anisha Iyer on the revolutionary ad campaigns In conversation with Adgully, Anisha Iyer, Chief Executive Officer, OMD India, looks back at some of the revolutionary advertising campaigns that wowed people with their innovative approach, empowering messages and social value. India @75: Sahil Siddiqui on the unifying force that is advertising In conversation with Adgully, Sahil Siddiqui, Vice President, Creative Strategy, WATConsult, highlights two key aspects of Indian advertising firstly, how advertising started Indians on the journey to be global citizens, and secondly, how we Indians are diverse in location, but connected by preference. India @75: Dream merchants & more: Advertising in Independent India - Anjali Malthankar Writing for Adgully, Anjali Malthankar, National Strategy Director, Tonic Worldwide, mentions about the golden era of advertising and the power of ideas in communications. She highlights several iconic ad campaigns that have played multiple roles in shaping Indias 75-year independent journey. India @75: Dia Kirpalani on campaigns that sought to effect societal change In an interaction with Adgully, Dia Kirpalani, VP - Head of Strategy, Blink Digital, said, There are large campaigns that I am sure everyone knows, such as Ariels Share the Load, Tata Teas Jaago Re, Tanishqs Second Marriage or Inter-caste marriage campaigns. While these certainly do their part in starting conversation, there are smaller campaigns that sought to effect societal change within their brand objectives. Deep dive into the Indian audio streaming industry Part 1 The Indian audio streaming market grew exponentially in the last couple of years, fuelled by the increased smart phone penetration, cheap data plans, and the proliferation of audio streaming platforms, home-grown as well as international. In this two-part in-depth series, Adgully delves into the world of the Indian audio streaming market. Part 1 of the report explores the growing potential of this medium, the contribution of regional to the growth of Indian audio streaming, paid subscription vis-a-vis free service, and more. Deep dive into the Indian audio streaming industry Part 2 Part 2 of the report covers the challenges faced by the Indian audio streaming industry, cost of content, in-stream audio ads & other growth areas, the podcast factor, and more. Cookieless future is inevitable, but delay in transition will boost brands preparation Googles decision to delay the phasing out of third-party cookies in Chrome by 2024 has come as a surprise. Earlier, the search giant had envisaged to stop the cookies in 2022, which was further extended. Basically, the search behemoth wants more time for testing its Privacy Sandbox, which is said to be an alternative mechanism for targeted advertising. Google has taken a pro-creator stance Industry on move to monetise YouTube Shorts In 2020, YouTube launched the YouTube Shorts feature to compete against TikTok. The Google-owned YouTube Shorts is catching up quickly, and the firm has seen promising results in its early monetisation efforts on the short-video creation site. Crafting effective PR strategies for the regional markets the Dos and Donts Clarity with the right messaging is the hallmark of any successful PR campaign. Its absence leads to confusion, complacency and even chaos. This has been always the challenge for many PR campaigns to get their messaging sharp and correct in smaller towns. This becomes far more difficult and challenging when it comes to regional PR in smaller towns, where you need to speak to a cluster of different audiences in different languages. How Lays is making Gourmet an elevated experience for Indian consumers Lays, the snacking brand from PepsiCo, has expanded its product portfolio with the launch of Lays Gourmet, a premium range of slow-cooked premium kettle chips. Speaking about the potential for premium potato chips in the Indian market, Shailja Joshi, Marketing Director, Potato Chips Category, PepsiCo India, told Adgully, We have clearly understood the market potential of whether the market is ready for it or not. Ratings are a reflection of preferences of viewers: News18 Indias Karan Abhishek Singh In this interview with Adgully, Singh dwells at length on what makes the channel stay ahead of the competition, news ratings, the future of TV news, etc. PVR is on track to open a total of 125 new screens during FY2023: Gautam Dutta In conversation with Adgully, Gautam Dutta, CEO, PVR Ltd, speaks at length about the vision behind the in-cinema advertising innovation, how the cinema business has performed in the past year, trends in cinema content consumption patterns, and much more. How GoDaddy has become the home of entrepreneurs In conversation with Adgully, Nikhil Arora, Vice President & Managing Director, GoDaddy India, speaks at length about how the web hosting industry is going forward and serving with best customer experience, as well as their recent campaign empowering women entrepreneurs. "We wont get into something we know we dont have the right to win" In conversation with Adgully, Somasree Bose Awasthi, Chief Marketing Officer, Godrej Consumer Products, speaks about Godrejs move to promote sustainable choices in consumer products, and more. Growing content creation is necessitating increased usage of tech tools Paramjeet Singh Mehta, Marketing Head Consumer PC & Gaming, Systems Group at Asus India, and Joseph Radhik, Photographer, Film Maker, Creator, shared their thought process on and how they aim to host a series of workshops for Aspiring Individuals who may interact, connect, and learn from artists who inspire them through ProArtLabs workshops. Organisations are accountable for improving the opportunities for women In conversation with Adgully, Founder & CEO of Assiduus Global, speaks about unprecedented challenges of the pandemic, the role and scope of women leaders in the current market ecosystem, her mantras for maintaining a successful work-life balance, gender sensitivity terms which are unspoken, and more. Weve humanised brand Rajasthan Royals on Twitter: Atishay Agarwal Each month, Twitter Creates Talking Twitter takes people behind the scenes of some of Twitters most interesting accounts with the social media professionals responsible for some of the platforms standout Tweets and viral moments. WPP H1 2022 revenue up 10.2% at 6,755 mn; operating profit up 11.4% WPP has reported a strong first half in 2022, led by broad-based growth and sustained demand from clients, even as its transformation programme is on track. Its 2022 growth guidance has been upgraded again. Dentsu Group acquires a majority stake in Extentia Dentsu Group Inc has entered an agreement to acquire a majority stake in Extentia, a global technology and services firm with a focus on enterprise mobility, cloud engineering, and user experiences. Extentia will join Merkle, a leading technology-enabled, data-driven customer experience management (CXM) company within Dentsu Groups international business, Dentsu International. Ogilvy India names Ganapathy Balagopalan as Deputy Chief Strategy Officer Ogilvy India has promoted Ganapathy Balagopalan to Deputy Chief Strategy Officer, Ogilvy India. Ganapathy is also perhaps Indias most awarded planner. He authored the case that won Indias only IPA, the Oscars of Advertising Effectiveness, for Cadbury Dairy Milk. He also won Ogilvy Indias first Cannes Grand Prix for Effectiveness for the Savlon Chalk case. Linear TV viewership is declining as online long form viewing time grows: Omdia According to new Omdia data, nonlinear watching continues to gain predominance in the daily viewing habits of TV viewers throughout the US, Europe, and Australia, with online long form and social media video viewing exceeding the previous year's viewing time surge. Largest video OTT players driven by male visitors: Comscore Top 10 OTTs are driven by male audiences who make almost six out of 10 of its audience, except Zee5 where split is almost equal for both genders, according to research by Comscore. Indian consumers see good value in what TV offers than other platforms: Study Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS International) and Broadband India Forum (BIF) commissioned a pan-India TV consumer survey in the months of April and May 2022, as a part of the initiative TV Consumer Market Study. Two researchers from the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore have received prestigious honors from the Mali government in recognition of their efforts to develop and distribute vaccines to children in that country who are vulnerable to numerous infectious diseases common in Africa. The awards were presented at a special ceremony in Mali in June on behalf of the President of Mali, His Excellency Amadou Toumani ToureIn 2000, the Ministry of Health of Mali and the University of Maryland School of Medicine signed a formal agreement to establish the CVD-Mali to provide laboratory space and resources for CVD researchers working in the country and to train Malian scientists and physicians. This recalls the Serum Institute of India's MenAfriVac meningococcal vaccine developed as part of the PATH Partnership for Global Health in cooperation with the WHO, Unicef, GAVI, the University of Maryland and private industry (GSK, etc.) which was used in the deadly, forced trials organized by the Gates Foundation in Chad, itself a nest of US military activity . Years earlier, in 2002, the University of Maryland School of Medicine website reported the schools abiding vaccine alliance with Mali and the Gates Foundation: The trials in Bamako are being supervised by the vaccine research centre of the medical school of the University of Maryland in the United States and Mali's health ministry, Kone said. The fact that medical philanthropy often tiptoes in prior to invasions for resources might demonstrate, at least in part, how in the world this could have happened. In order to avoid exaggerating associations between events through blatant examples like Ebola outbreaks and the US boots on the ground that followed, and because sometimes, as Turse puts it, to see the big picture you need to focus on the smallest part of it, I raked over several seemingly random news items for countries which are mostly obscure to Westerners such as Mali. Most dont even know where Mali is much less the countrys history or what the US is currently doing there. But the stories I ran across took a certain shape: the a rash of experimental trials for Ebola, HPV , rotavirus and other vaccines and the Gates Foundations involvement; a US-facilitated coup detat in 2012 and finally an industry-centric view of civil disorder as an impediment to oil and gas exploration in that country. Heres a question for you: Can a military tiptoe onto a continent? It seems the unlikeliest of images, and yet its a reasonable enough description of what the U.S. military has been doing ever since the Pentagon created an Africa Command (AFRICOM) in 2007. Its been slipping, sneaking, creeping into Africa, deploying ever more forces in ever more ways doing ever more things at ever more facilities in ever more countries -- and in a fashion so quiet, so covert, that just about no American has any idea this is going on. One day, when an already destabilizing Africa explodes into various forms of violence, the U.S. military will be in the middle of it and Americans will suddenly wonder how in the world this could have happened. For instance, the map illustration from the lead article in this series simply compared GAVI target countries with oil operations and US military expansion using a map provided by Tom Dispatch from an article by Nick Turse, AFRICOMs Gigantic Small Footprint : In looking at the pattern of global philanthropy in the buildup towards Western intervention in resource-rich nations around the world, connections cant be forced. The substantiations are often hidden in closed door meetings and on the ground among populations the media, largely controlled by those pushing particular agendas, mostly ignores. But even so, certain patterns emerge in the shadows. No colonial power is going to succeed unless its going to play on existing divisions, and sharpen them, increase them, exacerbate them. ~Mahmood Mamdani, Uganda Rising Since then, with funding from a $20 million grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the CVD and CVD-Mali have worked to develop a measles vaccine to immunize infants in developing countries who are too young to receive the currently licensed measles vaccine. That candidate vaccine has shown highly promising results in animal models. A field site in Mali has been established and a Malian clinical trials team has been trained to carry out phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials of the new vaccine. In April 2005, the CVD received an additional grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for $3.6 million to study the impact of vaccinating children in Mali against the disease-causing bacterium Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), The University of Maryland has a long history of joint projects with USAIDwhich, as mentioned in Part 6, is known to front for the CIA and, as mentioned in Part 7, partnered with the Gates Foundation to foist genetically modified tech on African nations that dont welcome it. The projects include CARPE, or Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment as well as a contract to explore promising candidate vaccine for Malian children, including the Clinical Research and Trial Preparation Site in Endemic Areas Initiative. On the face of, theres nothing wrong offering aid to better a countys public health system, though predictably there are ethical problems with implementing vaccines in the rural sites in Mali targeted for trials. From the study, Problems in comprehension of informed consent in rural and peri-urban Mali, West Africa: RESULTS: Participants had difficulty comprehending several concepts relevant to informed consent: 90% of respondents did not understand withdrawal criterion, 93% did not understand the existence of study side effects, and 74% did not understand that they were enrolled in an investigation as opposed to receiving therapy. The response rate and percentage of correct answers was generally much higher in the village nearer an urban center than the more rural village. The percent of correct answers exceeded 50% for five questions in the urban village and for only two question in the more rural setting. Problems with medical aid ethics are predictable in particular when foreign aid fronts for separate agendas. In an article originally published by Foreign Policy Magazinein March, 2012, Joshua Keating reports the Malian coup detat led by US-trained Captain Sanogo: On March 22 [2012, Captain Amadou Haya Sanogo]and a renegade group of officers calling themselves the National Committee for the Reestablishment of Democracy and the Restoration of the State overthrew the government of President Amadou Toumani Toure U.S. military officials have acknowledged that Sanogo "participated in several U.S.-funded International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs in the United States, including basic officer training," though it's not yet clear which courses he took. He has affirmed receiving U.S. training in several interviews, but has declined to elaborate. It turns out that Malis former President Amadou Toumani Toure, though he encouraged Western investment and technology such as vaccination, could not stop civil unrest that threatened transnational oil and uranium operations in Mali. From a 2012 Guardian article titled Coup Threatens to Plunge Mali Back Into Darkness of Dictatorship: This military coup was born out of the deep anger at the way in which the ousted president, Amadou Toumani Toure, had been conducting the war against a Tuareg-led insurgency in the north of the country. Stories of soldiers being sent to the front without the necessary weaponry and almost starving to death out in the vastness of the Sahara, a place as alien and distant to them as Siberia is to a Muscovite, had turned public opinion against him. Popular anger was exacerbated by a series of ignominious defeats in recent weeks, especially the loss of a crucial strategic base near the desert town of Tessalit that gave the insurgents complete control of most of the north of the country, bar the major towns of Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal The international community had long been prepared to back the Toure regime despite the numerous accusations of corruption, involvement in cocaine smuggling and lack of resolve in its fight against Islamic terrorism that had dogged it in the last few years So, as it happens, Toure had to go. Apparently familiarity bred Western contempt and at least some of that familiarity was forged through aid given to the country under Toures administration. A 2013 article for the website OilPrice.net which revels in the language and rationales of the biofuel industry (moral outrage at theocracy, Sharia law and the human rights abuses of Islamic militants, etc.) clumsily exposes the transnational profit orgy arising from the disaster of post-colonialism: Mali and oil are as complex as it can get. Though mineral rich, the landlocked country has no- established- oil or gas reserves worth commercial exploitation. Still, the 'unexplored' aspect of the country lends it gravitas as the potential for oil and gas is very promising and could well be a game changer The present conflict began in the summer of last year [the conflict actually began in January, 2012]with the Tuaregs fighting for an independent country in Northern Mali. It gained traction later on with many Islamic militants joining forces to establish a country governed by sharia laws. In fact, the militants do not want to stop with Mali, but are ambitious for a sprawling Islamic Caliphate. Imposing severe Islamic standards the militants severed communication lines and imposed severe punishments for disobedience, interpreting Islamic laws suiting their needs. Should the world have remained mute to the human rights violations in Northern Mali? Don't forget, there were [sic] enriched Uranium nearby. France depends on oil and uranium from neighbouring Nigeria and couldn't possibly tolerate Mali to become another Afghanistan. Moreover France and Mali have had a defence agreement in place for years. Also, after have its military deployed in Afghanistan for over a decade France understandably will do whatever it takes to prevent another Afghanistan to be created within a 2 hour flight. When Malian president requested help from its former colonial master, France obliged, stressing it would be under the UN mandate. And so the French intervened. (And, thanks to the presence of Canadian oil companies in Mali, Canada was one of the first countries to lend a helping hand France.) Further, on January 16, a gas facility in Algeria was attacked by militants. After four days, more than forty oil workers, mainly foreigners, were killed. Allegedly, the militants were the ones fighting previously in Northern Mali. And guess what: the oil-rich Taoudeni Basin is located at the north, the area seized by islamists. Neo-colonial agenda or not, the fact is that Timbuktu has been wrestled back. How did the militarized profit orgy work out for those worrisome human rights issues that OilPrice.net mentions? From Human Rights Watch International: Soldiers loyal to Malis coup leader have forcibly disappeared at least 20 soldiers allegedly linked to an April 30, 2012 counter-coup, and committed torture and other abuses against dozens of others Witnesses told Human Rights Watch that the abuses were committed by members of the security services, including soldiers, policemen, and national guardsmen who have supported Sanogo since the March 22 coup. Immediately following the coup, US Special Forces were wreaking havoc and engaging in not-so-proverbial orgies all over Mali. Things that occasionally come dimly to light in the shadowy media coverage of Africa create what appears to be a less than random pattern that repeats itself over and over again, from country to oil-targeted country around the globe. Gates sponsored malaria vaccination campaign, Venezuela. Photo credit: Kike Arnal Venezuela In 2011, the World Justice Project, a global policy think tank pronounced that Venezuela ranked the worst on the organizations Rule of Law Index, reporting that, Venezuela ranks relatively well in terms of religious freedom (ranking 15th), accessibility of the civil courts (ranking 21st), and protection of labor rights (ranking 27th). However, it is the worst performer in the world in accountability and effective checks on executive power. Corruption appears to be widespread (ranking 54th), crime and violence are common (ranking 66th), government institutions are non-transparent, and the criminal justice system is ineffective and subject to political influence (ranking 66th). The country also displays serious flaws in guaranteeing respect for fundamental rights, in particular, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to privacy. On the other hand, while the property rights of companies are generally weak, the property rights of ordinary people appear to receive significantly better protection. Curiously Venezuela didnt make the cut for worst on another, older justice index which lists the most oppressive and opaquely governed countries on the planet such as Belarus, where all nine opposition candidates were arrested after an election; Burma, where the military junta rules by decree and owns all newspapers; Chad, which has never had a fair or free election and which only recently abolished prison sentences for journalists who insult the president; China, where human rights lawyers are routinely disappeared and which is not an electoral democracy; and North Korea, also not exactly an electoral democracy. The circumstances are more or less similar for the rest Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, etc. Meanwhile, Venezuelas leading newspaper, El Universal, reported the Rule of Law Indexs findings without comment other than to say that the World Justice Project is sponsored by the Gates Foundation. The World Justice Project is also sponsored by weapons makers Boeing and General Electric, Intel, Microsoft, Viacom , Carnegie Corporation of New York and the Ford Foundation among others, most of which are tied to the infamous corporate bill mill, the American Legislative Exchange Council. Other members of ALEC includes nearly all the oil companies forced into joint ventures when Venezuelas late President Hugo Chavez nationalized the countrys oil: ExxonMobil, ChevronTexaco, Statoil, ConocoPhillips, and British Petroleum were forced to grant Venezuelas national oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A.(PDVSA), a minimum 60% stake. The latter might have something to do with the Rule of Law Indexs issue with the property rights of companies in Venezuela. The Rule of Law indexs analysis of Venezuela happened to overlap a US media campaign to promote Chavezs opposition, namely Leopoldo Lopez, touted in the New York Times as the descendant of the countrys founder, Simon Bolivar: an aristocratic, Harvard-educated economist who is a descendant of the liberators sister, Juana. Lopez is currently charged with having led the violent exit plan resistance that sparked six months of armed barricade protests that allegedly led to 43 deaths and Lopezs suspected sponsorship of a conspiracy involving party ally Antonio Ledezma and close associate Columbian paramilitary leader Lorrent Saleh to bomb bridges, public buildings and carry out assassinations against leftist political leaders. Both Ledezma and Lopez await trial at the Ramo Verde military prison outside Caracas. Also under investigation are the trios ties to former Columbian President Alvaro Uribe, currently under investigation by Columbias Supreme Court for drug trafficking, corruption and mass murder. Uribe, a guest of honor and popular neoliberal speaker for US corporations and conservative think-tanks, visiting scholar at Georgetown University and member of the board of directors of Rupert Murdochs News Corporation, has been tied to death squads co-sponsored by Drummond Coal, Chiquita Banana and Coca-Cola. International human rights organizations have called for Lopezs release pending trial. But other than omitting particulars, the indexs analysis isnt incorrect. Crime was soaring in Venezuela, the country was overrun with rapacious Cuban officials, the criminal justice system was as corrupt as it had ever being during the former oligarchy, and government opponents were often imprisoned in chaotic circumstances. Chavez (and NicolasMaduro after him) had been accused of pocketing vast sums from public coffers and making disastrous populist decisions, such as showing leniency to criminal gangs that held feudal rule over districts throughout the country. But Chavez was nevertheless democratically elected and the countrys media is still largely owned by members of the former oligarchy. The issue of crushing poverty under the oligarchy has reportedly improved by 80%. Several criminal gangs were recently disbanded for facilitating the oppositions scheme to destabilize currency in the wake of the failed, allegedly US-backed attempted coup detat against Chavez in 2002. Its also interesting that following a rash of vaccine and public health philanthropy in Latin America and the Caribbean, Venezuelas current President Maduro accused right-wing opponents of fomenting another coup with US support in the oil-rich country following President Obamas executive order declaring Venezuela a threat to national security, a charge repudiated by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in what it called an application of unilateral coercive measures that are contrary to international law. Aside from denouncing vaccine safety critics as child killers and investing in a fracking corporation, in 2011, Bill Gates celebrated the development of the new malaria shot in conjunction with GlaxoSmithKline. In 2010, the US and Venezuela both refused to exchange ambassadors following accusations that the 2002 coup against Chavez had been supported by the US. The year before, launched the Amazon Malaria Initiative was launched by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an agency cited as a major implementer of neoliberal privatization schemes around the world and, again, a front for the CIA. Relations with Venezuela have been strained since, but by 2012, the experimental malaria vaccine was being used for the Yanomami, presumably to address a deadly epidemic of malaria. In 2010, it was widely reported that malaria had wiped out three Yanomami villages in the Amazonian rain forest. It was claimed malaria was brought in by illegal gold miners. The problem with the story is that malaria is endemic to the Amazon, not communicable between humans and indigenous people may be the least susceptible due to generational exposure. Though survivors were said to be infected with malaria , the report was unclear whether these survivors were effectively sickened by the disease or whether the disease in fact caused the majority of deaths. The counter argument has been that the miners brought in a new strain, were bitten by mosquitoes which then spread the disease to members of the tribe. A regional health official, Dr. Carlos Botto, said the initial accounts and tests have shown there was some type of epidemic and evidence of malaria. But he said the number of deaths remained unclear and further tests were needed to determine if other diseases could be involved. He said other officials were analyzing results of the five-day medical mission. Whats certain is that there was an epidemic with deaths, Botto said in a telephone interview. He said the number of deaths reported by those in the communities was just an estimate Ive never seen it like this, said Shatiwe Luis Ahiwei, another Yanomami health worker who assisted in the medical mission and said about 100 more malaria cases had been identified in the area, more than half of them the deadly falciparum strain. The sick have had symptoms including high fever, shivering, vomiting and bloody diarrhea Isolation has left the Yanomami vulnerable to many illnesses such as measles, yellow fever and hepatitis that have been spread by outsiders. Indigenous rights activist Christina Haverkamp said that the government response has been slow and inadequate, and that doctors need access to helicopters to reach people in other areas where similar situations have been reported. Many Yanomami are dying and need help, said Haverkamp, a German who runs the organization Yanomami-Hilfe and has worked among the Yanomami for two decades in Venezuela and Brazil. Malaria is common in the Yanomami region, and Haverkamp said she has caught it four times over the years. But she said she has never seen such a serious outbreak. Its a catastrophe and also a scandal that they still dont have it under control, she said. Officials in President Hugo Chavezs government insist they have improved and expanded medical care through a program called the Yanomami Health Plan, investing in clinics and also training some of the Yanomami to be health workers for their own villages. American missionaries belonging to the group New Tribes Mission used to aid sick villagers, but in 2005 Chavez expelled them, accusing them of conducting espionage. With the missionaries, health care was better under control, at least in areas where they worked, Haverkamp said. Nationwide, the Health Ministry says 39,658 malaria cases have been reported so far in 2010, an increase of about 42 percent compared to the same period last year. The report does not list fatalities. Haverkamp suggested the spike in the mosquito-borne illness among the Yanomami may be due to an influx of malaria-infected Brazilian gold miners working in illegal camps near indigenous settlements, and she said the military should evict the miners. The missionaries that Chavez expelled in 2005, the New Tribes Mission, were profiled a book by Norman Lewis, The Missionaries: God Against the Indians, that described the brutal tactics of certain global missionary groups as well as the casual understanding in Latin America that several fronted for military and industrial interests. New Tribes, whose missionary work in Venezuela stretched back to 1946, has been cited for violent conversion tactics in many countries or plying trust from indigenous leaders while scoping natural resources for various industries and maintaining ties to the CIA. From Fox News: Anthropologists, military officials and others have accused the group of watching indigenous people die of malnutrition while living in luxurious camps, forcing communities to give up ancestral traditions and creating a sophisticated enclave of airstrips and settlements to exploit gold, quartz and even uranium deposits. "This is not a problem that has developed in the Chavez government," said Alberto Muller, a retired general and ex-governor of the region who left office in 1985. "Since my time as governor, (the missionaries) have really alarmed me." Since first establishing a presence in Venezuela in 1946, the group has repeatedly been investigated, though each time the controversy fizzled out. Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel started calling New Tribes a security threat as early as 1981. Tomas Antonio Marino Blanco, a navy captain, recently revived claims first made in 1978 that New Tribes missionaries have helped U.S. defense contractors from Westinghouse conduct mineral prospecting. The group denies the accusations and is seeking to meet directly with Chavez to discuss the issue. It also says it is willing to open its camps to government observers to quell suspicions. As with Ebola speculations, how an outbreak occurred can distract from the effects of the remedy. As with the vaccine drive used in the Neptune Spear operation to kill Bin Laden, the Amazonian malaria vaccine drive brought up questions of agendas as well as safety. In the fine print of reports of the malaria vaccines success, the vaccine was 34.8% effective in reducing severe malaria for the combined age-group category and carried heavy risks. In a maneuver commonly used by the pharmaceutical companies to undercut perceived risks, the placebo" used to compare the malaria vaccine was a rabies vaccine known to cause neuroparalytic accidents. Normally, placebos used in double blind trials are supposed to be benign a saline shot or a sugar pillthough vaccine trials generally use non-inert, toxic placebos like aluminum that would produce their own side effects. But in this case, even when compared to a vaccine with particularly high risks for neurological adverse events, the malaria vaccine still proved more dangerous. Whether the vaccine had been safe, effective and warranted or not, and regardless of the sincerity of various health workers who implement health programs in the Amazon, its unfortunately necessary to ask whether certain health campaigns in resource-rich regions which happen to be the targets of corporate hegemony might be cover for something else. As it happens, Yanomami-Hilfe, the organization mentioned by Fox News, is sponsored by the transnational Bayer AG and its tropical disease project, Innovative Vector Control Consortium, which is in turn co-sponsored by the Gates Foundation. Bayer the original manufacturer of Ceresan, from which the mercury preservative in vaccines is derivedhas a long history of involvement with political conflict and human rights abuses going back to its activities under the Third Reich and, more recently, its investment in conflict mineralsnamely coltan from the Congo. The documentary Blood Coltan illustrates the trail of death and war thats raged around the coveted mineral since the US-backed assassination of Congos first Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. Coltan, also known as tantalum, is used to produce cell phones, computer chips, weaponry and aircraft components. A 2003 UN report exposed corporationsincluding Bayerthat invest in Congolese coltan. Though Bayer sold its coltan-processing subsidiary H.C. Starck to the Carlyle Group in 2007, coltan may still be relevant to the issue at hand since Venezuelas announcement in 2012 that significant deposits of coltan have been discovered, making Venezuela one of only seven countries in the world with reserves of blue gold. The Carlyle Group owns and invests in private security and surveillance companies (United Defense, Booz Allen Hamilton), electronics and aircraft, all of which depend on technology requiring coltan and, since the UN report naming companies that invest in coltan, the pressure has been on to find supposedly conflict-free sources. Under Carlyles ownership, H.C. Starck voluntarily agreed to do just that. The argument that questioning the sincerity of global medical philanthropy could cost lives ignores the fact that rush for resources (blue gold, black gold, etc.) leaves trails of death as well. Ukraine The same pattern of medical philanthropy preceding military machination had been seen in the Ukraine prior to US and EU installation of a regime with widely reputed neo-Nazi ties as Michael Hughes reports in Huffington Post, The Obama administration has vehemently denied charges that Ukraine's nascent regime is stock full of neo-fascists despite clear evidence suggesting otherwise. Such categorical repudiations lend credence to the notion the U.S. facilitated the anti-Russian cabal's rise to power as part of a broader strategy to draw Ukraine into the West's sphere of influence. Even more disturbing are apologists, from the American left and right, who seem willing accomplices in this obfuscation of reality, when just a cursory glance at the profiles of Ukraine's new leaders should give pause to the most zealous of Russophobes. UNICEFs surveillance of anti-vaccine attitudes in Eastern Europe, including the Ukraine, might mesh neatly with panoptic intelligence operations. The lengthy report, which cites Seth Mnookin as a source and borrows from his thought-as-virus (Panic Virus) approach, involved data collected and synthesized from social media in four languages by Attention USA, a PR and competitive intelligence agency that uses NSA-style corporate surveillance technology such as Radian6 and Sysomos and has clients like Microsoft and the Washington Post-owned, for-profit higher education corporation Kaplan University and several pharmaceutical companies. The document also names American vaccine safety advocacy blogs and publications such as Dr. Tenpenny, Mothering Magazineand The Refusers as primary negative influencers in Eastern Europe. The UNICEF reports conclusions should answer the question raised in Part 2 of this series over whether attitudes towards vaccination in the US and American publications and advocacy groups that question safety might be viewed as contagious abroad and thus threatening to military operations that were dependant on foreign trust of vaccine philanthropythreatening enough on their own to conceivably launch a mass media campaign to inoculate against them. After Homeland Securitys Lisa Monaco received the bracing letter from public health school deans, its possible that the nature of rescue campaigns in resource-rich regions used as cover may shift to other tactics. Yet war always leaves a trail of disease and decimation of health infrastructure in its wakeitself a gift that keeps giving in generating an opening wedge for panoptic operations. Endless war, mass surveillance and globalization may partly rest on a bed of permanent contagion. Again, because of the nature of covert operations, its difficult to gauge to what extent vaccine philanthropy has been used as a Trojan horse for wars motivated by control of resources. But the often damaging effects of these campaigns are clear and it becomes harder to justify staying silent about the dual use of philanthropy in the hopes that the more driving intention of the two-sided agenda is to save children around the globe from disease. It does at times. But it too often does double the damage as the Hippocratic principle "first do no harm" is corroded by the rules of war in the merger of irreconcilable aims. If the central point has not always been health and human welfare to begin with, we cant legitimately expect this to be the consistent outcome. If we accept that global medical philanthropy often has a weaponized agenda, then we tacitly accept that public health may move towards war-level collateral and that the system cutting its teeth on secrecy and a military partnership in our name will come home, becoming an entry point for domestic repression and the same colonial divide and conquer strategies waged against other populations. The next segments of the series looks into the astroturf groups who come down from the hill after the battle to shoot the wounded, sow divisions and rationalize the collateral of all these ideological, social and actual wars. Adriana Gamondes is a Contributing Editor to Age of Autism and one of the blogs Facebook administrators. Hunan province in central China has achieved a new leap forward in the fight against poverty after concrete and effective targeted poverty alleviation measures have been introduced in the previous decade. More than 6.82 million registered poor households have been lifted out of poverty and backwardness while 6,920 poor villages and 51 poor counties in the province have been removed from the province's poverty-stricken list, said Zhang Qingwei, Party chief of Hunan province. "The problems of absolute poverty and regional overall poverty have been completely eliminated," said Zhang at a news conference in Changsha, capital of Hunan province, on Friday. Zhang said historic changes have taken place in the poor areas and the lives of residents have been greatly improved in the province, which is one of the country's main battlefields of poverty alleviation. "Now many people in the poor areas are able to drink clean water, use safe electricity and live in new brick houses," said Zhang, who is also chairman of the Standing Committee of Hunan Provincial People's Congress. "Mobile payment has now been used in small supermarkets in the province's most remote mountainous areas," he said. Nine-year compulsory education has been fully popularized while basic endowment insurance for urban and rural residents has been assured in the entire province, said Zhang. "And village clinics, township health centers, general practitioners and county-level public hospitals have achieved full coverage in the province," he said. According to Zhang, the per capita disposable income of urban and rural residents in Hunan reached 44,900 yuan ($6,900) and 18,300 yuan respectively in 2021, up from only 21,300 yuan and 7,400 yuan in 2012. Meanwhile, Hunan attaches great importance to ecological and environmental protection while redoubling its efforts to accelerate development and vitalize the rural economy in recent years, he said. The province's forest coverage rate was nearly 60 percent while its wetland protection rate hit 70.5 percent, and the water and soil conservation rate reached 86 percent in 2021. Zhang said the Hunan provincial government has also vigorously developed its Red tourism as the province has many Red history and cultural sites. The province was home to Mao Zedong, Liu Shaoqi, Ren Bishi, Peng Dehuai, He Long, Luo Ronghuan and a large number of early leaders and proletarian revolutionaries of the Communist Party of China. Mao Weiming, governor of Hunan province, said his province has also achieved remarkable progress in economic construction in the previous 10 years. The province's gross domestic product, which hit 2 trillion yuan in 2012, exceeded 4.6 trillion yuan last year, ninth in the country. "Hunan's GDP reached more than 2.3 trillion yuan in first half of this year, up 4.3 percent year-on-year, and is expected to end up at more than 5 trillion yuan this year," he added. Nearly 270,000 criminal cases have been resolved over the past month as a result of an ongoing nationwide campaign to rectify social disorder, while good results have been achieved to ensure people's sense of security, officials with the Ministry of Public Security said on Friday. In the first half of this year, criminal cases nationwide fell by 16.3 percent year-on-year, and people's sense of security has steadily improved, Qiu Baoli, head of the ministry's security administration bureau, said at a news conference in Beijing. However, shortly after the beginning of summer, some crimes such as picking quarrels and provoking trouble, intentional injury, affray and robbery in public places have had a relatively high incidence, like the assault case in Tangshan of Hebei province where four women were beaten by a group of men on June 10, resulting in a bad social impact, he said, According to the ministry, since June 25 public security organs nationwide have launched a 100-day campaign to crack down on prominent illegal activities and social disorder, and resolve various security risks. By the end of July, police nationwide resolved 269,800 criminal cases and arrested 465,800 suspects, establishing a strong deterrence nationwide. Meanwhile, police at the ministerial and provincial public security departments investigated 506 public security problems and supervised the handling of 1,800 major cases. Wang Yongming, an inspector of the ministry's criminal investigation bureau, said that the authorities coordinated the campaign with the other ongoing actions to fight against the abduction and trafficking of women and children, sexual assault, and fraud targeting the elderly to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the vulnerable groups. Over the past month, criminal investigation departments across the country solved 124 cases of abducting and trafficking women and children and recovered 153 abducted and missing people. Also, they solved 2,489 sexual assault cases, according to official data. In one typical case released by the ministry, police in the Guangzhou Railway Public Security Bureau in Guangdong province investigated a case of disturbing public order in November 2021. After months of investigation, the police gradually detected a criminal network led by two males and one female who threatened and forced disabled people to beg for them. The police reported the case to the ministry. On July 18, with the deployment of the ministry, the Guangzhou Railway Public Security Bureau, together with the police in Chengdu of Sichuan province, Kunming of Yunnan province and Urumqi of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, detained 45 suspects and rescued 25 deaf-mute people, including 12 females. Since 2019, the group lured the disabled in the name of helping them find jobs. The group used violent means to threaten them and organized them to beg in train and bus stations, squares, scenic spots and shopping malls across the country, according to the Guangzhou police. The group was involved in 516 criminal cases and the money involved reached 1.2 million yuan ($178,000). The suspects have been detained and the case is under further investigation. Amy Wax, a tenured law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, is a nationally renowned thorn in the side of the academic establishment. She is well known on the public speaking circuit and regularly appears on conservative media outlets, where her unvarnished criticism of American higher education plays well to its detractors. After years of controversy, Theodore Ruger, dean of the law school at Penn, has apparently had enough and has called upon Vivian Gadsden, chair of the faculty senate, to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Wax. I will leave it to others to weigh the veracity of the claims raised in the deans complaint, as well as what sanctions if any should be imposed on Wax. Even so, one of the accusations against her stands out as troubling on its face, not because of what she is alleged to have done, but because of its focus on guilt by association. Allegedly, Wax invited a white supremacist to speak to one of her classes, though details of the event are limited. Absent further context, this particular charge should send a chill down the spine of every academic who cares about unfettered inquiry. Across every nook and cranny of the social and biological sciences, scholars concern themselves with the study of deviancy, and it is often of paramount importance to the advancement of their disciplines. Law schools, in particular, train graduates for careers in dealing with social deviancy, including through legal defense of the deviant. Are we to believe that their moral sensitivities will never be offended by those with whom they interact in the practice of law? Further, on what basis is the faculty host accountable for anything that comes out of a guest speakers mouth, especially outside the context of the speaking engagement? What next? Will medical educators be held accountable for the prior misdeeds of the cadavers? Even as an undergraduate student, I understood the distinction between interrogation of ideas and endorsement of them, as well as the distinction between character and intellect. In my sociology courses, I recall listening to accounts of the lived experiences of guest speakers whose values, beliefs, and behaviors placed them decidedly at the margins of society. These were, in fact, some of the most interesting class sessions I had ever experienced, as evidenced by the fact that I still remember them 40 years later. Even if I had been deeply upset by the content of those discussions, which I was not, it would have never occurred to me to infer that my course instructors endorsed anything that the guest speakers said, much less that the presenters spoke for our small, conservative, church-affiliated, Midwestern college. If faculty are to be held accountable for the utterances of the guest speakers that they invite to campus, possibly at the expense of their livelihood, why would any of them take that risk? On the other hand, maybe that is the point. In presenting the various allegations against Wax, Ruger did not limit himself to Waxs activities at Penn, but instead cited offensive speech in the course of her appearances in other forums as well. In combination with the complaint about her own guest speaker, might references to Waxs comments in other academic settings have actually been intended as a dog whistle to would-be hosts and to the leaders of their respective institutions, subtly alerting them to the perils of falling in with the wrong company? This is where the issue becomes more personal for me. About four years ago, Wax came to speak on our campus, at the invitation of a now defunct student organization. Even before she arrived, the event became a source of controversy on campus, as some faculty were concerned that her endorsement of bourgeois culture would be perceived as hostile toward some of the students enrolled at our humble institution. It is my understanding that my academic department initially committed to co-sponsoring the event, but subsequently withdrew its support, amidst pressure from opposing activists, though I have no recollection of any discussion of the matter. All this is to say that I had nothing to do with the event. In fact, I did not even attend it. Nevertheless, after I subsequently became affiliated with a completely different on-campus organization, whose mission is distinct from that of the aforementioned student group, other faculty affiliates and I were wrongfully smeared as racist, with our alleged endorsement of Waxs lecture held up as supporting evidence. If my posture seems overly defensive, even in offering the measured support for Wax that I have presented here, rest assured that I am not alone in my reticence. Rugers allusions to guilt by association will likely inhibit support for Wax, even at the farthest periphery of the controversy. As for the reaction on her own campus, my ducking and covering has nothing on that of Jonathan Zimmerman, a faculty colleague of Waxs, whom she has described as a free expression advocate, and against cancellation. In response to a plea from Wax for support, he recently posted a commentary on Inside Higher Ed, in which he eventually got around to saying all the right things about freedom of expression and academic freedom, but only after stating that for the record, [he had] met Wax exactly once and [had] emailed with her a handful of times. For good measure, he also offered a strongly worded preemptive condemnation of her alleged actions, mercifully conditioned on their verification. Zimmerman and I do not speak for the entire professoriate, but our cautious responses to the accusations against Wax are characteristic of how organizational shunning discourages bystander opposition to academic mobbing, and none of this bodes well for Waxs future at Penn. Whereas neither Zimmerman nor I face the intensity of social pressure that will likely befall participants in the on-campus committee proceedings against Wax, what are the chances that a majority of her colleagues will stand firm in defense of both her freedom and ultimately their own? Will even those with quivering voices raise them in her defense or is she destined to walk alone? Image: Universityof Pennsylvania The Chancellor of the City University of New York (CUNY), Felix V.M. Rodriguez, just sent a mass mailing to everyone in CUNY about monkeypox. In it, he repeated the advice of the NYC Dept. of Health include asking sexual partners whether they have a rash or other symptoms consistent with monkeypox and avoiding skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a rash or other monkeypox-related symptoms. The chancellor of a great urban university -- to fulfill his administrative and educational duties (not as a medical professional or a counsellor but as a chancellor) -- is recommending all employees and students to ask their sexual partner(s) about symptoms of monkeypox, a disease contracted by homosexuals and bisexuals. One-quarter of the cases in the USA are in New York State, and most of those are in New York City. Rodriguez wants to advise all educators and students what to say one-on-one to avoid placing their rod in the wrong monkeyfied place. This is his way of waving the rainbow flag to show solidarity with homosexuals. His letter is part of an increasing number of through the looking glass experiences we are having in American society. Each day we may feel more and more like Alice in Wonderland having strange encounters in a make-believe world. One of the creatures Alice meets is the Hatter (often referred to as the Mad Hatter) who asks strange riddles. He asks Alice, Why is a raven like a writing-desk? which is only one of his many stumpers. In our looking-glass world, the answers to normal questions are strange as his riddles. We have a candidate for the Supreme Court -- the so-called top nine jurists in the USA -- who evades answering What is a woman? and declares, Im not a biologist. That is an Alice in Wonderland-style answer. Alice also encountered the Cheshire Cat, notable for its constant grin. It also expresses a perverse sort of wisdom. For example, this cat that grinned all the time (remind anyone of any President we know?) says to Alice, Well, then, you see, a dog growls when its angry, and wags its tail when its pleased. Now I growl when Im pleased, and wag my tail when Im angry. Therefore Im mad. Here the cat posits dogs as the standard of mental health and the cat, not being a dog, thus declares himself to be mad. Thus, in our evolving society the ever-growing number of gender fluid categories are posited by the woke as true identities whereas those who advance the cause of a binary so-called cis gender world are derided by the avant-garde as deniers of reality, tormenters, and dangerous to the well-being of society -- both its health and its order. Measured by dog-ness the Cheshire cat self-designates as mad; and measured by transgender-ness, the straight world is now often deemed similarly mad. The most terrifying persona Alice meets is the Queen of Hearts even though she understands that the Queen of Hearts is merely a playing card. Additionally, Alice is informed that the Queen never actually executes anyone she sentences to death, Rather, the angry Queen becomes representative of the idea that Wonderland is devoid of substance. This is not unlike the show Presidency we have had since January of 2021. In his inauguration, Biden claimed the desire to unify our country; yet time and time again he belittles the half of the country that voted against him. He lies incessantly, claiming that Hunters laptop was Russian disinformation and that he never met any of Hunters business clients, yet interviews and photos show that James Gilliar and Tony Bobulinski had dealings with Hunter -- dealings where Pres. Biden was referred to as the Big Guy behind the scenes. Biden takes an oath of office to defend the Constitution of the U.S. but purposely undermines the laws governing access to our country by allowing almost unrestricted crossing at our Southern border. He abandoned Afghanistan to the terrorists we were fighting for 20 years. He and his fantasyland advisers are not building up the military, but are castrating it with an endless stream of gender-sensitive directives about trans-women in mens showers and toilet areas. He is a tough guy who can insult questioners during his campaign or at press conferences -- but he is a wimp when it comes to protecting U.S. interests. Alice also met the sobbing Mock Turtle, who describes his education in such subjects as Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision. Look at the sycophants and incompetents around the President. Kamala the Cackling Goose is right out of Alice in Wonderland. If one were to rudely ask her why she frequently cackles instead of chuckling or smiling politely, she might, like a character in the Wonderland, answer because something is stuck in my throat you boob. The turnover of employees in her office suggests some deficiencies in administrative and/or social skills. Or if one asks why, even though she is in charge of the border, she has never gone to the grievous Del Rio, TX area, she might reply in characteristic Wonderland fashion Im limiting flying hours to save gas and protect our environment. She could rightly say along with the Mock Turtle that her education has been in ambition and distraction. Karine Jean-Pierre also studied Ambition and Distraction as she proudly described herself as the first black, lesbian press secretary. These are certainly high qualifications exceeding the traditional skills of communication competencies, thorough research, articulate presentation of announcements, appreciation of subtleties, and the ability to contend for truth. What person or persons she is intimate with is certainly a matter of national interest, and the color of her skin is, undoubtedly, not only a matter of equality but of equity. Equity, which her employment exemplifies, requires not only that people of color be treated fairly in an application process but that they be placed in positions without regard for qualifications altogether. The Mock Turtle Uglification education undoubtedly applies to the guitar playing Secretary of State, Andrew Blinken, with his prim little Ivy League haircut and self-satisfied face. He has taken degrees in Ugly and is now carried to the top of Mock Turtle world where he can make obviously great decisions about Iran, Afghanistan, NATO, the United Nations, as well as renewing his subscription to Foreign Affairs magazine. Yes, dear reader, we are living in an Alice in Wonderland world where government officials and high-positioned individuals in education are living out a fantasy of power and looking-glass reality. It is funny in one way, but would be even funnier if it were not also so grim. Image: Tenniel Labor unions hold well deserved unfavorable reputations they're almost all (if not entirely) Democrats. According to a Fox News report, over the course of the 2020 election cycle, the two largest teachers' unions in the country, the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers, spent $43 million on political interests. In the same time frame, Joe Biden received $232,000 which was more than any other candidate as well as endorsements from both the NEA and the AFT. They're political powerhouses and advocating for an agenda so far left that "even the Democratic Party won't endorse" it. Now, UNITE HERE Local 11, a union operating across Southern California and Arizona, procured the necessary number of signatures to get a proposed ordinance before the Los Angeles City Council for a vote. A ten-year veteran of the Council, Joe Buscaino, described it as "the dumbest measure" he'd seen during his tenure. Among other lunacies, the proposal stipulated: A hotel development project of 15 or more rooms would be required to replace demolished or converted housing with an equivalent amount of affordable housing at or near the project site. The ordinance would create a program, subject to funding availability, to place unhoused individuals in vacant hotel rooms [emphasis added]. A hotel would be prohibited from refusing lodging to program participants [emphasis added]. Imagine booking a stay at the Beverly Wilshire, while a homeless deviant occupies the Penthouse Suite for $25,000 a night, all on the backs of the California taxpayer. It's truly a world gone mad. Citizens from the community, most notably in the hospitality industry, spoke out against the measure. Ray Patel, president of the Northeast Los Angeles Hotel Owners Association, was bewildered at the idea and questioned how the government could usurp his authority to make decisions about his personal property. "I can't screen who ends up in my hotel rooms? How do I protect my other customers and my staff?" Juan Martinez, a hotel manager, said, "This is a bad idea. People are not going to feel safe. My staff is not going to feel safe, so I think this is wrong." Well, no kidding! Concentrated populations of the mentally deranged and drug-addicted aren't typically the safest and most trustworthy neighbors. Unfortunately, this insanity didn't die with a no vote by the City Council its specter is set to reappear on the public ballot for the March 5, 2024 election. Back in April, Texas's Republican governor, Greg Abbott, pledged to bus migrants who had entered Texas illegally to Washington, D.C. on a voluntary basis. It was laughed at in the press and among Democrats as a "publicity stunt" at the time. But the governor was dead serious and kept that promise. Leadership is contagious, and Abbott was soon joined by Arizona's Gov. Douglas Ducey. For months, the states of Texas and Arizona have been sending charter buses of illegal border-crossers being let in by Joe Biden's open borders policy to Washington, D.C.'s Union Station, near the Capitol building, and now to New York City, led by Mayor Eric Adams, who loudly proclaims his city a sanctuary city, with laws on the books saying the city is required to provide housing to all comers. Abbott's office says that over 6,100 migrants have been bused to D.C. so far. Abbott expanded his operation by transporting migrants to the Big Apple, which he said like Washington, D.C. is an "ideal destination" due to the city's generous treatment of homeless people. However, officials based in D.C. and NYC, despite their claims of compassion, aren't exactly giving the migrants the red carpet treatment. NPR reports that when the migrants disembark, they find neither the local nor federal government there to meet them. Even Joe Biden's White House, which is responsible for the border crisis, isn't exactly welcoming D.C.'s new guests. Speaking to reporters, Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, slammed Gov. Abbott for sending aliens to NYC and D.C., calling it "another stunt of busing desperate migrants across the country, and he's using them as a political ploy." Karine Jean-Pierre reacts to a question about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott bussing illegal immigrants to New York as the Biden border crisis continues: "It's the latest stunt from the governor..." pic.twitter.com/WklIbpS2CX Townhall.com (@townhallcom) August 5, 2022 Democrat D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser also hasn't embraced the new arrivals. The New York Times reported that the influx of migrants prompted Bowser to ask the Defense Department to send the National Guard. Bowser said in an interview with CBS's Face the Nation that migrants are putting a strain on homeless shelters. At last report, the Defense Department turned her down. They didn't want anything to do with this fiasco, either. Mayor Adams wasn't too thrilled at the prospect of welcoming thousands of new guests from foreign lands to his city, either. Adams slammed Abbott for busing migrants to his city. Adams said the city had received 4,000 asylum-seekers since May, fueling a 10-percent growth in the homeless population, with about 100 new arrivals each day. Adams is calling on the federal government for assistance, which is the same federal government that turned down Abbott when he asked for assistance. Perhaps for the first time, the open border fanatics are dealing with the practical challenges of confronting a massive incursion of migrants in their neighborhoods. If the Democrats were true believers in open borders such that they practiced what they preached, they would have welcomed the migrants with open arms. But that is not the case. The open border fanatics purposefully misinterpret U.S. immigration laws. They often refer to the quote under the Statue of Liberty: "give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" and brand the U.S. as "a nation of immigrants," citing the migrants from Europe who settled in the U.S. through the last three centuries, to give the impression that every migrant has the right to enter the U.S. and it is the duty of the government to provide for all of them. What they purposefully ignore is that norms change with time and that there are laws about immigration dating to the Founding Fathers. Laws, in fact, change with time. During Abraham Lincoln's era, the White House had no security. However, in 1864, when President Lincoln was fired upon while riding to a soldier's home, Lincoln was assigned a police guard and cavalry escort. It wasn't enough for him on April 14, 1865, when he was assassinated, so the Secret Service was founded in the sorrowful aftermath. Today, the White House is a fortress with myriad high-tech security measures and thousands of security personnel. If the White House that was once unguarded has become a fortress, then the border that was once open now deserves similar protection. The taxpaying citizen deserves as much protection as the representatives he elects, who also have some ferocious security. Back to the problem of open borders. The open borders proponents seldom suffer the consequences of their ideas. Most illegal migrants are settled in working-class neighborhoods in border states, or throughout California on the outskirts of huge cities such as Los Angeles and its adjacent Inland Empire. If some among the migrants commit crimes, the sufferers are the working-class citizens. If the migrants work for lower wages, once again, working-class citizens will suffer job losses or wage depression. If the migrants inundate public infrastructure such as parks and pavements and facilities such as schools and hospitals, once again, the citizen's needs will be ignored. If numerous migrants are given voting rights, the mandate of the citizens is drowned. If migrants outnumber the citizens, the culture and values begin to erode. This is a long-term project of the Democrats to inundate key areas with Democrat voters such that elections become irrelevant. They have implemented this in New York and California where even the brightest Republican is certain to lose against the most inept Democrat. If they implement this in a few other states, they can have permanent control over the Executive Branch, and perhaps even the Legislative Branch. When a GOP president or governor attempts to enforce the law, the open border proponents give unending speeches about compassion and diversity at locations that ironically have restricted admission and armed security. Since border security is the responsibility of the federal government, state governors often find themselves in a helpless situation. The best they can do is deploy law enforcement to inspect vehicles entering their state and border areas for illegal migrants. If migrants are discovered, they have to be detained by the state, which is once again a burden on taxpayers. Abbott's idea to transport illegal migrants to liberal cities is novel. It compels liberals to suffer the consequences of their bad ideas. It also exposes them as hypocrites. They may claim to possess ceaseless empathy for illegal migrants. However, when a bus full of poor and uneducated foreigners reaches their doorstep, the compassion melts into thin air and they even demand draconian measures to protect their interests. Perhaps Abbott should dispatch the next bus of migrants to Martha's Vineyard, where the Obamas live, or to Rehoboth Beach in Delaware, where Joe Biden spends most of his time, or to a locality near one of the multiple mansions owned by millionaire socialist Bernie Sanders. According to Homeland Security, more than 2.5 million illegal aliens crossed the southern border since Biden took over. The actual number has to be considerably higher. This is a national crisis and the responsibility lies solely with the Democrats. Biden invited migrants of the world to come to the U.S. during his campaign and shortly after he was elected. Biden also undid or attempted to undo many measures President Trump had put in place to deter illegal migration and asylum abuse. Back in April, Biden requested $97.3 billion from the Department of Homeland Security. The proposed budget assigns taxpayer funds to hire Border Patrol agents and "coordinators" who will "receive and process" illegal aliens at Border Patrol facilities i.e., provide legal status for aliens via asylum. This led many to believe that this was a purposeful measure to engineer a demographic change that could enable electoral gains for Democrats. We go back to the fundamentals. Any real estate property is primarily defined by its geographic borders. This principle must also apply to a country. A nation is identified by its people, its religions and culture, its languages, and most importantly its values. All of the attributes are protected by its borders and the ability to decide whom to admit and whom to restrict. Once borders are eliminated, the nation ceases to exist. Image: Screen shot from NBC News video via YouTube. For the political left, human life is not sacred it never has been and never will be. From their stance on abortion to the very fact that murderous ideologies like communism and socialism find such popularity within their ranks, there are countless modern and historical examples lending credence to what should be hyperbole. Just in the 20th century alone, slowly but surely, we've seen despotic governments erode cultural morality through propaganda, with a targeted goal of diminishing the value of life. In 1930s Germany, a cartoon ran depicting a strong German worker with two handicapped men atop his shoulders. The words read, "You are bearing this too." Another displayed four sacks, each depicting the yearly public cost for schoolchildren with varying degrees of mental aptitude. The figure for a "normal" child was 125 RM (Reichsmark), while a blind or deaf child would cost twelve times as much. The marketing was simple: maintaining the "life unworthy of life" was an impediment to a better and more prosperous society. Now we're seeing the same malignant cancer, spreading across American culture. In a since-deleted tweet, Vox senior correspondent Ian Millhiser said: Justice Samuel Alito, who died on XXXX, was not devoid of any positive traits. He was a skilled attorney and a highly effective advocate for conservative causes[.] ... Had he spent his career as a litigator, he would almost certainly be remembered as one of the Republican Party's leading Supreme Court practitioners[.] ... The problem is that Justice Alito was, indeed, one of the Republican Party's leading Supreme Court Advocates but he embraced this role while he was a sitting justice. Shamelessly, Millhiser authored the tweet after the attempted assassination of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, where suspect Nicholas Roske also wrote, "I could get at least one, which would change the votes for decades to come[.]" Fantasizing about revolution through violent means is in the very marrow of leftists it's what their god, Karl Marx, said when he wrote, "Of course, in the beginning, this [revolution] cannot be effected except by means of despotic inroads[.]" Marx acknowledged that despotism, with all its cruelty and oppression, was the only way for radical political upheaval. Yet it doesn't end with unhinged lefties on the loose. The agitprop is even more insidious. Social media are rife with content with a central theme of "Eat the Rich." One extremely disturbing and graphic video shows a young woman gnawing on what appears to be a barbecued dog before she eventually kisses the dead animal on the nose. The caption reads, "Me when it's time to eat the rich and I get Taylor Swift's cat." Talia Lavin, while writing for GQ even said: It's hard to get edgier than cannibalism, and no would-be Internet humorist worth their salt can resist the lure of a Bezos bulgogi. According to a contemporary leftist like Lavin she wrote a book on white supremacy and mocks the political prisoners from January 6 cannibalism is not the complete and total breakdown in humanity, but rather, it's edgy, and the only comedians who are actually funny can't resist an "Eat the Rich" joke. American culture used to rest its foundation on Judeo-Christian virtues, with its values like the sanctity of life and the Golden Rule. But, as morality deteriorates, government as god fills the vacuum, and we're left in freefall. Last week, an awful story came out of Alabama: a 12-year-old girl who had been kidnapped gnawed through her restraints, escaped, and brought the authorities to the home of Jose Paulino Pascual-Reyes. When law enforcement arrived, they found the bodies of a woman and a boy under 14. My browser history shows that, the moment I read the story, I started searching for the words "illegal," "alien," and "deported." The combination of Pascual-Reyes's name and the crime was enough to make all the signals in my brain ping...and damned if I wasn't right. Of course he was an illegal alien. Since Wednesday, we have more details about what Pascual-Reyes is alleged to have done, and it's stomach-churning: According to arrest warrants obtained by CBS affiliate WRBL, investigators believe Reyes killed his girlfriend, Sandra Vazquez Ceja, by smothering her with a pillow. Reyes is also charged with killing Ceja's son, who was younger than 14, by striking him with his hands and feet. The boy's full name has not been released. Both bodies were cut into small pieces at the joints to hide evidence. Add to that horrific narrative the 12-year-old girl (who was the daughter and sister, respectively, of the murdered victims) whom Pascual-Reyes had tied up in the house, and it's a singularly nauseating crime story. The question you may be asking yourself at this point is why I instantly assumed that Pascual-Reyes was here illegally. Am I that much of a racist? I hope not. I think I'm just someone who recognizes patterns. Image: Pascual-Reyes mugshot (Tallapoosa County Sheriff's Office). First, because I'm like a Victorian with a mind like a kitchen sink (i.e., I always assume the worst), I instantly assumed that Pascual-Reyes had sexually molested the girl. I don't know if that's true, but that assumption fit in well with the limited data we have showing that illegal aliens are very likely to be arrested for child sex crimes. The federal government seems to go out of its way to make the data impossible to compile. However, NCFIRE.info goes through North Carolina arrest records to find all the instances in which illegal aliens have been arrested for crimes involving child sex everything from rape to child porn to lesser physical (but still sexual) assaults. The arrest number for that one state which is not a state with a high rate of illegal immigration is staggering. Of course, not all who are arrested are guilty, but my cynical mind has me believing that, even if they plead to lesser offenses, something bad happened leading to the arrest. Multiply North Carolina's data by 50 (a rough average, because the statistics will be different between Alaska and California), and you can see that there's a significant problem across America. The illegal alienchild sexual abuse nexus shouldn't surprise anyone. Anyone who came here illegally is already living on the wrong side of the law. Once you've started down that slope, what are a few more criminal infractions? If the illegal aliens are Muslims (and we know they're crossing the southern border), child sex is normative. Just because it's not legal in a non-Muslim country, that isn't going to stop certain Muslim aliens. Moreover, while Pascual-Reyes is not Muslim, one of the things we know that's crossing Biden's open border is a massive amount of cartel sex-trafficking. So, yeah, that's where my mind went. And you know what? I was right: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed to the media this week that a man accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old girl and holding her hostage, as well as murdering three others, is a previously deported illegal alien who had entered the United States without permission. [snip] In a statement given to Daily Caller News Foundation, an ICE spokesperson confirmed that Pascual-Reyes was previously deported in 2014. In 2015, Donald Trump told a hard truth about illegal aliens: When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. They're not sending you. They're not sending you. They're sending people that have lots of problems, and they're bringing those problems with us. They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. Trump was not saying that Mexican people, as a race, are criminals. He was saying that illegal aliens are a problem. Ordinary Americans understood that in 2016, and they understand it now. Moreover, as the Biden administration is discovering, Hispanic communities across America also know the difference between good citizens and bad illegal aliens. Pascual-Reyes is the living embodiment of the problem Trump described. No community should have to have people like Pascual-Reyes living and killing in it. It's not attracting the attention in the press that the fatal lightning strike in Washington, D.C. is, but a monstrous fiery crash through an intersection in Los Angeles by an apparently drunk driver is traumatizing Los Angeles with details to haunt your dreams and it doesn't seem to be drawing the harsh response it should from the authorities. Here's a video of what happened Thursday. WARNING Graphic Content Surveillance video obtained by RMG News shows the violent crash that left 5 dead in #WindsorHills, LaBrea & Slauson. pic.twitter.com/4SgH452DOl Los Angeles Magazine (@LAmag) August 5, 2022 According to Fox News: Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighters were called just before 1:40 p.m. Thursday to La Brea and Slauson avenues, near Ladera Park, on what was initially reported as a fire. When crews arrived on scene, they discovered that eight vehicles had collided in the intersection after a Mercedes-Benz was seen speeding southbound on La Brea Avenue. Several vehicles involved in the crash erupted into flames and caused a nearby commercial fire. Bystanders tried to help those trapped but couldn't get close because of the flames. The pregnant woman killed in the crash was identified Friday by the Los Angeles County coroner's office as Asherey Ryan, 23, of Los Angeles. Her unborn child, listed by the coroner's office as "baby boy Ryan," was also counted among the deceased. Family members told FOX 11 that Ryan's infant son, Alonzo, was also killed. Incredibly, the driver of the fancy Mercedes who ploughed through that heavily flowing traffic at that intersection with absolutely zero braking at 100 mph was charged with just manslaughter with gross negligence, not murder, and faces just six years in the can for it if convicted. What? This, despite blowing four people a mother, her unborn baby who was at eight and a half months' gestation, her one-year old son, and her boyfriend from their car in an unspeakably fiery crash, killing them all, along with two or three other adults, and sending eight other people, nearly all of them kids, to the hospital. The photos of the torn-apart, burnt out cars in the aftermath speak for themselves. The horror nightmarishly came up to the edge of a gas station, meaning that it could have been a hell of a lot fierier, and worse still, witnesses could see fire-filled cars with people inside on fire, moving around, crying out for rescue, with bystanders saying they were too terrified to rescue them because they were at an utterly flammable gas station. It's just unthinkable, the stuff that haunts dreams. One of the driver's pals told local station KTLA that the driver, a 37-year-old traveling nurse named Nicole Lorraine Linton, had been drinking after a fight with her "boyfriend" on the phone and decided to take a ride down La Brea, a big empty hilly road that, knowing this intersection, is fairly easy to drive fast down before reaching the traffic light at the intersection, which can indeed be maddening in its thick, slow traffic. Here's a law firm called Los Angeles DUI Attorneys discussing what defendants get if they get convicted on the charges Linton is charged with: Outcomes of a Gross Vehicular Manslaughter Conviction The court considers gross vehicular manslaughter to be a "wobbler." These are charges that are either treated as misdemeanors OR felonies. The prosecution decides how to handle wobblers. When making a decision, they look at: The facts of the current case A driver's criminal history Misdemeanor charges in California are less serious than felonies. Individuals convicted of a misdemeanor may face fines of up to $1,000. The court can also sentence them to up to one year in jail. Felony charges are more severe. They lead to: Fines of up to $10,000 Prison time of up to six years You should know that the penalties are not as severe for vehicular manslaughter with ordinary negligence. These charges can lead to up to one year in jail and fines of up to $1,000. Here's another: the woman responsible for the La Brea crash will plead guilty to multiple counts of vehicular manslaughter, get concurrent sentences, and serve 6 years in prison at the most pic.twitter.com/1zucyeRaA9 debdrens (@debdrens) August 5, 2022 The DUI law firm adds that if drunk driving charges can be added to the conviction, the sentence could be ten years. Ten years? That's all she faces at the absolute max? Of which she would likely only serve half or less in California? This seems to be under-charging. Past monster crashes, such as the 2014 case of Olivia Carolee Culbreath, another health care worker, who got drunk and plowed into a car full of a family returning from a trip to Las Vegas on the Pomona Freeway, killing all of them, injuring another driver in another vehicle, and killing members of her own family in her car with her, got Murder Two charges filed and an easy conviction, leading to a 30-years-to-life sentence, with an appellate court dismissing a 2020 appeal as "don't waste our time." Why did this driver of this very comparable crash, very callous, very selfish, very irresponsible, it appears, with monstrous consequences for entire families in Los Angeles, get such comparably light charges? It's impossible not to think this sounds like a case of Gasconitis, which is plaguing Los Angeles, the specter of a Soros-backed district attorney letting all criminals off on the lowest and least possible charges. However, the matter is a little complicated news reports say that the California Highway Patrol, not a redoubt of major wokery, made the recommendation to Gascon. Why did they recommend manslaughter with gross negligence for Linton but hit Culbreath with Murder Two? They both killed about the same number of people with their gross irresponsibility, likely alcohol-fueled in both cases. It's true that Culbreath had a history of drunk driving, and the facts aren't known about Linton it's entirely possible that her "pal" lied to the press about her drinking and fight with her boyfriend, or her brakes gave out, or she hit the accelerator when she thought she was hitting the brakes, or perhaps she rented a high-tech car she didn't understand how to operate, or the cops botched the drunk driving test and can't pin some of the aggravating factors on her for a conviction, but the bottom line is, you have to be pretty deliberate to be driving at 100 mph on a Los Angeles city street. At a minimum, the authorities owe an explanation for these light charges with heavy consequences for the victims. Shouldn't the charges fit the crime, given what happened? This doesn't take Gascon off the hook, though. Was the CHP thinking Gascon might do nothing if they didn't lighten the charges to as little as possible for Linton? Why is Gascon going along, given the community's outrage, which, in this case, happens to be the black community of South Central, a constituency that would cost Gascon little in political capital if he were to present harder charges? It just seems like too little at this point, given the scope of what happened. One hopes that in the absence of any mitigating information, it will provide more reason, to more voters, for the problems in criminal justice brought on by excessive leniency toward criminals and persuade them to vote Gascon out in his coming voter recall. Image: Twitter screen shot.